Will Iloilo politicians stay away from Romualdez?

“Part of me suspects that I'm a loser, and the other part of me thinks I'm God Almighty.”

—John Lennon

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THERE have been some Iloilo politicians itching to mount a comeback in the next elections who have associated themselves with soon-to-be disgraced former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

This came before the embattled presidential cousin was linked to the multi-billion “ghost” or substandard flood control project furor. Thus, they can’t be faulted for the risky political miscalculation.

Some of them are incumbent Iloilo City Rep. Julienne Baronda and former city mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who became Romualdez’s “special adviser” on May 1, 2025.

Both Baronda and Mabilog were rumored to be seeking another elective position in the future and were probably hoping Romualdez, with all his influence and wherewithals, could serve as their political Big Brother.

Now that Romualdez has been thrown under the bus by the current administration, those hopes may have altogether shattered. After all, nobody loves the loser.

We can’t blame Baronda and Mabilog though if they will (or they may have already started?) soon begin to backtrack and surreptitiously distance themselves from the politically doomed Romualdez.

 

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For a while, even if his name was already in the radar of the Office of the Ombudsman for a potential plunder case, the 62-year-old Romualdez appeared to be untouchable owing to his blood relationship with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

But it seems, based on recent developments, the chips will really fall where they may.

Even Mr. Marcos Jr. might find it hard to wave the magic wand to save his cousin’s ass—unless the president will risk a turbulent public outrage if he applies arm-twisting tactics to influence the Office of the Ombudsman.

Effective April 26, 2026, the Sandiganbayan issued a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against Romualdez due to allegations of his involvement in a multi-billion-peso kickback scheme linked to government flood control projects.

The Office of the Ombudsman sought the travel restriction, citing concerns that the lawmaker might flee to avoid potential plunder, graft, and money laundering charges.

 

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THE REAL McCOY.  Although frequently associated with Darwinism, the phrase "survival of the fittest" was coined by Herbert Spencer, an English sociologist. It is the process by which organisms that are less well-adapted to their environment tend to perish and better-adapted organisms tend to survive.

IGNORE THE EARTHQUAKE SOOTHSAYERS. The test of a hypothesis is whether it makes predictions that are borne out. Unfortunately, geologists do not yet have a clear enough understanding of earthquake phenomena to predict reliably and consistently where and when earthquakes will occur.

STAND UP STRAIGHT. This sounds so ridiculously simple, but it's one of the most evidential traits of those women we so admire. Stand against a wall with head, shoulder blades, and heels touching, and buttocks pushed into the wall.

THEY CAN BE REMOVED, AFTER ALL. Tattoos can be removed by skin grafting, by infrared coagulation treatment, or by salabrasion in which table salt is scrubbed into the anesthetized skin. The hypertonic irritant solution disperses the tattoo pigment particles. Scars will be produced.

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

 

 

Damning pieces of evidence

“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

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THERE are two kinds of truth: 1. Empirical, or factual truth: "There are more than three billion monthly active X (formerly Facebook) users around the world." This is true as a matter of fact; and 2. Necessary truth: "5 + 5 = 10." This is true and cannot be possibly false.

The cat is now out of the bag.

The pieces of evidence presented in the recent House Committee on Justice hearing on the impeachment of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio are damning, to say the least, but some doubting Thomases—the die hards and fanatics—will continue to reject the truth and cast aspersions on those who brought out the truth based on solid facts and records.

Either their minds are closed, or it has come to a point where they are ashamed to admit they had been hoodwinked into believing the false gods.

We blame this to age-old aberration called fanaticism, which is often described as the most extreme form of dogmatism.

Fanaticism adds a layer of intense passion, unreasonable zeal, and often aggression to dogmatism’s rigid, uncritical holding of beliefs as absolute truth.

Fanatics often experience high anxiety and fear for their threatened values, driving them to protect their social identity aggressively.

Some of them often pretend to see or hear nothing to manage uncomfortable social situations, avoid conflict, or hide personal insecurities.

Common reasons include avoiding confrontation, saving face, managing untreated hearing loss, or protecting themselves from unpleasant truths. It is a defense mechanism used to maintain comfort, politeness, or to avoid taking responsibility.

 

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We can say that all fanatics are essentially dogmatic, but not all dogmatists are fanatics.

People can become fanatics in a bid to fulfill deep psychological needs for identity, meaning, and belonging, often driven by fear, insecurity, or social instability.

Fanaticism provides a rigid, self-confirming structure that helps individuals feel valuable, especially when they lack personal achievements or face socioeconomic hardship.

It thrives on in-group loyalty and intense devotion to a cause or leader, often leading to hostile opposition toward outsiders.

When fanaticism becomes socially entrenched, it transforms into a closed system of thought - and ultimately into a mechanism of domination, according to Epicureanfriends.

