Nanays and Ma Baker

“My doctor told me I would never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother.”

— Wilma Rudolph

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

MOTHERS or Pinoy nanays who come to the rescue of their embattled children (mostly sons) will always take the bullet to save them.

Like Judy Araneta-Roxas, who insisted her son, former Rep. Dinggoy, younger brother of former Senator Mar, died of colon cancer, and not of drug overdose; Mayor Lydia Grabato, who claimed that her son, Rey II, was the “victim” and not the perpetrator of an alleged $650 million Ponzi scheme in New Jersey; former First Lady Imelda Marcos, who argued that her son, President Bongbong Jr., never used drugs; the late diva Claire dela Fuente, who asserted that her son, Gigo, did not rape the dead stewardess Christine Dacera; and the latest, Ate Vi or Vilma Santos, who cried that her son, Luis Manzano, is “hindi manloloko” (not a con artist), among other cases.

"It's not easy. I am sorry. It's not easy. Mahirap din kasi kung minsan it's your job to do good, to show people that you're comfortable but deep inside you are hurting," she said. "And the only thing I can say is I know my son. Ang anak ko ay tumutulong, hindi nanloloko. Kaya 'yung mga nagsasalita at naghuhusga sa kanya, dahan-dahan lang kayo. Walang ibang nakakakilala sa anak ko kung hindi ako. And I know he is such a good person." 

But let me introduce Kate Barker, popularly known as Ma Barker, a ruthless crime matriarch who controlled and organized her sons’ crimes.

 

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Ma Barker (interestingly Boney M, a popular German-Caribbean vocal group immortalized her story in a 1977 song, “Ma Baker” by removing the letter r in the Barker), was the mother of several criminals in the United States who ran the Barker–Karpis Gang during the "public enemy era" when the exploits of gangs of criminals in the Midwestern United States gripped the American people and press. 

While the above-mentioned mothers defended their sons from ugly accusation, Ma Barker traveled with her sons during their criminal careers.

The activities of the gang, which included her sons the “Bloody Barkers”—Herman (1894–1927), Arthur, known as “Doc” (1899–1939), and Fred (1902–35)—ranged from bank robbery and kidnapping throughout the Midwestern United States from Minnesota to Texas. 

All met violent deaths. Ma Barker and Fred were killed at a Florida resort in a gun battle with the FBI, Arthur was killed in an attempted escape from Alcatraz, and Herman, cornered by Kansas police, shot himself. A fourth brother, Lloyd (1896–1949), a loner, spent 25 years in Leavenworth prison (1922–47) and, after release, was killed by his wife. (The father of the Barker boys, George Barker, was never a gang member and was abandoned by Ma Barker in 1927.)

 

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I invite the readers to listen to Boney M’s Ma Baker. Its music video can be accessed in the Youtube. This is one of my all-time Boney M favorites as a teenager; most of you will surely love this heart-stopping song:

