They’re having fun comparing Makati Mayor Jojo Binay to US President-elect Barack Obama. Like calling Hizzoner “Balat Obama.” Hehe.
* * *
Of course, you know why they’re calling Jojo Binay “Balat Obama.” They’re not just punning Obama’s first name, they’re comparing Jojo’s skin (Balat) to Obama’s.
* * *
I just received “Ang Oponganon,” a one-page newsletter printed in Opon (Lapulapu City). The lone story, written by my friend and esteemed colleague L.”Lorrie” M. de la Serna, is headlined “Mactan Himoon Nga Lalawigan.” Lorrie, based on his article, is confident that one day soon we will see an Island Province of Mactan.
* * *
I also learned from the newsletter that the feasibility study for the proposed bridge linking Cordova and Bohol would soon be completed. One million dollars have been set aside by the Korean government for this study alone, according to Lorrie. This bridge, once realized, would be the key to Bohol’s long-awaited development on a massive scale.
* * *
Some say this Bohol-Cordova bridge plan is too ambitious although they look forward to the day when it would materialize. And there are those who call it a crazy ambition. But my friend Lorrie shoots down that pessimism saying: “Adunay sanglitanan nga nag-ingon, ‘All great things start from crazy ideas.’ Ang tanang dagko nga butang magsugod sa binoang nga hunahuna.”
* * *
Preparation for the 2009 Fiesta Señor celebration are now being ironed out. Many are suggesting that the blasting of firecrackers be strictly banned during the solemn procession. The solemnity is blasted away by the firecracker explosions.
* * *
Unthinking and senseless procession watchers on the sidelines often explode firecrackers, momentarily putting the participating devotees in disarray. There was one procession, according to an informer, that a l2-year-old girl was hurt when a firecracker exploded near her face.
* * *
I just learned from my good friend lawyer Maning Satorre’s recent email that Pare David “Boy” Odilao (whom he calls Kuya being a member of the Eagles) was in the US not long ago. Mutual friends like Lou Sabandal (also a Kuya and one-time member of the local broadcast media) brought Pare Boy to where Maning lives in LA but was not able to see him. It seems that because of Maning’s illness no one is free to awaken him when he’s asleep.
* * *
Email: nitzjab@yahoo.com