Text scams still making the rounds

The news says that text scams continue to make the rounds. Even Ate Glo is a victim. This news comes from an unimpeachable source.

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The other night while I was pondering on my dwindling bank savings, someone texted me: “Congratulations. You have just won a lot and house worth P1 million. Call this number for details.”

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Earlier I got this text message: “Hon d2 ka mag reply load mo ako 150 pesos.” No one has ever called me “Hon” not even my late wife who loved to call me “Juanito.” Hehe. Of course, I did not reply, let alone load 150 pesos. It’s not even easy for me to load my vintage cellular phone 20 pesos.

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Email from Nenuca Gonzalo: “I read your column everytime it’s out. I like it because it doesn’t beat around the bush. I like your style.” Thank you, thank you, Nenuca. I also like your style. I mean your style of making a compliment. Hehe.

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This column of mine is intended for those who can’t handle the columns of the heavyweights. I make it a point to write as simply as I can so that even a fifth grader could follow what I write about. Of course, those who are smarter than a fifth grader may also read me. Hehehe.

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Levity aside now, I met Manoling de la Cruz, an Aklanon businessman married to a Cebuana who he met and fell in love with in romantic Boracay. I asked him what he had to say on the news story that Boracay island is owned by the State. He said: “I was born in Boracay and grew up in Caticlan ... I never heard the government claiming ownership of the island until this week.”

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Manoling, 72, who was here last week to attend a business meeting, said: “When Boracay was still a sleepy, mosquito-infested God-foraken place, the government never claimed it as its own. The private sector came in and developed the island, pouring in billions of pesos in investment. Now that Boracay has become world class, the government comes in to claim it as its own.”

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The Supreme Court in declaring Boracay as state-owned, cited many laws to support its declaration. “But these laws were already there long, long ago,” said Manoling. “Why didn’t the government claim ownership of the island back then?”

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Manoling’s wife Inday, a native of Cebu City but a resident of Boracay for over 40 years, said when Boracay was inhabited by Atis (Negritoes) the government didn’t care about the island. “Abi kay progressive na man ang Boracay ila nang angkunon,” Inday said. “What happens now to the billions of pesos invested by the private sector?” Inday asked.

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She said many of the investors are foreigners who came to invest in response to the government’s “sugar coated enticement.” Inday revealed that there are also Cebuano business people who have investments in Boracay.

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