Freeze I'm ma Baker

Put your hands in the air and give me all your money

This is the story of ma Baker the meanest cat from old Chicago town

She was the meanest cat

In old Chicago town

She was the meanest cat

She really mowed them down

She had no heart at all

No no no heart at all

She was the meanest cat

For she was really tough

She left her husband flat

He wasn't tough enough

She took her boys along

'Cause they were mean and strong

Ma ma ma ma Ma Baker

She taught her four sons Ma ma ma ma

Ma Baker To handle their guns

Ma ma ma ma Ma Baker

She never could cry

Ma ma ma ma Ma Baker

But she knew how to die

They left a trail of crime

Across the USA And when one boy was killed

She really made them pay She had no heart at all

No no no heart at all Ma ma ma ma Ma Baker

She taught her four sons Ma ma ma ma Ma Baker

To handle their guns Ma ma ma ma Ma Baker

She never could cry Ma ma ma ma

Ma Baker But she knew how to die

She met a man she liked She thought she'd stay with him

One day he informed on them They did away with him

She didn't care at all Just didn't care at all

Here is a special bulletin Ma Baker is the FBI's most wanted woman

Her photo is hanging on every post office wall

If you have any information about this woman

Please contact the nearest police station

Don't anybody move the money or your lives

One day they robbed a bank

It was last foray The cops appeared to soon

They couldn't get away With all the loot they had

It made them mighty mad And so they shot it out

Ma Baker and her sons They didn't want to hang

They died with blazing guns And so the story ends

Of one who left no friends Ma ma ma ma

Ma Baker She taught her four sons Ma ma ma ma

Ma Baker To handle their guns Ma ma ma ma

Ma Baker She never could cry Ma ma ma ma

Ma Baker But she knew how to die

Ma ma ma ma Ma Baker She taught her four sons

Ma ma ma ma Ma Baker To handle their guns Ma ma ma ma

Ma Baker She never could cry Ma ma ma ma

Ma Baker But she knew how to die

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

 

 

   

 

 

Bound to fail in Iloilo

“Ambition is the last refuge of the failure.”

—Oscar Wilde 

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IT looks like the proposed constitutional amendments being worked out by some excited and ambitious lawmakers will fail anew. 

If it didn’t snowball in Iloilo, it will not snowball anywhere in the entire archipelago despite the grand lobbying of the proponents.

The move for a charter change or chacha had failed under the Arroyo administration; it failed under the P-Noy administration; and it failed again during the Duterte administration. 

It seems that each time a group of politicians planned to touch the charter with a ten-foot pole, something uneventful occurred like natural calamities. If it’s not a plain and simple coincidence, it’s probably a cursed (this theory is only for those who believe in superstition, of course).

Although members of the House committee on constitutional amendments have been going around the country for a series of consultative meetings, there is no assurance they can get the support of the local officials.

In their recent Iloilo visit, for instance, the proposed House Bill 6805 or “An Act Constituting a Constitutional Convention to Amend the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, Defining the Qualifications for its Delegates Who Shall Be Elected Simultaneously with the Next Barangay Elections, and for other Purposes” did not attract popular support from various stakeholders and was even sternly opposed by those who have sufficient knowledge about the Philippine Constitution.

Also, many local officials—those from different municipalities and component cities in Western Visayas—didn’t take the consultative meeting seriously by snubbing it.

Another big blow to the proponents was the lukewarm response of President Bongbong Marcos who had already declared it is not the priority of his administration.  

Chacha, or whatever they may call this latest ballgame, appears to be the least of the concerns of the Ilonggos, who still prefer to have a stable economic life with less politics.

 

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I’m still planning to visit the centerpiece of Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park, NYC anytime this month as it will reportedly continue until March 5 despite the seemingly abnormal weather condition as a result of climate change.

The 17,000 square foot rink features free admission ice skating, high quality rental skates, free skating shows, and events. This after experts said changes in climate are ushering in many full blooms across parts of the country—when they should still be nearly a month away as flowers and trees are blooming up to three weeks earlier than normal in the Eastern US. 

Much of the "early spring" reportedly has to do with the warm start to 2023. 

Several parts of the South and Southeast are off to their top-10 warmest years on record, and many cities are seeing their top-five warmest: Houston, Jackson, Nashville and Atlanta. It is even more dramatic in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. 

Philadelphia and New York City are reportedly experiencing their warmest start to the year on record, so the early bloom will most likely expand into the Northeast in the weeks ahead.

HOW SEX CAN DO A BODY GOOD. It protects prostate. Catholic priests have an elevated chance of dying of prostate cancer, and studies point to celibacy as a factor.

In 2003, research on middle-aged Australian men found that those who averaged at least four ejaculations a week had a one-third lower chance of developing prostate cancer than those who had fewer, says Dr. Regina Nuzzo.

