The Palace has ears

My! Those Malacañang people really keep their ears close to the ground. Barely had the DAILY STAR hit the streets yesterday when we already got a report that the President's people were reacting to the column of Modi Sa-onoy here where he reported that he had been told by two people, who were not from this city or province, about changes being made in the chapel in Malacañang. Before the night had fallen, we already got an emailed photo of the chapel, showing that things were still the same, that nothing had been changed or removed.

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And, to top it all (just like in photos of kidnapped people or hostages), the picture included a copy of the national daily, the Inquirer dated yesterday, to prove it! Would you believe? And that was not all. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda was later on the phone to Modi himself, explaining everything. What is interesting is that Modi was told that there are, indeed, some people or groups floating that kind of rumor around. Who could be doing that?

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Anyway, Modi himself will tell us all about his talk with Lacierda with whom he exchanged phone numbers. They will probably become phone pals after this. The palace staff, I am sure, will be watching out for his column Monday. I don't know about others, but me, I have the feeling that this “misinformation campaign” may be tied to the efforts of those people who are proposing the removal of God and other symbols of religions in government offices. Our people should look out for such people who seem to have their tentacles even in Congress.

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What timing the Pacman has. Yesterday's newspapers were full of stories about his purchase of a Canadian made helicopter that he is said to be planning to use during emergencies in his province. The chopper, a Bell 206, reportedly cost $450,000 or about P18 million. That is not even the share he got from the pay-per-view subscriptions to his latest fight. I mentioned timing, because the same newspapers also carried stories about the allegedly anomalous purchase of choppers by the Philippine National Police that were sold as brand-new, but were actually second-hand ones. The case has been referred to the Sandiganbayan already. At least Pacquiao's whirly bird is frankly declared as used already.

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Somehow, we cannot stop talking about Manny Pacquiao, but the national media outlets are no better. That is because he continues to be in the news, what with the recent announcement of the five-member panel of judges named by the World Boxing Organization to review and score from the tapes of the Pacquiao-Bradley fight in Las Vegas early this month. All five – boxing experts – scored in favor of Manny – a unanimous decision. But we all knew that already, didn't we? Maybe only Bradley's family, and his trainers, are still deluding themselves that the three blind mice were right.

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If there ever was any proof that Dolphy is a fighter, the last few days have proved it. His sons have disclosed that he had left instructions not to resuscitate him, or put him on life support gadgets if he ever gets that sick, and yet he has been hanging on for several days and, as his son Eric Quizon has told the media, he even opens his eyes now and then and seems to acknowledge those who visit him. By the way, I very seldom go to the movies, but once upon a time saw one where Eric was a lead star.

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In that movie, called “Crying Ladies”, he played the role of the son of a Chinese businessman who died, and Eric's task was to tell those who came to his wake the story of how he died, over and over again. His recent TV appearances, often repeating his report, or bulletins, on his father's condition, look like a reprise of that role. I wonder if he remembers that, or if anybody has reminded him of it.

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Last night, parishioners, benefactors, and recipients of the projects of the Queen of Peace Parish headed by Msgr. Noly Que, and so many other city and provincial residents, gathered for a great despedida party at the St. John's Activities Center. Msgr. Que is being moved to a more challenging role in Manila and the thousands who wished him well and thanked him, were proof of the impact he has made in this city and province. In the 14 years he had worked here, he had earned the affection and respect of many who apparently are loath to see him leave. But, as Mayor Bing said at the party, for us here, “It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all”. Thank you and God bless, Monsignor! Keep on praying for our city and province, wherever you are.*

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