Can this guy survive in the world of snakes?

Will new Malacañang chief of staff Aprodicio Lacquian hack it? Will he survive the snake pit? Does he have the political will to ward off all kinds of pressures from all kinds of people, especially the politicians, the barkadas, and the friends? Can he be a friend to all and an enemy to no one?

Whether Lacquian will reap success as chief of staff will all depend on the answers to these questions. He may have all the academic and professional credentials in this world, but if he lacks the ability to forge compromises with those who have vested interests to protect, then he is bound to become a goner. That is how Malacañang chiefs of staff have fared in the past -- and that is how they are bound to fare in this and in future administrations.

I wonder if anyone in the Estrada administration is studying how to make use of the abandoned Philippine Centennial Expo at Clark. Surely, there must be a way to make portions of that giant Expo operational and productive. For instance, there is one building there that could be an ideal site for Pagcor's Casino Filipino. Transferring Pagcor's Angeles casino to that building could be one small step to saving such a huge investment by the Filipino taxpayers.

Note that billions of pesos were invested in the Centennial Expo by the Philippine government. Right now, that investment will become completely useless if nothing is done to reactivate portions of the complex. It would be a great tragedy if the Clark Centennial Expo will remain the abandoned and forlorn wasteland that it is now.

When I met infrastructure consultant Aber Canlas -- one of the human dynamos in the construction business -- a few days ago at EDSA Shangri-La, he made a suggestion that should be considered by the authorities concerned. "Why not have thrice-a-week cultural, sports and other activities at the Expo Amphitheater that can lure people from Central Luzon and other nearby areas, like the Ilocos and Metro Manila, to drop by and enjoy themselves?" Aber said.

The Manila Polo Club is made up of the richest people in Philippine society. Yes, they are people who can make big things happen. Ironically, though, they have failed to make something good happen at their own Manila Polo Club. They have failed to make their main clubhouse handicapped-friendly. Which means that the Manila Polo Club is out of sync with advances in the modern world.

Just look at the main lobby of the Manila Polo Club. There are no ramps, no handrails. And the stairs leading to the main hall have handrails that are not fitted for the human hands. The wooden rails are so large and so slippery that any disabled person or senior citizen using it is bound to slip and fall.

It is so easy and so cheap to install gold-plated or silver-plated aluminum tubes into that giant handrail. A few thousand pesos, probably. Now, will the management of the Manila Polo Club do something to make the elite clubhouse disabled-friendly? Note that many handicapped persons and senior citizens are often invited to attend social functions at that clubhouse.

Noy Serrano, a government employee who takes the Sucat-South Superhighway route to Makati daily, is a very dejected citizen. When traversing the expressway and looks toward Laguna de Bay, he utters a curse as he sees thick smoke puffing out of the smokestack of the Meralco power station. He knows that the subdivision he stays in is a fall-out area of the health-damaging emission.

As the vehicle moves northward, Serrano becomes even more frustrated as he sees dark-grey, thick polluted air enveloping a huge area from Muntinlupa to Makati. "Lord, protect my children and the other kids from this menace and don't let the gray blanket get darker," he would mutter in prayer.

Serrano asked me to join him and his family in praying that the authorities concerned come up with a solution to the ill effects of the smog coming from the exhaust pipes of vehicles and chimneys. And he lamented the indifference of many people to the problem, even as he lashed out at the authorities failure to implement the anti-pollution laws. "Puro ningas cogon, puro pahambog, puro palabas, puro pakitang tao," he said, about the authorities who are supposed to implement the laws.

"If I am Chairman Lantin, I will cancel the franchises of smoke-belchers. If I am Mayor Marquez, I will not allow the smoke-belchers to pass through Parañaque. If I am Chairman Binay, I will weld the pipes of smoke-belching firms and buses so they cannot anymore and continue to dirty the already dirty hands of my sloppy. TVR-wielding blue boys," Serrano said.

Here is the latest schedule of healing sessions of Fr. Corsie S. Legaspi, the renowned healing priest:

Feb. 7 Holy Rosary Parish, Angeles City

Feb. 10 Holy Redeemer Parish, Masambong, San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City.

Feb. 11 San Jose Quasi Parish, San Mateo, Rizal.

Feb. 12-13 Retreat for the Sick, Coming Home Retreat Center, Binakayan, Cavite.

Feb. 17 St. James de Apostle Parish, Betis, Guagua, Pampanga.

Feb. 21 East Tagbilaran, Bohol

Feb. 22 Valencia, Bohol

Feb. 23 East Calape, Bohol

Feb. 28 Nativity of Our Lady, Industrial Valley Subdivision, Marikina City.

Feb. 29 Sto. Domingo Church, Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.

Art A. Borjal e-mail address: <[email protected]>