Job fairs help cut unemployment

Someone sent me this text message: “Happy Father’s day. Luv u.” Minutes later another message from the same sender: “Are you my father?”

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It was a wrongly (nay, recklessly) sent SMS. Not having anything to do that morning, I replied: “Sorry, am not your father. Hu u?”

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The headline said: “Naked Man Found Dead in Motel.” Reminds me of a fellow mediaman who told me: “Una kong instruction sa GF ko sud sa motel mao ni... kon unsay mahitabo puroli gyud ko ha.”

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Bones believed to be those of St. John the Baptist have been discovered and revealed somewhere in Bulgaria. The discovery and revelation is timely since the saint’s feast day is fast approaching.

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The papers say the country’s unemployment rate has gone down. Part of the credit for this should go to the many jobs fairs where many job openings are up for grabs by the jobless.

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It says here that remittances from Overseas Filipino Workers grew 5.3 percent to $1.701 billion in April from $1.616 billion a year ago and over $1.698 billion in March. Great.

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“That’s the reason why even if there is risk to life and limb for poverty stricken Pinoys who want to work in risky places abroad, the equally poverty stricken government would give them the go-signal.” This from a human rights advocate. “The dollars have to flow in,” he said.

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The Philippine Popular Music Festival has been launched in Manila. This is the maiden edition. It is years behind the Cebu Popular Music Festival founded by Rep. Eddie Gullas decades ago.

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This message has “strayed” as it were into my e-mail address: “Sir, may I know where I can reach Dodong Baduel my classmate in high school? I am Dodong, too, Dodong Panares, now a resident of Canada...” (If you’re referring to Atty. Joseph “Dodong” Baduel, you can reach him here in Cebu... Sorry can’t give you specific direction I have no permission to do so. — JVJ) It’s good to be remembered by long-lost friends, Dong!

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OVERHEARD. Two young women were talking about their employment over lunch. One of them was heard saying: “Ni-resign na ko, Day oi, kay sigihan ko’g invite og late dinner ni Sir bisan hibaw siya minyo ko.”