Tweet Follow me in twitter @momblogger.I feel ambivalent towards Erap.

I neither like nor dislike him. My feelings has something to do with the memories of my little boy. My 6 year old son adored Erap. Luijoe thought the world of the former president. Luijoe yelled at the top of his voice that Erap was the smartest president in the whole world, in a jumpacked room at a plane ticket office ten summers ago.

In his booming voice, he threw his hands up in the air , twirling around the room, “Mom, President Erap is so smart, the smartest president in the whole wide world”.

awkward silence

Nobody in that room could deny not hearing my son’s adulation. It was May 2000 at the height of Erap’s unpopularity. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow both of us. I could feel the steely gaze and snickers surrounding us. My boy never sensed the awkwardness of the situation but I wanted to save face.

“So , why is Erap the smartest president in the whole wide world?”, as I squeaked the question to my naughty son.

“Mom, his jokes mom. He says the funniest jokes. That is very smart of him” (or something like that)

See my son had a great sense of humor and loved to throw a joke or two. Then he discovered the Erap jokes during one of our conversations. Luijoe overheard us laughing to our heart’s content on an Erap joke. He wanted to know why were laughing. He badgered to know the joke. So I narrated the joke

Erap: Miss, do you have a ballpen?
Clerk: Sorry, sir we don’t have any ballpen
Erap (angry): Why did you name your store “Penshoppe“?

How my boy laughed! Luijoe loved to tell this joke to everyone . One time, Luijoe and I passed by Penshoppe ( a teen fashion store) in Glorietta mall and I teased him if he wanted to go inside with me , so I could ask the same question Erap asked. Luijoe tugged me away. hehe

I bought him the book , “Joke ni Erap” by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism in early 2000. Luijoe often packed this Erap Joke book in his backpack and kept re-reading those jokes that he could understand. He loved the book so much, he even labelled it with his name. Here are a few of his favorite jokes culled from that book.

Erap: “I have brain cancer. Yehey!!!”
Ramos: “That’s delicate, how come you’re still happy?”
Erap: “Now I know I have a brain”

Comelec: Oh, simple math na lang! Ano ang “2 + 2″?

Erap: Three!
Comelec: Sorry
Ronnie: Mataas pa diyan!
Erap: (in his highest-pitched voice) Threeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

and Luijoe’s favorite of all.

Executive Secretary Zamora: Sir, Pwede bang palitan ‘tong laptop ko?

Erap: Bakit?
Zamora: Masyadong Mabigat, eh!
Erap: Ba’t di ka mag-delete ng files para gumaan?

Like most young kids, Luijoe was already computer savvy and he knew about deleting files. How he loved to crack this joke whenever I carried my laptop.

I smile and tear as I recall these poignant Erap memories with my son.

What an innocent little boy.

In Luijoe’s last week in this temporary place, we call Earth, my impish little boy caught Erap on TV and tugged my sleeve to take a look.

“Mom look at Erap. What does corruption mean?”

I pondered. How should one explain corruption to a six year old boy?Should I break my son’s heart and explain that he is accused of amassing wealth?

I decided not to lecture him on the evils of government. Corruption is an alien concept for such a little boy. I cuddled my son and just told him that he had problems. My son died a few days later. It was best after all that I did not tell him .

The days and the weeks soon after our devastating loss, seem like a blur, making me a living zombie. Not even the news of the EDSA 2 moved me. I was numb, even apathetic to the political climate.

Here I am 10 years later, watching the news, hearing about Erap, the second leading presidential candidate. The memory jolts me as if I never left the year 2000, as if I am right there with my son. The skeptics might think it is odd that I want to thank Erap for the memories. Even discounting my son’s death, it is undeniable that the former president still has charm even to the masses.

Perhaps, I don’t know what to do with Erap as a presidential candidate except thank him for being himself , the charming person that he is.

In a few days, on May 27, it will be 10 years since my son died.

Memories like these make it seem my son never left me, that he is alive and well and just laughing nearby.

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You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets. Or Follow me in twitter @momblogger.

How about visiting my Beauty over 50 blog?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

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To the Noynoy supporters

Take time to read carefully from beginning to end including citations from columnists. This is about the grief and sense of loss (then road to acceptance) as the title suggest. This is not about you. Be happy your candidate won instead of making fun of people’s pain. Of course, you are entitled to get pissed (at the author of the Business World article I quoted) as we are entitled to our sadness. Remember that the quality of a victor shows in how he treats the defeated. thank you.

May 10 called upon #juanvote to close the day with our anecdotes of the historic first national automated election. Right before we went live, the breaking news of the Comelec hit us hard. The speed of the results just stunned us. Thirty-five (35%) of the votes were just transmitted. Noynoy Aquino took a lead.

I was restless that night, unable to sleep. Did I waste 9 months of my life to voters’ education when I could have ventured into more profitable endeavors? You might all know by now that I didn’t vote for Noynoy Aquino because he didn’t fit my critieria of competency, character, coherent platform and clear vision. The night before May 10, I told myself that no matter who the president will be and as long as it is a fair and clean election (unlike the Hello Garci scandal in 2004), I will support the new president whoever he/she may be.

Just like sudden death, the impact of the news was shocking. How could 40% of the voters ignore “several candidates far more qualified by a record of public achievement than Noynoy” ? As Rene Azurin expressly wrote

“Mr. Aquino, because he is famous and a celebrity, can claim authority over us without any demand to show prior proof that he is at all qualified to exercise it. That’s intrinsically unfair. Of course, this is not Mr. Aquino’s fault. It is our fault for allowing ourselves to fall — stupidly, let us admit — under the spell of celebrity.”

The rest of the 60% who did not vote for Noynoy are probably in shock like me. If we remove the 25-30% that voted for Erap, roughly 40% are feeling dismayed. This country would rather vote “for some guy who, we know merely as the son of two politician parents and whom foreigners find agreeable.”