SEX REVS UP IMMUNE SYSTEM. Researchers from Wilkes University showed that college students who engaged in sex once or twice a week had 30 percent higher levels of infection-fighting antibodies than did their abstinent classmates.

I am curious about the report that GCash, ballyhooed to be the Philippines’ no. 1 finance app, can now be used abroad with international SIM cards, reportedly making the e-wallet the first and only in the country to do so. I need more of this kind of instant money transmission as I can’t rely 100 percent on some remittance centers that always changed their transmission fees without any notice.

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

I empathize with Engr. Toto Causing

“Empathy begins with understanding life from another person's perspective. Nobody has an objective experience of reality. It's all through our own individual prisms.”

— Sterling K. Brown

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IN his recent “live” podcast on social media, our friend and fellow Ilonggo Berteni “Toto” C. Causing asked his friends and followers to call him now as “Engineer Causing” and no longer “Attorney Causing.”

The reason he gave was “I have been disbarred by the Supreme Court.”

I admire Toto Causing—engineer or attorney. He is down to earth and very honest. 

There was no beating around the bush whatsoever when he discussed the matter in his “live” podcast. He admitted what happened to him and disclosed he was appealing the SC disbarment.

He called spade a spade. And I am one of his legions of friends and supporters who are sad about his predicament.

The man is sincere as a defender of the oppressed. He is also a staunch advocate of transparency in government and freedom of the press and expression.

SC ruled that Atty. Berteni C. Causing, who posted on Facebook a draft of his complaint accusing one Jackiya A. Lao and her cohorts of plunder, violated his oath as a lawyer and the Code of Professional Responsibility (CPR) in a decision made public on February 1.

SC reminded Causing that lawyers cannot invoke freedoms of the press and expression for their infractions of the Lawyer’s Oath and the CPR like online postings in Facebook of cases they would file or have filed.

SC said: “While freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Constitution, the lawyer’s oath and his duties and responsibilities ultimately serve as a limit thereto.”

It warned: “We caution lawyers to be circumspect in their postings online. They are reminded to always practice restraint in their conduct, be it in real life or online. Otherwise, the rule of law may very well be completely circumvented and rendered nugatory by blatantly seeking public trial on social media.”

Lao lodged the complaint against Causing on on February 11, 2019. She decried that the lawyer’s Facebook post on Jan. 18, 2019 which was a draft of his Ombudsman complaint.

 

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The lawyer named and referred to Lao in his Facebook post as the “Chairperson of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) Regional Office No. XII and the one that handled the bidding that ended up in the awarding of these food packs to Tacurong Fit Mart, Inc.”

Here’s what the SC stated:

“As a member of the Bar, Atty. Causing ought to know that Facebook—or any other social medium, for that matter—is not the proper forum to air out his grievances, for a lawyer who uses extra-legal fora is a lawyer who weakens the rule of law.

“In this case, Atty. Causing knew that the proper forum for his complaint is the Office of the Ombudsman. Atty. Causing’s posting of the complaint for Plunder on his Facebook account was motivated by the desire to damage the reputation of the respondents (Lao and others) therein.

“In fact, it was posted precisely to elicit negative reactions, comments and public opinions against Lao and her fellow respondents. The fact that Atty. Causing subsequently filed the complaint for Plunder before the Office of the Ombudsman is of no moment as the damage to the reputation of therein respondents had already been done.

“The documentary evidence presented by Lao, which consists of screenshots of Atty. Causing’s post, show that she was subjected to public hate, contempt and ridicule, as several people have commented on the said post. The respondents in the complaint for Plunder, including Lao, were called several names including ‘nangungurakot’ and ‘corrupt na official.’

“Based on the foregoing, Atty. Causing also violated Rule 8.01 of the CPR when he accused Lao and the other respondents of stealing around P226 million intended for evacuees.

