People who needs to shut-up this week:

I am starting a habit – I'll be carefully monitoring the news and events again so that I can give my weekly address of asking people to shut up.

 

Without much ado: here are the men (and women) who needs to shut up.

 

1. Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes – first up is our venerable energy secretary. I used to love secretaries because of the crazy fantasies I have but as soon as I realize that these are the popular secretaries in the country, I soon ran after my pockets. The energy secretary is the premier defender of oil price hike. Don't think that he is against oil price hike because he does so many things to push them. Case in point: no price ceiling for fuel even with the typhoon. Why? Oil Deregulation Law. Bam! Thank You!!!
2. Congress – I don't know most of these guys but thinking about the Congress for more than an hour can make my head hurt. This week, they approved a whopping 1.54 Trillion budget for next year. Wow! Everyone is thinking about coping up this year and they already have the budget for next year's election. Good for them, now bring them all here and distribute it on Election Day on envelopes. If I'm not mistaken, someone in the Congress asked for 12 Billion in relief funds. Now that's another money for every. Look at their beaming smile above.
3. NDCC/Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr – I don't know if I'm going to be angry to this guy but NDCC and the Armed Forces is such a mess these days you don't know where to start complaining. 'Nuff said.
4. DILG Secretary Ronaldo V. Puno – another secretary which means I'm having a nightmare tonight about secretaries. Sir, I can hear and see your commercials on TV. On Radio, you say that your group is working without saying anything. But that kinda contradicts what you do since you just proclaim to everyone what you just did. It's like promising not eat any chocolate anymore while chewing on one.
   

I don't know what will happen next week. But let's just get our eyes and ears peeled for something.

Po-po-po-po-po-po-po-po-po-poker room

The zoning comittee is thinking of approving the application of a business to set up a poker room in Boardwalk. They say it's going to be mostly exclusive since there will be a fee to join. It's going to be a very recluse set-up which means no one will notice it's there except maybe for the sign.

I think this should not be considered an improvement to the city. You can consider the poker room as the "gateway drug" as this will be the door for other gambling establishments in the city. First we already have STL (Small Town Lottery) and Lotto. Poker Room is an gambling establishment. I hate to say this but guys...poker is not a game of science where you study a person. A mahjong, tong its, lucky 9, player also does the same technique to win games and they are considered gambling and debilitating.

When the poker room is established, more things will come. Casinos can argue that they be allowed and other gambling establishments will be here before we know it.

I know its good for the government because of the taxes but c'mon. Since when did you care about the taxes that goes to the government. They can't even fix a single thing in the city. A small poker room will not make any miracles.

Watch out Iloilo! Your doom is here. Maybe I'll change my mind if Lady Gaga would make an appearance :)

Three in 24 Hours

Iloilo city is in big trouble. If you have a car, you are part of the high profile target of "Bukas Kotse Gang". As of this writing, three cars have been victimized - one of them even lost 600,000. It's a very sad situation for the guy. He might be a bit rich but no one should be robbed with the money he earned.

This is a big challenge for the Iloilo City government. There are too many problems the city is already facing and they are all "semi" man-made. Heavy traffic, congestion, too many water everywhere and politics. With robbery, the problem is made by a human. These guys really wanted to inflict trouble to people.

What can we do? We have to be vigilant. I don't have a car but I feel the pain - my mountain bike was stolen once. Don't just leave your car with your valuables.