No Work ... Di Ba Dapat No Pay?

The No Work No Pay Brawl had been plaguing the Senate as of late. Senator Bato de la Rosa was in the eye of the storm because of his continued absence (he has not attended Senate sessions and has not made any public appearance for sixty days now).

This prompted Senate President Tito Sotto to issue a statement that he could not force de la Rosa to attend sessions despite his prolonged absence.

The names of Senator Antonio Trillanes and Senator Leila de Lima were dragged into controversy when Tito Sen compared de la Rosa's situation to the former senators.

Tito Sen is both right and wrong when he made his observation. He was RIGHT because the three can't be physically present in Senate sessions because of their situations. 

Tama nga naman siya ... bakit nga ba niya pipilitin si Bato na pumasok kung gusto niya magtago ... aber?

And he was WRONG because of the individual reasons that prevent them from attending the plenary and other Senate discussions.

While the observable circumstances or outcomes for the three senators are identical, the underlying causes, motivations, and explanations why they were absent were different.

For Senator Bato ... he was obviously running away from the possible arrest by the ICC. 

On the other hand, Leila de Lima was unable to physically attend Senate sessions because she was detained over bogus charges filed during the Duterte administration. While Sen Tri was detained for sedition and obstruction of justice.

The second difference (so Tito Sen will understand) was that for Bato ... he had thought of making himself scarce and incommunicado from the get-go (he even made jokes about playing hide and seek after PRRD's arrest). 

He had thought of this a long time ago, that whenever the arrest is almost at hand ... and if he were made to choose between FIGHT and FLIGHT ... his only choice was to escape. Detention was never an option for him.

For de Lima and Trillanes, they were held captive right away.

The third difference is the typical DDS hallmark - resisting arrest ... a crime that prevents a law enforcement officer from making a lawful arrest, like fleeing(Harry Roque in Hague, Zaldy Co, possibly in Europe or Asia, Arnie Teves in Timor-Leste after his repatriation.

For de Lima and Trillanes... there's no such resistance.

And the fourth difference ... for Bato he was completely out of touch and is not willing to communicate. 

On the other hand, de Lima and Trillanes... were able to keep their offices running through their staff while they were detained.

Leila also requested permission to attend plenary sessions and committee hearings online during the pandemic, but the Senate majority denied her request.

But one thing is sure: Detention was not a hindrance for them para hindi magtrabaho. Proof of that was that they were able to file some bills na naging batas.

That alone is clear evidence of work... and their intent to work.

Si Bato naman ... wala pa nga sa detention ... the moment na marinig niya and rumor of his potentiasl arrest ... kumaripas na at nagtakbo leaving his office in limbo. Hindi nga malaman kung babalik pa?

The sad thing ... nagtatago na nga ... pero may sweldo ha. Saan ka makakita nang ganyan?

Only in the Philippines.

Where Have All the Moral Crusaders Gone?

It doesn't make sense.

Kakalas ka kay BBM dahil sa isip mo corrupt ang administrasyon niya ... pagkatapos lilipat ka kay Sara kahit hindi niya mapaliwanag kung saan ginamit ang kanyang confidential funds? If you do ... something is really wrong with you ... somewhere!

Ang paglaban sa corruption ay isang moral obligation. What does that make of you at galit na galit ka sa mga taong corrupt na nasa likod ng flood control project scams ... pagkatapos papanig at lilipat ka ng affiliation sa isang verdadero at napatunayan nang corrupt?

What is wrong with the world? And where have all the moral crusaders gone?

Theme Songs ... Anyone?

What is a theme song? A theme song is a signature tune that becomes synonymous with the person or group of people, making it instantly recognizable and evoking emotions or memories associated with it.

It can also be a song that reminds a person of their own personal experience or specific life events.

For instance for a couple na palaging away-bati ... na nauwi sa "KASAL-an" pero palagi na lang "nagkaka-SAKAL-an" ... ceasefire at recess na lang yong love sa kanilang favorite past time na pagbabangayan.

Bagay sa kanila maging theme song ang kanta ng Carpenters na Hurting Each Other" especially with lyrics that runs:

"All my life ... I could love only you ...

All your life... You could love only me ...

Tell me why then ... oh why should it be that

We go on hurting each other (2x)

Making each other cry ... hurting each other ...

Without even knowing why ..."

With that said ... in the spirit of fun, nakatuwaan ng mga kasama ko na bigyan ng suspension of hostilities o truce ang mga katotong politiko... pagkatapos ng tensyon gawa ng flood projects scams. Let us put a little smile in their faces.

In the same vein, maraming ding mga nakakatuwang mga relasyon at experiences ang mga  politiko na ating hinahangaan ... dapat may mga theme songs sila na isinasabuhay at may signature songs na ginagawang gabay sa kanilang masalimuot na pagpasok sa mundo ng politika.

What is that one song that could be their own personal musical hallmark?Dahil wala silang imik ... mismo ang kanilang mga tagahanga at detractors na ang kusang loob na nagmungkahi ng mga theme songs ng mga ito.

