What's In A Name?

 

If congressional hearings were rated on entertainment value, the audit of confidential funds would have died of boredom by hour two—if not for Attorney Lorna Kapunan single-handedly turning a dry legislative inquiry into a late-night comedy special.

While lawmakers drowned in sea-level stack traces of liquidation papers, Kapunan realized that whoever drafted the government’s acknowledgment receipts wasn't running a covert intelligence network; they were putting together a snack aisle buffet.

In what can only be described as the most delicious financial audit in Philippine history, Kapunan systematically unraveled a cast of characters that read less like covert informants and more like a grocery list for a birthday party:

• Mary Grace Piattos: The undisputed queen of confidential receipts. Apparently, luxury baked goods and salty potato chips now sign off on multi-million-peso disbursements.

• Atong Mangga & Macho Keso: The tropical fruit and dairy brigade, proving that even produce needs a discretionary allowance.

• Jay Kamote: Representing the root crop demographic in high-stakes governance.

• Andy Lim (Ang Dilim): The mysterious figure whose very name explains why the liquidation reports were so hard to read.

As Kapunan dryly pointed out, if you gather Atong Mangga, Macho Keso, and a few side characters in one room, you don't get a syndicate—you get a fruit salad.

Beyond the grocery list of payees, Kapunan shined a spotlight on the true superhero of government bureaucracy: The Disbursing Officer.

According to the official paper trail, this single individual managed to personally hand-deliver millions of pesos in cash across multiple distant provinces in a single 24-hour window. Forget physical logistics, ferry schedules, or provincial traffic—this officer defied the laws of physics. Move over, Flash; the Philippine government has officially hired Superman as its chief cashier.

To add a touch of prestige to this culinary circus, the receipt authors apparently threw in a few familiar political surnames—Escudero, Hontiveros, Estrada, and Lapid—as if borrowing high-profile family names would lend gravitas to a receipt signed by a potato chip.

In the end, while auditor eyes glazed over thousands of identical signatures, Kapunan reminded everyone of a fundamental truth: when government explanations lack logic, you might as well enjoy the stand-up routine—because the receipts aren't just fishy, they're served with a side of Piattos.

What's In A Name?

Inaabangan na ng marami ang mga dambuhalang kandidato na nangangarap maging pangunahing stars sa eleksyon 2028.

Kanya-kanya silang hanap ng katandem.  Kung sa nagdaang election bukambibig ang Uniteam ni BBM at Inday Sara ... this early merong unlikely partners ang namumuo at mukhang promising nga ang kanilang unholy union. Pati na ang kombinasyon ng kanilang nga pangalan.

Wala namang impossible sa Pilipinas ... kahit sino pwede maging kandidato. And so much so that our democracy is being dictated by NAME RECALL - a situation where popularity and notoriety become a time-tested formula for winning elections... they can always give themselves a try.

If the voters are familiar with a candidate's name, and this widespread recognition makes a candidate's name more memorable to voters, it increases their chances of being elected or re-elected compared to lesser-known opponents.

The sinister collaboration we are referring to is CHIZ Escudero and CURL-ee Discaya.

What is in these names? Well, after their names were dragged into the flood control project scandals ... how could one ignore? It has a name recall.

Besides, may landi ang kanilang name-blending - Chiz and Curlee? Dapat ang tawag sa kanilang team ay CHIZ-CURL. Sa tunog pa lang ... talong-talo ang Kath-niel at Liz-quen.

Pagkatapos mamamayagpag ang PIATTOS care-of Inday Sara ... how can these two fail?

CHIZ-CURL po for your consideration!

What's In A Name?

What's in a name? Ayan bidang-bida diyan ang Alabang. Kung sino man nakaisip ng pakulong ito deserves a pat in the shoulder.

Nagamit na ang catchphrase na yan sa time ng Power Boys (see the TV Commercial below) that includes Jordan Herrera, Frank Garcia, Geoff Rodriguez, Greg Martin, and Jay Salas in MTB (Magandang Tanghali Bayan) in 2000.

The group used to be called the Rexona Boys, and had made "Wala ba kayong kamay?" a buzzword (viral was not used then), but then they failed to tie that up with Alabang. A more enterprising boy group manager could have made that the gimmick tagline for the budding singing group.

What the heck ... ALABANG kayong kamay? Better late than never.

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.

What's In A Name?

