Placements Galore

Four out of four in two days ... Philippines maintains its hold as a powerhouse country in the world as far as pageantry is concerned.

It has almost become a routine - if they don't get the title ... a runner-up spot is not far behind.

And what do you know? Filipino men are also showing they are not mere shadows of their female counterparts. The trend shows they can be a force to reckon with ... and they are not mere pushovers. 

If they don't get the title, they are perennially a frequenter of the runner-up spots, much to the chagrin and dismay of our "Asian kapitbahays".

They quit playing second fiddle to any contest. 

But knowing you can't win in every contest ... let me say this, "second string placements," or the second or third-best spots, are already enough ... and that is a welcome achievement that will warm the cockles of any Filipino pageant followers.

I'll take being the first or second runner-up ... rather than just being treated as a footnote ... or an afterthought ... or not being mentioned at all.

Pageant Finals: Mister Culture International 2025

The winners of Mister Culture International 2025 from left to right: Subhra Ranjam Mishra - India - Second Runner Up. Azim Shah Malaysia - Mister Culture International 2025 - Winner and Brent Mendoza - Philippines _ First Runner Up.  The pageant was held in Medan Indonesia last June 21, 2025.

What's In A Name

Does the name of the school matter?

While a school's name can provide some initial recognition and potentially open doors, especially for top-tier institutions, it is not generally the sole determinant of success or career prospects, or getting employed or promotion.

Ultimately, your skills, experience, work ethic, and ability to learn and adapt are more crucial factors in career advancement.

Okay then.

What happens then if the name of the school you came from illicit a potpourri of unexpected reactions - your employer may find it funny ... or the name has double meanings, or the secondary meaning suggests sexuality even if the primary meaning is not directly sexual?

And what more if the name of the school induces laughter and amusement ... or implies sexual or sensual overtones ... or the association often subtly or indirectly?

It is not the fault of the person applying for a job, nor do we place the blame on the school (or the teachers manning it), which has nothing to do with where the name originates.

Of course, we need to be educated about the school's history, especially its name, so we can appreciate and understand its origins and how it came to be.

Take, for instance, Bayag Elementary School (name of the town or province withheld). I don't have to be graphic in explaining what secondary meanings it implies in Tagalog.

I am just stating a fact that there are names of schools where one may find amusing ... or put someone in an uncomfortable or embarrassed position.

And lest somebody misconstrue that we are making fun of the name of the school ... it is far from our intention.

We want to raise awareness that there are names like this that exist (though we could not fault anybody for that).

Sabi nga ng isang kaibigan: "Nakakatuwa lang ... meron palang ganyan. Well, anything can happen in this day and age. Ang mga impossible ay naging possible ... and what used to be words that sound explicit or suggestive ... and their use range from casual to highly charged ... have a niche in the modern day world and people become tolerant, until they have become acceptable."

Maybe the next time something will jolt us from our senses is when another amusing name of the school (more intriguing ... and more sexual) will come along.

Definition

The Dunning-Kruger effect, in psychology, is a cognitive bias whereby people with limited knowledge or competence in a given intellectual or social domain greatly overestimate their own knowledge or competence in that domain relative to objective criteria or to the performance of their peers or the general population.

Conversely, those with high ability often underestimate their skills. This effect stems from a lack of metacognition, which is the ability to accurately assess one's own knowledge and skills.

One good example of the Dunning-Kruger effect are individuals who engage in self-medication and self-prescription. 

They think they understand their health and their bodies more than anybody. So what whatever little knowledge they have, they acted like doctors to themselves.  They choose unhealthy or risky behaviors while believing they are taking good care of themselves.

The Dunning-Kruger effect is a defense mechanism, and it acts like a protective force by allowing people to view themselves through a slightly more optimistic lens. This could encourage them to try new things, take risks, and maintain the confidence necessary to improve themselves.

Based on the image above ... did Senator Bato de la Rosa have the Dunning-Kruger effect when he allowed himself (being an impeachment judge) to test the murky waters of lawyering for the embattled VP? 

Although he is aware that he is not a lawyer, he ventured into a domain where he has no knowledge, and he took the job with too much firepower. He was a bundle of nerves and was almost on the verge of a stroke.

I likened his enthusiasm to helping his friend more like entering the twilight zone ... where he doesn't mind getting the flak he is getting now, for as long as he showed his willingness to be the warrior-en-chief for the VP-in-distress. 

And the way he ignores the censure ... the disapproval ... of the way he handled himself when he asked for the dismissal of the impeachment is commendable. 

I commend him for how he made himself the living laughing stock of the Senate and how his temper tantrums fell to pieces to become a modern-day comedy of errors that will long be remembered in the history of impeachments.

A Modern Day Miracle

Bienvenido Mirando Abante Jr. was declared the duly elected member of the House of Representatives, 6th District of Manila, after losing in the last May election. He lost by a mere 1500 votes (Joey Uy - 64,746 to Benny Abante's - 63358)

Comelec announced that Luis Joey Chua Uy was a non-candidate and his COC was voided ob initio (from the beginning ... from the get go) ... and this has something to do with his nationality?

Chekwa pala ang kandidato ni Yorme ... (shades of Alice Go? the defamed mayor of Bamban)

Paano yan pagkatapos hiyain ni VP Sara si Cong Benny in the campaign trail ... mukhang the tables are turned ... and karma have her as her next victim?

Meron na ngang pasabog si Cong Benny: "Ako makakabalik ... ikaw mako-convict."

This will be another long, drawn-out saga as we expect the camp of Joey Uy to appeal.

Another potential melodrama that will surely be extended, prolonged, and protracted to test your patience, tolerance, and tenacity. Just like the impeachment trial!

Don't worry Okay lang sa amin ... bibili kami ng popcorn para ma-enjoy namin ang mga usual twists and turns ng isang soap opera ...

To Cong Abante ... congratulations. As the song goes hindi natutulog ang Diyos.

Dekalibreng Impeachment Spokesperson ng House nagsagawa ng press confere...

The Tale Of Two VP's

 The tale of two VPs on Confidential funds:

Leni Robredo doesn't have confidential funds in her term. She was given a measly budget ... surprisingly, she did MORE with LESS.

Inday Sara was given confidential funds, and she played MORE with MORE: MORE spending  .... MORE travels ... MORE scandals and MORE controversies.

It was a fruitless 2 years in office ...  and a lackluster performance ... LESS projects ... and LESS output.