First sister Kris Aquino

SCB: You called Pastor Quiboloy your best friend before he endorsed Gibo (Teodoro)...
KA: Ay inaway ko siya after. Tinext ko siya, “We could’ve been best friends. Ngayon friend na lang, not so close pa.”

SCB: Did he answer?
KA: Yes, sabi niya “You know that in my heart you’re my friend and Noy.” Tapos sinabi ko sa kanya “Not so. Na-miss mo ‘yung friendship.” (The rest of the interview at Manila Bulletin.)

Cringe.

Finally!

I'm not a fan of Kris. I always find her dramas exhausting. But what I hate more is a moron and a man-whore taking advantage of a woman who loves him. So I applaud Kris for walking out on James Yap who just can't seem to keep his pee-pee in his pants. Hope she finally realizes she deserves a better man than this. Frankly I find it strange that an intelligent woman like her keeps hooking up with losers. Hay, as my friend Coffee Cup says, "we're all fools for love."

Oh, and phooey to Sen. Nonoy Aquino's political rivals for using this latest issue of Kris against him. Pwede ba, hindi naman si Kris ang tumatakbong Presidente? If she were, mas lalo pa kayong matatalo! Hahaha!

Seriously, even American presidents had siblings who gave the family and the White House severe headaches: Jimmy Carter had the drunk brother Billy; Bill Clinton had his druggie half-brother Roger, and not to mention, Hillary's trying-hard influence peddling brothers Hugh and Tony Rodham; even current U.S. President Barack Obama's half-brother George, was arrested in Kenya on possession of marijuana. Unfortunately we can't choose our relatives.

Despite these 'headaches', all these Presidents did their jobs remarkably well. And compared to these U.S. presidential siblings, I think Kris will be less of kahihiyan when Noynoy becomes President. I laugh at the comments of Noynoy's critics that Kris will act like his First Lady when he becomes President. I don't think so. She'll be much too busy w/ her career and endorsements, trying to earn back all the funds she spent on her brother's campaign. Also, she will be tending to her children, who may be w/o a father/father figure soon. Or who knows, she may be even looking for a new husband! Try and try until we get it right, Kris.

This is the funniest thing!

(Photo from the Noynoy Aquino Facebook page.)
EVEN supporters of Nacionalista Party presidential candidate Manny Villar are fans of Sen. Noynoy Aquino, presidential candidate of the Liberal Party! Haha! Naku, lagot kayo sa candidato nyo ;p

Noynoy and MAR file COCs at Comelec

“There are four that we would like to focus on: job generation is first. This is best explained by a father that I talked with before who said, ‘Bigyan niyo kami ng trabaho at kami na ang bahala sa kalusugan [Give us jobs and we will take care of health]’; education is second which is an essential tool for job creation, to start the reform of the justice system and even to advocate concern for the environment; third is health and fourth is judicial reform,” said Aquino. (Click here for the rest.)

Liberal Party standard-bearers Senators Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III and MAR Roxas flash the Laban sign as they hold their certificates of candidacy filed before the Commisssion on Elections this morning. Aquino and Roxas pledged to continue to heed the collective thirst and hunger of people for change, and to fight the crooked and corrupt. "Sa harap po ninyong lahat, sa harap po ng sambayanang Pilipino, hinding-hindi po namin bibiguin ang tiwala na ipinagkaloob po ninyo sa amin. Sama-sama tayo, lalaban po tayo. Una kayo, bago ako. Una ang bayan, bago ang sarili," Roxas said. (Photos by Gil Nartea, courtesy of the office of Sen, MAR Roxas.)