Busy ang lahat sa kanilang mga facebook pages habang  on air ang TV Patrol ... when biglang nangungulit ang anak ng isang kaibigan: "Papa si Mr. Philippines o!"

Lumingon ang lahat sa TV screen ... pero isang middle age na police ang nakita namin sa balita. Everybody was looking at his face unmindful kung ano ang nakasulat sa ilalim. "Anak hindi Mr. Philippines yan. Ang isang Mr. Philippines dapat nakabarong or nagpi-flex ng muscles at (no offense kay Mr. Guapulis) ... dapat bata pa."

Pilit pa rin sa pangungulit ang bata: "Hindi mo kasi binabasa Papa eh. Basahin mo PHILIPP INES".

Wow Philipp Ines pala ang pangalan ni Sir. Sa unang tingin ... sa mga nakakabasa nandoon ang pagtataka what on earth possessed his parents at ganyan ang naging pangalan ng anak nila? What could be the reasons behind why Philipp's parents chose his name ... the revelation would be interesting.

Ako medyo may idea so I volunteered the psychology behind his name. Philipp Ines is"

1. A unique name - any enterprising parent would jump to settle for that name without batting an eyelash. Very catchy and eyeball-popping.

2. Any patriotic and Philippine-loving parent (with the surname INES) would love to use Philipp as their son's name. It is a match made in heaven ... a perfect fit ... it would be foolish to ignore the obvious.

If Major Philipp Ines sees this post ... we want to hear the story behind the story.

Odd Names?

In the past Quadcom hearing on Confidential Funds, names like Mary Grace Piattos, Renan Piatos, Jay Kamote, and Miggy Mango were unearthed, leading the congressmen to doubt the veracity of the beneficiaries' names (they sound like aliases), making them look fictitious, bogus, and fabricated.

Extra efforts were made to verify the names and birth certificates. (They were like a bunch of fools looking for a needle in a haystack.) One congressman said no such names matched any birth, marriage, or death records mula sa Philippine Statistics Authority.

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I am asking: "Were the people behind OVP so stressed out ... that when it was time for a liquidation ... they, instead of helping the beleaguered office ... had their ineptitude and clumsiness take the centerstage ... it invited national scrutiny and a close-up look. Can even elementary students read between the lines?

One Kibitzer commented there is no such family name as Piattos despite Senator de la Rosa's and OVP exec white-washing na may mga Piattos sa Davao. Di ba ang mga young guns sa Congress were offering 1M para lumabas lang sa lungga niya si MP ... pero walang kumakagat.

At the time they were making the dubious receipts ... were they munching Piattos as a snack, and it did not dawn on them that their inept and incompetent behaviors (na basta na lang magsulat diyan ng mga pangalan na parang naglalaro lang) would come to haunt them in the future?

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More odd names are sprouting like mushrooms, and one group that stood out was the Dodong Gang, which includes Dodong Bunal, Dodong Alcala, Dodong Darong, Dodong Bina, and Dodong Barok. Ano ba yan? Pati ang movie legend na si Barok ay umeekstra at pumipila na as beneficiary sa confidential funds?

Una may chichirya, may root crop at mga prutas. With these revelations, more kinky and kookie names are expected to come out in the open, and this will be added as additional evidence that fictitious names were used to cover up the extravagant spending of the OVP.

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As of press time, more irregular and non-existent names indeed have risen from their grave ... and some of the names that caught the prosecutors' attention were the Team Amoy Asim group, including Amoy Liu, Fernan Amuy, Joug de Asim.

This will really cast doubt on how Duterte's offices disburse their confidential fund. According to reports, these names were submitted by OVP to the Commission On Audit. "If something smells off from the list how much more the transactions themselves," asked one congressman.

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Other supposed beneficiaries of the DepEd’s confidential funds who were found to be nonexistent include Andong Mio (nickname or alias ba yan?), Erwin Q. Ewan (Ewan ko sa inyo), Ellaine Aray (Araguy!!!!); Mutya Palanca (baka Diwata yan), Panglaw Quizon (Kung Tanglaw existent yan), Zeta (sixth letter of the Greek alphabet, Mike Delta (aka Mike Alpha - ang daming Greek beneficiary ha?) and Jael Zumba (siya yong dance instructor)

Being non-existent ... the absence of documented information for their names galvanizes the belief that their names were made up, and using them to justify the OVP confidential fund spending raises more doubts and eyebrows about the lawfulness of the disbursements.

