Who am I voting for

Since we are nearing election day (May 13), we’re deluged by political advertisements and mostly political content. (Even if that family feud reeks of “politics”, it doesn’t count as political content). And people in cyberspace have posted their “to vote for” lists. Instead of posting my to vote for list, I have a list of issues, non-issues and other factors to consider that will affect my choices for the upcoming election.

Issues:

• Constitutional Reform (removing anti-competition clauses, change of system of government, lessening the influence of Imperial Manila)
• The impeachment (show) trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona
• Republic Act 10173 (Data Privacy Act)
• Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act)
• “Freedom of Information”
• Cannabis legalization
• Nuclear Energy
• Financial state of State Colleges and Universities
• Financial state of public hospitals
• Redistribution of agricultural lands within Hacienda Luisita
• Food security
• Gun control
• National security, territorial sovereignty and the modernization of the Philippine Military
• Mining
• The Philippine economy
• Various local issues (Laguna de Bay, inequitable growth within the province)

Non-issues:

• Republic Act 10354 (The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act)
• Republic Act 10361 (Domestic Workers Act)
• Same-sex marriage
• Divorce
• Tubbataha intrusions
• “Political dynasties”
• Showbiz shits that we shouldn’t give a fuck about

There are other factors to consider in my choices: Demolition jobs , skeletons in the closet, legislative output and productivity and gut feel.

Based on the list of issues , non-issues and other factors to consider, I’ve chosen six candidates for senator (with three for consideration), one party list, one congressional representative, one vice-mayor and at least one city councilor.

I’m currently undecided whom to vote for governor, vice governor, provincial board member/s, mayor and a handful of city councilors. For now, I’ll wait for more developments and research about the candidates then decide on election day day itself.

Speaking of election day, will the PCOS machine count my vote and the votes of over 50 million Filipino voters? I shall leave that question to you.

Too much emotion, too less reason among Filipinos

Reblogged from Joseph on Perspectives:

According to the latest poll done by the United States-based research firm, Gallup, the Philippines is one of the most emotional countries in world compared with other 152 countries surveyed by the Gallup from 2009 to 2011. According to the survey, Filipinos were most likely admit feeling both positive or negative emotions, while other countries especially Singapore, were least to do so.

Read more… 296 more words

I mostly agree with him on this one. (And I'm too lazy to create a blog entry tacking that issue.) (PROTIP: Ignore the grammar and enjoy the above-par analysis)

The last ride for Multiply

I last touched my multiply account in 2009, the year when I “migrated” to Facebook and Twitter. Since then, thousands of events happened between now and the time when I received an email regarding their discontinuation of social networking and blogging services.

The site is full of memories and experiences that I shared to the world (and to myself, in some cases) and I lost no time in recovering them. So far, most of them are stored in a private account.

But why store it in a private account? Since I don’t want other people to see my unrefined/more amateurish life as a high school student, complete with profanity and not-so-cohesive thoughts. Eventually, they will come out and see the light of day again. But for now, they shall be locked somewhere in the far side of the internet.

To sum it up, their decision to discontinue those services suck, but they had to do it since they had a bottom line of sorts to maintain. For me, it’s a pleasure using your service.

Love our Flag

This post is a call for national unity, healing and reconciliation after months of divisiveness caused by recent events. It is also a call for us to proudly display our flag and do more for our beloved motherland.

One hundred fourteen years and two days ago, the brave men and women fought and won the Battle of Alapan. Hours later, our beloved flag was first displayed in present-day Cavite City. Fifteen days later, it was formally unfurled in then-president Emilio Aguinaldo’s residence in Kawit, Cavite. Since then, it transformed many times and “survived” countless turning points in our history.

Why am I talking about our flag? Because it symbolizes our country (the three stars that represent the country’s geographical regions – Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao), our history (the eight rays of the sun represent the eight provinces that revolted against the Spanish authorities in the late 1890′s), and our beliefs (peace, freedom and valor). Not only that, many of our ascendants lived, fought for and died under our flag. Even to this very moment, many of us pledge our allegiance to the flag and serve under it – as public officials, soldiers, career diplomats, local government officials, congressional representatives, senators, court magistrates, chief justice, vice-president, president and other public servants. Also, we pledge allegiance to it at certain points in our lives.

Though we’ve been torn apart by scandal after scandal, controversy after controversy, intrigue after intrigue, now is the right time for all of us to unite under the Philippine tricolor. Let us wave it and wear it proudly and work for a nation that will rise from its proverbial condition.