2021 ‘impactful’ news

ILIGAN City ― Per my opinion, these are the various news that glued us to our desks in the year that passed;

I would begin with the news about Dacera. So young, so pretty, and was reported dead in the early days of the year. Men reported to be “gay” had something to do with the sudden death of Christine, a flight stewardess… Suspicions were aired that she was “raped.” The men involved had to talk to the media; they were innocent, they explained. Later a court decided that she wasn’t raped minutes before her death.

There was still a mystery as to what really happened. Later, a mother of one of the men involved, singer and entrepreneur Claire de la Fuente, died too. In her early sixties, reported as “Covid positive” although with comorbidity. We can only guess what went on in her mind earlier, as one of her sons was mentioned in the Dacera case.

And then in mighty America, something happened. A riot occurred in Washington DC at Capitol Hill. It took the whole world by surprise. What with the rioters chanting “Hang Mike Pence! Hang Mike Pence!” And really a place for the hanging was prepared for him.

This is with the “encouragement” of a former President, Donald Trump who did not want to be called “former.”

With this one, many get the perception that nothing is the same with America again.

Here in our own, later during the year investigations by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee revealed something about a company called Pharmally Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Which cornered billions and billions of pesos worth of contracts for the supplies of Covid 19 materials in connection with battling such. Like test kits, face masks, shields, etc. Even if the capital was only P625,000. Which should have entitled it to only P62 million worth. No thanks to the close “friendship” of one Michael Yang who had been an economic adviser of PRRD.

Digong then did not take such investigations sitting down. And he seemed to be in “attack mode” especially against Blue Ribbon chair Richard Gordon.

The latter though was also in his fighting mode especially since senators like Franklin Drilon, Panfilo Lacson, Francis Pangilinan, Riza Hontiveros, and others were just as well, “energetic” in their questioning.

PRRD then said “awful” things about the Red Cross of which Gordon is chair. He also prevented government agency heads from being questioned not to participate in the hearings.

The exchange of words between PRRD then bordered on the personal. Like Gordon saying that he (Duterte) “cannot bully everybody.”

So, the investigation went on.

And we know what happened to Pharmally execs.

Here in this city of Iligan, a “similar” thing happened. A company called GH 2 Enterprises with a capital reported as only a few thousand pesos contracted millions of rice for “ayuda.” The Commission on Audit had many things to say on this. Even as one lawyer then made an “exposé” on this too.

But when the media asked Vice Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz was asked about the matter, as there too would be an investigation (in addition to an earlier investigation) he just played dumb. He just said he “did not know about such COA report.”

And then we had news about Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed “son of God.” Well, he was accused by the American government of “sex trafficking.” He is PRRD’s spiritual adviser.

And then the newly minted American President Joe Biden made much news in connection with that country’s leaving Afghanistan support in a messy way. At first, Biden owned responsibility for all that mess in which his countrymen and even Afghans who supported America had a hard time leaving that embattled country. Which the Taliban then had an easy way to take over.

Biden later blamed Trump.

Which is like what is happening in this city now. Which this present admin of city mayor Celso G. Regencia is blaming former mayor Lawrence Cruz for all the “failed projects” of water or garbage collection. Never mind if they had been there for 9 years, almost.

And then we have this thing about vaccines. This city in particular could not have the desired number of people get themselves vaccinated. But in one signature on a paper, particularly Executive Order 291, people hurried to various vaccination sites. Or else, they can’t move around!

It didn’t help that a group went to court opposing such an order.

But the court favored the city. It is the Supreme Court that must decide on the matter, Judge Leonor Quinones said. And so said Order must be followed.

Election matters then kept people glued to their seats. Would Sara Duterte run for President? Malacanang’s Atty. Salvador Panelo said that when Sara runs, it would be “game over.”

But we know what happened. It was BBM-Sara. One “wing” of PDP-Laban, was in a mess with a Bato, running for President, and then a Bong Go. And then Du30 himself ran for Senator. Only to withdraw, like Bong Go.

But other presidentiable wannabes declared “game on” like Isko Moreno, Manny Pacquiao, Leni Robredo, Ping Lacson, with all the likely “nuisance” like Tiburcio Marcos. Who said several mouthfuls about BBM’s past life.

And then Omicron came. Just like its predecessor, Delta, well, we know that all over the world, people are in a panic mode.

Although some world financial analysts say that “Omicron is just a distraction.” So that people cannot see what the true state of the world is ― financially.

And then Odette came.

And we knew what happened to great parts of Visayas and Mindanao!

Thus, that is, in a nutshell, are among the happenings that “impacted” most in 2021. Oh, by the way, there’s this joke about some dogs. These animals, by the way, helped many people cope with such things as lockdowns in this now pandemic-filled world.

Some dogs, it is said, are “loving dogs.” Others are “action dogs.” Others are “very embraceable” dogs, etcetera, etcetera.

But there is also another dog.

Which is a “retired President!”

And I couldn’t get it at first. But I remembered a post on Facebook, where some President was on a leash by somebody, a President of another country!

(Email: norasorino2@gmail.com)