However, we were all agreed that the decision had to be up to Noel and his inclination has clearly been to move on. We have filed a case and since one of the policemen lives in the barangay where this took place I am sure the word is out. That make Benzon’s life uncomfortable for a while anyway. However, unless he commits another crime (quite possible) I suspect nothing much will happen, unless we use our connection to the mayor to force the issue (and, as I said, that is not really what Noel wants to do).

By the way, I tried to send you an e-mail using that comment thing on your site, but I don’t think it got through. Since you now have my e-mail address, could you please send a short message. I’ll then reply.

Many thanks

More power.

But doesn’t resentment at the abusado go back further than komiks? I think there are plenty of parallels in reactions to the friars and teachers in Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. The affinity for the “Robin Hood” type characters played by FPJ and Erap probably has some of its roots in the colonial period.

As you rightly say, the behaviour of the Pangandamans at the Valley Club did tug at widely held archetypes , but it also reflects the daily reality for citizens shunted out the way of siren-blaring motorcades taking politicians home for their lunch and humiliated in a million other ways by a political class that sees itself as literally above the law. Blogging has become a sort of “weapon of the weak” for a disempowered citizenry.

Incidentally, a friend of mine plays at Valley and he asked the caddies what they thought. Let’s just say there weren’t too many tears for the De la Pazs from that quarter.

Finally, we have a modern parallel in my country, Britain: the abusive Premier League footballer. In fact, ” Hindi mo ba ko kilala ?” is a line that is often used by these charming multimillionaires as they try to force their way into nightclubs. Well, I guess they say it in English.

See:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-400034/Gambler-womaniser-drinker-brawler-So-thats-John-Terry-captain-England.html

http://thewarriorlawyer.com/2007/02/20/libel-on-the-internet-under-philippine-law/

and

http://thewarriorlawyer.com/2007/08/27/blog-ethics-part-iii-or-how-malu-fernandez-learned-a-lesson-the-hard-way/

Thanks.