Aquino and Roxas, together with senatorial candidates under the "People's Reform" coalition, bow their heads in a minute of silence to remember the victims of the Maguindanao massacre before filing their COCs before the Comelec. Aquino, Roxas and the LP slate condemn the murders in the strongest possible terms, and pledges to work for the redemption of democracy and lasting peace in the Philippines, especially in Mindanao. From left: Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto, Ryan Christian Recto, former Sen. Ralph Recto, Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon and former Senate President Frank Drilon; Aquino and Roxas; Manila Mayor Fred Lim; senatorial candidates Akbayan! Rep. Riza Hontiveros and Bukidnon Rep. TG Guingona; Aika Lim (daughter of senatorial candidate Brig. Gen. Danny Lim) and Pia Lacson (wife of senatorial candidate Alex Lacson).

Aquino and Roxas, together with LP senatorial candidates pledge to supporters to continue the the communal fight of all for what is right ("laban na tapat, laban ng lahat").

Noynoy gets Internet savvy w/ a little help from his Campaigns friends (w/ update)

LIBERAL Party presidential candidate Sen. Noynoy Aquino is quite a stranger to the ways of the Internet. Prior to his run for president, I don't think he even had his own web site aside from his page attached on the Senate's own web site. He has only started tweeting, and my guess is it's his new media group tweeting for him and not himself. I have yet to check which of the Noynoy Aquino/Benigno Aquino III Facebook profiles is his real one, although there is an official fan page whose membership just recently cracked the 100,000-mark.

(Sen. Aquino's official Facebook fan page, although I counted two other fan pages, plus three profiles w/c includes the one w/c lists him as a female and w/ his mother's bday.)

With Campaigns and Grey's Yoly Ong now on his side, the Senator's presence on the Net has further expanded with the airing of his 60-second video blogs (VLogs) w/c started today. In a press briefing w/c I attended this morning along w/ other select members of the media, Ong and Melissa Limcaoco, Sen. Aquino's deputy director for new media, said the purpose of these VLogs is to let the public get a taste of the issues the presidentiable is fighting for (or against). A videographer has been going around covering each campaign sortie of Sen. Aquino, capturing his speeches and his interaction w/ the public. In his first VLog, for instance, he is shown speaking w/ a retired public school teacher who complained of not being able to receive her monthly pension from the GSIS because the agency had no money.

The VLogs (dubbed "60 secs. w/ Noy") are definitely a step in the right direction for the Aquino campaign after reaping a whirlwind of criticism mainly from the intelligentsia, who detested the MTV featuring Sen. Aquino and his band of artistas. (Of course, they probably don't like Pinoy celebrities to begin with, and the empty-headedness they are thought to represent.) Lighten up people! He needs to attract the masa vote, obvious ba? Although I do agree w/ the critics that we need to see/read/hear more of Sen. Aquino and his platform of govt. instead of just seeing w/c artista endorsed him. So I suppose these VLogs will help the campaign achieve the purpose.



The VLogs are unscripted and meant to show the real Noynoy Aquino "in the raw." At the end of each day, the videographer's footages will be tightly edited and strung together to form a theme for each VLog, before being aired. (OK, so technically, the VLogs won't really be quote-unquote, raw.) The footages will be punched up w/ his official campaign jingle, Sya na Nga, w/c I must admit is a really catchy tune, I still hear it playing in my head. LSS much?

The VLogs will run daily until Nov. 27, or the day before Sen. Aquino files his official certificate of candidacy at the Comelec. Under the Omnibus Election Code, the campaign period starts on Feb. 9, 2010 for national candidates (or 90 days before May 8 elections), and March 26, 2010 for local candidates (or 45 days before May 8), so the candidates are not supposed to air any TV or radio ads about themselves from the time they file their COCs until the beginning of their respective campaign periods. It isn't clear though if this covers the new Internet platforms, after all, this medium was hardly tapped in previous elections. Like last year's U.S. presidential elections, this will be the first time in Philippine electoral history that new media will be used by the presidential candidates (via their web sites, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Friendster, cellphones, etc.). Ong says the Aquino campaign is erring on the side of caution and until further ruling by the Comelec, will cease airing the VLogs once Sen. Aquino files his COC.

