Historian’s Nook

Isang paglilinaw lang muna.  Hindi ako mahilig sa mga Pinoy telenovelas.  Nagkakataon lang na nakakapanood ako dahil mayroong mga kasambahay na madalas sumubaybay ng mga ganitong uri ng palabas (at parang wala akong choice kundi ang mapatingin na lamang sa aming telebisyon…).  Pero minsan, sa halip na drama ang maramdaman e comedy na ang dating sa mga manonood ng isang programa (lalo na siguro sa akin…).  Lalo pa ‘yung mga eksenang pilit na isinasama/isinasaksak ang mga pang-komersyal na linya sa mga usapan ng mga artista…

Halimbawa, dalawang ulit ko na yatang natitiyempuhang marinig si John Lloyd Cruz na mag-dialogue sa kanyang programa tungkol sa kanyang walang kamatayang paracetamol (commercial) na ‘pwedeng inumin kahit gutom o walang laman ang tiyan’.  Talaga naman oo.  Hindi ako fan ni John Lloyd Cruz at lalo na ng nasabing programa (ni hindi ko nga alam ang title…).  Wala lang, kailangan ko lang ilabas ang naramdaman ko kanina.  Tipong pilit na pilit na eksena.  Sana lang e huwag tuluyang mabobo ang mga manonood ng ganitong uri ng palabas.  (Pakiusap din sanang iwasan na ang labis labis na pagtatangkang magsalita sa wikang Tagalog kahit gaano pa kabaluktot ang dila ng mga artista… Masakit lang sa tainga...)  ‘Di ko alam kung matatawa o mabwibwisit ako. Ang sakit sa ulo.  Teka, penge nga ng paracetamol…

The Golden State Warriors’ glory days are over: back to the proverbial drawing board, and perhaps more importantly, back to reality.  (The Utah Jazz made them realized that.)  I never really liked the Warriors anyway, especially after defeating my Dallas Mavericks (which was a shocking series indeed; hey, what happened to my man Dirk?).  Similarly, I never liked the Jazz (especially after defeating, on the other hand, the Houston Rockets in seven games) but was favoring them to win the series…

Nevertheless, you have to admire the grit of Davis, Jackson, Barnes, and the entire crew…  Emotions rising, tempers flaring up…  Bodies banged up, elbows thrown just about anywhere… Referees handing out flagrant fouls; players getting ejected seemingly on a regular basis…  Be very wary of this team next season; but anger management/therapy sessions will surely come in handy for the players…

Then again, I’m still pinning my hopes for the Phoenix Suns to advance to the NBA championship this year since I never really liked the San Antonio Spurs eversince time immemorial (except I guess for Manu).  Want to see a robot playing?  Watch TD.  Hahaha!  Peace out…

At last, the national fiesta ended yesterday.  Election’s done and we now turn to the canvassing of votes.  Perhaps it will take several weeks before we are able to finally determine who among our senatorial candidates shall be given a (fresh) mandate to serve the people.  Anyhow, just some insights…

1)  Just can’t help but pity this teacher who got burned to death in Batangas while performing her electoral duty.  Unidentified men raided a polling center in Taysan town around 3 in the morning today, began pouring gasoline on the ballot boxes, then started firing that set off a blaze which spread to the building.  Damn to those who did this callous act.  Another Philippine election, another teacher dies anew…

2)  This Virgilio Garcillano never stops amazing me.  Garcillano, a congressional candidate in Bukidnon, said that he is now conceding this early after receiving reports that he was losing the count against his rival, and then added that he is blaming the smear campaign and black propaganda that were undertaken by his opponents for the defeat.  Goodness! What black propaganda?  What smear campaign?  ‘Hello Garci‘ is enough…

3)   The political maturity of South Cotabato voters is worth noting.  Initial figures indicate that boxing icon and congressional candidate Manny Pacquiao is trailing behind the incumbent representative.  As always, go with platform, not with popularity…

In the end, may we remain steadfast in guarding our votes.  Make them count…

Boboto na tayo sa Lunes, Mayo 14.  Tapos na ang napakahabang piyesta sa buong Pilipinas.  Ako ay buhat sa ikalimang distrito ng Maynila.  Medyo nakakalito ang mga pangalan ng mga tatakbong kandidato rito.  Pero malinaw sa lugar namin na politics really runs in the family.  Halimbawa…

Para kay incumbent mayor Lito Atienza (ama), sana e manalo na si Ali Atienza (ang ulirang anak) this time. ‘Di kasi nanalo si Kim Atienza noong nakaraang halalan para sa kongreso. Pero mukhang may tulog ulit dito. (Bigatin ang mga kalaban…)

Vice-mayoralty bet Joey Hizon (incumbent congressman) at Lita Hizon (asawa) para sa kongreso.  Lupet.  Parang ginawang conjugal property ang posisyon kapag manalo si Lita ha…

Congressional bet Ric Ibay (incumbent councilor?) at Jane Ibay (asawa ba ito?) para sa konseho.  ‘Ibay’ talaga ang pamilyang Pilipino…

Vice-mayoralty bet Robert Ortega (incumbent councilor?) at Alex Ortega (kapatid ba ito?) para sa konseho.  Kapalit ng kapu’tol’ sa konseho…

Vice-mayoralty bet Don Bagatsing at Amado Bagatsing (tiyo) para sa kongreso.  At siyempre, may Bagatsing pa sa ikaapat na distrito.  Big time familia sa Maynila… 

Mayoralty bet Rudy Bacani at Boots Bacani (asawa) para sa naman sa kongreso ng ikaapat na distrito ng Maynila.  Panigurado, kahit may matalo…

Mayoralty bet Danny Lacuna (incumbent vice-mayor) at Sylvia Lacuna (kamag-anak daw na malayo?) para naman sa konseho.  (Idagdag mo pa ‘yung ibang mga Lacuna sa ibang distrito.)  ‘Di pa ba ober ito?

Que sinupaman o anupaman sila, nawa’y maging matalino tayo sa pagpili ng ating mga iboboto.  Mabuhay ang pamilyang Pilipino…