Lapsus Calami

In today's Lapsus Calami— BETTER LUCK IN 2028!

CONDOLENCES to all aspiring barangay captains, kagawads and Sangguniang Kabataan officials who were already warming up for the November 2026 barangay and SK elections (BSKE).

Especially those who had been sharpening their knives — politically speaking — to challenge the incumbents.

Sorry, folks. Wala eleksyon. No showdown.

The November 2026 BSKE has been scrapped and moved to November 2028, effectively keeping incumbent barangay and SK officials in office until their successors are elected and qualified.

That is politics. Unpredictable. Sometimes you spend months preparing for battle only to discover that somebody has moved the battlefield two years away.

Pero sa mga challengers, don’t throw away those campaign plans just yet. Do not despair. Think positive. Consider 2026 to 2028 your extended campaign period — probably the longest campaign period you’ll ever enjoy. Tarso!

In politics, two years is not necessarily a setback. It is two years to build alliances and perhaps convince voters that the incumbent has already overstayed his welcome.

Gani, sigeha lang attend birthday parties, bunyag, kasal, belasyon, lubong, fiesta, basketball liga-liga, feeding program, and every barangay activity imaginable. And whenever someone raises a cellphone camera, flash that big political smile.

Meanwhile, kamo nga mga incumbents, don’t celebrate your term extension. Yes, you received two more years. But those are also two more years for voters para bantayan hulag nyo.

Prez BBM himself said the longer tenure should mean better service and greater accountability, not simply additional time in power.

Gani, sa mga incumbents, remember this: You haven’t won the 2028 election. You merely avoided the 2026 election. Haslo!

Sa mga challengers, better luck next time. Indi pagdula-a inyo pag-asa. Your election may have been postponed, but nobody postponed your political ambition. You have two whole years to shake hands, build alliances, remember birthdays, kiss babies and become everybody’s long-lost bespren.

By November 2028, after two years of supposedly “not campaigning,” you should know every voter in the barangay — including their birthdays, anniversaries and favorite basketball teams.

Say mo, Direk Dennis Ausan?

Bro Irene “dies-dies” laughing!

~

Lapsus (𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯) - lapse, slip or error
Calami (𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯, 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 “𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘴”) - pen

“Lapsus Calami” (Slip of the pen) is the most audacious — at times irreverent — column in Panay News. Written with a dash of dry-wit humor in the Hiligaynon language, this daily smorgasbord of what’s hot and what’s not is known for its unflinching take on local and national issues.

Read more items from Lapsus Calami! Grab a copy of Panay News from your favorite newsstands.

In today's Lapsus Calami— NENE VS NERIO: THE FIGHT THAT NEVER WAS

AHAY…the much-awaited verbal sparring between Iloilo City Councilor Nene Dela Llana and Iloilo Provincial Capitol information chief Nereo Lujan apparently will not happen.

After Toto Nerio declined the debate challenge, Sis Nene said he would no longer engage man with the former’s Facebook antics.

Kanugon.

Not because we were waiting for political blood on the floor, but because a proper debate could have served the public better than another round of social-media potshots.

The public spat between the two handsome officials began with a legitimate policy question: the proposed use of civilian drivers to assist the police. It later widened into questions about government policy, public officials’ conduct and other issues involving the city administration. These are matters better argued openly, with facts on the table, than fought through Facebook posts. Tarso!

A debate would have allowed both Sis Nene and Toto Nerio to explain themselves, defend their assertions and answer each other directly. More importantly, the public could have listened and decided whose arguments carried weight. ‘Di bala?

Instead, the gloves are coming off before they were ever put on. That is the letdown. When public officials’ disagreements are aired publicly and accusations and counterarguments fly on social media, the public naturally becomes interested in hearing both sides subjected to the same scrutiny.

Facebook makes it easy to throw punches from opposite corners. A face-to-face debate requires something harder: standing behind every word when the other fellow is there to answer back.

Say mo, Sis Inday Joy?

~

Lapsus (𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯) - lapse, slip or error
Calami (𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯, 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 “𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘴”) - pen

“Lapsus Calami” (Slip of the pen) is the most audacious — at times irreverent — column in Panay News. Written with a dash of dry-wit humor in the Hiligaynon language, this daily smorgasbord of what’s hot and what’s not is known for its unflinching take on local and national issues.

Read more items from Lapsus Calami! Grab a copy of Panay News from your favorite newsstands.

