It was literally a wakeup call

The news says one Fil-foreigner Azkal has gone over to an Indonesian kennel. Maybe that’s where the price is right.

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Last night I got a surprise landline phone call from a friend. It was literally a wakeup call.

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The caller was a friend in need. I used to wake up only for friends not in need. After reading a book by Msgr. Fulton Sheen, I realized I was wrong. And I have realized, too, that I happen to be a friend in need.

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TRIVIA: “A true friend walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” — From the book “Great Thoughts” by Bob Phillips.

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My friend Ben Ypil writes a column entitled “Inside Out.” I’ve been figuring out what’s “inside” that Ben wants “out.”

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After hearing the breaking news on radio that a strong earthquake shook New Zealand, someone called to inform me that a church of Christ had been crushed and many were trapped inside. I later learned that the quake devastated Christchurch, the No. 2 city in New Zealand.

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Sen. Bongbong Marcos said that had there been no Edsa People Power revolt in 1986, the Philippines could now be like Singapore which was ruled by an autocratic prime minister. Like Marcos, the father.

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In Singapore, the head of state could do anything he wanted (still wants). No one could criticize him. Including the Press and the Church.

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Once I attended a press conference organized by the government of Singapore. Before the presscon, the Pinoy mediamen were advised not to ask questions that would embarrass the Singapore government. The advice was observed and the presscon went smoothly.

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Trivia: “Who has lost his freedom has nothing else to lose.” — A German proverb.

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E-mail from Lorenzo Aldo: “My driver calls himself ‘filthy rich’ because many of the paper money in his pocket are rotten and dirty.”

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