http://www.kinkybluefairy.net/2010/10/how-to-choose-a-car/

Looking back, that was so much fun. But, now that I’m all grown up and drive my own car, I have come to realize that it’s no fun to be traveling on such rough roads. There’s nothing amusing about it at all. Driving through coarse terrains and merciless potholes not only leaves your body all worn out, but also lessens the life of your car, so to speak.

Just recently, I’ve witnessed new pavements and potholes being fixed. I am left wondering if the election is just around the corner or if these road projects are part of an early campaign for aspiring political candidates. This may sound funny, but sadly there’s some truth to my out-of-the-blue sentiments. Road repairs and developments are apparent once elections draw near. Not only that, you can see huge signs and big tarpaulins over such roads reminding everyone who paid for it and who did it.

I guess by now you’re getting what I mean. It’s just unfortunate that somehow this tactic still works in most cases. It’s almost like a defeated mindset. Of course, there are still honest ones who are doing their duties as public officials without hidden agendas at the back of their minds. I just wish there are more dedicated officials looking out for the betterment of the community and not for their own sakes. These thoughts often come to mind every time I see roads being fixed or developed.

In my years of living in Cebu, which I proudly call my home, I’ve realized that driving here is also quite different. Allow me to share some of the insights I’ve learned about the “rules of the road” that other expats might find useful in adapting with the driving styles in the Philippines.

• Speed Limit. If you are driving in the Philippines, there’s actually no need to worry about speed limits. In fact, speed limits are slightly enforced, if at all, so are other rules of the road. It’s like the traffic and road conditions dictate the rate of your speed, more than any speed limit sign or law. Here, the general speed limits are 60 km/hr as the minimum speed and 100 km/hr as the maximum rate. However, you’ll notice that most cars are actually driving over speed limit.
• Road Quality. Urban areas mostly have well-paved roads. However, some rural areas could have problems with potholes, lack of visible road signs and poor lighting. Road block signage or warning signs during road repairs are sometimes vaguely indicated by putting big rocks on the road. Mountain roads often don’t have guardrails and extra caution must be observed, especially when driving at night.
• Checkpoints. Various checkpoints can be set up during police operations. In such cases, you just need to slow down unless you are asked to pull over. Numerous government agencies, such as PNP, AFP or DENR, conduct checkpoints when looking for illegal loggers, poachers or guerilla members of NPA, Abu Sayyaf or MILF.
• Driving Style. Driving here could be nerve-racking for first-time drivers. You will experience being cut off frequently. Some drivers routinely pull into traffic without so much care at other oncoming vehicles. Driving precautions are regarded lightly and not strictly enforced. In fact, most drivers don’t have their seatbelts or helmets on. Drivers of passenger buses, taxis, or trucks can drive for 24 hours straight, as long as their body can tolerate. If DUI is strictly observed in the States, here it’s almost unenforced. Driving in the Philippines can be stressful, especially for foreigners, who are not used to the traffic flow and unpredictable driving situations. You have to pay close attention to your driving, and nothing else.
• Driver Liability. The driver is nearly always 100% accountable during collisions or road accidents, regardless of fault. You can be in deep trouble if you hit a pedestrian, more so if it’s a child, who perhaps crossed the street out of the blue. You can face a long strenuous court case and even a possible deportation.
• Pedestrians. You’ll see a lot of jaywalking here. Some people are way too undisciplined to wait for their turn to cross the street. People also have a curious habit of sitting idly on the side of the road, or worse, putting up stalls or “pongko-pongko” tables for their mini eatery business. During happy occasions like fiesta or holidays, you can expect jolly people walking at the streets. You must SOUND your horn should you see anyone not paying attention, lest you hit them, and it’s still going to be your fault.
• Vehicles. You are lucky if you are not caught by traffic enforcers while driving a car without headlights or taillights during the night. If you are driving at night, you can also expect some drivers not dimming their bright lights for incoming traffic. I have also witnessed some taxi drivers using the handbrakes to stop their car. Overloading is common, especially on commercial vehicles like public utility jeepneys. In very remote areas, you’ll be amazed to see commuters sitting on top of the bus or jeepney.
• Driving Attitude. Show aggressiveness when driving, but don’t be a jerk. If you’re driving in the Philippines, you are expected to follow closely, enter traffic and be fairly aggressive. There’s no time for hesitation as it might only cause accidents. You need to learn to decide quickly and commit.