(Sen. Aquino's official web site.)
Of course the inevitable question is, will campaigning through the Internet/new media make a difference for any of the candidates? By and large, Internet penetration in the Philippines is still low; accdg to Internet World Stats, it is 24 million as of the 2nd qtr of 2009, or roughly 25% of the country's estimated population of 97.98 million. About 18.2 million of Internet users are potential voters (meaning 18 y.o. and up). So while the Aquino campaign will be tapping this new media for its campaign, Ong says, it is really an experiment for them to see how much power the Internet has in moving next year's elections. And TV is still the medium w/ the largest impact w/ 90% usage for voters' info as compared to only 22% for the Internet. Ong does point out though that Sen. Loren Legarda won in the last senatorial election w/ an 18-million vote, so that just means they are hoping the Internet will boost Sen. Aquino's chances to win in 2010. (Btw, did you know that 60% of Internet users in the Phils. are in Internet cafés?)

As of press time, however, Ong has yet to answer my question if there are any plans for Sen. Aquino's team mate and VP candidate Sen. MAR Roxas to be included in the Internet campaigns. (After previewing the first three VLogs, it looks like Sen. Aquino's running mate is actually former Bukidnon Rep. Neric Acosta, and not Roxas. Acosta is just all over the place!) For casual political observers like me, Sen. Aquino seems to be conducting his own separate campaign, pretty much disengaged from what should really be a team effort. Are Sen. Aquino's handlers trying to get him elected at all cost, w/o a care who wins the VP slot? Hmmm...again,nagtatanong lang po.

(A slide from today's presentation by Campaigns and Grey. Looks like Sen. Aquino has trumped some of his rivals in terms of Internet presence/followers. What will this mean for the 2010 elections?)

(UPDATE 1:05 a.m.) Accdg. to Campaigns PR Inc. Managing Director Richard Arboleda, Sen. MAR Roxas will definitely figure in the Sen. Aquino's future VLogs. Thanks!

Potshots

Pak dis shet: Arroyo can run for VP. Stop giving her ideas guys!

* * * *
Sen. Manny Villar at the MOPC Presidential Series, Oct. 29: “I’m not perfect. I have a lot of failures in life, I have experienced difficulties. But when you look at me, you are looking at Manny Villar, what you see is what you get. You’re not looking at my mother, my father or the tycoon behind me. You are looking at Manny Villar.”

When I look at Manny Villar, I see his wife Cynthia and her family's fortune, without which would not have made his success possible.

* * * *


Dubbed a "labor of love," producers and celebrities in this video promoting Sen. Noynoy Aquino's presidential candidacy volunteered their services, most of them friends of Kris Aquino and Boy Abunda. The star power behind Noynoy is indeed dazzling, with members of the rival Kapamilya and Kapuso networks coming together for the production.

Expectedly there have been various reactions from the public about it. Some love the song, like I do, because I find it very moving, a testament to composer Ogie Alcasid's talent in capturing the spirit of Noynoy's supporters. Others find it detestable (they cringe esp. at the part where Abunda arrives in a banca) and disturbing that the presidentiable would agree to do something that the usual trapos would do, i.e. prematurely campaigning before he's even filed his certificate of candidacy, and asking celebrities to endorse him.

My only question is, isn't Noynoy forgetting something? Like his VP running mate Sen. MAR Roxas for example? Isn't this supposed to be a Noynoy-Mar 2010 campaign? Hmmm...just asking.


* * * *
Last Saturday's typhoon was locally named "Santi". The current tropical depression is named "Tino". The names of these weather disturbances should dispel whatever doubts that PAGASA meteorologists aren't fans of May Bukas Pa. Gads.

