My good friend, George Carino (who’s a brilliant journalist and hails from Bulacan) traced the whereabouts of Bravo and interviewed him. I saw his interview. And I found nothing wrong. I would agree with my professor, Luis Teodoro, that ABS-CBN 2 violated no law.

Jun Nicdao of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) also found nothing wrong with the interview. As a former journalist myself, I saw nothing that would merit a sanction against ABS-CBN.

What instigated IN Justice secretary Raul Gonzales? 

Gonzales said that ABS-CBN violated its franchise when it gave air space to a known fugitive. He said that Bravo used ABS-CBN to “instigate” fellow Muslims to  ”foment violence or the use of arms”.

Where? Where in the interview did Bravo actually tell his fellow Muslims that they need to raise up arms against the government? I never saw nor heard anything similar to what (in)Justice secretary Gonzales referred to as “instigations”? Am I dreaming or Mr. Gonzales is just hallucinating?

Gonzales’ acts are plain and simple muscle flexing. Government is trying to frighten one of the biggest media networks in the land for one goal–neutralize or marginalize media outlets. Why? Is government laying the ground for martial rule? My mother told me that this is the same tactic employed by the dictator Marcos a year or two before he implemented martial rule. History shows that media was the first one neutralized, second were civil society and people’s organisations, and lastly, progressive middle class groups.

Possible wedding photo?

SPEAKING OF WEDDING BELLS, MY SOURCE TOLD ME THAT THERE’S GOOD NEWS BETWEEN ABS-CBN ANCHOR KORINA BALUYOT SANCHEZ AND SENATOR MAR ROXAS.

REPORTEDLY, THE TWO WILL TIE THE KNOT POSSIBLY IN THE FIRST OR SECOND  QUARTER OF 2009.

MAR WILL ANNOUNCE THE WEDDING EITHER DECEMBER THIS YEAR OR JANUARY OF THE NEXT. (HE ALREADY DID LAST JANUARY 2009 IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER) 

I know this is not entirely a shocker. Korina and Mar are two lovely lovebirds with just a formality of a marriage between them. Both are very good friends. Both love each other. And both deserve each other.

It is not a secret that some members of the Roxas family hate Korina’s guts. Some of them don’t want Mar to marry the ABS-CBN anchor. I don’t really know the reason why. One of them, a close associate of mine, said that the family heard that Korina scolds her staff. Korina daw has a serious temper. 

Seriously, I don’t find that disturbing to say the least. Korina, if you don’t know, is a perfectionist. She wants everything done in an excellent manner. Korina belongs to a very upright family and being Catholic-bred, she’s accustom to seeing everything done in the manner that’s world-class. For me, that’s a plus instead of a minus.

So what if Korina has a temper? Mar can take it. Mar is man enough to take the punches so to speak. Korina accepts whatever past Mar has (Mar admitted having a child with another woman). 

The prospect of First Lady Korina Sanchez? Very good. Is it good for all of us? I think so, yes. If Korina, indeed, becomes First Lady, that’ll be the day. We will have a combative First Lady. We all need that.

Oh, before I end, there are talks also that Ted Failon, Korina’s co-anchor over at ABS-CBN Channel 2, is being groomed to run as Senator. Good luck sir! Ted is a Kababayan of mine. He does not have any serious controversy as a Congressman, never took bribe money and did his job in an excellent way in the Lower House.

Another ABS-CBN talent as Senator seems better rather than electing a vegetable in the Senate.

(NOTE: IF YOU WANT SALACIOUS AND JUICY TIDBITS ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, VISIT this site: ChiChing. Just click on this and you’ll be diverted to the site. It’s worth your while, I tell you. Guess who’s the one being alluded to in the last entry at Chiching.

In fact, I am asking if the Senate could probe Loren for her exact role in the negotiations since it is clear that ransom money was paid. If it was, and Loren was there and even had the gall to tell the world that “no ransom money was paid” and “Ces Drilon was released unconditionally” , then she has an obligation to tell us why she said that despite evidence of ransom payments. I mean, the issue is ethical, since if she’s involved, then, there’s a probability that she knew of these ransom payments and probably (i hope not) participated in it. 

At the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel last Monday, Loren shifted the blame and obfuscated the issue. When asked about her true role in the negotiations, she said that she just communicated with the captors and did not lend a hand in raising ransom money.

