Pots and kettles again

The die has been cast. Despite the advices, even pleas from his well-meaning relatives and friends, boxing champion Manny Pacquiao was unable to resist the siren song of politics, and yesterday announced that he was running for the congressional seat in his native city, General Santos. Not even appeals through his website showing that 89 percent of the people who cared for him virtually begged him to desist, with only three percent in favor of his plan, could move him. Well, it's his life and it is his move if he wants to take risks, the way he does when he gets into the ring.

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In the case of Manny Pacquiao, however, the risk is not in the campaign because he not only has more than enough money to fund one, he also has the popularity to ensure his victory. The question is how he will perform as a congressman, whose main job is to craft bills to be made into laws, that will apply to the whole country and its citizenry. I felt very sad upon seeing his picture, grinning as if he knew what it's all about, with seasoned politicians Lito Atienza and Chavit Singson as props beside him. Alas, poor Manny. He wants to learn things the hard way.

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As expected, it was bedlam again at the Comelec when showbiz personalities showed up to beat the deadline and file their certificates of candidacy yesterday. First came Kiko Pangilinan with his wife, megastar Sharon Cuneta, Then came Ralph Recto with Vilma Santos and their entire family - Luis, formerly Lucky, Vilma's son with Edu Manzano, and Christian, the Recto-Santos offspring. A bit later, as if timed to the minute, came Richard Gomez with his Visayan wife, Lucy, who thankfully did not drag along their daughter Juliana. Oh what a rumpus their fans made, and how the characters themselves loved it. It's obvious that politics and show business have many things in common.

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What's the real story behind the alleged kidnap attempt on Philippine Tourism Authority head Robert Dean Barbers? Barbers had reported that he, his wife and their three children were almost kidnapped and only missed being victimized when a mediaman came along. He said some of the alleged abductors were cops. But reports yesterday said two witnesses have come out, saying it was no kidnap try but a simple traffic altercation, where it was Barbers who drew a gun and even hit one of the persons involved, who turned out to be a Philippine Air Force member. Later, reports also said, Barbers said there were two different incidents, the first was the traffic affair, and the second was the "kidnap try" encounter. This promises to be an interesting story, let's wait for the next installments or versions.

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So Madame Imelda Marcos has not given up her dream of becoming the mayor of Manila. Her spokesperson has reportedly clarified that she is not interested in running for senator, even for Congresswoman, but only for mayor of Manila. Anong say ni Mayor Lito Atienza? He who has been parading his son and heir as his successor for several months already? Furthermore, what has former Alfredo Lim and the other wannabes have to say about the revived brainstorm of Meldy? Perhaps she is still harking back to the days when her doting - and they say, philandering - husband let her have any position she wanted and she named herself the head of the Ministry of Human Settlements and the inspiration of The City of Man. The women's groups were not so active then.

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What does "poor" mean to someone like Ilocos Sur governor Luis Chavit Singson? Somebody checked his Statement of Assets and Liabilities for 2000 that was filed with the Ombudsman and it showed that he had then assets worth only a measly P1.2 million. Would you believe? Now, it noted, he maintains a P60 million yacht, a private plane, a submarine, a supermarket in Manila, and agricultural properties. That is to say nothing about his lions and tigers and other wild or exotic beasts that he keeps as pets. I understand that P1.4 is just the cost of two tigers. A friend of mine wanted to buy a cub and said it cost P500,000.

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One could only be amused at the perorations of the incumbent president of Russia, Vladimir Putin. He shocked American officials when he said that "the United States is out to dominate the world". I could only think of one comment: "Look who's talking," because an American beat me to the most appropriate quip when he snorted and called it "A case of the pot calling the kettle black". Only the pot no longer has the clout it used to have and can only simmer, while the kettle is still boiling over.*

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