Because, right now, we are merely continually repeating the history of a country who would not vote for a man who pulled himself up from poverty, despite having no rich family connections, by sheer grit, determination, and ability to take insults from the ruling class. This is the history of a people who would not vote for a Bar topnotcher, Harvard grad, and the country’s youngest Defense secretary. This is a country that would not vote for a senator, former mayor, and lawyer; of an agricultural country who would not vote for an agriculturalist; or a commerce graduate and pastor; or a governance advocate and professor. This is a country that will not vote for a Lincoln, a Mandela, or an Obama even if they landed right in the middle of EDSA simply because they’re self-made successful men.

How can you blame the Villar supporters for feeling sad when Manny Villar conceded the next day? Can you blame some of the voters who felt like their qualified candidate was not given a chance because they did not have celebrity status?

My children are first time voters. I enjoined their participation in the elections by encouraging them to write for Blog Watch, a voters ed project. Lauren, my eldest girl wrote the How to vote in an automated election in November 2009 and is the most popular article in the Philippine Online Chronicles where Blog Watch is hosted. I prodded Marielle to research and draft the platform matrix in my article, Guide to presidential candidates (it was continued on by the Philippine Online Chronicles). I shared articles on the presidentiables, the party lists, the senatorial candidates. We discussed the pros and cons of the candidates. I’m proud to say that my children are part of those who voted based on solid criteria.

Can you now blame my children’s disappointment and low spirits when the results came in? A first time voter, a first time heartache. One of my girls said “Did my vote even matter?” I cried when Manny Villar conceded. One of my kids teared as well. I talked to the Gibo and Gordon supporters in Twitter. Some of them expressed their sadness to me. Other supporters felt so weak that they just slept or stayed at home.

One often suffers temporary emotional pain in response to loss of anything that is very important to us. In this case, the loss of a dream where we looked up to potential leaders of our country who hold the future of our children. The pain is a normal internal feeling one experiences in reaction to a loss—the defeat of a candidate in the elections. The pain is even made worse by the winning candidates in the senatorial slate which are mostly celebrity or familiar names.

To the supporters/volunteers of Gibo Teodoro, Dick Gordon, Manny Villar, Ed Villanueva, JC de los Reyes, Nick Perlas and even Jamby…

The defeat of your candidate hurts. This is a loss of a dream you nurtured in your mind for the love of country and your children’s future. It is okay to cry. It is a normal reaction to loss. It is not a sign of weakness. I needed to tell myself that: feel, acknowledge, and express my emotions with an attitude of acceptance and compassion. As painful as those feelings may be, I know I can handle it if I bear them with a sense of loving acceptance. Once I did all that, I was able to mobilize my energy and direct it toward what is important in my life, instead of expending so much effort to keep the pain bottled up where I won’t feel it.

Since May 11, I have been staying at home, resting from the disappointment. I feel a little better now as I go through the roller-coaster process of loss to acceptance. The loss of a dream will not stop me from continuing on with another ambitious project- nationwide voters education where concerned citizens, academe and #juanvote will initiate next week.

With a new president being proclaimed soon, I cannot help but be optimistic that it will still turn out well because it’s the only country we have and the only one we can leave to our children. I comforted my two girls “I know it is disappointing but be proud and happy that your vote was based on an informed process and bolstered with your conscience.”

Like I said in an interview in ANC Halalan 2010 on May 11, “We need to support our new president”. Yes, I did not vote for Noynoy but I want to be instrumental in his success through participative citizenry.

My work is not over. Tomorrow is another day. The dream is still there to hold and make it a reality.

“Acceptance is not submission; it is acknowledgement of the facts of the situation. Then decide what you’re going to do about it.” — Kathleen Casey Theisen

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You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets. Or Follow me in twitter @momblogger.

How about visiting my Beauty over 50 blog?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

Tweet Follow me in twitter @momblogger. I should be busy puttering here and there, excitedly preparing for our 25th wedding anniversary celebration that will happen three days before election day. Here I am in bed with a laptop on my belly, shaking my head, stupefied, trying to comprehend the negativity and hope of the campaign season. There are more important matters to attend to, like the music, the photography, the invitations of the party and the citizen media on election day. For the first time, bloggers like me are given Comelec media accreditation and I am going to make the most of it. There are just some things I need to unload before letting go and moving on….

Like, the good, the bad and the ugly of the Elections 2010 that I am about to ramble.

I wrote about Why Manny Villar? and showed his human side. The past months, we have seen politicians, media, rival supporters demonize Manny Villar in the eyes of the public such that we soon forget his capabilities. I shared a link in Twitter that criticizes Noynoy Aquino and soon comments reach me that I am suspected as Villar’s paid hack. *rolls eyes*

The Bad

Paid hack

It appears that the payola was indeed a prevalent practice in the past elections. I can’t blame these rabid supporters (let me make it clear, not all Noynoy supporters are rabid and I am referring only to this group of rabid supporters) because they don’t know me and it is just unthinkable for them that Noynoy would have critics. But what flawed conclusion is this? Just because one criticizes Noynoy Aquino, one is already suspected of being a paid hack. So let’s just see how stupid these allegations are.

First, life before Blog Watch was pretty laid back. I work at the comfort of my cozy home. I blog at leisure. I take my time at the gym. My kids are all working and I finally have my own time. I too am my own boss. sarap ng buhay ko!.

Working on Blog Watch meant time away from my husband who has been used to me being home at night for the past 25 years. Now I sleep late, writing an article that takes 4 to 6 hours to finish. Why would I sell my soul to a candidate? ( Incidentally, I am quite disappointed that PCIJ chose to sensationalize the ‘Dark Side’ of elections stalks bloggers, techies which I think refers to a small minority of the blogosphere. In fact, I don’t even know of any Death Star. PCIJ is forgetting the fact that there are lots of bloggers who are doing their share in making these elections credible)

I digress.

Second, do these people even know what lies deep in my heart? Do they know that there are people who might actually be sincere and render service out of love of country?

It is so easy to just lie down on my soft canopy bed, wrapped around the comfort of my husband’s arms, file my nails, then watch TV. How easy it is to just rant and bitch about the evils of GMA, bitch about corruption, and do nothing. So easy to live within my comfort zone. But I am blessed with the opportunity to write about the underplayed stories of the election and the candidates.

I grabbed the chance to be an active citizen and contribute in my own little way. It is not easy. I am not into politics. I research, study, write, rewrite which takes hours to do. I often get headaches from “nosebleed” political issues which I badger my husband to explain to me in layman terms.

