Election Aftermath

With 89% of the election returns in, Noynoy Aquino is leading the second placer with an insurmountable 5 million votes. That basically assures us who will be the 15th president of the republic.

Well, I'm not particularly happy since my bet, Richard Gordon, can only place 6th on the race BUT I'm definitely thankful that Noynoy did run for the position, otherwise, ERAP would have been president again! God does work in mysterious ways!

The Answer to Poverty

"Poverty is the absence of CHOICE."--Richard Gordon

We Filipinos are by nature an industrious race. Our ancestors were either fishermen or farmers who used their hands to survive. No work is hard considering the need to fend for the family. Abroad, we Filipinos are the envy of other ethnic (and even indigenous) workers since we do our job well and then some. There is always something extra whenever we do things that foreign employers like hiring us. This trait made overseas contracting as the countries primary export. In other words, our government pimped its own people to compensate for what it cannot provide---EMPLOYMENT! The opportunity to work here in our own country is so limited that many are forced to go to other countries "for greener pastures".

Based on the influx of OCWs, one can surmise that the Philippines is not better off economically in 1997 versus 2008. According to the National Statistics Office (NSO), from 900,000 registered OCWs in 1997, the number has now gone to 2 million in 2008. Now that's a lot!

On a positive note, having this much OCWs infuses life to our economy. However, this has also led to a lot of broken families. Family values are erroded since either the father or mother is out of the country. Children are then left without a father or mother figure to help in their personal development.

In 2009, unemployment is at 7.6% or 2.9 million of our able work force do not have a job. This is 6.3% higher than the 2008 figure. How many president have we had since 1997? Erap and Gloria, right? Reminisce when they were still campaigning, didn't they promise to put down unemployment? They sure did! Now our current crop of candidates are promising the same thing. Are we going to get duped again when it comes to the unemployment issue?

Let's choose the candidate with a solid platform and the game plan with regard to what he plans to do in office. Let's vote for the candidate who has the track record to make this happen. No more BROKEN PROMISES!

We Have a Choice

My family was on our way to the office to rendezvous with the bus plying the company employees to its annual summer outing at Enchanted Kingdom. We took a taxi going there since we were running late. Well, you know cab drivers, they’re quite the chatty type---eager to strike a conversation. I guess their job is too monotonous that talking is a form of catharsis. Anyway, he was listening to Love Radio and the topic of the hour was the recent catastrophes happening around the world.

Question: “Is it still safe to live on Earth?”

“Ano ba yan? E saan pa ba tayo titira kung hindi sa Earth, wala naman tayong choice di ba?” was my answer to the radio. Sangayon naman si Manong Driver kasi nga naman, “Hindi naman tayong pwede tumira sa Pluto (masyado daw malayo) o di kaya’y sa Mars (kasi masyado daw mainit).”

“Kung meron mang safe na lugar sa Earth e sa alapaap yun,” ang dagdag kong sabi.

I began to think that a Sky Hotel would be nice; or, a space station like what they have in the Star Trek series!

“Naku, di uubra yun! Pano kung mabangga ka ng eroplano? E di patay ka! O di kaya ay anurin ka ng hangin at di ka na makalipad?” ang kontrang sagot ni Manong Driver. Wettaminit, parang mas imaginative pa sa akin itong si Manong Driver a! May kakayanan na ba tayong lumipad na parang ibon? Ano bang kinarga mo manong?

Since this discussion will only lead both of us to the inevitable conclusion we don’t want to ponder on, I decided to shift to another topic whose result is entirely on our hands---the 2010 presidential elections.

“Sino po ba ang iboboto nyong presidente manong?” ang tanong ko may Manong Driver.

“Si Noynoy po sir,” ang sagot ni Manong Driver.

“E bakit naman po si Noynoy? Ano po ba ang ginawa nya nung sya ay nagging kongresista at senador para makuha ang boto nyo?” ang follow up question ko.

“I kasi siya na ang pinakamalinis na kandidato na di mangungurakot…parang nanay at tatay nya.” ang sagot ni Manong Driver.

I’m voting for Richard Gordon. Why? Because being righteous is not enough to run a country. I do not believe that Noynoy can eradicate corruption. Those are empty promises. Why? Because he doesn’t possess the same BRASS BALLS as his father, Ninoy. I also do not believe that Noynoy has a clear cut plan of government since unlike the other presidential candidates, who announced their intent since last year, Noynoy announced his candidacy as if just to capitalize on the overwhelming support shown during the burial of his mother Cory early this year.
I’m inclined to believe that Noynoy will be relying heavily on the advice of those who convinced him to run for president. That, my friends, is a very frightening scenario!
This is the very same scenario when Cory was brought into power. However, those were desperate times that needed desperate measures. This is not true today. We have a choice. A choice to make a difference.
Manong Driver hinted that he is inclined to vote for Mr. Gordon but he is reluctant to sway this way since it might as well be a wasted vote given his survey standings. This is another problem in our voting population’s mind set. HINDI PO TAYO TUMATAYA NG PUSTAHAN KUNG SINO ANG MANANALO. TAYO PO AY BOBOTO KASI NANINIWALA TAYO SA KAKAYANAN NG ISANG KANDIDATO NA MATUPAD ANG MINIMITHI NATING PAGBABAGO.
Mr. Gordon may not look good in the surveys but I believe in what he can do to our country if he will become president. I will vote for Mr. Gordon on May 10 and if he loses on his bid then it’s our country’s loss. God help us!

The Hard Way is Always the Best Way!

I tuned in my radio to “Boys Night Out” over 89.9 last Thursday (September 10) when I chanced upon Toni Toni and Slick Rick interviewing Senator Dick Gordon. Sam YG was out on a “personal business” (a date with Karylle maybe).

Apparently, the senator was not a first time guest of the show and has developed a good camaraderie with the boys. It was a fun discussion. Free flowing. The topics focused on Mr. Gordon’s bid for the presidency in 2010. However, as the senator mentioned, he was just a hopeful candidate since he has just expressed his intention to run but do not have yet the backing of his party.

The man is definitely outspoken and was able to answer all the questions thrown at him during his segment of the show---even the grilling of a woman accusing him of a 800 million civil liability allegedly pending in the office of the ombudsman.

Here’s a man who has an agenda to make our country better. However, duplicating what he did with Subic and Clark in a national level will entail a lot of political will. Being a man of action and result, Mr. Gordon has earned the ire of the corrupt, the do-no-gooders, and the political leachers. These people will definitely make life miserable for Mr. Gordon if ever he becomes president. However, it is amidst adversity that Mr. Gordon has made himself known. He said, “THE HARD WAY IS ALWAYS THE BEST WAY.” Very true indeed! It is during time of conflict and hardship that a man’s character is manifested---his moment of truth!

We are witnesses to Mr. Gordon’s transformation of Subic and Clark. We have seen him revitalize Philippine Tourism with his WOW Philippines campaign. We have seen him at work as a Red Cross volunteer---saving lives and alleviating other people’s suffering. And we have seen him work in the senate pushing for bills that seek to uplift our people and our country and standing up for issues with a firm but fair conviction.

We don’t need a lackey of a president! One who would not easily give in to the coercion of the power players and America! We have had enough ass bending for so long! Make the informed choice and do not let the commercials sway the way you’re going to vote!

I do believe Mr. Gordon is our man in 2010. I call on everyone to step into the light and grab a hold of our destiny!