The Verdict, The Mania,

& The Grandstanding

O YEZ, WE CONTINUE to talk about them – even as we expect a change of topics after Manny Pacquiao’s fight with younger and undefeated Timothy Bradley this coming Sunday …

            About Lady Gaga who arrived in Manila on May 19^th for a two-day concert at The Arena of the Mall of Asia amidst some hullaballoo staged by certain groups against her alleged promotion of blasphemy, Satanism and godlessness through her music and personality.

            About the Chief Justice of the Republic of the Philippines, who was not just granted his wish to be excused but finally removed from office after found guilty by the Impeachment Court. 

            And about Jessica Sanchez, whose mom is our kababayan from Bataan, who ended second fiddle to pure American Philip Philips in American Idol.

            All these happened in a span of ten days towards the end of the merry month of May. It was an exciting time to be watching the news as they brought more drama than a teleserye and more humor than a stand-up comedy. 

Going Gaga Over “Judas” 

    Lady Gaga ushered in the crazy ten days as she arrived in Manila to do her two-night concert May 21^st and May 22^nd entitled The Born This Way Ball. Fresh from rejection in Indonesia and South Korea, the international singer caught the ire of  Christian groups, the Roman Catholic Church, and former public officials like ex-Mayor Lito Atienza of Manila and prominent lawyer Romulo Macalintal with her single Judas. They think the lyrics of the said song “may send the wrong signals to the Filipino youth.”

 

LADY GAGA arrives in Manila.

[Photograph: REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo]

            Lady Gaga vindicated herself as her concert proved to be a success despite prayer rallies, candle-lighting and some grandstanding by some people to stop her from performing.

    The international singer, who first did a concert in the country a couple of years back, explained that she was just using a metaphor in the said song.

           Seriously, I found this whole thing ridiculous, most especially seeing those groups lighting candles in the pouring rain and singing religious songs and waving placards. Shouldn’t they be praying for more pressing problems of their kababayans?

            And the more famous personalities, one of them the perennially flower-shirted Atienza, were simply grandstanding. With the elections next year, it was time to get their faces flashed on TV screens and make their presence felt.

            Never mind if it was something as trivial as Lady Gaga.

The “Coronavela” Finale

          The verdict of Renato C. Corona made us discover the intricacies of legal processes. Some court scenes likewise made us feel déjà vu.

Shared by Lea in Facebook.

 

            Using the words of Prosecution lead counsel Niel Tupaz, this was a defining moment in the nation’s history “as we try to make sense of all the pain that this Impeachment Trial has caused.”

            More than the pain and the enormous amount spent to hold it, the 44-day event paved the way for reforms – both legal and personal – among people in public service. Senator Judge Miriam Defensor-Santiago is probably right and I guess it was time that atonement starts for hypocrites and liars.

            The amusing candor of some of the Senator Judges – led by the very impressive Senator Presiding Judge Juan Ponce Enrile – as well as the legal counsels from Prosecution and Defense will definitely make me miss this afternoon TV fare. As host/actor Luis Manzano tweeted: “And now there’s nothing to watch every afternoon, sana may DVD set na lumabas.”

            Prosecution counsel Rudy Farinas brought the house down by saying Mr. Corona’s lengthy monologue was nothing but a palusot.  Senator Judge Jinggoy Estrada maintained that “the Chief Justice is a learned man of law,” adding he cannot accept his testimony regarding his dollar accounts being tied with some confidentiality clause. 

            Senator Judge Lito Lapid surely earned a few more votes with his statement: “Nung nagsasalita si CJ nagsusumbong sa taong bayan, awang-awa ako sa kanya … yun pala hindi totoo ang pinagsasabi niya … pasensiya na po ang hatol ko sa inyo, guilty.”

ONE OF MY FAVORITE

scenes from the Impeachment Trial:
Senator Judge Lito Lapid in camera … action!

[Photo: Junny Roy/ABS-CBNnews.com]

             In the long and the short of it, the Impeachment Trial has served its purpose. It made us laugh but learn as well. I agree with the 20 senator judges that Mr.  Corona is indeed guilty beyond reasonable doubt. 

            Aside from learning heavy words like waiver, hypoglycemia and sui generis, I learned that, regardless your status or position in life, every word or each deed must always be done in good faith. The impeached Chief Justice used it as his sole defense but there’s no such thing as twisting the law in good faith. 

            The phrase good faith is just another word for honesty and as early as grade school, we were taught that that is the only policy.

Jessica Is World Idol

          I didn’t expect Jessica to win. I have no intelligent comments like those of Jim Paredes or Lea Salonga. I just know that the Americans won’t let somebody half their breed to become American Idol or they might as well change the name of the show.

            She is only No. 2 but as ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol’s Ted Failon has said in jest, “No. 2 is better than No. 1.” History shows, too that the non-winners in this reality show always made it bigger than the winners.

            Well, whatever  ... but the Jessica Sanchez mania couldn't get any hotter as many profess that she’s the real American Idol. As my favorite director Joey Reyes said in an article written by Bayani San Diego in The Philippine Daily Inquirer, “132 million votes did not exactly indicate who the winner should be. Let Americans crown their Idol. Jessica won the world!”

          Phillip Phillips has that killer smile but he’s definitely not the better singer. I am not being biased but I agree with an American fan who said that what he got were sympathy votes. I also cannot blame that little blonde girl who threw a tantrum when Jessica lost. 

ADMITTEDLY, I FIND Phillip Phillips

better looking with his killer

smile but this is a singing contest and

Jessica Sanchez is the better singer.

[Photograph: AP]

          There is even an ongoing survey – ANH Nation Poll asking Did the right person win the American Idol? [Go to Yahoo! OMG! and click the poll’s icon to vote …] – proving that Phillip’s victory is not absolute.

 

             The important thing is Jessica, who’s got Filipino blood running in her veins, has once more made us proud of our race. In the midst of the impeachment trial and talks of corruption, abuse of authority and poverty in this nation of ours, she has successfully inspired us to come together and champion the Filipino cause. It doesn’t matter if it was just for musical prominence because in between the voting and the cheering, it was proven that Filipinos always unite to support one of their own. 

            In ending, let me share another quotable from stand-up comic Willie Nepomuceno from the same article in The Philippine Daily Inquirer. He said in his usual joking manner:

             “Sayang. Were it not for the confusion and divisiveness of the Pinoy overseas texters, we could have had the first ‘American Idol’ from Asia. A number of them thought Phillip Phillips was the Pinoy pride candidate and voted for him. Could any other name be more Philippine than that? Adding to the confusion was the usual clannish and partisan attitude of Pinoys made worse by the network wars. Of course, votes for Jessica Soho and Korina Sanchez were nullified! Seriously, only time will tell. Who knows? This whole thing may even boost local tourism … now the Americans know that it’s more fun with Phillip Phillips.”