MABUNGAHONG BAG-ONG TUIG 2009 KANINYONG TANAN! – GIKAN SA RURAL URBAN NEWS

ITSA PWERA
Ni Cha Monforte

2009 Year of the Ox

Tuig sa Baka ang 2009. Kini base sa Chinese calendar. Daghang ineglish nga ngalan sa baka. Papyular na kanato ang cow. Ang klase sa baka nga kasagaran ginagamit pangtrabaho sa uma o pangkargada gitawag nga ox. Bull ang tawag sa lalake nga baka, ug ang baye nga baka nga nakaanak ug sobra duha gitawag nga cow. Stag o bullock ang mangton lake nga gikapon na. Way pili ta, bisag unsa, lami kan-on ang baka!
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Matud pa sa usa ka astrologer, ang ox usa ka simbolo sa pag-asenso o pagkaadunahan pinaagi sa grabeng pagtrabaho ug pagkamaayo. Sama sa ox nga baka, sa sunod tuig, moasenso ang tawong pasensyoso, kalmado, malinawon ug hilom samtang way puas ug way angal sa pagpatulo ug singot. Gwapo kini nga mga hiyas alang sa atong mga politikasan sa gobyerno.
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May 12 ka ngalan sa mga hayop ang Chinese calendar ug mobalik-balik kani kada dose ka tuig. Tama ra pod nga Year of the Ox ang 2009 kay seguro kining mga hiyas ang gikinahanglan natong tanan sa pag-abot sa epekto sa pangkalibutanong krisis pinansyal. Modagsa na balik sa atong mga probinsya ug kalungsuran ang atong mga igsoong OFW kay mawad-an na ug trabaho sa 2009. Morag wa pay preparasyon atong mga lokal nga opisyales aning problemaha.
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Morag maayo ang mahumanay na nga Year of the Rat sa 2008 kay misikat ang nasud tungod sa mga kadaugan sa atong people’s champ, boxing icon Manny Pacquaio, ug sa pagkunhod sa pletehan ug sa presyo sa gasolina ug krudo apil na ang atong bugas. Apan di ba karon pod tuiga mitaas ang mga presyo ning mga produktoha? Morag balik lang sa normal ang pagpaubos sa mga presyo.
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May na lang may duha ka beses nga may fare rollback sa syudad sa Davao ug Tagum. Sa Davao City, human sa pagtaas sa pletehan, may duha ka 50 centavos nga pagpaubos sa pletehan, ug sa Tagum City may duha pod ka tag P1 nga fare rollback. Dako man gud ang nasugdan sa Tagum gikan sa tag P7 paingon sa tag P10 nga minimum nga pletehan. Karong Enero 2, balik na sa tag P7 ang pletehan sa Tagum.
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Apan sa umaabot nga pagbalik sa P7 nga pletehan sa Tagum, kagahapong adlawa, hapit na mopaubos sa menus P30 ang presyo sa gasolina matag litro ug kung kini mokunhod pa sulod sa bracket nga P20 paingon sa P29.99 matag litro, nagpasabot nga tungod may flexi-fare ordinance sa syudad, ang pletehan sa Tagum mahimo nang tag P6. Gwapo gayud ning flexi-fare ordinance sundon sa ubang dapit kay kini makamasa man gud nga lokal nga palisiya.
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Para di magkagubot sa Tagum bahin sa pletehan, maayo segurong mobutang ang City Hall ug mga electronic billboard nga may pulang suga ug letrang: “TRICYCLE FARE TODAY: P7”. Sama kani sa mamalitay ug kopras nga may anunsyong, “COPRA PRICE TODAY: P__ PER KILO”.
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Ang flexi-fare ordinance man gud sa Tagum naglagda nga ang pletehan sa tricycle, ang moda sa transportasyon sa syudad, nagadepende sa presyo sa gasolina. Kung motaas kini, di motaas pod ang pletehan, kung mokunhod, di moubos pod ang pletehan nga wa na manginahanglan ug public hearing ug pagsubay sa taas nga proseso sa paghimo ug ordinansa sa bag-ong pletehan.
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Daghang mga party ug overnight sa dagat human sa Pasko. Sa Comval mainland nga way dagat, daghang miadto nangaligo sa beaches sa Comval coastal towns- Maco, Mabini ug Pantukan (ang opposition country sa mga national candidates kay midaug man si Fernando Poe Jr. niadtong 2004 nga piniliay ug mga opposition senatorial candidates sa 2007 piniliay).  Tinoud, ang katawhang way dagat angayan gayud nga makaligo sa dagat bisag kausa sa usa ka tuig. Sa kapanahonan sa Pasko gayud kani kanunayng mahitabo…..Mabuhay ang mga civilian barangay police sa poblacion Nabunturan sa ilang foundation day sa panguna ni barangay kagawad Conie. Nag-overnight ligo, Xmas party pod sila sa dagat sa Samal niadtong Sabado ug Dominggo aron preparadong mosugat sa pagboluntaryo na usab alang sa kalinaw sa Bag-ong Tuig 2009!
MGA TEXT REAKSYON SA MIAGING KOLUM: Kabahin sa Movement for Good Governance (MGG)- “nganong si joe almonte man gyud? politiko gihapon na cya, kanang wala unta manggikan sa gobyerno?” – magdadaro sa comval 09216313174…. “taga poblacion tagbina, surigao del sur ko ug gusto q magpamiyembro sa MGG”- junesio baclado 09059246687.
(Alang sa inyong mga reaksyon ug komentaryo, mo-text lang sa 09069104553 o mag-email sa chamonforte@yahoo.com)

