State of the Union (SOTU) Address

     I am watching the first State of the Union (SOTU) address of US President Joe Biden, similar to the State of the Nation (SONA) in the Philippines. I can't help but notice the huge difference to local SONA. In the US, it is very business-like and formal, very dissimilar to the pomp in Philippine SONA which looks like a gala.

Formal, business-like get-up

    Philippine SONA is dominated by the gowns of women, the wives of politicians highlighted as they walk in to the hall. It shouldn't be the highlight, but the media is playing it up thus it becomes an unwanted highlight for a formal event.

Siem Reap

     A little over fifteen years ago, I went to Siem Reap with close Malaysian friends to see the famed Angkor Wat. It was one of the longest trip I had in order to benefit from the zero fare of Air Asia. We went to Cambodia  with free air  tickets we booked three months earlier.

A pose with the gigantic Angkor Wat ruins

     There were many things unforgettable of that trip with my close friends.

     We visited all the ancient temple ruins for at least three days. I have seen the enormous beauty of the temples which made me wonder on how were they able to construct them during ancient times.

     We tried the happy pizza, or pizza with marijuana, which is legal to eat in Cambodia. There was no effect on me though it seemed one of my lady friends had it. I can't explain why I am unaffected.

     We visited Tonle Sap lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, seeing the lives of the people in the floating village. We saw how people live adapting to the environment.

     It was probably the cheapest trip I had, where one USD is highly appreciated. You can go around and pay in USD bills.

It's Damn Cold Again

     It feels so cold, it penetrates up to my bones. My extremities are all feeling cold. When I checked the temperature, I realized it explains why it feels so cold. I have been to winter countries, been exposed to snow in Norway back then but I dont't know why at this temperature I feel so cold. Brrrr.

It's 17-18°C out there

    

Presidential Candidates

     At the moment, my President vote is blank as I wanted to listen to what they say on relevant issues especially those affecting the poor. Thus, when I learned Boy Abunda will have a one-on-one interview with them, I welcomed it as it is an opportunity for me to know their stand. 

Boy Abunda interviewed them online

     I completed watching them but my choice remains blank. I am surprised with Isko Moreno's response, although I treat him a trapo. He for me was the best in dealing with the issues although I am not sure of the sincerity. 

     Leni tried to forward visioned responses but to me she remained a trapo trying to win the hearts of the masses. Her responers didn't have the sincerity as she tried to answer them generally, no specific mention of finite solutions.

     Bongbong Marcos gave learned and safe answers but he played safe trying to win many viewers. He is so popular but the Marcos history haunts him like forever.

     Ping Lacson seemed knowledgeable although the trapo label remains. He answered honestly and for me, he came second to Isko.

     Manny Pacquiao was the worst among all. He was unable to expound his answers and I felt the lack of sincerity. He tried to portray himself as coming from the masses but to me it looked so rehearsed. His words were meaningless that I don't know if the masses will buy them.

 

Rainy Birthday

     It's my birthday and it's raining. According, to Chinese beliefs, it's a blessing from heaven. Rain is wealth showered upon us on earth. I pray it does bring me more, both wealth and health. I had no plan to have a grand party but a very close friend is coming with the wife. My family had to slaughter some chicken and cook some noodles, pansit as called in the local dialect. (Supposed to publish this on 27 January but there was no electricity then, after that I forgot.)

Rain is God's grace from heaven

    My close high school mates came on my birthday. They enjoyed singing while drinking beer and tuba. 

My College Guidance Counselor

     Last week, I had a surprise video call from my college guidance counselor who I have not met since college. I was aware he was in the US for work when the university I went to in college closed down due to the union. I was not aware of the datails of his US stint, I thought he migrated with his family. I just learned he was there to work after the university's closure sometime in 1995. He is back to Tacloban for good and I am probably one of the few people he called up via video.

Sir Meynard was my college guidance counselor

     I am deeply touch by the gesture to contact me after all those years, and probably he is right, I am one of the few individuals he can't forget. I can understand what he meant by that. He came to know me right when I started in the university. 

     Barely two or three months in college, he called me to his office to inform me of my being a recipient of the Philippine Merit Scholastic Potential Award, one of the thirteen nationwide, for topping the College Scholastic Aptitude Test(CSAT) which the university used to gauged our entry into the university. It was a notable award being the only one from poor province, coming from a public high school, while the rest were all from private schools in Metro Manila and one from a private school in Bicol. I had to fly to Manila, receive the award.at the Century Park Hotel, after guesting in Good Morning Manila, then Korina Sanches PTV4 show.

     The experience was definitely unforgetteble for me, coming from a poor secondary public school. It is a memory that I won't forget it.

     Thus Sir Meynard, I feel, holds me in high esteem thus he contacted me the moment he is back to Leyte.

Money Politics

     In a poor country like the Philippines, money does really rule. People vote based on how much money they get, not on the capacity of the politician to lead the country to become a better one.  Politicians are manipulating that to their advantage, heeding the basic want of the masses. When will this change?

That's flagrant indirect vote buying

     I can't blame the poor because they are in an environment that keeps them. The wealthy politicians like Manny Pacquiao are exploiting that without any long term vision to change the situation. Elections year in and year out remain an instrument for the wealthy politicians to exploit the poor.