National GREED Corporation

“If the presence of electricity can be made visible in any part of the circuit, I see no reason why intelligence may not be transmitted instantaneously by electricity.”

—Samuel Morse

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WE can’t blame Iloilo City officials led by Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas and Lone District Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda if they nearly went berserk over the weekend and threatened to declare an Armageddon against the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

Even Iloilo Governor Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. was alarmed that he was prompted to call for a Zoom conference with the NGCP attended by all stakeholders April 29 to clarify and expedite the resolution of the series of unannounced power interruptions in Panay Island over the week.

The power outages came just when people were being pummeled and tortured by extreme summer heat brought by the terrible climate change, and when Ilonggos were experiencing an awe-inspiring Renaissance in business and investment opportunities.

Unannounced means Ilonggos were caught by surprise and weren’t warned of the abhorrent, irritating, and unpalatable power blackouts, thus sending them to panic and giving them terrible suffering and inconvenience.

If the serious power outages weren’t addressed immediately, more people would carry a heavy cross for the sins of the National Greed Corporation of the Philippines. 

 

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Investors that have started to marshal their infrastructure, manpower, and technical resources would be discouraged. 

Businesses would be crippled. More Ilonggos would get sick and hospitalized due to heat stroke and other related illnesses brought by high body temperature. Appliances will be altogether wrecked.

Infrastructure, Alok sharman, said is the backbone of economic growth. It improves access to basic services such as clean water and electricity, creates jobs and boosts business.

As the franchise holder and transmission service provider, NGCP is in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country's state-owned power grid.

It also  controls the supply and demand of power by determining the power mix through the selection of power plants to put online (i.e., to signal power plants to produce power, as power plants will only produce power or feed their power to the transmission grid when directed by NGCP, and updates the daily power situation outlook for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao power grids.

Generation, transmission, and distribution are the three stages in the power supply.

These three components also make up what is called the power or electric grid, which is a network that includes the generating plants, transmission lines, and distribution lines.

 

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There are three power grids in the Philippines—the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao grids. 

The process of creating electricity out of primary sources of energy like coal, renewable energy, natural gas, and oil-based sources is called generation. 

As of 2017, 50 percent of generation in the country reportedly comes from coal, 24 percent from renewable energy, 22 percent from natural gas, and the remaining 4 percent from oil-based sources. Involved in generation are generation companies like Aboitiz Power, First Gen Corporation, for example.

As electricity is carried through the grids via transmission lines, transmission happens. Think of transmission lines as huge electrical towers that are often erected in vast fields. 

Transmission around the country is facilitated by the NGCP, a privately owned corporation.

The electricity finally reaches consumers through distribution. 

During distribution, electricity runs through distribution lines, which are smaller towers often seen traversing highways and roads. 

Distribution is facilitated by private distribution utilities or by electric cooperatives.

 

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ACTIVE. The 25-34 year old age group is the most sexually active at 135 times a year, followed by the 21-24 year olds (133) and 35-44 year olds (122).

LOUD. Berber monkeys like sex to be loud: 59 percent of the males climax when the female screams during sex. When she stays quite, only 2 percent of males orgasm. (Desutsches Primazentrum Goettingen)

CNN has reported that more than 2 million species are believed to exist in the Earth's oceans, but only about 240,000 have been described by scientists, according to the Ocean Census. The huge gaps in our knowledge of the ocean have unsettled researchers for decades, prompting them to now launch a global mission to explore the uncharted depths of the deep-sea ecosystem.

TWITTER WOES. Six months after Elon Musk took control of Twitter, the future of the company and the platform have never been less certain. After acquiring the social media platform for $44 billion in late October, Musk reportedly now values Twitter at around $20 billion — and some analysts believe that estimate is likely high. Additionally, Musk has laid off 80% of Twitter's staff and is allegedly failing to pay some of its bills, according to multiple lawsuits. 

This comes as Musk's primary growth strategy through an overhauled subscription strategy has resulted in much chaos and a limited number of actual subscriptions. Twitter has also lost several top advertisers, and a number of users, celebrities and media organizations have said they plan to leave. One of the latest corporations to ditch the platform is the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, North America's largest transportation network serving millions of metro and bus passengers in New York and connecting states.(CNN’s 5 THINGS)

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

 

Welcome to the US, Team Malacanang

“There is no friend like an old friend who has shared our morning days, no greeting like his welcome, no homage like his praise.”

