THERE is one common controversial thing that Vice President Jojo Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte mentioned recently–Viagra.
However, the two presidential wannabes uttered Viagra in different contexts.
Binay promised during his campaign sortie in Negros Occidental to include pustiso, adult diapers, and Viagra in government giveaways to senior citizens. Duterte mentioned Viagra in jest when asked about his sex life.
The Binay context is obvious. The vice president wants to raise again his falling survey numbers. It exudes desperation. It is also obvious what Duterte wants to rise. It oozes macho confidence.
Come to think of it, Binay seems to have lost his magic. What he now says boomerang. Duterte’s antics, on the other hand, seem to have captured the attention of many. I was amused how a mixed crowd present at one particular moment inside a convenience store responded to “forever” and “infinity.” The Vice Ganda show the other Sunday was even trending in Twitter globally.
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While Binay takes a break from news about an overpriced building in favor of the one on Viagra, the man who idolizes him in Cebu is busy fighting fresh overpricing controversies. Mayor Mike Rama tried to deflect criticisms after the Commission on Audit (COA) again came out with adverse findings for the fourth time.
So far, City Hall has presented a purchase order that tends to show there was no overpricing as far as the controversial alcohol purchase is concerned. I am waiting for documents about the other controversial items like the oxytocin, ribbons, lawaan, and snacks.
Now while at it, Dr. Rene Bullecer was interviewed in radio confirming talks that abuse in the use of oxytocin during delivery could cause brain damage. Worse, the “love hormone” is also used for abortions.
With this information, perhaps City Hall beat reporters need to look into what safety measures are in place to ensure the oxytocin the Rama administration bought is not abused. Do City Health figures on difficult deliveries support the purchase of 3,000 oxytocin ampoules?
This as we await proof that there is indeed a branded oxytocin priced at P280 per ampoule. Again, COA said the DOH Botica has branded oxytocin at only P27 per ampoule.
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National attention the rest of the week, nevertheless, was focused on President Aquino seemingly agonizing who to choose between Secretary Mar Roxas and Sen. Grace Poe. The Mar-Grace dream team could have been a reality by now if not for the former Noy-Bi operative Sen. Chiz Escudero.
Yes, Escudero spoiled the Roxas run for vice president by supporting Binay. However, he soon left the Binay camp for some reason. Today, Escudero is doing his best to foil Mar’s presidential bid by egging Poe to run for president with him as the vice presidential bet.
The way I see it, Escudero is the shrewd political player who cannot boast of having lifted his 2nd class province of Sorsogon despite his two decades in the Lower House and the Senate. His achievements pale when compared to that of Roxas.
I could still remember then DTI secretary Roxas being a key player during the Cebu IT Summit in 2001 that led to the creation of the first IT Council in the Philippines. Roxas presided over the early ICT days of the Philippines that saw the rise of the BPO industry.
However, I realize Roxas is more of the technocrat. He focuses more on making things work and learning from what did not. He is not into crowing about what he has done.
Senator Poe, meanwhile, is a newbie with lots of potential. She has integrity and charisma that shone during her able handling of the Mamasapano hearings. Still, there is this voice inside asking me is integrity and charisma enough to guide us during Asean integration and beyond?
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As these developed, I am glad to learn that the e-commerce sector based in Metro Manila is quite active. I accompanied Doris to help out in the Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) 2015 media launch in Makati’s Impact Hub at the Green Sun building on July 14.
The Open World 3rd Digital Commerce Summit in Rockwell will also take place on Aug. 18 and 19.
Both Open World and GOAB 2015 in Boracay on Aug. 20-21 are helping gear up the Philippine startup community as we enter the Asean Economic Community.
(@anol_cebu in Twitter)