By Alex P. Vidal
“Nope, no sex scandals yet. But I am open to offers!”— John Cusack
THE only difference was Dovie Beams, a Hollywood actress, allegedly became then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s mistress for two years (1968-1970).
Stormy Daniels, on the other hand, is a porn star who claimed she had sex for one night at Lake Tahoe with then businessman and future US President Donald Trump in 2006, while wife Melania Trump had just given birth.
Marcos’ affair with Beams was uncovered after the radio station of the University of the Philippines (UP) publicly played the recording of their sexual encounter and consisted of the following segments:
-Breathing and moaning sounds of Ferdinand Marcos;
-Act of physically moving while in the bed as stated by Ferdinand Marcos;
-Verbally declaring “I will kiss you” as Beams giggled in return;
-A plea to Beams (interpreted to be allegedly for performing oral sex);
-Marcos singing the Ilocano folk song “Pamulinawen” to Beams as a gesture of serenade.
The tape came from Beams herself who recorded everything while she and Marcos were having sex.
Then First Lady Imelda Marcos was indignant, and she reportedly started to “befriend” (I didn’t say she also had sex with) then Hollywood star George Hamilton. I will stop here before someone accuses us of being a Marites. The rest is history.
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The words “hush money” was never mentioned in Marcos’ affair with Beams since Marcos probably did not pay Beams for her sexual services.
It was the height of the conjugal dictatorship and the opposition couldn’t use the scandal to outmaneuver Marcos, who had the entire nation under his grip when he declared Martial Law on September 23, 1972.
Trump, now back as private citizen after serving as president for four years (2016-2020), is facing indictment from the Manhattan District Attorney for allegedly paying hush money to Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. He may be arrested anytime as of this writing.
Trump, who lied (and continues to lie) about his 2020 election defeat to President Joe Biden, has declared his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, thus his supporters suspect the Stormy Daniels scandal is being used by the White House to undermine his credibility as a candidate.
New York City District Attorney Alvin Bragg had set up a grand jury to investigate whether there was enough evidence to pursue a prosecution against the former president over the money paid to Daniels.
He is the person who will decide whether or not there will be an indictment, if one were issued.
A grand jury is held behind closed doors and set up by a prosecutor to determine whether there is enough evidence to pursue charges in a case.
If charges are issued, it would be the first criminal case ever brought against a former US president.
On his social media network, Truth Social, Mr Trump called the investigation a political witch-hunt by a “corrupt, depraved, and weaponized justice system”.
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US Master and chess journalist Marlon Bernardino has confirmed that New York-based Filipino engineer Donato “Gerry” Gamaro stirred the hornet’s nest in the US chess anew when Gamaro finished tie for second to fourth places in the Class C section of the 31st annual Eastern Class Chess Championships on March 17-19, 2023 at the Sheraton Hartford Hotel, Bradley Airport, Windsor Locks, Connecticut.
A member of the Filipino American Association of Engineers (FAAE) where he served as vice president in 2019, Gamaro halved the point with Sebastian Lopez in the last round to finish with 4.0 points on three wins and two draws, the same output of third Jaryd Malbin and fourth Daniel Brown.
“I was unable to convert clearly winning positions,” said Gamaro, playing under the guidance of personal coach National Master/ Engineer Mario Lawsin Rebano.
“It is possible to tie for first place,”he added.
Meanwhile, Bernardino revealed that Perla Uma won the prestigious Continental Chess Association tournament after tallying 4.5 points.
It shall be recalled that Gamaro, who hails from Calauan, Laguna won the Under-1600 category of the 14th annual Foxwoods Open International Chess Championship last April 17, 2022, at Foxwoods Resort Casino & Hotel in Connecticut.
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GENEALOGY OF MORALS. Walter Kaufman, the translator of Friedrich Nietzsche’s two masterpieces—On The Genealogy of Morals and Ecce Homo—believes of all of Nietzsche’s books, the Genealogy of Morals comes closest, at least in form, to Anglo-American philosophy: it consists of three inquiries, each self-contained and yet related to the other two.
Kaufman says even those who suppose, erroneously, that Beyond Good and Evil is a book for browsing, a collection of aphorisms that may be reading any order whatever, generally recognize that the Genealogy comprises three essays.
Moreover, all three essays deal with morality, a subject close to the heart of British and American philosophy; and Nietzsche’s manner is such more sober and single-minded than usual, explains Kaufman.
The book is Nietzsche’s major work on ethics and was written in 1887.
It shows him using philosophy, psychology, and classical philology in an effort to give new directions to an ancient discipline.
The work consists of three essays. The first contrasts master morality and slave morality and indicates how the term “good” has widely different meanings in each.
The second inquiry deals with guilt and the bad conscience; the third with ascetic ideals–not only in religion but also in the academy.
Ecco Homo, written in 1898 and first published posthumously in 1908, is Nietzsche’s review of his life and works.
It contains separate chapters on all the books he himself published.
His interpretations are as fascinating as they are invaluable.
Nothing Nietzsche wrote is more stunning stylistically or as a human document.
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PREVENT THE SPREAD OF FLU by doing the following: 1. Staying away from people who are sick–and staying home when we are sick; 2. Covering our mouth and nose when we cough or sneeze; 3. Washing our hands frequently; 4. Don’t touch our eyes, nose, or mouth.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)
