If foreigners won't heed warning, expect a riot

Leo Lastimosa is raising Cain because paper posters about him are plastered on the fence of the CICC. Leo's co-worker at ABS-CBN, Rico Lucena, is given a more presentable exposure. Saw his life-size photo on a tarpaulin at the E-Mall?

* * *

Nang Saling Cuna, 80, says the Asean Summit will be a success because many Filipinos, not just the Cebuanos, are praying for its success. Yes, Nang Saling, many are praying because ours is a pray country.

* * *

That's right ours is a pray country. But there are some people in the government who don't believe. To them this is no pray country. To them this is a free country where they are free to prey.

* * *

Many sensible people I have talked with do not agree with the arrangement that people be banned from the so-called ceremonial routes. They say if they have their way on the matter they'd let people, especially schoolboys and girls line up the route and welcome the heads of state and wave the flaglets of the Asean country of their choice. Unfortunately, they say, they don't have their way.

* * *

An acquaintance of mine failed to catch her flight for Manila last Friday because of the traffic mess caused by the Asean Summit dry run. She decided to just go back home. Her husband in Manila, after knowing that nothing wrong had happened to his wife, took the first or last available ship for Cebu advising da missus to just stay put at home. "Amo man gud nga first wedding anniversary, amo tang selebrahon sa Manila diin kami gikasal," the young wife said.

* * *

The police and immigration officials have warned foreign nationals from taking part in protest rallies rallies during the Asean Summit. There have been reports that many militant foreigners are taking part in the coming "lihok protesta" to be spearheaded by Bayan. A police official said PNP and immigration officials would be firm in upholding the law against these foreign nationals "nga nianhi aron magsamok-samok."

* * *

But a Bayan spokesman said they would not be cowed by the authorities' warning against foreign activists. They would take part in the anti-Asean Summit rally no matter what, with this fire-versus-fire pronouncements of the police and the so-called cause-oriented group, the public could expect a riotous Summit. And you know who's gonna start this riot.

* * *

Government officials, including the police, are hoping and praying for a peaceful and respectable Asean Summit. Everything has been done and is being done to make it so. But, well, there are always stumbling blocks along the way. Guess what or who they are?