Don't forget the biggest broker!

I received a backhanded compliment from Ibon Foundation’s Mandy a few months back.  He told his executive director Jaz Lumang, “By the looks of him (meaning, ako), hindi aakalaing marunong yun magsulat.”

            Two Saturdays ago, in this gabfest among geeks talking about FOSS (free open software solutions), Mandy personally told me I have this responsibility to write as much as I should because he checks out my blog regularly.

            How much is Ibon paying him?  He'd be more productive cleaning his nostrils than wait for my new posts.

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Anyway, half of the country are now glued to their TV sets closely following the goings on at the Senate.  I am too.  Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos is so funny—stuttering like an unpopular, pimply boy asking the prettiest girl in school to a dance.

            But Abalos’ speech defect is not caused by romantic reasons.  He just got slammed bigtime by Romulo Neri’s sworn testimony that Abalos told him in a golf game “Sec, may 200 ka dito.”  Abalos’ problem is how to convince the people his stilted denials are more believable than Neri’s calm revelations.

            Between the two of them, or even between Abalos and Joey de Venecia, who do you think has more integrity?  Wait!  That is a such giveaway question a two-year old kid would feel insulted to be asked.

I met Abalos once in his office before the dirty 2004 presidential elections.  He was so “yabang” threatening to sue teachers if they so much as refuse to serve in the polls.  The rest is history, as they say.  Abalos presided over the dirtiest presidential polls in this country’s sorry history.  A grateful proclaimed winner made him stay at his post despite widespread calls for his big head.  Why not?  Abalos again proved useful in this year’s elections, hindi baga?   

Today, before bulldogs, he is as meek as an unwanted puppy about to ditched by an unloving master.

            Not that Abalos is wanting in defenders at the other side of the table.  Although appearing to be angry at him, the crackpot Senator Miriam Santiago was actually aiming at De Venecia when she said the Senate’s time is just being wasted by crooks fighting over kickbacks. (One point five billion biggies, baby!) I am sure Santiago wanted to picture De Venecia as the bigger crook here.  But she failed in clearing Abalos from suspicion that he is among the crooks.  And why limit her vitriol to De Venecia (and Abalos)?  Why stop short of pointing a crooked finger at the sitting president and her husband who are most likely to benefit the most from this deal? If there is a person who has been consistently fingered in all bribery, corruption and fraud issues under this hated administration, it’s Big Mike Arroyo.  (Heck, Big Mike Tyson is an angel compared to this guy!)

            The hearing is still ongoing.  Maybe I would write about this more in the next few days. Maybe not.  Abangan!

            

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Now that Luli Arroyo again showed her catty side by recalling de Venecia’s past drug habit by way of defending her father, she again showed this country has got a shitty First Family.

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Caught the halftime score at the ongoing NCAA championship game between my alma mater San Beda and my former employer Letran College.  It is 43-29, Red Lions.

            Mukhang iinom ako ngayong gabi.  In celebration, syempre.

            Umpa, Umpa…Beda, Beda, Beda, Fight, Fight Fight!