2010 bets should learn from McCain

By Thea Alberto
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 18:30:00 11/05/2008

MANILA, Philippines — Aspiring presidential candidates in 2010 should learn a lesson from losing US presidential candidate John McCain: learn to accept defeat immediately.

Political analyst Ramon Casiple said whoever intends to run for the country’s top post must also be ready to accept defeat as part of the ideals of democracy.

“That’s democracy, the real democracy. Hindi kasi dapat kayo nag-aaway for power [You should not be fighting for power]. Democracy recognizes the sovereignty of the people…if you’re convinced people have spoken, magconcede ka na. Dito sa atin hindi eh, sasabihin niya dinaya siya [you should concede. Here, that is not the case, a candidate will claim he was cheated],” Casiple told reporters Wednesday, after mock elections sponsored by the US embassy.

FULL STORY HERE: INQUIRER.net

It’s still Obama in mock polls

By Thea Alberto
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:44:00 11/05/2008

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Barack Obama or John McCain?

And even in mock elections sponsored by the United States embassy Wednesday and held, among others, at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City and Cebu, it was the Democrat candidate who won overwhelmingly over his Republican rival, 3,134 to 911.

In these polls, participants were given the chance to choose the next US President either manually or electronically. They cast their votes either by shading the circle next to the name of the candidate of choice or through a touch screen computer.

Those who voted in the traditional way were asked to drop their ballots in a drop box while those who used computers only needed a voter’s card that contained instructions on how to operate the equipment.

FULL STORY HERE: INQUIRER.net

Missing Magandang Gabi Bayan

My Halloween memories, aside from memories of playing with candle wax at the cemetery, are usually comprised of watching scary movies (Night of the Living Dead series and more) and the perennial Magandang Gabi Bayan specials.

And MGB never failed to scare me. Every year, they had something new to offer. Name it: floating coffins, the ever famous White lady at Balete drive; black ladies at classrooms (my favorite…katakot talaga); decapitated men in barong tagalog. Sh*t. They just wouldn’t let me sleep. haha.

In my Metro Manila years (we moved to Bicol when I was 10), we had no relatives to visit at the cemetery so we watched MGB specials instead. My cousins and I would huddle while watching MGB. Then I’d feel really terrible, I’d watch the show half-eye open. haha. After watching the show, I couldn’t even get off my seat out of fear some creature would pull my feet. hehe

I watched several Halloween specials this weekend and none of them actually made the effect MGB had on me over a decade ago. Is it because I’m way older now or is it because programs nowadays have such too obvious special effects?

Hmm. I’m sure of something though; I don’t need to see a ghost to believe. Because I really do not intend to see one…