THE heavens wept, as did the entire nation.

What if there had been no rains from the time President Cory Aquino passed away to her interment five days later? The throng would have been much bigger, I’m sure. It was huge as it was, but can you imagine if it hadn’t been raining throughout her wake?

And what if Ms. Gloria Arroyo had been in town during that whole period?

As one of her allies once famously said: "She’s one lucky bitch," or some such words.

Ms. Arroyo felt compelled to go through the gesture of paying her respects to the departed President Cory, but she had to do it in the wee hours of the morning.

I can only imagine the dilemma she was in. As the supposed leader of the nation, she couldn’t even pay her respects to the country’s democracy icon "openly." She had to do it at such an ungodly hour when the number of people queuing up to view President Cory’s remains was low. A pity.

The consensus seems to be that the overwhelming expression of sympathy and love by the people for President Cory was as much a manifestation of their antipathy towards Arroyo. It was a dire warning to her. It was as though they were saying: "Don’t mess with us anymore. Don’t try extending your term by any means fair or foul beyond 30 June 2010 or you face the consequences of our wrath."

As if to boost what must have been her low spirits after having to pay her respects to President Cory in the wee hours of the morning, Ms. Arroyo was reported to have gone to her home province the following day. She probably needed a dose of people warmth.

It is beginning to look like Arroyo does plan to run for congressman in next year’s elections. No, not because she wants to become prime minister. The Con-ass is dead. If at all the Constitution is to be revised, it will take place during the incumbency of the next Malacañang occupant who will, naturally, want to be the premier in a parliamentary government.

The real purpose is to try to shield herself from all the legal suits that await her the minute she steps out of Malacañang.

I have no idea what sort of immunity she will get by being a congressman. Assuming, for the sake of argument, she will be immune from suits, the question is: "What about her husband? Will he get immunity by extension?" Of course, he can also run for Congress.

I am all for having President Cory’s picture side by side with her late husband, Ninoy, on the P500 bill. It will also be a good opportunity to change the image of the late Senator with a more appropriate one.

Do we not remember our parents telling us that it’s "bad" for anyone to prop his chin with his hand (nakapangalumbaba)? That it brings bad luck?

A picture of a more cheery Ninoy and Cory would be a lot better.

Speaking of monetary notes, whenever I am handed one or more of the P200 bill with Ms. Arroyo taking her oath as president in 2001, the first thing that comes to mind is "malas ito" (this is bad luck).

I am not saying it is "malas" because of Arroyo’s photo. No. I am just reminded of the time when we still had a P2 bill and I thought everybody felt the same way. A $2 bill also seems to be "shunned" in the US. It has become a rarity because they stopped printing it, I think.

Arroyo’s minions have taken out a centerfold ad in several newspapers on the cheap medicine act she signed recently.

In it is that stupid slogan again: LABANAN ANG KAHIRAPAN.

Not too long ago, that idiotic slogan was plastered all over the metropolis. Perhaps by coincidence, after I wrote about it and its stupidity, they all disappeared suddenly. And now, it is with us again.

Do not these idiots realize that if you are poor, nothing is cheap? Especially medicine? And so, I ask again, how do the poor fight poverty? By cutting down more on their eating habits? By not getting sick? When you hardly have anything to eat, you are prone to illness. So, how? Morons!

Speaking of fighting poverty, the 7 August 2009 online issue of New York Post carried on its Page Six section the following item:

"The economic downturn hasn’t persuaded everyone to pinch pennies. Philippines President Maria Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was at Le Cirque the other night with a large entourage enjoying the good life, even though the former comptroller of her country’s armed services, Carlos Garcia, was found guilty earlier this year of perjury and two of his sons were arrested in the US on bulk cash-smuggling charges. Macapagal-Arroyo ordered several bottles of very expensive wine, pushing the dinner tab up to $20,000."

Such profligacy and insensitivity at a time of national mourning and natural calamity wreaked by typhoons!

Arroyo’s chief mouthpiece said it was Congressman Martin Romualdez who paid for the bill. He is the son of Benjamin "Kokoy" Romualdez, brother of Imelda Marcos, and a perennial member of Arroyo’s junketing entourage.

Who was it who said we have a damaged culture? Assuming it is so, Ms. Arroyo further damaged it by messing with the selection process of National Artists. Ano ba ‘yan?! Will there be no end to her brazen disregard of established rules for personal and political reasons?

And how about the appointment of an ex-actress who happens to be the wife of actor-senator Bong Revilla as San Miguel Corporation director representing the government’s share in the company? Isn’t that an obvious accommodation?

The Chinese government, specifically the Nanjing Qinhuai River Construction Development Corporation, has offered to assist the Philippines in cleaning up the Pasig River. The said company was responsible for bringing back to life the once heavily-polluted Qinhuai River in Nanjing.

I believe the authorities concerned would do well to consider the offer. Every little bit helps, especially considering the gargantuan problems involved in cleaning up the Pasig River.

One of them is the resettlement of families residing along the riverbanks. Under Executive Order 54 of 6 January 1999 that created the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC), formal and informal settlers along the riverbanks must be "at least well-off after relocation as they were in their places of origin." They must also be relocated to secure and affordable housing projects in an orderly and peaceful manner.

One of the affected families is that of Ms. Casilda L. Fonollera who has written to Vice President Noli de Castro. Excerpts from her letter follow:

"The purpose of this letter is to bring to your kind attention and consideration my plight and that of my immediate and extended families and neighbors whose common address is 2764 Lamayan Street, Sta. Ana, Manila.

"I am Casilda L. Fonollera, the widow of Pedro A. Fonollera. On Thursday, July 23, 2009, I received a 30-day notice, referenced above, which was addressed in his name. Its instruction is for us to voluntarily demolish our residential dwelling of over 50 years. This notice is under the auspices of the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission as the governing body, of which you are one of the key officials…

"We will oblige, comply, cooperate and demolish said residential dwelling but the 30-day notice is short, unattainable, unreasonable, impractical, unfair, astringent, malapropos, unconscionable and unlawful….

"This deadline does not afford us to find an equitable housing accommodation proximate to the children’s school in order not to disrupt their education or provide the money and resources needed for moving expenses because of our impecunious living standards. (It also) does not take into consideration that the heads of the families are presently gainfully employed and their respective employment may be jeopardized and compromised….

"- On behalf of my immediate and extended families and my neighbors, I pray that your good office will defenestrate and abrogate the 30-day notice and submit on our behalf our request for an extension to a full year to expire on July 22, 2010;

"- Mobilize all responsible and participating agencies to render us assistance in whatever we may need as we prepare to vacate;

"- If the City of Manila improperly collected and received real estate property taxes from me and my family over the years, I respectfully request that the local government duly reimburse us for all amounts paid plus reasonable interests thereof; and

"- If we were considered ‘formal’ land/homeowners as a result of these collected taxes, we request monetary compensation under the eminent domain provision in our constitution…."

There are 323 days left before the end on 30 June 2010 of the stolen presidency of Ms. Arroyo, courtesy of "Garci", et al.

Today is the 98th day of the third year of Jonas Burgos’ disappearance.