The Indonesians claim they got the biggest grandstand in Southeast Asia. How large is it compared to the grandstand Pinoy politicians love to stay in and make some noise to win pogi points?
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“Many politicians believe their power and authority cannot be exercised properly unless these are infused with pride, conceit, condescension, arrogance, desire for control and perpetuity,” says Fr. Roy Cimagala in his TF column April 4/11.
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I have long wanted to say the same thing (which Fr. Roy said) but I do not have the facility of language to say that. Now let me just say: “Same here Fr. Roy.”
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Before I forget, Anthony Greis of Manila sent me this e-mail: “I have heard much about Cebu’s Suroy-Suroy program. And I’m interested to join. My mother is Cebuana. Please help me get the details.” OK, please get in touch with the Cebu Provincial Tourism Office, Tel. 253-5642 or 253-3766.
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Filipinos married to Americans —or for that matter, any other nationality — should give their kids who’ve never set foot on PHL soil — some lessons about the Philippines. One so-called Fil-Am in Dallas, Texas, whose mom is from PHL thought Negros Island is inhabited by blacks.
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Another young Fil-Am in Colorado whose mother never cared to give him some information about her homeland asked his pure Pinoy penpal in Labangon: “Do you also have television in the Philippine Islands?”
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As if that wasn’t enough show of ignorance about his mom’s country, the Fil-Am boy asked his Labangonian penpal: “Please buy for me a grass-skirt, I’ll send you some apples in exchange.”
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The Labangon penpal, daughter of a college instructor, said she stopped communicating with her Fil-Am penfriend. “Naglagot ko,” she said. “Ignoy kaayo ... nagdahum wa tay TV, nagdahum sagbot akoang skirt, nagdahum wa ko kakitag apple ... Tse nalang!”
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I admire the Younghusband brothers of the Azkal fame. Their mom is Pinay but they were born and grew up in England. Yet the brothers speak Tagalog correctly though with British accent.
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TRIVIA — What is the sweetest substance? One authority says it’s “Thaumatin,” an artificial flavoring which is 1,600 times sweeter than sugar.
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Email: nitzjab@yahoo.com