—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

TEAM Malacanang is expected to arrive in Washington D.C. on April 30, 2023 for the May 1, 2023 meeting between U.S. President Joseph “Joe” Biden and his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr at the White House.

They will reportedly discuss deepening economic cooperation and the Indo-Pacific region, among other important issues.

It can’t be denied that some people are thinking the White House visit may also have something to do with the ongoing tension amid the assertiveness of China in the South China Sea.

We welcome Team Malacanang’s second US visit since September 2022, when Mr. Marcos Jr. attended the 77^th session of the of the UN General Assembly in New York City.

Both the US and the Philippines, the treaty allies, have enjoyed warmer ties since Mr. Marcos took office in June 2022, reversing his predecessor, former President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte’s anti-U.S. stance and overtures towards China, Washington's rival in the region.

White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement the two leaders will also discuss further economic cooperation, 

"During the visit, President Biden will reaffirm the United States' ironclad commitment to the defense of the Philippines, and the leaders will discuss efforts to strengthen the longstanding U.S.-Philippines alliance," the statement said.

Team Malacanang will travel from April 30 to May 4, it was reported.

It earlier declared: "It will substantively progress efforts to further deepen...political ties, to bring about lasting socio-economic partnerships, as well as to enhance defense and security cooperation.”

The Philippine leader will reportedly seek closer partnership in agriculture, energy, climate change, digital transformation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, supply chains, and infrastructure.

Good luck, Team Malacanang.

 

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Below is the official statement from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on the Bilateral Meeting Between President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.:

“On May 1, President Joe Biden will host Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for a bilateral meeting at the White House. 

“During the visit, President Biden will reaffirm the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defense of the Philippines, and the leaders will discuss efforts to strengthen the longstanding U.S.-Philippines alliance. 

“The two leaders will review opportunities to deepen economic cooperation and promote inclusive prosperity, expand our nations’ special people-to-people ties, invest in the clean energy transition and the fight against climate change, and ensure respect for human rights. “The two leaders will also discuss regional matters and coordinate on efforts to uphold international law and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.

 

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KEEP IT SAFE. Sperm banks keep their donor semen at approximately -321 degrees Fahrenheit. At that temperature, it could be kept indefinitely.

AUTHOR. The Kama Sutra was written by Mallanga Vatsyayana, who was rumored to be celibate.

OUR REAL MEASURE. Hardship is one way of measuring one's strength, so if our problems are extra big, let us be extra flattered because that is how much God believes in us.

EINSTEIN’S BIG BLUNDER.  This is a cosmic mystery story which states that the future of the universe lies in the hands of dark energy, an unknown form of energy that caused cosmic expansion to begin accelerating a few billion years ago.  According to latest study, Einstein failed to recognize the dark energy.

“To require this Christian society to allow atheists not just to join but to conduct Bible classes…That’s crazy.” — ANTONIN SCALA, the late former US Supreme Court Justice, during oral arguments on whether a California law school can refuse to recognize a Christian student group because it excludes gays and atheists.

“The Church says that the Earth is flat, but I know that it is round. For I have seen the shadow on the moon and I have more faith in the Shadow than in the Church.” -- FERDINAND MAGELLAN. He helped introduce Christianity in the Philippines and religion failed to save him from Lapu-Lapu's wrath.

BURN THEM. All illegal drugs seized during the police raids must be destroyed immediately. No ifs. No buts. This will ensure that no police scalawag or group of police scalawags will recycle and sell them. 

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

Cynthia Villar has no humility

“If you aren't humble, whatever empathy you claim is false and probably results from some arrogance or the desire to control. But true empathy is rooted in humility and the understanding that there are many people with as much to contribute in life as you.”

— Anand Mahindra

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IN my personal opinion, Senator Cynthia Villar has no humility.

As the wife of the second richest man in the Philippines (husband Manny Villar has a net worth of $7.8 billion, second to the Sy siblings with $12.6 billion, according to Forbes), it seems she doesn’t know how to choose a quality and justifiable battle.

