“Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build bridges even when there are no rivers.” –Nikita Khrushchev
Only a bridge could solve problem regarding the Iloilo Strait. It would not kill the local maritime industry but it would provide a better alternative for travelers and commuters, especially during inclement weather. Such a structure would also eliminate the hassle of suspended travel, such as the recently-reversed suspicion of motorbanca operations following the recent tragedy that killed 31 people.
A bridge would also speed up transactions and prove beneficial to both Iloilo and Guimaras.
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Much like priests and pastors, police officers also receive gifts as “tokens of appreciation;” heads of state, church leaders, and military officials also accepts gifts. However, it takes a hypocrite cop to claim they have not received the offer of a gift (there are really a few determined enough not to accept gifts).
Nobody takes RA 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, seriously.
The law clearly states: “Government workers should not accept gifts in exchange for favors.”
While presents of small or insignificant value are reportedly exempted, most who accept gifts justify the act by pretending what they got was “just peanuts.”
The ultimate test will come in a few month: the Yuletide season.
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If a young person wishes to become a communist, voodoo practitioner, or exorcism advocate, their parents should not be cursed or blamed for it. If it’s a person’s choice, it is their destiny and there is nothing parents can do about it, especially if the person is of legal age.
Parents, however, are responsible for their children’s education in the early stages, especially in the formation of values and character. It is assumed, when children reach legal age, they know what is wrong and right; they know what is legal and illegal.
Brian May once said, “The biggest emotion in creation is the bridge of optimism.”
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Alex P. Vidal, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo./WDJ