COMELEC approves Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates

Here is the list of the approved candidates:

For Presidency
Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III (Liberal Party), Olongapo City councilor JC de los Reyes (Ang Kapatiran), former President Joseph Estrada (UNO-PMP), Sen. Richard Gordon (Bagumbayan), Sen. Jamby Madrigal (independent), former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), Bro. Eddie Villanueva (Bangon Pilipinas) and Sen. Manny Villar (Nacionalista Party).



For Vice Presidency
Sen. Mar Roxas (Liberal Party), Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay (UNO-PMP), former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando (Bagumbayan), Sen. Loren Legarda (Nacionalista Party), Edu Manzano (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), broadcaster Jay Sonza (KBL), former Securities and Exchange Commission chief Perfecto Yasay (Bangon Pilipinas) and Dominador Chipeco Jr. (Ang Kapatiran).

Pacquiao opens a store in Manila

Visit Manny Pacquaio's novelty store in Robinson's Mall in Ermita, Manila. The store's name is 'Team Pacquiao' and it sells Manny Pacquiao t-shirts (including Nike branded tees), jackets, boxing gloves, shorts, shoes and trinkets that were reportedly handpicked by Jinkee Pacquiao.

CHACHA is still Arroyo's priority

Malacanang admitted yesterday that charter change is still President Arroyo's priority. Is that certainly the reason why she still wants to run as a congresswoman in Pampanga? Well, let's see. It is obvious that Arroyo still wants to be in power. She can easily do her actions of ammending the 1987 constitution if she will be in the congress. Indeed, she still has strong influence in the lower house. I am convinced that she is really eyeing to be the house speaker so that she can be the prime minister if our country's government form will be changed to parliamentary.

They say that we can achieve progress if the Philippines will shift from presidential to parliamentary system like Japan, Malaysia, Singapore etc. Well, I strongly disagree, Japan is Japan, Singapore is Singapore but the Philippines is the Philippines. The people sitting in power in those countries have high moral, not corrupt and they know how to handle their countries well. They do not have greed of power unlike many Filipino politicians nowadays. In these times we need to have some people like Nelson Mandela, Cory Aquino, Ronald Reagan, etc. to govern our nation. I don't think that the problem is on the form of government but on the people sitting in power. We have to remove much of them by choosing the right candidates on the coming 2010 national elections.

Fernando and Gordon tandem in 2010 polls

Bayani Fernando and Dick Gordon filed certificates of candidacy yesterday in COMELEC Intramuros for presidential and vice presidential bid. Why not?
Alam natin na parehong naging magagaling na alkalde sina Fernando at Gordon sa kani kanilang nasasakupan noong kanilang kapanahunan, si Fernando sa Marikina at si Gordon naman sa Olongapo. Parehong magaling at matinik ang dalawang alkaldeng ito.
Marikina is one of the best and most disciplined city in the Philippines as well as Olongapo. I am not campaigning for the two of them but I am just being fair. The transformation of those two Philippine cities are obvious at bihira lamang ang nakagagawa ng ganoon.
However, the competition for the presidential and vice presidential bid is viewed as stiff. Kaylangan muna nilang talunin ang mga popular na kandidato ng iba't ibang partido tulad nina Noynoy Aquino, Manny Villar, Gilbert Teodoro, atbp sa pagkapangulo. Malakas din ang mga kandidato sa pagka vice president tulad nina Loren Legarda, Mar Roxas at Edu Manzano.

Arroyo is eyeing for congress

It is hard to believe that President Arroyo wants to have a seat in the lower house while she already became a senator and now a president. I wonder is she has hidden agenda for her political ambition because it is quite seldom for a head of state to aspire for a lower position, like in the congress. Her real plan was revealed yesterday during her interview over the government-run Radyo ng Bayan. 

Many eyebrows raised with Arroyo's revelation. Former ambassador Ernesto Maceda, UNO spokesman, said that if she is sincere in continuously serving the Filipino people, she should seek a Senate seat.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño said that Mrs. Arroyo is so obsessed with power because after occupying the presidency for 9 years, she is still aspiring for a lower position with her two sons and two in laws.

Meanwhile, Former President Joseph Estrada said that Mrs. Arroyo must step down after she files her COC for Congress.

Photo credit: http://geoconger.wordpress.com/2008/02/09/us-military-policy-attacked-cen-20808-p-7/

Representatives Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza filed their CoCs.

Yesterday morning, Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza, together with their families and close friends, filed their certificate of candidacy before the COMELEC. The two are running as independent candidates for senator. They earlier refused to be the guest candidates to Nacionalista Party when it it forged a partnership with the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan of the Marcoses and included Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in its senatorial slate. Ocampo and Maza are known critique of the Marcos Regime.

