What’s in a name?

Netnet Camomot .

“IT’S been a really challenging last couple of weeks, I’ve felt really low in my spirit. I just wanted to write this post to share that low moments happen to all of us. When I find myself feeling down and overwhelmed; where things are out of my control, it helps to remind myself that the only person I can control is myself, to count all the things I have to be grateful for and to plan and look forward to the dawn of a new day.”

Bea, is that you?

But it’s not Bea. It was reigning Miss Universe Catriona Gray who posted that on Instagram. 

So, Alonzo was ghosted by Gerald Anderson, and Gray is feeling low. If that can happen to them, how much more to ordinary mortals like us.

Gray’s post did end with a positive note: “so if you’re feeling down in the dumps, you’re never alone. Situations and life are tough… but so are you. #KeepCalmAndLavaWalk”

Well, reading and writing may help if these are your favorite hobbies. 

And I’ve been reading books lately, and there’s this character in Elizabeth Benedict’s “Almost” that asks, “Who the hell are you dating, Donald Trump?” 

The book was published in 2001, I bought it in 2006 way before Trump became US president, so, I laughed when I read that line a few days ago. Who would have known then way back in 2001 that Trump would be US president someday.

Here in Pinas, the Pinoy is also having his share of shocking moments, especially with President Rody Duterte’s decision to stop Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) gaming operations due to “massive corruption,” which was bad news not only to the Pinoy who has been wishing to win the Lotto jackpot prize, but also to patients who line up at PCSO to request for medical assistance.

Meanwhile, two officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) were caught with P75 million that they asked from a telco. That’s already net of discount. Their original request was P160 million or 10 percent of the telco’s tax deficiency of P1.6 billion in Pasig City which the company was already “able to reconcile and substantiate,” according to the National Bureau of Investigation (Manila Bulletin, 7/27/19).

Makes the Pinoy wonder how long these two BIR officials and their two cohorts had been doing this, and how much they’ve collected so far. 

Taxes also became a topic in Manila when Mayor Isko Moreno announced he would lower its taxes. I’m now waiting for my Cagayanon friend to post this on Facebook again: “CDO got the wrong Moreno.” 

Well, Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno and Vice Mayor Kikang Uy, together with some city councilors, attended the 17th Kagay-anon International Tapok 2019 in New York, and Moreno designated Councilor Girlie Balaba as acting mayor. Practicing for 2022? Hmmm. 

Time can fly so fast. Before you can say 2022, it will be 2022, thus, the need to prepare for the next campaign season today by being visible and increasing the relevance rate to the max until the voter is convinced that CDO, er, CdeO can’t survive without you.

If ever Balaba will indeed run for the highest throne in CDO in 2022, I gotta feeling the opposition will also push for a young mayoral candidate.

But please define “young.” Manila Mayor Isko Moreno is 44. Barack Obama was 47 when he became US president. So, young is now 50 and below? 55 and below? Because once you have a dual citizenship—Pinoy and senior—at 60, you can only be young at heart.

Still, age doesn’t matter. It’s the heart that matters. If it’s spiritually good, then its owner can serve CDO well despite the, uh, advanced age.

When then CDO mayoral candidate Oca ran in 2013, the Cagayanon was convinced he has a good heart. He was re-elected in 2016, he’s now on his last term in office, and the Cagayanon is and will forever be grateful for the projects he has done for the city. And that same Cagayanon wishes that 2022 will again give the city a mayor who can continue Mayor Oca’s vision for the city. 

Yup, we now have to use their nicknames, Isko and Oca, otherwise, it will be confusing as you wonder if we’re talking about Alma or the late German.

What’s in a name? Well, a lot. Paulo Avelino, in reacting to Anderson ghosting Alonzo,  tweeted, “Na Bea Alonzo ka na ba bes??? #ghosting”

And in the US, you won’t want to be a Trump at this point in its political scenario. 

Being an Estrada or Ejercito was also not good for Pinas’ elections this year. 

But to be Catriona Gray means you’re Miss Universe 2018.