Political Ironies

Happy Birthday Bongbong Marcos. 

It could have been a quiet birthday celebration, but when Marcos's closest friends gifted and treated him by hijacking the English pop-rock band Duran Duran ... it was a surprise all right.

When we checked the netizen's reactions it was a VIEW TO A KILL. The pro-Duterte factions made sure this was a golden opportunity for them to make a comeback and make their presence felt ... after three lackluster weeks when the ex-President and the VP's name were dragged in the mud.

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What was supposed to be a PRIVATE 67th birthday bash last Friday, September 13, 2024, has become a free-for-all and is open to everyone who can react on any social media platform.

It became PUBLIC when news started to circulate that the the New Wave icons of the '80s were commandeered to the tune of 50 million pesos for the epic party at Newport complex owned by billionaire Kevin Tan.

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Rocking and swinging with Duran Duran is a bit pricey. If you ask me ... it is exorbitant. It will cost you an arm or a leg.  It is a daytime robbery!

According to some Las Vegas insiders booking them for business celebrations, business gatherings, business fundraisers and corporate events ... you will be in knee-deep debt ... before you even say hello ... or rub elbows with them.

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It doesn't take a rocket scientist to assume that Duran Duran is maybe one of the favorite bands of the President ... it would be foolish for his friends to smuggle them here if they are not his preferential pick and his all-time favorites.

They were the toast of the 80s and are known for their irresistible synthpop songs that differentiate Gen X or Generation X and the MTV Generation - a time were popular music, visual style, and culture were influenced and dictated by MTV channel.

The most popular Duran Duran anthems were Wild Boys, A View To A Kill (of James Bond), Hungry Like A Wolf, Girls On Film, and Ordinary World.

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Tawang tawa ako sa isang Marcos supporter  in youtube at ito ang sinabi niya: Yong concert ni Taylor Swift ... pwede. Pero ang Duran Duran hindi pwede?

The plot thickens.

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Well ... there's a big difference between the two presidential stories. In the case of VP.... we are not really sure about the veracity of her way going to Germany to watch Taylor Swift ... at a time when a powerful typhoon was lashing its nationwide fury. Everything was just hearsay.

In the president's case ... Duran Duran's surprise performance was a gift from the President's friends ... and he has nothing to do with it ... so the President need not worry about explaining himself that no government money was used to avail the band's services.

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In the case of the VP, if the story is true ... critics can question which comes first: Service to Filipinos ... or serving herself?

In the case of the president ... especially when we use ethical standards ... (even though he doesn't know about the band's surprise visit) ... there are always strings attached to gifts ... especially the ones that cost millions. The donors can always come back later and hold the president hostage ... just because they have given him something.

To put it bluntly ... "hawak nila si BBM sa leeg" one way or another dahil sa isang mamahaling regalo ... or dahil sa isang utang na loob?

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Nayanig talaga ang ating socio-political landscape dahil sa biglaang pagnakaw ng eksena ng Duran Duran. Pansamantala naitsa-puera ang mga bit player at ekstrang Quiboloy, Alice Guo at Harry Roque.

Iniintriga nga ng mga DDS na mga fake at huwad daw ang dumating na banyagang mga bisita at masyadong feelingero at assumero lang ang BBM to believe na the "real thing" nga sila. 

Dagdag pa nila taga Davao lang naman ang mga ito ... at ang pangalan ng banda nila ay Durian Durian.

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