What tsunamis
can also cause

Would you believe? Boxing icon, and eight division titlist Manny Pacquiao is going to preach to some priests during their recollection in Marbel, Cotabato. Seems Pacman has already become an expert on the Bible, and has even been named an ambassador on it by the church. How will this affect his career as a boxer? Fortunately the Ten Commandments do not say “Thou shalt not box or hit thy neighbor”.

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Japan observed the anniversary of the deadly tsunami that hit one of its prefectures last year, causing the death of more than 15,000 people with 3,451 still missing to this day. Worse, the strong waves also destroyed the nuclear plant located in the area, and until now, former residents have to avoid it for fear of the radiations that could cause serious health problems. The Japanese people, especially those who were affected, having lost their loved ones, their homes and properties, held a day of recollection on Saturday, in typical conservative fashion.

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But there was something interesting, especially to us Pinoys, about the happenings in the places hit by tsunami. Until now, reports say, people believe that the ghosts of those killed continue to haunt the place. Some say it is because they died so suddenly, that their spirits have not yet adjusted to the fact that they are no longer alive. A taxi driver was even reported as saying that when he passes through the place, he does not dare to stop or pick up passengers, because they might turn out to be ghosts! Does that not sound like drivers in Manila’s Balete Drive long ago? So the Japanese are like us, in that way, aren’t they?

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By the way, a wire report also said that, with the movement of the earth caused by the tsunami in Japan, Honshu Island has been noted to move closer to the United States! What if another tsunami – heaven forbid – strikes again? Will another island or province edge closer to the U.S. or to another country, maybe even attaching itself to it? What will our historians and scientists call it then? A tsunamic invasion?

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Oh my! That’s a lot of guns that have been reported to have been licensed in the name of Chief Justice Renato Corona. And why was that report, with the enumeration and the make of all those guns – including high-powered ones pa – revealed soon after relatives of his wife disclosed that he had threatened an old caretaker at the family property by pointing one at the poor fellow’s head and asking him if he wanted it to be blown off! The caretaker reportedly signed an affidavit, confirming the incident. But he is dead now, and will the Senate-Court accept that paper? Or will it say “Dead men tell no tales”?

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But maybe the Chief Justice also wants to have some guns, knowing that President Noynoy is a gun buff, and, in fact goes to target practice now and then. This gets more interesting, especially with the challenge of some media people for the two of them to face its other in a debate. Suppose both reply that, instead of words and more words, they just face each other and then count ten paces, and BLAM! End of High Court head, or end of Malacañang resident. Also end of the trial that is now becoming boring.

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But there’s a piece of good news, as announced by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines. In a press release, the TUCP said that the famous Wells Fargo, one of the oldest and biggest financial institutions in the United States, is moving some of its business activities to the Philippines, after two others, the J.P. Morgan Chase and Citigroup Inc. had also done the same. This, according to the TUCP announcement, means about 126,000 new job openings for Filipinos. If they come in, or if they have already established their offices here, that means this month’s graduates will have a new place where to apply for jobs. Good luck to them.

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According to the same announcement, these financing groups are attracted to move part of their operations to the Philippines because we have plenty of college educated potential workers, who are also fluent and articulate in English, as well as equipped with technological savvy. Ironically, this comes just shortly after an announcement from Education officials that soon will be having local dialects as medium of instruction for pre-school and elementary students.*

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