Impulses
Street kotongs
Auxiliary personnel in the streets should be true to their oath, if they have (or understand) such.
One time, I got a chance to take the front seat of a passenger jeep. A blue-shirted person sat beside me, and suddenly a 10-peso bill was handed over to him by the driver. Then he left, as if nothing happened. Then, out of nowhere, the driver whined and said to me "daw garapalan na guid ya, pigado na guid gani ang pasahe tapos may mga buaya pa nga nagapanghuthot sa amun. Kita mu to ‘noy, damu pa na sila diri."
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This has been a common, hour-by-hour complain among jeepney drivers. Yes, these auxiliary people have below-the-minimum-wage salaries, but that doesn't give them the right to extort, among others.
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I was amazed to see that these street semi-cops are on the busy roads of JM Basa, Iznart, Ledesma and Bonifacio Drive (but not limited to these streets) beyond their duty hours on a daily basis. I first thought that this is something great, something to be commended. But the disgruntled driver told me that these traffic men are just out there to do "collections," just like what I have just witnessed.
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I am beginning to believe this side of the story for I have seen a lot of rags-to-riches tales among the pseudo-traffic enforcers. With a salary of only about P3,000 a month, some of them were able to buy motorcycles with monthly payments of more than P5000! This plus new set of appliances at home, traffic gears, and a lifestyle way beyond a regular teacher can afford. If you do simple math, that would be very difficult to reconcile.
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And to think that we are just talking about auxiliary policemen, I can't imagine how easy life is for some horned, bellied policemen in the force.
And you call them law enforcers? What a shame!
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After the successful PIA Basic Journalism Seminar-Workshop held late last month, DepEd and the Regional English Circle now plan to have their own Golden Pen Awards this early September. This time, however, the registration fee is relatively cheaper.
We just hope that the organizers will make it well thought-of this year, especially in the accommodation, the speakers, and the scheduling of the activities.
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Clip 1: Not-so-uncanny member of the drug syndicate aristocracy, Jose Kim Cuadra aka Boy Cuadra, is now behind bars for good after being sentenced to life imprisonment by the RTC.
Clip 2: Special police station in the drug-infested Waterfront area is to be phased out.
One step backward, two steps forward for illegal drugs.
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The Bank of Makati Iloilo (Iznart) Branch invites all the Ilonggo depositors and loaning clients to invest their money or businesses in the country's wealthiest rural bank. Mrs. Julie Ann Jaranilla, the bank manager and my unassuming, stimulating teacher in my MBA class, says they are more than ready to serve the Ilonggo community.
I hope she'll give me a 1.0 grade for this.
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Almost half of the college students in Western Visayas are either in to medical or education-related courses, according to Ched.
This makes sense to me. Both courses are in demand overseas. Is that what relevant education is all about DepEd Sec. Lapus?
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Mayor Jerry Treñas, in his speech of support to the on-going Ateneo de Iloilo project, said that Metro Iloilo now includes the whole island of Guimaras and the town of Santa Barbara, the home of the " Airport of International Standards ."
The quick-fix and long-term plans? No news yet.
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Bombo-RMN tension is as hot as nuclear fusion.
For a while, it entertains me. But it is fast becoming a litany of mudslinging, innuendos, and emotional tirades. The defensive mode of the Kasama people is explicable, to say the least. Bombo's offensives, on the other hand, are simply being Bombo--no-holds-barred, sometimes seemingly overboard radio commentaries.
For whatever its worth, a co-teacher of mine says, "this airwave skirmish should end." Roger on that.
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Newsflash! For the first time in a decade perhaps, I got scared with a Philippine horror movie!
There's something about "Sukob" that made be mummified, petrified and stupefied. That something I have been trying to put into words in naught for days.
I think there are things that should be left unexplained. "Sukob" is a good example. Just watch it and you'll see.
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The US gave a P1.1 billion grant to the Philippines in support to curb graft and corruption in the country.
Who will keep, allot, spend, record, and account the $21 million grant?
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Former Iloilo Chinese Commercial High School standout Ken Bono, who is now the marquee player of Adamson University, has topped the statistical race in the first round of the UAAP men's basketball tourney.
This 6-foot-5 Ilonggo player is starting to become another James Yap in the making.
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A lot of NPA cadres were said to be injured a 30-minute gunfight against rival RPA-ABB in the crags of Negros Occidental province Tuesday morning.
Nature works. When same poles meet, they repel (better yet kill) each other, indeed.
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August 21 is a "Ninoy Aquino Day," a special non-working holiday, in case some kids are not aware of it. I wonder how many youngsters today know who Ninoy is.
Your guess is as good as mine.
(Engr. Herman M. Lagon is a physics teacher of Ateneo de Iloilo. He can be reached through h_lagon@yahoo.com.)