Excitement at the SP

That was very interesting – and entertaining, I might say – news about a shouting match among the honorable members of the Bacolod City Sanggunian Panglungsod, or city council. What could have triggered the exciting show? The reports said it had something to do with the purchase by the city government of learning materials from a company that has been blacklisted. What I understand is that materials were not only purchased from a blacklisted company, they also cost more than those offered by other authorized suppliers.

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One can only wonder why the so-called honorable members of the Council are getting so hot-headed these days. The summer heat is gone and, in fact, we are now experiencing rainy and cold weather. So why are those officials so quick to get into arguments? What's bothering them? But at least there is one thing we can be grateful for. So far, none of them have actually come to blows, unlike those in, I think, Taiwan, who actually got into fisticuffs when arguing with each other. But I do recall that once a city councilor in Bacolod had challenged another to “go outside”, which in local lingo means he is ready for a boxing match. When will that happen? I hope someone will announce it, so the public can come and watch, and maybe even place bets.

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What did Donald Trump really say that has angered, not only Mexicans, but even other countries in South America? I looked up the past issues of national dailies and found out that what he had said was that “some Mexican immigrants to the United States bring drugs and crimes, and some are also rapists”. Just between us girls, as my journalism teacher (a male) used to say Trump was not far from the truth when he said that, and, after all, he did say “some Mexicans”, and did not condemn them all, but to some people, the truth hurts.

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It is very philanthropic of Manny and Jinkee Pacquiao to travel to Indonesia and attempt to help Mary Jane Veloso, a Pinay who has been sentenced to death on conviction of being a drug mule, but will they succeed? Is Indonesia also one of those countries that accept “blood money” to exonerate an accused person from a crime? They say that the alleged recruiter of Mary Jane are being indicted, but what help would that be to the one who is facing the firing squad? Even if her recruiters are found guilty, they will not have to pay with their lives, like Mary Jane. There is no death penalty in the Philippines. A pity, in cases like this.

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First, the problem was the alleged entry of fake rice in the Philippines. Government agents are now working to discover where it came from and who are responsible for bringing it in. Now we have warnings about fake money, especially P1,000 bills, some of which have been found circulating in Tandag, Surigao del Sur. Whoever the culprits are, they have wisely started testing their operations in rather distant places where they could easily flee in case their operations are discovered. The advisory about the fake bills reportedly came from the Land Bank of the Philippines.

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Our lawmakers seem to be trying to outdo each other in proposing measures for the benefit of senior citizens. Another one that has been filed would also impose a 20 percent discount on, and exemption from VAT of nutritional foods and drinks that are usually quite expensive. These special items are often prescribed for those suffering from diabetes, renal failure and hypertension. I'm sure a lot of seniors will appreciate that.

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Speaking of seniors' privileges, sometimes we can't blame drugstores and pharmacies from being suspicious or very strict about granting the privileges. A pharmacy owner, who was also a doctor, came to see me when a patient complained against his establishment for not allowing her to avail of a senior's discount. But the drugstore owner told me “How can I give her a discount when the medicine she was buying on a prescription for her was for a prostate problem?” I could not help laughing, but kidded him, “Maybe she is a rare female with prostate”.*

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