Fully deserved

There was genuine admiration and affection for Rep. Manny V. Pacquiao from his colleagues during the awarding of the 2nd Congressional Medal of Distinction last Monday at the Batasan.

In response, Rep. Pacquiao delivered a humble acceptance speech giving credit and thanks to the Filipino people.

President Noynoy should direct DBM Sec. Butch Abad to release forthwith P200 million to construct a modern provincial hospital for Sarangani. Manny has brought a billion pesos worth of good publicity for the Philippines. He deserves to be given the hospital soonest. We are really surprised that there is still a province in the country without a provincial hospital. This reflects badly on the previous leaders of Sarangani.

The 10 richest people in the country including Henry Sy, John Gokongwei, Lucio Tan, Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Andrew Tan, Ricky Razon, Manny Pangilinan, Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., Ramon Ang and Chavit Singson should now get together to donate the equipment for the new hospital such as Cathscan, MRI, Nuclear X rays, operating room equipment, intensive care room equipment, dialysis machines, etc. The 10 major hospital wards can be named after the billionaire donors.

His effort to catch up on his education is very commendable. He can now carry himself well in English. In his presscon at the Batasan, he gave responsive answers, even declaring he is against the RH bill. To prepare him for higher positions, he should now enroll in a formal baccalaureate course and get a regular college degree.

In his successful boxing career, he went up thru the ladder of 8 titles one step at a time. He should follow the same policy in his political career. Go up slowly step by step. Finish his three terms as Congressman before he tries to go up to a heavier position.

So far, he has been able to mix politics and boxing successfully. I support his stand not to retire yet and fight until he’s 35, but bring the dollars home. Invest here, not in California.

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WHO IS ELAINE?. . . It is not surprising that Manny Pacquiao is the No. 1 taxpayer in the BIR list. But everyone is asking, who is the No. 2 top taxpayer who goes by the name of Elaine Gardiola. Our friends from Batangas say that her husband, Edwin is the favorite contractor and golf partner of former DOTC Sec. Larry Mendoza. If Elaine and Edwin Gardiola made so much money by being friends of Sec. Larry Mendoza, the necessary question is: are they for real or are just dummies?

This is a matter for the Truth Commission to investigate.

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GLARING DEFICIENCY. . .More than 1,000 M-16s and high powered rifles and 22,000 rounds of ammunitions have been confiscated from the Ampatuans. Many of them carrying government arsenal or DND markings. The DND/AFP announced an investigation. Up to now no word as to its findings. There’s a cover-up here. Some Generals must have authorized the release of the said firearms and ammo. How about the Police Generals relieved because of the massacre? Why have they not been charged?

And the police officers ordered to be arrested but still at large, why are they still in the police payroll? They should be declared AWOL and dropped from the rolls.

There are still thousands of loose firearms in Maguindanao, yet there has been no serious campaign to collect them. This is true of Cotabato, Basilan, Lanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

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3 HOURS OF JOY . . . For the first time I watched a variety show live on TV 5. Willing Willie, starring Willie Revillame and co-host Shalani Soledad run for almost 3 hours from 5:30-9:15 p.m. last Thursday but it was so enjoyable, one didn’t notice the time fly by so fast.

Willie Revillame, the total entertainer sang, danced, cracked jokes and efficiently introduced the different segments smoothly, giving away thousands of pesos at every turn.

Shalani Soledad, who bore a strong resemblance to actress Alma Moreno, now a Parañaque Councilor, is now very much at home with the show, was much prettier in person, displaying a svelte 5’4” figure in a size 4 orange dress with a flawless complexion. She captivated the big audience completely. She can now do her spiels without any prompters.

The five major segments were 1-2-3 Go, Family Affair, Wall of Fortune, Cantanong and Spin a Wil were created to provide laughs and showcase talent of the contestants who came from the poor segment of the population. There were poignant moments when contestants introduced their parents or spouse with profuse thanks being expressed tearfully.

The sexy dancers were fun to watch.

The Willie-Shalani combination has turned out to be a winner. Willie Revillame is back with a vengeance (against the other network). Manny Pangilinan has turned around TV 5 into a winning proposition, another feather in his business cap.

Thank you to Ana Perez, Jay Montelibano, Tita Swarding and the Willing Willie staff for attending to us.

The only drawback, the studio used was quite small, but will be expanded fourfold in 2 years time. It takes 1? to 2 hours to reach the TV 5 complex in San Bartolome, Novaliches.

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TIDBITS . . . Willie Revillame denied any plans to run for public office. . . Recent medical researches show that lung cancer is more deadly than breast cancer. Only 15 percent of lung cancer victims survive, 38 percent survive breast cancer. . . The average lifespan of Filipino man is now 67, for women, 72. Life now begins at 60. . .The World Health Organization lauded Pope Benedict XVI’s stand allowing the use of condoms to prevent AIDS.

Thursday, Nickel Asia closed at P16.26 with foreign investors still selling. Yesterday, it closed at P16.02. The strongest stocks in the market are Aboitiz Power (AP) and San Miguel (SMC).

The Philippine Association of State Universities (PASU) with 111 members is formally joining the student protests against budget cuts.

Quezon City district Councilor Jaime Borres noted the rise of robbery and hold up cases in Quezon City. Sixteen-year-old Ronald Serrano was shot dead in a gang war at Batasan Hills, QC.

Second term City Councilor Rodrigo Casas was shot dead by 2 motorcycle riding gunmen at Barangay Zapote, Biñan City.