Q and A

Panel 1- Raphael: " Cong Grafar, according to our law, your job as a Congressman is to create laws and not get involved in projects.."
Panel 2- Raphael: " Why don't you just follow the law?"
Panel 3- Cong Grafar: " What about you people? You always cross the street where it's not allowed!"

Q and A

Panel 1- Ryan: " The best writing tool is my Mongol pencil.."
           Russell: " It's no match to my Montblanc pen.."
Panel 2- Ryan: " Can it write underwater?"
           Russell: " Of course not!"
Panel 3- Ryan: " Well, my Mongol can.."

NOTE: Mam Janet is the mastermind of the pork barrell scam that involved Senators and Congressmen

Q and A

Panel 1- Senator Curapin: " The job of a Senator is to pinpoint projects.."
Panel 2- Cong Grafar: " The job of a Congressman is to pinpoint projects.."
Panel 3- Raphael: " It would be nice if by their pointing, they get the ire of elementals.."
NOTE: There is this Filipino folklore about not pointing to something that's interesting or unusual because the Elementals might not like it and punish you like having long fingers instantly or getting lost on the way..

Q and A

Panel 1- Stan: " Raphael, what is the noble profession?"
        Raphael: " Teacher!.."
Panel 2- Raphael: " What is the Honorable profession?"
                  Stan: " Senator and Congressman!"
Panel 3- Both laughing
Note: Because of the pork barrel scam involving Senators and Congressmen, both houses' image has been damaged beyond repair.

Q and A

Panel 1- Raphael: " What is a Jedi if he doesn't have a lightsaber?"
Panel 2- Raphael: " What is a Batman without Robin?"
Panel 3- Stanley: "  What is a lawmaker if he doesn't have pork barrel?"

Daang Matuwid

Panel 1- Cong Grafar: " I will fight for my right to give scholarships to poor kids.."
Panel 2- Cong Grafar: " I will fight for my right to give medicine to those who are sick and bury those who died.."
Panel 3- Stan:" Lawmakers will fight for everything just so his pork barrel will not be taken away from him..".

Daang Matuwid

Panel 1- Cong Grafar: " As a Congressman, I know what are the problems in my province at the edge of the Philippines.."
Panel 2- Cong Grafar: " And I also know very well the needs of my constituents.."
Panel 3- Raphael: " Cong Grafar, how would you know when you live here in Global City?"

Note: Bonifacio Global City is a high end place in Metro Manila

Daang Matuwid

Panel 1- Police officer: " I'm the police. You can't park here.."
         Senator Curapin: " So what?! Don't you know me?"
Panel 2- Senator Curapin: " I am Senator Curapin. Do you want to be assigned to Mindanao?"
              Police officer: " No. sir.."
Panel 3- Senator Curapin: " You! Who are you? Why are you looking at me?"
                        Stranger: " I'm an auditor from COA ( Commission on Audit ) and I want to ask you some questions.."
             Senator Curapin: " Have you eaten? Hehehe..."

Daang Matuwid

Panel 1- Stan: " The showbiz mentality of Pinoys is unusual.."
Panel 2- Stan: " Miss World made a courtesy call in Malacanang and they made a pair out of her and P-Noy"
Raphael: " So what?!"
Panel 3- Raphael: " Megan would make a beautiful first lady.."

Daang Matuwid

Panel 1- Driver: " Boss, we also need to turn in a straight path.."
    Cong Grafar: " No way!"
Panel 2- Cong Grafar: " The President's order is to take the straight path so we must follow him. Is that clear?"
                       Driver: " Yes. sir.."
Panel 3- The driver took the straight path instead of a right turn

Daang Matuwid

Panel 1- The straight path started from Luzon
Panel 2- It also started from Mindanao..
Panel 3- And they will meet in the Visayas

Notes:
Daang Matuwid or Straight Path is coined by President Aquino to warn the crooked officials he meant business. Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are the three largest islands in the Philippines. Luzon at the top, Visayas in the middle and Mindanao at the bottom.

Much have been said about taking the straight path. In today's strip, the straight path literally meant the road built but didn't meet in the middle. Something for the President and the engineers to think about..

Senator Curapin

Panel 1- Raphael: " Cong Grafar, you already have 70 million pesos in pork barrel fund, right?"
       Cong Grafar: " Yes.."
Panel 2- Raphael: " Why do you have to accept 15 million pesos additional fund?"
Panel 3- Raphael ( upon seeing Senator Curapin ): " you don't have to answer that.."

Senator Curapin

Panel 1- Stan: " Senator Curapin, you already have 200 million pesos as your pork barrel, right?"
         Curapin: " Yes.."
Panel 2- Stan: " Why did you accept the 50 million pesos additional fund?"
Panel 3- Curapin: " Well, it's bad to refuse manna.."

Senator Curapin

Panel 1- Grandaughter to Sec Abad: " Granpa, give me some money for school.."
                                       Sec Abad: " Here's five pesos.."
Panel 2- Grandaughter: " Five pesos?! Grandpa, how come you can give Senators 50 million pesos each?"
Panel 3- Sec Abad: " My dear, it's not my money.."

