PGMA placed the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) under the supervision of the national government and empowered Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno to suspend and name civilian and police officials in the region. Arm-twisting or handwashing?

How to “dis-autonomous” a region? Would that be “antonymous”?

ELECTIONS. Presidential candidate Sen. Manny Villar kicked off the Nacionalista Party campaign yesterday inTondo, where he wrote his rags-to-riches story. “Akala mo’y @*$#ño, Iyon pala’y Tondo!”

Self-made Manny’s “Sipag at Tiyaga” is an inspiration for all. Denying the line that he was born in a log cabin, he said, “That was Abraham Lincoln.” He was born in a manger.

NP beefed up its Senate roster with OFW advocate Susan Ople, daughter of the late Senator and Foreign Affairs and DoLE Secretary Blas F. Ople.

NP senatorial aspirant Bongbong Marcos stood down questions of political baggage, saying he is proud to be Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and to run on his own record. He and sister Imee have made peace with Kris at Cory’s bier.

Averring that they could not match the competitions’ money for infomercials, the Liberal Party led by Sen. Noynoy Aquino promised to compensate with effort… while keeping the Roxas-Araneta powder dry…

Presidential son Mikey Arroyo will pass up a third-term bid in support of Pampanga Mayors’ League urging PGMA to run for congress.

They want their own “Malacañang in Pampanga.”

Administration presidential candidate Gilberto Teodoro Jr. was the runaway winner in mock presidential elections in Facebook. Now “Gibo” can toe-to-toe and face-to-face rival presidentiables.

House Speaker and Davao Rep. Prospero Nograles filed a certificate of candidacy for mayor of Davao City, challenging Sara Duterte, daughter of incumbent Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who challenged Karlo Nograles for his father’s Davao congressional seat. To end father-and-daughter dynasty, replace it with father-and-son.

New York-based Human Rights Watch said Comelec Commissioner Melo should reverse its decision denying Ang Ladlad party-list representation at May elections. You can’t skirt the issue!

FOREIGN RELATIONS. Malacañang announced new Cabinet officials, including appointment of Cebu Congressman Antonio Cuenco as the next Philippine envoy to Italy. Political envoys are co-terminus with PGMA, who steps down June 30, 2010. But as chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, Cuenco is assured of tenure under any administration.

UNESCO grants $50,000 for rehab of Ifugao Terraces, the icon of world heritage sites. Ambassador Preciosa S. Soliven hosts a delegation from Cinque Terre, Italy’s world heritage site and a twin relation of Banawe. Italian Ambassador Ana Rubens Fedele concedes there is no comparison:

Cinque Terre vinters maintain terraced vineyards with high-tech tools; our rice terraces are mule-back-breaking tasks. Ifugaos who climb skyscraping hills make far greater sacrifice for mankind.

SOLUTIONS & ABSOLUTIONS. Probers claim Roman Catholic bishops in Dublin sheltered for decades child-abusing priests from the law and most fellow clerics turned a blind eye. Three Hail Mary’s and absolution…

GMA to DepEd: Replicate CNN hero Efren Peñaflorida’s "kariton" classroom. Not Sec. Jesli Lapus’ idea of solving the shortage of classrooms.

SPORTS. RP’s youth basketball Nokia U-16 lost 85-66 to taller, helftier Chinese. But not in shame. The Nationals, behind the hot hands of Jeron Teng and Keifer Ravena, dominated the first quarter before the Chinese imposed their height advantage. It was the smallest winning margin of this ogre of a China team, which smothered by an average of 65 points Saudi Arabia, India, Chinese Taipei, and Korea enroute to the championship.

RP missed the bronze medal in overtime vs Iran. Feedback: jaz@mb.com.ph.