 

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“Lastly, We note that this is not the first time that Atty. Causing has been sanctioned by the Court. In Velasco vs. Atty. Causing (decided in 2021), the Supreme Court en banc, voting unanimously, suspended Atty. Causing from the practice of law for a period of one (1) year for violating the confidentiality of an ongoing family court proceeding.

“The relevant portions of the decision: The records show that Atty. Causing had already admitted that he indeed published the subject post with photographs of complainant’s petition in the nullity case in Facebook and thereafter sent a link of the post to complainant’s son. In his defense, Atty. Causing invokes his rights to freedom of expression and of the press and argues that he was merely acting as a ‘spokesman-lawyer’ and a ‘journalist-blogger’ when he published the subject post.

“First, a lawyer is not allowed to divide his personality as an attorney at one time and a mere citizen at another. Regardless of whether a lawyer is representing his client in court, acting as a supposed spokesperson outside of it, or is merely practicing his right to press freedom as a ‘journalist-blogger,’ his duties to the society and his ethical obligations as a member of the Bar remain unchanged.

“The aforesaid case and the case at hand show that Atty. Causing has the propensity to divulge sensitive information in online platforms, such as Facebook, to the detriment of the people involved in the said cases.

“Thus, considering that Atty. Causing was already suspended for one (1) year with a stem warning that a repetition of the same or similar acts will be dealt with-more severely, We believe that the appropriate penalty to be imposed herein is the ultimate penalty of disbarment.

“The filing of the disbarment complaint against Atty. Causing in the Velasco case should have served as a deterrent. However, it appears that the same had no effect. Thus, the penalty of disbarment is warranted.

“WHEREFORE, the Court finds Atty. Berteni C. Causing GUILTY of violating the Lawyer’s Oath and the Code of Professional Responsibility. He is hereby DISBARRED from the practice of law. The Office of the Bar Confidant is DIRECTED to remove the name of Berteni C. Causing from the Roll of Attorneys.

“This Decision is without prejudice to any pending or contemplated proceedings to be initiated against respondent. Let copies of this Decision be furnished the Office of the Bar Confidant, to be appended to respondent’s personal record as a member of the Bar; the Integrated Bar of the Philippines; the Office of the Court Administrator, for dissemination to all courts throughout the country for their information and guidance; and the Department of Justice. This Decision is immediately executory. SO ORDERED.”

I hope he gets a favorable decision in his appeal. He is a good man.

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

 

 

Please no cover-up

“It is almost always the cover-up rather than the event that causes trouble.”

— Howard Baker

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE “investigation” on the ill-fated P680-million Ungka flyover project that will start next month will reportedly be done by a “third-party consultant” tasked by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

No one from outside the DPWH is familiar with the nature of this type of investigation, but we’re certain it will not make any difference now that the damage has been done on the part of the motorists who were supposed to use the flyover starting September 2022, and the taxpayers who are facing a blank wall.  

The five-month delay is already outrageous since the project has, in one way or the other, already defeated its primary purpose on countless occasions. 

Christmas 2022, Dinagyang Festival 2023, and the Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Jaro (Jaro Fiesta 2023) have already passed by and the multi-million project has remained a “white elephant” and a burden to the Ilonggos.

Any internal probe can be whitewashed or sanitized. We hate to see Dracula doing any official business in the blood bank.

The people are waiting for the Real McCoy—the no-holds-barred House inquiry, which is expected to be bloodier and invigorating.

In the congressional probe, nobody is holy cow. When the House inquisition unveils, the chaff will be separated from the grain. 

 

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In the formal House inquiry, charlatans will be unmasked; crocodiles will be given special “honorable” mention; the Gang of Ten Percenters, Fifteen Percenters, and even Twenty Percenters will be compelled to make a cameo appearance for a splendid shot at fame.

Let’s hope that when the House investigation commences, only members of the House of Representatives with no hidden political agenda will participate.