Is it hard to fathom that Blog Watch contributors are principled citizens who love their country and just want to do their share to make these elections credible?

So excuse me! I cannot bring money to my grave.

Elections, I am told are often played dirty. I will never get used to it. This will probably be the last time I will write for a presidential election. I will be 58 years old in six years and I don’t think I have the energy to stomach the lies, the black propaganda…

The Ugly

Black Propaganda

Let me borrow the words of a wise twitter friend,ang_mungo, on the intensified mud-slinging that we are bound to see from today till election day.

People forget that the Senate was at its most productive during the Senate Presidency of Villar since it was re-established in 1987

People forget that Villar was the one who did a fastbreak at Congress – which led to Estrada’s impeachment – that we all applauded for.

People forget that Villar was the one who appointed Alan Cayetano to the Blue Ribbon Committee which became GMA’s major headache.

People forget that when there were OFWs that needed to be brought home, Villar was the only politician who did something about it.

As ang_mungo expands further: “Yes, let’s demonize the man who built his own business. Let’s make sure everyone forgets what he’s done RIGHT and focus on all that’s WRONG. Let’s not give them a chance to play up his strengths. Time is of the essence. Hit Villar hard and hit him continuously. Don’t give people a chance to think. Fill their minds with fantasies — about the goodness of our candidate and the evil of Villar.”

Open your eyes, and see how consistent the anti-villar mob’s strategy is -

1. Question Villar’s character,
2. Don’t let people get the chance to see his good side
3. Don’t talk about Noynoy.

Does it sound consistent?

Oh and add this variation to the strategy:

1. Keep talking about Noynoy’s honesty and goodness
2. Veer away from talk of Noynoy’s record
3. Continue to attack Villar

I got almost duped. Many of my friends hate Manny Villar and what do they know? Those who support Manny Villar are afraid to come out in the open fearing the wrath of the cult of rabid Noynoy supporters. This has been a campaign of hate. What has become of us? Traditional media focused more on campaign conduct over platforms, policy issues and action plans.

Let’s pretend you did not see that yellow ribbon tied on that TV camera

And if that were not enough, another strategy is to attack people who write favorably about Villar or criticize Noynoy.

A blogger showed me an email on how bodily harm might befall that blogger if blog entries continue to criticize Noynoy. Not only were threats made on this blogger but to the mother as well. And why drop hints that they had photos of that blogger’s children? Can I just say plain harassment and bullying?

Not to mention demolition plans to destroy a blogger’s credibility as if that will stop the truth from coming out. They know it in their hearts that I speak the truth.

To think they talk of integrity of their candidate? Excuse me.

I can easily let their vicious plans go since it’s comes with the territory but apparently dirty tricks department works 24/7. One day, I received an email that detailed the propagation of a black propaganda against Villar. I felt nauseated looking at their names. Obviously these people have vested interests. My highly reliable source requested me to keep the sender’s name in confidence. The plans made sense, the timing , and the people involved. Yet, I felt good that there was someone in that group who still had a conscience.

There is hope. There are good people around us.

Negative campaign

Adolf Hitler explained the principle of the Big Lie: people will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; and if you repeat it frequently enough people take it as gospel truth.

Bulatlat reported that “It is most unfortunate that the Aquino camp, the Liberal Party, which is leading in the surveys has been employing the dirtiest politics“.

They say the candidate cannot control the actions of their supporters. Still if your candidate is about honesty and goodness, you could at least follow the lead of your candidate.

Ricky Carandang in his twitter stated ” the best indicator of how a candidate will be as president is how he runs his campaign”.

I supported Noynoy Aquino for a few months despite the objections of my daughter who thought I had gone stark raving mad. As the campaign rolled along, I felt Noynoy is not suited to be a president, based on what I look for in a president. It is not just the criteria.

The manner of his campaign turned me off like he had no control of the people involved and let me stress again, the dirty tricks that were thrown our way. It gives me an insight on his type leadership and governance. Dirty. No substance.

The Good

Lessons Learned

Despite the bad and the ugly, there is a silver lining. There is hope that people can discern the truth from the lies. I want to share insights gained from the past months since I took an active role in this election. I need to make a stand, share my knowledge and impart unsolicited advice because we are talking about our future, the future of our children.

Some of you will not agree with me and that’s okay. We can always agree to disagree.

1. Noynoy Aquino is not my presidential candidate. I agree with Dine that Noynoy needs substance. Here is a candidate with no qualifications or experience to be president of the Philippines.

He has to read his notes before a debate. I took this photo during the Inquirer Presidential debate at the UP theater. He was the only one who brought notes.

Cramming to be presidential? Is that something to be proud of?

Ninez Cacho-Olivarez raised another point on the people supporting him.

These elite civil socialites, especially these big businessmen, want Noynoy Aquino to become president, because they know they can manipulate him as he knows nothing by way of running government and he will be a president who will be giving them what they want —- both influence in the corridors of power and bigger business deals for themselves.

What is even scarier is the speculation from Chavit Singson “If Noynoy wins, it’s as if we elected several presidents, because he isn’t capable of making his own decisions. There is no doubt that people around Noynoy are ensuring his victory so it would be easy to eventually unseat him, making Mar Roxas president instead)” Better Philippines writes more on Oppose the lies and misleading suggestions raised by Noynoy.

Poor Noynoy.

I finally saw the light.

2. It is not a choice between good and evil. It is choosing for the greater good.

3. None of the candidates are perfect but the choice is one who comes closest to fulfilling the desired qualities of a president.

4. So you chose Noynoy? You chose Villar? you chose Gordon? or Gibo? or Nick Perlas? Can’t we respect each other’s choices? I am sure you had reasons for supporting your candidate. In the end, it’s about assessing the risks and choosing which risk is most acceptable to you. Please respect my short list. Please respect why I don’t support Noynoy.

5. Take time to talk and listen to your children even if they are not of voting age. Discuss the issues and criteria needed for the future president of our country. One day your children will eventually ask you: “who did you vote?” and “why her/him?”

