Deja Vu: Erap for President, Gloria for Vice President

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo might run as Vice President in 2010! Ten years ago, in 1998, Arroyo ran as vice president and got  a landslide victory!

Earlier, former President Joseph Ejercito “Erap” Estrada declared that he will run as president in 2010. Ten years ago, in 1998, Erap ran as vice president and got a landslide victory!

It was the third election where both president and vice president came from different parties. Erap was running under Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) and Gloria’s party was Lakas-NUCD-UMDP and Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi).

Shall we have the fourth election where both president and vice president came from different parties? Shall we have Erap again in Malacanang? Shall we have both Erap and Gloria again?

Hold on, there is no serious talk about it yet in Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Representative Danilo Suarez, a senior deputy general of the party admitted as reported by Sun Star. But why he is talking about it to media. Is he trying to test the water?

Never again! This was the cry right after martial law. I don’t know if we say this after Erap and Gloria.

President Arroyo is rumored to run in congress. Many of her critics are believing that she will really run.

Yesterday, as the president once again visited her hometown in Pampanga, a breaking news that the President might run as Vice President circulated and got mixed reactions.

Let Erap run. Let Gloria run. If both of them got elected again, that’s another story.

Rise and fall of narco-communities

The country’s anti-drug czar, no less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, must have seen last night’s episode of ABS-CBN’s XXX. Perhaps she might consider getting the services of ABS-CBN’s program researchers and reporters!

The XXX episode narrated how an XXX asset (Does the network pay its asset?), with a secret camera, penetrated to a community of drug sellers, users, and supporters. As I watched, I feel the need to name such community. I think it is best to call it, narco-community!

The same episode also described how people of the entire community connived on selling and marketing drugs. There were guides for those who wish to enter a drug den; some individuals served as guard, trying to check their customer. Some areas are for customer (called as scorers) and one area is restricted to outsiders. It has this sign: Bawal ang scorer.

Shabu was sold like just another kind of commodity; drugs paraphernalia (aluminum foil strips) are sold in sari-sari store. The spy camera caught several men, some women, old and young, who were actively conniving on their narco-community activities. I appeared that they were doing the normal thing.

Narco-communities develop their own narcotics culture!

To make the episode spicy, XXX team went to Cavite police. With close coordination with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Cavite police surprised the Imus narco-community! As expected, the police was shocked to what they seen, the mayor was equally surprised!

Really surprising? Or we need to get surprised to dramatize everything?

I don’t think the country’s anti-drug czar will get surprised!

I was not surprised. Why? This is not something new. Narco-communities don’t just thrive in Pasig (remember shabu tiange?) nor in Cavite. Narco-communities exist anywhere!

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia for Vice President?

Cebu’s first lady governor might become Philippines’ first vice president!

Gibo-Garcia tandem. Photo credit: Michael Victor Ong

Today’s top story of The Philippine Star, Gibo-Gwen tandem emerging for Lakas, hints Gov. Gwen’s alliance to administration’s presidential bet, Defense Secretary Gilbert ‘Gibo’ Teodoro.

Has Garcia tempted to seek higher position? No one knows yet. The report in The Philippine Star says:

The tandem of Lakas-Kampi standard-bearer Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia for the 2010 elections is emerging as negotiations for what the administration sees as a powerhouse team-up are nearing the homestretch, officials said yesterday.

The report only mentioned ‘official’ and ‘the source’ making the story appears like test field of Teodoro-Garcia tandem. Gov. Gwen’s vice presidential bid remained as rumor.

Several months ago her name has been floated as good candidate for vice president. Gov. Gwen was cold on that hot news. She manifested that she will continue to serve as governor in Cebu rather than seek national position.

What’s good for Cebu: BRT, LRT or Both?

Like garbage or solid waste, traffic congestion becomes major by-product of Cebu’s urbanization. One of Metro Cebu’s major challenge is how to address the worsening traffic congestion. One good option is to have a mass transport system within the metropolitan area.

Metro Cebu’s traffic demand will continue to experience rapid growth of over three percent towards the next century, says the case study Metropolitan Cebu: The Challenge of Definition and Management by Ruben Mercado of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies.