We hate to see the likes of grandstanding Senators Joel Villanueva and Raffy Tulfo turning the event into a circus or shouting session—like what they did in the recent committee hearing involving the case of an OFW in Kuwait who was raped and killed—only because they are reportedly planning to run for higher positions in the next presidential election.

Our concern, anyway, may be out of place because these notorious publicity maniacs may not be able to join in the Ungka flyover House inquiry since they belong in the upper chamber. 

We expect a high-level and professional investigation that won’t be tainted by any hanky-panky distraction.  

   

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LET'S TIME OUR NAP AFTER LUNCH. Research shows that naps, especially "power naps" of 20 to 30 minutes, help ward off fatigue. 

To maximize the benefits, let's try taking a siesta after lunch, when our energy levels are particularly low. 

Let us limit rest to less  than 30 minutes, or stretch it out to 60 to 90 minutes to avoid grogginess that results from waking up in the middle of deep sleep. (Source: Prevention)

REENERGIZE WITH EXERCISE EARLY EVENING. Even though we're tired, forcing ourselves to do aerobic exercise will energize us for a couple of hours and make it easier to fall asleep at night. 

Our body temperature naturally falls at night, shortly before bedtime, so the natural dip in temperature that happens about two hours after a workout can help us get to bed at a decent hour and wake up refreshed the next morning.

AS NEEDED, let's boost our caffeine. Sugary "energy drink" can be hidden calorie traps, but researchers think there is something about the combination of sugar and caffeine that makes people more alert than caffeine alone does.

HIGH ENERGY RECOVERY PLAN.  In the morning, let's soak up the sun. Morning rays boost energy by suppressing the sleepiness-inducing hormone melatonin. An early morning walk will help sync our internal clock to the sun, averting an energy slump in the afternoon, says Prevention.

According to a survey, 72 percent of Americans sign their pets' names on greeting cards they send out.

AVOID CHEMICALS IN OUR CANS. Canned food alert: Consumer Reports found bisphenol A-a chemical linked to reproductive problems, diabetes, and heart disease--in all 19 brandname canned foods it tested, including those labeled BPA free. Because levels vary so widely, even among cans of the same product, there's no way to predict how much we're getting.

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

‘Kahit lalala ay puede na?’

“How to win in life: 1. work hard; 2. complain less; 3. listen more; 4. try, learn, grow; 5. don't let people tell you it cant be done; 6. make no excuses.” 

― Germany Kent

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WE noticed that not all lawmakers who came to Iloilo City to conduct a public consultation on constitutional amendments at the Iloilo Convention Center on February 13 were competent to talk about the Philippine Constitution, the fundamental law of the land.

Only a handful of them probably fully understood what they were saying; some of them really spoke with substance and sense and those were the lawyers and economists who had a sterling background in political science, social science, trade and industry, stock market, business, investment, and legal matters.

Even before they became members of the House of Representatives, these luminaries had already studied and, perhaps, taught in law and business schools, thus they were familiar with the nitty gritty of the charter and its provisions and could take either the affirmative or negative side in any debate. Two of them were the brilliant Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, the chair of the House committee on constitutional amendments and Iloilo 3^rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor, the committee senior vice chair. 

Another lawyer in the team, SAGIP partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta was also good, but sometimes he talked like a hot-headed and incoherent politician; a rebel without a cause. 

Some solons who are part of the nationwide consultation caravan may have the best intentions to help “reform” the constitution to make it more robust and attuned to foreign economic investments, among other major reasons, but they lacked the ability to elucidate the subject matter in the larger, more hypnotic, and challenging scale.

 

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Many of them were there only to ensure the presidential table was fully occupied; and when given the opportunity to express what they knew, they just recited and repeated what had been said before by past movers of charter change like a broken record.

For lack of familiarity with the subject matter and poor background in legislative performance, some of them couldn’t hammer out fresh ideas and compelling arguments to convince the people of the need to place the constitution under the knife. 

