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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Unbelievable

 

Pageant ResultL Mrs. Global International 2024

Congratulations to Wilma Laude Zamora - Grand Winner Mrs. Global International 2024 held in Dubai United Arab Emirates.

Pageant Result: Miss Elite World 2024

The winners of Miss Elite World 2024 from left to right: Sofia Gonzalez - Mexico - Third Runner Up, Irene Grande - Spain - Second Runner Up, Juvyel Anne Saluta - Philippines - Miss Elite World 2024 - Winner, Victoria Alexandra Maneiro - Venezuela - First Runner Up & Tawana Sheldrick - Indonesia -Fourth Runner Up.  The pageant was held at Hurghada Red Sea Egypt last September 14, 2024.

Unlucky Ba Ang Friday The 13th?

Usapan ng 2 magkaibigan:

Friend 1: Today it's Friday the 13th. Ano ba ang mga usual na paghahanda mo para makaiwas ka sa disgrasya o malas?

Friend 2: Hindi na uso sa akin and Friday the 13th.  Ano ba ang paghahandaan ko ... eh matagal na akong malas. Pinanganak akong sinalo ko lahat ng bad luck sa mundo. Sanay na ako. At ang dami ng masamang pangyayari sa buhay ko. What is there to fear about?

Friend 1: Wala ka man lang ginagawang paraan para iwasan ang kamalasan?

Friend 2: Just be myself ... kung hindi pa rin nagsawa ang buhay sa pagbigay ng PARUSA at DUSA ... nandito ako ... willing at happy na tanggapin ito.

Friend 1: Huh?

Friend 2: Sa totoo lang ... INAABANGAN ko ang mga yan! Hindi ako sanay sa GRASYA ... sanay ako sa DISGRASYA.

The Good ... The Bad ... The Ugly

                                                (special thanks to the owner for the use of the above image)

The Congress exercised its budgetary oversight function when the OVP was scheduled to come back again and answer the questions of the House Committee On Appropriations members. And just like the first day of hearing the whole Philippines was watching with bated breath ... what little drama the entire proceedings will bring. 

Indeed the second hearing did not disappoint  ... it has its own drama to tell ... and those waiting for gory details had the times of their lives ... they had the best seat to see who lost their cool ... whose tempers fly ... and whose emotions running high.  There were even moments we thought the heated debates would escalate to a whodunit suspense drama (who threw the first punch ... and who was the deserving recipient.)

My goodness, that was almost an adrenaline-charged spectacle. I never thought for once that the honorable congressmen could behave so dishonorably ... behaving like some rowdy and boisterous juveniles.

The hearing was highly entertainment and it was a picnic. Some moments made us roll into boisterous laughter ... and some scenes made us loathe the kontrabidas.

Let us point them one by one as we highlight the sidelights: who rose above their ranks ... who stole the thunder ... who were the good, the bad, and the ugly.

1, The Bad - In the last hearing the VP was stonewalling and she didn't want to answer questions from Arlene Brosas: She made this observation: "Shimenet like my answer ... Shimenet like how I answer ... Shiminet like the content of my answer ... but I am answering.

She is answering all right... but not the questions being asked.

2. The Good - In the second hearing, Arlene Brosas responded and mimicked her lines: "She may not like our questions last hearing ... she may not like being questioned about the OVP expenses ... she may not like sitting with us here in the house ... but she is accountable to the people and she has a sworn duty to the constitution to be here para malaman natin ang budget niya. 

That really brought the house down. Congressman Raoul Manuel was seen smiling and hiding from the camera because he knows where those lines are leading to.

3. The Ugly - After Arlene Brosas' manifestation ... France Castro wants to give another manifestation. Rodante Marcoleta butted in and said: "Madam chair pwede naman kami naman muna ... hindi yong sila na lang sunod sunod ... na sila na lang."

A bully in the house?

4. The Bad -  I have nothing against the VP, but she was a no-show.  A clear indication that she doesn't have the intention of being transparent and explains where the 125 Million was spent in 11 days and why 62 Million was improperly liquidated.

Siya ang naghihingi ng pera ... siya pa may tampong pururot?

5. The Bad - I also have nothing against France Castro ... yon lang kung siya ay nagsasalita ... her statements were pregnant with uh and ah - she often loses her trend of thought. 

What ever important things she wants to say loses impact in the end ... sa pagumpisa akala mo may bomba ... yon pala blank buttlets lang,

6. The Ugly - When Rodante Marcoleta emphasizes the long cherished parliamentary courtesy in the house he mentions: that the OVP should be accorded the respect and not be questioned anymore. 

Walanghiya naman ... 2 billion ang hinihingi tapos aprub kaagad?

7. The Ugly - It is obvious what Marcoleta is up to. He immediately proceeded to move to terminate the inquiry. And Isidro Ungab tagged team and he seconded the motion. 

