’DI ko maintindihan itong si Senator Lito Lapid kung bakit kinai-langan niyang magsalita nang magsalita nu’ng tinatanong tungkol sa kaso ng kanyang asawa, matapos itong maaresto sa U.S. dahil sa pagpapasok ng US$50,000 na hindi deklarado at ipinagbabawal ng batas doon. Wala kaya siyang abogado?

I’m not sure if what I saw on TV was edited pero nu’ng tinanong si Lapid tungkol sa kanyang reaksyon, he expressed much worry alright. Surprisingly though, his worries seemed more directed toward his political career and that of his son’s, Mark Lapid.

Siyempre daw ay nag-aalala siya dahil pulitiko siya at pulitiko din ang kanyang anak. Parang mas maganda ata pakinggan kung ang sinabi ay nag-aalala siya sa estado ng kanyang asawang nasa U.S. at nahaharap sa ’di bastang kaso.  Career ba ang unang alalahanin?

Again, as I’ve said, I’m not certain kung edited version ’yung napanood ko. I’m not discounting the possibility that Sen. Lapid also expressed the same degree of worry about his wife. Sana.   

Anyway, isa pang boo-boo ni Lapid ay nu’ng sabihin nito sa interview na alam daw ng asawa niya na bawal ang ginawa niya. Nu’ng tanungin daw niya kung ‘alam mo ba na bawal,’ sinagot daw siya ng oo at nu’ng tinanong daw ni Senador ang asawa kung bakit niya ito ginawa kahit alam na bawal, ang sagot daw ay baka lang makalusot. Susmaryano de garapon naman talaga, oo!

Thirdly, and I hope it will be  the last, sinabi ni Lapid na pagkaalam daw niya ay magpapagamot ang asawa kaya may dalang ganung pera. Kaso, news reports later quoted his wife Marissa as having told the police: “It’s for my house. I’m screwed.” Screwed talaga ang magkaibang version nilang mag-asawa.

Hindi nagkakatagni-tagni ang istorya nila. Parang mahirap paniwalaan na hindi alam ng senador ang ginagawa ng asawa. At tsaka ’di naman 50 pesos lang ang pinag-uusapan noh? At bakit, ’pag ba sinabing sa sakit gagamitin ay justified na ang magpalusot ng dolyares sa U.S. o lumabag sa batas nito? Hay naku. Talagang less talk, less mistake.   Matagal nang kasabihan ito kung bakit marami sa atin ang ’di pa din natututo???

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’Eto ngayon ang magandang katanungan: Paano naman nakalabas ng bansa ang misis ni Sen. Lapid na dala ang ganyang kalaking pera? Sa bagahe ba o sa handcarry luggage at pagkatapos ay inilipat na lang sa maleta pagdating doon?  May nag-escort ba? At kung meron, sino?

Para na din sa kaalaman ng mga nagbibiyaheng readers, under Customs regulations, any person bringing in or taking out of the Philippines foreign currency in excess of US$10,000 or its equivalent must accomplish a foreign currency declaration form which may be obtained from the Bureau of Customs at the NAIA.

Kapag na-fill out na, ’yung form ay isa-submit sa isang Customs officer sa Customs desk, as provided for by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Circular No. 308, Series of 2001, as amended by BSP Circular No. 507 series of 2006. Ang paglabag nito ay punishable under Section 36 of Republic Act No. 7653 o New Central Bank Act, ‘without prejudice to the application of remedies and sanctions provided for under Customs laws and regulations.’

Covered din ng prohibition na ito ang travelers’ checks, drafts, notes, money order, bonds, deposit, certificates, securities, commercial papers, trust certificates, custodial receipts, deposit substitute instruments, trading orders, transaction tickets at confirmation of sale o investments.

Ultimo nga ang peso, ’di pupuwedeng dalhin papasok o palabas ng bansa kapag hihigit ng P10,000 puwera na lang kung me authorization mula sa BSP, ke ’yan man ay notes, coins, checks, money orders o kung anumang bills of exchange.

Sabi nga ni Tita Tess Roque, ang maganda, mayumi, sexy  at magaling na Customs deputy collector for arrival and passenger services ng NAIA, wala kang problema kapag nagdeklara ka dito sa Pilipinas. Pero pagdating mo sa ibang bansa, it’s an entirely different story dahil kung bawal naman du’n sa bansang pupuntahan, paktaylo ka pa din.

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Beauty tip: For those with sensitive skin, toners are best avoided. A good alternative to a toner or astringent would be doing a facial masque at least once a week, which tackles clogged pores while also firming skin and leaving it soft and silky. (Source: Dr. RosaryMay Canay-Diaz of the Le Californian Beau Medical Spa/410-8424/450-1388)                                                                                                                             

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Jokjok (from Johnny de Belen of Pamplona, Las Piñas) -- Teacher: Juan, 1 plus 3?/Juan: Four po, mam!/Teacher: Very good! Ikaw naman Pedro, 3 plus 1?/Pedro: (bubulong-bulong) ’Yan na nga ba ang sinasabi ko eh. Punyeta! Pag mahirap na laging sa akin natatapat!                                                                                                                                                       

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Direct Hit entertains comments, suggestions or complaints. Please have them emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or please text 0929-5953737.