STATURES AND STATUES

The Japanese really know how to deal with Filipinos. They know that most of our leaders and officials are scammers, free-loaders and, in the words of the late Chino Roces, "highwaymen."

I remember when a Japanese cigaret manufacturer contributed some 250,000 packs of cigarets - or 5 million sticks for distribution to a rally on EDSA (Quezon City side) many years ago. And to think that the same city was supposed to be under a smoking ban then. So how come those EDSA organizers accepted the donation?

Recently, another "donation" to Quezon City was consumated, perhaps coinciding with its honorable mayor's "balimbing act." This pertains to Mayor Sonny Belmonte's pledge of allegiance to the Liberal Party, announcing to the whole city his undying support for Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas. Of course, Vice-Mayor Herbert Bautista wasn't far behind. He was on a yellow leash as well. And what better way to reinforce this partisan commitment than to erect yet another statue of Ninoy Aquino right in the heart of Quezon City. The structure now stands on the corner of sleazy Quezon Avenue and Timog. That corner happens to be a bottleneck too because unruly jeepney drivers load and unload their passengers right there causing traffic.

And perhaps, many still remember a donation to the province of Tarlac of a statue of Ninoy Aquino during President Cory's regime. This donation was made by one of the bidders of the Philippines Roppongi property in Japan - whose sale was (and still is) the object of question and controversy, not to mention the all-expenses paid junkets national and local officials then have made several times to Tokyo. Many of these Aquino officials even had the shamelessness to ask their hosts for "pocket money" to finance their spending sprees.

Do you still wonder why our former enemies still regard us as trash, abuse our women, and dump their toxic garbage on our piers, even to the extent of having our senators kiss the wooden sandals of the Yakuza in the country?

(Image from http://politicalarena.com/ and http://farm1.staticflickr.com/85/233597063_0a35788487.jpg)

QUESO CITY: A RAT'S HAVEN

Prof. Alan Paguia, who lives in the QC 'Scout' area says, "Illegal gambling is spreading in Quezon City. Not content with being the "sex capital of the Philippines," Quezon City is now also a gambling haven, and it's all illegal. No Pagcor presence. Jueteng is flourishing. Bookie joints are everywhere in Cubao. Like the prostitution joints and gay bars, illegal gambling in QC must be getting some kind of protection from City Hall, otherwise, they could not have had it this good. Where is the Philippine National Police (PNP) in all these? Where is the Rule of Law in all these? What we see here is a government with the shadow of a criminal syndicate."

I couldn't agree more with Prof. Paguia's observation. I may not be a resident of Quezon City, but I certainly go there at least twice a week and I see all these places he is talking about. They're all over the Quezon Avenue strip. And on Paguia's query on the PNP's presence? Well, they're all over the place as well, giving protection to these prostitution syndicates. You see them every single night collecting "protection fees" from managers and operators of these bars and similar establishments. And who are really the frequent patrons of these girlie bars? People in high places, sporting low-numbered plates, and all types of lords. For a country that boasts of being the "only Christian nation in Asia" (this is a big lie!), we sure know how to show our neighbors the Christian way of living. Time to help SB and Bistek!

(Image from http://farm1.static.flickr.com/52/114620513_35a3d89060_m.jpg/)

BISTEK'S OVERKILL

Just last night, I received a text message from a friend who was having his usual coffee treat at his favorite UCC Coffee on Tomas Morato, QC. He was barely on his third sip when suddenly, a deluge of white Mitsubishi Adventure vehicles (three or four) complete with blinkers and sirens, arrived tailing a Suburban which was being escorted by a motorcycle cop. The passenger was Quezon City Vice-Mayor Herbert Bautista who was entering a next-door spa. His "arrival" I was told caused quite a commotion, sort of an "animal arrive," or "hayop ang dating." Upon alighting from his vehicle, his security detail were acting a la secret service men. Okay, I'm over-reacting again. But who really is over-acting here? Herbert is ONLY a vice-mayor. Does he have to "announce" his arrival for all to see? There's always a discreet way of going to places you see. Methinks he overdid it last night, as probably in other similar occasions. In a country where wealth and power are openly displayed, it would be wise to not display them so much as to cause quite a stir. Not to mention the anger from citizens who think so lowly of people in elected and appointive positions. Tip: Arrival 101: Discreetly and Stealthily.

(Image from http://www.yehey.com/

BOXUS ET LEXUS

My unimpeachable source tells me that boxing great Manny Pacquiao purchased last year the Lexus club along Timog avenue in Quezon City to the tune of PhP35 million. Having done this away from the usual publicity and fanfare, I wonder what giant NIKE (International) thinks about this - with Manny having signed a US$20 million product endorsement contract with them, on condition that he behaves like a good little innocent altar boy, staying away from cigarets, alcohol and gambling such as sabong and casinos, and of course from prostitution joints posing as entertainment theatres and health clubs - like Lexus, and for a guy who shows care for our environment, he surely will be taking good care of the wildlife in Quezon City. I wonder, will former Bayanihan dancer Lito Atienza be doing a macho dance number when the night club reopens under its new management?

(Image from http://www.pcij.org/)