WAR AGAINST THE ABU SAYYAF

The ongoing military offensive in the Southern Philippines has raised the hackles of the Catholic Church and various groups, saying that peace negotiations are still a better alternative. Basilan Catholic Bishop Martin Jumoad said that the deaths of 15 marines and 40 rebels in the battle to take an Abu Sayyaf stronghold in the remote Basilan town of Ungkaya Pukan were a waste of life and that the bloodbath should come to an end.

TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE ON EDSA

At least four times a week, I travel along EDSA avenue from my home in Mandaluyong to my office in Pasay City and back again. Ever so often and whenever I have a little extra money jingling in my pocket, I take a taxi cab. I take the seat beside the driver and endure a constant stream of complaints on my way to my destination, usually punctuated by curses at the public buses that recklessly swerve in front in a bid to outdo its other bus competitors. I could only nod with bated breath as the buses swerve inches away from my side of the cab.

THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALOOCAN

I saw on television earlier the oath taking of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in Caloocan, who was joined by Senator Rodolfo Biazon and other local politicians. In the midst of the celebration, Trillanes did not waste time in saying what he thought of Senatorial aspirant Miguel Zubiri. “I wouldn’t want a cheat to join me in the Senate”, Trillanes calmly said to ANC anchor Pinky Webb. “I believe Congressman Zubiri knows deep in his heart that he benefited from cheating. If he is decent enough, he wouldn’t accept, because that is not something you want your kids to emulate.”

WHO WILL BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT?

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s term will end by 2010 and people are already speculating who the next president would be. The recently concluded national elections provided us a preview of what the presidential candidate landscape could look like 3 years from now.