Political Ironies:

I saw this image the other day, and as a neutral political observer, I want to single out Camille Villar and Imee Marcos as the top spenders in the senatorial candidates. Ito na ba ang kalakaran ngayon? Pataasan ng ihi at yabang?

Imagine spending 2.1 billion pesos sa kaso ni Camille (naniwala ako sa balita, dahil wala pa nga ang hudyat ng eleksiyon may mga feelers na tatakbo siya at pinuno na ang sangkalupaan ng Pilipinas ng mukha niya hindi man maaninag kung anong position .,.. pero matalino ang Pinoy at nahulaan nila na sa Senado ang target niya.

For one ... last term na ni Camille sa House of Reps. Hindi na siya makabalik doon. Secondly last term din ng kanyang inang si Cynthia Villar sa Senate ... sino pa ba ang hahalili sa puesto niya kundi ang unica hija niya?

Yong kapatid namang si Mark Villar ... senador din ... eh saan pa ba isasalang iyon? Alangan namang for mayor siya sa isang probinsiya pero nationwide ang mga campaign posters? Eh nagbakasyon lang ako sa Panay ... tinadtad na ng feelers ang buong Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan at Antique. Nang pumunta naman ako sa Tarlac ang mga daan ay nagmumutiktik na mga larawan ni Camille.

It was overkill ... iba talaga kung may pera ka. The sky is the langit. Which brings to mind this question: Kung aabot ng bilyon ang gastos niya sa campaign ... paano ba niya ma-recoup ang investment niya? Paano na yong ROI (return of investment) niya?

To the uninformed, ROI is a financial metric used to evaluate the profitability of an investment by comparing its gain or loss relative to its cost.

Hindi naman pwede na parang bulag na lang siya at tapon ng tapon ng pera at hindi na niya inisaisip kung paano niya maibalik ang kanyang capital.

And if we are to believe the latest surveys ... mukhang tagilid ang laban ng prinsisa ni Manny at Cynthia. Kung minsan napapasok sa Top 12 kung minsan naliligwak na (para bang mga alimango ang mga huling senadores na nagpukpokan sa ulo at naghihilahan sila pababa lalo na yong Top 10-15.

The rule of the thumb is ... at this stage of the game ... while we are nearing the election finish line ... ang mga nangangamoteng senador na huling puesto ay talagang survival of the fittest na ang mood. Matira ang matibay. Kung pwedeng mangagat sila ... gawin na nila. And as usual the strategy is to fight with all your might ... or fight tooth and nail ... kinakagat na nila ang mga senador na nakapuesto ahead of them ... pati na rin ang mga kandidato na nasa likuran nila.

Si Madam Imee ganoon na rin ang sitwasyon. Akala niya noon she has the "best of both worlds". Yon bang kasama ka na sa kapitagpitagang line up ng mga senador under sa umbrella ni BBM ... aba hindi pa nakontento at gusto pa ring makuha ang mga boto ng mga DDS. At the back of her mind... "I can dream can't I" ... siguro gusto niya ring maging number 1. Eh kung nagawa ni Robin ... bakit siya hindi?

Voters, however, think otherwise ... that her game plan is a big No-No. They believe na si Manang Inday is playing safe at namamangka sa dalawang ilog. Ayan tuloy the strategy backfired at unti-unti nang nabubura ang nooy walang katalong-talong posisyon.

Sensing that, para makabawi ... aba, gumawa ulit ng panibagong ingay ... (para mapagusapan siya at ipakita ang galing bilang abogada). Nagpaimbestiga pa sila sa Senado (regarding some irregularities in PRRD's arrest). Ang triumvirate nila nina Bato at Cayetano has all the makings of a classic - nagtag team sila at ang performance nila tour-de -force ... at no holds barred ang assault.

Isa-isa nilang pinuksa ang mga kalaban sa hearing. The pyro-technics were non-stop ... without limits or constraints. And the three of them act aggressively ... para silang mga amasona na handang pumatay at magpa--girgir alang alang sa pinakamamahal nilang si Digong.

The rest was history at tuluyan na nga kinalaban niya ang kanyang brother. Ano ba ang dapat piliin: tanong ng marami: Kadugo o kaibigan? Dahil dito naturn-off na siguro ang mga botante at imbes na pumaimbulog ang pangalan niya sa langit-langitan sa latest surveys ... tuluyan nang naging malabnaw ang suporta ng mga dating supporters niya.