The billionaire senator seems to be also harsh on lowly people. 

If Mrs. Villar hogged the headlines for fighting tooth and nail versus the plunderers, the economic saboteurs, the terrorist groups like Maute and Abu Sayyaf, and all the bad Goliaths in society, we would have applauded and even praised her as an epitome of rectitude and statesmanship. 

But in a recent viral video that became the talk of the town, Mrs. Villar was seen verbally lashing at a security guard and even pulling his arm in a Las Pinas City subdivision. 

She was even heard in the video using a homophobic slur to describe one of the guards while a man appealed not to hurt him.

The woman senator said she was asking guards to remove the gate that blocked the composting facility inside the subdivision which led to the skirmish.

Could she have just tasked an assistant or somebody authorized to deal with the security guards to resolve the matter sans the fire and brimstone instead of doing a Gabriela Silang waggling angrily in public for all the world to see?

 

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In other words, the altercation wasn’t about the dispute for Spratly Islands and South China Sea, or about nuclear weapons where the combative woman politician was seen arguing with the bigwigs of the Chinese Politburo and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

It was about a “street fight” where a famous senator was seen losing her temper against a sikyu or a group of sikyu. 

A billionaire and senator to boot involved in a “street fight?” 

She tangled not with the VIPs in politics and military but with the subdivision security guards lock, stock, and barrel. 

The language in a street spat is always a “pang kanto” (another corner). The senator’s outburst appeared to be “salitang kalye” (street word).

And, as if the scandal wasn’t enough, Mrs. Villar further threw herself under the bus by threatening to file a case against the unnamed video uploader saying she found the video to be malicious. 

From a security guard to another lowly and powerless person?

Is politics for the Villars addition or subtraction?

Senator Villar, a highly regarded woman and national leader, is best advised to exercise utmost restraint when dealing with ordinary people who elected her into public office.

If the security guards will lose their jobs and the video uploader will go to jail and people will start thinking she is rudely arrogant, what will she gain?

To paraphrase Matthew, what will it profit a rich and famous politician if he or she gains the world but forfeits his or her soul?

 

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PREVENTION. Semen contains zinc and calcium, both of which are proven to prevent tooth decay.

EVOLUTION OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE IS REBIRTH OF SOCIETY. We have enriched this universe with diverse ideas for thousands of years with shifting of one paradigm to another. We have abundance of ancient and modern ideas way back from Babylonian and Egyptian antiquity, but only human knowledge has made a dramatic impact in our evolution as society.

GUILTY. My dear friends, if our hearts do not make us feel guilty, we can come without fear into God’s presence – 1 John 3:21

Was Plato right when he claimed that the soul existed long before it inhabited the body?

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barclays Center on my mind

 “Shop has also spared Brooklyn another retro stadium. The architects have created something tougher, more textured and compelling, an anti-Manhattan monument, not clad in glass or titanium but muscular and progressive like its borough.”

—The New York Times on Barclays Center 

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IF we’ve been to Brooklyn and we’ve not visited Barclays Center, we haven’t gone to Brooklyn.

We can’t afford to miss visiting the imposing Barclays Center, which resides in Brooklyn, not exactly the center of the universe, although any local Nets lover will gladly tell us their location qualifies as the epicenter of culture and life.

In 2013, or a year after it opened on September 21, 2012, Barclays Center was the top-grossing North American arena for concerts and family shows.

In that year, Madison Square Garden (MSG) in Manhattan was putting the finishing touches on a $1 billion-plus renovation that year, making 2014 the first time the two went head-to-head for the entire year on equal ground.

World class concerts and sports and entertainment shows like the WNBA and NBA games, championship boxing matches are regularly held at the Barclays Center.

We can’t forget when then WBC heavyweight king Deontay “The Brown Bomber” Wilder knocked out Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius in that Center on October 15, 2022.

Meanwhile, April 22 was the last opportunity for us to watch and chronicle the Game 4 of the 2023 NBA Eastern Conference First Round at the Barclay Center.

Sadly, the first-round series between the Sixers and the Nets lasted just four games. As the Sixers asserted their dominance against a fairly new, and re-tooling Nets team, Seth Curry and his Brooklyn-based teammates didn’t have what it takes to overpower a squad of championship-hopefuls.

