Former NEDA Director General Ralph Recto asked PGMA to appoint career officials to slots vacated by Cabinet members running for public office. No time for on-the-job-training. Let professionals hand over the baton to the next administration.

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Addressing the League of Municipalities of the Philippines at the Manila Hotel, PGMA asked local officials to set aside part of their revenue for anti-poverty programs to uplift the conditions of their less fortunate constituents. “Let us give it our all,” she exhorted.

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Just give it all, Ma’m, and we’ll lick poverty.

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Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap said the visit of US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack shows international community support for RP to overcome the impact of back-to-back disasters.

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… And all along I thought he was here to boost sale of US flour wheat for pa de sal?

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Let’s indulge Agri sec Yap some hype. He is the only Cabinet member who has not used his department’s budget for infomercials for his campaign for congress seat.

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Pagasa named an unwelcome storm “Santi.” Couldn’t pick a worse time than our Todos los Santos.

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As public service in the aftermath of devastation wrought by Ondoy and Pepeng, our firemen began fire-hosing Manila cemeteries… even the tombstones of those we are sure are in heaven.

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The Fish Cemetery, a popular attraction at the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) office in Barangay Bonuan Binloc, Pangasinan, is being spruced up for All Saints’ Day.

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Buried at the cemetery are 12 dolphins, two whales, and a sea turtle. A 14-foot whale shark found dead in Manila Bay last Wednesday will be added. Sorry, no Wanda or Dyesebel.

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The marine species buried at the cemetery are listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Burying the remains of protected fish species educates people that it is illegal to eat or sell their meat.

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A fish museum is being constructed next to the Fish Cemetery to develop public appreciation for marine life and the endangered species. It will house photographs and published materials on marine life and information on the species buried in the cemetery. Among the museum’s main attractions are the bones of 1.5-meter long whale nicknamed “Moby Dick”

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VP “Noli” De Castro decried International Finance Corporation and World Bank WB study which placed RP 144 out of 183 in ‘ease of doing business.’ Tip, to improve, just add “Gr” to the category.

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On the upside, UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) senior regional coordinator Jerry Velasquez disclosed that RP ranks 12th among 200 countries most at risk from tropical cyclones, floods, earthquakes and landslides. We would have made it to Top 10 if they included man–made disasters.

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Sen. Loren Legarda, chairperson of the Senate climate change committee, warned that the rice yield of the Philippines will drop from 50% to 70% in 10 years if the government does not do anything about climate change adaptation. Don’t say that Cassandra didn’t warn you.

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Miss Aheu Deng of Sudan tops the 90 contestants at the Miss Earth Pageant at Boracay Ecovillage Resort and Convention Center. She stands 6’5’ without stockings.

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Trainer Roach is just too glad that Manny Pacquaio finally moved to US training camp. No floods, hordes of fans, distracting tv and movie interviews… just hard grind training.

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Not even the distraction of coming political heavyweight fight vs Roy Chiongbian. One fight at a time, Manny. Feedback: jaz@mla.com.ph