Oh to be as poor as Binay!

Vice President Jejomar Binay has been quoted as saying that his edge in this coming election for president is his being poor. That's the kind of “poor” I and dozens of my friends and colleagues want to be.

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Even if early results have shown that Myanmar presidential candidate Aung San Suu Kyi is leading by a landslide, many of her people are still apprehensive because the release of election results from all over the country has been very slow in coming. What tricks could those generals who compose the opposing party be up to? One or two of them have been reported in international wire dispatches to have conceded that “The Lady,” as Suu Kyi is popularly known, is likely to win, with a big majority of members of their parliament from her party. I have been expecting to hear the generals' group to start accusing her of having been aided by the American CIA.

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But even if I do not know anybody from Myanmar, I have been praying for that country to, at last, experience democracy. It has been reported that the military had been holding its people hostaged to their whims for almost 50 years. And theirs had been a brutal and corruption-laden rule, too. It's about time that they also enjoy self rule under a democratic leader, and one who has gone through many sacrifices, even by just choosing to stay with them, despite the attempts of the military to exile her, too. Her presence had been the factor that had kept her people's hope for liberation alive. I remember that even when her husband died in the United Kingdom, she wouldn't go there for his wake or burial, knowing she would never be allowed back again.

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So China has finally approved the amendment to its long observed one-child policy. Couples are now to be allowed to have two children, and government experts predict that this will mean some three million more babies every year. That is supposed to count for 30 million more workers by the year 2050. The problem is many couples are now no longer interested in having another child, especially those who may already be over the child-bearing age. Will the state pass a law ordering them to have one more child to meet its quota?

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A Korean tourist was found dead in a swimming pool at a resort in the city of Lipa, in Batangas. His body was found by his fellow Korean, also staying at the Meari Resort at about 10 p.m. The police said there was no foul play, and the resort owners must be relieved at that. But even if there was no foul play, they should not get away with the fact that there was also no lifeguard at the pool premises, when some guests could still be using it. For that matter, this should remind all resort operators, especially those with swimming pools, that their failure to provide lifeguards is a big liability on their part.

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Why do his fans keep on pestering Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to run for president. The fellow has said “No” so many times, even if sometimes his “No” does not sound negative at all. Until now many are still hoping that he will change his mind. The guy has already filed his certificate for reelection, and has given all kinds of reasons for not seeking the post. But those pushing him do not seem to give up, even if there are others who say theirs will just be an exercise in futility.

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President Aquino has signed the bill that will raise the salaries of government workers all throughout the country. That is wonderful news for the workers, especially now that the Christmas or spending season is nearing. But will the increase be included in the computation of their bonuses and other “gifts” for this season? That would certainly make a lot of families happy, and make them enjoy the season more .Some are griping that the increase will include the income of the president, too. What I understand is that it will affect that of the next Malacañang occupant, not this one. Anyway, PNoy is a bachelor, has no family to elate with his bonus, and wealthy enough not to care.

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Once again the loudmouth that is Floyd Mayweather has rejected bids for a rematch between him and our Pambansang Kamao, Manny Pacquiao. In his latest statement to the media, about the chances of such fight taking place, he snapped! “I'm retired. Period.” What do you say that period will become a comma if the price is right?” He is not known as Floyd Moneyweather for nothing, you know*

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