Juan Ponce Enrile at Bulong

Woe on those who court the ire of people like Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile. At Bulong Pulungan sa Philippine Plaza Hotel Tuesday, the senator was asked if he had forgiven Sen. Jamby Madrigal, who had mentioned in her privilege speech that JPE’s surviving an aborted ambush had led to the late President Marcos’ declaration of martial law. The allusion had led to a stinging tirade from the elder senator. At Bulong Pulungan, JPE said forgiveness is "a Christian virtue," and that it is written that "he who is not without sin" should cast a stone at the supposed sinner. But in the case on hand, he, JPE, was the victim of stoning.

He said he was willing to debate anyone particularly when it came to defending himself on false accusations. But he thought very little of "cry babies" who, he said: he overheard talking on her cell phone "to name your price," as long as she was guaranteed of winning the election.

Asked when he had spoken to former Sen. Gringo Honasan, who is on the wanted list of the military, JPE said, "this morning, on the telephone." He gets in touch with "my men," he said. This, because he is in the process of putting together his recollections of EDSA I.

But if asked, he will advise Gringo "not to surrender," he said. "He is a responsible person, an adult, a senator, a ranking military officer, a baron of his class. I don’t think he needs my advice. He is an experienced combatant, he knows how to handle himself."

The next question led to Jamby’s "possibilities." Response: "As a senator, on the assumption of ability, she’s gifted by God." She’s not a "dimwit," he said, "But she can speak French, I don’t, she quotes Latin, she quotes Greek, she quotes whatever she can."

Someone said the senator had so much experience in the executive and legislative branches of government – he could make a good president. "It’s too late in the day for that," he said. He had run for president on his own, but lost to Estrada.

If he is asked to give advice to President Macapagal-Arroyo, what would it be?

"I’d tell her, relax lang." The President, he said, is so hipped up by so many things, like coups d’etat and street demonstrations.

But are we better off now than before? "Relatively speaking, we have not," he said. If we compared the level of criminality, the condition of the country, the foreign exchange, the poverty then and now, we would see that things have not improved.

He touched on the problem of governance. "Our system is weak, there’s a rapid change of leadership and overturning of policies and plans and directions, a waste in disposition of funds."

That’s why there is need to change the system of government, from presidential to parliamentary, he said. He had espoused the parliamentary system as early as four years ago.

He said he was not in favor of imposing martial law.

He recalled that at EDSA I, the military asked him to take over control of the government, which would have made him the first caudillo – "I didn’t want that."

He expressed disappointment with the rule of Marcos.

"If we had followed the purpose of martial law – which was to put the country in order politically, economically, and terms of social stability, then maybe we could have moved ahead. Unfortunately, we talked of a smiling martial law."

But the government after Marcos did not make him happy either. "When we overthrew martial law, we forgot the purpose of the Revolution of 1986."

Is the country in bad shape because Filipinos are ungovernable?

Oh, JPE muttered. Filipinos are very talented. Look at the Filipino computer hackster – he’s in the employ now of a big multinational.

Is it a problem of leadership? Answer: "Correct."

But Filipinos don’t like paying taxes.

Answer: "Even the French and Americans don’t’ want to pay." But Filipinos will pay willingly, he added, "If the money is used for the good of the people."

A peace advocate congratulated the senator for belonging to "an enlightened minority." Although he was a member of the opposition, he disagreed and agreed with policies of the government when he felt these were right or wrong. The praise was graciously accepted. The senator said that in fact, at his maiden speech during the opening of the 2004 Congress, he defined the duty of the minority as being "to fiscalize, not detract" government efforts to make conditions for the people better.

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The lively interpellation left no time for discussing the senator’s anti-terrorism bill, which is yet to be calendared. The new bill is a complete overhaul, if you may call it that, of his previous bill. In the explanatory note of Senate Bill No. 2187, Enrile says the proposed measure presents "a more precise definition not only of the crime of terrorism, but the crimes of conspiracy to commit terrorism and of proposal to commit terrorism as well. Furthermore, it strengthens the legal processes by which the problem of terrorism may be addressed, and, at the same time, it contains provisions that may well be regarded as safeguard measures to protect the rights and interests of our citizenry."

Features of the bill include:

• Only a competent Regional Trial Court, upon the application of the Department of Justice can declare as an organization or group of persons as a terrorist and outlawed organization. This means the United States government cannot declare the National People’s Army a terrorist organization; a Regional Trial Court will do that.

• Any person who uses threat, intimidation, or coercion, or inflicts physical pain or torment, or mental or moral pressure on a suspected person under investigation, shall be punished with reclusion temporal.

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If you ever doubted that middle-aged, middle-aging women can vamp, sing, and around, go see "We’re Still Hot! The Musicale," which is showing March 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31 and April 1, 7 and 8 (all at p.m.) at the new Teatrino, Greenhills Shopping Center.

The story is about three 50-ish women going through menopause who are rehearsing a revue about menopause for their class ’35 high school reunion. They’re joined by a former "star" from Hungary.

J.J. McColl, author and scriptwriter of the popular off-Broadway sex musical, based the show on comments made by groups of women in their forties and early fifties who attended two potluck dinners, and talked about every aspect of their lives in relation to ageing. The first had the women talking about love, sex, drooping body parts, and the second about fear – fear of being alone, without money, a bag lady, and fear of failing health, losing identity, and independence.

With her material, McColl had musician Reuben Gurr put her song melodies into a synthesizer and arranged them. The show was initially heard across Canada on the C.B.C. radio network and then taken on popular tours. From beginning to end, the musical was a hit.

The Teatrino production of "We’re Still Hot! The Musical," is produced by Bahaghari Productions’ Margie Floirendo, Carmita Francisco, Maan Hontiveros and Nina Romualdez – all "hot baby bloomers."

It’s directed by Leo Rialp (of the "Menopause, the Musical" fame). Pinky Marquez leads the all-female cast with her extremely versatile stage voice and presence aside from being so hilariously natural. Joining her are Repertory’s Lyn Sherman, Sharmaine Centenera and Nina Romualdez.

Schering Phil. Corp. is a major sponsor, being at the forefront of female health care. Block tickets are available by contacting Cherry at 0917-4386807 and at Ticketworld, Music Museum, and Teatrino.

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My e-mail: [email protected]