FIRST, people are talking about...
* CAT BEING AN AUSSIE. A front-page headline accompanying a photo of Catriona Gray in the Australian tabloid "Courier Mail" says "Miss Universe Philippines" but with the word "Philippines" crossed out and underneath it, the word "Queensland" is written.
The claim is that Cat grew up in Queensland and came to the Philippines only when she reached 18 to pursue a modeling career. She has a western name, Caucasian looks and speaks like a foreigner when she speaks Tagalog (she has an Aussie accent. To be sure, she does not look like a full-blooded Filipina.
Depends on what the Miss Universe rules say about blood requirement (her mom is a Filipina) and residence requirement (she moved from Australia only when she reached the Filipino age of majority).
Australian Hit Radio website screams with the headline, "Australian girl won Miss Universe but she wasn't Miss Australia." Essentially correct. The Australian girl just happened to adopt the Philippines as her country, registered for the contest representing the Philippines, and won as a Filipina.
So far, no protest has been filed with the Miss Universe organizers. Just the chatter of "Foul!" on the internet.
* COFFEE BEFORE SESSION. A senator, answering Juan Ponce Enrile's criticism that nowadays the Senate holds "coffee-table" discussions, not debates, says JPE was misinformed. They gossip at the coffee table in the Senate lounge, then debate at the session hall. Enrile served as senator for 23 years and wants to be senator again.
Only Congress can help
Some critics say Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena or even Cebu City may not have the legal standing to sue for "Angkas" and "habalhabal" drivers. Neither he nor the city is a real party in interest, not an owner or driver of a motorcycle who business or occupation is affected by the Supreme Court decision that lifted the TRO against motorbikes for hire.
Others say that even if he is allowed by the high tribunal to sue, there is nothing that can be done for the drivers unless the Transportation and Traffic Code is changed.
A job for Congress, which congressmen from Cebu City, including Tomas who is a former House member, could have helped.
Tomas's announcement to sue may win votes for himself and BOPK but won't revive the Angkas and "habal-habal" business. Partido Barug members urge the Cebu congressmen to initiate amendment of the law instead.
Erik Espina plays 'pakipot'
Cebu City Councilor Erik Espina will lose in January the council seat that James Anthony Cuenco will occupy again (after the Court of Appeals overturned decision dismissing him). But he is playing coy about not pushing through his plan to withdraw his COC. He will see, he said on SunStar's Facebook Live Wednesday (December 19), "I will decide after the holidays."
When pressed for his answer "now," Erik said that just like for a woman being sued, the reply may be put off. How possible or probable, someone asked. Which set off the former Cebu governor's son on a tutorial on what is possible and what is probable.
James retiring 'for good'
James Anthony Cuenco, whom Erik Espina substituted for when Cuenco was ordered dismissed, also appeared at the interview.
His announcement: he would retire from politics for good. James can no longer substitute anyone in the Barug slate unless for unusual circumstances (death or disqualification of a substituted COC filer who bears the same surname as the substitute). He said that even if he could, he would not run anymore.
That would be after June 30, after he completes the term that he may resume in January -- or leave the political scene once and for all.
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