Ferrari Maranello 575 not a ‘Joc Joc’

Spybiz informants reported that former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc Joc" Bolante bought a flaming red Ferrari 575 Maranello before he left the country. There are only a few cars of that kind in the world, and owners would rather keep the fact to themselves. The Maranello, allegedly brought here by the dealership of Jaguar Philippines president Willy Soong, costs a cool quarter of a million dollars in its basest model. Insiders however surmise that with taxes and other expenses, the cost for this front engine, rear-drive, two-passenger sports car could easily reach $500,000 or P25 million. Certainly a lot of fertilizer could be bought with that amount. Obviously, the price of the Maranello 575 is no "Joc Joc."

No rest for Filipino maids in Singapore

Singapore is getting the flak for refusing to give Filipino maids a weekly day off. This is highly deplorable, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said. "We recognize that a growing number of Singaporean households, particularly those with seniors and children, have become totally dependent on their foreign maids. However, depriving maids a weekly day off is just too much," said TUCP secretary general and former senator Ernesto Herrera. Last week, Singapore unveiled a new non-binding contract that gives employers the option to grant their maids just one day off a month, or pay them extra. Maid agencies must adopt the new contract by Sept. 15. Herrera attacked the contract, calling it "grossly inadequate," mainly because even the grant of the once-a-month rest day is strictly voluntary on the part of the employer, and since the measure is not mandatory, it virtually does not have the force of law. According to the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, there are 81,950 Filipino domestic helpers, accounting for 60 percent of all Filipino workers in the city-state. The rest are computer programmers, architects, engineers, nurses, construction and factory laborers, hotel staff and musicians.

Drag racing along Macapagal Boulevard

Reports of drug racing by scooters and motorcycles along Macapagal Boulevard should be looked into by the authorities. This dangerous sport, if one could even call it that, usually happens on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 p.m. onward, but it looks like Baclaran policemen and cops stationed at the back of the Coastal Mall are literally turning a deaf ear to the dangerous practice. Commuters and pedestrians alike are afraid of being sideswiped by these raging road psychos. Parked police mobiles are sometimes spotted at corners near the drag racing area but the speed demons go about their activity uninterrupted. They reportedly converge at a gasoline station near a burger chain. Do we have to wait for accidents to happen before authorities do something about it, the informants fumed.

Rowdy beerhouses

Residents of barangays Bayan-Bayanan and Baritan in Malabon are complaining about the presence of several beerhouses that allegedly stand as eyesores amidst the more traditional business establishments near the residential area. The accompanying disturbances from the activities in the beerhouse are reportedly causing sleepless nights for schoolchildren and working residents, a lot of whom need to recharge their energies after a heavy day’s grind. These beerhouses reportedly play music at ear-splitting decibels until the wee hours of the morning, much to the chagrin and irritation of the residents. The presence of women of questionable repute is also a cause of concern for many. Informants said another beerhouse is set to open soon, leading them to wonder how the operators are able to get permits from the concerned barangay captains to open such establishments in a residential area, and if zoning regulations, if they exist, are enforced at all. We deserve and are entitled to peaceful and restful nights, the way it used to be, the complainants said.

Spy tidbiz: Big in Bangkok

In this season where bad news seems to be the norm, it’s always refreshing to receive a bit of positive news. According to our Bangkok Eye-Spy, the Philippine Embassy personnel in Bangkok are getting positive feedback for their attentiveness and politeness, especially the front liners at the embassy who are always warm and accommodating whether one is a foreigner or a Filipino. Certainly, they’re getting big appreciation for their professionalism and dedication to their work. This is in sharp contrast to some foreign embassies whose personnel even have the gall to say they do not have enough people to handle consultations — even for their own citizens — because the applications they process are voluminous.

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