Softonio Vasquez

 If you have seen Sofronio Vasquez's journey in Tawag ng Tanghalan and the Voice of the Philippines ... one would suspect ... there must be something bigger waiting for this talented young man waiting for him at the end of the rainbow.

Indeed it was a fairy tale come true. According to the stories circulating around he was rejected not only once but seven times in Tawag Ng Tanghalan auditions before he became one of the finalists in the 2019 finals where he became only the third runner-up.

His Voice of the Philippines journey was also traumatic and shameful when no coach turned to him (he did not earn any chair turns) to give him a little consolation that his talent and voice needed to be showcased and heard on national TV.

He became a member of a boyband The Cove with fellow Tawag Ng Tanghalan finalists JM Bales and Christian Bahaya and they immortalized Ikaw Na Nga, Akap, and Love Yourself ... but that was short-lived.

It is a testament to Sofronio's determination. strength of character and resolve that his initial showbiz attempts did not yield the result he expected ... but that didn't stop him from dreaming big.  

He later decided to try in a foreign country (the USA to be exact) where Filipino talents were considered second-class and no one ever succeeded before. And to think the competition was cut-throat ... fierce and intense.

Now that he has broken all the myths and history ... it was ironic that the very same judges and showbiz personalities who didn't appreciate him before were the ones on his doorstep singing Hosanna to his name.

And it is more ironic that it took international singers as judges and coaches to see Sofronio up close and personal ... and bring out the best in him that made him the first Asian to win The Voice USA -26th Season.

To Impeach ... And Not To Impeach

Congress had been saying that an investigation of the VP's confidential fund was made with one thing in mind: and that is they gather information in AID OF LEGISLATION.

The VP made fun of that ... and she says the Congress is doing it in AID OF IMPEACHMENT.

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What the VP says is tongue in cheek ... or in jest ... maybe for her is a stress reliever. 

And now that the JOKE has become a REALITY ... she could have kept quiet and let whatever she fears about unfold like it is just one of those things.

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This is a class case of a SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY.

It is a psychological phenomenon wherein one's PREDICTION and EXPECTATION come true because the person expects it to happen.

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Some examples of SELF-IMPOSED PROPHECY are those students who think they will do POORLY in an interview for college admission ... and they end up FLANKING the oral exercise. Or an actress who thought her movie would FLOP and would not make money... and as expected NILANGAW nga ang pelikula.

 In both cases, their beliefs influenced their behavior and performances, contributing to the expected outcome and end result.

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One political pundit was asking kung NAGPAPAAWA ba si Vice President? It is a strategy to squeeze in whatever awa that is left in people.

Another political guru answered him back: "Hindi nga kaawa-awa. Sa lahat ng NAGPAPAAWA (with her attitude and demeanor) siya ang hindi KAAWA-AWA.

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To me ... impeachment is playing the NUMBER'S GAME. In the lower house ... the number of congressmen supporting the impeachment is closer than you would like it to be.

After all that they have been through ... it is frustrating to know that when the Senate comes to a vote the numbers to convict may come in trickles.

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Looking at the composition of the Senate ... I really don't know how Filipinos will react when their favorite idol senators play deaf and blind to all those stupefying facts in the investigation and do not even make a dent in their callous hearts and consciences.

This will be one of those rare cases when impunity reigns supreme ... the wrongdoers go scot-free ... and they can still manage to look you in the eye ... and convince you tama lang ang ginawa nila.

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I saw one political meme yesterday that says: Ang mga kunsintidor daw sa mga corrupt at mga magnanakaw ay may ganoon ding paguugali.

Sino ba ang pinupuntirya ng ganoong mga salita? asked one naive bystander. Well anybody ...pwedeng pulitiko ... pwedeng mga supporters din. Because of FRIENDSHIP ... BLIND FOLLOWING ... or AFFILIATION ...  nakalimutan na nila ang protektahan ang pangalan nila ... pati na ang kaban ng bayan. They forgot about decency ... propriety ... and good taste.

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