A bright idea

Shown here are four framed comics, two Marvel superhero plush seats, and a small, white foundling -- all recent additions to the Project 8 house at the end of the street.

Now we have a small problem which, luckily, you, dear friends, can easily join in solving: I have run out of walls to hang my frames (and more are scheduled to be added soon), so the happy solution is to buy a big, new house with many rooms to hang frames, to scatter cushions and seats around, and to board cute kittens and bigger cats (about 20+), and dogs (4), and four humans (us).

I have turned to the real estate ads: there are big houses available but they are not fit for the artistic integrity of the comics and insufficient to carry the cuteness of pets. However, I finally found one, which the splendid gate alone will get inked thumbs of approval from Curt Swan, Jim Lee, or Marc Silvestri. The only hitch is the house is at the high end; ah, sort of expensive, say P7,025,004.25. I have the P25,004.25; all I need now is the P7,000,000, which can easily be procured by the generosity of Facebook friends. Acquaintances are also very welcome to participate in my inspired idea; those I have unfriended or blocked I can befriend or unblock so they can send their share -- a half million here, a quarter of a million there, even small amounts can add up, so don't be ashamed of your offer.

There are some who ask about repayment . Now, that's a thought; interesting too. Sogo, my assistant, says "Yes of course." I fully agree: we pay back the donations from our Lotto jackpot winning, from which we can buy a second and colossal house for the thousands of comics, posters, superhero toys and cushions to be added.

A brief explanation: Entering politics came into mind, but after Drilon assured the public that there will be no PDAF next year for senators and representathieves, the idea quickly bounced out of consideration. Besides, winning the Lotto is not so difficult. I even came out with an effective way to win: (1) First, I must bet. Sogo has pointed out that the main reason I don't win is I refuse to part with my P20. From now on I will spend P20 daily toward repaying the P7,000,000 donations from my FB friends, acquaintances, ex-unfriend, and unblocked creatures of the swamp. (2) Don't change the combination of your numbers; faithfully bet on the same six numbers until I win. Statistically I have a many-many-million-to-one chance of getting the jackpot, but hey!, we can wait, can't we?

So there we are, a happy solution for all! Cash is best, but I'll accept check, credit card allotment, Lhuiller remittances, blue-chip stocks, pledges, even inheritance. Please, no cp loads. I can't consume or convert millions of pesos of loads into cash.

With a sunny disposition and an optimistic mindset, I eagerly await the money that will pour in. The excess I will donate to PAWS, other animal centers, and charity. The first sender of P1 million donation will receive a big "Thank you!" from me. Hurry! I might change my mind.

Pepe

1861 June 19 - 26 December 1896

What would you think if, facing the sea on a clear bright morning, tied at the elbows from the back, a group of Filipino soldiers, members of the Spanish army, were aiming to shoot your back in a few seconds? Were you born 35 years ago eventually to stand here, deemed a traitor to the land you sacrificed your life for, not even allowed the dignity to face your executioners?

Everyday there had been executions, and the grass where you stand was still wet with the blood of those who preceded you. And yours, wet with dew, will be seen by those who will follow. It's a heavy burden to the mind: that there are people who condemned you as not fit for continued existence: the malignant friars who desecrated God's name for power, the false friends and rebels who betrayed you.

Your poem that you entrusted to Narcisa survived. In one of the stanzas you even consoled us. "I go where there are no slaves, executioners and oppressors, /Where faith does not slay, wherein who reigns is God."

However, the note you hid in your shoe, the message you expected to be found when the Spaniards would bring your corpse to your family, it was not read nor seen; because after the execution the Spaniards and friars, with malignant cruelty, buried you in shallow grave without a coffin, without a decent rite for the dead. It took two years later, in August 1898, to get your remains. The mind that cared so much and that created your lasting legacy, had melded with the earth; the shoes and the notes had crumbled. Your last message remains forever a mystery in our country's history.

But, as long as there are those who educate themselves, who are enraged by injustice and cruelty, you will remain a beacon for us who revolt against systems that oppress.

Rizal's burial place at the Paco Cemetery a few years after his execution.Note the transposed initials of his name beneath the cross.

