Think about it
Encore, Jed Madela!
By Jun Velasco
LOOKS like the World Bank entering our convoluted country works like a final dash on what has been eating our hearts out vis-à-vis corruption in high places.
Look at the First Gentleman. He was stung and reacting to charges that he had a hand in rigged biddings in public works. His reaction makes him normal because he will really have to clear the air vis-à-vis the World Bank’s charges. Since it is not an ordinary bank, the WB charges could unveil grave anomalies that could floor the nation.
In case you were looking the other way, the high corruption issue could have triggered the House to strip beleaguered Joe de Venecia of his congressional shirt because of his unrestrained remarks after his ouster as speaker that “everyone is for sale in this country”.
That was an emotional outburst from any normal person in a fit of anger. But the Palace is not expected to treat Joe de V kindly, even if it was he who handpicked Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as his running mate in the l998 presidential elections.
It amuses us to know that some people are blaming Joe de V for President Obama’s snubbing President Arroyo three times.
The political pot has all the ingredients of a political end game, with charter change and martial law providing the main menu. Don’t blink or you miss the real thing.
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We saw an Art Lomibao colored calendar poster in our subdivision. Manny Santos says Art will win if he runs for congressman. Earlier, we saw a barangay captain carrying a bag with the name of Gina de Venecia. Benjie Lim has no election pakulo yet?
Maybe he was not lying when he said he is now out of politics.
Art and Gina are early birds? Election is in the air. You know it. Though how hard-hit our people are with the financial crisis, they seem happy. They are smiling. They feel that the thought of elections means “happy days are here again.”
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Youthful Joey de Venecia III reports that he is mobbed wherever he goes around the country. Lately he was with Erap in Quezon province, and he was excited by the mammoth crowd that greeted them wherever they went. Joey should waste no minute using the catchy slogan “Back off, kurakot lagot!” which came from the creative mind of our friend Perry Callanta, a political adviser in Manila.
Doy Bascos, former consultant to Ranjit Shahani in congress, quoted to this corner that Bishop Oscar Cruz had predicted that Pingkoy Duque, the secretary of health, who has been topping all cabinet secretaries in satisfaction surveys, will top the senate race in Pangasinan, if he takes a crack at the senate. But did our beloved prelate factor in Joey de Venecia? This is an interesting subject in Pangasinan because they are both young and are being groomed for the senate.
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An idea to beat the economic crisis: Homeowners at the Tondaligan Blue Beach Subdivision are converting every idle lot into a vegetable garden. The strategy is to make the lots productive or have economic value while the owners haven’t yet used them. It’s sad though that some owners, a sad minority though, would not allow their properties to become fruitful even if they’d be idle for the rest of their earthly lives. We thank Mayor Al Fernandez for setting the example, his idyllic Fishpond resort in Barangay Bacayao has its own vegetable garden. That’s leadership by example. The homeowners are grateful to Chief Emma Molina and Bert de Vera of the City Agriculturist office for providing the seeds.
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On Valentine’s Day, Cathy treated us to a concert at Belen Fernandez’s Stadia with World Champion singer – Jed Madela – crooning for some 600 people. The concert, produced by Josephine Seen of CSI Dagupan, gave Jed a long standing ovation.
Jigs Seen says Jed made waves at the 2005 World Championships of the Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Hollywood when he single handedly won all major industry awards, 6 gold medals for all the 6 categories he joined in, the World Star Trophy and the most coveted and ultimate title “Grand Champion Performer of the World.”
In 2006, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the World Champions for the many awards won by a single country and being the 1st Asian to win in this Talent Olympics… truly a world class performer. At tone time, Jigs said, he was given the longest standing ovation at the Hollywood Palladium when the audience sharply rose to their feet for an 8 minute standing ovation, as he sang The Impossible Dream. Every year he was asked to Open and Close the World Talent Olympics.
He is a mainstay of ABS CBN’s Sunday noontime show “ASAP” and enjoys sell-out concerts here and around the world. Encore!
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