Lea Salonga concert moved

Is it for real this time? Speaker Jose de Venecia was quoted in yesterday's news as saying that Filipino veterans of World War II are getting a $90 million package from the Americans this year. How many times have we heard of such hope-rousing stories as that? JdV says he heard this from U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi who said they “will try” to organize a financial package for Pinoy war vets. Well, let's pray this is not another cruel joke on the now diminishing number of Filipino veterans, whose hopes for equity have been going up and down for more than 60 years now.

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Local Pinoys, meanwhile are only hoping for the passage of the law that would prune down the prices of medicines so they would be within the reach of the ordinary citizen. It is now known to most of us that our country has the highest prices of medicines among our Asian neighbors. Many of these medicines cost as much as ten times more here than in other countries. And it is appalling to note that what is being seen as the reason for the higher prices is that pharmaceutical companies, and the producers of the medicines, spend so much for promotions among doctors, to ensure that they prescribe their brands.

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Will 2008 see the approval of this much-awaited law? Not if the lobby from the influential pharmaceutical companies succeed. Note that they had even succeeded in stalling discussions on the bill in the last Congress. Remember how one of them even had the temerity to send a note to a congressman, telling him to question the quorum during a session? They're that powerful, and, alas, we cannot be sure of the integrity of many of our solons.

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One interesting thing I noted after reading and hearing all the discussions on the cheaper medicines bill is the role of Ilonggo congressmen in the introduction and sponsorship of laws involving medicine. The Generics Act was the baby of a congressman from Iloilo , the late Dr. Narciso Monfort. The cheaper medicine bill was originally introduced by another solon from the province, Rolex Suplico, now vice governor of Iloilo Province , having “graduated” from the House already. The one who is batting for it heart and soul now is another Ilonggo, Rep. Ferjenel Biron. We wish them success in their endeavor.

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Is it true that the President is considering the appointment of former Senator Tessie Oreta as Secretary of Education? No offense meant for the sister of Ninoy and the sister-in-law of former President Cory Aquino (and the tita of Kris, of course), but will the education people be able to take the woman, baptized the “Dancing Lady” for her shocking caper of dancing a jig right at the Senate during the hearing on the impeachment of then President Joseph Estrada? Until now, that picture of the senator swaying and waving her hands in the air is still very vivid. Especially because it was replayed and shown over and over during the last election campaign where she lost resoundingly.

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This seems to be the age of propaganda and manipulation by public relations, and no groups are more adept at this than politicians and showbiz personalities. I was much amused at the to-do being made by comedienne Ai-ai de las Alas about the alleged abuse of her son who was suspected by a storekeeper of trying to filch a couple of packs of Menthos candy. From all the hue and cry the comical one is making, one can hardly thinking about the gains she will get for her TV character, Volta , or for the prospective move she is making with former president Joseph Estrada. Her son reportedly told her – two weeks after the incident – that he only went out of the store with the candy to call his friends and truly intended to pay for it, but the cashier would not believe that and punished him. Okay, a mother is a mother, no matter what character she plays.

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I got a late call from Bobby Magalona last night saying he had just been informed that Lea Salonga had arrived in Manila but will not be able to perform in Bacolod on January 12 because she was sick. I understand that the artist had lost her voice while in Los Angeles . Bobby said the Bacolod concert will be moved to January 26.*

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