They are here again - DEMAND AND SUPPLY by Boo Chanco

When they descend upon a country, you know something big is brewing. They have this uncanny ability to smell an international headline maker that the locals may take for granted. Last Friday, they seemed to be all there and accounted for at the luncheon of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) which had President Erap as speaker.

I was glad to see again CNN’s Maria Ressa, fresh from the turmoils of East Timor and Indonesia. She says she is still based in Jakarta where she maintains an apartment, but she is looking forward to a long overdue vacation. Fat chance she is going to get that now that the Philippine cauldron seems to be boiling.

As we were having lunch, Maria rang up Seth Mydans of the New York Times and he was in fact, staying at the Peninsula where we were waiting for President Erap to arrive. He was up in his room and was about to join us at the ballroom. During the question and answer portion that followed President Erap’s speech, I think I must have heard just about all of the more important media organizations represented by a reporter who had something to ask about Mr. Erap’s current nightmare.

And the questions were pointed. One Japanese reporter begged the President’s indulgence but went on to tell the President that in his country, a hint of impropriety, a lot less than what Mr. Estrada is facing now, was enough to trigger a resignation as an honorable way out. So, he asked Mr. Estrada if he had any intentions of well... being honorable. Our Erap lamely replied that Japan’s system of government is parliamentary and ours is presidential so he cannot compare.

At the end of the forum, the foreign correspondents mumbled a lot about how evasive Mr. Estrada had been in his answers. But Dong Puno was telling us outside the ballroom that he thought the President was too candid as it is, more candid than would have made Mr. Puno comfortable. From comments I heard, Mr. Puno definitely has a big problem. So much for winning foreign investor confidence.

I can understand if the administration did in fact hire Hill and Knowlton or some other experienced international public relations firm. They need the services of such professionals if they are to minimize the damage to their image. How to justify the use of taxpayers money for such purpose is another thing altogether. Maybe Pagcor’s consultants can conduct a special B2B "benefit draw" (that’s B2B as in Bingo 2 Balls) to raise funds for the PR program without directly using taxpayer money.

As for the foreign correspondents, they might as well negotiate for a long stay rate with their hotels. It looks like it is going to be a long wait. Unless of course, new "atomic bombs" from Chavit or from other soon to be disgruntled Erap cronies are unleashed. Or if the economy unravels faster than we now think likely.

But going back to Maria, I told her she should probably get reassigned to cover the Florida poll count. She is probably just one of the very few CNN reporters who know how to cover an election that sounds pretty much like the ones we normally have in this country. That’s a pitch she can try so that she can also manage to get her long awaited vacation from Southeast Asian hot spots.

Bushisms

Speaking of the US elections, I got two e-mails from readers who say that the alleged Bushisms another reader sent me are actually quotes from former US Vice President Dan Quayle. I was afraid of that, which is why I did say, "if" indeed "W" Bush said them.

Anyway, it makes no difference. As one of the readers pointed out, Quayle (who was chosen by former President George Bush as his running mate) and "W" are both Republicans who managed to go up there fast. And I might add, despite their close relationship with the older Bush, they are obviously nowhere near the qualifications of the older Bush for the presidency of the world’s only remaining superpower.

Zenaida

Reader Theresa Fernandez sent me this e-mail about my friend, astrologer Zenaida.

I was fascinated by your column last Nov. 8 on the US Elections and Astrology. You quoted Astrologer Zenaida Zeva as saying that on election day, there will be elements of confusion and deception. Ehemm! CONFUSION is a word I hear in CNN broadcasts over and over again.

Confusion in Florida where the presidential race is hinging on CONFUSING ballots. People are confused and punched the hole for Buchanan instead of for Gore. People are confused and double punched their votes for president, thus voting for two people and rendered more than 20,000 votes as spoiled! Zenaida saw it before it happened.

I wrote to you to ask you what Zenaida saw in the heavens regarding our own state of affairs. I MEAN, WILL ERAP BE OUSTED? I saw her one time in a talk show and she’s very evasive. You have to read between the lines. She spoke about an unlucky heavenly configurations during the inauguration but it’s all vague. I have a fledgling astrologer friend and he said ERAP won’t resign but will be forced out of office because of an illness, probably precipitated by all these pressures on him. Does Miss Seva see this as well?

Living in the Philippines is really like living in a soap opera. You don’t know what’s next and curious people like me want a sneak peek... I feel helpless...That’s why sometimes I look to the stars to see God’s clues to the future. Maybe, I’ll find out that it will work out in the end and I’ll just coast along... even if I can’t get a visa out and most of my friends have their bags packed...

Static

This one’s from Dr. Ernie E.

"Watch out," the wife cautioned her husband, who was driving. "Can’t you see that car is braking?" Then she snapped, "Don’t pass that truck – his tire is wobbling."

The husband turned on his CB and informed the trucker about his loose wheel. The wife, in a nasty mood because of a headache, was irritated by the incessant squealing of the CB. "Why do you always get so much static?" she asked.

"Because," her long-suffering husband replied, "I’m married."

(Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is [email protected])