Okay, maybe not. But it’s nice to dream, diba? Here’s a link to Bb Pilipinas-Universe Anna Theresa Licaros’ profile on the Miss Universe website. She’s real pretty, and I thought she was a strong bet, until I saw this contestant. Oooh, these South Americans make it so hard for the rest of us, especially us dark and dusky Orientals. Ah well. First runner-up for Tere isn’t so bad. Maybe her smarts will make up for it....

I just revisited the story of Kyle MacDonald, who made headlines a few years back with his website, OnePaperClip, where he started a trade cycle with a paper clip. He traded it for a fish pen, then a doorknob, and eventually ended up with a house. I read his story first on Reader’s Digest, and the idea has always intrigued me, although I doubt its efficacy in the Philippines. Would’ve been really cool, though, if I could start with a...

Cathy and I had an interesting discussion yesterday at home about former Senator Teresita “Tessie” Aquino-Oreta. Most Filipinos know her as the “Dancing Lady,” one of the infamous senators who voted to keep closed the envelope that would have confirmed whether or not former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada was Jose Pidal, the name of someone who siphoned millions of pesos into accounts here and...

Page C2, lower right. Photo of me and Bo Sanchez. Coooooool. Thanks, Pam!

Long before he shot his life to heck – along with his wife Whitney Houston – Bobby Brown made some spectacular music. In particular, his 1992 hit “Humping Around” from the album “Bobby” was a stubborn piece of ear candy that stuck to one’s brain and refused to let go. The follow-up, however, was a melodious toe-tapper that I felt was absolute R&B genius. Titled “Good Enough,” the track...