NEWS: Duterte to formally announce when to retire soon

Sara to serve as mayor before 2010 polls

dec 23

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has clarified yesterday on his earlier statement that he would hand in the reins of mayorship to his daughter Vice Mayor Sara Duterte before his current term will end.

He said that he would soon make a formal announcement on his planned retirement that would cut his current term citing that due to his age he wanted to rest.

In a talk with city’s members of the press yesterday, the mayor said that he would not just go out from the city in the days following his retirement.

But he added his plan of retiring is depending yet on the state of things in the city saying that he wanted that the peace and order situation in the city would remain to be fully secured before he would have Sara served as mayor to complete the rest of his current term, a radio report said.

The mayor’s statement though has fueled anew speculations that he is preparing Sara for her mayoral bid in 2010 polls.

Duterte is now on his last term.

Under a provision of the Local Government Code, current local elected officials would end their term on June 30, 2010 following the May 2010 polls. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News)

OPINION: The three-corner fight for Comval gov scenario

BLOGISTA
By Cha Monforte

It’s likely that the national opposition will have again a split with the reported plan of Erap to run for President in tandem with Senator Loren Legarda for Vice President. If Erap does,  Senator Manny Villar and Senator Roxas will most likely do the same, being also today’s front-running presidential bets from the opposition.  Just like Davao del Norte Boardmember Roger “Dangpanan” Israel and Comval Vice Gov. Ramil Gentugaya, “it’s now or never” for them not to vie for President (for congressman for Dangpanan and Ramil).

Local politicians know well that if three or more parties tangle in elections in the national level, provincial and municipal levels take similar if not the same political transfigurations. Lakas party in Comval despite its much-ballyhoed unity as far as its drum-beaters are concerned is still standing on so fragile grounds with the still unsettled Ramil-Maricar row over the standard-bearer issue for the post that last-termer Cong, Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora is finishing at present. Meantime, January is fast approaching when the Lakas-Comval honchos will announce who should be the choice between Way Kurat’s daughter Maricar and Ramil, son of known big businesswoman in Comval mainland.

With this potential opposition configuration of having at least 2 opposition wings against 1 Lakas candidate, there’s that earlier report that the province’s potential gubernatorial bets would be three- reelectionist incumbent Gov. Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy, Cong. Way Kurat and former Gov. Jose “Joecab” Caballero.

The report said that Cong. Way Kurat, for being a tested administration ally when he delivered over 13,000 votes’ margin to President Arroyo over Fernando Poe in his home district in 2004 polls and voted hell and water to contribute in killing the impeachment bids of the opposition could potentially get the Palace backing if he decides to run for governor. It said that when it comes to the protecting the Palace’s national interests, the GMA’s advisers would go for a tested ally who could deliver and secure the votes for the administration candidates. But that’s also if Ramil, a kin by the Chinese blood of the governor, gets the choice as standard-bearer for the Lakas District 1 congressional post. Naughty pundits now say that in that scenario it’s Way Kurat who’ll break the so-called Lakas unity.