What Loren said was probably true but it does’nt absolve her from these ethical questions. In the first place, it is really not the responsibility of a legislator to intervene in purely police matters such as these kidnappings. Loren should have known that she’s negotiating for and on behalf of the Filipino people and whatever things she told those thugs out there in Jolo have a cloak of sovereign power behind it. 

Charlie, Loren’s role, to tell you frankly, is nothing short of dismal. She took part in the later stages of the negotiations when things are as clear as daylight. Obviously, Loren just took advantage of the publicity, nothing more. Sources told me that it was Arlyn dela Cruz who actually facilitated communication between ABS-CBN 2 and the captors. Others, like the Pacer, also did more than Loren. We can’t deny the fact though, that Loren was Ces’ phone buddy during those times and we thank her for it. 

However, next time, Ms. Legarda, try to do things without the fanfare. Try to help without political strings attached. 

By the way, I’ve talked with numerous ngo’s (non-governmental organisations) and within this day, I’ll be setting up a Bangon Bansa Movement. Contribute please, whatever you have. Let’s help our fellow Filipinos out there whose lives were destroyed by Typhoon Frank.

Please help. 

Ces is the third local journalist to be kidnapped by the group, the first one being another ABS-CBN crew covering the Sipadan hostage crisis in 2000 and the next was Inquirer correspondent Arlyn dela Cruz. Former journalist and now Vice President Noli de Castro was himself nearly kidnapped by the ASG when he, along with several other media personalities, visited the camp of the ASG at the height of the Sipadan hostage crisis. The kidnapping of dela Cruz was, I think, the longest one. Reports say Dela Cruz was actually kidnapped by military agents posing as ASG members. That’s the reason why she was allegedly given the water treatment and subjected to both physical and mental torture. No legitimate Islamist group would ever subject their hostages, especially a female, to inhumane treatment since this is prohibited in Islam.

I shudder to think the same thing happened to Ces, since initial reports indicated that she was taken by a certain Pader, a local ASG commander, and Jundain. Jundain is a former MNLF integree who recently joined the ASG, reports say. If this is the case, then, the kidnapping is probably a move to counter a possible interview with the legitimate ASG group.

However, I do believe that all indications point to a release within the next few days. It could be that Ces was made as an unwilling pawn in the ASG’s publicity efforts. Since the death of Khadaffy Janjalani and other more prominent ASG leaders, no news has since been reported about this group. With this alleged kidnapping, the world has, again taken notice. The news could further increase funding for the group and for what?

All indications point to a resumption of open and more serious hostilities between Philippine security forces and the ASG. After the break in the peace process, Mindanao is again starting to become a flashpoint in the entire region. Reports indicate a possible convergence of forces among various Bangsamoro groups in the area. The MILF has been beating their war drums, preparing for war. After a much-publicized independence call, nothing much has been heard of the MNLF. Reports show that some MNLF fighters have joined the ASG, a not surprising development since most ASG fighters did emanate from the ranks of the MNLF.

With the kidnapping of Ces Drilon, it is again imperative for ALL security analysts to train their sights on Sulu. Another note-worthy indication—this kidnapping occurred after the release of Nur Misuari. Is there a connexion?

I watched that clip, shot on cellphone camera, and found nothing wrong with it. It’s pretty natural for a sweet little thing like Marian to lose her composure. I’m pretty sure that the beautiful ladies of ABS-CBN like Kristine Hermosa also lose their tempers when faced with an obnoxious male fan.

In fact, that scene endears Marian more to the public than, say, showing her smiling all the time. That’s what’s wrong with how GMA 7 handles their wards. GMA’s talent center wants them to show faces, not character. There’s always something suspicious with GMA talents.

For example, that young newbie Iwa Moto. Everybody knows that she reportedly struggled with prohibited substances before and everyone knows that she’s one of those “bratties” who always had a brush with the law. Yet, GMA 7 tried to hide it from the public’s eye. That’s the problem.

Probably GMA’s talent center wants their wards to look like ABS-CBN talents. Try to compare GMA7 talents with that of ABS-CBN 2 and you’ll notice that ABS-CBN talents are all gloss. GMA 7 thinks that it’s because of effective propaganda. Actually, it’s not.

ABS-CBN talents look regale because they’re trained like Sampaguita stars of the 50’s and 60’s. They know how to conduct themselves in public without looking fake. It takes years of work before an ABS-CBN talent achieves the “Sampaguita” look, which, GMA 7 misinterprets as something very easy to do.

