Briefs

Lawmakers switch parties
Politicians who ran and had been proclaimed winners in the May 9 elections under the Liberal Party (LP) have started switching to the incoming ruling party Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) of incoming president Rodrigo Duterte. As of May 25, more than 60 out of 115 LP members in the House of Representatives have formally signified their intention to join the majority bloc. But President Benigno Aquino III, LP’s chairman, said on March 26 that it was understandable. He said it was consolation enough that he has been getting “thank you’s” from officials, regardless of political color. Founded by former senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. in 1984, PDP-Laban was the biggest political party during and after the 1986 people power revolution. The party catapulted the late Corazon Aquino to the presidency after the revolution.

Duterte vows to behave 
Incoming President Rodrigo Duterte has promised to follow protocols and behave after taking his oath of office on June 30. He also advised media persons to not take seriously everything that he says, particularly when his statements are preposterous. “I am trying to enjoy the last days of my rudeness,” Duterte said in a press conference at midnight on May 25 in Davao City where he temporary holds office. Manila-based media men, he said, should learn how to decipher which among his statements are serious and which are mere wisecracks.

Rizal sculpture on auction
A PLASTER sculpture by Jose Rizal, the only Rizaliana of its kind to be offered for public auction, is the main highlight of León Gallery’s “Spectacular Mid-year Auction 2016” on June 11, the Inquirer reports. “Jabali” (Wild Boar) is one of only some 40 extant sculptures of the National Hero. Many of them were destroyed during World War II.  León Gallery director Jaime Ponce de León  said  the midyear auction would feature artworks, antiques and objets d’art from “distinguished provenances.” Other major works on auction include Botong Francisco’s   “Pista ng Angono,” Nena Saguil’s 1953 oil-on-wood “Barrio Mother and Child,” Pablo Amorsolo’s 1942  oil-on-canvas “Dalagang Bukid,”  Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo’s oil-on-canvas “Chateau d’If,” National Artist Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera’s 1998 acrylic-on-canvas “Isadora in Motion,” Ang Kiukok’s 1997 oil-on-canvas  “Cockfight”