We don’t wish for that to happen as it would open a floodgate for Joecab to run for governor. That’s self-explanatory: when Lakas political gods and fans are divided, Joecab might win.
Although really a three-corner gubernatorial fight is worth watching and most exciting given that Uy has logistical and administration advantages, Cong. Way Kurat is a most popular Comval politician now and gimmick-savvy, while Joecab is still a maverick, charismatic politician, this scenario is not likely to happen in the event that Cong Way Kurat will make true his earlier political gambit – of retiring from politics to concentrate as the Lakas provincial campaign manager. Well, there seems to be that Big If- that is if Maricar gets January’s choice of becoming the Lakas congressional standard-bearer. In this scenario, provincial elder-statesman Pros Amatong will most probably gravitate towards Cong. Way Kurat for governor, pundits say.

Meantime, the regional Lakas boss Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario, one tested Lakas partyman and Malacanang’s player, would also gravitate towards a Way Kurat gubernatorial candidacy if the home scene in Tagum City is spoiled on the scenario that City Mayor Rey Uy, the governor’s brother, has something in his cards for the good of his own city turf that won’t jibe with the cards of Gov. RDR.

Again, we don’t wish for this to happen as it’s easy for Lakas-Kampi local bets to win under a unified ticket, that is if a strong local opposition will not emerge from the boondocks out from the splintering of the national opposition. But this would never happen as there are really local opposition contenders, chief among them are the Lakas shoved-outs, jumpshippers and Kampi out campers who would have at least two opposition parties waiting for their ride. When people rue for victory of national opposition bets in 2010 egged out by the corruption scandals under the Arroyo administration, gee, there’s still that exciting political scenario in Davao del Norte and Comval by 2010. And we’re only 9 days to go before the electoral year 2009 sets in.

Happy Holidays! (For online edition, visit my blog at: https://cha4t.wordpress.com, for comments and reactions, e-mail: chamonforte@yahoo.com)

OPINION: Like copra price today

BLOGISTA
By Cha Monforte

dec 22

If Tagum’s flexi-fare ordinance will be followed to the liter, err letter, the fare cut of P7 should have been effected sometime a month ago. On Saturday, Mayor Rey Uy and the City Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board officers led by Atty. Roland Tumanda agreed in a meeting to effect the P7 minimum fare from the latest P8 by January 2. That’s still within the Holiday and classes will resume by January 5, Monday. It’s good enough and it’s still one big Christmas gift for Tagumenyos.

The flexi-fare ordinance is now showing to be novel piece of legislation that relates with the changes of the world, particularly the international oil price that has been affecting Filpinos since then. Tagumenyos are also worth for their due if oil prices are falling. It’s a legislation with built-in reflex mechanism adjustible to the workings of the market.

It appears now that the City Hall is putting up sort of implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the flexi-fare ordinance. While it chooses the CTFRB as the fare setter, the chief executive being the man on top of all City Hall layers and bodies has the final say and Saturday’s meeting is right process, to consult also the affected sector, the pedicabbers. After that, the corresponding CTFRB board resolution is a foregone conclusion to legally implement the second fare cut. What about the habal-habals? They have been adjusting by P2 to P5 over the tricycle fare in the two fare movements. When the tricycle fare was increased to P10 from P7, habal-habal drivers also increased and collected P15 from their usual P10. Today’s P8 fare is countered by habal-habal fare of P10. Sineswerte talaga ang mga colorum habal-habals. But it seems the usual market force determines the habal-habal fare rates in the city.

Without the de facto IRR on the flexi-fare ordinance, the order of the day under this flexible regime could be riotous. Fare decrease or increase isn’t automatically dependent on current gasoline rates after all. But such could be remedied possibly if the City Hall mounts electronic billboard in strategic corners in the city informing the current gasoline prices and the price average as a yardstick, as well as the City Hall-set tricycle fare. I don’t know if the jacking up of crude and gasoline prices in gas stations in the city above the levels in Panabo and Davao City has been addressed already by Councilor Mylene Baura. Or her probe was just for media op?

Anyway, the unsolicited advice to make the flexi-fare fully operational and automatic is a mounting of electronic billboard, like the basketball scoreboard, stating the fare akin to the copra buyer’s notice on his buying price with words “COPRA PRICE TODAY:P__”, no resecada. In the Tagum City Hall case today, this would be: “TRICYCLE FARE TODAY: P8”. Perhaps Councilor Rey Salve could be a devil’s advocate for this.

