MANILA, Philippines?A veteran colleague was given an interesting writing assignment recently by his editor.
?Try to analyze this,? the youthful editor of the broadsheet said as he handed the scribe a long list of 48 names, 32 of them gentlemen and the remaining 16 ladies.
They were Manny and Jinkee Pacquiao?s handpicked ninongs and ninangs for youngest daughter Queen Elizabeth or ?Queenie,? who is scheduled to be christened in General Santos City Sunday.
The roster is a mix of politicians, military officials, businessmen, movie and television personalities, among them ABS-CBN television and radio host Korina Sanchez, who was said to have gone against Pacman?s campaign bid to a congressional seat in the last elections.
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?The list is intriguing, to say the least,? the veteran scribe told his editor. ?Obviously, Manny wants to make peace with people he has been in conflict with, as in the case of Korina.
?It is also obvious that he?s headed for another shot at politics, what with all those senators, congressmen and military officials in the list. There might be some truth to the report that he is running for a congressional seat in the second district of Quezon City.?
Manny has expressed his desire to become a public servant ?to alleviate the plight of the poor.?
If you want to do your own analysis, here is the complete list of Queenie?s ninongs and ninangs who are expected to be in General Santos today to attend the rites of baptism:
Vice President Noli de Castro, Gen. Alexander Yano, Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado, Sen. Manny Villar, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Sen. Francis Escudero, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., Sen. Miguel Zubiri, Sen. Gregorio Honasan, Luis ?Chavit? Singson, Pagcor chair Ephraim Genuino, Rep. Monico Puentevella, Gov. Miguel Dominguez, Atty. Benny Nicdao, Atty. Romeo Macalintal, Atty. Rommel Agan, Atty. Tomas Falgui II, Atty. Giovanni Mata, Atty. Orlando Salatandre Jr. former mayor Alfonso Singcoy, Enrico Pineda, Rex ?Wakee? Salud, Alexander Santos, Paulo Duterte, Charlie Ang, Philip Salvador, Dr. Jose Herrera Jr., Melquiedes Robles, Antonio Albano, Johnny Domino, Jason Strong, Orville Roque, Sen. Loren Legarda, Wilma Galvante, Korina Sanchez, Redgie Magno, Annelle Gozon, Robina Gokongwei-Pe, Dr. Vicky Belo, Bing Atienza, Macy Pineda, Regina Bagsic, Lilia Pineda, Olive Soriano, Margie Kho, Annabelle Rama, Trisha Versoza and Joanne Ramos.
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At ?The Flash and the Furious? press conference held at the Roma Salon room of the Manila Hotel last Friday, the guests could not help but notice the petite, saucy, good-looking lady in black who was with world boxing champ Nonito Donaire.
She was introduced as Rachel Donaire, Nonito?s wife.
People could not resist comparing Rachel to Jinkee Pacquiao. If they rated Rachel sexier, that?s perhaps because the ravages of child-bearing have taken its toll on Jinkee, who has four children.
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Businessman/sportsman Bong Tan spent part of Valentine?s day at an authentic street party in Tondo, hardly the place you?d expect the son of tycoon Lucio Tan to be celebrating.
It was not a Valentines party, but a three-way celebration hosted by the Bacchus team owner for cager Paul Lee?s 23rd birthday, his being named MVP of the recently-concluded PBL conference, and the team?s second runner-up finish.
Bong also invited PBL chair Mikee Romero and commissioner Chino Trinidad to the affair but both had previous commitments.
It was not really difficult to find the place. There was a big streamer that greeted the birthday boy fronting the esquinita where the party was being held. The streamer even had logos of the sponsors on it.
Bong barely missed a scuffle before he arrived at the party, but he said even if he had caught the action, that wouldn?t have stopped him from attending the celebration.
Bacchus coach Lawrence Chongson related that some guys in the neighborhood were chasing each other with knives just before Bong arrived.
I couldn?t tell if he was serious or not.
