It was just money, money, money

Is he in or is he out? That was the situation of former sportsman and congressman Romeo Jalosjos, in jail these past 11 years for the rape of an 11-year-old girl. For several weeks now, it was believed that it was only a matter of time before Jalosjos, like the former President Joseph Estrada, would also walk free. This was because Malacañang had been talking about a policy of releasing convicts who have reached the age of 70 already, which applies to both Erap and Jalosjos.

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Reports said December 16, the first day of the Misa de Aguinaldo, would be the day of liberation for Jalosjos. Back in his home province, Zamboanga del Norte, where he is still considered very popular, his supporters had prepared a grand homecoming with yellow balloons all over the place. The yellow color was supposed to convey, as in the popular song, the message that the former congressman was still very much wanted by his people. Jalosjos himself celebrated his expected day of freedom by attending the first Misa de Gallo, or dawn mass, and receiving Holy Communion, probably in thanksgiving.

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But it turned out that he was all packed up with no place to go but back to his cell. Probably stung by the criticisms and protests from various groups, especially the women's, against the forgiving of the convict, Malacañang seems to have backtracked, and, naturally there was Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez to absorb the shock. Legalities were cited, and as of this writing, it was not sure anymore whether Jalosjos would be able to see those yellow balloons, and have media noche with his family.

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How he must envy former President Joseph Estrada, who is now walking free, visiting squatters, handing out Christmas gifts as if he were still the president, and attending parties to dance the night away. Erap had been detained for only six years, and in very comfortable quarters at that. Where in the world have you ever seen anything like that? The moral lesson: If you must commit crimes while in office, pick plunder instead of rape. You'll get freed sooner.

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Meanwhile, those who had been watching with bated breath the journey of the bill that is supposed to ensure cheaper prices of medicines in the country, had better release it now. It looks as if it still has a long, long way to go, the way the hemming and hawing over it is going. As of the moment, it looks as if it is the octogenarian from Cebu , Rep. Pablo Garcia, who is the one blocking its passage by raising objections to it. The authors of the bill are getting frantic, they do not want to wait for more sessions before it gets passed.

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Garcia may have his reasons, but the poor people, especially the ones who are sick or have sick children, cannot understand why anybody would object to this kind of law. Some say perhaps Garcia has never known poverty. Well, Garcia was the former governor of Cebu , the position his daughter now holds, his son is the very influential president and general manager of the Government Service Insurance System, another son was formerly mayor of Cebu Ctiy. You don't get to places like those if you are wallowing in poverty. In the meantime, those who cannot afford to buy from drugstores should start patronizing siruhanos and hilots, and turn to medicinal plants in their backyards for relief.

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Money, money, money. If one were to believe the officials of the recent “debacle” that was the Southeast Asian Games, it was only lack of money that had made our athletes and teams lose. So that was why even officials were already talking defeat even before the teams left. They did not like the idea that they weren't given all the money they wanted in order to get medals. What kind of thinking is that, if one were talking about sports and sportsmanship? But some of our athletes and players did win gold medals. They strove with all their might to make their country proud. Did they not complain about money, or were they wealthy and didn't need to worry about MONEY?

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Well, we have to accept that we were beaten, trounced, humiliated, outscored, outpunched, outrun, outshot, outpointed, in many events. But we did have some honorable ones out there, ones who played for country without thinking of money. And they won gold medals, too, bless them.*

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