APEC’s effects and the Yuletide Season

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PINOY MIXX

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a meeting of 21 Pacific Rim member economies that upholds free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

It was held in Manila last November, causing monstrous traffic around the city and long days of holidays for the students and some public and private employees.

The government is proud to announce the benefits our country has derived from the event justifying the Php10 billion allotted for the event.

Kenneth Cobonpue's world class design at the welcome reception.

Kenneth Cobonpue’s world class design at the welcome reception.

This international gathering of world leaders in a third world country is a way to showcase how far the country has improved. It was also an avenue to acquire more loans to fund forthcoming projects.

The question is do we really spend these loans conscientiously to improve our economy?

Administrations in the past have promised the same things in exchange for the humongous loans we owed other countries.

The recent Yolanda disaster has generated billions of dollars for the rehabilitation Tacloban and other devastated provinces, but the residents find themselves still struggling to recover.

On the other hand, the recent APEC became a valid excuse to showcase the best of the best in our country: from food to world-class entertainers up to the classic designs of the sets and furniture for the venue.

This to me is the concrete saving grace of the event: to allow these world leaders to taste and enjoy Filipino hospitality at its best.

Jon Santos as Aling Dionesia Pacquiao.

Jon Santos as Aling Dionesia Pacquiao.

The multi-talented Jon Santos

Jon Santos has been around in the local entertainment industry for many years. He is considered as one of the country’s finest stand-up comedians/impersonators.

Next to Willie Nepomuceno, our foremost impressionist/ comedian, Jon treats his acts with tongue in cheek approach.

Loaded with political punditry, Jon can deliver it with such élan and wit. His timing has tremendously improved through the years.

WTF (Wala Talagang Forever) is Jon’s show held for several weekends in the month of November and December this year at the Teatrino in Greenhills, San Juan City.

In this show, Jon impersonated Madonna and did “Vogue”, but changed the lyrics and title to “Vote”. In the song, Jon admonished the electorate to vote wisely and put pun on each of the presidential candidate.

After Madonna, Jon did an impersonation of Miriam Defensor Santiago. I was amazed how he could muster and master the words of Santiago and deliver them in a rapid-fire just exactly like her.

Erap Estrada, Noynoy Aquino, and Grace Poe did not escape Jon’s rib splitting impersonation.

When Jon came out as Dionesia Pacquiao the audience was brought to the floor laughing. The accent was impeccably copied.

She depicted Aling Dionesia as the generous matron, who thoughtfully prepared a gift for everyone like a wig for PNoy and a bulletproof vest for Duterte.

The show was produced by a charitable institution which had been raising funds for Jon’s shows ever since. The institution was able to build classrooms in some parts of the country through Jon’s series of shows.

A giant Christmas Tree at the De Lasalle University in Taft Avenue, Manila.

A giant Christmas Tree at the De Lasalle University in Taft Avenue, Manila.

Christ, the reason for the Season

Now that Christmas is here, many of us are celebrating it in so many ways. But, it is only in the Philippines that Christmas is celebrated so passionately.

In non-Christian countries, it has become imperative to celebrate Christmas in one way or the other just to give in to the presence of Christians who want to celebrate it.

However, the celebration of Christmas in this day and age has become exponentially commercial.

Many Christians have forgotten the real meaning of Christmas. In fact, in some business establishments, they have blatantly removed the concept of Christmas and just maintained the idea of celebrating a mere holiday.

The idea of removing Christ as the focus of our celebration has diminished the spirituality of Christmas as the season for joy and celebration.

Lest we forget that as Christians, God gave His only son to redeem us from our sins. And the day that God did this, is on Christmas day. A Christ-filled Day to all!


Who da who?

  • Who is this celebrity whose video has gone viral for her controversial interview? The video has created both negative and positive reactions from the netizens.
  • This legendary actress has garnered numerous awards here and abroad. But the people in the industry are still questioning where all her money went. There even came to a point that she would request meals from some friends.
  • How true is the information that this politician’s next move is to disqualify another opponent and put to jail another political rival? That would leave just one aspirant who is actually an ally and will eventually concede. This politician according to my source is so scheming that he was able to disqualify the leading candidate.
  • This high profile celebrity is rumored to be sick again. It can be recalled that when he was stricken ill the last time, ugly talks about his sickness came out.
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About Author

Rene Orobia Durian is an educator, publicist and media specialist in the Philippines. He spearheads an effective media and press relation management team with politicians, filmmakers, performing artists, religious leaders and education figures as clients.

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