* * * *
BTW, like many Metro Manilans, I went out of town w/ my family for the Halloween break. We left Quezon City on Friday, Oct. 30, at about 9:30 pm and drove to Subic via NLEX/SCTEX. It's astonishing that with the amount of toll paid everday by motorists on both these highways, there are long stretches that are still unlighted. These pose dangers to the numerous drivers and their passengers travelling there daily. I wish the govt agencies overseeing these expressways would attend to the matter of adequately lighting them ASAP.

Hot flashes! (3rd update)

1. Just received a text from highly-respected Malaya columnist and political commentator Lito Banayo that Chizwiz's coming out party will be on Monday, Oct. 12, 5:30 pm at the Club Filipino. Ay kawawa naman si Loren! Foiled again ang dreams of superstardom.

(Update 10/10/09: I just received an unconfirmed tip that the announcement of Chizwiz re: his run for the presidency has been moved to Oct. 17, Saturday. I'll give you an update soon as I can.)

Chizwiz's run for the presidency can only mean Tito Danding has come through with the financial support. Naku pano naman si Gibo? Chizwiz's candidacy is also said to be supported by taipan Lucio Tan, a good friend of Chizwiz's dad, Sonny Escudero, one of the better agriculture secretaries this country ever had. (Btw, accdg to Mr. Banayo, also onboard the Chizwiz team is former Star reporter and PTA administrator Nixon Kua, and ex-journalist Raymond Burgos. Well, all I can say is, Chizwiz is super lucky to have these 3 gentlemen on his team. Very formidable political/media operators. Kaya makinig ka sa kanila lagi, Chizwiz!)

(Update 10/11/09:The scheduled announcement of Chizwiz's presidential run at Club Filipino tom. Monday, is definitely postponed, accdg. to his people. There is no date when this will actually happen, as a source in his camp says they want to avoid anything "political" in the meantime that most of Luzon is still suffering from Ondoy and Pepeng's onslaught. So I'm not quite sure what Chizwiz has up his sleeve tom. at the Senate where he is supposed to hold a press conference at 1 pm.

Just my two cents though, it makes no sense to postpone the inevitable. Whether Chizwiz announces his presidential candidacy tom., or next week, or even in November really makes no difference bec. the impact from Pepeng and Ondoy will be lasting. There is no guarantee that the evacuees will be relocated by December or even by the May 2010 elections. Besides rehabilitation will last for years, long after a new president will probably have finished his term of office. Let's just get all these annoucements over and done with so the real work can actually continue.)

2. Two days after Chizwiz's coming out party will be Erap Estrada's and Jobama Binay's. My source has yet to tell me where the venue of the announcement will be. Hopefully it will not be in Club Filipino again, no offense to Club management. Kaso gasgas na kasi yan. And we all know that Club will always and forever be associated w/ Tita Cory.

But I feel a bit sad for Jobama for hitching his cart to Erap's star. Jobama could have done better. I mean, he could've run for senator instead of getting entangled w/ someone like Erap. He was such a huge success in whipping Makati into shape, so why destroy his reputation by teaming up w/ well, an ex-con? Pardon or no pardon, Erap was still found guilty of plunder. Sayang. Well, accdg. to my source, 'no choice' daw.

(Update 10/10/09: According to this story in the Inquirer, Mr. Estrada is announcing his lineup on Oct. 21 instead.)

3. P300 million! That is the amount that is said to have been agreed on between a Presidentiable and his Vice Presidential running mate. Plus all campaign expenses paid ob chors! So even if VP-to-be loses in terms of votes in 2010, does he care? Of all the VP candidates, he will still, in the end, be the real winner. Retirement hasn't looked this great ey? Congratulations in advance to VP-to-be. (Oy, pa-share naman jan!) Da who?!

4. Local/foreign investment managers and bankers got a taste of how life will be if this Presidentiable wins in 2010. He was a no-show at oh-such-an-important gathering of Asia-Pacific delegates this morning and instead, sent his not-too-brilliant relation to speak on his behalf.

