Be honest!

In many offices and in some public places, are posters, placed by the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen of the Philippines. It says: "Be honest! / Even if others are not! / Even if others will not! / Even if others can not!"

This is taken from Proverbs 10:9 which in my own little Bible says, "Honest people will be safe and secure but the dishonest will be caught."

I hope BCBP will take this campaign more seriously. Many will join them. Let us flood the city and province with these slogans. This is one way we can change our people.

Let the manager of every business have this sign hang in his office for all his people to see. If possible, in every office or even in every table.

BCBP does not have to spend. Just produce them en masse and sell them to every office. They will pay.

BCBP in the process might make a little amount to be used for future campaigns for honesty.

Salute to you all at BCBP.

***

Election is over. Expect to have a lull in the discussion of issues. Congressman Monico Puentevella has shown he is smarter than others.

There will be a semblance of reconciliation but last Saturday was already the start of the campaign for the mayorship in 2010.

As I wrote, the 2010 election will be more exciting.

Last week we discussed over television the topic "What If" with Modi Sa-onoy and Alex Espino.

As per suggestion by many, this time we will discuss with Modi again and Toti Ramos a related topic, "What Now?" We will tape it this afternoon and show it tonight at 7 p.m. We'll try to have Alex with us again.

Toti suggested the new topic, "Ti, nano na karon?" but Job Lamela who saw the "What If" said, the best is to say, "What Now?"

***

Many believe a conflict between Bing Leonardia and Monico Puentevella will bring more benefits to Bacolod. Both will outdo each other in working for the best interest of the city.

Both will also be watching each other and, if warranted, file cases with the Ombudsman.

I was told Monico will dig up all the skeletons in Bing's closets. And likewise Bing will dig up all the funds Monico got from his pork barrel and find out where they were spent and whether they were spent wisely.

This is politics. This is survival.

***

In other places, people showed they are the sovereign will.

In Pampanga, the home province of the President her candidates for Governor, Board Member Lilia Pineda and incumbent Gov. Mark Lapid lost to a priest, Fr. Ed Panlilio.

Panlilio had no party, no party machine, no funds except the contribution of the people and even free legal services by lawyers. Pampagueños came out in force, even spending their own money to have Panlilio win.

Pampagueños could not stand the lahar and other scams attributed to Lapid and do not want the wife of a suspected jueteng lord to lead the province.

***

The Valeras of Abra and the Josons of Nueva Ecija lost their old fiefdoms. The people voted them out.

Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao was knocked out by incumbent Darlene Custodio in the first round of the Congressional fight. So with Virgilio Garcillano.

And many more. Old families close to the President lost.

Antonio Trillanes, a mutiny leader, in jail and could not campaign is there within the Magic 12 as of latest Namfrel count.

A vote for Trillanes is a protest vote. And so with another mutineer and former senator Gringo Honasan, known as leader of past coup d'etats. The vote for Honasan is also a protest vote. Two senatorial candidates in the Magic 12 now are not a pro-GMA. They are independent-minded, Joker Arroyo and Edgardo Angara.

***

All these are wake-up calls for the President. This is the time now to act like a real President. Stop graft and corruption, send them to jail to show she has not been protecting many of them.

She should read the signs before making decisions now.*

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