Let them buy the sizzle

The government is filing charges against former Commission on Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano of “Hello Garci” fame of perjury and falsification of public documents. Is that all? After all that he had done to roil the political waters in Mindanao, and, in effect, the entire country with the results of the infamous 2004 presidential elections, he is liable only for perjury and falsification?

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Perjury, as we were taught in school, is falsely swearing to something, and Garci committed this by claiming he had never left the country when it was later found out that he had gone to Singapore. Falsification was determined when he reportedly presented doctored travel documents in the attempt to keep his foreign travel secret. Ah, but all these were possible during his time when he could do no wrong in the eyes of the administration. As it is, his bosses are even facing more serious charges than his. It ain’t fair, but that’s how it is.

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One can only wonder what hold the former Land Transportation Office head, Elena Bautista (now Horn) has on the former president that she continues to keep her as her spokesperson. The other day, Horn and another teacher’s pet, Rep. Danilo Suarez, rendered a duet to the media singing that former President Gloria Arroyo’s ailment had worsened and she may have to undergo another operation. Yesterday, no less than the head of the Veterans Memorial Hospital, where GMA is detained, came out and firmly declared that there is no longer anything wrong with the patient, and none of their doctors has said anything about surgery. None, but Drs. Horn and Suarez, probably.

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But GMA is surely much better now that she has even written a dissertation on the errors of the Aquino Administration as far as the economy of the country is concerned. And she has also scheduled a presentation of her thesis at the Manila Hotel, no less. It was also recalled that President Noynoy Aquino used to be her student in Finance at the Ateneo, and some wags said she is now giving him a falling mark. Maybe she didn’t teach him well then?

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Finally the agony of the parents of the young Navy Ensign, Philip Andrew Pestaño must be lessened with the decision of the Ombudsman overturning previous decisions that had ruled his mysterious death as a suicide. The discovery of his body took place on September 27, 1995 yet, and his superior officers all claimed he killed himself. But his parents could not believe that, knowing the nature of their son. Also, they knew a secret he had uncovered, and that was the smuggling of guns and illegal logs on their vessel. I cannot forget this case, because it happened in the boat called BRP BACOLOD.

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The new Ombudsman, Conchita Carpio Morales, in reversing previous rulings on the case, said there was prime facie evidence of a conspiracy to commit murder, and now ten Naval officers will face such charges, even if some of them have already retired or resigned. Indeed, there must have been a very well-planned conspiracy to kill the young Pestaño in such a way that it would appeal like a suicide. Now, 16 years after, we can say, Let justice be done, though the heavens fall.

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It is very amusing to take note of all the reactions to the unoriginal slogan adopted by the Tourism Department that has drawn both praise and flak from so many sectors. Me, I have a malicious mind most of the time, so I had suspected as soon as it was announced that manipulation and orchestration had already been done cleverly so high praises and so-called acceptance would come via twitter, facebook and other means to anticipate reactions, and make it appear very, very popular. My mind just keeps remembering that people behind the DOT now are experts in advertising, promotion and, it should follow, also in propaganda, which is the manipulation of information to suit one’s purposes.

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A long, long time ago, I read an article that said successful advertising is like selling the sizzle and not the steak. As it is, the sizzle is the promise of “more fun”, and the steak is what those who come could encounter. Anyway, it’s their option . Let them buy the sizzle if that is what they want.*

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