On metes, bounds, and meanders
INTERPELLATING his colleague Senator Risa Hontiveros, Senate President Tito Sotto tried to inject levity by suggesting, What if the sexual overtones or advances of a man to a woman is only a joke? The Lady Senator was not amused: “Biru-biroan simula, iyon pala’y totoo…!”
Asked afterward about the firestorm his remarks had generated, Senator Sotto took the high ground and said he had no time “to pay attention to judgmental people.”
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Prudence being the better part of valor, PDu30 will send a team composed of Cabinet members instead of warships to secure the release of two Filipino workers kidnapped by an armed group in Libya.
The President formed a high-level task force led by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, with Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Concerns Abdullah Mamao, and Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Datu Abul Khayr Alonto. Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. did not say if the high-level delegation will take the place of the Filipino and Korean hostages.
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Gary Lising wondered if it was only a slip of the tongue of the announcer who declared the young Slovenian composer Leon Firšt (born 1994) as the grand prize winner of the Banaue International Music Competition (BIMCC). Firšt’s composition, “The Story of Ifugao,” was adjudged winner at the finals ceremonies at CCP last July 26, when the compositions of the 10 finalists were performed by the Tofarm Festival Orchestra under the baton of Josefino “Chino” Toledo. Runners-up were Alessandra Salvati (Italy) and Jem Robert Talaroc (Philippines), with their entries titled “Hudhud” and “Kabunyan,” respectively. Firšt received $12,000; Salvati and Talaroc each received $6,000. The 10 finalists were shortlisted from 20 semifinalists from 10 countries. A total of 84 entries from all over the world were submitted.
The contest was organized and funded by Universal Harvesters, Inc., to raise awareness on the need to restore and conserve the Philippine Rice Terraces in the Cordilleras, inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. BIMCC was also organized under the auspices of the municipality of Banaue, the Banaue Rice Terraces Restoration Project, and Tofarm Search and Award.
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Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) unit NLEX Corp. said it may begin the construction of the NLEXSLEX connector road project only in the first quarter of next year due to unforeseen delays in right-of-way (ROW) acquisitions.
It has become a challenge because of exponential land prices. ROW acquisition is a responsibility of the DPWH. If the company can start construction early next year, it can complete the project by the end of 2021. At a cost of 123.3 billion, the NLEX-SLEX eightkilometer connector road and elevated four-lane toll expressway will extend the NLEX southward from Caloocan City to PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila, and connect to the Skyway Stage 3, traversing the Philippine National Railways’ tracks, with two interchanges at C3 Road in Caloocan and España.
The project is touted by Public Works Secretary Mark Villar as the dream infrastructure solution to decongest Metro Manila, stimulate development in Manila, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and surrounding areas, relieve 35,000 harried motorists daily, and cut travel time from SLEX to NLEX from two hours to 20 minutes and the Clark to Calamba connection from three hours to one hour and 40 minutes.
Seeing all the wonders it would bring, this should be high priority in the PDu30 administration’s to-do list.
* * * Responding to popular demand, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is sending the core of the Rain or Shine team, reinforced with some selection, as the Philippine basketball team to the Asian Games, which opens in two weeks in Jakarta. On happenstance, we pulled out of a hat a fine selection to replace the original Pilipinas Gilas team which (except for three who kept out of harm’s way), was universally disqualified for the basketbrawl with the Australian team. (The original Pilipinas Gilas was supposed to avenge at home court its earlier loss to Australia, but seemed distracted from their original game plan.)
Coach Yeng Guia subs for Chot Reyes, who is similarly serving time in the penalty box. Notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, we hope our team can gel and do us proud.
* * * As we go to press, we still don’t know the results of our Under-19 Gilas Pilipinas vs the Emu Australia in the semifinals match in Thailand. The two teams won in their respective division; and the odds makers favor the Aussies. At an earlier U16 selection match in China, our team also got a drubbing from Team Down Under. But this is another time on another day in another place. Hope springs eternal; because our young players have matured to sustain their focus and attention and especially in keeping the game within the bounds of basketball. FEEDBACK: