A moment of silence for Lolong.
Recognised by National Geographic as the world’s largest crocodile in captivity at 20 ft 3 inches, the giant croc of Bunawan, Agusan del Sur — Lolong — is now dead. And dead will also become of the many businesses which, for some time, have capitalised on Lolong’s “short-lived” worldwide fame.
Lolong was caught in September last year and was thereafter kept in a local zoo to help enliven Bunawan’s tourism, but that is a thing of the past now.
Investigations are on-going to determine the cause of death. And local authorities are asking to keep the preserved body of the reptile for the future to see. Well, maybe the croc is gone for good. This makes me think: Had the croc not been caught, it would have been alive to now.
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Speaking of crocodiles, it’s election campaign period! Well, officially at least. Let’s not fool ourselves: these candidates have been campaigning long ago (even long before Lolong was caught perhaps). But they call their earlier ads/appearances/programs and projects/media coverage as public awareness drive. Whatever.
So we’ll vote for 12 senators come May 2013.
What I’ve noticed though is that, a lot of faces and names of senatorial candidates seem familiar. Recycling should we say? Count in the re-electionists, former candidates, old senators from eons ago, seeds of political dynasties.
Well, this is what we get so far from the Team Pnoy and UNA. Speaking of which, there are three common candidates between the two opposing parties — they are supposedly independent. Their loyalty? It depends.
Another note is how a political slate can bring together formerly the worst of rivals into one team. What wonders politics can do? Well, it’s the culture we’ll all get used to and get tired of as we live and die, honestly. Lolong knew.
So in the next few days, we’ll have to expect headlines to be about how families break and make up for politics’ sake; and how we’ll get renewed hopes as we hear colourful promises to the tune of our favourite pop songs and get LSS. By the way, political jingles can’t go Gangnam Style, too late— they already did.
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Pope Benedict XVI is stepping down as the highest leader of the Catholic Church on 28 February due to advanced age. The next pope will be voted upon by the convention of cardinals from all over the world including Filipino Luis Antonio Tagle.
Upon knowing this, many Pinoys hoped Tagle would become the first Filipino pope. It was as if being Pope was American Idol or Miss Universe (Remember how we rooted for part-Filipina Jessica and fierce Janine Tugonon who both placed second).
On the other hand, if ever the new Catholic Patriarch indeed comes from the Philippines —that would be quite ironic, since we’re home to both the descendant of St. Peter and the largest crocodiles in captivity.(I’m not talking about Lolong)