Balik tayo sa ating unang tanong: Paano ba maibalik ang ginastos nila at walang preno ang dalawang ito sa kanilang onslaught. Kung manalo magkano ba ang sueldo ng senador at buong akala nila mabayaran kaagad ang mga ginastos nila?

At paano na lang kung matalo ...Goodbye billions of pesos na lang na parang natalo lang sa casino?

I know mga mayayaman itong dalawa at hindi problema ang pera kung matalo man. Pero sa mga ordinaryong tao ... hindi maganda ehemplo at kahit saang angulo tingnan ... parang pinaglaruan lang nila ang pera ... kabaliktaran sa kung ano ang nangyayari sa kanila.

Why Hunt Eggs On Easter?

When we talk about Easter Sunday, what comes to mind? Well, the Easter Bunny, of course, Easter Eggs, the rabbits, and children with baskets.

Some Asians or Pinoys may wonder why children hunt for eggs on Easter. Indeed, it is understandable why they can't relate to the activity because it is more of a Western tradition.

I Googled it and here's what I found:

1. Religious Symbolism:

• Resurrection:

  The egg, especially when decorated, symbolizes Jesus' resurrection and emergence from the tomb.
• New Life:

  Eggs have long been associated with new life and spring, aligning with the Christian concept of spiritual renewal that Easter celebrates. 
• Fasting:

  Historically, eggs were forbidden during Lent, the period before Easter. Therefore, the Easter egg hunt and consumption of eggs became a celebratory act marking the end of fasting and the beginning of the Easter holiday. 

2. Fun and Festive Tradition:

• Excitement and Play:

  Egg hunts are a popular and fun activity for children, involving a sense of adventure and the excitement of finding hidden treasures.
• Social Activity:

  Egg hunts are often family or community events, fostering a sense of togetherness and celebration.
• Candy and Treats:

  The tradition often involves hiding candy-filled eggs, making it a treat-filled experience for children. 

Pageant Result: Miss Eco-International 2025

The winners of Miss Eco International 2025 from left to right: Yelyzaveta Adamska- Ukraine - Second Runner Up, Yulinar Fitriani - Indonesia - First Runner Up, Alexie Mae Brooks - Philippines -Miss Eco International 2025- Winner, Cynthia Murillo -United States of America - Third Runner Up, and Victoria Repollo Inglis - United Kingdom- Fourth Runner Up.  The pageant was held at Hilton Green Plaza at Alexandria, Egypt, last April 20, 2025.

Political Meme

Ang mga tao nga naman. Of all  the animals in the land and in the water ... sa pusit pa talaga ninyo ikinumpara si VP Inday? Ano ba ang logic kung bakit sa pusit siya kinumpara?

Squid use their ink as a defensive mechanism against potential enemies. They release a dark, smoky cloud that obscures the predator's vision and allows the squid to escape. The ink can also temporarily disorient or irritate predators, making it harder for them to pursue the squid. 

Is that how they compare Inday with her confidential fund controversies? Ganyan ba umasta si Inday, na ugali ng bumubuga ng tinta para makatakbo at makaiwas sa panganib?

If you were to ask me ... I would rather compare her to an electric eel. Unlike most fish, eels have no scales. Instead, their smooth, slimy skin helps them glide through narrow crevices and slither into tight spaces to escape predators. 

Electric eels defend themselves by leaping from the water, directly shocking the threat or stunning the potential prey. Eh ilang beses na ba nakuryente ang mga congressmen sa pagiging bratinella ni Inday?

Inday was slippery indeed, and she is difficult to catch and you can't get any information from her like what happened in the hearings.

It is funny how people perceive ITIM and make it a horror story- ginawa pa nilang props ang full moon, bats, and an old gnarled tree.

It is doubly funny at gumawa pa sila ng PIATTOS na ang flavor ay pusit. Ang hindi nila alam ang makakain niyan  ay magiging anak ng kadiliman, madulas, evasive at palaging umiiwas. 

By the way, going back to our previous posts about figures of speech ... When you say "as slippery as an eel,"  or as dark as the squid's ink" ... what FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE was used?

They were using SIMILE - a rhetorical device that compares two things using the words "like", "as", or than. Similes are used to make a description more emphatic or vivid. (Example: as brave as a lion ... eyes like a hawk ... sweeter than sugar.)

