A very religious taxi driver

A mediaman felt bad after failing to have dinner with colleagues courtesy of a politician. It was, for him, a Lost Supper.

* * *

The war in Lebanon should stop. War is no good. Somebody once said that war doesn't determine who is right - only who is left.

* * *

The long drawn-out dispute between Malacañang and the political opposition over the Cha-cha should stop. What did Voltaire say about a long dispute? "A long dispute," he said, "means both parties are wrong!"

* * *

Impressed by his country's battering power against the Muslim Hezbollah guerillas, an Israeli rabbi exclaimed: "Gee-whiz!" The other Israeli Jewish rabbis must also be cheering.

* * *

I was in a taxi bound for Punta Princesa when the hour of six PM tolled. I crossed myself like most old Pinoys do when the Angelus comes.

The driver also made a sign of the cross and asked permission: "Hunong ta kadyot, Sir, puwede? Apil ta sa Orasyon sa radyo."

"Yes," I said, "no problem."

We joined the prayer on the radio.

* * *

"Ako, Sir, basta Angelus mohunong gyud ko aron mangadye," the taxi driver said. "Bahala nag Muslim o kaha Born Again akong pasahero. Ako na ning tradisyon, Sir, sukad pa sa nag-drive pa kog motorsiklo."

"Karon pa ko kasugat taxi driver ingon nimo ka relihiyoso," I said.

"Mao sab nay sulti sa pasahero kong babaye di pa dugay," he said. "Duna kuno siyay nasakyang taxi nga mihunong ang driver atol sa Angelus pero wa mangadye. Ninaug kuno sa taxi kay nangihi."

* * *

When the piano in the National Press Club in Manila was stolen some years ago, I said to myself: "Grabe sad ning mga taga Manila di man ang-angon, ang kawaton piano man gyud."

Some years later, I realized that Visayans steal more than just a piano but a cargo ship loaded with imported rice. "Mas grabe diay ta," I said to myself. "Di lang piano, barko gyud ang isnaton."

As if to prove that we can really steal cargo ships and get away with it, some adventurers stole a few days ago a much bigger ship which used to be a floating hotel and casino. Unfortunately, they were caught while they were towing the ship away from where it was docked. But the fact remains that we Visayans could steal ships, not just a piano.