Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Elections

Stop me if you've heard this before
""An election .... is usually a chance for an ordinary voter to make a quick buck, enjoy a free meal and perhaps even grab a souvenir t-shirt at a campaign rally.

For the man in the street, it is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between the parties and candidates; they rarely live up to their campaign promises anyway.""
Typical elections in the Philippines? Yes, but it turns out also typical in Bangladesh. Fortunately for Bangladesh, there is something different this year.
""No-one is offering us money or anything else this time," said Abdul Jalil, a rickshaw puller in the capital, Dhaka. "Previously, we would get cash or other gifts during elections."

Bangladesh goes to the polls on December 29 for a parliamentary election the interim government says will be the cleanest in years -- if not the country's history. The election, the ninth since independence in 1971, will end nearly two years of mostly emergency rule and return the country to democracy."
I can only hope for the same thing happening in the Philippines in the next elections.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Nagkalimutan

Kanina, ibinalita ng ABS-CBN na humingi na paumanhin si dating Pangulong Cory Aquino kay dating Pangulong Erap Estrada dahil sumama si Pangulong Aquino sa pagpapatalsik kay Pangulong Estrada.

Kay daling makalimot ni Pangulong Aquino, parang nakalimutan na niya yung mga kabaluktutang nangyari nuong kapanahunan ni Pangulong Estrada. Hindi naman nag-alsa ang mga Pilipino laban kay Pangulong Estrada dahil sa trip lamang nila. May mga dahilan, at malaki ang katunayan na mangurakot nga si Pangulong Estrada, mayroon tayong mga bank account, at meron tayong witness na si pangulopng Estrada ang pumipiram sa bank account na ito.

Mas malaki pa nga ang katibayan sa kabaluktutan ni Pangulong Estrada kaysa sa kabaluktutan ni pangulong Arroyo. Puedeng dahil sa mas matalino at mas pinong mangurako si Pangulong Arroyo, pero huwag naman natin kalimutan na porket kasama ngayon ang mga taga suporta ni Pangulong Estrada sa mga gustong magpatalsik kay Pangulong Arroyo, ibig sabihin wala ng sala si Pangulong Estrada.

Never Again, yan ang naging motto ng mga oposisyon nung panahon ni Pangulong Marcos. Sana maalala ni Pangulong Aquino ito.

Update: Dec 23, 2008

Mukhang di lang ako ang nagulat sa paghingi ng paumanhin ni Pangulong Aquino, merong istorya ang PDI at reaksyon ng ibang tao dito.