Driving in the Philippines can be daunting at first, but you’ll get used to it. There are definitely many interesting things you’ll learn and discover while traversing the roads and highways of my motherland. With all the not-so-pleasant road encounters I’ve shared, I hope my fellow expats would still learn to love the country I consider my home. After all, Philippines is not just filled with warm and exuberant people, it is also endowed with numerous must-see tourist attractions.

And what better way to make themselves visible in the Province of Cebu than to join the annual Suroy Suroy Sugbo tour.

Among the presidential candidates spotted during the tourism tour were Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro and vice-presidential candidate Loren Legarda.

It’s no secret these aspirants hope to get the endorsement of Cebu’s lady governor, Gwen Garcia.  In fact, Loren dropped hints during the tour’s stop in the town of Malabuyoc.  Loren believes that she and the lady governor share similar views and advocacies, not to mention both of them are women leaders.

Loren is grateful for the chance to visit and tour Cebu like this, and spoke well of the provincial government’s efforts to showcase the different towns of Cebu.  She adds that she plans to replicate the tour in Antique where her aunt is Gov. Sally Perez.

Joining Gibo and Loren are senatorial candidates Gilbert Remulla and Gwen Pimentel, who are similarly seeking the lady governor’s blessings and endorsement.  Specifically, Ms. Pimentel hopes to have the governor’s endorsement, saying it is very important to her.  Gwen Pimentel is the daughter of Sen. Nene Pimentel.

The three-day Suroy Suroy Sugbo tour attended by these candidates passed through the towns of Oslob, Santander, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Samboan, Moalboal, Badian and Alegria where they were served with delicacies.

Truly, the Suroy Suroy Sugbu tour is one of the best avenues of showcasing the beauty and culture of Cebu.

image credit://lucywho

Now that the May 2010 is fast approaching, the upcoming national elections becomes a stirring topic in conversations.  Particularly, the matter on the presidential elections is a hotbed for debate and engaging discussions.  And in the middle of the hoopla, one name continually emerges among the rest: Noynoy Aquino.

A lot of people are thrilled about Noynoy running for president.  Being the only son of the prominent and illustrious Aquino couple, Noynoy is being primed to rise to the occasion after the late president Cory Aquino’s death.  Apparently, people saw Noynoy as the one who will carry the torch and continue the legacy that his parents left.  The Noynoy buzz, in fact, wrestled Mar Roxas’s bid for the presidency.  As a result, Roxas, also coming from a renowned political family himself, stepped aside and chose to run as Noynoy’s vice-president instead.

A columnist for the Philippine Daily Inquirer even saw Noynoy as the Philippines’ version of US President Barack Obama, as well as this generation’s Cory.  “He is the Cory we’ve been waiting for.  He is the Obama we’ve been waiting for.  He is the Good that will do battle against [President Gloria] Arroyo’s Evil.”  It seems the newspaper columnist saw Noynoy as shining beacon of idealism, youthful optimism and love for country.

But what, if I may ask, did Noynoy really do to deserve such accolade?  From what I have “gathered,” Noynoy has these accomplishments:

1.) Worked at Nike as a retail sales supervisor and assistant for youth promotions;

2.) Personal bodyguard for his mother during the 1986 coup;

3.) Security detail for his showbiz sister; and

4.) Worked for a particular rich Cojuangco uncle.

Not to downplay his achievements, Noynoy also served as congressman in Tarlac for three terms, in addition to being a senator.  But then again, what has he done to justify the accolades?

Unlike President Obama, Noynoy never started from scratch and rose to where he is now.  Rather, Noynoy gorged on his family name and his parents’ legacy to reach the pike of his political career.  He is no Barack Obama.  He did not break down barriers and hurdle the obstacles.  Instead, he rode on Ninoy and Cory’s heritage, and ran on his showbiz sister’s endorsements.

