"The congressman has reportedly gathered more than this number."
Over the weekend as I was seated on my Lazy-Boy, I realized that next year I will have been married for 65 years. I wonder whether or not we should celebrate, because, as my wife and I keep saying, whom would we invite? Most of our friends have either gone ahead of us, or are bedridden or wheelchair-bound.
For my group of friends, as far as I know, there are only three of us around. Our summa cum laude, Ting Roxas, former Vice President Tito Guingona and myself. Many of my wife’s friends are themselves not so healthy anymore.
People say you should give your wife a diamond ring for your 65th anniversary. But I cannot afford it.
Come to think of it, when I proposed to my wife, I did not kneel in front of her or give her a diamond ring. But she said “yes” when I proposed to her in close embrace to the sweet music of Serafin Payawal at the Skyroom, to the tune of Mona Lisa, Autumn Leaves, Strangers in Paradise and Love Letters.
I must tell you that marriage is not a bed of roses. There were many times we fretted about where we would get our next meal. After all, she married a journalist. We never expected to be millionaires. But whatever we faced, we always believed in the will of God.
Here is our prayer:
When things go wrong as they sometimes will
When the road you are trudging seems all uphill
When funds are low and debts are high
And you want to smile but you have to sigh
When care is pressing you down a bit
By all means pray and don’t you quit
Success is failure turned inside out
God’s hidden gift in the clouds of doubt.
You can never tell how close you are
It may be near when it seems far
So trust in the Lord when you are hardest hit
It’s when things go wrong that you must not quit!
* * *
I find no one aside from Rep. Martin Romualdez as the best choice among all those running for Speaker of the House of Representatives.
A non-commissioned survey revealed that he is the top choice among those in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. With only two weeks until the State of the Nation Address, three power blocs are reportedly going for Romualdez.
Reports have it that Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor says Romualdez has the support of his colleagues.
Note that Romualdez’s wife, Tingog Party-List Rep. Yedda Romualdez, is also part of the party-list coalition.
Another power bloc is Majority Leader Fredenil Castro. Romualdez spells the difference in Congress, Castro said.
To my mind the most compelling support is from Rep. Joey Salceda, who says Romualdez has the credentials to make a good Speaker.
It is on record that Martin now has more than 160 signatures, well above the 156 needed to clinch the post.
* * *
International businessman Bobby Ongpin outdid himself when he as chairman of the high-end property developer Alphaland Corporation put up Alpha Suites, a serviced hotel, in Makati.
Alpha Suites is now in Trip Advisor’s list of best hotels in Metro Manila.
Ranking first out of 420 in Metro Manila and 1,011 in Luzon, Alpha Suites operates like a hotel and offers apartments suites complete with living and dining areas.
I have gone around the world many times and have booked in the best hotels. I say Alpha Suites is really superb, with world-class amenities.
I’m really proud of Bobby, my former student.
* * *
I have been receiving complaints about the entry of Chinese nationals in Philippine Online Gaming Operations. It seems that Southern Metro Manila has become a target.
There are reports that condo units are being occupied by them, not by the unit but by the floor. They are also said to be taking over agricultural lands for Chinese consumers.
I am alarmed about all these and you should be, too. Soon they will take over the fishing industry.
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