Ob chors, Brainiac spoke of the 2010 elections instead of the topic assigned to Mr. Presidentiable, which is the state of the industry from which he hugely profited. Needless to say, most of the conference participants were aghast bec. they aren't Filipino voters anyway so why was Brainiac sounding as if he was campaigning for Mr. Presidentiable? Ngek! Da who?!?!

(UPDATE) According to my sources, Mr. Presidentiable really has this habit of confirming appointments and events, and then suddenly just not showing up. One pundit calls him 'iwas-pusoy', bec. he has a lot of things to hide. Well, maybe Filipino voters will be a no-show for him as well. Hah.

5. Btw, this same Mr. Presidentiable was seen in Shangri-La Edsa Plaza Hotel only a few weeks ago, going out of his way to shake the hands of everyone he came across, much to their surprise. In contrast, we just heard that the Noynoy-Mar tandem is currently in Bacolod City, and no, the two didn't have to go out of their way to press flesh like Mr. Presidentiable above. Instead, it was the crowds which eagerly shook their hands and kissed them. "Dinumog" is how it was described to me. Just like the old Cory days, I'm told. Well, yahoo!


* * * *
MEANWHILE, this is the third shout out to Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte and Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista. QC residents are upset that to this day, their trash hasn't been picked up by garbage collectors yet. Much of the basura are debris from Typhoon Ondoy w/c passed Metro Manila's way last Sept. 26.

What are these two chief executives of QC doing? Twiddling their thumbs while waiting for another typhoon that will no doubt, spread this uncollected debris around and probably cause even larger floods? Not only that, this is a huge health scare! Can you imagine how many diseases are spread bec. of wet, uncollected garbage? This is incompetence at its highest!

Ey Bistek! You're running for QC mayor next year right? Well if you wanna be sure and win our votes, you better solve this garbage problem like yesterday! (Gee, wasn't life so much easier during Kaluskos Musmos?)

(The Sonny and Bistek show. Photo from Inquirer.net)
(UPDATE 7:15 pm, Oct. 9) The trash in our village is finally being shoveled into dump trucks. But the activity is being done at a time when everyone is rushing home. One street was totally closed off, blocked by a truck, causing a kilometric traffic jam along Visayas Ave. I really don't understand why the trash pickup wasn't done this morning, after the rush hour? As usual, Quezon City Hall officials are the masters of competence and efficiency!

Oras na! Laban na!

Noynoy-MAR 2010!

The ultimate sacrifice

(Sen. Mar Roxas announces his support for Sen. Noynoy Aquino's presidency in 2010 at a press conference in Club Filipino this evening. Photo copyright Stella Arnaldo)

I JUST came home after attending the press conference of Sen. MAR Roxas at the Club Filipino this evening.

Like many who have supported his bid for the presidency in 2010, I feel a tad depressed. I sincerely believed his record as a government official - having been the secretary at the Dept. of Trade and Industry - and the number of legislative bills he has been able to shepherd into laws, speak volumes of his mettle as a leader.

But this evening, he announced that he was bowing down and putting "country above self," and supporting his friend since birth, Sen. Noynoy Aquino, for the latter's bid for the presidency in 2010. Not the one to be insensitive to public sentiment, MAR put aside his own interest to respond to what the citizens want. There was a public clamor for Noynoy, and so MAR stepped aside. And he is a better man for it. This is the ultimate sacrifice for any politician, and harks back to the same sacrifice Doy Laurel made in 1986 when he agreed to run as VP under Cory Aquino.