Take for instance Rep. Richard Gomez, author of House Bill 6805 or “An Act Constituting a Constitutional Convention to Amend the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, Defining the Qualifications for its Delegates Who Shall Be Elected Simultaneously with the Next Barangay Elections, and for other Purposes.”

He only stressed the obvious when he declared in a press conference that “all sectors of society, all levels of the working class can benefit. We must understand na ‘pag pumasok ‘yung foreign direct investments, it is the local government units that would benefit and the people…collected business taxes will be higher.”

Tra-la-la. Just like saying that if the moon is full, the fishermen will catch more fish; and more fish means a benefit for the fisherfolk and the residents who buy and eat fish. Buga lang nang buga? Kahit lalala ay puede na?

In the 80s, the late comedian Subas Herrero and his sidekick Noel Trinidad popularized the song, Kahit Lalala Ay Pwede Na, which became instant hit among both the singers and non-singers. Here’s how the talented duo belted it:

Kahit la la la la ay pwede na

Kung tanging 'yan lang ang alam mong letra

Ang mahalaga naman ika'y masaya, 'di ba

Kahit la la la la ay pwede na

Huwag mong isipin na 'di mo kaya

Buga lang nang buga, ganyan lang ay okey na

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

‘Consult’ the Ilonggos without justifying junket

“In true dialogue, both sides are willing to change.”

— Thich Nhat Hanh

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WE laud the efforts of Iloilo city and provincial officials led by Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas and Governor Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr., including all the Ilonggo lawmakers who helped organize the second leg of the public consultation conducted by the House of Representatives on constitutional amendments February 13 at the Iloilo Convention Center in Iloilo City.

The word “consultation” connotes democratic assemblage; it promotes goodwill and mutual respect, understanding and cooperation between the government, represented by the elected officials, and the public.

We push and encourage our public officials to always undertake this kind of dialogue where the people are given the voice and opportunity to be the vital cog in any major policy-making decision like the proposed charter amendments and the like.

Consultations or dialogues are always messy, but fruitful and favorable to all concerned. They are healthy and productive.

The pros and cons clash in open and free market of ideas, which would be lumped together as input in aid of legislation. Good luck and more power.

Since the event was part of congress’ official business, the solons must’ve brought along their staff and other personnel.

We noticed the lawmakers, mostly members of the House committee on constitutional amendments chaired by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, arrived in full force. 

Let’s hope nobody came for a junket in the name of consultation conference.

 

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Their round trip air fare plus hotel accommodation, not to mention out-of-town trip allowances and other travel expenses, can be justified since it was an official function.

But let’s hope they didn’t overburden the taxpayers by tagging along characters who had nothing to do with the event whatsoever and by making unnecessary expenses charged to public funds during their visit. 

Junkets, the hangers on’s favorite habit when no one was watching, had happened on countless occasions in the past; others even shot themselves on the foot by engaging in “extra-curricular activities” not related to the official meeting. 

We don’t want to see or hear a repeat of what happened in the Igmaan Hall in Hotel del Rio, Iloilo City in the morning sometime in 1993 when an administration senator from Mindanao, who came for a conference, was verbally attacked by his wife who suddenly arrived from the airport unannounced. 

It turned out the woman who stayed with him after the conference held in another hotel the night before wasn’t his wife. 

In this age of social media where a false move in public by any Lothario will give him instant fame in viral videos, ugly incidents or “surprised invasions” like what happened in Hotel del Rio 30 years ago hopefully won’t be repeated again.

The former senator, who didn’t anymore return to Iloilo City after that scandalous “surprised attack”, died in 1994 at age 66.

 

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HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY. Do we have double standards? We certainly do, say editors of Men's Health. The questions: "Do you feel men are naturally monogamous?" and "Do you feel women are naturally monogamous?" The variance in the responses is staggering. YES (26 percent men, 55.5 percent women) NO (65.3 percent men, 33.8 percent women) NO ANSWER (8.7 percent men, 10.7 percent women).

