OFFBEAT MAIL

Ms. Rose Fostanes, with girlfriend Adel and friends, celebrates victory at a bar in Tel Aviv. Whenever a certain individual of Filipino lineage becomes a cynosure of international beauty or singing contests, some people from other cultures and even fellow countrymen themselves would either make a potpouri of comments that are sometimes unimaginable and unreasonable. Last year, the Philippines bagged at least four international beauty crowns (Miss World, Miss International, Miss Supra International and Miss Tourism International, plus two 3rd runners-up finish). Consequently, one of the commentors,  believed to be a Singaporean citizen, had made a negative comment which equated the beauty titlist as part of the "nannies" kingdom. What happened next was that she was penalized by the Singaporean government for making such a negative comment in the social media. In view of these circumstances, I'm beginning to realize that winning international competitions, be it a b

Ecstacy pills in the markets. Credit: bar.wikipedia.org Combined police operations have seized more illegal drugs in Metro Manila and the suburbs of Batangas province, where international couriers in cahoots with local Filipinos were apprehended and are now facing criminal charges for illegal drug peddling. This developed after the law enforcers received reliable tips from concerned individuals that led them to their posh condominium hideouts  in Makati City and a ranch in Lipa City, Batangas, owned by the Leviste family, recently. The anti-drug operations were conducted by the PNP, Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). According to Atty. Roque Merdegia, chief of the PNP's Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Force, they had been conducting surveillance operations concerning the movements of a drug dealer in Lipa City, believed to have tie ups with the Mexican-Sinaloa drug cartel, for a long time until they final