The guilty flee, said she

So Vice President Jejomar Binay was no-show at the Senate yesterday. What a disappointment for the members of the Blue Ribbon Committee who have been excitedly waiting for the chance to, figuratively, "get it from the horse's mouth." Me, I am inclined to think along the way the La Senadora, Miriam Santiago, does. After finding out that Binay had "Indianned" them, she quoted something like "The innocent are fearless, but the guilty flee". Was VP Binay fleeing? Yesterday's news said he flew to Cebu.

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Although it had been strongly hinted that he was going to be at the Senate, only his lawyers and advisers were issuing statements about their advice to him not to appear there. Well, that's as good an alibi as any. Perhaps the VP now believes that the whole thing that he is facing is indefensible? Only yesterday, somebody else came up to remind everyone of another overpriced project in Makati, this time the Makati City Science High School. Of course that was a good project, but what his detractors are saying is that it is overpriced by P850 million. Where did that money go?

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Sayang (What a pity)! How Bacole¤os would have enjoyed a front act for the Pacquiao-Algieri match that is supposed to take place on November 24 in Macau. Yesterday, they said, two councilors of Bacolod City almost staged a show during their session. Unfortunately, some of their colleagues are not boxing fans, so they stopped them. I'm sure residents and officials as well, will be talking about it for months, maybe for years. We haven't had a pugilistic Sanggunian member since almost 40 years ago, when a be-muscled weightlifter got voted in, and was said to roll up his sleeves whenever anyone crossed him.

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Speaking of Pacquiao, his fight with Mexican Antonio Margarito was replayed on TV yesterday and it was explained that the video was chosen because his next opponent, Chris Algieri, is about the same height as Margarito. Of course I had seen that fight, in person, in Las Vegas, but seeing the replay was as exciting as watching the original. Of course it was also being shown to drum up publicity for the fight, not only on TV, but especially the expensive pay-per-view, where one can avoid the commercials.

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Well, that fight took place, I think, in 2007 and Manny was also seven years younger, so he was so sprightly, so clever and elusive as he pummeled the poor Margarito whose face had become a bloody mess in the fifth or sixth round. But he did give a good fight, only he was no match for the speed, slippery move, and cunning of Pacquiao. By the sixth round the bigger, taller and longer-armed Mexican's face was already swollen from a big cut under his eye, but Manny managed to keep his face clean. Although Margarito was taller, the shorter Pacquiao managed to hit his face and his head more times. At that time, Manny was still making the sign of the cross everytime he started a round, and we  did the same, along with him. The judges were astute, it was a unanimous decision. How will he fare with this Algieri? Let's pray for him, anyway.

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It's not surprising that detained Senator Bong Revilla is seeking permission from the court to have a medical check-up. How can one not get all kinds of ailments after being cooped up for so many months now? His request is said to contain a litany of ailments that require tests that can be administered only in a high-end hospital. What about Senator Jinggoy Estrada, has he not  sought leave to also have a check-up? Unfortunately for them, they are not as old as their fellow detainee, former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, whose age alone qualifies him for hospitalization anytime.

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Tomorrow is the first anniversary of the visit of Supertyphoon Yolanda, an event that will long be remembered in the history of our country. This was when unimaginable amounts of rain and strong winds created what our people had not named before, and which weather experts introduced as a "storm surge", an upheaval of the sea that slammed   its waters on several communities, leaving death and destruction in their wake. Until now, the number of fatalities has not been fully determined yet, but they say 6,000 is a reasonable estimate.

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Yolanda had its blessings, too, because, at least, it brought our sufferings to the eyes of people everywhere who sympathized with us and were generous with their help. We are grateful for that, but we hope and pray such concern and charity will never again be necessary. As we mark Yolanda's anniversary, let us not forget to pray for the people who are still trying to rebuild their lives, and for the Lord  to bless and protect us all from such a calamity again. Amen.*

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