WORKOUT FOR THE HEART. Cardiologists rank sexual intercourse as a mild-to-moderate-intensity exercise that enhances heart health as well as brisk walking does. As with any workout, the more vigorous we are, the more our heart benefits.

THE HOUR THAT MELTS FAT FASTER. Working out an extra 60 minutes a week could help us burn 3 times more fat, finds a recent study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. New exercisers who did a half hour of cardio twice weekly lost 4 pounds of fat over 8 weeks, while those who did 4 sessions a week lost a whopping 13 pounds.

ADOLESCENTS AT RISK. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have shown that the risk of getting meningococcal meningitis increases in adolescents. Because of this, the CDC recommends that adolescents 11-18 years of age be vaccinated against this disease.

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

A whizzing from the sky past midnight

“If you think technology can solve your security problems, then you don't understand the problems and you don't understand the technology.”

— Bruce Schneier

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

AT past midnight or at about one o’clock and 45 minutes early morning on February 11, I was roused from sleep by an annoying sound, a loud and sustained whizzing from the sky.

When I checked, I spotted what looked like a jet fighter and a chopper patrolling the skies over the Manhattan metropolis. The noise didn’t stop even after I returned to my room. 

It’s like the flying objects didn’t leave and were just encircling certain parameters in the skies for a purpose.

Did the pesky sound emanate from the US Air Force's F-15 and F-16 jet fighters or the choppers? 

Most probably yes because the building where I was sleeping was located some three blocks away from the United Nations headquarters on 1^st Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, which hosts the highest concentration of powerful people in the world in September each year.

I used to hear the same noise when the United Nations General Assembly, a yearly event, was in session in September. The US government comes in because the period becomes the juiciest target imaginable for terrorists.   

The place where I slept was an apartment building in a neighborhood where some of the foreign consulates are located. It is adjacent the East River, a saltwater tidal estuary in New York City.

 

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But it’s only February and September is seven months away. Why would fighter jets and choppers patrol or check the skies near the UN headquarters?

I checked the news. Bingo, there was a “breaking” news just hours earlier: the military shot down an unidentified flying object “the size of a small car” in a remote northern coast of Alaska, less than one week after shooting down a Chinese surveillance balloon.

Although it's unclear if the object was another balloon, National Security Council Coordinator spokesperson John Kirby said, “We're calling this an 'object' because that's the best description we have right now.”

And as I write this article, another unidentified object was reported to have been shot down over North American airspace as confirmed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. It’s the third in a row.

Saying the latest object "violated Canadian airspace", Trudeau confirmed it was shot down over Yukon in north-west Canada.

Both Canadian and US aircraft were scrambled to track down the object which was taken out by a US F-22 fighter jet, according to the Canadian leader.

Thus I theorized the whizzing from the sky that interrupted my sleep was probably part of the Pentagon efforts to check and secure the main structures all over the United States as precautionary measures and security. 

 

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During the UN General Assembly usually in the fourth week of September, the Federal Aviation Administration restricts the airspace over Midtown Manhattan; private aircraft, and drones, weren’t allowed in the area. 

The job of watching for that goes to the Air Force.

The Pointsguy’s Alberto Riva pointed out that there's always the possibility that a plane might stray unwittingly into the restricted zone, or that someone with a less innocent intent may breach it. 

Circling the city at high altitude, the fighters—always flying in pairs—are ready to swoop down and escort any intruders away. 

Riva said jet fighters are relatively small, and the patrols are flown at 24,000 feet or above, so it's very hard to see them with the naked eye. “You have a much bigger chance of seeing the air-refueling tankers that keep them in the air by filling them up in flight. At any given time during the patrols, a tanker circles the city waiting for the fighters to periodically come up to it for gas,” Riva wrote on September 24, 2019. “You can follow it using specialized flight-tracking sites, and with a bit of luck and a big enough lens on your camera, even photograph it.”

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