Scarlet Fever

The prancing horse is coming to Manila.

Riding on the high of a most spectacular Formula One season–which saw Ferrari equalling or breaking practically every record in the F1 book; the season ends today with the Japanese Grand Prix and we can only wonder what "tricks" the Ferrari drivers will come up with this time–Ferrari is opening a dealership in Manila by the end of the year, with Ferrari top guns reportedly set to fly in to inaugurate the new showroom now under construction in Ortigas Center in Pasig. The "Scarlet Man" in Manila is–whether he will at this time admit to it or not–Willy Soong, who’s been selling Jaguars hot and fast this year, and who–so the chismis goes–will also soon be selling Range Rovers and Land Rovers, as well as Alfa Romeos and Masseratis, the former two related to Jaguar and the latter two related to Ferrari by common ownership.

Only about 5,000 Ferraris are built a year, which is one reason why they are so prized. Add to that the thought that you’re sharing the technology and the mystique of Michael Schumacher, and that you can, if you want to and if our roads will allow, go up to speeds that a poor kutsero can not, even in his wildest dreams, imagine. So what’s a few million pesos for thrills such as these?

In the Philippines there are reportedly 70 such cars, with ten–give or take one or two–belonging to a major industrialist and sometime politician with roots–and a whole lot of other cars–in the south. There is a group of Ferrari (and maybe some other sports cars as well, I’m not sure) owners around town who take the covers off their scarlet horses each Sunday–weather permitting–and take the darlings out for early morning exercise to where the air is clean and the roads are smooth. They’re back in town and the cars are safely "in bed" before the rest of us are up and about; imagine the commotion if this fleet of red sports cars is caught in traffic!

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The sight of the Colosseum in Rome bathed in light for two nights because of our country’s suspension of the death penalty was a pretty one indeed. But those well-meaning officials of the European Union who thought of that gimmick should also think about putting one lighted candle in the Colosseum for each of the victims whose life was snuffed out or torn asunder by the crimes of those on death row. Who will champion the victims’ cause? Who will help rebuild their lives? Don’t they deserve light in the dark night too?