Thanks for waiting, Ofel!

Bacoleños have another reason to give thanks after the closing of their MassKara Festival 33. Tropical Storm Ofel, who was just hovering in the periphery of the country has decided to come in, and, as of yesterday, was already making itself felt in the two ends of Negros Occidental. Yesterday, Wednesday, was already the third day after the merrymaking ended, and most of the visitors had already left. The remaining few, however, will have to linger a bit more, because traveling is not advisable now.

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We found this out yesterday afternoon when we went to the Bredco Area to get tickets for a trip to Iloilo. We were just getting off our vehicle when one of the porters came up to us and said, Sorry, Maam, there are no more trips today and maybe until tomorrow. He said a typhoon was coming, so all sea-going vessels were stopped from sailing. It was when we got to the DAILY STAR office that we saw the weather report showing that Signal No. 2 was up in Northern Negros and No. 1 in the rest of the province. I also heard that most plane passengers also changed their flight plans.

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Even if some rain did fall while Bacolod was celebrating its festival, it always stopped to allow the major shows to go on. During the dance competition at the public plaza, the rain did not even stop the performers, who went on as if they never felt the raindrops. That's the MassKara spirit for you! I remember that last year, there was also threat of storms and, in fact, there was continuous rain the week before, but the weather cleared beautifully during the festival week. And then the rains came back immediately after it was over! We are indeed blessed. Maybe it was because, this time, we were also celebrating Holy Rosary Month, and our prayers were answered.

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More about the weather – the court in L'Aquila, Italy, obviously does not believe in the expression “unpredictable as the weather”. It convicted seven of its scientists, weathermen, I understand – for not being able to predict the earthquake in 2009 that killed about 300 people. The scientists were accused of not being able to warn the people and thereby prevent the loss of lives. At first the scientists thought the charges were not to be taken seriously. They probably never thought that the judge would not only convict them, but also mete them the penalty of six years imprisonment. The seven, led by a former head of the country's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, the equivalent of our Phivolcs, probably never predicted what would hit them.

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Meanwhile, if it is true that the Commission on Election has already pruned the party list roster of some 50 groups, we may have only about 70 of them left when election and proclamation come around. Well, those 70 remaining could mean 70 more to be gifted with P70 million each per year, that is, if they all manage to get the required number of votes. I do admit that some of them are proving that they deserve to be in Congress, but I also agree with Senator Ping Lacson that the party list system was prostituted during the previous administration. The revelations of the Comelec chairman about the people occupying partylist slots in Congress now certainly proves this.

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Because of the complaints and condemnation of the so-called existence of political dynasties in this country, the Philippine Senate is giving the people a little consolation by announcing that it is holding hearings on them. Would you believe? Many senators themselves have their children, wives, nephews, and other close relatives seeking political positions, or are already occupying some. So what are the hearings in aid of? Just something to placate the complainers, until their dynasty members secure their places?

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What happened to President Noynoy Aquino? A very late report last night said he had to leave the state dinner for him hosted by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard because he was not feeling well. He did not even start eating the three course dinner with fish as the main course. Earlier we saw photos of him rubbing noses on foreheads with some natives. Did something else rub in? Let's hope he gets better today and completes his schedules.*

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