Harsh language

At least 120 Russians arrived recently in Manila aboard a PAL flight. Government officials welcomed them with handshakes and hugs. There were kisses too among women.

* * *

I remember during the Marcos regime two Russians visited me in my then rickety editorial office in the old TF building on Manalili St. (not yet V. Gullas St.) After the Russians had left, a PC soldier came in and asked about my Russian visitors.

* * *

I got kind of scared. During Martial Law, PC soldiers scared me. There was no telling what would happen next after they came to see you. Russians then were treated with suspicion, they being communists.

* * *

My Russian visitors were working journalists. They were card-bearing staff members of the Manila bureau of the Novosti Press Agency. And at that time, they were being considered for membership of the prestigious Foreign Correspondents Club of the Philippines.

* * *

I have just finished reading about the split between Azkal Phil Younghusband and movie actress Angel Locsin in my favorite Tagalog tabloid Pilipino Star Ngayon. Did you know that shortly after the split, Phil played for a Makati football team and scored six points? Wow! It was the first time in his football career that Phil scored that much.

* * *

Immediately, sports observers put a meaning to that Phil Younghusband achievement. "Maybe he vented his lovelife debacle on the football, kicking it and kicking it till he scored half a dozen points." This from one observer.

* * *

A fellow mediaman said he recently heard a non-Catholic religious leader castigate the Catholics for what he called "their passionate devotion" to the Blessed Virgin. He said the language used was so harsh and so rude he didn't even have the guts to quote them.

* * *

A Catholic lay minister of my acquaintance said: "Wa ko kasabot ining mga dili Katoliko nga atong kaigsuonan. Nganong grabe man gyud ang kalagot nila sa Katoliko. Wa lang unta hilabtanay sa noh?" (Bitaw, Brad. -- JVJ)

* * *

OVERHEARD. Cebuanos are still talking in coffeeshops about that mayor in Bohol who drove away the Red Cross volunteers. Said one: "Nagkadaghan na ra ba ang hinabang para sa Bohol gikan sa nagkalain-laing nasud sa kalibutan ug sa Red Cross gipaagi." Reply: "Mura man wa tagda sa International Red Cross ang maong Bolanon nga mayor." Reply: "Bitaw. Sige man pangabot sa hinabang. Gibaliwala ra man sa Red Cross ang kisi-kisi sa mayor."