Just form a foundatione

News headline yesterday: "Senate to probe poll fraud, vows Lacson". Promise, ha?

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Well, that was re-elected senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson speaking. But, will there be a Senate to do the probing, if another senator, the inimitable, irascible and unstoppable Miriam Defensor Santiago gets her wish? Yesterday, she was fuming on TV, "Dapat bombahan ang Senado. Kasi wala na kaming ginawa doon, mag-away ng away lang (The Senate should be bombed, because all we do there is quarrel and quarrel)". Well, that was a senior - she declared she is already 62 and should have a quieter life - indicting her own office. But what if some bomber takes her seriously?

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What triggered the outburst on a day when she should have been glowing with happiness because it was her birthday? Seems somebody reminded her about the declaration of some senators that they are not accepting their shares of the much-maligned countryside development fund, a.k.a more appropriately as the ignonimous "PORK BARREL". Miriam was actually scoring those who said that, because, at the time, she had just donated P6 million from her own pork fund to the Philippine General Hospital. How could she spread the sunshine without her share of the pork? Of course she wouldn't give away her legal fees, or her husband's winnings.

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So she slammed those who are rejecting the pork as "Hypocrites", for not accepting the P200 million each they are supposed to receive for being in the Senate. Those in the Lower House, the congressman, get a little less, but I hear they make up by cottoning to the President, saying yes, yes, and making clap-clap to everything she says. You know how La Miriam is when she's on the warpath. The eyes flash, the lips quiver, and some invisible smoke seems to come out of her mouth and ears. And the new Congress has not yet started.

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Senator Ping Lacson, who was obviously alluded to, was given a chance to comment, and he was cool, calm and collected, as usual. He just said it is not true that the pork that is not released to them goes to some undeserving pockets. Actually many people agree with Lacson in his concept of his office and duties. Although a military man and not a lawyer, he realizes that the function of a Senator - and also of congressmen - is to do research and propose bills that will become laws and benefit the country and its citizens. It is not their duty to build roads and bridges, construct buildings, or perform executive and administrative functions, as so many of their ilk are doing.

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And that is the evil in the pork barrel that decent solons are trying to avoid. They know what great temptations access to those millions will pose. And those millions invariably go to expenses that assure the reelection even of the most corrupt and conscience-less members of congress, if not to their acquisition of unimaginable properties and bank deposits. If the latest senator, rebel soldier Antonio Trillanes, will make good his vow to also not accept his pork barrel largesse, I will surely regret that I did not vote and even campaign for him.

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An official of the Technical and Education Skills Development Authority or TESDA, has been fired because of graft and corruption. The executive director of the agency was found guilty of soliciting P20,000 to P50,000 from his own colleagues that was remitted to a private foundation, and then later transferred to another foundation with the high-sounding name of "Skills Excellence Philippine Foundation". Aha! Where did they all learn about foundations being the convenience for theft and spiriting away of public money? Is there a modern Madame Roland who will cry: "Foundations! What crimes are committed in thy name!"

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The cocktail party organized by Angie Echauz and her innovative daughter Maggie to launch their newest project, the "Downtown Bistro" was very successful and marked with the distinctive Sea Breeze touch. The new bistro, located right within the hotel's ground floor, promises to be the answer to the longing of clients for a beautiful and convenient place serving the best dishes, at down-to-earth prices. The fare is just the thing for vegetarians, and meat lovers can also have their pick from the well chosen menu. Of course I am biased, because some of the best dining-outs I've done and the most memorable parties I've gone to, took place at the Sea Breeze Hotel where the dining area now has a more attractive view.*

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