 Holy Week is the only time of the year when Pinoys commemorate the execution of Jesus, his torture and agony, and His nailing on the cross.

It is also the time for prayers, confession of sins ... and some deep introspection and reflection on how one spends their lives.

If Jesus carried the cross and was crowned with thorns, Holy Week is also the time for Christians to do some acts of penance; some do simple penitence, some excessive, and some bizarre.

Simple acts of penance include acts of contrition like confession of sins, where absolution is given after praying the rosary, 3 Hail Marys, and the Our Father.

Some do the Stations of the Cross or do Visita Iglesia, where one visits 7 churches as part of their penance.

I saw several people in Quiapo who kneel-walk their way to the altar before the critical and judgmental eyes of the public.

I also saw Pinoys who do voluntary self-punishment, inflicting pain on themselves as an outward expression of repentance for having done wrong.

In Pampanga, particularly during Holy Week, penitents perform various rituals involving self-inflicted pain as part of penance. These include flagellation (self-whipping), carrying crosses, and even being nailed to a cross

On our side, we did a simple penance. We thought walking a 3-kilometer procession under sweltering heat was an act of self-flogging by itself.

Others may think that what we did was NO SWEAT, but I beg to differ. The whole exercise was ALL-SWEAT in the real sense of the word.

I saw many seniors participating, and looking at their faces, I can sense they are trying to resist the temptation of stopping by 7-Eleven and buying the much-needed thirst-quencher.

Some diabetics experienced hypoglycemia. But they persevere and do not succumb to the calls of the flesh.

This is Holy Week after all ... our simple way of self-flogging and self-harm is our simple way of doing our penance. It is our simple way of mortifying the flesh and expressing remorse for the sins we committed. Nobody can frown and dictate what options are acceptable ways of atonement.

This is the time para sa konting pagtitiis at penetensiya. Kung nakaya nang lahat ... ang pawis, ang init ... ang kalam ng sikmura ... ang pagkauhaw ... dapat kayanin rin natin.

Di ba lahat ng yan ay kinaya din ni Jesus mai-ahon lang tayo sa kasalanan?

Itim ... How Timely

The latest Pinoy Big Brother tandem of evictees ... UNITEAM becomes UN-ITIM.

Black is the color of the day. Ginagawa ba nila ito para sumabay sa somber mood ng Semana Santa? Whatever their motives are ... people find it stupefying kung bakit nila kailangan ipag-luksa ang kandidatura ni Manang Imee sa Senado at ginawang pang Holy Week ang presentation.

Hindi tuloy maiwasan paghambingin ang ginawa ng mga tao noong sa panahon ni Kristo.They are in for the kill. Ipinako na nga nila si Kristo sa Krus, pinainom pa nila ng vinegar mixed with gall. 

Peter denied him 3 times despite his willingness to die for Him ... that's very symbolic as Aimee tries to besmirch the administration by painting the town black, giving the semblance na parang walang redeeming value na ang pamunuan ng brother niya.

Hindi niya ba alam na mas akma ang description at mga pinagsasabi nila sa mga nangyayari noon sa term ni PRRD na puno ng karahasan at patayan maisulong lang ang kanilang war on drugs?

Some loyalists frown at how she treated his brother. In exchange for the votes coming from the DDS block ... willing pala si Manang Inday ibenta ang kanyang prinsipyo ma-relect lang siya. Shades of Judas Iscariot agreeing to hand over Jesus in exchange for thirty pieces of silver.

Nagbihis itim pa sila, "how can they be so audacious, and how can they stomach acting sanctimonious and holier than thou? Hindi ba nila tinitingnan ang mga sarili nila bago magbigay ng konklusyon at opinion?

Meme For Lenten Season

Pogo or Quail eggs and Harry R. are the new meme to hit the internet. 

They are not captioned, so the owners of the meme are leaving it up to the "madlang netizens" to gather their thoughts and FILL IN THE BLANKS and frame their own conclusions.  

The whole image, however, in itself is already pregnant with all possible insinuations and imputations.

What do you think are the reasons why the owner placed quail eggs vis-à-vis the former spokesman Hariruki?

If you have humorous and funny captions ... please share them with us. 

It's the Lenten season ... and quail eggs (or pogo) had their limited exposure. 

On Sunday, Easter eggs will take center stage.