6. Realize that you are the focus of negative campaigning: the undecided, the critical, the careful and deliberate voter. You are the one intended to be manipulated. You don’t have to vote against the mudslinging candidate for him or her to win. They just want you not to show up at all on election day. If you stay away, their dirty tricks would have worked. Don’t give them the satisfaction.

7. Let’s make an effort to distinguish the truth from the lies. Easier said than done, given all the disinformation around us. But it would be worthwhile to try anyway. Educate ourselves and find out the real score regarding the people we want to vote into office. Be responsible when passing on text messages or forwarded emails.

8. You know your true friends in times of dirty politics. A true friend will not allow themselves to be swallowed by the mud. Yes, there are rabid and there are good Noynoy supporters.

9. Don’t be swayed by surveys. The real survey is on May 10. Surveys can be, and often are, manipulated. You will be receiving a text message urging you to pass around a candidate’s survey ratings. Don’t pass it around. Share your knowledge about candidates . Conduct conversations with other voters especially non-internet users, your family, relatives, friends or the stranger standing beside you on what you know.

10. I can only do so much. Blog Watch tried to elevate the level of discourse to platforms and issues during our interviews. They say that the electorate is NOT ready for serious stuff like these. The hits of the Manny Villar’s platform ranks second which means people are interested in knowing their candidate. The drama of the black propaganda diverted us from the critical issues and eventually confused voters in the end.

I do not have control of petty politics. I am sick of it. I think Manny’s Nanay Curing and I feel the same when she leaves everything to God “I leave everything to You. You know everything and Your will be done. ”

I let go and let God. God help us all.

Comments are disabled. I will be too busy the next two weeks to attend to my blogs. I need to prepare for our silver wedding anniversary party. Meantime, if you are an undecided voter for Manny Villar, read Undecided for Manny Villar?, or Why Manny Villar?

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You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets. Or Follow me in twitter @momblogger.

How about visiting my Beauty over 50 blog?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

Tweet Follow me in twitter @momblogger.A mention of my twitter name @momblogger alerted me .

“Is it true that you have chosen Villar?” , someone tweeted.

I replied that I will neither confirm nor deny that as I have stated in my entry, My presidential candidate

It does not matter who my candidate is. As project editor of Blogwatch.ph, it is prudent that I keep that choice only to myself and my close friends, the people I trust. Certain quarters cannot distinguish me as a voter and me, as the editor. Blog Watch remains non-partisan.

You are free to speculate, of course.

Most of the comments agreed with my short list (Manny Villar, Dick Gordon and Gibo Teodoro). A few raised eyebrows “Villar?!?” as if I just uttered the devil’s name.

The skeptical often are bewildered…Why oh why is Manny Villar in your short list? That’s what I’d like to talk about. Why Manny Villar?

With the negative campaigning and half-truths being flung around, one is confused with propaganda, counter-propaganda and black propaganda.

I am blessed with this wonderful opportunity as project editor of blog watch where I get to scrutinize these candidates, at least seven out of the nine presidential candidates.

A rational decision based on research, intensive interviews and attendance to three presidential forums was slowly forming in my head the past months. Insights gained by this experience paved the way for my decision to include Manny Villar because of his leadership, managerial ability, experience (I wrote more about it here with Dine and Wenchie.) I believe our presidential candidate should have all three characteristics to manage the economy well enough to create more jobs and address this issue of poverty. Understanding of issues against him included fact checking and discernment.

It helped a friend vouched for Villar’s high moral standards since she worked with him in the senate for many years. ( read Pia Cayetano‘s comments on Manny Villar)

But…a friend’s testimonial, his track record, competence and platforms were not the only factors to consider in the selection process.

The way a candidate handles his campaign gives me an insight to the governance of this candidate.

Do you know the challenges I face to get these presidential candidates? I am a virtual unknown. Blog Watch just launched on November 24, 2009. Who are we anyway?

I took my chance with Manny Villar for our first interview in December 17, 2009. An interview earlier that year left me with a favorable impression . I felt he was very open to bloggers, easy to talk to, patient, even if I had caused him discomfort with my questions on Twitter and Plurk. ( I heard he bought a laptop the next day to empower himself with the semantics of the online world). He was patient enough not to roll his eyes when clueless me asked him “what exactly are you accused of in c-5?”? I like to laugh and loved that he laughs as loud as I do (the other candidate that made me laugh so much was Dick Gordon). His three children impressed me. They are humble, simple and very loving to their father as they attentively listened to the bloggers interview him.

It helped that Villar’s new media guys were attentive enough to my interview request. Sure enough, Villar agreed to our first interview and his staff, his lovely daughter, Camille were once again around to give him support. Towards the end of our interview, he acknowledged the role of new media in the presidency.

All the other candidates where Blog Watch had connections with, were easy to communicate once I was able to establish the purpose of our interview.

This was not the case with Noynoy Aquino.

My persistence to interview him before the start of the campaign period was perceived as an impolite request. Not that Noynoy himself was attending to my request. Of course, there is a campaign team behind him and though apologetic, was quite helpless in giving us a slot till 6 weeks later. I want to say more and I am being nice here when I say I don’t want to come off as “negative campaigning”. Let me just show you a friend’s article on Why Noynoy is not in my shortlist to make the long story , short.

My impression was it was not easy to communicate with Noynoy. It took an inner inner circle (whatever!) to get through him.

Why should it be difficult to get an interview schedule when all the others didn’t give us a hard time? ( I found out that even Yahoo and PCIJ were unable to get an individual interview with Noynoy)

Why should it be hard to talk to a candidate about their plans?

In the course of the campaign period, issues cropped up. If I needed to be clarified on news accounts, I often got my request either from the new media guys or Villar’s staff. I would sometimes run across Villar’s children in forums and they struck me as really nice children with impeccable manners who would approach me and plant a kiss on my cheek. Villar raised such beautiful kids. I am impressed and thought his parenting style played a role in the personality development of his kids. Even Pia agrees with me.

I know impressions can be misleading (and this is all for show as skeptics want to point out to me) but I trust my gut feelings on these encounters.

