Queer, a puzzle By Al S. Mendoza BENJIE LIM isn’t just queer but is also a puzzle. First, he stood me up some time ago during a dinner date in Singapore. Next, I saw him dump GMA in favor of FPJ days before the 2004 May elections. Then, he demanded…
A healthy city By Al S. Mendoza WHY THIS PENCHANT for us to try to break world records boggles the mind. I have nothing against world records. But can’t we be creative, for once? I love world records, Olympic records. They boost the soul, advance national identity, cultivate cultural pride….
General Admissions
‘Bangungot Pestebal’ By Al S. Mendoza WHAT FESTIVAL are we talking about here? Are we all blind? Bangus Festival? What’s that? Open your eyes. Look around you. Sniff the air. What do you see? What do you picture? What do you smell? You see a government that values parades which…
General Admissions
419er By Al S. Mendoza I HAVE A CONFESSION to make. Erap and I were born on the same day: April 19. Ah, we are 419ers. Alas, our commonality ends there. He is a celebrity and I am not. He is rich and I am not. He won a Famas…
General Admissions
First time By Al S. Mendoza THERE’S ALWAYS the first time. It has been my dream to make a perfect attendance here. Sadly, the streak ended last week, when my column for the April 9 issue failed to appear. It marked the first time that I was absent since I…
General Admissions
‘Pirma’ By Al S. Mendoza MY BROTHER called me up last Sunday and said, “Will I sign my name for the cha-cha, Kuya?” He lives at General Luna St., Mangatarem, Pangasinan. He said the captain in his barangay came personally to him to solicit his signature. “Our kapitan is here…
General Admissions
Victory for Victor By Al S. Mendoza I’VE HEARD the good news: Gov. Agbayani has reportedly started fixing the Canatan Bridge in my hometown of Mangatarem. “Finally, the governor has listened to your pleas,” said Uncle Pros Garcia, the former vice mayor of Mangatarem. “Canatan is now being repaired.” Uncle…
General Admission
Neat Nani By Al S. Mendoza WHO SAID NANI BRAGANZA is not a man of his own? He proved it just a while back when he said, loud and clear here at PUNCH, 1017 would destroy his city’s tourism campaign. His words were comforting. They made him 10 feet…
General Admission
Who’s afraid of Ate Glue? By Al S. Mendoza NERO LAUGHED watching Rome burned. That was in the olden times. Who was Nero? He was then the power-mad ruler of the Roman Empire. He was so drunk with power that he celebrated with maddening fury seeing Rome…
General Admission
Tall tale By Al S. Mendoza I AM STILL at a loss for words. I mean, I cannot seem to find the right reason why Ate Glue did what she did: Declare a state of national emergency. Did you see Tora! Tora! planes bombing…