“Fanatical discourse rejects phronesis (prudence) banishes doubt, equates difference with threat, and finally legitimizes violence as divine command or moral restoration,” it adds.

“For Epicurus, this is the point where pleasure in life is lost and existence becomes distorted. Thought is replaced by mechanisms of submission.”

 

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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.

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)

In the UK, the average age at which both boys and girls lose their virginity is 16. But statistics are of little importance: the essential thing is not to rush into it and make sure you wait for the right moment. If you want to enjoy your first time, you need to want to do it. –SOFEMININE

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.

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.

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

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

 

A smorgasbord

“I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.”

—Margaret Thatcher

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WHEN it rains, it pours.

With so many controversial and big events happening in unison in the Philippines nowadays, Juan dela Cruz is overloaded, stressed out, irritated, confused.

It’s like a macro film festival happening in one fell swoop.

Stories that have competed for headlines were the Philippine peso succumbing anew vis-a-vis the US dollar (P60.15 against $1), the International Criminal Court (ICC) judges rejecting the bid to release detained former President Rodrigo Duterte, the impeachment case against his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, the “capture” of fugitive former solon and flood control project accused Zaldy Co in Prague and the government’s effort to bring him back soon.

Also queuing for front page attention were stories about the Ombudsman’s decision to block the travel abroad of presidential cousin, former speaker Martin Romualdez, the possible indictment of former Senate president Chiz Escudero and Romualdez (they are considered as “big fishes” in the flood control project imbroglio), the heat index alert where three areas were forecast to register the highest record of heat index at 41°C.

 

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Also in the headlines were the Supreme Court ordering President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Executive Secretary Ralph Recto to comment within 10 days on a petition for a writ of mandamus filed by former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and others, on the petition that sought to compel the President to undergo mental/physical exams and a drug test, citing concerns about his fitness to govern.

There’s also the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) confirming that at least 18 bank transactions involving Vice Presiden Duterte-Carpio, her husband Mans Carpio, and other family members matched the bank records former senator Antonio Trillanes IV presented in his affidavit.

Trillanes alleged during the House Committee on Justice hearing April 22 that the Duterte family received P181.6 million in payouts from a suspected drug lord via cashier's and personal checks.

There was also the Palace decision to approve the 22-day travel abroad of the vice president which happened after the April 22 House Committee on Justice hearing on her impeachment case.

It has become a smorgasbord.

 

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LET'S SAY "OM," NOT "OUCH". Many studies have shown that meditation can ease chronic pain, but most of these have depended on lengthy--and pricely--training programs. New research at the University of North Carolina shows that a few 20-minute sessions may be all we need. (Goodhealth News)

WE MUST BEWARE OF Perchlorate, an oxidant in rocket fuel found in drinking water, soil, some vegetables. It disrupts thyroid's hormone production. Environmental groups have been urging the government to lower perchlorate levels in drinking water.

Some sources indicate that one recycled aluminum can save as much energy as it takes to run a TV set for four hours or the energy equivalent of one half gallon (1.9 liters) of gasoline.

Even if we're overweight, ditching butter for a drizzle of olive oil may help you fend off diabetes, heart disease, and other ills associated with ab flab. The fat facts: Scientists puts 20 people with big bellies on diets high in either saturated fats (the kind in red meat and dairy) or monounsaturated fats.

WE MUST AVOID Decabromodiphenyl ether (DECA), a flame retardant found in electronics, furniture, carpets. It can cause permanent learning and memory deficits; hearing defects; decreased sperm count in animals. The good news is that the industry has begun phasing out the chemical in December 2009.

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

 

The Peter Principle in the Philippines

"I feel incompetent to perform duties which have been so unexpectedly thrown upon me." 

–Andrew Johnson

By Alex P. Vidal 

JOSEPH "Erap" Estrada was the first classic example of The Peter Principle in the Philippines.

From a movie actor, he became city mayor, senator, vice president, and eventually president.

He rose to his level of incompetence in a hierarchy.

Sara Duterte-Carpio or Raffy Tulfo, front runners in the presidential survey, could be the next candidates for The Peter Principle if one of them will win in 2028.

There's a lot of incredible personalities in different fields – incompetent teachers, incompetent police and military top brass, incompetent public officials, incompetent supervisors, and so on and so forth.

In almost all areas of human endeavor, we can actually always encounter employees that tend to rise to their level of incompetence in a hierarchy like Erap.

A book written by Dr. Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull tells why Utopian plans never generate Utopias, why prosperity fails to produce happiness, why courts do not dispense justice, why governments cannot maintain order, why schools do not bestow wisdom.

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Dr. Peter, a Canada-born former associate professor of education at the University of Southern California, coined the term "occupational incompetence", which has become a universal phenomenon.