Akala nila makuha nila sa madaliang paraan ... at sa santong paspasan?

8. The Good - Stella Quimbo sensing the obvious immediately divided the house and a vote was made. The result was 45-3. Where in the first meeting she was a bunch of nerves ... this time she was completely in control.

She was a pillar of power and strength when he stood up against the giant when she said: "Cong. Marcoleta your point was not well taken."

9. The Bad- Marcoleta hits VP Sara's critics and calls them out for not giving courtesy. He has his own version of Shiminet "You may not like the person ... you may not like her presence here ... but you have to respect the office of the Vice President." 

Gosh ... how can you accord the much-needed courtesy ... kung naging bastos naman siya in the first hearing? Sabi nga ni Cong Abante: Insulto at walang respeto ang no show stance niya ngayon.

10. The Good - The new breed of legislators are showing balls when they invalidated Rodante's brasohan tactics. The likes of Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, Raoul Manuel, and Karlo Nograles.

Adults can learn to have more fun and relax more.

10. The Good - Atty Jinky Luistro sharing her manifestation: "I just want to make a short manifestation that I could not relate to the long-cherished tradition that Cong Marcoleta said because this is my first term. But I understand that we are supposed to extend parliamentary courtesy by not raising questions on the budget of OVP. But submitting to that tradition ... what happens to the Constitutional provision on "public office is a public trust and that we should always be accountable to the people? 

Well, I differ with the wisdom of the senior members ... I along with the new breed of legislators are inclined to honor the tradition ... but what happens if the tradition is not effective ... what happens if the tradition does not unite and instead divides ... 

Let us all remember that in all parliamentary proceedings, the majority always rules. When the majority voted for NO it has rendered the courtesy issue moot and academic".

Youth Power!

Political Shorts

 

Maraming ganap. Kahit saan ka lumingon ... may mga hearing at imbestigasyon, Nandiyan ang hearing sa budget ng President at Vice President. Nandiyan pa ang Quad com ... pati na sa senado ... checking on Pogo, Harry Roque, Cassandra Li Ong, Alice Guo, Pastor Qubuloy, EJK ... walang itulak kabigin at lahat interesante at nakakaintrigang panoorin. Inclosed are the nippets of political shorts and commentaries.

Benny Abante - " Kung ako ang masusunod bibigyan ko ang VP ng zero budget and kanyang social services".

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France Castro- "Para tayong binoycott. This is the first time na ginawa ito ng isang agency sa kamara."

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In one of the heated debates among the congressmen ... one of them said: "Para naman maaprubhan ang budget ng VP ... dapat lang na SUMIPOT siya.

Marcoleta barked back: "Bakit? Sumipot ba ang presidente? He was trying to make sense of the fact that the budget for OP was approved pero hindi naman siya dumating.

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Ngayong tahimik at busy si Harry Roque sa kanyang sariling nga hearing sa Quad com ... where were you Atty Salvador Panelo?

Was this the reason why Marcoleta got the new appointment?

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SAGIP Rep Rodante Marcoleta has only 1 mission in the last OVP budget hearing.

At yon ay ang sa-SAGIP-in si Inday Sara.

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Sa mga hearing ng ABS CBN noon ... naninindak si Cong Marcoleta. Nanlilisik ang mga mata ... at kung mahina ang loob mo ... you will be sweating like hell.

Too bad ... it is not working now with his esteemed colleagues. They learn to fight fire by fire from the master.

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Long cherished tradition daw and parliamentary courtesy - sa Congress.

Was it also a long-cherished tradition ding ma-iconsider ang corruption?

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Ibinida ni Marcolita ang seniority at ang kanyang 18 years na serbisyo sa Kamara. At dahil senior member siya ,,, entitled siyang mag-lecture sa mga Johnny come lately na mga congressman who looked up to him like isang poon.

Time has changed. With Cong Jinky Luistro in the driver's seat ... ang senior ay nilecturan ng sophomore.

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Ayaw ding magpatalo ng the most senior sa Kapulungan si Cong Benny Abante. "Hindi kami mga ta_ga at b_b_ at gusto mo wala ng tanungan."

Pera ng bayan yan.
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Pag si Cong Benny A. ang nagsasalita ... butata ang lahat. While Cong Ramon Gutierrez was interpellating .... from out of nowhere the good congressman interrupted the proceeding because he wanted to have some manifestation.

"Akala ko ako na ang nasa centro ng inquiry ... hahaha ... natakot ako doon." Cong Ramon joked.
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Kung ang lower house ang nagre-review at nag-aaprove ng budget ng presidente at vice presidente ... sino naman ang nag-scrutinize ng budget ng House of Representative at ng Senate?

Did somebody miss that ... by any chance?

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