BLOGBUZZ: The Panabo legislative department, they say last week, is too over security conscious. During sessions, in its door, there’s that bully who flag down and ask visitors of their purpose in entering the gallery of the session hall. Inside, there’s one sitting cop and a sergeant at arms who watches the faces of entering visitors. Inside the gallery, there’s another who hangs on and looks over the crowd with suspicions. Mediamen are prevented from taking photos of the session inside but only in the glass-enclosed gallery. People entering the Panabo City Hall are earlier thoroughly checked by the security guards and SCU at the front main gate. They say na-OA na ang security details for Panabo session hall during sessions. Such SOP is driving the public from listening the session and getting public records in its rawest verbal forms. We don’t know yet if Vice Mayor James Gamao throws this OA security details intentionally. It’s only in Panabo and not found in Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley and elsewhere. (For online edition, visit my blog at: https://cha4t.wordpress.com, for comments and reactions, text 09069104553, e-mail: chamonforte@yahoo.com)

NEWS: P7 fare to effect January 2

dec 22

Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy has approved to implement a reduced tricycle fare of P7 starting on January 2 next year.

In his meeting on Saturday with the City Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (CTFRB) chairman Atty. Roland Tumanda and other board officers, the decision was reached to effect the second fare cut from the latest P8 since that the current gasoline pump prices already hit within the P30-P39.99 range in a general matrix provided under the city’s flexi-fare ordinance.

If the minimum fare is P7, students and senior citizens would only have to pay P5 for the regular tricycle ride.
However, the CTFRB will still have to formally make a corresponding board resolution for the new fare cut this week, Atty. Tumanda, also the city legal officer, told Sidlak.

The city has now its flexible mode of charging tricycle fare due to the flexi-fare ordinance which provides a bracket on tricycle fares depending on gasoline pump prices.

The City Hall already ordered for fare reduction to P8 fare from P10 last November 18.

When the reduction was effected on that date, gasoline prices were already observed to be diving below the P40 per liter mark.

There was then a fare increase from P7 to P10 approved by the city
council which effected last September 19.

But a week after due to growing complaints of riding public as gasoline prices were decreasing then when the increased P10 fare was implemented, Uy backpedaled and pushed
the flexi-fare ordinance as a novel way of skipping the tedious and long legislative process of enacting an ordinance in view of the volatility of oil prices.

The ordinance’s bracket provides that if gasoline prices per liter
(gpl) range P20 to 29.99 it will have P6 for regular fare and P4 for
student or senior citizen; P30 to P39.99 gpl- P7 regular fare, P5 student/senior citizen; P40 to 49.99 gpl- P8 regular fare, P6 student/senior citizen; P50 to P59.99 gpl- P9 regular fare, P7 student/senior citizen; P60 to P69.99 gpl- P10 regular fare, P8 student/senior citizen; P70 to P79.99 gpl- P11 regular fare, P9 student/senior citizen; P80 to P89.99 gpl- P12 regular fare,
P10 student/senior citizen; P90 to P99.99 gpl- P13 regular fare, P11 student/senior citizen; and P100 and above gpl- P14 regular fare, P12 student/senior citizen. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News)

NEWS: Davnor police on full alert these Yuletide days- Bianzon

dec 19

As twin bombings rocked the heart of Iligan City yesterday, the Davao del Norte police is more keeping up its toes these Yuletide days in putting up full-alert security in Tagum City and the province especially for the dawn masses.

Provincial police director PSSupt. Benelito Bianzon said that he placed on full-alert status his police force starting the first day of the December until the New Year.
He said that everybody in his police force has been alerted for any eventualities and to thwart any terroristic acts of rebels that would do harm to the people.

Yesterday, RMN Iligan City reported at 4:00 P.M. that two blasts in Iligan City hit first the Unicity Mall at around 1:35 and 15 minutes after hit another adjacent Sista Mall while a bomb was recovered and defused by the police in the adjoining Jerry Shopping Center.

The establishments are located along Aguinaldo Street, a major thoroughfare in the city.
Bombo Radyo reported at least 5 were killed and at least 28 injured from the twin bombings.

The elusive MILF’s Kumander Bravo has earlier threatened to make bombings in retaliation to hot pursuit of authorities, said the radio report. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News)

OPINION: A Season’s right topic

BLOGISTA
By Cha Monforte

dec 19

If there’s one good topic good-natured politicians in Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley must discuss during the merrymaking in the Yuletide Season it is the death of vibrant democracy in this part of the country. This death has been with us since two elections ago. This dying little by little occured starting when Fernando Poe Jr. ran for President, and when Kampi emerged as a new pro-administration party that fought against Lakas in 2004 polls. In FPJ’s loss, a song was made with a lyrics, “sa Pinas ang talo ay naging Pangulo.”

