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Only Rudy Fernandez could have spoken those lines. I don’t even remember the movie in which he spoke those lines.

Yet, every aspiring Filipino macho quickly memorized that line and it was the talk of the town. That’s the influence of Rudy Fernandez, one of the most debonair actors (and I say, "actor," with respect, because Rudy knew how to act unlike all the other action stars who don’t).

His tough, on-screen image, however, belied a soft interior of a man who was in reality soft-spoken, and who loved his wife and kids with a passion. I guess this is what endeared him most to the movie-going public. We all knew he was a kind, generous man who wouldn’t deliberately hurt anyone.

So it’s sad to see such a man go. But, contrary to reports, he didn’t lose to cancer. Cancer may have ravaged his body, but Rudy Fernandez lives on. He lives on in his family’s hearts. He lives on in the hearts of millions of Filipinos. And, as Tirso Cruz III said, "He’s in a much better place. I’m sure of that!"

I agree. But, as a fan, I’ll miss him.

Paalam, Daboy! When I see you in the afterlife, I’ll finally get to shake your hand. Personalan.

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Bravo! Kudos to the judges of the recently staged Bb. Pilipinas pageant for choosing a half-wit to represent the country in the coming Ms. World beauty pageant.

Sure, Janina San Miguel may be a beauty, but I thought beauty contests were also brain contests. Either the judges were more brainless than the winner or they were bribed. Since the whole world now knows that we’re the most corrupt nation in Asia, people will think of the latter when Janina walks up the Ms. World stage and starts to speak.

Her answer (or the lack of it) to Judge Vivienne Tan’s question was utterly appalling. She started incoherently and ended without sense. Her winning the crown after that blatant fiasco leaves one to question the judges’ intellect … or scruples.

In a TV news interview, former beauty queen Melanie Marquez (another brainless one) was asked about the flak she also received when she won Bb. Pilipinas. Her answer: "I dint chuckled."

Susmaryosep!

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Take a good look at the two photos below. Who looks more corrupt?

Mike Arroyo

Rodolfo Lozada

Make your choice known by clicking the appropriate button on the poll at the right. Remember, the question is, Who LOOKS more corrupt?

Be sure to tell others about this poll!

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In a previous blog I had hoped that Antonio Trillanes’ idealism would make him a good senator in spite of my doubts that he was merely a pawn. Read it here.

Now, I’m convinced, without a shadow of doubt, he’s a pawn. His latest misadventure establishes that.

His financiers probably used him like a guinea pig. Told that "People Power" would follow his latest "uprising," he and Gen. Lim trooped to the Manila Peninsula hotel and held siege. No "People Power" came. A political has-been came, by the name of Teofisto Guingona, but hardly anyone noticed him.

Before this, in the aftermath of the Glorietta explosion, someone whispered to him that the explosion was caused by a bomb planted by the government. Immediately, he went public with this sans any evidence, saying that the informers were being kept in a safehouse.

After police came out with the results that it was a gas tank explosion, nothing came out again from Trillanes.

Trillanes could have used his idealism to effect a senatorial presence and use senatorial power to reach out to disenfranchised Filipinos and establish a political base through which he can legally challenge the administration.

Many, I believe, would follow and support him.

His election into the Senate was no small feat. Yet, he threw this in the garbege can of obscurity with his latest fiasco.

Now he’ll be spending many years in prison and the name, Antonio Trillanes IV, will be a mere speck in the history of the Philippines, known as a man whose idealism fizzled out even before it had sparked.

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In a recorded clip shown in ABS-CBN, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada commented in the vernacular of actor Rudy Fernandez, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer: "He’s a good man. Why him? There are so many evil persons out there who deserve this more."

My first thought: Like your father?

Technorati Tags: jinggoy estrada, rudy fernandez, cancer

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If Kris Aquino is wondering why her husband, James Yap, fooled around, the answer can be found in the Bible.

“A man (or a woman for that matter) reaps what he sows” - Gal 6:7 NIV.

Did she actually believe that, when she fooled around with married men when she was single, no one would fool around with the man she would eventually marry? When she started to fool around with married men, someone should have asked her, “Game Ka Na Ba?”

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Now that Manny Pacquiao has added a few million dollars more to his pocket, perhaps he should seriously think about hiring an English teacher.

In a post-fight interview, he was asked to give a message to his Filipino fans. He began by saying, "Thanks for the God …"

Susmaryosep!

Don’t get me wrong. I’m proud at what the Pacman accomplished, but I would have been prouder if he was able to speak English intelligibly. Perhaps Erik Morales is smarter in this aspect. He spoke in his native Spanish with a translator beside him.

His English notwithstanding, Pacquiao definitely finished with a flair. I’m glad it ended by round 3. I’m one of those poor Filipinos who have to suffer the indignity of watching ABS-CBN, wading through endless commercials, just to watch two boxers pummel each other. Good thing it was Pacquiao who was doing most of the pummeling.