(Sen. Mar Roxas with Sen. Noynoy Aquino behind him, as the leave the Club Filipino. After Mar finished his speech, Aquino appeared from nowhere and went up to him to shake his hand. This showed everyone that they will be a force to reckon with in 2010. Photo copyright Stella Arnaldo)

MAR has vowed to support Noynoy and stand beside him through this tough race where they are pitted against the "festering evil around us." So it is almost a certainty that it will be a Noynoy-Mar tandem for 2010. While I admit to having certain doubts as to Noynoy's preparedness for the job as president, I have been saying all along that the Opposition must be united in 2010 to fight the common enemy, the Palaka/administration of the presidentita. With Tita Cory's death reawakening the Filipinos' hope for change and getting themselves more involved in the political arena, Noynoy can very well harness this to help him win the presidency next year. And if this is the only way to beat the b**ch, then I am now 100% behind this tandem.

Hopefully, all the other opposition candidates will make the same sacrifice that MAR has made and support this formidable team. They have to come together and chase the evil one out of Malacañang.

And so it begins.

Country Above Self by Sen. Mar Roxas

On grieving

I remember at my own father’s wake a couple of years ago, when someone very close to me saw Pop lying in his coffin. She suddenly freaked out and shrilly complained that his makeup was awful. She then proceeded to have his makeup redone by the mortician. I didn’t notice any difference in how he looked, though. Okay, you had to be there, but I thought that was so laughable it would’ve probably qualified as an episode on Six Feet Under. (Click Something Like Life for the rest.)

The propaganda

(Rep. Romualdez w/ GMA in New York. Photo from the congressman's web site.)

DOESN'T anyone find it strange that Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who supposedly foot the $20,000 Le Cirque tab of the presidentita and her band of loyal sipsips, is nowhere to be found? He's just keeping quiet about the whole affair, which I think is even more incriminating for the presidentita dontcha think?

(Btw, pls. be warned that the "tab" that supposedly has been posted by several bloggers and shared on Facebook is not real. The original post can be found in Manolo Quezon's blog and he clearly says there that it's a "theoretical" tab, an explanation how it could have reached $20,000. So quit posting it guys and stop spreading the disinformation.)

So, people are wondering how Romualdez could afford such a dinner. Well from what I hear, he was a banker and of course, a million pesos is just a drop in the bucket for bankers esp. if they're working for foreign institutions. And well, just read your history books and find out how the family became so wealthy. (Just for your added knowledge, Rep. Romualdez is the son of former Ambassador Benjamin 'Kokoy' Romualdez, a brother of former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos. The congressman is also the younger brother of Benjamin Philip Romualdez, chairman of Benguet Corp. who is married to the Inquirer's Sandy Prieto.)

I wonder what Rep, Romualdez's constituents now feel about him after reading that he spent $20,000 for a lavish dinner for his beloved president? You see, apart from progressive Tacloban, most of the municipalities in the congressman's first district are either 3rd class, 4th class or 5th class municipalities - meaning people there are dirt poor and don't have access to basic services. Imagine how P1 million could've helped his constituents! Tsk, tsk.

(FINAL UPDATE: The Presidentita and her loyal sipsips at dinner. Many have been asking if this is the photo of THE dinner - or dinners, as we are now hearing - at Le Cirque. I just confirmed that it is not bec. NEDA DG Ralph "Ate Vi" Recto, who is at the right of GMA, wasn't part of this last NY trip. As per a source, this is the dining room at the Townhouse, the official residence of our Philippines Permanent Rep. to the UN, Hilario Davide. This was taken sometime in Sept. 2008, when the presidentita made a speech at the UN. Rep. Romualdez is on the far left. I told my source that this room kinda reminds me of the private dining area of the Presidential Suite in Waldorf Astoria. Hmmm...)

In case Malacañang still doesn't get it (and yes, Le Cerge, we know you're just doing your job but you're really just making an A** of yourself doing so), the howls of protest from the citizenry are not about the dinner per se and who paid for it, but how the presidentita (and her loyal sipsips) can sleep soundly at night, having just eaten a costly dinner (about P950,000), when the rest of her kababayan here can't even eat one square meal a day? And pls. don't tell us Le Cerge that nobody among your crew knew how expensive dinner at Le Cirque would be - well maybe YOU don't - but that's exactly why nagkandarapa kayo sumama sa dinner na yan is bec. you know can't afford kayo!

