War veterans pension up?

Let me start with this appetizer sent in by a texter: “A traditional politician is a fellow who is willing to lay down your life for his country.”

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Someone texted me this: “Guess why surgeons wear masks while doing their job? Because their fees are too high.” If the texter is hinting at the similarity between surgeons and holdupmen, that’s unfair.

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Email from Nanding Tirso Jr. of El Paso, Texas: “Oil has been struck in the Palawan area. That’s God-given. I heard on tv that there are many other areas in the islands (Americans are fond of calling RP ‘the islands’ a carry-over from Uncle Sam’s time. — JVJ) were oil deposits await exploration.”

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Mr. Tirso Jr. went on to say that “our government should push more forcefully its search for oil whose discovery could propel our country to faster and greater progress.”

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The government is trying to step up its oil exploration with the help of investors who have the money to do this. But this is being stymied by certain so-called militant groups who block this effort on the ground that they argue, oil exploration in our seas would destroy the environment and would deprive marginal fishermen of their means of livelihood.

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A Cebuano war veteran got in touch with this column to seek enlightenment on a report that the President has already signed House Bill 443, authored by Rep. Raul V. del Mar, which increased the veteran’s pension from the present P5,000 a month to P10,000. The warvet wants to know if the pension hike has already been implemented.

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Perhaps, my agaw Raul could enlighten our reader on this issue. He being the author of HB 443 increasing the veteran’s monthly pension from P5,000 to P10,000.

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If Talisay City officials and residents would support to the fullest the “Baroto Regatta sa Talisay” initiated by David “Kuya Boy” Odilao Jr. this project could, I’m sure, develop into another top tourist drawer in Cebu. Yes, like the “Sinulog sa Sugbu” and “Bahug-Bahug sa Mactan,” which Pare Boy started. Congratulations, Pre, on this, your latest brainchild.

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