The Sixers steamrolled the Nets in the Game I, 121-101, on April 15; Game 2, 96-84, on April 17; Game 3, 102-97 on April 20; and finallly in Game 4, 96-88, on April 22.

“Words cannot do the Game 3 that the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers justice,” reported the NetsDaily after Game 3. 

“It was, at the very least, an inner-circle contender for weirdest game of the season, playoffs or not, the sort of game that simultaneously lasts five minutes but also six hours.”

There were two ejections in the match, neither of which resulted from an attempted kick to the jewels that came two minutes into the game. NetsDaily reported that Joel Embiid, a shoe-in for the MVP award, “was so hobbled by game’s end that he did not touch the ball on his team’s two most important possessions, but momentarily recovered to fly across the court for a superhuman, game-saving block in the game’s final seconds.”

 

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New York City is home to a significant Filipino community, with a population of approximately 236,000, making it the third-largest population of Filipinos in the United States, after Los Angeles and San Francisco. 

This community has a rich cultural heritage, which is reflected in the city's diverse neighborhoods, businesses, and cultural events. 

Filipinos in NYC come from different backgrounds, speak different dialects and have different traditions.

The largest concentration of Filipinos in NYC is in the borough of Queens in Little Manila, with 54 percent of the total population, followed by Manhattan with 15.7 percent, Brooklyn with 13.8 percent, the Bronx with 8.5 percent, and Staten Island with 7.3 percent. 

These neighborhoods have become cultural hubs, with Filipino restaurants, shops, and community centers, where residents can connect with their roots, participate in cultural events, and build a sense of community.

Many Filipinos who have lived in the city for decades are choosing to return to their homeland for retirement. According to Pew Research Center, there are several reasons why Filipinos are choosing to retire in the Philippines.

 

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One of the primary reasons is the cost of living. Many retirees find that they can stretch their retirement savings further in the Philippines than in New York City. 

The lower cost of housing, food, and healthcare can make a significant difference in their quality of life. Additionally, the strong family ties and support system in the Philippines can help retirees feel more secure and comfortable in their retirement years.

Another reason why Filipinos are choosing to retire in the Philippines is the cultural connection. Despite living in New York City for decades, many Filipinos still feel a strong connection to their homeland and want to spend their retirement years in a place that feels more familiar. The Philippines is rich in culture and traditions that are important to many Filipinos, and retiring there allows them to reconnect with their roots and immerse themselves in their heritage.

Some Filipino retirees are choosing to return to the Philippines to contribute to their communities. Many retirees use their skills and expertise to start businesses, mentor young people, and give back to their hometowns. 

Retiring in the Philippines allows them to make a meaningful impact in their communities and leave a lasting legacy.

The decision to retire in the Philippines is a personal one, but for many Filipinos, it is an attractive option. The lower cost of living, cultural connection, and opportunities to give back to their communities are just a few of the reasons why Filipinos are choosing to return to the Philippines for retirement. 

For those who have spent most of their lives in New York City, retiring in the Philippines can provide a sense of comfort and familiarity that may not be found anywhere else. (Source: Filipinos of New York)

 

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WE HAVE BEEN OBSERVING THIS RECENTLY. The greenhouse effect is a warming near the Earth's surface that results when the Earth's atmosphere traps the sun's heat. The atmosphere acts much like the glass walls and rook of a greenhouse.

WE ARE STILL SUPERIOR. Human brains are smarter than creatures whose brains are larger than ours in absolute terms, such as the killer whales, as well as those animals whose brains are larger than ours in relative terms, such as shrews. Thus, the size alone does not explain the uniqueness of the human mind.

GOD. The fact that God is omniscient or all-knowing is enough argument that science is part of His creation and by being omnipotent or all-powerful is enough evidence that God is in total control of the universe.

YES OR NO. If we believe in God, we are called theists (no matter what particular conception of God we believe in). If we don't, we are called atheists. If we say, "I don't know," we are called agnostics. Yes? No? Don't know?

SEXY. One in five women finds a man with long hair sexy. (GDP)

HUMAN RACE. To save the human race, we must reduce our number. The only way to do that is to restructure our entire socioeconomic system.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

Never ending promises

 

“An ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises.”

