The shameless showdown in the Senate between Senator Nancy Binay and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is one reason why the Filipino people should not give the nod for the construction of a new Senate building.
These Senators don’t deserve it. And I mean all of them. Imagine, P23 billion of the people’s money just so we can make it comfortable for them.
Nope. They are public servants not public masters. It is enough that these legislators take advantage of the budgetary allocations for projects for the country.
But what really is the need for a new edifice? If it’s only to bloat the already bloated egos of our Senators, then no thanks. The gigantic building in Taguig City is a waste of people’s money and is not appropriate to build at this time.
Imagine how many public libraries can be constructed with that money? Not to mention the government can easily purchase books and ask for book donations from other countries.
This way, we serve the greater population of the country instead of just the whims and caprices of twenty-four spoiled leeches.
But it’s a good thing Senate President Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero has suspended work on the building until such time that things have been cleared. I hope such matters are brought before the people as well, for after all, that’s people’s money in the form of taxes which is again being utilized.
As for that verbal tussle between Binay and Cayetano, the former should go ahead and file that ethics complaint and penalize him for his unruly, ‘palengkera’ behavior so unbecoming of a sitting Senator of the Republic. Cayetano called Binay a “Marites” and a “buang,” alluding to a rumormonger because Binay was putting up for question that P23 billion price tag on the Senate’s new place in Taguig, a Cayetano turf.
Such a behavior is uncalled for especially from one being a senior member of the Senate.
As for Senator Robinhood Padilla, maybe we can ask him how the food was?
Ban the Boss Ironman challenge
The Boss (BMW Owners Society of Saferiders) Ironman Motorcycle Challenge should be put to a definite halt and the venue should not be on public conveyances any longer.
They should instead hold their competitions at designated racetracks, but this means their mobility will be curtailed. I understand their dilemma, but the lives of people are at stake here.
What was supposed to be a tourism promo via motorcycles has now turned into a dangerous event for both the motorcyclist and the bystander.
As a former big biker myself having experienced the thrill and joy of a bike with a 1000cc engine, I can very well relate to the temptation of gunning that big bike to high rev levels.
So, the BOSS Ironman Challenge is a race for time, and of course the riders will be revving their engines to get to their destination, many times forgetting safety and focusing on the time. It’s called over speeding.
Plus the fact that if citing a “tourism component,” then how does one connect it to tourism when the riders are really just focused on time and not the places they can see?
Can you imagine the traffic nightmare when one has to cater to say 2,000 big bikes entering small towns?
Methinks the nomenclature ‘’BOSS” is a misnomer because of the word “saferiders” who really just over speed on our highways. So where is the safety component there?
I say ban it for good if it cannot be conducted on racetracks.
PBBM’s impressive track record
It is still so tiring to have to hear over and over again about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. having to apologize (on behalf of his father) for the declaration of Martial Law in the country.
PBBM was in the UK when it was declared in 1972. He was 15 years old and was probably concerned more about trying to get tickets for a Rolling Stones concert.
But the current President has said that he is ready to be judged by the people based on his own actions and not on the actions of his late father.
As it is, he does have an impressive track record: Three years as Vice-Governor of Ilocos Norte, twelve years as Governor of Ilocos Norte, six years as Congressman of the 2nd District of Ilocos Norte, and six years as Senator of the Republic.
But now that he is President for the next six years, it is expected that he will perform even much better.
Notice how the Duterte supporters are too eager to do anything to try to discredit the current Marcos administration still with the alleged ‘polvoron’ video, but to this very day they have not come out with it.
I guess they have realized that even an Artificial Intelligence (AI) product would not be convincing enough to fool everyone.
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Random Memorandum: Marston mats were steel matting material developed by the Americans for rapid construction of temporary runways and landing strips. They were left in the country by US forces after WW2. Eventually, they were used by Filipinos as fences for their homes.
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Factoid: The municipality of Buguey, Cagayan Province is the “crab capital of the Philippines,” while Iguig, Cagayan Province is the “pottery capital” because of the town’s high-quality clay.
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Update: My upcoming radio program ‘Leslie Bocobo Live’ with CEZA Administrator and CEO Secretary Katrina Ponce Enrile which will be aired via government station Radyo Pilipinas 738 KHz AM is still in the planning stage but will be aired soon every Thursday from 1:00 – 2:00 in the afternoon. It will be livestreamed on Facebook.
(Leslie Bocobo is a former Special Assistant to the Secretary at the Office of the Press Secretary, Malacañang, and a former Public Affairs Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources)
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