JPE THE FB ROCKSTAR

By now, I am sure you are familiar with the postings of Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile on Facebook, and the Duterte trolls who swarm his posts like wandering flies with ad hominem attacks varying from his long life and old age to memories of Martial Law with the tag "architect of martial law.' And his writings are not even yesterday's garbage but relevant still to this very day. Matter of fact, they even call for the boycott of huis daughter Katrina's Delimondo corned beef as if they don't love the product. Recently, he was trending again when he wrote about the achievements of former President (now ICC inmate) Rodrigo Duterte when he was the country's chief executor er executive. JPE went on to say that many of those projects remain unfinished and are still in the process of being finished under the Marcos administration. And this is where it even gets more interesting: JPE asks where Duterte got the money to fund these projects? And as we all the believe the money came from taxes, truth is Duterte drew out a loan from China which caused the swelling of the country's loans during his tenure. It's in the national records, says JPE. No wonder the Chinese just keep on training their water cannons on our Filipino fishermen. They don't respect us as a people simply because they think they own us. Guess who's paying for these loans today? The Marcos administration is paying for those loans today! And, according to JPE, if we compare previous loans from previous presidents, Duterte's loans top the list as the biggest. The ad hominem attacks came right after insisting that Duterte is the best President we ever had. Time and again, these fanatics patiently wait for JPE's Facebook posts, ready to unleash their meanest comments on the 101-year old FB rockstar as if reaching that ripe old age was a crime. During a recent dinner with him, he reminded me that he knew PBBM as early as when he was a young boy even in his pre-teens. But of course because JPE served under his later father's government beginning in 1966 as Customs Commissioner. PBBM was a 9-year old boy that year. Most of JPE's current bashers on Facebook were not even born that year or even some years after. This reminds me of Senator Risa Hontiveros when she talked about being a martial Law victim. How could this be when Risa was only 6 years old in 1972 when ML was declared? She was born in 1966. And just like many of JPE's bashers on Facebook, their arguments simply make no sense at all. This is both a direct insult to an icon of Philippine history and government and an amusement and a source of laughter for him. Many of them insist that he has utilized the services of a ghostwriter that even i was suspected of being the one. Truth is, Juan Ponce Enrile is his own man and nobody can fathom his intellect just easily as to write that deep and the historical grasp is too wide to ingest quickly. For me, Enrile is the best president we never had. But let us not fret as we still have a chance for that someday in his daughter Katrina. 

                                                         NOT IN A HUNDRED YEARS

So sorry to rain on your parade, but Rodrigo Duterte ain't coming back in a hundred years (and I'm being kind not to hurt your mindless fanaticisms), and will be spending the remaining years of his life behind bars with Bato dela Rosa and who knows who else? Other than that, Sara Duterte will be impeached and will be prohibited from running for any elective post. This also means that Baste Duterte won't be doing good his threat to bomb Ilocos Norte and stop the drug trade there. If you ask me, the only drugs I was able to buy in Batac and Paoay were blood thinners (aspirins) because of a random visit to that familial town.

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                                         THE POLVORON VIDEO IS AN AUTHENTIC FAKE

Much has been said about the polvoron video which the DDS sycophants have spread in the hope of toppling a sitting President. They failed big time. Why? Because there are fake fakes and there are authentic fakes, and methinks the polvoron video is the latter. In a sworn statement, this was recently reiterated by no less than vlogger Vicente Bencalo, more popularly known in Facebook as Pebbles Cunanan and Pebbles Talakera. When I interviewed her recently in my radio program, she said pointblank that it was Atty. Harry Roque, now a fugitive, who was responsible for the video. The sworn statement mentions a meeting inside a Chinese restaurant in Hong Kong attended by Atty. Harry Roque, Atty. Vic Rodriguez (the self-appointed "Kingmaker"), Atty. Glenn Chong, Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles, Dr. Lorraine Badoy, Mr. Allan Troy Sasot aka Sass Rogando Sasot, Ms. Joie Cruz aka Joie de Vivre, and Mr. Alex Destor aka Tio Moreno. And instead of answering the allegations of Cunanan in the video, the Duterte fanatics resort to ad hominem attacks and other rehashed issues. Since coming out in the open, Cunanan has been the subject of personal attacks on his features as if the ones who hurl insults at him look any better. But Roque has the gall to tell the President to prove that the video is a fake. Wait a minute, is he really a lawyer? He ought to know that whoever alleges has the burden of proof. In other words, the party making such claim or assertion has the responsibility to prove it with sufficient evidence. Here, mere allegations without supporting evidence are deemed insufficient to establish a claim. In short, hearsay. in the case of Roque insisting on the authenticity of the polvoron video, it is he who must come out with proof and not the President. So why is he challenging PBBM to dispute this? That is so wrong. Instead, he made this public blabbering away like a whore like a whore who has not been paid, he must show proof, nothing less. This is way beyond stupid, and he is a UP Law alumnus for that matter. Shame. Also, just recently, Roque says that the Dutch people no longer allow the imprisonment of 80-year olds and above, alluding to Duterte who just turned 80 recently. As I gathered, the International Criminal Court (ICC) may impose sentences of up to 30 years of imprisonment, or in some cases, a life sentence. The ICC's detention center is for holding those charged with crimes, and not for imprisoning already convicted individuals. The ICC has twelve detention cells in a Dutch prison in Scheveningen, The Hague. And while the ICC can impose prison sentences, there is no specific rule in the Rome Statute that prevents them from imprisoning individuals of any age - including those 80 years old and above. Mr. Roque, as expected, is peddling fakery once again.