Let’s face it, the powers of the presidency is almost imperial. The abuse and misuse of these powers is right smack in front of us for the past nine years. Do we allow this abuse and misuse to happen? The next president might also abuse these powers. If we get the right people elected, we cannot fold our tarpulins and say “phew, now they will change everything”. If we, the citizenry won’t try to know what is happening, nothing will also happen to us.

There is only one power that can face and surmount this abuse of power and that is the power of an aware, vigilant, organized citizenry.

So you ask, what am I getting at?

The fact that Villar is open to new media in a presidency is a factor crucial to a participative citizenry. The fact that he made himself accessible through his staff throughout the campaign period shows the type of organization he manages and an insight on his governance. A president needs to be open to the people and easily accessible when questions arise.

In the first interview that July 2009, I asked a photo op with him as proof that I interviewed him so that I can show the photo to him when I need to follow-up on his plans.

“I will still keep my promise even if I am elected or not.”, Villar assured me.

Even after elections, I will make it a point to be vigilant as our new president grapples through the difficult transition to democratic restoration and economic recovery.

For those undecided on Manny Villar, this article, Undecided on Manny Villar? might give you insights to all the issues and controversies.

You might want to know how to go about Selecting a candidate to vote for as President, read on Why Gibo Teodoro and Dick Gordon.

source of July 2009 photo- from Chuvaness——————————-
You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets. Or Follow me in twitter @momblogger.

How about visiting my Beauty over 50 blog?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

Tweet Follow me in twitter @momblogger.“I can’t believe Tita Pia is now Senator Pia”, my two daughters exclaimed in awe after we told them that she had won the senatorial race in 2004. My girls knew their Tita Pia and played with her toddlers way back the time my husband and her then husband started a law office in the mid 90′s. Pia was there to hold my hand during the wake of my son who took time to talk to me, who took the trouble to order me a grief recovery book from the states. There are not many who know how to console a bereaved but like her brother Alan (who was there with me by the hospital bed with Luijoe), she truly showed compassion and sincerity.

When Pia won in 2004, I knew she was going to accomplish a lot. Even if she trailed in the surveys at the start of the campaign, I was confident she’d top it and she did. Health is her advocacy . I asked her “what motivated you to focus on Health?”

I am a lawyer as a profession . I believed no matter the training, emotions and background dictate the path. I talked about the loss of my son and my father due to severe illnesses. I was thankful we had the means to keep them happy and healthy. I was mindful of the fact of the work that my dad had done. There was much to be done. When I ran in 2004, I ran in the campaign of health. I lost my father and my son in my speech. Advisers told me to change my speech. I have nothing else to talk about. I talk about my background. I am a lawyer. I graduated with honors. That is where my competence and qualification come in. What is my passion? What do I have to offer? I want to do something with health care. I still talk that way.

Health Advocacy and Laws Passed
She has been in the senate for 6 years. She tells me that the HAPPY part of this campaign period is that she is given the opportunity to give her accomplishment report. It is how she feels about this campaign period . “It is about me telling the people about what I have done for the people deciding if I should be back in the senate , and to use the standard I said as a benchmark for the other 11 other senators that are vying for the senate.”

I am proud to tell you that a friend is not all talk. She has accomplished much at the senate especially for women. Pia is proud of her nerdiness. She noted that she maintains a small staff and writes the laws she files herself. Among those she authored and sponsored were landmark bills such as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act (Republic Act 9994) and the Expanded Breastfeeding Act (Republic Act 10028).

Aside from the Republic Acts 9994 and 10028, Pia authored the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act, Magna Carta of Women, Cheaper Medicines Act, National Environmental Awareness and Education Act, Oil Pollution Compensation Act, and the Illegal Detention of Patients Act, among others.

Most of the bills she filed is written by her and the help of her staff or given to her by an NGO which she goes through before filing. The work comes in defending it and taking flak for it. That is where her training as lawyer came in.

The Reproductive Health Bill
The Reproductive Health (RH) bill is a controversial word. She suggests that “Maybe media can ask specific questions”

1. Are you willing to help prevent women from dying of cervical cancer?

2. Are you willing to let children grow with mothers?

Mothers die while giving birth. Did you know that 11 mothers die daily of child birth?

She is not afraid of the RH bill because she can cut it up into issues.

So if people as her “Are you for the RH Bill or not?, she answers:

I don’t like that …for RH or not? There has been so much horrible propaganda that RH bill is for killing babies. I am not for abortion. I am pro-life. I believe in educating my children about sex. Couples should have that opportunity to make an informed decision on artifical contraceptives. RH bill is so politicized. There are common provisions that anyone regardless of belief can agree.

We can agree that 11 women shouldn’t die daily.

We can agree that children should not be molested by adolescent boys or drug crazed men,.

I am sure we can agree on something. Let’s not call it RH bill . Let’s call it something else so we can agree on those provisions that are agreeable and then leave the ones that are contentious. Let’s go little by little. We cannot ignore this

Sex Education

I have written a lot about sex education. I see that parents don’t even know how to teach sex education to their children. I took time to understand the reproductive system even if I didn’t have sex ed classes. What about other mothers?

Pia adds “I tell people —You don’t want to talk to your child about your kids’ sex education. Well therefore, your child will learn sex through billboards, through internet, through magazine, through exploitative media outlets. Good luck. I talk to my children about sex because I rather they hear it from me from anyone else. ”

She agrees with the conservative church that their children should only be taught by qualified teachers on sex education. In fact, she suggests that we should have parent sexual education. I am sure parents will appreciate that.

On Manny Villar

As you might all know, Manny Villar is in my short list of presidential candidates.. I trust Pia’s opinions and I just wanted her to confirm some of my views on Villar. Pia candidly talks about Nacionalista Party presidential Candidate, Manny Villar:

He is an accomplished businessman, respected in Asia. He has leadership ability. The ability to make tough decisions is important. Senate president experience alone, one needs training to make decisions . Noynoy does not have the experience and I love the guy. Manny Villar is the leader. He can absorb the BS and can make tough decisions

I can’t help but ask about the campaign around him against corruption and the accusation thrown against Manny Villar on using the death of his brother and not really being poor.