In today's Lapsus Calami— NENE VS NERIO

WE WISH Iloilo City councilor Nene Dela Llana and Iloilo Provincial Capitol information chief Nereo Lujan well – if, figuratively, of course, they decide to enter the ring.

Councilor Nene has thrown down the gauntlet: “If you disagree, then debate me, Sir.” He was referring to the city government proposal to provide the Iloilo City Police Office with civilian drivers that Toto Nerio was questioning, citing a Philippine National Police Memorandum Circular 2012-002 that only cops can drive police vehicles.

According to Sis Councilor Nene, the proposal’s intention is noble – to augment the city police force.

Will the debate materialize?

Why not?

A good public debate can actually be healthy. But only if they debate the issue, not each other.

It can clarify whether civilian drivers may assist the police, under what circumstances, where the limits are and the accountability, exactly where the PNP rules draw the line, and what government policy really allows.

No below-the-belt punches. No personal attacks. No Facebook mud wrestling. Bring facts. Bring the memorandum. Bring the law. Bring your best arguments. Leave the insults, cheap shots and theatrics outside the ring.

Because once the discussion degenerates into “Ikaw ya!” — “Ikaw man!”, nobody wins — certainly not the public.

The Ilonggos deserve enlightenment, not merely entertainment.

So touch gloves and come out debating. May the better argument win.

And please, no hitting below the Facebook belt.

Say mo, Councilor Irene, bro?

Councilor Rex “dies-dies” laughing!

~

Lapsus (𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯) - lapse, slip or error
Calami (𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯, 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 “𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘴”) - pen

“Lapsus Calami” (Slip of the pen) is the most audacious — at times irreverent — column in Panay News. Written with a dash of dry-wit humor in the Hiligaynon language, this daily smorgasbord of what’s hot and what’s not is known for its unflinching take on local and national issues.

Read more items from Lapsus Calami! Grab a copy of Panay News from your favorite newsstands.

In today's Lapsus Calami— WRONG TARGET

WHEN THE lights go out, consumers naturally blame the company whose name appears on the electric bill. But in the present Visayas power crunch, that anger may be hitting the wrong target.

Distribution utilities such as MORE Power and Negros Power have been absorbing the complaints over manual load dropping. Yet MLD is ordered by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to keep the grid from collapsing when there is insufficient electricity coming from generators.

Even Energy Secretary Sharon Garin has made the distinction clear: distribution utilities are not primarily responsible for the present situation. She pointed to problems in both the generation and transmission sectors.

Simply put, a distribution utility can only distribute electricity that actually exists.

You cannot deliver what you do not receive.

And therein lies the rub: when generating plants go offline and supply falls short, distributors are left holding an empty basket — yet they get unfairly blamed for having nothing to hand out.

So before consumers crucify the distributor every time the lights suddenly disappear, perhaps the more important question should be asked upstream:

Who failed to produce enough power in the first place?

Say mo, JonCab?

~

Lapsus (𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯) - lapse, slip or error
Calami (𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯, 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 “𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘴”) - pen

“Lapsus Calami” (Slip of the pen) is the most audacious — at times irreverent — column in Panay News. Written with a dash of dry-wit humor in the Hiligaynon language, this daily smorgasbord of what’s hot and what’s not is known for its unflinching take on local and national issues.

Read more items from Lapsus Calami! Grab a copy of Panay News from your favorite newsstands.

In today's Lapsus Calami— TRAFFIC LIGHTS ARE NOT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

MOTORISTS have noticed that several traffic lights in Iloilo City are not functioning as they should. Some have defective countdown timers, leaving drivers guessing whether they have five seconds left or are about to be caught by the red light.

One recurring headache is the traffic light at the C1 Road intersection in Barangay Tacas, Jaro, where the timer has repeatedly malfunctioned. And worse, there was a time when all the three lights were on – red, green and orange. Tanan nga salakyan literally stopped! Kalot ulo mga drivers. Tarso!

Otro man ang dira sa Barangay Sambag!

Why does repairing a traffic light take so long?

These are not Christmas lights nga kon mapundir, hulaton na lang ang sunod nga Paskwa antes ilisan. Tonto!

Traffic signals are safety equipment. If they came with warranties and maintenance arrangements, City Hall should explain why defective components seemingly remain defective for extended periods.

And which office is actually responsible for monitoring them?

More importantly, does it have personnel with the technical expertise to diagnose and repair these systems promptly?

