Hungry, hungrier

The latest SWS survey conducted Nov. 27-30 shows that the number of Filipinos experiencing hunger has gone up from 15.9 percent-18.1 percent, or 3.4 million Filipinos, up from three million.

The principal cause: high prices of basic commodities, especially rice because of the increase of NFA rice from P18 to 25 per kilo and the continuing increase in the price of gasoline and oil products as well as the increase in toll fees. High unemployment and underemployment, typhoons, floods, fires and other calamities were the other causes.

But wait, there’s hope for these hungry Filipinos, President Aquino promised a better life for all in 2011 and DSWD Sec. Corazon “Dinky” Soliman also gave the assurance that her huge P21.2 billion Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program will solve the hunger problem.

The banks, oil companies, telecom firms, mining companies and other blue chip companies listed on the Philippine Stock Market are raking in fantastic prices by the billions. They should help our hungry brothers by donating more to charitable foundations and sponsoring more food kitchens in squatter areas.

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ANOTHER POLICE CRIMINAL . . . Add PO2 Bensaudi Sakiran of the Talipao, Sulu police station to your list of policemen involved in crime. Sakiran shot dead Abdulhamin Mohammad Bandahala, 44, ARMM LTO Liaison Officer for Sulu.

In Basilan, Bishop Martin Jumoad issued a condemnation of the breakdown of peace and order and lawlessness in that province. He declared: “Killings and kidnappings have become a regular occurrence since two years ago but until now not a single suspect has been apprehended or arrested.” Last Monday, five traders on board an Isuzu Elf were gunned down in Mohammad Ajul Town.

Bishop Jumoad urged policemen to do their job as he bewailed their “unwarranted loyalty” to politicians.

Up to now, the PNP leadership has refused to heed the recommendation of Gov. Jum Akbar to relieve the Provincial Police Director Senior Supt. Rey Cristeto Gonzalodo.

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CUSTOMS BLACKEYE . . . The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that at least 10 percent of cigarettes in the local market are smuggled. Yes, this has been going on for a long time principally thru Subic.

How about the thousands of boxes of banned picolo firecrackers that were allowed to come in during the Christmas-New Year season?

Farmers’ groups are again complaining against the proliferation of smuggled rice in the public markets. How about the highly profitable sugar smuggling again coming in thru Manila, Subic, Cebu, General Santos and Davao City?

One thing sure, the Bureau of Customs missed its collection target every month for six months under Commissioner Angelito Alvarez, the golfer suspended by the Alabang Country Club for cheating.

What is regrettable is that up to this point in time, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima has not exercised his leadership and authority to clean up the Bureau of Customs. He is preoccupied planning to sell Camp Aguinaldo, Camp Crame, the Philippine Navy Headquarters and the Bonifacio Naval Station. That’s more profitable.

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STAR STUDDED WEDDING . . . The wedding of Joey Perez de Venecia and Karen Viaplana Batungbacal at the NBC Tent in Global City was a well attended affair. With the groom’s father, former Speaker Jose de Venecia Sr. having friends in the diplomatic corps and the bride being the country manager of J.P. Morgan, the investment banking firm, almost half of the big attendees were foreigners. The bride’s father, Dr. Ramon Batungbacal gave the bride away.

The principal sponsors were, on the gentlemen side: President Joseph Estrada, H.E. Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senator Sergio Osmeña III, Senator Mushaid Hussain, Oscar C. De Venecia, Antonio P. Meloto, Seichi Wada and Fernando Zobel de Ayala.

On the ladies side: Dr. Elenita Binay, Ambassador Isabel Caro Wilson, Hon. Cielo Macapagal Salgado, Lorna Perez Laurel, Dr. Aurora De Venecia San Jose, Carmen Ordoveza Bautista, Conchitina Sevilla Bernardo and Bernadette Magpayo Nepomuceno.

The wedding ceremonies and mass was officiated by Fr. Joel Sulse, OFM.

The bridegroom’s mother, Vicky Perez arrived for the wedding from the US. Cong. Gina Perez de Venecia, the bridegroom’s stepmother, entertained the guests, among them: Sen. and Mrs. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Cong. and Mrs. Victor Ortega, Sen. and Mrs. Kit Tatad, Ramon Ang, Cong. and Mrs. Felicito Payumo, Dean Amado Valdez and former DILG Sec. Cesar Sariño.         

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TIDBITS. . . Willie Revillame and Shalani Soledad were weekend guests of businessman Joey Concepcion III at his Punta Fuego home in Nasugbu, Batangas. Willie is eyeing a P75 million house in that resort. . . Another Indian national was kidnapped in Baguio on Dec. 23, 2010 by a kidnap gang composed of Indians and Filipinos. He escaped from his kidnappers and reported his kidnapping to the Baguio police. . .Ariel Catapang, 47, a former Barangay Chairman was shot dead in front of the school of his children in Lemery, Batangas. . .

Former NEDA Secretary Cielito Habito reports that all his 3 children lost their cellphones to thieves in separate incidents the last 3 weeks. . .

The shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords reminds us of the killings of Masbate Cong. Tito Espinosa and Basilan Cong. Wahab Akbar at the Batasang Pambansa and Rep. Rodolfo Aguinaldo (Cagayan), Rep. Luis “Chito” Bersamin Jr. (Abra) and Rep. Marcial Punzalan Jr. (Quezon).

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa announced that all offices under the Office of the President (OP) will be limited to their specific budgets, meaning no augmentation.  

Greetings and belated happy new year wishes to Roquito and Vicky Ablan, Cong. Jun and Maridee Rodriguez, Virgie Barbers, Mely and Paeng Hechanova and Francis Manglapus, avid readers of this column.

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QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: “The peso and dollar are not immortal. Our souls are. The peso and dollar are not almighty. Only God is almighty.” Archbishop Socrates Villegas.