First Time Voter

I hope everybody eligible voted today! :)

(Photos taken by Bea)

Revisiting Nueva Vizcaya

I was running late. I agreed to meet Gil before four in the morning to catch the first bus to Nueva Vizcaya, but at that time I was still at home rinsing my face, I think. I hurried and went to the Baliwag terminal first because he said we had a lot of competition for seats at Victory Liner and maybe we had better chance sat Baliwag. But their first trip was at 7 am, hindi pwede, so I went to the Victory Liner terminal afterwards. Luckily we got into the next bus to Cagayan Valley at 5:30, in very good seats if I may add.

Vivian is a dear, dear friend from high school who just finished her Biology degree from UP Diliman. Being among the kindest souls on earth and a magna cum laude, she got accepted to the UP College of Medicine for this coming school year. We've known each for more than half a decade, and I have seen her bloom to the more beautiful and more edgy (who knew?) person she is today. Her party is the reason we got together this weekend.

By two in the afternoon we were at the 24/7 Inn and Resort. We had a lot of time before the celebration dinner, so we went around first. Frankly, the last time I was in Nueva Vizcaya was about three and a half years ago during Vielle's debut. Aside from Vivian's Karlo, I think I needed to take a look around as well. Familiar places were not so familiar anymore, a lot of things have changed: there were indigenous houses on display at the Capitol; our old boarding houses were improved; some eating haunts were still there, some have closed down; our old Pisay was empty because they moved to Masoc; Solano now has a McDo, and lots of other details that weren't there before.

Night time came, and it was time to party. Good thing I brought an extra blouse because there was an unwritten dress code, plus I think all the doctors from Nueva Vizcaya were there. There was a short program, but most of the time was spent on eating and chatting. Food and drinks were plenty and good, I don't think anybody left unsatisfied. The buko lychee pandan salad was the highlight, it was super yummy! After the main affair, we stayed up til morning playing cards: poker when we were still wired and silly games to sillier games as time elapsed.

I have never attended a reunion, official or otherwise, in Nueva Vizcaya. But it really feels good to spend time with old friends and revisit remarkable corners in the past. Seeing our old building reminded me of stipends, late slips, homeroom meetings and class pride. The streets of Bayombong reminded me how much I appreciate this little town, how everything was a few minutes' walk away and how safe it was there. It was a bit frustrating that some of the residents and nearer towns weren't able to attend the merriment, particularly Nins, Jomax and Ruby. Nins, I think everyone missed you. Jomax, I reckon I understand why. Ruby, I'll see you soon bitch. 

It was a long ride, no doubt. It was out of my way, completely. It was an awesome trip, absolutely. :)

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On an entirely different but equally significant matter, tomorrow is election day. Let us all exercise our right to vote, and vote conscientiously without any external influences. Let us all work together towards honest, peaceful and orderly elections. As the Potterhead in me would put it, "Constant vigilance!"

And finally, I bumped into Dr. Blanca at the resort we were staying at. I'm not sure but I'm guessing he's there on business. He looks healthier.

Sulong!

The highest office of the land calls upon us to apply the highest standard of selection - not genetics, not wealth, not even popularity - just good old-fashioned virtues for which we selected our presidents in the past and made them heroes in out national history. -Gilbert Teodoro

What I look for in a leader can be condensed into three things: competence, effectiveness and integrity. I believe that it is as important to consider a person who is by a good measure moral as much as he/ she is capable, for a healthy and intelligent mind will be resistant to evil and ill logic. Being a student of science and reason, I just cannot forgo irrational thoughts such as false conclusions based on assumed relationships and its causality. I know that there is no perfect candidate and so I will choose based on personal merit, character and true potential not to be blinded by money, popularity, celebrity or peers.

The Philippine national elections is within ten days. With my said criteria, I narrowed down my choice for president to two viable candidates: Richard Gordon and Gilbert Teodoro. It wasn't easy to decide between two very qualified candidates, who were excellent performers in fora and debates as well. It is well known that Gibo is a bar topnotcher, what more do you need to conclude that he's got the wits to run a country? Not to be outdone, Gordon is also a lawyer from UP Law. Basing from experience, one can say Gordon has the 20-year advantage: he's been a senator, an administrator, a DOT secretary, a Red Cross chairperson. On the other hand, Gibo's stint as DND secretary, as NDCC chairperson or as three-term congressman is not to be trampled on.