Pia then elaborates that “Corruption was never around in his 12 years of public service. It is Presidential campaign smear against him. He’s been very consistent in leadership capabilities and there has been no taint on his moral standards and his anti corruption stand until just before presidential election started . That should tell everyone that it is a smear campaign…”

She even said that Villar is “filthy rich” for him to “get any” from the government.

“What is wrong with sharing the Filipinos where you are coming from? “, she asks

“That is your inspiration.”

I am here because “namatay tatay ko. Namatay anak ko” is inspiration. You want to know people’s driving force are. If my driving force is because I don’t want to see another mother hold her child and die in her arms, then you know I am committed to health care. If Manny Villar wants to provide health care to everyone, so that her brothers or sons don’t have to die…

Like Pia, I believe we derive inspiration and our passion from our past experiences. She has come into her own and made her mark in the Philippine senate. She strikes a balance between work in the Senate, her kids and doing the things she loves which you can see in her mydailyrace.com. When I referred to her as a mom blogger in my blogroll, she was very touched because people sometimes forget that she too is a mother. You can also follow her campaign at whereispianow.com

I ask her what her number is in the ballot.

Number 10 for 2010. Wow, that’s easy to remember.

Then she adds, my president is number 10 too.

She gets my vote , of course and I hope the electorate appreciate her accomplishments and compare it with the other senators running for reelection.

Video of Pia Cayetano

View Blog Watch interview with Pia Cayetano
(other videos are still being uploaded)

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You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets. Or Follow me in twitter @momblogger.

How about visiting my Beauty over 50 blog?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

Tweet Follow me in twitter @momblogger.I am so sick of the negative campaigning and black propaganda. The latest is in reference to Manny Villar‘s ad where he says “Nakaranas na ba kayong … mamatayan ng kapatid dahil wala kang pera pangpagamot” (Have you experienced losing a brother because you did not have the money to provide him proper medical care)? Manny Villar asked in his “PANATA(Advocacy)” TV commercial. Villar and referred to his younger brother Danny who passed away on October 1962. In the same commercial, Villar’s 1962 photo with his younger brother was shown.

The writer claims that “Villar was not really poor as he claimed. Really, is it hard to imagine that he was once poor? I am sure you all have read the allegations , accusations or whatever you call it…BLACK PROPAGANDA.

Manny Villar has this to say on the question of “Ginagamit ba ang kapatid”

Ginagamit ang kapatid?

Ngayon me mga grupo na nagtatakang guluhin at siraan ako na hindi daw kami mahirap dati. Nais kong ulitin noong araw, ako po ay ipinanganak…kaming lahat na magkakapatid, dun kami sa 500 Sta Maria, Moriones St, kanto, at dun po kami, 9 kami na isang banig, isang kulambo. Nagtitinda kami ng nanay ko ng hipon.

Sa sobrang sikip naming, nangutang ang tatay ko, nagpatayo ng bahay…pinapalabas ngayon na kami’y hindi mahirap. Hindi naman tama yon. Hindi kami wholesaler, hindi kami broker. Nagsimula kami, nagtitingi kami ng hipon, yan po ay paulit-ulit kong sasabihin.

Yung kapatid ko na namatay ng cancer, yan po ay dala din ng kahirapan, hindi namin — kung saan-saan lang namin dinadala. Nung mamamatay na ang kapatid ko ay napilitan kaming dalhin sa ospital. Nangutang kami ng pera, at sa charity pa.

Maliwanag na nag-iimbento na naman ng mga akusasyon sa akin. Sobra naman ang ginagawa sa akin. Hindi maiaalis sa akin na mahirap ako noong dati.

Ang tatay ko mismo, 9 din silang magkakapatid na pawang mahihirap din. Kaya nagtataka ako kung paanong pati ito ay pinag-iinteresan nila. Siguro para ma-justify kung bakit haciendero ang kanilang kandidato bilang pangulo.

He says more in a press conference.

You know, I got to interview Manny Villar last December 17 where he mentioned (watch the recorded video below at the mark 1:05) that health budget is so neglected taking 1.3% of national budget.

He wants to double health budget, He has seen how hard it is for the poor to get health care. His own brother died..he discusses more in our interview about free medical attention during life and death situation. FREE medication for life and death and he claims it is not a empty election promise.

I can’t judge someone for transforming the death of a sibling to an advocacy or an election promise. Most siblings suffer some trauma after a loss of another sibling. I wouldn’t know how Manny Villar felt but in the course of my grief advocacy work, I have known such cases.

So I am really disappointed with all these allegations that he lied, that he was not really poor.

1. How do you know they could afford to pay the hospital bill? Have you ever had a sick family member dying of leukemia? Just because there was no cure for leukemia in 1962 does not mean that Danny did not need comfort to alleviate pain or discomfort?

A parent will do anything possible even borrow at great lengths to keep their child alive. I know some parents still in debt after their child died in a hospital.

2. How do you know if Manny Villar lied about being poor? He was poor once but he didn’t remain poor.

The blogger in Mahirap Tanggapin Na Mahirap si Villar? Ano Pang BASURA ang itatapon nila? adds:

What is wrong with a once poor vendor of shrimps and fish to improve their fortunes and move from poor to middle class over time? Isn’t this the price and prize of sipag and tyaga? Do people expect the poor to remain poor forever? Is it a mortal sin and immoral that the Villars did not remain poor? Remember that the property was bought in 1962, and this “witness” Jun Borres who claims this is a typical upper middle class dwelling bought the property in 1987. A difference of 25 years!!!!

The Liberal Party (LP) denies being the source of anti-villar emails called “Truth be Told” containing allegations belying Villar’s popular claim that he was a self-made billionaire who emerged from dire poverty in the streets of Tondo.

Maybe not officially…I received a text message in the past from someone in the LP (and I kept the text message as proof so be careful about forwarding such messages)

The problem with black propaganda is that the electorate want to hear the things they want to hear and actually believe it . Take for example the statement that went viral on the internet, titled “Why I will vote for Noynoy,” allegedly written by Winnie Monsod but which she denied ever writing it. The email says things that voters who desire good governance want to hear. I received one such email and told the sender that it is not written by Winnie Monsod. He wrote back and said “If you support Noynoy, then it doesn’t matter if it is fake”

Enough of this black propaganda, mud slinging, or negative campaigning.