"We see indecisive politicians posing as resolute statesmen and the 'authoritative source' who blames his misinformation on 'situational imponderables.' Limitless are the public servants who are indolent and insolent; military commanders whose behavioral timidity belies their dread-naught rhetoric, and governors whose innate servility prevents their actually governing," writes Dr. Peter.

"In our sophistication, we virtually shrug aside the immoral cleric, corrupt judge, incoherent attorney, author who cannot write and English teacher who cannot spell."

The author reveals that we see proclamations at universities authored by administrators whose own office communications are hopelessly muddled; and droning lectures from inaudible or incomprehensible instructors.

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Seeing incompetence at all levels of every hierarchy – political, legal, educational and industrial – Dr. Peters says "I hypothesized that the cause was some inherent feature of the rules governing the placement of employees. Thus began my serious study of the ways in which employees move upward through a hierarchy, and of what happens to them after promotion."

He collected hundreds of case histories for his scientific data and discovered that all such cases had a common feature. The employees had been promoted from a position of competence to a position of incompetence. This could happen to every employee in every hierarchy, says Dr. Peter.

This led him to formulate The Peter Principle and inadvertently founded a new science, hierarchiology, the study of hierarchies.

The term "hierarchy" was originally used to describe system of church government by priests graded into ranks. The contemporary meaning, explains the author, includes any organization whose members or employees are arranged in order of ranks, grades or class.

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Dr. Peter believes that hierarchiology, although a relatively recent discipline, appears to have great applicability to the fields of public and private administration.

His principle "is the key to understanding of all hierarchal systems, and therefore to an understanding of the whole structure of civilization."

A few eccentrics, he explains, try to avoid getting involved with hierarchies, but everyone in business, industry, trade-unionism, politics, government, the armed forces, religion and education is so involved. All of them are controlled by the Peter Principle.

Dr. Peter elaborates: "Many of them, to be sure, may win a promotion or two, moving from one level of competence in that new position qualifies them for still another promotion. For each individual, for you, for me, the final promotion is from a level of competence to a level of incompetence."

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So, given enough time – and assuming the existence of enough ranks in the hierarchy – each employee rises to, and remains at, his level of incompetence, he further stresses.

Peter's Corollary states: In time, every post tends to be occupied by an employee who is incompetent to carry out his duties.

"You will rarely find, of course, a system in which every employee has reached his level of incompetence. In most instances, something is being done to further the ostensible purposes for which the hierarchy exists," Dr. Peter explains.

Work is accomplished by those employees who have not yet reached their level of incompetence, the book further states. 

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

A record heat

“It ain't the heat, it's the humility.”

—Yogi Berra

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

UNLIKE in the Philippines where it is exceptionally hot due to its tropical, equatorial location, temperatures in New York City have been climbing even if it is springtime.

Weather in the Big Apple was expected to have record-breaking heat for this time of year, which is a big switch-up from the brutal winter experienced in recent months.

While it ensures consistent year-round solar radiation and high humidity for Filipinos, New York City's balmy weather proved to be record-breaking for the date of April 15. In Central Park, the high was 90 degrees, besting the previous record of 87 from 1941.

March to May in the Philippines, however, marks the dry season, featuring clear skies and low wind, further intensifying heat. Urbanization, particularly the urban heat island effect in cities like Metro Manila, exacerbates this.

Both the Philippine and the United States experience tropical climates, with the Philippines generally being hotter on average.

 

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This week's heat in NYC broke records set decades ago for this time of year. On Wednesday, temperatures reached up to 88 degrees, with the potential to break the daily record high of 87 degrees in 1941, according to AccuWeather.

Elsewhere across the Tri-State Area, towns and cities such as Newark and Islip also broke records, coming in at 90 and 81 respectively.

Heading into the overnight hours, Central Park was expected to break another record, but this time for a record high low temperature. The warmest low on record for April 16 is 69 degrees, set in 2002, and we are forecasting a low of 68.

Regionwide, low temperatures will only drop into the mid and upper 60s, which is higher than our average daily highs this time of year.

Just like Tuesday and Wednesday, a storm chance was expected, but it came very late on Thursday night.

Sadly, the 80 degrees plus weather won't follow New Yorkers into the weekend, according to USA Today.

Saturday, April 18: High of 67 degrees, low of 58 degrees; cloudy

Sunday, April 19: High of 68 degrees, low of 41 degrees; cloudy with possible showers

The monthly historical average for New York City is a high of 60 degrees with a low of 42 degrees, according to the Weather Channel.

 

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STRATEGY. In addition to talking to our youngsters about the dangers of cigarettes, encourage them to play team sports and watch tobacco-free flicks. It could keep them from lighting up, according to a recent study. Nonetheless ages 9 to 14 were twice as likely as sporty kids to become smokers later in life, and all kids who watched movies showing heavy smoking were about 20% more likely to get addicted.