—Mae West

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

SINCE it was formed on January 29, 1991, all the past chiefs of the 228,000-strong Philippine National Police (PNP) from General Cesar Nazarino until most recently General Rodolfo Azurin Jr., have made almost the same sets of mantra: cleanse the ranks with scalawags; stop the illegal gambling activities; stop the illegal drugs trafficking; dismantle the private armies; respect the fundamental human rights, etcetera.

All the predecessors of newly stalled PNP chief, Major General Benjamin Acorda Jr., so far, have miserably failed to deliver these promises. 

In fact, the number of scalawags or bad eggs in the organization has doubled by leaps and bounds over the years even if their salaries have sufficiently increased under the Duterte administration.

Illegal drugs and illegal gambling activities were never nipped in the bud; on the contrary, many cops have been reported to be in cahoots with drug lords and gambling lords—if they are not the traffickers themselves.

Until his retirement, General Azurin, Jr. continued to be bedeviled by accusations of cover-up in the scandalous P6.7-billion shabu haul involving mostly high-ranking police officials.

Let’s listen to PNP chief Acorda: “My stand on (illegal) drugs is clear—no police should be involved in pushing, using or whatever means of illegal drug trade.”

He added: “You will be charged and removed from the service. This is my warning to each and everyone of you, our fight will be holistic in prevention and aggressive in operations. Under my leadership, rewards and punishment will be quick and decisive, it shall be fair and impartial and due process shall be observed.”

Acorda also vowed that the PNP would be transparent under his watch: “To the media, our long-time partners, we welcome critics as our independent source of check and balance. We are allies in bringing out the truth… We will be transparent.” 

What else is new?

 

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In 2009, I noticed that Walmart and Bed Bath & Beyond employed many Filipinos regardless of age, thus my preference for a part-time job when I was in Las Vegas were the two popular US department stores.

Walmart Supercenters offer a one-stop shopping experience by combining a grocery store with fresh produce, bakery, deli and dairy products with electronics, apparel, toys and home furnishings.

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., on the other hand, is an American big box store specializing in home textiles, housewares, decorative home accessories and specialty items. The chain operates stores in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. The store for seemingly everything in our home during the 1990s and 2000s, has filed for bankruptcy. The retailer attracted a broad range of customers by selling name brands at cut-rate prices. I failed to work in both stores.  

GOD’S RELIGION. TV reporter to a guest: "What is your religion?" Guest: "If you can tell me God's religion, that is my religion."

Does God have a "religion"? If He does, what is it? If He does not...why do we humans have so many? Can one love and worship one God with all one's heart and soul yet belong to no "religion"? Thought-provoking.

FRIES. CNN has reported that French fries may be bringing us down. Researchers reportedly found that frequent consumption of fried foods, especially fried potatoes, is linked to an increased likelihood of anxiety and depression.

 

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THANK YOU, CAPITAL BANK. I received a noticed from Capital Bank telling me to “Keep yourself safe from new fraud scams.”

It explained: “With the recent news about a few bank failures, many vendors are updating their banking information. Scammers are using this moment of change to take advantage of unsuspecting customers. “By preying on common anxieties, fraudsters can trick you into sending money to a phony bank account or providing your personal banking information. 

“Remember to stay calm and be skeptical of banking update requests. By following these tips, you can keep yourself safe from potential scams:

“Don’t click on anything in an unsolicited email or text message asking you to update or verify account information.

“Never send funds to a merchant until you can confirm that the request to change a payment destination is legitimate, like a statement from them or a verified customer service phone number.

Don’t rely only on caller ID to confirm someone’s identity, as scammers can compromise that too.

“Look up the company’s phone number through a legitimate source like a statement provided by the company, and don’t use the number a potential scammer is providing.

“Take your time. A legitimate Capital One associate will never pressure you to immediately make a decision. They’ll provide you with all the necessary information and specific time frames to make your decision.

“When in doubt, hang up the phone and call your Capital One service team directly. You may call us at the number listed on the back of your debit or credit card and bank statement.

“We’ll keep you updated as we learn more about how these scams evolve. It’s all part of how Capital One is looking out for your financial safety every day.”