The prolonged defects have even produced an unflattering suspicion among some motorists: Basi kuno ginapabay-an nga guba ang timers agud mas madamo ang malipat kag madakpan sang traffic auxiliaries? Ano ini, fund raising modus?

That suspicion may be unfair, and there is no basis to present it as fact. But City Hall can easily kill it: fix the damn lights!

Government cannot demand disciplined motorists while giving them defective traffic-control equipment. Haslo!

Say mo, Councilor Sedfrey?

~

Lapsus (𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯) - lapse, slip or error
Calami (𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯, 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 “𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘴”) - pen

“Lapsus Calami” (Slip of the pen) is the most audacious — at times irreverent — column in Panay News. Written with a dash of dry-wit humor in the Hiligaynon language, this daily smorgasbord of what’s hot and what’s not is known for its unflinching take on local and national issues.

Read more items from Lapsus Calami! Grab a copy of Panay News from your favorite newsstands.

In today's Lapsus Calami— DON’T FORGET PAVIA, USEC. JED

THE PLAN of the national government to provide new fire trucks to local government units deserves applause.

Ilonggo Undersecretary for Public Safety Jed Patrick Mabilog of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) says priority will be given to towns without fire trucks, those saddled with 30- to 40-year-old units, and stations whose trucks are already unreliable.

In Western Visayas alone, ayon sa aming bubuwit, around 30 sites kuno need replacements. Naku!

When fire breaks out, every minute counts, and an aging truck coughing its way to an emergency is hardly reassuring. So, good move, Usec. Jed!

But while you’re making that list, the people of Pavia, Iloilo hope and pray nga indi malipatan ang ila pinalangga nga banwa.

Pavianhons say that partly in jest, of course. After all, Pavia was among the relatively few Iloilo towns that publicly welcomed Usec. Jed’s appointment to the DILG. Surely that warm welcome deserves at least a tiny corner in his memory — not necessarily in the allocation formula, ha.

More seriously, Pavia has become one of Iloilo’s busiest and fastest-growing communities.

Residential subdivisions, commercial establishments, warehouses and other businesses have multiplied. With growth comes greater fire risk and a bigger responsibility to protect lives and property.

An additional fire truck or two would therefore not be a luxury for Pavia. It would be an investment in public safety commensurate with the town’s rapid development.

So when those shiny new fire trucks finally roll into Western Visayas in 2027, perhaps Usec. Jed can take another look at the map.

And when his finger reaches Pavia, steady lang anay, Usec. Don't move it too quickly.

Say mo, Mayor Luigi?

~

Lapsus (𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯) - lapse, slip or error
Calami (𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯, 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 “𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘴”) - pen

“Lapsus Calami” (Slip of the pen) is the most audacious — at times irreverent — column in Panay News. Written with a dash of dry-wit humor in the Hiligaynon language, this daily smorgasbord of what’s hot and what’s not is known for its unflinching take on local and national issues.

Read more items from Lapsus Calami! Grab a copy of Panay News from your favorite newsstands.

In today's Lapsus Calami— TO RUN OR NOT TO RUN?

AYON SA aming bubuwit, many barangay officials daw ginabitin na.

September 28 is just around the corner, and that is when the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC) for the barangay election is supposed to begin. Yet, until now, two very basic questions remain hanging in the air:

May election gid bala ukon wala? Maaprobahan gid man bala ang postponement ukon indi?

Under the existing law, the barangay – and Sangguniang Kabataan – election is scheduled for November 2. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) therefore has no choice but to keep preparing.

But Congress has already adopted the measure seeking to move the elections to November 2028, and all eyes are now on Prez BBM. Will he agree or not?

So imagine the predicament of barangay captains and kagawads.

Should they start printing tarpaulins? Assemble their campaign teams? Prepare their COCs? Start visiting every purok and suddenly become extra friendly again?

Or should they simply sit tight and pray that Prez BBM sign the postponement?

Ayon sa aming bubuwit, for incumbents who want another term, the suspense be unbearable. Why spend money, campaign and risk losing an election if Congress can simply give you two more years in office?

For prospective challengers naman ya, the waiting must be equally frustrating. They may already have supporters, campaign plans and perhaps even slogans ready — only to discover that their political debut could be postponed for another two years. Tarso!

Comelec chair George Garcia summed up the uncertainty: unless the law becomes clear before September 28, the filing of COCs will proceed as scheduled. Naku!

