A Cup O’ Kapeng Barako
by Jesse Jose
Now and then I’d read an opinion column that would stop me dead in my tracks and say: “Wow!  That was good.  It’s a beaut. I like it.”  And this one has a beautiful ending, too, that jolted me out of my seat.  First with a chuckle, then with a roaring, hearty laughter. 
After my laughter subsided and I became more rational, I thought this story BEGS for a different ending, a much better ending that would give OTHERS a hearty laugh and a good …

Balitang Kutsero
by Perry Diaz
First, there were allegations that Manny Villar — a.k.a. “Money Villarroyo” — tried to bribe Joseph “Erap” Estrada to withdraw from the presidential race. Then Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile exposed an attempt by Villar last year to bribe him to go easy on him on the C-5 road extension investigation. And then Dick Gordon exposed Villar for offering a bribe and a cabinet position in Villar’s administration if he withdrew his signature from the Senate committee report recommending censure for Villar in connection with the C-5 …

Life in Gloria’s Enchanted Kingdom
by Manuel Buencamino 

An old priest who lay dying in his hospital bed motioned to his nurse to come near.
“Yes, Father?” asked the nurse..
“I would like to see Manny Villar and Gloria Arroyo before I die.” whispered the priest.
“I’ll see what I can do, Father,” she replied.
Villar phoned Arroyo after he heard from the nurse..
“Did you get the priest’s request?” he asked her.
“Yes,” she replied.
“I don’t know why he wants to see us but my advisers told me I should go, it will be good for my …

Balitang Kutsero
by Perry Diaz
Presidential wannabe Noynoy Aquino may not have billions to spend in his campaign, but he sure has a lot of guts! At a rally of thousands of his “Yellow Army” supporters, he warned corrupt officials that their days were numbered. That’s gutsy! Not too long ago, Noynoy promised that he’ll recover the Marcos “loot.” That’s gutsy! And recently, he promised that he’d prosecute President Gloria Arroyo for plunder if he’s elected President. Now, that’s really gutsy! No guts, no Gloria!
During the 24th anniversary of the EDSA …

Balitang Kutsero
by Perry Diaz
In July this year, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is expected to be chosen Speaker of the House of Representatives. And four other members of the Arroyo dynasty will be Representatives: Gloria’s two sons, Mikey and Dato; her brother-in-law Iggy; and her sister-in-law Lourdes. The House of Representatives will soon be known as the “House of Arroyo.”
But for Gloria to become Speaker, she must first win the election in the 2nd Congressional District of Pampanga. Well, if you listen to Gloria’s rival, Adonis Simpao, it looks like she will …

Balitang Kutsero
by Perry Diaz
In 1565, Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived on the shores of Cebu and established his rule in the name of “God, Glory, and Gold.” Four centuries later, in the 1965 presidential election, Ferdinand Marcos defeated President Diosdado Macapagal and established a dictatorship using “Guns, Goons, and Gold.” In 2001, Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ousted Presidency Joseph “Erap” Estrada and began her reign for “Gloria, Glory, and Gold.” In 2010, Manny Villar wants to become President at all costs using “Gold, Gold, and Gold.” With …

Dispatches from the Enchanted Kingdom
by Manuel Buencamino
from Business Mirror

“The testimony of vice-mayor Toto Magundadato at the bail hearing of Andal Ampatuan Jr. showed that Gloria Arroyo was derelict in her duty to keep the peace in Maguindanao,” I told my balikbayan friend.
“Derelict?”
“You haven’t heard of Toto’s testimony on the events that led up to the massacre?” I asked.
“I just arrived, my friend,” he replied.
“Then I’ll update you.”
“Shoot.”
“Shooting came at the end, buddy. Anyway, the feud started in 2006 when Toto decided to run for governor against Ampatuan Sr.”
“The killings started …

Balitang Kutsero
By Perry Diaz
Recently, Sen. Joker Arroyo compared the situation faced by his friend Sen. Manuel “Titanic Manny” Villar to what the martyred Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. faced during the martial law era. No kidding! Let’s see. Ninoy said, “The Filipino is worth dying for,” and he did. Titanic Manny can say, “The Filipino is worth getting rich for.” He is now filthy rich… and getting richer every minute of the day. Indeed, there is a comparison.
I don’t blame Ninoy’s son, presidential wannabe Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, for …

Balitang Kutsero
by Perry Diaz
In a recent interview with the media, presidential wannabe Manny Villar said that “it’s about time the Philippines has its first business-titan president.” And then he went on to portray frontrunner Noynoy Aquino as “a ‘babe in the woods’ who knew nothing about running a company or a bureaucracy, or even a family.” Whoa! That’s below the belt, Manny! It looks like this is going to be like the biblical battle between David and Goliath. Yup, it is going to be “Babe in the Woods” vs. “Titanic …

Balitang Kutsero
by Perry Diaz
With 10 candidates running for President of the Philippines, God decided to interview all of them to decide whom to anoint. God asked each of the presidential wannabes the same question: “What would be your first act on Day One of your presidency?”
God: “Who wants to volunteer first?”
Noynoy Aquino: “Me! Me!”
God: “Since you’re the frontrunner, go ahead, Noynoy. Your mom talks highly of you. So, let’s hear what you have in mind.”
Noynoy: “Lord, my first act would be to confiscate all of Marcos’ ill-gotten wealth and …