Since then electoral battles in Davnor and Comval have been engaged by Lakas and Kampi parties although there was such exemption when former Davao del Norte Governor Gelacio “Yayong” Gementiza was forced to jump ship and went to United Opposition (UNO) after a political wrangling. But then Yayong’s muckracking wasn’t against Lakas nor Kampi being opportunist political parties, while his campaign went only for rallying around his personality and not much on issues. It was in that 2007 polls when Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario clutched in straws both the Lakas and Kampi bets that threw a monkey wrench to the District 2 bets of former Cong. Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo Jr.

Comval in 2004 polls has that political unification with former Gov. Jose “Joecab” Caballero running under Lakas with erstwhile political rivals, former Cong. Pros Amatong, Cong. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora, and the Lakas mayors while Kampi then scarcely fielded municipal slates. It was in 2007 polls, when Caballero was shoved out from Lakas forcing him to use Kampi to engage in feverish battle with the Lakas titans.

When Kampi emerged only with few flickers in 2004 polls, it turned out to be a serious, alternative power contender against Lakas in 2007 polls, but in so far as the national bets were concerned, just the same to Lakas, Kampi also rued for Malacanang bets.

Without now the strong presence of Erap’s PMP, De Villa’s Reporma, Danding’s NPC, Drilon-wing Liberal parties in the two provinces, alternative political figures in the opposition are largely absent in the present political landscape.

At this writing, nobody even from the losing bets especially those having provincial stature and prominence, while not yet considered as political has-beens have engaged in even discursive engagements with Lakas and Kampi incumbents in critical and gut public issues of the day. Well, then Gob. Yayong and then Gob. Joecab are not yet seen as has-beens and spent force as far as my jaded eyes can see, but the former chose to still play a guessing game with the media when he earlier said he was convenient also to run with Gov. RDR, while the latter is still reportedly entertaining to be with the administration through Kampi. Santa Banana! Basa na ang record sa Lakas ug Kampi these days for pure and simple political opportunism while corruption issues are burning the fences of the administration, but sadly in our locales, no non-incumbent politician has yet emerged to engage in democratic discourse pertaining the incumbents’ policies and ways of running the government, nor someone from them has risen to be counted on as representative of the legal opposition.

But maybe potential legal oppositionists in our provinces, if really there are still souls out there, are just waiting for Lakas and Kampi parties to turn from basa to baho in the likes to what had befallen into KBL (Kilusang Bagong Lipunan) during the dying years of Marcos dictatorship. It seems that the blunder of legal oppositionists occurs not only when they continue to be in the comfort zone but more so when the refuse to see the writings in the wall, like the sentiments of our bishops these days, and feel the pulse of people. Look only how people gave political fortune to Isabela Governor Grace Padaca and Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio, who read well the temper of their own people.

For their continued silence as we now enter in electoral year a few days from now, while people observe, see and listen the failings and arrogance of administration Lakas and Kampi parties over the media, legal oppositionists in our provinces have only themselves to blame when they are routed again comes 2010. It’s they who voice for the practical check and balance in the provinces. The legal opposition place is right in the bedrock of our democracy. It’s the safety valve of peace. Without it, the alternative is the underground opposition, that only begets further violence and bloodshed we can only regret. It seems they don’t rage to the dying of the light or choose to become bystander in their own dark tunnel. (For online edition, visit my blog: https://cha4t.wordpress.com, txt 09069104553, e-mail: chamonforte@yahoo.com)

NEWS: 201 new cops sent to guard Misa de Gallo

dec 18

Some 201 new policemen admitted into service yesterday morning were immediately deployed by the regional police officials for their first assignment-the guarding for the third Misa de Gallo just this dawn.

The policemen just passed for their graduation-acceptance rite yesterday morning held at San Gabriel training ground and admitted into service, a Bombo Radyo  report said.

They were all conferred with the rank police officer 1 (PO 1).

The new policemen were ordered to report by 10 PM last night to city police director Senior Superintendent Ramon Ramon Apolinario who subsequently deployed them to various churches holding the dawn mass.

Some 175 new cops were assigned in the city, while the rest were deployed to Davao del Sur.

