Nightmare of the worst kind

Xavier School parents are reportedly having a nightmare of the worst kind. Our Greenhills Spy-ring disclosed that the school has recently been plagued by a gambling epidemic. This problem blew up in the public's consciousness during the whitewashed shootout between a son of a former legislator and a son of a businessman. The high school freshman son of a former chair of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), who is feuding with a female former PSE chair, reportedly lost P500K to the gambling syndicate headed by the former legislator's son. The boy received death threats by text prompting the prominent stockbroker to pay the syndicate. Other parents are fuming because their children amassed debts disproportionate to their allowances. The school’s total betting pool for the NBA finals allegedly exceeded P5-M. The authorities should investigate and stop the gambling-by-text trend that is on the verge of becoming a Metro-wide epidemic. Worse, some parents are considering raising vigilante groups to protect the children. If people get hurt because of indiscriminate vigilante action, the Philippines will surely end up on the short and of CNN’s World News again. By any stretch, this problem is certifiably one of the worst kind of nightmare for all of us.

Manhandled Greenhorns

Speaking of another nightmare. Ear-spies disclosed that some influential La Sallian alumni were so frustrated and enraged about the Ateneo Blue Eagles’ victory over the La Salle Green Archers last Sunday that they allegedly met in an Ortigas Center office first thing Monday morning to discuss the replacement of the head coach. Worse, they questioned the school’s vaunted basketball recruitment program. Despite its being touted as having the best incentives in the country, the program has resulted in ignominious routs for the past three years. The group that wants to take charge of La Salle’s basketball program is suspecting inside sabotage. They listed the facts: In 2002, Ateneo took their crown and spoiled their chance for a fifth straight title after being blocked from having a 14-0 sweep of the elimination round. In 2003, Ateneo prevented La Salle from a finals appearance for the first time in nine straight years after a bruising play-off. In 2004, Ateneo dealt La Salle its first loss in an opening game after the Archers established a record of winning their first games for the past 15 years. Despite La Salle’s having a better team on paper, they are agonizing over the fact that the underdog Blue Eagles have mauled, clawed, and ripped them apart for the past three years. Last Sunday, the depleted Blue Eagles just simply manhandled the Greenhorns in the quarter that mattered most. It really isn’t a puzzlement to us because victory is not assured by program incentives. On Monday morning, even non-partisan sports fans were convinced that the Blue Eagles won through pure heart. Come to think of it, that’s the main reason why the ill-equipped North Vietnamese Army clobbered the combined South Vietnamese and US Armies.

Teves Or Not Teves?

The Congressional Spy-ring reported that Agusan del Sur Representative Rodolfo Plaza is batting for the appointment of Negros Oriental Rep. Herminio Teves as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. Teves has been the senior vice chair of the Ways and Means Committee for six years and is the best qualified for the position. Plaza lamented that powerful groups with vested interest are trying to marginalize the chances of the 84-year-old Teves in the selection process. Teves is not only hardworking, he has integrity and is also independent minded – qualities that are critical in a position that is vital in passing effective revenue measures that could help our country move forward. "Government is on the verge of financial ruin. If we do not quickly improve revenue collections, and if we do not put the right people in charge of overseeing the passage of vital revenue-enhancement measures, this country will be in deep trouble," Plaza warned. Teves or not Teves? That is the question in the ongoing committee wars.

Spy Tidbiz: The Order Of The Day In Makati

Members of this posh sports club in the country’s premier business district miss the good old days when times were pleasant and the food was good. However, business has become slow ever since another group took over the reins a few years back reported our club Ear-spy. They fired the top chef, the food became progressively unpalatable, rates went up, and the resto slowly emptied. Last heard, the food and beverage department is in the red but the present board allegedly persists in building another resto. The members, who aren’t amused anymore, predict that the new resto will end up being devoid of diners. For them, the order of the day should be to change this present board.

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