Reason & Concern

by Ronquillo C. Tolentino

Man Down

There is general awareness that the month of March is a month long celebration in the Philippines and throughout the world in honor of women and their contribution to culture, business and politics. As such, and as a matter of retrospect Kapihan sa Aklan had women leaders and women organizations as guests in its Saturday program for well over three Saturdays of March 2011.

I remember that on March 5,2011 at the Smokehaus restaurant, I had occasion to 　note and emphasized that a new book about women had been announced in certain book stores in the United States of America. I quoted the book to be authored by NBC News chief legal analyst, Dan Abrams. And the title:" Man Down Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt That Women Are Better Cops, Drivers, Gamblers, Spies, World Leaders, Beer Tasters, Hedge Fund Managers, and Just About Everything Else "

It was not until May l4, 2011 Kapihan Sa Aklan that Melrose "Megs" S. Lunn, the new and first woman president of the Aklan Press Club, Inc. presented to me a copy of the said book for me to read. I had it borrowed on condition that I shall have it read fast and within the next Kapihan, I shall have returned it as there are other journalists who would like to have it read or borrowed.

It surprised me to note that the book has several topics on women, namely:

Women Are Cooler, Women Handle Failed Relationships Better, Women Tolerate Pain Better (and Men Bitch About it More), Women Are Better Beer (and Wine)　Tasters, Women Are Better Spies, Women Are Better Competitive Eaters, Women Are Better with Hammers, Women Are Better Video Gamers, Women Appreciate a Good Joke Better, Women Are Better Gamblers,

Women Get Ready Faster Than　Men, Women Are Smarter, Women Have Better Memories, Women Are Better　Investors, Women Are Better at Faking Attraction, Women Are Better at Avoiding Internet Fraud, Women Are Better Students, Women Are Better at Social Media,　Women Are Better Citizens, Women Are Better Drivers, 　Women in Politics Are Less Corrupt, Women Have Better Bathroom Manners. Women Are Better at Giving and Following Directions, Women Vote More,

Women Are Healthier, Women Have Better Muscular Endurance, Women Live Longer, Women Are Less Likely to Struck by Lightning, Women Are Better Sleepers, Women Have Strong Immune　Systems, Women Are Getting Better Looking Faster Than Men, Women Have a Better Sense of Smell, Women Are Better Professionals, Women Are Better Cops.

Women Are Better World Leaders, Women Are Better Hedge Fund Managers, Women Are Better Doctors, Women Are Better Newscasters, Women Are Better Loan Officers, Women Are Better At　Navigating A Tough Economy, Women Are Better at Gathering Mushrooms in a Remote Part of Mexico.

I would not add more to Dan Abrams topics. I remember the Harry Belafonte 1960 song which became too popular worldwide "Man Smart, Woman Smarter." /MP