Belittling the Cebuano vote?

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said that fasting during Lent should not be seen as an opportunity to lose weight. That's what I call weighty statement. Correction: Witty.

***

There are two kinds of fasting: Forced fasting as done by overweight persons. And unforced fasting as done by persons who have to fast whether they like it or not because there is nothing to fast on.

***

Three senatorial candidates who are supposed to be common bets of the Liberal Party and UNA did not show up in the UNA rally in Cebu preferring the Manila rally of the LP held on the same time. Some neutral observers see this as a case of belittling the Cebuano vote by the three. To this observation, I say: “Mo lang.”

***

Some senatorial candidates were interviewed in a special political program on TV-5. One of them was Risa Hontiveros. I single out Risa because I was impressed by her answers to all the questions thrown at her by the program host, Lynda Jumilla.

***

Important issues were covered, including her having been with left and even her love life, which has nothing to do with her being a senator (if elected) but Risa answered them all in-depth and with aplomb.

***

An UNA supporter with me that night couldn't help commenting: “I will have to drop one bet in the UNA lineup and put in Risa Hontiveros.”

***

Some well-meaning colleagues in politics kidded PNoy about his “lovelessness” on Valentine's Day. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said: “Good things come to those who wait.” Whether or not he had in mind at least two senators who could not wait ... I do not know.

***

Candy (for Candido) Balite, a TF reader in Boston, e-mailed me after reading TF online via www.philstar.com: “I am experiencing my first blizzard since I came here a year ago and I tell you, Sir Jab, I will not anymore dream of a White Christmas.”

***

“Everything and everywhere here right now is white with snow as thick as six feet,” Candy said. “For a promdi like me who comes from a small barrio without even an icedrop for sale this is not only awesome but frightening.”

Candy comes from an obscure barangay in Dalaguete where he used to earn a living selling discarded cabbage leaves to pet shops who fed the rejected leaves to pet animals.

***

OVERHEARD. Tom O is accusing Mike R. of using city-owned buses during the UNA rally. A political observer was heard saying: “Sa'a (Sala) ba diay na? Gihimo man na sa tanang nangaging mayor.” Another observer said laughing: Weather-weather lang.”