From now till election day, let’s hear our candidates tell us how to get out of the mess, We need real leadership and a candidate that’s out there listening to the voters, not spewing overtly negative attacks. Every other candidate needs to make a case for why they are the best person for the job.

Disclosure- Senator Manny Villar is in my short list (find out why).

read full transcript from Manny Villar

Manny Villar Talks about his brother, Tondo House and More

Manny Villar in DZMM Interview on His Brothers Death, Being Poor, c5 ——————————-
You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets. Or Follow me in twitter @momblogger.

How about visiting my Beauty over 50 blog?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

Tweet Follow me in twitter @momblogger.

It is two months before May 10, 2010, the Election day. The Day we vote for a president and the rest of the national and local posts.

I made a choice.

I have chosen my presidential candidate.

I want my candidate to win.

Yesterday, my husband and I decided to openly support our presidential candidate (not here online). The past month, we began discussing our choices, analyzing and researching on the nine presidential candidates. I am blessed and privileged to have interviewed seven presidential candidates and attended three presidential forums. It has given me an opportunity to understand their platforms, the issues and over-all impression of the presidential candidates. I know their strengths and weaknesses but there can be only one President.

How did the decision process go?

1. I already knew what I wanted in a president.

2. Character, competency, coherent platforms and clear vision are the criteria that I look for in the presidential candidate.

The present times call for a tough administrator, statesman and economic leader. That was the critical factor for me.

3. I narrowed down the nine candidates to just three. My initial short list was based on my selection criteria on character, competence, coherent platform and clear vision. My short list of candidates composed of Manny Villar, Dick Gordon and Nick Perlas.

4. I decided to make my short list a bit more quantifiable by using this voting matrix.

5. I wrote about How to Select a candidate to vote for President.

The result ?

Manny Villar, Dick Gordon and Gibo Teodoro is now my refined shortlist.

6. Over many lunches and dinners, my husband and I discussed all these. Two more factors affected our choice which cannot be quantified and this is where gut feel came to play.

- The candidate’s sincerity (my perception based on interviews) to serve our country.

- The ability to communicate with the candidate in case of questions on their governance . A vigilant citizenry is crucial to monitor the powers of the presidency.

A decision is made to support our candidate because we want our candidate to win.

You ask, “So who are you supporting?”

It does not matter who my candidate is. As project editor of Blogwatch.ph, it is prudent that I keep that choice only to myself and my close friends, the people I trust. Certain quarters cannot distinguish me as a voter and me, as the editor. Blog Watch remains non-partisan.

My motives for Blog Watch have been questioned. Some people think that money is always part of the equation just because one presidential candidate has so much money to spare in his campaign. Can’t people think for once that money is not everything?

What a shame!

Is it hard to believe that my only motive is that I love my children, that I think of their future? I have a stake in their future. This is how I can be a part of my children’s future.

The process of selecting a candidate is more important and which I have shared to you.

I believe one should make a rational informed decision, not one based on emotions or bandwagon effect. Discuss them with your family, your friends and the non-internet users.

The only way we can learn more about the candidates is if we educate ourselves and others, we can do this if we help foster discussions of platforms, encourage a healthy debate of issues, raise the level of intellectual discourse and analysis.

All in the hope that we can come up with the optimum choice for our next generation of leaders.

Are you ready to make a choice and support that candidate?

Visit BlogWatch.ph to read more on the presidential candidates, automated election, the party list and campaign finance.

How about visiting my Beauty over 50 blog?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

Tweet Follow me in twitter @momblogger.

I am not going to talk about the questions I ask the presidential candidates but more on the gadgets I use. Pocholo Gonzales and his team at Creativoices.net provide the podcasting and video casting of all the candidates but I carry along my own gadgets. Most often, the presidential candidates are amazed at all the contraptions we bring to our “Coffee Chat” or “Happy Hour” but they are simple and usually inexpensive gadgets.

I thought I’d share to you what I have been doing the past few weeks since the year started.

My gadgets as shown in the photos above:

1. Macbook or the light weight HP Mini to live blog or update via Twitter (as @momblogger or @blogwatchdotph)

2. Flip Video Camcorder to take my own videos which I place on a either a mini-tripod or stand tripod. These are uploaded to youtube.com/blogwatchdotph

3. iPhone as back up for the ustream broadcasting which appears at ustream or blogwatch.

4. Nikon D40 for close-up photos of the candidates

5. Must always bring: extension cords, AA rechargeable batteries, chargers for iphone and laptops, usb cables, smart 3g, Globe tattoo for internet backup.

Can you tell I am too exhausted to even blog? The campaign period is about to start and I’ll be even more busy. I am glad that Noynoy Aquino is the 7th presidential candidate that blogwatch.ph interviewed. That means there are just 3 more to go. Then there are vice-presidential candidates and senatorial candidates.

It’s actually fun. I need a lot of sleep though as I am getting eye bags already.

So that’s it!

Photo Credits- Thanks Creativoices.net ——————————-
You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets. Or Follow me in twitter @momblogger.

How about visiting my Beauty over 50 blog?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

Tweet Follow me in twitter @momblogger.I have been swamped lately with our interviews of presidential candidates in blogwatch.ph. One of these candidates, JC de los Reyes of Ang Kapatiran party moved me so much. Let me make it clear. I am not supporting a presidential candidate as of the moment. But I like JC de los Reyes, the humble person and public servant, and pretty much how I felt when I met Nick Perlas that I even wrote about his views on new politics. These are competent but not too popular presidential candidates. Well, not yet because they are not given a chance by the Filipino people and more so with media. JC de los Reyes was not invited to the de La Salle forum or even the upcoming January 14 Romulo debate in AIM. But really, these presidential candidates have the compassion, the vision and the clear platform. Truly new politics. It frustrates me that traditional media do not give the same media mileage given to Manny Villar, Gibo Teodoro, Dick Gordon etc. Let the electorate decide not those stupid surveys to bring in ratings or brisk sales.

After our interview with JC de los Reyes, he recalled his article Servant Mothers Humble Nation-Builders when he saw the work we are doing for Blog Watch. He promised to send us the article. He sent me the link just a few hours ago. Reading his article just touched me even more as I saw the photos of his three lovely children.