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

Gervonta Davis ruins potential Pacquiao comeback vs Garcia

 “Boxing is like jazz. The better it is, the less people appreciate it.”

—George Foreman

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

MANNY Pacquiao’s presence in the ringside when Gervonta “Tank” Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) destroyed potential Pacquiao comeback fight foe Ryan “King Ry” Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) on April 22 in Las Vegas had two purposes: 1. He wanted to continue attracting the attention of ring impresarios who might be interested to book him after he announced a comeback bid this year; and 2. He wanted to assess the ability of the lanky 24-year-old Garcia, his rumored future foe.

Forget Davis. No promoter in his right mind will accommodate the crazy idea of pitting boxing’s senior citizen from Saranggani, Mindanao against today’s hottest boxing sensation from Baltimore, Maryland.

It’s Garcia who was near Pacquiao’s radar. Two years ago, then 21-year-old rising star Garcia, who was not even a full-fledged world lightweight champion, called out then WBA welterweight titleholder Pacquiao for a fight.

Garcia added more fuel to speculation about a possible fight against Pacquiao, announcing an apparent agreement with the legendary star.

"A dream turned reality," Garcia wrote on Instagram. "It's an honor to share the Ring with @mannypacquiao I will always respect what you did in and out the ring. Here's to the best Man Winning."

When he made the gigantic noise, Garcia, biting more than he can chew, was holding the interim WBC 135-pound belt. 

Pacquiao, now 44, hasn’t fought in the lightweight division since blasting to smithereens undefeated David Diaz in 2008.

For sure if ever they clashed then, there would be a catchweight clause.

 

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The potential fisticuffs fizzled out when Pacquiao battled for the presidency of the Philippines in 2022 and failed, while Garcia, who just dismantled Duke Campbell after surviving a knowdown in Dallas, went on to register scintillating wins over Emmanuel Tagoe and Javier Fortuna before being blown away by the Tank last Saturday (Sunday in the Philippines).

With Garcia crashing out badly against Davis via 7^th round KO, his dream match versus Pacquiao is now in tatters. 

Pacquiao announced during Rizin’s New Year’s Eve card at Saitama Super Arena outside Tokyo that he has a deal in place with Japan's Rizin Fighting Federation to compete this year. Pacquiao made the announcement in the ring during Rizin's New Year's Eve card at Saitama.

There were no complete details about the nature of the fight but the defeated presidential candidate said he would face a Japanese fighter. Rizin puts on bouts primarily in MMA, but also kickboxing and boxing.

Pacquiao will most likely take part in an exhibition boxing match following the success of those types of bouts in Japan with Floyd Mayweather.

Floyd Mayweather, Davis’ No. 1 backer, has done two exhibition boxing matches with Rizin, in 2018 and in September. Pacquiao was also in the front row when Mayweather defeated Rizin MMA fighter and popular YouTuber Mikuru Asakura.

For his part, Pacquiao outplayed South Korean martial artist and influencer DK Yoo in an exhibition boxing match Dec. 11, 2022 in Goyang, South Korea.

 

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Long ago--more than 3,000 years--a band of Greek princes and heroes made a war on the city of Troy, in Asia Minor.

They laid siege to the city, but the Trojans were not easily beaten and the war went on for 10 years. It might not have ended even then had not Odysseus, the cleverest of the Greeks, devised a scheme to overthrow the city.

The Greeks pretended that they were giving up the siege and began making preparations to leave. One of the things that they did was to build a gigantic wooden horse. They left this on the shore, and then went on board their ships and sailed away.

When the Trojans saw the Greek warriors depart, there was great rejoicing. Believing the horse to be a luck offering to the gods, they opened their gates and hauled the horse inside as a prize of victory.

During the night, however, when the feasting was over and the Trojans were asleep, a door was opened in the side of the hollow wooden animal and out crept a band of Greeks who had been concealed inside. These men opened the gates of the city and let in the main army of the Greeks, who had sailed back again as soon as darkness had fallen.

Thus Troy was captured and destroyed.

Long ago the blind poet of ancient Greece, Homer, told about the Trojan horse in his Odyssey. Even today the name is applied to a person or persons who get inside enemy territory and help outside forces to get in and conquer it.

