Mahjong festival for charity held

Many are asking: “Why does Manny Pacquiao speak in Tagalog even when he is in Sarangani or General Santos City where the language is Cebuano-Bisayan?”

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Titong Falcon, a native of Gensan who owns a meat store in Sarangani where Manny Pacquiao is the congressman, says: “I get goose bumps when I hear Manny and his loving Mommy Dionesia speak Cebuano-accented Tagalog to their fellow natives of Gensan.” He says mother and son need to relearn their own language.

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The new mansion of Mommy D, a gift to her by Manny P, has the Marian shade of blue and white. “Color ito ni Mama Mary,” she proudly told her visitors. Wonder what the Born-Again pastors in Manny’s newfound religion have to say to this?

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The proprietor of a chain of sari-sari stores has been reported to have initiated a fund drive for the flood victims through what he calls a “mahjong festival.”

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He put up several mahjong tables. The participants or players are, reports say, known gamblers in the community. Is this way of raising funds for charity acceptable? Someone asked me. I could not answer.

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Here’s one more proof of our being the “happiest people in the world,” according to a survey. Victims of the Compostela Valley typhoon and floods, half-naked and hungry, could still manage to smile and make the “V” sign in front of the TV camera. I saw this on TV.

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My best bets in the coming senatorial race are mostly out of the so-called magic circle of 12. For me my best bets are fit to be called senators. But most people steeped deep in our kind of political culture frown on my best bets. One of them even said my bets are fit to be members of the clergy not the Senate.

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Thanks to Art Tariman, former TF reporter now based in Davao, for keeping me posted on the mounting casualties of the calamity in Compostela Valley. Art belongs to a press club in Gensan many of whose members died in the Maguindanao massacre.

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The Association of Catholic Universities of the Philippines (ACUP) will hold its General Assembly and conference on Jan. 9-11, 2013 at the University of San Carlos here. This I learned from a letter sent to me by Assoc. Prof. Giovanna V. Fontanilla, ACUP director.

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OVERHEARD. A high society couple was the subject of tsismis among government women employees having snacks in a canteen. One woman said: “Tinuod ba nang istorya nga hapit magbuwag si Sir ug Mam?” Another woman replied: “Di tingali na tinuod oy. Para hipalgan lang ni Mam ang mga picture sa mga naghubong lalaki ilawon sa unlan ni Sir, magbuwag na.”