From California to a ‘war zone’

Hardly had I shaken off my "jet lag" from a trip back from West Coast cities Saturday than I received a text message saying, "the planned weekend coup will push through." I dismissed the message, only to be awakened with a jolt at dawn of Sunday by cellphone message from ANC’s Kiko Alejandro that mutinous soldiers had been rigging explosives around Makati City’s financial and business district. The day proceeded with a televised coverage of the mutiny, with the officers leading the ragtag band of 296 soldiers demanding that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo step down from the presidency and charging the military high command of selling firearms to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and masterminding the Sasa wharf bombing in Davao City in April this year.

Throughout the day, my cellphone was shivering with messages from supporters of both the GMA administration and the rebel soldiers. Some texters called for sending water and food to the rebel soldiers.

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The fate of the soldiers now hangs in the balance, and they will be subjected to the President’s declaration that they be met with the full force of the law. The mutineers have risked their lives in their bloodless show of protest; indeed, they must have felt so frustrated by what they see people in leadership positions are doing that they had to stage a dramatic protest to draw attention to the state of affairs of this country.

Now back in their barracks, the soldiers must feel gratified that their action has resulted in moves by the President and legislators to look into their charge of corruption in the military.

You and I can only hope that changes will indeed take place after the 22-hour crisis.

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Back to my report on my visit to the US, courtesy of Philippine Air Lines, there were extraordinary events that were mind-boggling. Top of these was the oust-California Gov. Gray Davis campaign. The headline stories said 1.3 million signatures had been gathered to authorize a recall election, which would be held in late September or early October. The development is considered a historic moment marking the first time a California governor has ever faced recall election.

There have been 31 previous attempts to recall a governor of California, but none made it on the ballot, say newspaper reports. The only American governor to be recalled from office was Lynn J. Frazier of North Dakota, in 1921.

Davis was reelected only eight months ago, but the state budge crisis ballooned a few months after the November election. This led recall proponents to claim "he hid the true extent of the problem during the campaign, a charge he has repeatedly denied."

People running for election to replace Davis are now queuing up. Movie actor Arnold Schwarzenegger is a likely candidate.

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Another headline-hogger was the confession of Kobe Bryant that he did not sexually abuse a 19-year-old woman but confessed he committed an "act of adultery". In a dramatic press conference held at the Staples Center – home of the recently dethroned three-time NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers – basketball superstar Kobe Bryant, with tears streaming down his face while holding the hands of his wife Vanessa, admitted having a sexual encounter with a 19-year-old front desk receptionist at a swanky Colorado athletic rehabilitation facility. He said it was a "stupid mistake" and act of "adultery".

This "stupid mistake" may cost him millions and millions of dollars as a tarnished image could result in loss of endorsement fees from high profiled consumer products such as shoes and soft drinks.

It’s funny, strange and sad that a moment of indiscretion could lead to public shame and humiliation.

This reminds us of the case of the famous basketball player Magic Johnson who was found to be HIV-positive. But instead of dwelling on the negative of his situation, he proceeded to become more legendary, by promoting campaigns and funding research on the dreaded disease, and making people feel that those infected with the disease are human and can lead happy lives. As his name suggests, Magic Johnson still magnetizes; a multi-millionaire, he is still a part-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers.

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A shocker on a different plane took place in Santa Monica, a city that is famous for its white sand beaches and sidewalk cafes that are frequented by tourists from all over the world. An 86-year-old man barreled his car into a two blocks-and-a-half stretch of cafes, killing ten persons and seriously wounding 50 others. The irony was that the farmers’ market was about to close in a few minutes.

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The incident has again brought up the question of age limits for drivers. Can an 86-year-old man still have good vision and quick reflexes to avert impending accidents? Some people say the ruling should not be arbitrary. There are indeed octogenarians who can still drive efficiently. There are younger people, at age 30 who may have the mental and physical acuity to handle a motor vehicle, but who are reckless drivers should be tested before they are given licenses, so the prohibition must be applied on a case-to-case basis.

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