Christmas

One top official says: "Christmas is just around the corner." Sir, Christmas is already here. Since the first day of September.

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There's a Christmas song Cebuano children love to sing. It says: "Pasko na sad...Ang mga madrino ug madrina mitago na."

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A prominent Cebuano doctor now on retirement says it would do good to the health of Filipinos if the news media would refrain from running stories that make life stressful. Stories like graft and corruption, pork barrel scam, political intrigues, etc.

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Let's run stories that brighten our outlook in life, therefore less stressful," the good doctor said. "Stories like our best bets in the world beauty contests giving the competition a run for their money, like news about Pinay boxer Ana Julaton winning in Mexico, the Azkals world rating rising, etc."

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Thousands of Pinoys are facing arrest in Saudi, says this news headline here. If you go to Saudi where the money is, only to be arrested, Noy Temiong says: "Better stay home and plant camote."

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It used to be a joke, this planting camote thing. Not anymore. "The camote business has become a multi-million peso business. Not only because there are many marginalized Pinoys cooking camote-cue but also and more so because there is big demand for Phl camote in the foreign market," according to Lino  Uy of the LU Rootcrops Exporters, Ltd.

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The P45-million blood money needed to save a Pinoy death convict's life in Saudi is more than enough to put up a modern camote based snack food factory in Phl. That's why, says Lino Uy, when life gets tough think of camote more than you'd think of Saudi.

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The CBCP has enjoined the faithful to emulate the good deeds of their departed loved ones. The emphasis is on "good deeds."

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A tourist guide said most if not all foreign and domestic tourists he had guided wanted to see the ruins caused by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol and Cebu. "Mao gyu'y ilang request...wa unah sila mangita sa tarsier.

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OVERHEARD. All is not well, it seems, in PNoy's communications group. Sec. Sonny Coloma now seems to be calling the shots although it is said that Sec. Edwin Lacierda and Usec Abigail Valte have been "kicked upstairs." Keen observers here are not surprised. Said one: "Kinsa toy maayong mo-idol-idol sa boss mao gyu'y mosaka." Someone said: "Bitaw. Gipasaka tuod kuno si Lacierda ug Valte pero wa ganahi ang ilang mga higala sa pulong nga 'kick'."