Unggoy

Privileged spits, June 11

Ayan, nagpatutsada na rin si Sen. Jinggoy. Obviously na-impress ang hunghang sa pakulo ni Revilla nung Lunes. Ewan ko lang, ilusyon ba ni Jinggoy na pag tumayo siya sa podium na pinanggalingan ni Revilla, siya ay makikita nating matangkad at makisig sa halip na punggok at mukhang Lego? Hebigat ang Ingles niya ha, akala mo may pinag-aralan siya at may modo; pero problema na yan nila ng ghostwriter niya.

Sa positive side naman, at least yung asawa ni Jinggoy ay hindi nag-Lani sa gallery na may punas-luhang effect. Isa pang positive eh... ah... Hindi siya mahiyain nung idakdak niya ang kanyang privileged spits.

Balik tayo sa katotohanan. Nagpaumanhin siya sa papa Erap at mama Loi niya dahil sa idinulot niyang stress at sakit ng ulo sa pamilya. Nangarap tuloy akong sumagot si Erap [slurred boses, parang lasheng]: "Alam mo, anak, deja vu ito, yung dawit ka na naman sa pangungupit, yung inihahanda na yung selda at warrant of arrest para sa iyo. Pero after six years ko sa kulungan, anak, huwag mo nang kaladkarin ang aking pangalan. Hanep, kinilabutan na nga ako nang i-thank you ako ni Bong, para akong tinamaan ng flashlight habang bumubungkal ako sa City Hall. Wish ko lang malimutan ni Manong Johnny ang pangalan ko kung gagaya siya sa inyo."

"Ako rin, anak," sabi ni ex-senador Loi, "dedma na lang muna. Di ba sabit din ako sa listahan ng mga whistleblowers? May ipagtatapat ako sa iyo, iho. Nung baby ka pa, nahulog ka sa kuna at bumagsak ka sa sahig, una ang ulo, kaya ang paglaki mo naging crosswise na lang, saka maraming brain molecules ang tumilapon; kakarampot na lang ang nabawi namin. Ganu'n pa man, kahit low IQs ka at arogante ay mother's love pa rin kita. Basta huwag mo na akong banggitin ha?" [End of imaginary dialogues bago tayo ma-cyber libel]

To be fair naman, aaminin kong lisya ang judgement ko nang tawagin kong unggoy si Jinggoy. Mali ang pagtimbang ko sa sitwasyon at maaaring injustice ang naging resulta. Kaya humihingi ako nang paumanhin: sana'y patawarin ako ng mga unggoy, na ni minsa'y di pumatol sa kaban ng bayan, di kapal-mukhang nagsinungaling sa milyon-milyong uto-utong botante, at lalong hindi kampon ng magulo at malikot na angkan. Mukhang unggoy lang ang profile pic ni Jinggoy, pero hindi niya taglay ang katinuan nila. Palagay ko mas safe ang taumbayan kung si Jinggoy ang nasa kulungan at ang unggoy ang nasa labas.

Putsang sinungaling

Bilang na ang araw niyo, peksman.

Puwede ba yun? Magsinungaling nang katakut-takot sa Senate floor, tapos hihirit nang napaka-korning kanta? At nandu'n pa yung kahanga-hangang family members; at least di dala ng kapatid ni Bong ang kanyang mjolnir na pang masahe niya sa likod ng mga kasambahay. Nakita ko rin si Congressman Lani: at last nakita kong live yung luhang buwaya. Lacoste tears, sa Ingles.

Si Enrile daw ang ultimate statesman. Puwedeng competent legislator at lawyer, pero hindi dakila ang Martial Law administrator ni Marcos -- libo-libong buhay ang nalagas noon. Yung mga smuggled na mga sasakyan sa Cagayan, di niya alam iyon? Yung illegal logging, di ba para sa mga posporo factory niya sa Pilipinas? Siya ang may-ari ng lahat ng palito sa bayan. Sinungaling ba siya? Nung nilulusob na siya (at Fidel Ramos) ng mga sundalo ni Marcos noong 1986, ipinagtapat niya sa Bombo Radyo na peke ang ambush na isina-zarzuela nila ni Marcos para mai-declare ang Martial Law. Tapos lumabas yung librong "Enrile," kung saan inihirit yung unang version: tinangka daw siyang patayin ng NPA. Yung libro, sa kanya yung intro o preface, pero ang buong laman ay baboy na Ingles ni Nelson Navarro. Ipinagmalaki pa! Kung dalawa ang version mo sa iisang incident, sinungaling ka. Magnanakaw ba siya? Nangurakot ba siya? Madadala ba niya ang loot sa pupuntahan niyang lugar na mainit?