 

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TWO KINDS OF TRUTH. 1. Empirical, or factual truth: "There are more than 30 million Facebook users around the world." This is true as a matter of fact.   2. Necessary truth: "5 + 5 = 10." This is true and cannot be possibly false.

RELIGIONS. All the major religions have the same potential to help humanity. It's not just Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism.

SMOKING makes us grow older. Early wrinkling occurs due to reduced levels of the oxygen needed to keep skin healthy. Smoking is the prime source of oxygen deprivation. If a smoker is in the process of quitting, he or she must drink lots of water.

A MODEL’S MEAL. How do models stay in shape? Cindy Crawford: "My breakfast is cereal with banana and skimmed milk. Pasta or salad is usually lunch; sushi, brown rice, and vegetables for dinner. Dairy products go right on my rear end, so I avoid them."

REPUTATION. Of every 10 persons who talk about us, nine will say something bad, and the tenth will say something good in a bad way. Either we are only paranoid or we really have bad reputations.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

A huge debacle

“There is nothing more frightening than a bustling ignorance.” 

—Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WHERE are the good and knowledgeable senators? In the first place, there seems to be none, save for two or three.  

It appears the Philippines is condemned to suffer from having a set of mediocre senators as a result of the voters’ apathy and propensity to choose the popular but dumbass over quality during the elections.

For instance, the antics of Senator Jinggoy Estrada in the recent Senate committee on law and order investigation in the Negros Oriental killings was clearly a huge debacle for the Senate.

It exposed the grim reality that many if not most of the elected senators are ignorant and ill-prepared to participate in the pivotal Q and A area; and they always have the penchant to grandstand and use the committee hearings to publicize their idiocy and ineptitude. And some of them, like Bong Revilla and Robin Padilla, think it is alright.

In that committee investigation, we noticed three instances where Estrada went overboard and unceremoniously badgered with irrelevant and off tangent questions at least two resource persons and a lady lawyer representing a police sergeant.

His gung ho approach and treatment of the civilian complainant in a foiled assassination attempt involving a cop as the alleged hitman was out of tune. 

Instead of helping ferret out the truth whether the suspected hitman cop was the Real McCoy (after committee chair Senator Ronaldo “Bato” dela Rosa couldn’t compel the cop to admit his true identity), Estrada wasted precious time by impeaching the civilian complainant’s credibility by digging into his background as a “drug addict” when he was working in Dubai many years back. 

 

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The senator from San Juan forgot the Senate hearing was about the killings in Negros, not whether someone is a drug user when he was OFW 10 years ago.

Also, Estrada sank himself deeper when he tried to attack the credibility of the lady lawyer who had earlier admitted several times she was there to assist the suspected hitman cop only as a substitute for the cop’s original counsel who was in Iloilo for a separate court hearing.

Estrada blasted the lady lawyer “for not knowing” the full details of the cop’s case. He also dug on her background and asked other irrelevant questions that only exposed his ignorance and lack of preparation to take part in such celebrated Senate inquiry. 

Estrada must have mistaken the Senate committee hearing for a formal court trial where the counsel must argue the case for a client before a sitting judge. 

In the Senate hearing, the counsel can only sit in the background and ensure that the client’s basic rights are protected. It’s the client, in this case the cop as the invited resource person, who shall do the talking about his case and other circumstances.       

Estrada was clearly disgusting and his performance was a huge embarrassment. He only succeeded in exposing himself. 

The voters should keep the ignoramuses out of the senate after bringing them there.

 

-o0o-

 

People who intentionally commit shameful activities like criminals and grafters in government have already accepted the fact that they can never wear the hat called "honorable" even if they have all the riches in the world courtesy of their shenanigans and hooliganism.

IRRATIONAL FEAR. It is the fear of the unknown, the irrational fear that chokes and puts a monkey wrench on our capacity to desire for splendid things in life.

BEWARE THE DEADLIEST NATURAL TOXIN. Botulinal toxin, produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, is the most potent poison for humans. It has an estimated lethal dose in the bloodstream of 10-9 milligrams per kilogram. Death occurs when the respiratory muscles are paralyzed.