What sealed the deal for me was that Gibo had the qualities and accomplishments to inspire, coupled with a clearer and more specific platform. He is leading a very good campaign, not driven by hate or black propaganda. He is setting a good example despite all the negative associations made around him. He is admired by people from all sides. I think these made him the better leader, for a man who can inspire will surely catalyze mobility to whatever endeavor he goes after. And for a country hungry for growth, a leader who inspires hand in hand with an effective blueprint can be a huge factor for faster development.

I will vote according to my conscience and clear reason. I will vote for Gilbert Teodoro.

(Photo taken from his Facebook fan page)

My Vote For President

I am very much excited about voting in May. Yes, I am a first time voter. Now, I get to have a say on who runs my city, my province, my country. :)

We have such an interesting pool of wannabe leaders, but more so is the lot running for president. A mama's boy, an entrepreneur, a bar topnotcher, a seasoned administrator, a plunderer, an environmentalist, a city councilor, an angry senator and an evangelist. Unlike in developed countries where the choices are limited to around three candidates, we have enough to form a basketball team with a few to spare.

Elections cement the claim that we are in a democracy. It is the only time, at least that I can think of, that everybody is deemed equal. Every of age citizen gets a vote, regardless of gender, age, social standing or academic achievement. I will not waste this opportunity and give my vote to the popular or "winnable" candidate, but give it to the best.

I have always believed that one should get what he deserves, that a person must earn things he wants. Following this line of thought, I can only give my vote to someone deserving and qualified.  A  president must be a natural leader, must be a thinker, must be exemplary. I cannot stress this enough, because in my opinion this is really why we elect someone.  Why expect less from a person who must head a nation, and a troubled nation at that. There is absolutely no point in giving a position that entails so much power and responsibility to a fool, or worse, a tool. We need someone competent to steer this nation into progress and stability.

My vote will go to someone with a good and clean track record. Clean pertaining to unbiased and effective, not the lack thereof. I will pick someone conscientiously, someone of good morals and integrity. For me, being moral is a lot like being sensitive and responsible for your actions; you do something  because it is the right thing to do and is within the bounds of the law and society. To me, integrity is a sense of consistency and truthfulness; a man who is true to his words irrelevant of whatever puddle of associations or allegations. These cannot be not inherited, bought or implied because of having done nothing at all. They must be earned.

We are a developing country, a cushioned term for a third world country, and we have problems in whatever direction you look at. There is energy, education, competitiveness, agriculture to name a few. I want a president who sees the problems eating up our country clearly, and looks forward with solutions and cures that will aid the nation. I do not want a president who is undecided, because that will only lead to faulty solutions and additional presidents disguised as advisers. It is important that my president be of independent thought, because I voted for him to lead and not to adhere to someone else.

Sadly, our country is among the most corrupt in Asia. Even sadder is this bandwagon of anti-corruption banners instigated by trapos themselves. I hate hypocrites and disillusioned people who think they will champion corruption just like that. I have to clear that I'm not for corruption nor just plain negative, I'm just being practical. I hate that so many candidates use this trending anti-corruption issue to their advantage, creating null heroes of themselves. Still, this issue has to be addressed, because this is a big hamper to society's progress. I want my president to be transparent, he must be able to see corruption as it is and be firm in battling it.

Politics gets dirtier as you move up the ranks, I want my president to play clean and fair. Sorry, no hate-driven politics for me. I agree that PGMA has not lived up to everybody's expectations, but let's also cut her some slack. It is not easy to be president, and many decisions are not easy to make for something that will concern 80 million people (exactly why I put competency first). Many are campaigning and getting pogi points for dissing PGMA, which is fine at first,  but many candidates are using  this as their claim to fame and not really for their platforms.

The elections today are the most complex in history, there are so many forms of media to reach out to the people, particularly the internet. We should be skeptic and filter facts from  useless information. I am a fan of political debates because it is more spontaneous and real, and you can gauge who knows what he's talking about. Try to watch a few debates and you can see if someone is  struggling answering and who is clearly in tune with his platform and his mind. This for me is a good measure of how good a candidate is; because after a few fora you can see who's consistent. It's as simple as doing your homework, if you have a solid plan from the start there is no reason to fail in giving concrete answers. I am appalled that some candidates are dodging these fora, I find it utterly stupid and inconsiderate. People want to be informed, and it is an insult that they'd rather feed the public exaggerated and meaningless advertisements than step up to the plate.

I believe in my country and countrymen, and I have high hopes that we can rise up from the slums that we are in today. Electing a good and very capable president is a start, but if we want change we must begin with ourselves. Our government can only do so much, and we cannot progress if all we do is complain and argue. I am urging every Filipino to think positively and objectively this May. Hate will bring you wrinkles, I tell you.