A World Turned Upside Down

Alas our world has turned topsy turvy. Thanks to the machinations of past powers who still yield considerable influence in the country.

Just a few weeks ago, the ex-president's spokesman, a lawyer by profession, diagnosed and announced that his principal was in "critical condition" and was to stay in isolation in the hospital.

Just yesterday, the lawmaker brother of the former First Gentleman said that his doctors will decide on whether he was going to appear before a Senate committee.

Yes, only in a country long suffering from the greed and lies of the past administration does a doctor decide on legal matters and a lawyer diagnose medical conditions.

So what's next? Do we now let some clergymen run for office or lawmakers decide on moral issues? Oh sorry, that too has long been happening.

Reel or Real?

I witnessed this early this afternoon as I was taking my daughter to school. This was in front of Odds.com Internet cafe on Tomas Morato in Barangay Sacred Heart, Quezon City. There were at least two video camera crews training their sights on a cordoned off Honda Civic. Several uniformed SOCO men could be seen inspecting a car ala-CSI. At first I thought it was another film shooting. But then I recognized someone who looked like a TV reporter. So was this a real crime scene or was the TV reporter doing a cameo for yet another TV serial?

Tomas Morato and what is referred to as the Scout area in Quezon City is a virtual studio lot of both ABS CBN and GMA 7. A number of soap operas and telenovelas are filmed in the streets, establishments and houses in the area. Thus it's not uncommon to have shootings in the area. 

Just the other day, a police chase was filmed across our building, a five or six hour shoot featuring Robin Padilla and Diether Ocampo. The guns and uniforms used seemed genuine. And except for the two lead stars whom one would never mistake for ordinary PO1s, the extras looked like real cops, moonlighting as bit players.

So was the scene I witnessed today real? Unfortunately, I will probably only know if I watch TV Patrol tonight.