The children come home

Fans of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao are very excited at the news that he will be in Bacolod today to join the newly elected and re-elected officials at their inaugural rites at the public plaza. Everybody thought that he would not be able to come as his office had indicated that he was already leaving for the United States today or tomorrow in preparation for his grand encounter. But Manny, who takes his being an adopted son of Bacolod seriously, decided to join his fellow Bacoleños today. Thank you, and welcome, Manny!

***

By some coincidence, the decision of Manny P to come to Bacolod came at about the same time that the schedule of his next engagement was announced. Reports yesterday said it is now confirmed: His next opponent will be Marco Antonio Barrera, whom he had vanquished in 2003. That was the time when the Philippine ring idol's star really started to soar, and now he is ranked by almost all the reputable boxing publications as the best, or one of the very best.

***

It's not only the Pacman, but several other Bacoleños and Negrenses now in town who will be attending the rites at the Bacolod plaza this afternoon. Last night, I met some of them, like Allan Gomez, now a Riverside, California resident, his sister Rosalie Biznar, from Vancouver, Canada, Nonoy Cordova from Las Vegas, who was one of our group during the 2006 bout between Pacquiao and Morales, and Eleanor Alonzagay Fukuda, from Tokyo, Japan. It is truly heartwarming to see how our kababayans, who may be ex-pats now, still retain that bond with their folks back home, and keep up with the developments here. Welcome to all of you!

***

I was amused to hear a report that Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon said he had "no objections" to the appointment of former Congressman Gilberto Teodoro as the new secretary of the Department of National Defense. Would it matter if he had any? He also said he was happy that his former fellow general and "tocayo" Hermogenes Ebdane was being sent back to the Department of Public Works and Highways, known to be the happiest hunting ground for those who go for great game. Me, I am glad that the new DND head is not a military men. I really felt that former secretary Nonong Cruz was doing a good job, but he did not know how to keep his thoughts to himself.

* * *

As for Teodoro, he may come from what you would call a blue-blooded family, but the young man has proven himself, not only as a member of the House of Representatives but even as a professional. He is a bar topnotcher, and also holds a master's degree from the National Defense College, a very useful background for the job he is getting into. Another person I know who holds the same degree is Senate topnotcher and former vice-presidential candidate Loren Legarda. I also heard that 12 cabinet members have been reappointed and will have to go through the Commission on Appointments again. As the saying goes, If at first you don't succeed…

***

Perhaps they have better chances of succeeding this time, since the alleged scam in the CA exposed by Congressman Herminio Teves may have scared the crocodiles there a bit. Furthermore, other "victims" of the appointing process have also surfaced and have confirmed the earlier claims that the "extortion" could be in cash or in kind, the latter referring to concessions from the prospective cabinet man, like jobs for recommendees or projects for their constituents. As another saying goes, there are many ways of skinning a cat, or killing a dog.

****

A couple in Manila who are both cosmetics surgeons have reported to the police that they are being threatened by some people identifying themselves as rebels. The so-called rebels are asking the doctors, who run a very successful clinic where those who want to alter their appearance or enhance their physical attributes go, to pay them protection money or some P1.5 million a month. That's strange, because they have not bothered (or maybe she keeps quiet about it) another cosmetic surgeon who seems to have a bigger and wealthier clientele. Perphaps the doctors should make an "exchange deal" with the alleged rebels - protection in exchange for plastic surgery on the faces of their wanted members, so they can go around freely once again. Deal?*

back to top