So the barangay politician’s dilemma has become almost Shakespearean:
To file or not to file — that is the question.

Perhaps aspiring candidates should prepare their COCs anyway.

Pero indi lang anay magpa-imprenta mga tarpaulin nyo kay basi kanugon lang.

Say mo, Inday Amalia?

~

Lapsus (𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯) - lapse, slip or error
Calami (𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯, 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 “𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘴”) - pen

“Lapsus Calami” (Slip of the pen) is the most audacious — at times irreverent — column in Panay News. Written with a dash of dry-wit humor in the Hiligaynon language, this daily smorgasbord of what’s hot and what’s not is known for its unflinching take on local and national issues.

Read more items from Lapsus Calami! Grab a copy of Panay News from your favorite newsstands.

In today's Lapsus Calami— BAN SMOKING BUT ALLOW THE SALE OF CI******ES AND VAPES?

ISN’T IT ironic? We tell young people: Don’t smoke. Don’t v**e. Then we make ci******es and va**ng products readily available for purchase. Tinonto!

In Iloilo City, the latest figures are head-spinning. Student apprehensions for smoking and va**ng violations jumped from only 20 in June to 51 in July and 59 in August — 130 students in just three months – a staggering 195-percent increase from June to August. Nine minors were also apprehended.

Perhaps the Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ICAST) should do some introspection. If the city government seriously wants people, including the youth, to stay away from ci******es and v**es, why does it allow these products so easy to reach? Tarso!

There lies the great contradiction. Government discourages smoking while ci******es remain available in stores.

Authorities warn against va**ng while v**e products remain accessible in the marketplace. The youth are told that these products are harmful, then surround them with opportunities to buy them.

It is like putting candy on the table and spending the entire afternoon shouting, “Don’t touch!” Haslo!

The rise in student violations suggests that enforcement cannot end with catching the smoker or v**er. Authorities should also examine how these products are reaching students and minors in the first place.

ICAST recorded 3,480 smoking and va**ng apprehensions from June to August, including 3,103 involving traditional ci******es and 377 involving v**es and electronic ci******es. Pwerte!

Catching students puffing ci******es or v**es in prohibited places addresses the visible end of the problem. But what about the supply side?

The city government cannot seriously discourage a habit while being casual about its accessibility.

Say mo, Sir Iñigo?

~

Lapsus (𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯) - lapse, slip or error
Calami (𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯, 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 “𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘴”) - pen

“Lapsus Calami” (Slip of the pen) is the most audacious — at times irreverent — column in Panay News. Written with a dash of dry-wit humor in the Hiligaynon language, this daily smorgasbord of what’s hot and what’s not is known for its unflinching take on local and national issues.

Read more items from Lapsus Calami! Grab a copy of Panay News from your favorite newsstands.

In today's Lapsus Calami— INMATES HIGH BEHIND BARS AT ILOILO PROVINCIAL JAIL

AYON sa aming bubuwit, eight persons deprived of liberty at the Iloilo District Jail – Male Dormitory Annex in Pototan, Iloilo tested positive for illegal drug use following a surprise greyhound operation and random drug testing.

They are taking illegal drugs while already inside jail? Haslo!

Movements are supposedly restricted in jails. Visitors are screened, their belongings inspected. So if eight detainees managed to use illegal drugs while incarcerated, paano napalusot ang drugs?

Somebody had to bring it in, pass it along, or somehow defeat the security measures designed precisely to prevent contraband from entering.

The positive drug tests should therefore be treated not merely as violations committed by the eight inmates but as warning signs of a serious breach in jail security.

Sanctions — including loss of privileges — may be imposed on the erring prisoners. But punishment should not end with them. Authorities must trace the supply chain.

When inmates can still get high behind bars, something somewhere in the security system is dangerously low.

Who supplied the drugs? How were they brought inside?

And most importantly, did anyone on the inside facilitate their entry? Tonto!

Paging Bureau of Jail Management and Penology - Region 6!

~

Lapsus (𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯) - lapse, slip or error
Calami (𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯, 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 “𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘴”) - pen

“Lapsus Calami” (Slip of the pen) is the most audacious — at times irreverent — column in Panay News. Written with a dash of dry-wit humor in the Hiligaynon language, this daily smorgasbord of what’s hot and what’s not is known for its unflinching take on local and national issues.

Read more items from Lapsus Calami! Grab a copy of Panay News from your favorite newsstands.