I am forced to stay on in politics because awang awa na ako sa mga mahihirap. I also have to fight for my children’s future. Justice demands that those who have been blessed with a good, comfortable life should do battle with a rotten, corrupt system, oppressive to God’s beloved children – the poor and the marginalized…..

What caught my attention with Atty. Grace’s email is how she connected patriotism and motherhood, where homemakers are at the fore-front of dreaming of a better world. But shall mothers stop at dreaming? I propose that ideally, real moms not only dream of a better world for their children, they raise their children to shape a better world. The word ‘authority’ comes from author. What do we want to author in our children?

I can dream, can I?

I just want a better future for our children. It’s that simple. It’s been A Mother’s Hope, A Mother’s Love.

This is for my two girls and to all our children.

Support Voter’s Education. Visit blogwatch.ph

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You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets. Or Follow me in twitter @momblogger.

How about visiting my Beauty over 50 blog?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado

Tweet Follow me in twitter @momblogger. Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. Hal Borland

Peace , love and prosperity is what I wished for 2009. Though Ondoy hit us and to this day, our cars are still in the shop, life is good. When I wondered what was coming for 2009, I told myself the best is coming, the very best in life and love had to offer, the best God will send and claim it as mine.

As the year ends, I feel blessed to be offered the position of Features Editor of Vibal’s Foundation, Philippine Online Chronicles (POC) in recognition for the editorial work I do for blogwatch.ph.

How did I end up in an election watch project anyway when my only exposure to politics was my student council days? I had long envisioned myself to be of service to our country. Perhaps blogging is one way. New media events just fell into place. Sure, I am a blogger but a new media publisher is the more accurate word, because I create content, collaborate and connect.

Here are the events that brought me to the challenge I face today.

It started when Carlo Ople, the New Media Consultant of Senator Mar Roxas back in August 2008 invited me for a bloggers’ meetup and I almost choked:

“Whaaat? I hope you won’t ask me to endorse him or something”.

Another meetup with Mar Roxas in early 2009 brought me to the realization that politicians will actually meet with bloggers as election nears. I resolved to meet up with each candidate if an invitation is offered to me. It seemed important to share my thoughts to my readers in a simple and effective format.

Meeting Kiko Pangilinan brought an intensified voter’s registration that April.

The second ANC Leadhrship forum had a lineup of Senator Loren Legarda, Mayor Jejomar Binay, MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando and Former President Joseph Estrada and only Loren Legarda impressed me that time. I always thought Loren Legarda and Mar Roxas would be presidential candidates.

Getting to Know Senator Manny Villar in July was a revelation. I know politicians are really supposed to appear nice at all times but I felt his sincerity in that meeting together with his children. (and no, I am not endorsing him)

I met Noynoy Aquino at President Cory Aquino’s wake in August 2.

I know it’s cliche to say this but there are no words to describe the incredible outpouring of public sympathy during the 9 hour funeral drive. As I covered her funeral, I saw the people lining in the streets occasionally yelling their anger towards Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA). I thought that GMA would never get away with Charter change with this kind of mood.

Then came the invitation from Philippine Center for Journalism (PCIJ) for a training seminar on “Covering Elections in the Era of Internet and Automation” in August 26.

My dream story for the Election 2010 at that time was for bloggers to pool their resources and cover topics like youth vote, the effect of infomercials on voter’s decision, automation, role of technology in election. I created a page in this blog for Voters Education and provide equal opportunity of candidates to be known to the voting population.

Rumors were ripe with Noynoy being the game changer. I knew he’d run.

In the first week of September, Kristine Mandigma and Gus Vibal discussed a citizens portal for POC by chance and the rest is history. blogwatch.ph was conceived based on the PCIJ training.

Chiz Escudero and bloggers met in November.

I showed a sneak Preview of Blogwatch.ph on November 13.

Blogwatch.ph launched in November 24 just a few days before the deadline of the filing of the candidacy. The day before the press conference, the Ampatuan massacre occured which brought shock and rage here and abroad.

None of the presidential candidates issued a statement on the massacre and even GMA was not taking action. I got hold of Nick Perlas views on the Ampatuan massacre, That same day, ABS CBN TV Patrol’s Adrian Ayalin, got to interview me about the noise generated in social media.

ANC invited me once again to their forums and got to chance to watch seven presidential candidates “debate” live without much substance.

I managed to get a photo op with Erap.

It was December 22 when I read a news item in the papers featuring Nick Perlas and his disqualification by COMELEC. I immediately asked Dine if she wanted to interview Nick along with me. Nick was gracious enough to squeeze us in. The topic on new politics fascinated me. Is new politics really possible?

Nick claims Noynoy is not the bearer of new politics and cites his article, eight reasons why Noynoy can weaken new politics. I like Nick Perlas. He seems so sincere and is so nice. (and no, I am not endorsing him).

None of these events were accidents. I envisioned them in my mind and it all fell in to place.

I am optimistic for 2010. The initiative of new politics and new media in Election coverage is a new beginning. I am new in editorial job and politics but I am constantly reading materials, getting myself empowered to understand all this “nosebleed” political and election jargon.

The prospect of being both Features editor of POC and blogwatch.ph editor excites me. I am not afraid of taking up the challenge.

What about you? Are you ready for the challenge of new politics? Are you ready to play an active role as a citizen in the election watch? Are you ready for change?

I am excited.

I am hopeful.

As the 2009 ends, I am full of gratitude for all that I received this year. Good and bad.

To all my readers, I hope that when you think about the year ahead, you will focus on the good that is coming.

Remember the laughter,
the joy,
the hard work,
and the tears.

And as you reflect on the past year,
also think of the new one to come.

Because most importantly,
this is a time of new beginnings
and the celebration of life.”——————————-
You might also want to read Positive Mental Energy and Affirmations and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, Pinoy Food Photo Blog and Techie Gadgets. Or Follow me in twitter @momblogger.

How about visiting my Beauty over 50 blog?

Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado.

Add me in Facebook by introducing yourself. My facebook is at facebook.com/noemidado