Hindi na lyrics ang pinagbasihan nila sa pagpili katulad ng couple mentioned sa itaas. The title of the song is enough. At wala ng explanation pa kung bakit? 

Sa mga politiko naman ... bato bato sa langit ang tamaan huwag maging pikon. Ang hirap na nga ng buhay ... seryosohin pa ba ninyo ang konting laro ... eh nagkatuwaan lang naman. 

So here it goes ...

1. Bongbong Marcos at Sara Duterte - Anong Nangyari Sa Ating Dalawa by Aiza Seguerra

2. Leila de Lima - It's My Turn by Diana Ross

3. Rodrigo Roa Duterte to Bong |Go - Right Here Waiting For You by Richard Marx

4. Bato de la Rosa - Run Samson Run

5. Joel Villanueva - The Greatest Performance of My Life by Shirley Bassey

6. Harry Roque - Bring Him Home by Josh Groban

7. Jinggoy Estrada - My Way (I Faced It All And  I Stood Tall) by Frank Sinatra

8. Antonio Trillanes - Eye Of The Tiger (Rising Up To The Challenge of Our Rival) by Survivor

9. Imee Marcos - He Ain't Heavy ... He's My Brother - The Hollies

10. Chit Escudero - Love The Way You Lie - Eminem and Rihanna

11. Rodante Marcoleta - Hard To Say I'm Sorry by Chicago

12. PRRD from Senator Bato - I Will Make It Up To You - Imagine Dragons

13. Robin Padilla - Don't Know What To Say - Ric Segreto

14. Alan Peter Cayetano to PRRD- Stuck On You - Lionel Richie

15. Cynthia Villar to PRRD - Said I Love You, But I Lied- Michael Bolton

16. Imee Marcos to PRRD - I Can't Say Goodbye To You by Helen Reddy

17. Bato to ICC- Take Me Now by David Gates

18. Congressmeow Kiko Barzaga - Memory by Elaine Page, Theme song from CATS

19. Lito Lapid - When You Say Nothing At All by Ronan Keating

20. DDS and PRRD - We Been Waiting For You - by Guys Next Door

21. Leni Robredo abd Risa Hontiveros - Liwanag Sa Dilim by River Maya

Thats What They Thought

They thought the story had been wrapped up and terminated.

 They thought 2025 was a narrow escape, and they had dodged the impeachment bullets with flying colors.

They thought Chit Escudero was as slippery as an eel, and because of that everybody considered him the hero. 

His forthwith "abracadabra" (the first one in any impeachment book) was a magic trick. 

Everyone was spellbound ... transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary through skillful illusion and storytelling.

Aside from Chit (others spelled his name as Cheat), the cohesive Duterte senators' "never say die attitude also did wonders. 

They acted like a massive defense to stop any impeachment offensive.

And when the Supreme Court ruling came out ... everybody celebrated with high fives galore.  

Everybody thought TAPOS na. They felt nakalusot na naman si Manang Inday ... and on the winning streak siya.

Yon ang akala nila. Come February ... may sequel pala ang impeachment. 

Parang yong walang katapusang horror film series ng Regal films na Shake Rattle and Roll. And to its credit naka-17 na sila.

And to make 2026 extra memorable for Inday ... the wheels of justice will also grind soon, pati ba naman Ombudsman sasampolan din ang tatag ng president wannabe na si Inday?

Sa totoo lang hindi na ito tsismis lang sabi ng isang podcaster. Sa katunayan naguumpisa na ang countdown 9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...0!

New Years Resolutions

Why do we have to make a new New Year's resolution after we fail to complete the old ones? Good question.

As promised yesterday, we need to inject humor into the business of PLEDGING to make a PROMISE, so we will not get stressed out if we fail to complete what we VOWED to do.

Below, I made some resolutions not only for myself, but also for people close to me. 

We are doing this for the laughs ... sakali mang may mapikon ... Bato-bato sa langit ang mapikon ... sigi ituloy mo na kung gusto mong magalit.

                                   >>>>>>>>>>>>

My New Year's Resolution is to become a budgetarian and a vegetarian.

Tightening one's belt ... a "budgetarian" has to be a vegetarian ... even if okra is slimy and ampalaya is bitter. Vegetables are cheaper compared to buying beef and pork ... sakali mang hindi mo pa alam yan.

                                     >>>>>>>>>>>>

Mom wants to lose weight. It is an oath she wants to keep.

Just don't show her KFC Hotshots, Pork Chop, or Bicol Express. And when you go to the mall ... avoid passing by Chow King.

                                     >>>>>>>>>>>>

Iiwasan ko rin ang mga bagay na nagpapataba sa akin.

And that includes weighing scales ... and lifesize mirrors. Iwasan ko na rin tingnan ang aking old FB photos that will remind me of what I once was..

                                   >>>>>>>>>>>>

Michael's New Year's Resolution: "I will improve my art in procrastination ." That's manana habit, dummy.

