The long hot summer is on us. It will be aggravated by the hot air coming from the campaign speeches of countless political candidates. We won’t have only hot air but lots of promises. Very promising!

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There’s a rumor circulating that presidentiable Manny Villar is a “secret candidate” of PGMA. That’s a nasty and unfair gossip.

Unfair for oppositionist Villar and Gibo Teodoro, the administration candidate.

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We can’t help thinking about “demolition jobs” and black propaganda as weapons of destruction against political foes. Whatever happened to God’s 8th commandment: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor”? Destroying the good name of others is a serious offense.

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Senator Lacson should come out and face the music...even if the music is not so sweet.

Running away or hiding will only prove there may be truth to the charges hurled against him.

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Mary “Rosebud” Ong is of course happy about the fate of her arch enemy Ping Lacson. I hope she will not say she has prima facie evidence hearing the gunshots: “Ping, Ping, Ping”!

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GUIDELINES FOR A GOOD VOTER. A concerned reader writes to suggest the following tips to consider in the coming election of presidentiables: 1) Consider carefully his character and track record as a family man. We all agree that a nation can be only as strong as its individual families are strong.

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The family is the single most important unit of nation building. Hence, if the leader we are choosing cannot take care of his own family, how then, can we expect him to take care of the country? (What if the candidate is single? – Fr. Bel).

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2) Consider his character and record as a good religious man. Fear of God will lead a man to righteousness.

3) Consider his character and record in his career/profession. In this case, as a public government official. How long has he been in the government service? What are the good things or bills he has done?

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4) We all agree that “poverty” or kahirapan is the most pressing problem of our country--so, what we need is more business and better economic investment opportunities.

If this is the case, who among the candidates is the best qualified in terms of business abilities?

Who can really say with proven record and history that he can lead us out of poverty?

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5) Finally, because of patronage, most candidates have “utang na loob” to pay after being elected because of huge election expenses.

Let us also examine the candidates’ financial sources. Where did their campaign fund come from?

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Let’s consider all these and pray for God’s guidance to elect the best and the most qualified among all the candidates.

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ST. JUDE NOVENA. Got a serious problem with money, studies or exams, sickness or marital/family relationships?

Tomorrow is Thursday. Join our novena to St. Jude, Saint of the Impossible, at the Divine Word Shrine, Christ the King Seminary Compound on E. Rodriguez Boulevard, Quezon City at 6:30 p.m. A healing session will follow.