Sack them, but not yet

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has declared that it is not satisfied with the performance of the Commission on Election in the latest election. Who is? Nevertheless, the CBCP is still very prudent. It wants the Comelec board to be revamped, but not yet. Well, it is not exactly, a revamp or reshuffling it wants, it is calling for a complete replacement of the membership. Will anybody listen?

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By the way, what is the latest on those computers and other paraphernalia already purchased by the government for use in elections that have been gathering dust for years now? Can they set them up for use, at least in the barangay election slated in October? I would say that hopes for that are dim, because, if they couldn't get them ready for the May 14 elections that had already long been set, how much more for the barangay polls that are to be held only about three months away? The excuses are built-in already. Expect more controversial results and more protests in October.

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Another beleaguered agency like Comelec is the Presidential Commission on Good Government that has been getting brickbats right and left for its performance that has been perceived to have done nothing good for the government. Just when calls for its abolition began to rise in decibels, it again got a blackeye when it lost the government some P220 million in properties of the Marcos family that the court gave back to them. Now that it is under fire, the PCGG is trying to impress us with the release of statements of its accomplishments. I'm afraid damage control is too late now.

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He is alive, this is definite, as proven by a text message he sent to his countrymen here. To authenticate his message, Fr. Giancarlo Bossi transmitted it in Italian, and it was translated to mean that he had gotten their message to him, and was asking them to facilitate his early release. But he also specified that they must not reply anymore, which I would take to mean that the cellphone would be taken away from him right after he had used it. I wonder how much it cost his compatriots to allow him to make the contact.

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I read with interest an item about the unveiling of a marker in honor of Philippine hero Jose Rizal in Brussels, Belgium. It confirms the continuing acknowledgement abroad of the greatness of this man. I know he also has memorials in some Asian countries who recognize him as The Great Malayan. I do not think any other son of this continent had been blessed with the gifts he had - a doctor, a writer, a novelist, a poet, a musician, a linguist, and, all right, a great lover as well. I have seen markers and memorials, two with his busts, in Heidelberg, Germany and two others in Austria. One of them was unveiled during a state visit of then President Fidel Ramos, and among those who were present was Negros Occidental 1st District Congressman Jules Ledesma.

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Meanwhile, another item yesterday said that the famous Charles Bridge in Prague, of the Czech Republic celebrated its 65th anniversary last Monday. This is a famous tourist spot in Prague and visitors are guided to cross it, on foot, so they can see the beautiful views of the two parts of the city. I don't know if they are true, but we were told that many "mysteries" had taken place on it. It was also President Ramos who led us there, and even acted as our photographer. Ever the prankster, he later asked us if we wanted to visit the famous Church of the Holy Infant of Prague. When we all chorused our approval, he said it was very near and we would only walk up to it.

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So we walked and walked - it was about 2 p.m. - until our tongues were almost hanging out, with him leading. It was only later that we found it was not that far, but being athletic himself, he chose to take the long way around. Anyway, he astounded us all when he and first lady Ming also joined us in kneeling and praying before the Santo Niño image (and I even took their picture). A fellow newshen whispered to me that since the EDSA I revolution when several people prayed for him and gave him Santo Niño images, he had always displayed one in his own office. Viva Santo Niño!*

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