Odds and Ends 11/17/10

Sen. Santiago ‘threatens’ ex-Aquino girlfriend with firecracker

MANILA, Philippines – If Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago had her way, she would throw a firecracker at the former girlfriend of President Benigno Aquino III so that she would become more “animated.”

“I like her as a personality but she's so demure,” Santiago said of Valenzuela Councilor Shalani Soledad.

“Sometimes, I kid my husband, I should go to the studio and throw a firecracker at her so that she will be a little more animated but I like her,” said Santiago who, to the surprise of Senate reporters, gave her opinion about the local official who broke up recently with the President...

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has a point. I have watched brief glimpses of the variety show "Willing Willie" where Valenzuela Councilor Shalani Soledad co-hosted. She indeed appeared demure, reserved, and so "mahinhin" which is quite unusual for a host of a prime-time variety entertainment show. I guess Willie Revillame provides a balanced counterpoint as the main host. I also think that a "demure" is a somewhat relative term, compared to lets say..Senator Santiago. If a dose of firecrackers can indeed make Councilor Shalani much more animated, I guess Senator Santiago has been through a lot of rocket fire bombardment.
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Santiago vows to ‘massacre’ Aquino’s ‘lightweight’ Cabinet execs

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago vowed Wednesday to “massacre” at least half a dozen “very lightweight” and “smug, self-satisfied, non-elected appointees” in President Benigno Aquino III’s Cabinet..

"Yung mga [Those] smug, self-satisfied, non-elected appointees. This is a very light weight Cabinet. Boy, they are so light-weight, they are liable to float off on their own delusions of grandeur. Akala nila kung sino sila [Who do they think they are]. Dumaan muna sa halalan [They should go through elections] because the power of government is exercised by the people, by the electorate, in an election”..

Santiago said Section 20 could be invoked if an appointee has low intelligence quotient as this would be a crime against Philippine government and society.

“Mga low IQ lang sila tapos ang tatapang nila [They have low IQ and yet they’re so arrogant],” she further said...

See?
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Plebiscite last resort for RH bill

MANILA, Philippines - A co-author of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill yesterday said Congress could resort to a plebiscite if it fails to pass the measure that is strongly contested by the Catholic Church.

“Let the people decide. Let us give the decision to the people if they really want or not the RH Bill or not,” Bukidnon Rep. Jose Ma. Zubiri said in a news forum in Quezon City...

Did I read you right, Senator Zubiri? "...Congress could resort to a plebiscite if it fails to pass the measure that is strongly contested by the Catholic Church." What the ..? Now why on earth would Congress deliberate on the bill, reject it in due process, and then move for a plebiscite on a bill which it rejects in the first place? Pray tell us the rationale behind your thinking, Senator. Otherwise, you might be "massacred" by Senator Santiago. Methinks your honor suffered a rather strong firecracker blast.
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