 

DIEGO SILANG

Inside the sanctuaries of our superhero worship, we all have that one hero we look up to. Diego Silang is one of them. Born an Ilocano and died as one, he was betrayed by the Spanish conquistadores y punyeteros in his own land. The mestizo Miguel Vicos, aided by an "indio" traitor Pedro Becbec, conspired to have him snuffed out of Ilocandia via a blunderbuss. He was shot in the back, proof of the cowardice of his killers. Today, it would be apropos to display his revolutionary flag once more, if only to remind us of his great sacrifice for freedom.

 

HAVE BIKE, WILL TRAVEL

I was told by a claustrophobic psychic that I was a marathon cyclist in a past life. Needless to say, I too was equipped with all those muscles and endurance angst to win my race. Today, I just want to finish it as a complete person. In photo is a Colnago I have had since 1988. quite a collector's piece, don't you think?

 

BRILLIANCE NOT MINE

This is an Orlina. And no, I envy not its brilliance, but only its ability to remain that way. The coming seasons bring about so much change, and the things we used to give a hoot about no longer matter that much. I used to like my hair shiny, so I put a little oil to make it that way. To look brilliant, remember? Today, with my hair thinned out, I only want it to be combed. Yes, we shall overcomb!

 MY HEART

I was told by our cardiologist in Singapore that I have no blockage in my heart, an accomplishment for a man like me who has had his share of of foods high in fat and oh so fried stuff. Nevertheless, this is my heart from a CT Scan.

 KUYA NORMAN

When he passed away last August, I knew deep down that his ashes would stay longer in the US before they finally arrive in PH. He was 75, but my memories with him and of him are ageless. I am still hoping that kinder hearts would prevail and would finally put an end to this issue once and for all. 

Please let him come back home.

FAN DAY

Glad to have one fan behind me. In this world where outside appearances weigh more than what really is in a person's heart, plus the fact that it is a popularity contest for each celebrity, it's always better to be discreet while living a simple life. 
 

VIGAN PASSPORT

One of the notable legacy projects of Vigan City Mayor Jose 'Bonito' Singson Jr. is the Ciudad de Vigan Pasaporte de Turista which will be launched in a few months. This tourism gem aims to promote the Heritage City up North. In doing so, every individual who visits Vigan will have the opportunity to have a Vigan Passport and will earn points each time he or she visits. These points will be the passport (pun unintended) for visitors to avail of discounts and freebies from establishments doing business in Vigan. They come in three colors (blue, red, green), but are not in any way color coded for priority. The passports will be a vital component in boosting the local tourism industry in Vigan City.

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS

Have you ever seen such beauty and perfection in God's heavenly creation? A snapshot I took of these cotton ball-like clouds over Vigan City. Perhaps, a portent of good things to come.
 

 NUMBER ONE

Yesterday, 1966: President Ferdinand Marcos.

Today, 2022: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

 A COZY ABODE

When in Vigan, check out (well, check in!) at the historic Hotel Felicidad. While there, you will be treated with a touch of the olden days with the fine furniture and comfortable rooms. This has got to be one of the best places to be while visiting the city. 

 ERGO SUM DIMSUM

It is said that you are what you eat. In this case, anything you put in your mouth becomes you. I cannot help but marvel at this truth with the thought that regular intake of fine dimsum or "siomai" would become me. But kidding aside, this is one of the best contributions of the Chinese in the country with all their delicious cuisine found in the homes of Filipino families including our culture. The Chinese have long been with us even before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores. So before the paella, there was already the pancit and the dimsum.

 LOUIE Y

Those of us who partied in the 80s until the 90s know that the disco scene inflicted us big time what with our Nik-Nik shirts, Bang-Bang jeans and Nicholas Stoodley pants.

But here I caught a big fish. The man himself and so huge that my net almost broke. He is none other than Louie Ysmael aka "Louie Y" of the famed Louie Y's disco at the Silahis International Hotel and Euphoria at the Intercon Hotel.

I had the distinct privilege and honor to accompany Vigan City Mayor Bonito Singson for his Inaugural last June 18. It was attended by friends, relatives, and well-wishers of the chief executive of the city. His acceptance speech clearly outlined his plans for Vigan which includes the arrival of a Tram or a "Trambia" for the city. Add to that, the possible creation of the Metro Vigan Development Authority (MVDA) which will include neighboring towns to the urban family.

 

HUGO'S THERE

While campaigning in 2019 somewhere in San Juan, Metro Manila, I chanced upon a house with this sign.

Could he still be alive?

 

DAMN ASO

I once played as Padre Damaso in an Intramuros production which included other noteworthy characters celebrating Dr. Jose Rizal's 150th birth anniversary.
 

 OLYMPIA HAS RISEN

I have kept for the longest time this Olympia typewriter which belonged to my father who was, for the longest time a newspaperman from the old school. He certainly wrote serious stuff from this piece and, as fate would have it, literally wrote his very last opinion column from this Typesosaur. How much do you think something like this would cost given its battle-scarred condition? But hey, this one's for keeps.

 HAMMOCK

Sometimes you just want to let go for a moment and retreat to a waiting hammock to bask in the sunlight of the day. It is a rejuvenating feeling, plus the fact that a waiting churros con chokolate can never wait for long. Such is life in Vigan.