Some businesses are recession-proof. Just take a look around. First is the memorial industry; people are just lining up and longing to die. Another one is the cosmetics, wellness and facial care business. Women cannot afford to be seen in public without a made-up face.

No wonder when you read the papers or watch television, there are more advertisements than news. Santa Banana, rain or shine, women as a whole simply cannot live without cosmetics.

***

There must be circumspection and objectivity in the wake of the breast-beating insofar as the Visiting Forces Agreement is concerned. Some sectors are calling not only for a review but a total abrogation of the Senate-ratified agreement.

For one thing, the VFA should not be looked solely in relation to the case of Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith, the convicted rapist of ?Nicole? in Subic, whose continued detention within the US Embassy premises has been ruled as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

More importantly, the VFA should be appreciated in a larger scope because of our relations with the United States.

In the case of Smith, he has appealed his conviction by the regional trial court. As provided for in the VFA, Article 5, Section 6 on criminal jurisdiction: ?Custody of the US personnel over whom the Philippines is to exercise jurisdiction shall immediately reside with the US military authorities from the commission of the offense until completion of all judicial proceedings.? This means that he has to remain in US custody.

In the same section, the VFA provides that ?in extraordinary cases, the Philippine government shall present its position to the United States government regarding custody, which the United States government shall take into account.?

The problem here is that ?extraordinary? was not defined to include heinous crimes like rape.

In other words, in the case of Smith, we have no choice but to abide with the provisions of the VFA. Yes, I agree with those that say that it?s lopsided in favor of the Americans, but unless the VFA is amended, we have to abide by it.

Now, let?s rewind a bit and look at the VFA within the larger picture. The reality of the situation is that we need the agreement if only to deter the intrusion of terrorists into Southern Mindanao. My gulay, we all know that the Abu Sayyaf terrorists have already been infiltrated by the dreaded Jemaah Islamiyah, and were it not for the presence of the Americans in the South, suicide bombings and other acts of atrocities by the ASG would be the order of the day in Mindanao.

Yes, as I said, the VFA is lopsided in favor of the Americans as shown in the case of Smith. For that I agree on the need to review VFA and possibly to amend its lopsided provisions.

But, Santa Banana, the bottom line is not to tie up the Smith case with the VFA. Otherwise, the VFA will be looked at as simply the Smith case, which is not the case.

***

Senator Ping Lacson would do well to stop blaming Malaca?ang as the party behind his alleged involvement in the killing of publicist Bubby Dacer and his driver. Lacson also claims that he will continue to fight graft and corruption even if it means going after the President and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

For one thing, the so-called Cesar Mancao and Glen Dumlao affidavits have not yet been made public. So far, everything is speculation and perception that Lacson, or former President Erap Estrada, are involved.

If Lacson and his handlers can take an unsolicited advice, he should insist that the Justice Department should make these affidavits public so he can defend himself if he needs to.

Otherwise, he?s protesting too much.

As for Estrada, I cannot believe, by any stretch of the imagination, that the former president would want or worse be, behind the killings. I have known Erap since he was in knee pants as my student at the Ateneo High School. I followed his path from being a stuntman to an actor with Premiere Studios, and then on as San Juan mayor, senator, vice president and then president in 1998.

Pusong mamon, that?s Erap, who is ever ready to forgive his enemies. He may have his faults as a person, but to be behind a killing is not his style. I can swear to that.

***

There?s a call for an additional 100 seats in the House of Representatives to ensure adequate representation for a population of 92 million before the end of the year. I am all for it. The Constitution says that the number of congressmen should be no more than 250, ?unless otherwise fixed by law.?

Doubtless, there are many who see merits in this proposal, particularly politicians since it would give them an opportunity to solidify their hold in their political turf.

The other side of the coin, however, is that 40 percent more in the House would stretch the national budget more thinly when the government is already weighed down by a budget deficit. This presents a problem on enormous election expenses every three years.

Consider the case of Para?aque Rep. Ed Zialcita, who is said to have received some P1.8 million from the Legacy Group of businessman-politician Celso de los Angeles. Zialcita admits that he was given donations for his public service projects, which brings us back to the practice of people asking money from politicians. And this becomes more pronounced during an election year, like now.

We cannot say that Zialcita?s case is isolated. Show me a congressman who doesn?t dole out money to his constituents who crowd his door all day long. Some congressmen I know even have patios for all-day meals for their constituents.

Santa Banana, when can we ever rid the country of the national malady of dependency?