GMA orders the National Food Authority, the Food Terminal, and the Philippine International Trading Corp. to ensure that basic food supplies and prices of basic commodities are stable.

Just make sure we have enough rice and we’ll be okay.

***

Filipino children are getting more money allowances from their parents than children in Japan, Australia, and India.

***

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus has dropped his plans to run for senator after consulting with his family.

***

Chiz Escudero, who has bolted from the NPC, is running for president as an independent.

For him a team-up with Lakas- Kampi is out of the question.

***

NPC want to coalesce with other political parties and very likely will team up with Lakas Kampi.
With your money and my genius, we’ll be going places.

***

Feeling forlorn after the sudden departure from their ranks of Chiz Escudero, the NPC might opt to choose Loren Legarda as its presidential candidate.

It’s the only way to go.

* * *

Because of automation, results of local elections will be known a day after the close of the polls while results of the senatorial race and party-list representatives will be known in 36 hours.

Progress.

* * *

Comelec rules that GMA can run for Congress in her bailiwick in Pampanga without having to resign from the presidency.

***

Commission on Higher Education is set to close 177 nursing schools.

That's a lot of diploma mills.

***

A sedentary life and an unhealthy lifestyle are contributing to the rapid rise in diabetes among Filipinos.

***

The Department of Education has issued guidelines on the responsible use of Internet services by students and school officials. “The Internet is a powerful

learning tool but we should be able to observe protocol so that we can fully optimize its benefits,” said Education Secretary Jesli Lapus.

***

Manny Villar, a front-runner in the presidential race, vows to conquer the Philippines' biggest problem – poverty.

Poverty will win.

***

DENR Secretary Lito Atienza is on track in warning on the disaster about to happen in Laguna de Bay. Because its waters are choked by too many fishpens owned by the rich and powerful, the water level has been rising to dangerous levels during typhoons.

Forty-two towns and half a million squatter families sitting on the foreshores are in danger of drowning, and soon.

***

One of the country’s oldest populist parties, the Lapiang Manggagawa, is adopting former Public Works Secretary Jun Ebdane as its standard bearer in the 2010 presidential elections.

LM describes Ebdane as the new Andres Bonifacio for unifying Muslim and Christian populations during his term as National Security Adviser, being a non-traditional politician and getting things done efficiently.

***

Speculations that GMA will run for congressman in Pampanga instead of retiring quietly is stirring up the political front.

If true, her action will have no precedent.

Pundits are claiming the President will aim to become Speaker of the House.

Anything is possible in politics.

***

A team-up between Manny Villar and Loren Legarda is almost a certainty.

Failing to conquer poverty, Manny conquers Loren.

***

There are reports that Lakas-Kampi is falling apart with leaders either bolting to the opposition or fighting each other in local politics.

No such thing, says Secretary General Gabby Claudio. We’re still the party to reckon with.

***

Lakas-Kampi will announce next week its choice for vice president to team up with Gibo Teodoro.

The candidates are Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia, Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto, Loren Legarda, and businessman Manny Pangilinan.

***

Chiz Escudero has left the NPC, an entrenched political party, and will run as an independent, with no political party to back him up.

His action has no precedent in history. Will it work?

***

Chiz is counting on NGOs and sectoral groups to campaign for his presidential bid, ignoring the support of old-time political practices.

He is paving the way for a new kind of politics. Will it fly?