Nevertheless, Noynoy is a moral, honorable, proper and upright person, in my opinion.  But as Philippine president, I don’t know… I have my doubts.

image credit: //asiancorrespondent

The Province of Cebu joins the rest of the Philippines as they prepare for the Synchronized National and Local Elections as per RA 7166 Sec. 2 slated for May 10, 2010. This will be the country’s first ever fully-automated nationwide elections.

Cebu’s political scene may not be as macabre as in other provinces or cities, but it sure is as byzantine as any arena where power is up for grabs. The long-standing squabbles and the repulsive tongue-lashing between incumbent Cebu City Mayor Tommy Osmeña and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia are just sneak peeks to the larger power struggle between two of Cebu’s most prominent political families — the Osmeñas v. the Garcias.

As for the province of Cebu, COMELEC has identified Lapu-lapu City, Toledo City and the towns of Daan Bantayan and Madridejos as “areas of concern” based on its initial assessment.

According to an article published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on December 3, 2009, a total of 13 candidates are running for mayor and 13 for vice mayor in Cebu City.  Among those mayoralty candidates who have filed their certificates of candidacy with the Commission on Elections-Cebu are Vice Mayor Michael Rama, John Henry Osmeña, Georgia Osmeña, Samuel Darza, Landelino Bontilao, Crisologo Saavedra, Ricci Ranili, Rodolfo Laconza, Cristituto Abangan, Salvador Solima, Anastacio dela Cruz and Fermiliano Dapitan.

Four personalities have filed their COCs for the gubernatorial slot. Rafael Jun Cesar Ajoc runs as an independent candidate, Godofredo Rojas Berizo runs under the PGRP camp, Hilario Davide III carries the flag of the Liberal Party, and the current governor Gwen Garcia seeks re-election under the LKCMD Party.

Glenn Anthony Soco is Gov. Garcia’s running mate while Eladia Balicoco is PGRP’s representative for the vice-gubernatorial race.  Gregorio Sanchez Jr., currently serving as Cebu’s vice governor, is the running mate of the Liberal Party’s standard bearer.

COMELEC has disclosed that it would announce the official list of candidates by the end of December 2009, prior to launching the poll automation process in January 2010.

//ashfull1979.blogspot.com

With the national polls quickly coming up, a lot of things have recently surfaced.

For one, former Philippine president Joseph Estrada takes a crack at the highest seat in the land by filing his candidacy.  However, many questions have arisen surrounding the legality of his second bid for presidency.  Apparently, the 1987 Constitution provides for his ineligibility for a second presidential run, which explicitly states, “The President shall not be eligible for any re-election.”  That being the case, Mr. Estrada is no longer eligible for a stab at the top post for the second time.  Yet, the Commission on Elections gave him the green light.

In other news, man of the hour Noynoy Aquino remains, with a big margin on the polls, as the most preferred aspirant for the presidency.  When asked why they prefer him as the next president, poll respondents associate Noynoy as the least corrupt among the other presidential hopefuls.  But just like the tree with the biggest fruit, sticks and stones are thrown Noynoy’s way.  Most critics would say his would-be presidency is just one of the perks for being an Aquino; “a presidency by osmosis,” as one critic would say.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also expressed her desire to run, yet again, but this time, for a congressional seat representing Pampanga.  Many are urged to study her motives behind her congressional bid.  Administration critics speculate that this move is intended as a way for Mrs. Arroyo to stay in power when her term ends in 2010, and to avoid possible cases that will be filed against her.

And though her move is legally allowed, former president Fidel V. Ramos openly criticized her for running on the elective post without resigning from her post as president.  Mr. Ramos raised the matter as a question of decency and morality rather than legality, saying it would be unfair for her political opponents since all government resources are under her control.

And on a very personal note, I just noticed that since the elections are coming up, why are road repairs made so suddenly?  With the polls just around the corner, let us brace ourselves for more road repairs.  Thank God for elections!