Several other studies recommend the need for a mass transport system in Metro Cebu. But the kind of mass transport system Cebu needs is currently discussed.

Mass transport system is almost synonymous to Light Rail Transit (LRT) or the Metro Rail Transit (MRT). The LRT/MRT system is suggested for Metro Cebu. Cebuanos, upon hearing this, get so excited until the cost of constructing and maintaining it was revealed.

Cebu  City Mayor Tomas Osmena, has been suggesting and pushing Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT). Obviously, Mayor Tommy’s mind is already nailed to BRT although several studies are yet to be done.

There is unsolicited proposal for Cebu Light Rail Transit (LRT) pushed by most of Metro Cebu chief executives and the DOTC. It seems Cebu LRT is coming too close not until Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena announced that he still wait until the studies of BRT are done before he can give a stand (recommendation) to LRT project.

Hilario Davide III as next Cebu governor?

Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia, unlike 2006 election, now has reason to tighten her belt with the entry of Cebu City councilor Hilario Davide III in the scene.  Councilor Davide is not a big threat to Gov. Gwen Garcia but he is a very good political material for Cebu province. While the governor must tighten her belt, councilor Davide must prepare because he must be sweating too much to beat Garcia.

Perhaps Councilor Hilario Davide III must consume a ton of Sinanduloy and do Suroy-suroy sa Sugbo as fast as he could to win in Cebu gubernatorial race.

The talk about councilor Davide started when presidential aspirant Noynoy Aquino appointed as chairman of the Liberal Party (LP) in Cebu province. The party has yet to reveal its bet for Cebu governor in 2010. When asked about running for Cebu governor, councilor Davide told reporters that he is ready to run.

But he has yet to work on his qualifications. Hilario Davide III is currently serving as Cebu City councilor. Cebu City residents do not vote for Cebu provincial governor. Davide’s residence issue is being solved. According to reports, he will transfer his voter’s record to Argao. When he does, he needs also to resign as Cebu City councilor.

Transferring his voter’s record on or before October 30 will still not solve the residence issue.

My Vote for the 2009 Bloggers’ Choice Award (Visayas)

I vote for the blog of Cebu Bloggers Society (CBS) for the 2009 Bloggers’ Choice Award in the Visayas.

Visayas Bloggers’ Choice Award is one of the special award given by the Philippine Blog Awards (PBA) to a blog in the Visayas that gained most support from bloggers.

The nomination of CBS blog excites many members of the Visayas blogging community. Although the blog is younger compared to most of CBS member’s blog, its influence is phenomenal. Perhaps it is because the blog contains up to date information and provides readers various topics. As it is maintained by a group of bloggers, the blog serves as home of CBS members who share common ideals, vision, and aspiration.

In addition to Visayas Blogger’s Choice Award, the PBA 2009 also give these awards: Best Visayan Blog, Best Visayas Locale Blog, and Best Visayas Nature Blogger.

The Philippine Blog Awards in the Visayas will be held on October 18, 20o9, 7:00 PM at the Ayala City Sports, Cebu Business Park.

Please register to reserve your seats.

A glimpse at AboitizLand communities

During the first One Cebu Business Summit, businessmen highlighted Cebu’s resiliency in coping with recent global financial crisis.

Cebu is slightly affected to global financial crisis. But to some, Cebu has never felt it. Without figures at hand, one can just go sight-seeing all over Cebu and he will see how bullish construction and real estate developments are. Except for retrenchment of few export-oriented companies, Cebu’s economy remain strong and post continuous growth. Real estate developers continue to build condominiums, BPO buildings, houses. The demand of commercial spaces continue to escalate and the sales of properties remain high – a strong indicator of healthy economy.

The booming real estate development in Cebu is indeed a reason for us to get excited and be more optimistic!

Recently, AboitizLand invited members of Cebu Bloggers Society (CBS) for a one-day tour to AboitizLand communities. AbotizLand development projects span from industrial, residential, commercial, to sports and leisure.

Our itinerary includes Molave Highlands, Mahogany Grove, and North Town. I noticed there was one thing these communities have in common – the greens and serene environment.