Despite the disaster, we still have lots of things to be thankful for

The rain has stopped and the storm has passed. As we already know, life would never be the same for many of our kababayans. Some of them lost their loved ones while the fate of those missing are still unknown.

Meanwhile, thousands of families have lost their homes and hard-earned properties. The total number of casualties is yet to be determined while the total cost of damages is yet to be accounted for. What we do know is that the extent of human suffering we are all witnessing is totally unprecedented.

Up to now, many of our kababayans are hanging for their survival at their roofs (lest they'll be swept away by flood water). According to PAG-ASA, the amount of rainfall dumped by Typhoon Ondoy yesterday was the most the nation has experienced in 42 years. Before we forget, most of the situational reports that we are being fed with are coming almost solely from the Greater Manila Area.

We don't know yet how our counrtymen in Northern, Central and Southern Luzon bore the brunt of Ondoy. Oh, and what about the plight of those in evacuation centers (in not-so-good conditions, we must remember)?

Since our family lives in one of the higher points here in Quezon City, we never experienced getting submerged in the flood - despite the torrential rains. The most disturbance that Ondoy had caused in our household is the 14-hour brownout that we had to endure. Yes, I bemoan the fact that I wasn't able to see Chris Tiu on TV nor update my online accounts yesterday. And I wasn't able to attend the OpinyOn too. But who am I to complain?

How about you? the fact that you can read this post means that you still have a computer with you - with Internet access at that! Just imagine those who can't even use their cellphones to tell their relatives how they are. The time you spent in reading this article also means that you have some spare time, unlike those who had spent countless hours pondering how to survive.
Well, what I'm saying is that we still have a lot of things to be thankful for.

If we can, in one way or another, help those at need, please do so now. The various ways you can help can be seen on TV. That's the best thing we can do right now.

Interview with UPD USC Chair Titus Tan

This morning, we have finally finished writing the Titus Tan* feature story (for Prof. Rara's J111 class). The article was exceptionally long: it reached 1,300 words. In fact, there are some parts of of the interview that has been left out like his thoughts on the perceived youth apathy. The entire story would be posted here soon. The story was titled “Titus Tan: A Student Leader, A Young Achiever.”For now, here are excerpts:

“Recalling the day of triumph, Tan said he was elated by the results. “Efforts had paid off. I can't say though that it's a personal thing. I don't focus in the effect of an event on me personally. I look at the bigger picture. Since many of my KAISA party mates won, the students have clearly supported our platform,” he said. The cheers and pats on the shoulder can't last too long, however. “There are the expectations. There's the pressure. You have to fulfill what you promised,” Tan added. ...

Tan let out a smile when told that science and politics seems to be “too far apart.” Asked what being a student leader means to him, he said it is synonymous to “being given an opportunity to express one’s style of executing a task.” “But always keep in mind that being in a position of influence, (a leader) must be cognizant of his actions and use it to promote a cause – and your style of leadership,” he explained.”

*Titus C.K. Tan is the current chairperson of the UP Diliman University Student Council. Elected last February with 49% of the total votes cast, his term would end in May.

Withdrawing from the presidential race for Noynoy is pure BS!

Last Wednesday, Noynoy Aquino finally announced his bid for the presidency – exactly forty days after former Pres. Corazon Aquino’s death and amisdt all the media frenzy. He made the unsurprising moving after going into a much-publicized “spiritual retreat” at a convent in Zamboanga. His ardent supporters claim that since Noynoy is the son of Cory and Ninoy, he is in a good position to carry the leadership torch once held by his parents.

Some had even argued that the outpouring of public syumpathy seen during Pres. Cory’s wake and funeral march is enough to carry him to the presidency. Before getting crushed in this mad stampede otherwise known as the “Noynoy for President” clamor, consider the following things:

1) Who are those running this campaign? Looking closely, one would see the traditional politicians like Franklin Drilon, Florencio Abad among others. 2) What exactly are Noynoy’s credentials? It is very important to separate him from the things his parents did. 3)Has he crafted any bill of national significance during his 12 years as a lawmaker?

What about the likes of Jejomar Binay, Ed Panlilio and Mar Roxas? They withdrew their respective presidential bids to give way to Noynoy kuno. Why shouldn’t we believe this crap? They’re not among those running ahead in the surveys. In short, they are sure/sore losers. They use the “I’m-not-running-to-support-Noynoy” line to portray themselves as selfless politicians when in fact, what they’re doing is merely a face-saving act.

Korina to Noynoy: "Kung Maibabalik ko Lang"

Last Monday, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, the erstwhile Liberal Party standard bearer, announced his decision to withdraw from the presidential derby to give way to Noynoy. The decision must be very painful for Roxas. Talks of a future presidential run began as early as 2004, when he topped the senatorial race with 18 million votes.

His assumption of the LP presidency in 2007 was widely seen as a decisive step toward his 2010 bid. By late 2008, he began airing his “Murang Gamot” info-mercial. He had also beefed up his campaign team with former Arroyo officials like Florencio Abad, Avelino Cruz and Cesar Purisima.

This year, Roxas flooded the public with his “Padyak” TV ad. Then, there's his very public engagement in with Korina Sanchez. Indeed, his now-scrapped presidential bid has been years in the making. Ironically, Roxas never had any traction in the surveys (# 5 in the latest Pulse Asia poll). In fact, he has reportedly spent P500 million on TV ads from October 208 to August 2009! Then, there's Korina.

Imagine, she set aside her 25 year broadcasting career just to marry Roxas! Now, her upcoming October 23 wedding has lost much of its luster to the voters. So, her illusions of being the nation's First Lady are gone. I assume she's now singing “Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang” - to Noynoy Aquino.