A Senate bill for Seniors

Two men, believed to be foreigners, were seen on Christmas eve sleeping on the roadside. Too much Christmas spirits!

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A priest said in his homily: "This Christmas our families would be happier with our presence." Maybe with our presents to boot.

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I'm often mistaken for a woman. Last year, I received a brochure promoting a brand of sanitary napkin. This year I got, by mail, a literature for a device that could tell me whether or not I'm pregnant.

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There's a bill in the Senate granting a number of benefits to senior citizens. Among them, exemption from VAT. An 81-year-old acquaintance of mine welcomes the benefits but adds: "Dalion unta nila ang pagpasar ini samtang buhi pa ang mga kabayo."

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This Senate bill also grants senior citizens discounts in hotels and lodging establishments. No specific mention of motels. Maybe because the bill's author thinks senior citizens no longer go to motels? Think again.

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The 15-year-old daughter of a Cebuano balikbayan couple vacationing in RP (the first for the girl) asked her father after reading the names of the people involved in the Maguindanao massacre: "Dad, are they Filipinos?"

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The names are nearly all Muslim. The girl, unaware of her parents' cultural background, thought Middle East terrorists are the culprits in the massacre that killed 57 people, more than 30 of them journalists. "Their names don't sound Filipino," she said.

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To Peter Lerma of Sydney and Paquito of Jersey City: Thanks for your e-mails. I'll comment on them in my next outing.

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The second paragraph of this column last Dec. 21 was shot through with proof-reading errors. Despite its being a mere two-line para.

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