"And to prove that ... I will start tomorrow."

                                      >>>>>>>>>>>>

Shiela promised she will pet more dogs.

Michael agrees as long as she will pet him, too. And she cleaned the dog's shit ... pronto.

                                      >>.>>>>>>>>>

Alfred's pledge this year: "I have never been serious, but I will be more patient and tolerant this time."

If something goes wrong ... don't blame me.  I will blame you!

                                         >>>>>>>>>>>

David's sacred vow? To improve his memory and his retention.

So if you tell him, "Go see Michael if he is around." His answer should never be: "Who's Michael?"

                                         >>>>>>>>>>>>

Bonjo loves to eat, it is hard for him to say no.

His idea of a New Year's resolution is how he can fix five small, frequent meals in a day ... midnight snack excluded.

                                           >>>>>>>>>>>

Katong has just achieved his six pack (I termed it a chiseled stomach or washboard ripped abs)... so he wants to maintain it.

He wondered what his resolution would be like with Bonjo around, showing him the rudiments of how to have a voracious appetite.

                                            >>>>>>>>>>>

Every year ... Shiela makes it a point to change herself.

This year ... for a change ... she just wants to be herself.

                                           >>>>>>>>>>>>

Mark and Jane are a photophile. They just love taking photos with their family in a restaurant, out-of-town picnic, on nature tripping, and camping.

There's nothing to change for them. Family is family.

                                           >>>>>>>>>>>>

I was planning to tell Mike his New Year's resolution should include giving more hugs to the kids.

I could almost see Scott react: "But not in public ... Daddio!"

                                           >>>>>>>>>>>>

Zyle wants her dream girl to be the happiest that she could be. She loves her very much.

For the record, that dream girl, by the way, is her.

                                          >>>>>>>>>>>>

After being hospitalized ... Scott wants to avoid peppery, spicy, and tangy food. Well, he had 1 bout of projectile vomiting again.

Can you blame me?"he said. All that hot, spiced, and seasoned food meant one thing.  They taste good.

                                         >>>>>>>>>>>>>

PJ's promise: "New year ... new me."

After 15 minutes, he comes back  saying, "Never mind ... forget it."

                                       >>>>>>>>>>>>

My other resolution is to go out and SIN no more.

My inner self thinks otherwise.  He wants me to go out and be SEEN more.

                                            >>>>>>>>>>>

Double Entendre

Woman 1: Do you know Arthur?

Woman 2: Oh yes, I know him very well.

The intended meaning, of course, is that Woman 2 and ‘Arthur’ are intimately familiar. 

Double Entendre is a form of wordplay. It relies on an ambiguity in the phrasing or use of words in a statement. It is when a statement can be ‘read two ways’ (or three ways for a triple entendre). 

Typically the joke works because one reading is perfectly innocuous, whilst the second is rude, tawdry, or sexual.

Much Ado About New Year's Resolution

January 1 every year ... kicks off with people afflicted with the New Year's Resolution bug in the eye of the storm. The malady made them focus on their individual goals, plans, and commitment for self-improvement ...  the people made it as a vow, a pledge, their personal mission for that year that needs to be started. 

Just like the now-vogue fashion week, the first week of January is a "personal renewal week" for people who want to renew and change old habits - designing small but manageable steps for growth.

As of late, however, the annual observance saw some tinge of negative coloring to it, and some people treat the New Year as an unwelcome anniversary. It is a yearly albatross around their neck ... (more like a pain in the neck) as it imposes anybody statutory deadlines, especially to people who are hell-bent in making good on their promise.

"The yearly ordeal is back," ... so they say ... the annual struggle where people have to make a roadmap and the grand scheme to better themselves and zoom in new "mission impossible" that seems so unfeasible and unattainable. They found themselves in the same trap as last year, failing again for the nth time and haunting them and their collective consciousness the whole year round.

New Year's Resolution is a nuisance. Let's face it. We know how hard it is to keep up with the challenge and the demands of making a New Year's promise, for isn't it promises are made to be broken? 

That's what we do. And it is the same routine year in and year out. But whether we keep or break our promise ... the reality is there... that New Year's resolution is like a Damocles' sword (or is it our conscience) hanging over our heads and reminding us that we are negligent and remiss, that we have not kept our word.

Imagine keeping the resolution for a month ... let alone the next 365 days? That's a mega-challenge ... a hopeless endeavor ... and an unrealistic quest.

It is for this reason that we treat and adopt a new approach to dealing with this New Year's malady. How about treating it with humor ... a new frame of mind ... a newfound playfulness ... and not getting serious about it.

So, in the spirit of looking hopeful that 2026 will be fruitful for all of us ... let us be lighthearted, have a playful attitude, and focus on fun ... let us foster a sense of camaraderie rather than being overly serious or focused on stress and worry for what lies beyond 2026.

That will help us kick 2026 off with a laugh, and the realization that most of us agree: "We will make things happen this New Year."