TO ALL CIGARETTE LOVERS. Cigarette smoke contains about 4,000 chemicals. Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and nicotine are some of the major components, with lesser amounts of acetone, acetylene, formaldehyde, propane, hydrogen cyanide, toluene, and many others.

PEDESTRIANS. Women drive and cross the street more safely than men. Men account for 70 percent of pedestrian fatalities since 1980. Between the ages 18 and 45, males outnumber females as fatal crash victims by almost three to one according to the Nat'l Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

The bigger picture

 “There will be no whitewash in the White House.”

—Richard M. Nixon

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE White House meeting between US President Joe Biden and Philippine President Bongbong Marcos Jr. on May 1 will be the bigger picture in the ongoing saga involving EDCA and China’s growing assertiveness in the region, not the controversial speech of Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian on the overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in Taiwan that was blown out of proportions.

We are glad that President Marcos Jr. didn’t bite the bait of Senator Riza Hontiveros who sought for Ambassador Huang’s expulsion after he supposedly “advised” the Philippines “to unequivocally oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ rather than stoking the fire by offering the US access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs” there.

We also expressed disagreement with the harsh response made by Hontiveros and those with knee-jerk reactions to the Chinese envoy’s speech before the Association for Philippines-China Understanding (Apcu) on April 14 in Pasig City.

We exploded angrily in February this year when a Chinese ship sprayed the Filipino crew with laser light hitting a Philippine coast guard vessel with a military-grade laser and temporarily blinding some of our crew in the disputed South China Sea.

That anger was justified.

But when Hontiveros, et al took potshots at Huang’s speech, they demanded for his exit without realizing that he had the right to say something as envoy and to exercise his right to freedom of expression in democratic Philippines. 

That was overreaction and unnecessary.

If Huang’s words carried a deadly laser, it would be another story.

  

-o0o-

 

Meanwhile, in an apparent sign of a warming bond between the two nations amid US tensions with China over Taiwan, Mr. Biden will welcome Mr. Marcos Jr. to the White House in Washington D.C.

No less than White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierra had confirmed that Biden will reaffirm Washington’s “ironclad commitment to the defense of the Philippines, and the leaders will discuss efforts to strengthen the long-standing US-Philippines alliance.”

The announcement of official US visit developed almost a week after the launching of the largest-ever joint US-Philippines military exercises in the disputed South China Sea in the face of China’s growing assertiveness in the region, particularly over Taiwan, the self-governing island it claims as its own.

Mr. Biden and Mr. Marcos Jr. would reportedly discuss other matters including economic cooperation, clean energy and respect for human rights.

“The two leaders will also discuss regional matters and coordinate on efforts to uphold international law and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said the White House statement.

China warned last week the expanded military deal could endanger regional peace, and accused Washington of a “zero-sum mentality.”

The four additional bases include sites near the hotly disputed South China Sea and another not far from Taiwan.

 

-o0o-

 

STRESS CAN DESTROY OUR SKIN. A continual menu of stress causes the skin to become sensitive and prone to breakouts. Regular exercise and mediation will help diffuse its effects. Lying on a bed with our head hanging down off the side is a super destresser. 

GOD. What facts will prove the existence of God? Theist's proof: It is stated in the Bible. Atheist's reply: Not all statements in the Bible are true. Theist's proof: It experiences God in a vision. Atheist's reply: Mere hallucinations, doesn't prove anything.

CALMNESS. Self-centeredness inhibits our love for others, and we are all afflicted by it to one degree or another. For true happiness to come about, we need a calm mind, and such peace of mind is brought about only by a compassionate attitude. (How to develop compassion, The Compassionate Life)

TRUTH is the kind of error without which a certain species of life could not live. The value for life is ultimately decisive. (The Will to Power)

NERVES. The tip of the clitoris has about 8,000 nerve endings--more than anywhere else on the human body. (Cosmopolitan)

PERICLES. Millions of people today know of Nebuchadnezzar, and have never heard of Pericles, simply because Nebuchadnezzar is mentioned prominently in the Bible and Pericles, the father of Athens, is never mentioned at all.

The Boy Scouts of America will pay $2.4 million to compensate thousands of sexual abuse victims after emerging from bankruptcy April 19, the organization announced. The money will be paid out from a Victims Compensation Trust that was established by the court during its bankruptcy reorganization.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)