The PNP concludes that it was an explosion caused by accumulated gasses that were set off by something still unknown. In fact, there is no evidence that shows how the explosion occurred and what set it off. The reasoning of the PNP is that since it was not a bomb, then, it must have been a gas explosion.

How do they know that it was not a bomb? Because there was neither shrapnel nor any evidence of explosives or even a bomb crates. Ergo, say the police, it was not a bomb. Thus, it had to be gas. What else could it be?

The mall owners, on the other hand, say that it could not have been an accumulation of gas since any gas leak would have dissipated in the open air, since there was no closed place for the gas to accumulate. The mall has expert testimony from engineers and other scientists that the explosion could not have come from any gasses – not methane, LPG or any other gas. Since it was not a gas explosion, then, it had to be a bomb!

Both arguments fall short because both the mall owners and the PNP have not been thorough enough. Also, one has to suspect that the PNP rejects the idea of a bomb since this would show them to have failed to secure the country from terrorists. As for the mall owners, if it was a gas explosion, wouldn’t that mean that they were negligent and wouldn’t they thus be liable for huge sums that the victims of the explosion can claim from them?

***

I am one of the victims of the Lopez family. I have been a subscriber of Skycable for about the last ten years or so. Now, this cable TV provider has just pulled the plug out of any enjoyment that I was getting from television. I dislike the programming of Channel 2 and hardly watch any local TV.

Whenever I watch the news on TV, I turn to GMA 7, which I find to be a better news gatherer because it has no gods to protect, unlike Channel 2. Of course, it is still hateful that both TV stations trivialize the news by mixing rumors and chismis with the hard news that they give us but sometimes one cannot wait for the morning papers and must know what is happening.

Thus, I have cable TV and watch golf, the NBA and not much else.

Now, Skycable has not renewed its contract with Solar TV that was providing the only programs that I stay up to watch on the Skycable line-up.

I will be changing my cable provider to Global Destiny Cable in order to see golf, the NBA and the coming Olympics that are exclusively on Solar TV.

I blame the Lopezes for this situation. I have to assume that it was Lopez that drove Solar away. I cannot see why Solar would get out of the Skycable line-up on its own accord. I have to assume that Lopez wanted to take over Solar or control it. That is how that family has always been.

***

Finally, Senator Joker Arroyo has seen the light that most of us have been looking at for years. Now that Charter Change is being pushed once again for the nth time, Joker says: "One does not need a magnifying glass to detect the ultimate objective and that is, a move to re-open the campaign to amend the Constitution. In the vulgar vernacular, it’s a ‘palusot.’ That must not happen.

"Just to open the door a little bit, so debates follow, and before you know it, the door is thrown wide open and a whole slew of amendments will follow."

It does not take genius to see what the administration is up to. Sadly, its minions in the lower house will try to push these (and the other, real amendments that are the ones that really matter and which are actually what Gloria wants done) as mightily as they can. Of course, the Senate will not allow this. As before, the Senate will defeat any chance that a Cha-cha can occur while an untrustworthy person is at the helm.

What we should look at is what Gloria will do to counter the expected rejection of Cha-Cha at the Senate. Since she wants the Constitution changed, she must have some sort of plan on how to get the Senate to go along with her. The House is already a done deal. Her congressmen will do exactly as she wants. The Senate will be a tougher do, even for her.

***

I had a grand time playing at the 3rd Angel Lazaro Jr. Golf Invitational at the Ayala Greenfield Golf and Leisure Club. If you ever see a tall, gangly golfer wearing a green pith helmet, that has to be Angel Lazaro Jr.

His invitational began when he was 88 years old with the tournament of his friends at the Manila Golf Club. This third one was specially important because Angel Lazaro is now 90. I was honored to be in his flight for this tournament. There was Angel at 90 and still pretty spry for his age and with a pretty good swing, too. Second youngest was F. F. Cruz who is, according to Angel, two years younger, and Dr. Serge Brillantes at 81.

Our flight was thoroughly enjoyable. Angel and FF had their beers at the tee house. It was a typical golf flight when the players are playing for the fun of the game and not for the scores.

Angel Lazaro is an architect. He likes to tell the younger folk that he designed the Manila Post Office among other buildings. That gives you a clue to how long he has been around. Angel still drives himself wherever he goes and walks most golf courses. He beat about 10 of the 34 players in his tournament.

After the golf, his friends were invited to the Crossroad 77 Convention Hall in Quezon City by his children – Lito, Del, Mel and Maeng – for the "celebration of 90 years of life marking the birthday of our beloved father Angel Lazaro Jr."

I am hopeful that when he celebrates his 100th Birthday in 2019, I will still be around for the 13th Angel Lazaro Jr. Golf Invitational.