On matchboxes
THIS early, there are already talks about Tomas Osmeña, who lost to Mayor Edgar Labella in the last Cebu City elections, about the former mayor's comeback in 2022.
In a joke or in utter seriousness, usually after a few drinks, Tomas was allegedly overheard telling friends that matches will be given away to signal his return, bearing the message and MacArthurian promise "I shall return - TRO."
Any such fellowship banter usually results in loose talk and generous laughter. One memorable remark, also overheard reportedly from Tomas, is this: "I will return the tiles." Referring to the tiles removed, among other fixtures, from his City Hall office before his term ended last June 30.
The anecdote can be true or embellished but not concocted. When asked about it, a "reliable source" said he can "neither confirm nor deny" that the ex-mayor made the statements. But a broad smile appeared to contradict his "non-answer."
Medialdea-Tulfo feud
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Monday (August 5) Malacañang is washing its hands off the quarrel between Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Manila special envoy to Beijing and newspaper columnist Ramon Tulfo. The reason: the dispute is "personal."
Maybe that's just for public consumption because the feud has reached the court. Medialdea has filed a complaint for libel against Tulfo.
But internally, the Palace may meddle because the quarrel is between two officials and involved the operations of two offices, the president's office and PCSO. Tulfo alleged in a Manila Times articles that Medialdea and Sandra Cam of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office had "an unholy alliance."
If true, it could involve abuse of power and misuse of government resources.
Poor-performing law schools
On the average, 75 out of every 100 students flunk the bar examinations.
Retired Supreme Court associate justice Art Brion, writing in "Manila Bulletin," tells us that:
* In 25 (or 19.08 percent) of 131 law schools, all the bar candidates failed in the 2018 bar exams. Roughly, one-fifth of the law schools had a 0 percent passing rate.
* Only less than 10 percent of the candidates in 32 (or 24.48 percent) of the law schools passed while 37 (or 28.24 percent) law schools had passing rates ranging from 10 percent to less than 22.07 percent, the national bar exam passing average.
A parent may heed the advice to check on a law school's record before entrusting the child's education to the school.
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