Quick Lines

  Recently Microsoft Corporation was attached by electronic bugs, which had been blamed on Russian hackers. However, a few knew just yet that another bugs are becoming more popular in Europe. In London, Horizon Insects , a bug-based restaurant is offering dishes made featuring different bugs, including cricket pizza (uses powder of Acheta domesticus ). The company also distributes beetle beer in Belgium, cricket chips in the Czech Republic, bug burger in Germany.  Welcome to the Bugged World!

SENATE PRESIDENT Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte make it clear that the amendment they are working at doing in the Philippine Constitution will not be doing away with the 40/60 ownership ratio that must be guaranteed for ownership of properties by foreign entities in the country in order to make the law of the land "flexible" to changing business environment. The First Amendment will involve making it possible for the Congress to change the ratio when "warranted." Just what conditions that warrants increasing the foreign ownership ratio in order to be flexible? This opening can end up giving foreigners 90/10 over Philippine properties.

Certain respected lawyers said that in the interest of check and balance in the government, there is no absolute supremacy of one branch of government. And they seem to say--  except for the Supreme Court.

The Impeachment Court subpoenas only the year-end balance of the Corona accounts in the banks. The defense acted as if all the transactions in these accounts will be scrutinized in public. Are the defense counsels voluntering to blow things out of proportion?

Chief Justice Renato Corona said in one of his speeches before his subordinates in the high court that he is not the Supreme Court; that's because the high court decides cases as a group (en banc). Then lately he said that he is a stumbling block to those who do not want the Hacienda Luisita distributed to the farmers. He is saying now that he is the Supreme Court. [Only the Supreme Court deciding banc can be that stumbling block.]

Head of the CJ Corona defense team, Serafin Cuevas, admitted in Philippine Daily Inquirer that “If only they (senator-judges) let the prosecution ask questions, those documents (SALNs) would not have been disclosed." This is tantamount to an admission that the Corona defense refused to hand to the Impeachment Court that SALNs, and had to be forced by the Court to make that happen. So much the truthful in lawyering.

Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos of Butuan admitted on 6 July 2011 that he received an SUV worth P1.7 million as a birthday gift by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through the PCSO. He blamed current president Simeon S. Aquino III for the "unnecessary trouble he is now in." Happy birthday, Bishop!!! From the PCSO.

American rapper 50 Cents continued to attack Pambansang Kamao Manny Pacquiao in Twitter on recycled and outdated charges on steroids while praising his friend and now legally in trouble Floyd Mayweather. 50 Cents is just being his nature and perhaps sole talent--a rapper--and is just rapping with envy at Pacman.

In an obvious bid to hang on to an appointed position without the blessings of the President, Commission on Audit Chairman Reynaldo Villar said in an interview that his term will expire 2015. And Malacañang clarified that his appointment paper stated it clearly that it ends on 2 February 2011. One nature of sticky lizards is: They want to stick into a position to the death. You will know the family when you see one. [A person who recognizes and respects the appointing office of the president will not think twice to step down for delicadeza . The position is appointive in the first place, with or without papers from the previous president.] (Photo courtesy of Malaya )

Queensland, Australia-resident Ric Marino told ANC of a cyclone category 5. He said: "Once people hear there's a categor 5 cycle, they shop excessively. When we go to the shopping centeres, there are many empty shelves. A retailer worth his mettle will have to ask Marino this question: "Is there a way Australia can manufacture Cyclone Category 5 and send it to the Philippines at least once a month?"

ANC 24/7 reported that political satirist Mae Paner, known as "Juana Change," is venting her ire in Twitter on PNoy's recent purchase of a second-hand Porsche using his personal money. Had she tried to outbid PNoy on the Porsche but missed it? Or, she simply took herself very seriously this time.

A news report in the Manila Standard Today on 28 January 2011 goes: "Despite Wild, Wild West image, tourism up 17%." The Koreans topped the list, followed by the Americans, then the Japanese and fourthly China. The doomsayers in tourism simply forget that the Koreans and the Americans alone love Clint Eastwood movies.

Supporting the opposition that wood processors and foresters made against moves in Malacañang and the Senate to impose total log ban in the Philippines, former president of the Society of Filipino Foresters Inc., Ricardo Umali issued a statement that "a total logging ban will not necessarily stop nor even minimize flooding, mud flows and landslides altogether." Is he saying that more logging will?

Allies of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in particular Albay representative Edcel Lagman and Zambales congresswoman Mitos Magsaysay, raised a hell of noise after an improvised bomb left inside a bus exploded in Makati and killed 5 people and hurt 13. Should they have shouted much louder when criminality ran amock with 502,665 in 2009 under the Arroyo administration (in 2010 it dropped to 296,059 cases)? Hell of a noise! Or is simply, it is noisy in Hell.

Former COA Chairman Guillermo Carague denied having known former COA auditor Heide Mendoza who assisted in the Ombudsman probe against former AFP comptroller Carlos Garcia. He said he simply sent people when then Ombudsman Chief Marcelo called him to send people to help in the investigation. He even sent Garcia lawyer a letter stating he did not permit Mendoza to conduct an investigation. "I don't even know that happened," he said in an ABS-CBN News report . Of all he forgot, Carague could have said: "COA Chief? Who? Me?" 

Kabataan Party-list representative Raymond Palatino complained that PNoy was being insensitive for selling his old car and buy a Porsche 911 Turbo sports car at a discounted price, even while using his own money and not the people's. Is Palatino saying that PNoy be sensitive to the Congressman's need too? Sana paki-share naman.