Kasama sa mahabang Thank You list ni Revilla si Erap. Sanay makipaglaro sa mga journalists si Revilla, at tama siyang nalimutan na nang Alzheimeric na masa na noong 2001, nung pini-People Power 2 si Erap, aba, tinalikuran ni Senator Bong yung matalik niyang kaibigang si Unggoy, este Jinggoy, at pumunta sa Plaza Miranda at binanatan si Erap at sumang-ayon na dapat nang patalsikin ang sugarol at babaerong (look who's talking) presidente. Dahil dito ilang taon siyang di kinausap ni Jinggoy. Si Daboy (Rudy Fernandez) ata ang umayos sa dalawa eventually; pero kwidaw, showbiz bati lang yan: nasa political memory ng father and son ang pagka-oportunista nitong ex-Captain Barbell. Revilla, matagal nang pinanday yung bakal ng rehas na kasasadlakan mo.

Naki-relate by TY si Bong sa lahat ng kasama niya sa Senate, para may uto-impression na nasisira ang karangalan ng Senate dahil magnanakaw daw yung tatlo (so far). Kasama sa thank you si Gloria, na lagi daw niyang ipinagdarasal. (I assume pray siya sa God, number 1 sa Thank you list niya. Bong, kahit dumikit ka pa sa The One, halatang walang limit ang pagka-user mo.) Tapos TY sa Grace Poe, para maisingit niyang pinapayuhan siya ni FPJ noon. Nalimutan na ba nating ninakaw ni Gloria kay Da King ang presidency through Garci noong 2004? Inaasahan ni Bong na by 2016, may amnesia na naman tayo at hahabol siyang presidente sa partido ni GMA. Sa ngayon Thank You din kay Binay (at kay Nancy), achiever daw, na buburikihin niya sa likod sa Election 2016.

Message niya kay PeNoy? Huwag gawing tanging legacy ng administration niya ang pagkulong sa tatlong plundering senators. Huh? Ok lang kung iyon lang ang nagawa ng palpak na Aquinong ito; pero mas mainam kung may halong konting tiga-LP sa likod ng rehas, para masaya ang kosa. Kung sakali, Congrats, Jinggoy, second time around is sweeter (para sa taxpayers).

Message pa ni Bong, huwag daw watakin ni PeNoy ang bansa kundi pag-isahin. Sana nga, 'no? I-unite sa bilibid que opposition man o KKK man. Cosa Nostrang tunay. Sa likod ng lahat ng palabok ni Kap, ibig niyang sabihin kay Aquino at Leila Dilemma, "Oy, huwag ganyan ha. Serious na ito, may kulong-kulong na ito, hindi na biro yan. Oist! Ayusin na natin ito; let's make a deal."

Diyan nagising si Napoles, na malapit nang posasan uli ng pulis. "Aba, hindi lulusot si almighty Enrile!" kalabit ng brand new never-used niyang konsiyensiya. " Nakow, state witnness na po ako. Di na po ako astig (kahit pangit pa rin)."

Conclusion: Hayupaks kayong naglagay sa Senate sa mga magnanakaw at sinungaling at sintunadong crocodiles. Pami-pamilya pa at pakyawan kung magboto kayo sa mga Marcos, Binay, Abad, Agood (*jokes!*), Pacquiao, Reviilla, Estrada/Ejercito/Mayor Guia. Sa talaga lang, huwag makinig sa malanding Ping Lacson, na takot masira ang institution ng Congress. Tibagin na ang putang'nang pugad ng Representathieves. At huwag kalimutang ang kalaban ng mga kontrabida ay HINDI automatic na good guys. Sa away ng mga magnanakaw, lamang ngayon ang mga crony ni Aquino, pero darating ang araw na mabibisto rin ang mortal sins ng mga kabarkada, kabarilan at kaibigan

May araw din kayo, at ginagawa na ang kalendaryo.