As per the photo, Dexter Remolar (my protagonist) couldn’t believe that he could memorise the whole Bandila spiel. He tuned in to that news program before. It was available on free to air. The show folded in 2020, after fourteen years. The faces may have changed but it remained robust and informative. TFC (The Filipino Channel) exported it to the world. The ending spiel reminded Dexter of a wrestling tag team.

The programme only took thirty minutes but left an impression. It tackled politics, natural disasters, crime, fashion, sports, tech, and entertainment. Uplifting news and trends. Powerful entities and the less fortunate. Soccer stars and actors. Buses and electricity. Musicians and painters.

He was introduced to the current crop of Showbiz stars. The Azcals that represented our national side in football. Gilas Pilipinas and their heroic runs in b-ball tourneys. Public transport in Manila. Christmas in September. Illegal Pinoy migrants in the States. ASEAN summits. The latest Filo blockbusters.

It was a snapshot into the events in his home country. The news anchors were the finest. Veterans, they plied their trade for decades. Their reporters were among the best.

He recalled watching about this senate probe. Only two solons dissented in the impeachment. He was updated on typhoons and the relief effort.

The ex-president weighed in on our hoops opponent.

‘Those idiots are big,’ he said. ‘We don’t stand a chance.’

By insulting our foil, he was also trying to make a joke.

He remembers things like real estate bags and other trivial stuff. Still, a convenient memory is better than a sluggish one.