I also had to shut off my cell phone because I knew the fight would end much earlier than the super-delayed (not slightly-delayed, excuse me) telecast and I didn’t want to know the result beforehand.

In their second fight, the 10th round knockout was anti-climactic for me. There were just too many commercials and much of them featured, well … Manny Pacquiao. I didn’t know whether I wanted to jubilate or puke. I was almost tempted to root for Morales.

So this last fight was a blessing in that ABS-CBN was stopped from foisting its greed upon me and millions of other Filipinos who can’t afford pay-per-view.

I guess I can forgive Manny Pacquiao for mangling the English language.

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For all his posturings about wanting to help Filipinos, Willie Revillame doesn’t respect women. He’s a known womanizer and he batters his wife. Yet, he dares cry in his mendicancy-promoting show, “Wowowee,” as if he’s the victim.

Susmaryosep!

And then you’re treated to the spectacle of all these ABS-CBN sycophants expressing support for Revillame. ABS-CBN isn’t asking him to take a leave either. They’re going to squeeze him dry perhaps until he’s found guilty of wife-battery and child abuse.

ABS-CBN doesn’t know the meaning of decency. Even in the case of the stampede, they’re adamant that the stampede wasn’t their fault. Yet CEO Gabby Lopez appeared on TV and admitted responsibilty and flashed money to the victims so they won’t get sued.

So, “Wowowee” will still be around in spite of the scores who died in the stampede and Revillame’s utter disregard for women’s rights. And ABS-CBN will continue to call itself the “Kapamilya” channel.

Mga Hipokrito!

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Whaaaattt!!! A national holiday on the day of Manny Pacquiao’s return? Aren’t we overdoing it just a bit incredibly? So, ok, he won against El Terrible in an unforgettable boxing match, but did any of Pacman’s dollars trickle down to me? Or any of my screaming, idolizing Filipino brethren. Nope, nope and nope.

True to Filipino form, Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr’s proposal to call for a national holiday is overkill. Just like ABS-CBN’s nauseous airing of everything that Pacquiao does. Just last night they featured a story about Manny Pacquiao’s family missing him and excited to see him.

Susmaryosep! That’s not news. That’s called pimping! Perhaps they want to get enough mileage out of the boxer so his mediocre song, “Para Sa Iyo,” makes platinum sales. Didn’t they get enough already by airing his commercial-laden fight? Their pre-fight advertisements declared that the fight would be “live.” That was an outright lie. Even before the televised fight ended, text messages already announced The Pacman’s victory.

This is not to belittle Pacquiao. In fact, he stepped out of Filipino character by disciplining and preparing himself to face Morales who, by the seventh round, looked confused on how to deal with the “new” boxing strategy of Pacquiao. However, the aspect of his training should be the rallying point of all that is about Pacquiao in that if Filipinos set their minds on accomplishing something with perseverance, they will succeed.

Yet, like Sen. Revilla, we veer off-focus by extolling Pacquiao for uniting the nation. Uniting in what? As far as I am concerned, the only unifying factor was bringing a majority of Filipinos in front of TV and pay-per-view screens to watch the fight on a Sunday when most were at home anyway.

For sure, let’s give Manny Pacquiao a victory parade with ticker tapes and all. Let’s all cheer him until our voices get hoarse. After all, he upheld Filipino pride by beating a Mexican to a pulp. And he did it fair and square (eat your heart out, Thai Prime Minister Shinawatra) in front of a worldwide audience.

Then, when all is said and done, let’s hunker down to a more disciplined way of life doing our every bit, WITHOUT COMPLAINT, to lift ourselves and our nation from the doldrums. This way we will eventually unite our country and will even be able to call ourselves heroes.

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Amidst all the dreary news we find stories of inspiration.

One is about US Army Sgt. Myla Marasvillas. Born in Bohol, Myla immigrated to the US with her mother in the 90’s. She was 16 years old then. Instead of looking for the time-honored career of nursing, she opted to join the army.

On Christmas eve, on a patrol in strife-torn Iraq, a rebel rocket slammed into the armored vehicle she was riding in, killing her. She died in the call of duty. Although she died as a US citizen, it can be said that it was her Filipino blood that gave her the courage to enlist in such a high-risk occupation.

She will be buried in Bohol with full military honors.

The other story is about 12-year old Cristina Bugayong. Cristina lives in a shanty with her family in Quezon city. One day, as she was playing with friends, a motorcycle whizzed by and a satchel fell off. Looking in the bag, Cristina discovered around 300,000 in cash and checks, more than enough to feed her poverty-stricken family for months.

Yet, without second thought, she returned the satchel to its rightful owner (after two other impostors tried to claim it).

Cristina’s deed landed in the papers. Inspired by her act of honesty, many businessmen rewarded her and her family with other gifts that, if totalled, would exceed the amount of money she returned. Honesty, indeed, has its benefits.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo even sought audience with her. It is my prayer that she will not grow up to be like GMA.

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