Attending the rite were police director Benjamin Villareno Jr of the Police Training Institute representing PNP chief General Jesus Versoza and regional and city police officials led by regional police director Chief Superintendent Pedro Tango. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News)

NEWS: No 13th month bonus for Tagum City Hall contractuals

Davnor, Comval Capitols to release P10 T performance bonus

dec 18

Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy said yesterday that he could not give 13th month Christmas bonus to contractual employees saying that the Commission on Audit disallows it for them.

He said in radio interview that a law prevented him from proceeding of his plan of sharing also Christmas bonanza to contractual employees even as he bared that the City Hall has money for it.

He added that he would give the bonus for them it might be later be subjected to refund.

In that supposed case, the mayor said he has not regret if the money would be put to good use, but added it would be a problem if it would be splurged to booze.

Permanent and casual government employees in national government agencies, government-owned and -controlled corporations and financial  institutions across the country have been receiving bonuses since late November, and since lately of the P10,000 performance bonus as covered by President Arroyo ‘s Administrative Order No. 250  signed last December 10.

Both the Capitols in Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley are accordingly releasing the performance bonus either today or tomorrow, sources said.

At press time, however, the amount of the performance bonus from said Capitols could not be known as it is to be funded from agency savings as contained in the Dept. of Budget and Management’s EO 250 circular for national State workers.

Said circular stated that if the savings is insufficient to cover for the P10,000 performance bonus smaller amount could be released provided it is the same and equal to all employees. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News)

OPINION: The race for Xmas

BLOGISTA
By Cha Monforte

dec 18

It’s not only the Panabo City Council which is in a hurry of wrapping up things before this mid December. The council steered by Vice Mayor James Gamao had made marathon sessions since Monday to beat a finish before yet the middle of the month.

Yesterday, it made its last for this year to compensate the no-session Mondays beginning today until the New Year. Just like the Congress that is in a hurry of settling the thorny issue on CARP extension, municipal and provincial sanggunians also want now to have their Christmas vacations.

This has been easily so with our government officials while ordinary government men have a hard time getting approval for official leaves during the Yuletide Season even while they have a lot of earned leave credits. The department heads, on the other hand, try to beat the elected officials to the draw by setting at the most early date the closing of books as far as the COA rules could allow. In turn, many well-meaning suppliers-those who won their bids fair and honest- will end up scratching their heads for not getting their checks before the New Year. Now there’s a long Christmas vacation waiting out there, compliments of GMA’s holiday economics. Surely, banks will be closed, and government checks have to wait for encashment by 2009 na.

OK, there’s this great race for Christmas. The kargadors in our palengkes and all those in the underground economy remain to be hopeful of earning good bucks before Christmas day. They are hopeful of the Season’s big consumer spending when OFW remittances are heavy and bulk of yearend savings are splurged. Oh, that Pinoy spending again. There’s still no crunch for our OFWs and their families back home, I observe. Bettors are also extra hopeful- of winning the Last 2 that has now proliferated in Davao del Norte and Comval. The estimate three years ago is that each day bettors delivered at least P3 million bet money in our two provinces. (Is this underestatement? I ask our authorities). That’s a cool P1.095 billion industry yearround since Last 2 has no holiday. Multiply it by 365 days.

OK, our farmers on the other hand are hopeful, too, over the yearend benevolence of their landlords not to take fully their shares and give gifts to them, although the landlord- and Lakas-Kampi-dominated Congress as of this writing is in the thick of of marathon discussions on whether to extend CARP or not. But I bet my usual, seldom P10-worth Last 2 bet: the Congress will end up giving not the pantawid sa gutom but a pantalya legislative measure that would be left hanging on the Yuletide’s air since like Davao del Norte District 1 Congressman Arrel Olano they want to have the Christmas vacation so they can resume their gift-giving of rice, noodles and sardines, the “electoral gifts” (I should kindly repeat the words of naughty and malicious pundits in our kantos, inggit lang mo).

Anyway, also in this season of oil price decreases, presidentiable Senator Mar Roxas is crying SOB to the Palace for wanting to effect more price rollback to the level of over P20 per liter for gasoline as the crude oil price in the world market is further nose-diving, so poor Juan dela Cruz in the Pilipins and the Tagumenyos -because of Mayor Uy’s novel flexi-fare ordinance- could have one biggest pinaskuhan in this Yuletide Season of 2008. (For online edition, visit my blog at: https://cha4t.wordpress.com, for comments and reactions, text 09069104553, or e-mail: chamonforte@yahoo.com)