THE REPUBLIC OF ILOKOSLOVAKIA

The Republic of Ilokoslovakia may someday soon become a reality. Ilocano leaders possibly led by Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr., Luis 'Chavit' Singson and Roque 'Roquito' Ablan Jr. are reported readying a manifesto for the creation of an Autonomous Ilocos Region (AIR) composed of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan and some other Ilocano provinces. One of its genuine ilocano (GI) leaders said that "if Mindanao and the Cordilleras can gain autonomy, there is no reason why we cannot do the same." And no, their flag will not depict a hammer and tobacco right next to a cup of bagoong and their clenched-fist salute does not mean they are holding tight to their pesos. At the rate our country is being dismembered, we will soon be a nation of dinuguan. Uh-oh, another MOA in the making?

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IT'S PAYBACK TIME ONCE AGAIN (PART 2)

So, it's payback time once again for some (and soon for all) of the losing Team Unity bets. Paid recently were former Senator and lifetime comedian Tito Sotto to the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB); former Senator Ralph Recto (aka Mr. Santos) to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA); former Presidential Chief of Staff and Congressman Mike Defensor, who recently bagged the Nickel in Beijing at the same time that the rest of the international athletes were dying for the Gold - Mike settles so happily for the Nickel with no less than President Gloria Arroyo in attendance to witness the contract signing; former printing machine salesman and Congressman Prospero 'Butch' Pichay (itanim sa senado, o ibaon sa lupa?) to the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA); and quite recently, former Ilocos Sur Governor/whistle-blower/Erap nemesis/Pacquiao patron - Luis 'Chavit' Singson as Deputy National Security Adviser (DNSA). Methinks Sotto should just continue recording 'Laff Hits' with brother Vic and celebrity comedian Joey de Leon, while Recto should redeem himself from the nomenclature "Ang Rectong 'Di Claro," while Defensor should explain how a losing company like GeoGrace can bag a multi-million dollar Nickel project from China. As for Pichay, shouldn't he just return to selling printing machines? After all, elections are just around the corner, and he sure could corner a lot of sales both from government and private businesses. And last but not least, Singson - well, he does have many friends and connections both in the intelligence community and in the unintelligent community. Unlike the rest who are more of a liability to GMA than an asset, Singson might just deliver the goods to the government, so to speak. He is a deep-rooted politician and well-connected, contrary to his superior NSA Norberto Gonzales, whose only known connection is with the executives who signed with him the forgotten Venable Contract with government. More rewards are coming soon. Forget the Civil Service Commission. Forget the career executives in government. When Gloria pays back a political debt, she certainly overpays!

(Image from http://farm1.static.flickr.com/ & http://www.boholchronicle.com/)