“Politics is war without bloodshed,
and war is politics with blood.”

— Mao Tse Tung

***

THE film “The Great Raid” opens today in movie theaters all across the nation, hopefully, to critical acclaim. This is based on two books recounting an engaging World War II tale about an importantly mesmerizing but almost forgotten engagement in the Philippines.

The books are William B. Breur’s “The Great Raid” and Hampton Side’s “Ghost Soldiers.”

The film is the hybridized version of “The Great Escape” and “Saving Private Ryan,” presenting a riveting story of the despair, frustration, anger and hunger of the POWs (Prisoners of War) simply hoping to survive until their liberators arrive.

The U.S. commandos and Filipino guerrilla fighters, though outnumbered and out-gunned, teamed up to free more than 500 U.S. prisoners marked for death at the Japanese camp in Cabanatuan in 1945.

This is an emotionally-packed film showing the brutal captivity and the chilling scene where POWs are chosen for execution at random.

Leading man is Benjamin Bratt, the handsome actor who used to date Julia Roberts. Then there’s Mark Consuelos, husband of actress Kelly Ripa and co-host of “Live with Regis and Kelly,” Joseph Fiennes, James Franco and some others.

From the Philippines, it’s versatile and good-looking Cesar Montano who’s also in the lead.

Don’t fail to see this movie.

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During a visit to New York shortly before he “dropped out” of the 2004 presidential contest, Raul S. Roco visited our Empire State Building editorial office and bantered with the staff.

“Mark my word Bert,” he said, turning to our editor. “You will be my press secretary if I become president.”

Then he recounted that when he was president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), Bert was his press bureau director. So he figured they would make a good team again.

But as he was heading to the door he half-whispered, “of course, I told four others the same thing.”

That was the lighter side of the late and would-have-been-president, but for lack of organization and campaign funds.

He fit the presidency to a T. But no such luck. It seems the voters are not yet ready to pick a brainy president. Perhaps, someday, we will vote with our head.

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The memorable and wonderful year for the Philippine American Communities Executive Council’s Miss Philippines-USA 2004, Barbara Apostol, will soon come to an end.

Monina T. Latuja, president, announced that a new Miss Phil-USA will be crowned on Aug. 13 at the annual Miss Phil-USA beauty pageant and coronation ball at the Sheraton Hotel Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J. Five candidates are vying for the title.

Ms. Apostol, enjoyed her reign with a trip to the Philippines which was her prize, among others. She received VIP treatment everywhere she visited and had a great time. Truly an exciting experience beyond her expectations.

She’s thankful to PACEC, the Philippine Bureau of Tourism and PACEC ex-president Angela Timtiman for making it all possible.

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Loosen up, honeypies. Here’s a li’l chuckle from the late actor and comedian Rodney Dangerfield:

“I’ll tell ya, my wife and I, we don’t think alike. She donates money to the homeless, and I donate money to the topless!”