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Congressman Ortega stressed that the increasing number of bizarre names seemed to indicate a deliberate scheme to fabricate recipients and misuse public funds.

 “This isn’t just simple negligence. The names on the liquidation are fake. Where’s their accountability?"

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Inday Sara supporters countered na baka mga alias lang ang ginamit.

For crying out loud ... kailan ba katanggap-tanggap ang mga alias at nicknames to get a big sum of money?

Kung sa banko hinahanapan ka ng 2 or tatlong ID, swerte nila at napakaluwag ng disbursing officer ng OVP at nagbigay ng ora-orada kay Dodong,  Andong, kay Mrs. Aray, kay Mr. Ewan. kay Mr. Zumba, kay Mr. Asim lalo na kay Mary Grace Piattos  na wala man lang pagdududa.

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Inday Sara could not shrug the issue or swept it under the rug by saying: "Wala akong hand diyan ... wala akong kinalaman diyan."

Wala kang kinalaman ... pero ikaw ang pumirma ng liquidation report? Ikaw pa rin ang mananagot diyan kasi ikaw ang pumirma. That is basing according to the tenets of accountability.

And there is also "Respondeat Superior" - a Latin phrase meaning " Let the head of the office answer". It is a legal doctrine holding the VP liable or principally legally responsible for the wrongful actions of her employees if such acts occurs within the scope of their employment.

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What's in A Name

I am very sure na kung manligaw si Ken Chan kay Jackie Gonzaga ng It's Showtime ... pag-isipan talaga ni Jackie kung aakyat sa susunod na level ang ligawan.

Knock on wood ... kung magkatuloyan sila ... will Jackie be comfortale kung tawagin siyang Jackie Chan?

What's In The Name?

 A business name is the business's legal name used for official purposes like government forms and tax registration. It's important to have a business name to legally conduct business, such as hiring employees and buying supplies.

Preferably, your business name or your product's name tells the general public what your business can offer and why they must buy it. Stay away from words that are difficult to understand.  Go with taglines and catchphrases that are minuscule, catchy, and with instant appeal.

Make it relevant. Don't just pick a business name because you like the sound of it. A catchy business name is attractive and easy to remember, It should be simple and direct, delivering a clear message without needing much explanation.

We comb businesses in the Philippines ... even worldwide ... and here is a snapshot of the owners' humor in their business names. They have creative names and you can't help but give them a second look.  

Sometimes just mentioning their names generates a good topic for discussion ... and good content for internet content creators. What's your favorite?

What are your options if you have a flat tire? And which roadside repair shop do you go to ... that offers 24-7 services for drivers with tire troubles in less than ideal times and places?

Kung gusto ko magpahangin ... siempre doon ako sa mahangin.  And scrambling the Yellow Pages...  Air Supply is the repair shop's name that gives me confidence they have enough air supply that my tires need.

See what names can do? At may pahabol pang "Hangin You Near Me." Isn't that catchy? Para mo na ring naririnig ang national anthem ng mga Air Supply fans na Having You Near Me.

Kitam?

What Is In The Name?

A business name is the business's legal name used for official purposes like government forms and tax registration. It's important to have a business name to legally conduct business, such as hiring employees and buying supplies.

Preferably, your business name or your product's name tells the general public what your business can offer and why they must buy it. Stay away from words that are difficult to understand.  Go with taglines and catchphrases that are minuscule, catchy, and with instant appeal.

Make it relevant. Don't just pick a business name because you like the sound of it. A catchy business name is attractive and easy to remember, It should be simple and direct, delivering a clear message without needing much explanation.

We comb businesses in the Philippines ... even worldwide ... and here is a snapshot of the owners' humor in their business names. They have creative names and you can't help but give them a second look.  

Sometimes just mentioning their names generates a good topic for discussion ... and good content for internet content creators. What's your favorite?

Imagine a funeral parlor with this name? Libing Things as opposed to Living Things? Haven't you noticed a sinister and threatening humor in it?

Murang Kabaong at Funeral Service ... how can one refuse? And how can you say NO!

What;s In A Name?

Is there a chance for Bruno Mars and Venus Raj to be united in a wedlock? I don't think so ... for one ... Venus is already married!

And two ... Venus will nip the marriage plan in the bud. I don't know about you, but even hypothetically she will feel self-conscious and embarrassed to be called ... Mrs. Venus Mars!