Sec. Cerge as shock absorber

Lack of quorum is causing some trouble in the Senate. Our honorable senators should learn from the mahjong players who never have a quorum problem.

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They can also learn about quorum from my drinking neighbors who never lack quorum when they decide to hold a drinking session.

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They're talking about bribery in the government these days. What this government needs is bravery among its officials, not bribery.

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Heard of the singer in a wedding who got sued in court because as the bride - daughter of an official of a government bureau - walked down the aisle with her dad, the singer sang: "Here comes the bride." Hehehe.

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E-mail from "Just Me" of Lapu-Lapu City: "Happy ko nga atong Cerge Remonde nahimo nang Press Secretary. Pero unhappy ko, Mr. Jabat, nga nagpuliki siyag tabon-tabon sa mga akusasyon batok sa mga opisyal sa gobyerno. Still I salute Secretary Remonde for doing his job with flying colors."

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I agree with "Just Me" ... As Press Secretary, our Cerge Remonde is acting as virtual shock absorber for the President's people under attack. But knowing Cerge, I'm confident that he can weather the storm, so to speak, and survive until 2010. Yes, Cerge can hack it.

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Break-a-minute: A balikbayan says: "I sought and got American citizenship because the corrupt people in our government made me ashmed of being Filipino."

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The same balikbayan says everyone wants President Arroyo out. "But it's useless," he says, "if she is out and the unknown corrupt officials remain. It's only the President whom the so-called militant groups want to step down."

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Thanks to Lawrence M. Liao of the Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, Japan, for his e-mail commenting on an item here about the popularity of Philippine bananas in Japan.

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Mr. Liao says that in Japan bananas sold retail are wrapped (probably for reasons of hygiene or sanitation) unlike in the Carbon market where they are sold in bunches and unwrapped.

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To Mart Lacabra of Tagbilaran City: Please send your message through my e-mail address. I'm sorry I can't print my mobile phone number. The last time I did I was swamped with messages, many of them I had no need for. Sample: "Sir, mahimo bang ako rang bana pabutangon ko sa IUD? Ug unsa may giladmon?"

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Email: [email protected]