Senator Curapin

Panel 1- Secretary: " Sir Abad, there are already people outside our office.."
             Sec Abad: " Huh?! Why?"
Panel 2- Secretary: " They want you to be their Godfather.."
             Sec Abad: " Godfather?!"
Panel 3- Secretary: " Yes.sir.. they say you are like Santa Clause when giving away money.."

Senator Curapin

Panel 1- Senator Curapin: " Cong Grafar, why do the media targeting us just because we received money from DAP last month?"
Panel 2- Cong Grafar: " You're right, Senator Curapin.. why are they blaming us when we just received the money.."
Panel 3- Cong Grafar: " They should blame the DBM because it's the one who gave us the money.."

Note: DBM is Department of Budget and Management

Senator Curapin

Panel 1- Doctor: " Senator Curapin, your blood pressure is now ok and all you need is to be careful in eating pork.."
Panel 2- Doctor: " Aside from too much pork being bad for your health.."
Panel 3- Doctor: " ...the Ombudsman might charge you for plunder.."

To Pork or Not to Pork

Panel 1- Reporter: " Senator Curapin, it appears you are involved in the pork scam.."
  Senator Curapin : " They have to prove it.."
Panel 2- Reporter: " They say you need to appear in the Senate investigation this Thursday.."
  Senator Curapin: "  I'll be there!"
Panel 3- Newscaster: " Senator Curapin will not be able to attend today's hearing. He was rushed to Saint Luke Hospital because of problem with his liver and gizzard.."

NOTE: Some politicians resort to having themselves confined at Saint Luke Hospital to escape investigations by the Senate. In the case of Senator Curapin, I don't know if he has a gizzard like chickens. Oh, well...

To Pork or Not to Pork

Panel 1- Senator Curapin: " It's not my job to determine if the NGO ( Non Government Office ) where I put money from my pork Barrel is genuine or not.."
Panel 2- Raphael: " But Senator Curapin, you are the one who signed the paper.."
              Curapin: " It's fake!"
Panel 3- Raphael: " And the whistleblowers said you got 60% kickback from this project.."
              Curapin: " They're lying.."

To Pork or Not to Pork

Panel 1- Broadcaster: " A rank and file employee was caught bringing home a box of paper clip when she passed by Security and had her bag checked.."
Panel 2- Broadcaster: " She was swiftly terminated from work to serve as an example to others.."
Panel 3- Broadcaster: " Three Senators and 23 Congressmen are involved in the 10 billion pork barrel scam but they will remain in their position until a case is filed against them in court.."

To Pork or Not to Pork

Panel 1- Raphael: " Many people are angry that some lawmakers are involved in the pork barrel scam."
                   Stan: " Don't worry, Raphael.."
Panel 2- Stan: " Senator Drilon promised that the government will bring back public trust to Congress.."
Panel 3- Raphael: " Well, I hope aside from public trust, they will also return the public funds they stole from the people.."

To Pork or Not to Pork

Panel 1- Raphael: " Stan, worst thing happened to a 17 million pesos pork project in Zamboanga.."
Panel 2- Raphael: " 2000 Farmer-trainees received a bagful of earthworm each to help in soil cultivation of their farm after their training.."
Panel 3- Stan: " They 're lucky because in other pork projects, the farmers received water cress.."

Note: 17 million pesos worth of earthworm or 60% was pocketed by the Congressman

To Pork or Not to Pork

Panel 1- Raphael: " Cong Grafar, isn't it your job is to create laws?"
       Cong Grafar: " That's right, Raphael.."
Panel 2- Raphael: " Why do you have to be involved in projects?"
       Cong Grafar: " It's hard to be creating laws all the time.."
Panel 3- Cong Grafar: " You know, all work and no play makes a Congressman a poor boy.."

Honorable Pork

Panel 1- Senator Curapin: " Stan, in case I go to Hell, can I bring my millions?"
                                Stan: " I don't think so, Sir Curapin.."
Panel 2- Stan: " Paper money will just burn and coins will only melt because of the heat.."
        Curapin: " How about Platinum?"
Panel 3- Curapin: " I have 13 Platinum credit cards. They say that Platinum is difficult to melt.."
                  

Honorable Pork

Panel 1- Raphael: " Senator Curapin, a person like you should have moral values.."
              Curapin: " I know, Raphael.."
Panel 2- Curapin: " People trusted me and it's only fitting that I remain honest to them.."
Panel 3- Runner: " Boss Curapin, they can't go any higher than 40% kickback on the NGO project of your pork barrel.."
Curapin: " Tell them 60% or else.."

Honorable Pork

Panel 1- Raphael: " Stan, leave Cong Grafar to me! I'm going to save him from turning bad.."
Panel 2- Stan: " Raphael, I'm doing this because it's my job.. nothing personal.."
        Raphael: " I know.."
Panel 3- Raphael: " But you already have three Senators and 34 others involved in the pork barrel scam!"

Honorable Pork

Panel 1- Raphael: " Cong Grafar, I am your Guardian Angel and it's my duty to save you from misery.."
Panel 2- Cong Grfar: " Thank you, Raphael, but what about Stan?"
Panel 3- Stanley: " Cong Grafar, I am your Guardian Devil and it's my duty to bring you to misery.."

Note: Having difficulty translating ' kapahamakan ' in the context. I thought of 'saving you from danger' but it seemed not right in the story so I used 'misery' to generalize what it means