Jessica is still there

Hurrah! Our little girl made it! There were only three contestants left standing when the American Idol show went into its latest elimination, yesterday, and Jessica Sanchez was still there when the smoke cleared. She was standing between the two other finalists, both men, looking a bit lonely, but also triumphant. It is no mean feat to get into that set, and, thanks to the massive efforts of Filipinos, and possibly also Mexicans, in the United States, the votes showed she still has a strong chance.

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Doomsayers are moaning that Jessica may not be able to overcome the votes that the black community will haul in for their bet. That remains to be seen. If most Americans of whatever color, are scrutinizing the reactions of the judges and are guided by them in their vote, little Jessica could still come out the first female idol after so many of the latest contests that seemed to favor males. Let's cross our fingers and pray for her.

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If Jessica makes it, she might even make some of our people forget about the Scarborough Shoal impasse, and the airport drama featuring the Santiago showbiz couple and the media's Brothers Four. It looks as if the first to get punished were the brothers of Ramon Tulfo who, enraged at seeing their kuya with lumps and a blackened eye, reportedly swung out at actress Claudine Baretto, her husband Raymart Santiago, and their gangmates. One thing Claudine proved in the melee as captured on video, is that she could make a female UFC brawler.

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As for the Tulfos, well, their program is called “Kapatid ko, Sagot Ko”, or roughly, I will answer for my brother. So they were just reacting according to form. They and their radio and TV programs have been suspended, and they may face other sanctions as well. They have apologized, but haven't convinced the Santiagos who now claim they are in fear for their lives and safety. It was all right in the airport, they had so many swinging with them, but how can they face a Tulfo ALONE, as one of them had challenged, in a bout?

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If Sky Cable only knew how many and how virulent were the curses aimed at them by Bacolod residents who suddenly found themselves deprived of their news and other programs, they would probably get feverish from “tuyao (curse)”. All day long we were waiting and at first tried to understand when some apology and explanation was flashed on the screen. But the whole afternoon and night was too much. At the STAR newsroom, it seemed eerie not to have sounds of news stories, both local and international.

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The worst was when the time for the showing of American Idol came around and still the idiot box remained mute and sightless. What happened? Calls to the company were answered that they working on it and that everything will be all right soon. Somebody from the STAR called them and was told they would email their answer or their schedule, but up to midnight, it was still the sounds of silence that prevailed. Shouldn't we be given rebates for the time lost?

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Oh, Oh. China is making us feel the power of its money by cancelling tours to the Philippines because of the Scarborough affair. That's right, hit us in the breadbasket. But your tourists will be the losers, if they go anywhere else. Haven't they heard that it's more fun in the Philippines? Wait until they see those P63 million ads on CNN promoting the fun here. They'll be sorry.

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I knew what was going to happen next after first gentleman Mike Arroyo was allowed by the court to leave the country. If FG goes, can GMA be far behind? Yesterday reports said that medical tests undertaken by the former president showed that something else was wrong with her and that she needs to go abroad for treatment. Naturally, her hubby will have to extend his stay abroad to take care of her while she is undergoing treatment. And the government was paying all those hospital bills – for what?*

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