Angels and demons
HIGH Noon came and went last Friday, the last day of filing of CoC, but Rodrigo Duterte was no show.
LP standard bearer Mar Roxas bade Duterte fare thee well and Malacañang said it respects the decision of the Davao City mayor not to seek the presidency. Not to be outdone, VP Jejomar Binay said Duterte’s absence is a big loss in the 2016 presidential race because he is a great example, a role model of a good executive.
(The real sentiments of the rivals, under deep breath, is, “Whew!”)
The only presidential aspirant who was unfazed by whether the nononsense Davao mayor would run or not was Grace Poe. (But we have not been hearing much of her recently. Is she a star or shooting star?)
There is no truth to the rumor that Duterte backed off when he got word that Miriam Defensor Santiago filed her CoC for president.
Hizzoner Erap is running for re-election as mayor of Manila – forgetting his promise to be a one-term mayor only, as well as his threat to run for president in case either VP Binay or Senator Grace Poe is disqualified.
With Erap, 78, and Alfredo Lim, 85, running for office, that makes the third candidate Amado Bagatsing the “new kid in the block.”
RUNNING UNOPPOSED. As soon as the filing of CoCs was over in Mindanao, victory was declared by those running unopposed. In the newly created province of Davao Occidental, five members of the Bautista clan are sure to take the new province’s top posts because no challenge came forward.
Davao del Sur Gov. Claude Bautista will be Davao Occidental’s first governor after he decided to run in the newly created province instead of seeking reelection. His elder brother and author of the law creating Davao Occidental, Representative Franklin of the first district of Davao del Sur, is also assured as the province’s first vice governor; elder sister Lorna Bandigan will be the representative of the lone district of Davao Occidental; and nephew Bradley Bautista will replace his uncle Joseph Bautista as mayor of Malita.
Claude said the absence of opponents manifests the trust that the Bautista clan enjoys among voters. “Prudence is the better part of valor” — maxim.
ON THE SIDE OF ANGELS. Fans of Heidi Mendoza who want her for the Senate will have to wait for 2022. She will serve a five-year term as undersecretary general of the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS). The tough-as-nails auditor discovered a wholesale can of worms in the Philippine Air Force and threatened to ride Lady Godiva is she could not prove it.
Also running unopposed in Parañaque are reelectionists Mayor Edwin Olivarez and his brother Eric Olivarez, representative of the 1st district of Parañaque. Both brothers have the track record which have endeared them to their constituents. Moreover, they have the pedigree of their father, former Mayor Dr. Pablo Olivarez, who taught them to work in the salt mines instead of leaving Paranaque on the salt beds.
Contesting the congressional seat for 2nd district of Parañaque are Roilo Golez (independent) and reelectionist Gus Tambunting of UNA. Golez was former congressman and in previous incarnation was our Chief Postman who made PhilPost deliver your mail without the private padala system. Tambunting is reelectionist and son of former screen actress Mila del Sol.
FEEDBACK. Reacting to this column’s account last week about a sanitized men’s magazine, Dr. Franz Sefcsik of Mensa International Austria wrote that the European Playboy, like the European version of Hollywood movies, is not influenced by parental guidance:
“Your report that Playboy is changing the format of photos isn’t reflected in the German edition. Obviously Marlboro country USA is like the Philippines – not too much naked flesh.
“One of the topics in a Viennese newspaper has a strong connection to the Philippines. The daily “Österreich” headlined “Our Playboy stays stark naked,” with photos and story of former and recent Playmates of the local architect, society lion, and shopping mall magnate Richard Lugner. Last year, the 83-year-old Lugner (like 83-year-old Hugh Hefner) married the blonde German Cathy Schmidt. Before that, his Playmate was Nina “Bambi” Bruckner, (a halfPinay, whose mother is a native of Iligan City who married Wolfgang Bruckner of Sankt Pölten.).
“If your wife allows, see the attached photos ….of course only for professional reasons (lol).” FEEDBACK: joseabetozaide@gmail.com