What knocked Manny down?

To the casual reader, the news might not have held any import at all. So what if Malacañang has announced that it will regulate its advertising budget? That's no big deal. In fact, it might even appear as if the government is trying to save on expenses. But if that were so, then, perhaps, the word used would have been to "reduce" its budget for advertisements. Seasoned publishers and editors, especially in Manila, knew immediately what that means: they will no longer get as many advertisements from government-owned offices and agencies as they used to.

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This will especially apply to those media entities that have not been cooperating with the administration. Among the newspapers who understand what this means is the popular Daily Inquirer. A few years ago, it was boycotted by some entities for similar reasons. Whoever thought up this gambit, must be very resourceful, indeed. He or she knows where the media can be effectively hit, and that is right in the bread basket.

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Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has passed the Appropriations Act, commonly known as the budget. And, according to one of its members, they will all still get their much-coveted cuts of pork from it. Oh yes, it is also known as the "Priority Development Assistance Fund", so don't call it pork barrel anymore, that's a dirty word. The congressmen will get P70 million, it says. What about the Senators, will it go back to P200 million, or stay at P125 million? The people want to know.

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Here's a reminder to cellphone addicts. Movie actor Matt Ranillo is now being treated in a hospital for serious injuries he had suffered while using one. No, it did not electrocute him or explode in his ear. The report said he was walking on a road near the Batasan while talking on his mobile phone and did not notice the manhole cover on his way. When he stepped on it, it broke, and he fell ten feet below. It was not until four women working nearby happened to hear his shouts that anybody knew where he was.

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I hope that by this time, the proponents of the Small-Town Lottery, or STL, will already have put their acts together. So many are confused about it, how it will be set up, who is in charge, things like that. A few days ago, it was understood that Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn, the Anti-Jueteng tzar, was to be the one to handle it. In fact, wasn't that supposed to be the reason why he had recruited former whistleblower Michelangelo Zuce to his team? And why Zuce forsook all others, including Archbishop Oscar Cruz, to join him?

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Well, the latest is that it will be the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office that will take care of the STL baby. And some places like Quezon City, Quezon Province and Angeles City have already been pilot-testing the project. Why then is there news that the Philippine National Police is threatening to arrest anybody found operating it in the country? The PNP spokesman was quoted as saying it is still an illegal game and they will make arrests. Then comes the Local Government Secretary saying they will stop STL first because they need clarification on the guidelines yet. See what we mean?

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The campaign for signatures to show acceptance of the People's Initiative mode of changing the Constitution will start tomorrow. Some officials are urging voters to sign up, some civic and religious groups are warning them not to. Well, we cannot stop those who have been convinced it is the best, but for those who are not, but will sign with the proper motivation, I'd like to inform them that there were reports yesterday that in some places in Luzon, signature hunters get P200 for every name they collect. If you have to sell your soul, don't sell it cheap, please.

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Meanwhile, I heard that boxing icon Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao had to be taken to the Cardinal Santos Hospital in Mandaluyong on Tuesday. Seems he had gotten so fagged out, not only by his endless shooting appointments for those advertisements and endorsements, he also could not stop himself from playing billiards (or is it pool?) far into the night. Anyway, his friends say it's nothing serious or life-threatening, just plain tiredness, as in "over-fatigued". His trainer is reportedly flying to Manila to scold him.*

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