Hello again, Garci?

Reports say that the new chairman of the Commission on Elections is going to revive the infamous “Hello Garci” case that has remained wide open to this date. Is this true, Chairman Jose Melo? Aren’t you afraid people will say that you are biting the hand that signed your appointment to that highly influential office?

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Among the devices used by propagandists is the one called “transfer”. It is very obvious that these kind of people are involved in the campaign of the two candidates for the Democratic Party nomination. One has been reported to be a relative or has the same bloodline, as movie idol Brad Pitt, the other is reportedly related to another film icon, Angelina Jolie. Seems the strategists of Hillary Clinton and Barrack – now they’re calling him “Barry”, which sounds more American – Obama are scraping the bottom of the barrel for ideas on how to promote their bets.

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Well, let’s leave the Americans to their own devices. Anyway they will be the ones to lie in the beds they make. But if the Democrats are not careful, what they are doing now will be capitalized on by the Republican guy who also has the endorsement of the incumbent president. Some friends I have in the U.S. say, however, that such endorsement is like a kiss of death, considering the unpopularity of the present Republican administration. A family I know, staunch Democrats, told me that if the one they are backing does not get the nomination, they will vote for John McCain, who, by the way, is also said to be kin to first lady Laura Bush. So it will all be in the family.

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In the Philippines, meanwhile, concern is centered on former President Cory Aquino, who has started undergoing chemotherapy sessions. The patient herself is calm and resigned, it is her family that cannot seem to cope. Even the media is showing great concern for her, and this is evident in their efforts to publish or air reports about other victims of the same type of cancer, who have survived and are now living normal lives. So let it be with Cory, Lord.

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A wire dispatch on the latest American Idol developments showed that one of the early favorites, who has the forgettable name of Chekezie Ese, had been taken off the list of possible winners. The report also said Chekezie was faring better than some of those who are still in contention. One of those mentioned as not having shown enough to ensure a win, but still hanging on, is the Fil-Am bet, Ramiele Malubay, and her tenacity is puzzling AI staff. They do not know the Pinoys. They are not the world’s top texters for nothing. Some Pinoys I had met in the U.S. told me they worn out their thumbs texting votes for Ramiele.

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One of the most worrisome reports in the United States lately was that about the rash of foreclosures of homes all over the country. In February alone, a TV newscaster announced, there were 63,000 foreclosures executed by the various banks and financing institutions. Footages of evicted families and interviews with helpless-looking owners were being shown. Aside from foreclosures, reports were also common about businesses and offices closing down. In Los Angeles, a very highly paid Filipino lady executive suddenly found herself jobless when her company folded up.

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Not only did she lose her job, her home, a spacious and well-located condo unit she had been paying for on installments, was also at risk since she no longer had the resources to continue paying for it. When I was there about a week ago, her friends were frantically trying to help her find a buyer so she would not lose everything. I hope they have managed to do that, the poor woman is heartbroken. I was also told this is the best time to buy a house there, if you have the means. Real estate prices are at their lowest now, they say. This is one of the times I wish I were a senator, or, at least a congressman, with a generous share of the pork barrel. I was also told several of such officials own houses there.

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I received a lot of feedback on the item in this column about a certain laboratory in the city. One client said a medical technician there stuck a needle, with syringe attached into his vein and then left him for a while, before drawing his blood for testing. He said he suffered from a painful hematoma for some time. A pediatrician said the same outfit has been using the first name of another doctor, an anesthesiologist in their reports on her patients. Maybe such carelessness could be considered minor, but what if they affect such important results as your blood type?*

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