No one is begrudging Mrs. Arroyo her good food and wine on her wedding anniversary at that, and by most accounts, Le Cirque is one of the best fine dining restaurants in New York, but yes, it is all about appearances. The leader of a third world country where most of its citizens earn less than $2 a day seen dining at an expensive restaurant just sends the wrong signals doesn't it? There she was trying to get some bit of good news for her and successful trip, hoping she gets a mention in the foreign media, but she just botches it by dining, unthinking, at Le Cirque. Even NY Post's Richard Johnson knew something was amiss in that picture. Then again, hey, at least she did get a mention in the US media. Oh aren't we all so proud of her!

(The presidentita and her minions sightseeing in LA in 2008. Is that Jaza I see on the right? My, my, we've put on the pounds haven't we? Rep. Romualdez's web site is such a treasure trove for photos documenting the presidentita's moves. We thank him from the bottom of our heart for all these photos.)

* * * *
Now I don't mean to waste your time or bore you w/ text messages. But I just wanted to let you read the kind of propaganda coming from Malacañang, especially in the light of the recent $20,000-dinner at Le Cirque. These are just examples of the kind of poor, inefficient thinking that goes on in the seat of power. And I feel insulted, because man, if this is the kind of sh** we taxpayers are paying for (to defend the presidentita's honor), then I want my money back!

From: 0935-1913-785 (Aug. 10, 5:36 pm): masyado nman sinesensionalays issue bawat galaw GMA. Ganito trabaho oposisyon. dpat linisin bakuran nyo alisin puwing mata b4 magma2linis s sambaynang pilipino

From 0916-9194-270 (Aug. 10, 4: 37 pm): BAKIT SI BINAY PAG PUMUPUNTA SA ABROAD SA JAPAN AT PINAPAKAIN SIYA KOBE BEEF NG MGA JAPON NA NAPAKAMAHAL D SIYA NAG REREKLAMO MAGPAKATOTOO KA NAMAN

From 0905-8381-099 (Aug. 10, 4:37 pm): C MAR ROXAS AT DRILLON DPAT MAHIYA SA LIBING NI PRES. CORY WLANG GINAWA KUNDI PAG HUMIHINTO CORTEGE BUMABABA AT NAKIKIPAGKAMAY S MGA TAO PRA KUMAMPANYA NAKA2HIYA (Me: teka na-late ata tong text na to a. Last week pa ang libing.)

And you don't want to know what Malacañang has been saying about Sen. Noynoy Aquino during the wake of his mother. Out of respect for Tita Cory, I'm not gonna publish it, but imagine how idiotic Malacañang's propaganda machine is, its handlers won't spare anyone, even the son of the deceased president. Tsk, tsk.

Oh and maybe, someone should shut up Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo, who is probably doing even worse explaining the dinner away. Loose lips sink ships.

GMA visits Tita Cory's wake

AS to be expected, it was a bit awkward in the beginning. Sen. Noynoy Aquino was seated about a feet away from the visiting presidentita and you could see that they were waiting for each other to say something. But eventually, I suppose they both found some safe unpolitical items to discuss, and gradually, they warmed up to each other. We'll find out later in the day for sure, what they spoke about.

I had a feeling the presidentita would go straight to the wake upon landing in Manila. It was actually the best time to go. There were not too many people outside who could possibly jeer her. But even if there were crowds, I doubt if they would've disrespected the presidentita. It's just not in our nature to be impolite.

But at least, the ordeal is over and done with, both for the Aquino and Arroyo families. Everyone appeared civil and polite. And so now...exhale...

Meantime, here's the raw footage from ABS-CBN:



(UPDATE 2:29 pm) SORRY guys, the link to ABS-CBN seems to be loopy. I'll try to get a better video for you later. Or try clicking here. Thanks!