What’s the secret of ABS-CBN talents? The network tries to always show their “best attributes” instead of creating for them another persona. That’s why when they’re cast in a show, the people immediately connect with them because the people see that their “attributes” jibe with their characters.

For GMA 7 though, stars are always miscast. For example, Katrina Halili was always positioned as a contrabida because she has aquiline features (strong chin and nose, etc.). When you meet Katrina, however, she’s a paragon of poise and beauty, fit for a stellar role. Also, try to watch every GMA 7 tearjerker and you’ll notice that all the main stars are Spanish beauties. Those who “oppress” them look like Filipinas. Is’nt it ironic?

I think the reason why Marian Rivera pales in comparison with other ABS-CBN 2 stars is the fact that she’s always miscast. I know she’s beautiful. I know she’s white. But, there’s something always lacking in her, because her network always fail to show her true colors.

There’s nothing wrong with a strong-willed lady like Marian. In fact, men like myself, love our women that way. Is’nt nice to have a girlfriend or a wife such as Marian, who’ll fight her battles herself instead of just succumbing to one corner and cry?

Heard that Lobo’s getting some dismal ratings, to the consternation of ABS-CBN management. Is that the reason why Angel is again on the baring rampage? She’s a cover girl again, showing her big tits once more and long neck. Well, I don’t know with you, but I’m not the least affected.

Marian Rivera’s show, meanwhile, is not getting the right heat this time. The reason is simple–Marian is just a teaser. Yes, she is. Also, the way she dances is a total downer. As a heterosexual, I am not at all pleased with the way she gyrates on television. She’s not long-legged. Also, there’s something lacking in her, possibly the x-factor? Yes, she’s pretty. But, she’s not a ravishing beauty.

Talk about beauty–over at the Kapamilya station–there’s a bevy of pokpok beauties. From morning til late evening, we are being terrorized by ladies with big tits and obviously, pokpok faces. Enough with this. If this is the way ABS-CBN entertains, this also shows you how the Lopezes really treats us–they treat us like we’re your average kanto boy ogling at those naked ladies over at strip joints.

These are just some of the vivid scenes I recalled during the ZTE probe. Those scenes nearly toppled the regime of Mrs. Arroyo.

Talks are rife that these coverages of the ZTE probe and the ensuing drama convinced Mrs. Arroyo to target the Lopez empire, which not only includes Meralco but ABS-CBN Channel 2. Recently, Senate Minority Floor Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., took potshots of Mrs. Arroyo when he told the media that the target could be ABS-CBN 2.

I don’t believe so. I think government is really bent on changing the management of Meralco. The correlation between ABS-CBN 2 and Meralco is just a malicious insinuation. It is more a counter-propaganda strike than anything, to smear the reputation of ABS-CBN 2 and render it inutile against government attacks.

With anti-Gloria groups silent, expect a weakened Lopez opposition come May 27. I heard that groups have a rally of their own come May 17, ten days prior to the stockholders’ meeting. Will it generate sympathy towards the Lopezes? I don’t think so because this issue of the Meralco takeover is a fractious issue among progressive groups right now.

Now, I heard that she transferred to GMA 7. Heart started her career over rival ABS-CBN. She grew with the network. Then, all of a sudden, she’s now a Kapuso.

Probably, one reason is she’s been left out due to stiff competition. Hey, the long necked with the big assets Angel Locsin is there as a wolf. Other celebrities such as single mom (forgot her name, sorry, the host of Wowowee!) and Christine Hermosa, etc. are all there. Undeniably. ABS-CBN 2 has the most number of beautiful faces and the most sexy ladies in Philippine cinema. Over at GMA 7, there’s only one–Katrina Halili–who’s always miscast as a contrabida.

Why do I think its a wrong move for Heart to cross over? Well, for one, exposure. If Heart thinks that she’ll get more exposure (hence, more ad money) from GMA 7, think again. Ratings wise, ABS-CBN 2 still lords it over the game. And two, her move signals the end of her career. I mean, people would always think that you’re at the ebb of your career when you move to a rival station?

I don’t know the reasons behind Heart’s decision. For me though, Heart has the face and the body to give even Angel Locsin a run for her money. Probably, its a problem of management? Or, maybe, just maybe, she thought that she still has a career after spending most of her young life cohabiting with Echo, the young actor who struggles to find his place under the sun? They both abandoned their careers in exchange for love. And now, they’re both suffering the consequences of it.