Sen Loren Legarda: 'I cast my lot with Manny Villar'

Senator Loren Legarda called herself "Villar's other half" as she announced Tuesday that she will vie for the country's second highest position.

“We believe we can make a difference in the lives of Filipinos. That is why today, in declaring my intention to vie for vice presidency in May 2010, I offer myself to the Filipino people as other half to the tandem that seeks a new beginning for the Filipino nation,” Legarda said.

“In this afternoon, on this glorious afternoon, I cast my lot with Manny Villar.
I believe our partnership will ensure a new beginning for all the Filipino people,” she added.

“I cite all these…only to underscore the fact that Manny Villar and I have worked hard to be where we are now. Manny and l have experienced the same hardships in life,” said Legarda.

If we remember, Sen Legarda ran for vice presidency in 2004 elections but lost to now Vice-President Noli de Castro.

Source: http://ph.beta.promo.yahoo.com/purple-thumb/editors-log-article?blogid=editors_log&postid=22&viewPost=1


Photo credit: http://lloydy008.blogspot.com/
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdtaKBYFYkE7LZO22UZQ87VqbzxnHU29dNS2Q5HCf3DIU8ELSeMGIJnylb2NabunGoHnxbBMLqMfn2BgrVarrh5jrbuP40hcxcn7QHMx-TMIXOaC1G6dk31F3mZ33Jhh-a11YRXCieCen/s1600-r/manny.jpg

Pulse Asia Survey: Noynoy Aquino topped

According to the Pulse Asia survey released yesterday, Senator Noynoy Aquino is the main favorite for the next year's presidential elections. He got 44 percent while Nacionalista candidate Sen. Manny Villar is quite distant with 19 percent. Sen. Francis Escudero was next with 13 percent followed by former President Joseph Estrada who obtained 11 percent. Administration candidate Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro only got 2 percent. 

Hillary Clinton visits the Philippines, announces additional $5.2-M US disaster aid to RP

The United States government will give an additional $5.2 million in disaster relief and recovery assistance to the Philippines, announced on Thursday.

Clinton made the announcement after her visit to the Malanday National High School in Marikina City, a Metro Manila City that worst hit by floods brought by Typhoon Ondoy. The US government already released $14 million for rescue and relief aid and already gave to the Philippine government. The State secretary said that the $5.2 million is an additional fund.
Clinton said in a speech in Malacañang, “I was saddened as so many here (were affected by) the recent storms and flooding. I want to convey the sympathy of the Obama administration and the US to the Philippines. You have shown great resolve in these great calamities,"

Photo credit: http://pointsbypritt.wordpress.com
Source:          http://ph.news.yahoo.com

Bong, Edu, Ace, Loren? Who's Gibo's VP?

Is the administration desperate to choose for the VP to tandem with their presidential bet Gilberto Teodoro?  Lakas-Kampi-CMD party president Eduardo Ermita has confirmed reports that Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., television host Edu Manzano, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, and Senator Loren Legarda, are among those being considered as the vice presidential bet of their party.
However, Revilla said that his ailing father former Senator Ramon Revilla Sr. discouraged him to run for the second highest position in the land. Meanwhile, actor Edu Manzano whom just resigned from Optical Media Board last August is still undecided. The chances of Teodoro pairing up with Duranon are unclear. But how about Loren Legarda? Are they ready to welcome back their prodigal daughter?

Oh My!

Bad day! I was shocked when I learned from the news that 75 people were dead and missing due to typhoon “Ondoy” that struck the Philippines last Saturday, September 26. It was a good thing on my part that I was in Cavite when the typhoon was passing over Central and Southern Luzon. Actually I was a bit worried earlier that morning because I was waiting for my girlfriend in Baclaran for we would spend our weekend in Cavite. I thought that we might be stranded in Baclaran because the lash of the wind and the rainfall were getting stronger. Thank God because she arrived at 10:20 AM and we left Baclaran at 10:30.

After the storm, I immediately turned the TV on, I switched to ABS-CBN news coverage and they showed the severely affected areas. I felt numb with grief when I saw the bodies that were rescued by Philippine Army and other rescue teams. Even rich people residing in exclusive subdivisions were also affected, no food, no water to drink (reminded me of the rime of the ancient mariner " Water water everywhere but not a drop to drink"), no nothing! Then I realized that either old or young, rich or poor, truly could not escape the act of nature. That's one of the ways how we can see God's power.