HAPPINESS DRINK. A study involving more than 1,000 Japanese people age 70 or over found that those who drank at least four cups of green tea a day enjoyed better moods than those drinking a cup or less. The uplifting ingredient is theanine, the researchers believe.

'THEY CHANGED THE WORLD'. Oprah Winfrey, "Queen of all media," topped the list of "125 Women Who Changed Our World". No. 2 Hillary Clinton 3. Mother Teresa 4. Rosa Parks 5. Eleanor Roosevelt 6. Michelle Obama 7. Amelia Earhart 8. Princess Diana 9. Marie Curie

When we remember God's faithfulness His ability to bring good out of any situation, we find our fears calmed and our confidence renewed.

Whatever our hopes today, let's not be afraid. Let us just stand where we are  and watch the Lord strengthen and take care of us.

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

 

A one-week millionaire

“Gambling has brought our family together. We had to move to a smaller house.”

—Tommy Cooper

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

TUPPERWARE “Tito Tap” Tacuyan cashed out the white voucher that read: “$21,560” or roughly P1,293,600 in Philippine money from a casino in Queens on March 22 after hitting the “jackpot” in the Jinse Dao Dragon, a slot machine game known for broad appeal that offers a wide range of betting levels and bonus features.

“God is good,” Tacuyan, 68, of Libacao, Aklan in the Philippines, yelled as the machine loudly alarmed and flashed his winnings, attracting attention from nearby fellow casino habitués who immediately milled around to join his ecstasy.

He gave six of them $20 each as balato (tips). They cheered and tapped Tacuyan’s shoulders like a star baseball player who just hit a home run.

A delivery truck driver in Brooklyn and Queens, Tacuyan’s biggest casino haul was $2,300 (P138,000) lumped in two vouchers from 88 Fortune, another slot machine game, in December 2019.

“This (amount of $21,569) is my biggest (win), so far” confirmed the father of two ladies who have been decrying his casino addiction.

After a week, Tacuyan’s luck, however, nosedived; his instant fortune turned into ignominious misfortune. After winning the “jackpot” on March 22, he became penniless or “financially deficit” on March 29.

 

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“Naging one week millionaire na lang sia (he became a millionaire but only for one week),” reported his fellow Filipino casino player.

The casino world is rife with myths and superstitions, especially regarding the best time to play for optimal luck and winnings. These myths range from specific days to certain hours supposedly offering better odds.

Tacuyan went back to the same casino on March 23 hoping to romp off with another windfall. Alas, he instantly lost $1,400 in the same slot machine.

Tacuyan threw away another $2,200 on March 24. “He became unstoppable,” narrated his buddy.

Tacuyan’s losses racked up as the itch to duplicate the March 22 payouts persisted on March 25, 26, 27, 28 to no avail. And finally on March 29, exactly a week after the $21,560 bonanza, he was $800 poorer.

Tacuyan failed to repeat his fortune and ended up incurring debts and harrowing cash advances.      

Tacuyan has been a regular casino player in the slot machines since transferring from Seattle in Washington, where he worked as cook in a Filipino restaurant, to Queens, New York 11 years ago.

A part time caregiver, Tacuyan admitted losing almost “a fortune” in the casino, an addiction that nearly ruined his relationship with his wife and two children.

“Ang estimate ko mga $30,000 na total ang pierde ko sa slot machine lang na since 2014 (I estimate that my total losses had reached $30,000 only in the slot machine since 2014),” Tacuyan admitted.

 

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Two years ago, after the pandemic, Tacuyan’s wife, a caregiver in Long Island City, and two children seized his credit and saving cards when they couldn’t stop him from regularly splurging money in the gambling facility. “They interfered in my happiness,” he complained.

Tacuyan said he never gave up on playing the Jinse Dao Dragon since July 2025 when he sensed the game had enough exciting bonuses to engage beginner and experienced players alike.

With the help of a friend, a fellow casino “addict”, Tacuyan said he managed to “fix” some of the game’s rough edges which he credited for helping make him collect the “jackpot.”

He said players who prefer eventful gameplay without long waits between features are likely to enjoy Jinse Dao Dragon’s medium volatility. “Let’s put it this way amigo: somehow, I managed to decode some of the game’s tricks since last year,” Tacuyan explained.

According to casino authorities, Jinse Dao Dragon’s most impressive features include:

Wheel bonus: Three yin yang symbols award up to 20 free spins or a standalone jackpot.

Four standalone jackpots: Players have the chance to win one of four jackpots, which scale according to the bet level.

Expanding Reels feature: Glowing orb symbols on the first reel randomly trigger a bonus spin with added reels and cash prizes.

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