SONA, PNoy Style: The “Wang Wang” Speech
Isang pagbati kay Pangulong Aquino sa kanyang makasaysayang talumpati tungkol sa Wang Wang sa gobyerno. Katulad ng dati, tiyak na maraming mga diplomats ang napakamot ng ulo, dahil sa paulit-ulit na pagbanggit ng “wang wang” – 20 beses ayon sa isang komentarista sa radyo. What’s that, mate? Is that even a word, that “wang wang”? Sabay kamot ulit sa ulo. Malinaw na si PNoy ang audience palagi ay ang mga Pinoy, kasi nga tayo ang boss niya. Straight-shooter si PNoy. Kitam ito sa kanyang mabilis na delivery. Ramdam ito sa bawat salita. Mas gusto ko ang SONA 2 sa SONA 1 dahil pinapakitang komportable na si PNoy sa kanyang kinalalagyan, mas kilala na niya ang sarili bilang taga-pamuno ng bansa. Kung baga, ‘yung...
The Japan Disaster: Quake, Tsunami + Leaky Nuclear Reactor
“Hello Toots. I’m ok but shaken and scared. Aftershocks still continuing.” I was relieved to get that SMS minutes after the Japan quake story broke from my classmate, Arlene Donaire, who had relocated to Japan around three months ago. Another friend, Cora Guidote, is still in Tokyo waiting for a flight back to Manila. Thankfully, they are both safe. According to the DFA, there are around 1,000 Filipinos in Miyagi which is near the epicenter of the 8.9 quake. Around 5,000 Filipinos would be living in the tsunami-affected. I was surprised to learn that we have close to 300,000 citizens in Japan. That number is much more than the population of the entire first district of Bulacan. Philippine Ambassador Manolo Lopez faces a daunting...
Our funny house
I live in a townhouse that is part of a bigger subdivision in Pasig City. Built in the 80′s, our unit has three big rooms upstairs and a huge living room facing the compound’s garden. But like its residents, our house is getting on in years. For the past several days, we find ourselves blanketed in darkness, while our neighbors along the townhouse row sparkle with electric energy. My first thought when our little black-out happened was, “Oh no! Did we pay our electric bill?” Thankfully, we did – but which leads to further cause to worry. “If we weren’t cut off by Meralco, then why the heck don’t we have electricity?” It was a mystery even for house expert and constant companion Fort Jose. A Meralco...
Dear Secretary Edwin Lacierda
This is an open letter to Secretary Edwin Lacierda. I wrote this right after reading about his comment on the appeal from ABS-CBN employees to P.Noy. Full disclosure — I did meet with the disgruntled employees of ABS-CBN and I believe that they do have valid grievances. Dear Secretary Lacierda, I realize that you are new to the job. As presidential spokesman, every word you utter in an official capacity (and sometimes even in informal discussions) are no longer yours – but that of the President. It doesn’t help that the Office of the Communications Director has become almost a weekly zarzuela with similarities to the daily crossword’s neighbor: “Spot the Difference.” I write not to add to your woes but to share some...
Susan “Toots” Ople
My friends call me Toots. Am the youngest of seven siblings. Our family hails from the coastal town of Hagonoy, Bulacan and we are proud of our roots. My daughter's name is Estelle and she's a brilliant debater/person. I love dogs! And I enjoy writing in the dead of the night.
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