Susan Ople, Adel Tamano and Gilbert Remulla visit UP Diliman

I had the chance to follow Nationalista Party (NP) senatorial candidates Susan Ople (Estelle), Adel Tamano and Gilbert Remulla as they went around UP Diliman the other day. I had the privilege to ask them this question. “Why did you choose UP as one of your stops in the campaign and what can you say to all of the UP students?” You can read more about their campaign in UP on my article in Blogwatch.

Adel Tamano says that, “UP is special. The best and the brightest come here. My wife is a graduate of UP, which shows you how high and esteem I hold UP. It is important that before the students participate in the mock elections that we go to them. My message wasn’t vote for me. I came here to tell them to choose the best. Just like in UP, you don’t choose the most popular or the one who was a former UP student when you choose the students who will enter [the school, instead] they choose the best.”

“That’s the message I want the UP students to have – that they learn about all the candidates. I hope that they also learn about me, what my accomplishments are, what my track record is, so that they could choose. I am not saying that I am the best, but though I am saying is that let’s choose the best. I think we have had enough of Lito Lapid’s and Bong Revilla’s in our Senate, it’s time that we choose the best,” he stresses.


On the other hand, Gilbert Remulla, through his media officer Gelo Villar says, “Of course, it’s his Alma Matter. He has a sense of loyalty to UP, and also since he values education the most. The campaign is a way to give back the scholarship of a UP education to the taxpayers who paid for his studies. If he wins as Senator, he will be able to repay them with public service.”


His message to the UP students is to “make the most out of your stay, be active and vigilant to social issues around. It’s not all about studying, but to also to finish on time to give other worthy scholars a chance to have a UP education,” he says.

Susan Ople, through her daughter, said, "We chose UP as one of our stops because we believe the youth have the capability and desire to change Philippine politics for the better. We appeal to all voters, UP students or otherwise, to vote wisely. Look beyond celebrity and established names. New politics requires new names and faces in the Senate. So look at the new names more closely. Don't rely solely on media and ads. Google your candidates and share what you find out to fellow voters. If we do that, there is a better chance of us obtaining the change we deserve."

2009 SONA: Sana Totoo!

The 2009 SONA-SANA video seeks to provide a candid evaluation of the Arroyo presidency, which has, for the past seven SONAs, failed to provide an accurate assessment of the state of our nation.



In the video, which will be made available to the public via the internet, opposition Sen. Francis Joseph "Chiz" G. Escudero reports on how the president has failed to meet the very standards she set when she took over the presidency in 2001. And how despite holding her position for over eight years the country continues to suffer, particularly in the areas of education, job generation, food security, and good governance.

Aside from giving a somber account of the state of the nation, Sen. Escudero also points out what should have been done to address the country's myriad problems, and looks forward as he presents alternatives so that the questionable policies of the present administration can be rectified.

Video and text courtesy of jedmeva

Leading by X-ample

It's time to go back to my Alma Matter and hear out Secretary Gilbert Teodoro's vision for the Philippines. He was once one of my picks for President in 2010, but the better in me saw light. No--school ties shouldn't dictate when you choose your next President. It should not matter. What matters is his vision, creativity and passion to learn and serve the Philippines and share with it with the Filipino people. I hope to learn a lot from the forum, and engage Gibo and the audience in a healthy discussion.



If you have questions, suggestions, comments, violent reactions you wish to address to Sec. Teodoro, you may email me at brian_bong88@yahoo.com or message me at Plurk. I shall ask them in the Forum later.

Post-elections Hang-over

First of all congratulations to all those who won in the USC elections! Secondly, congratulations and good luck to the Executive Committee-elect of UP Chinese Student Association. I know you'll be able to do great things next year.






USC Elections is over. As for me, I am very thankful for all the people who have been there to support, guide, train, and nourish my desire to become a better student-leader.



More than a party, KAISA has been a family to me. Looking back, I am amazed with what we've all gone through, what we've all sacrificed and what we've all learned throughout this experience. This is a new chapter that would soon be written with more wonderful lines and stories that matter.






They say that what I am having right now is the expected withdrawal symptoms from the elections. Truly, I miss being with my slatemates every night, trainings upon trainings, sleeping late and waking up really early, going room-to-room expecting the unexpected, and a lot more.






Elections pushed each and everyone of us to work and perform more. It only proved that "yes, we can." Deep inside we all knew we could do it, but all the while, I could ask, "why weren't we able to do this before the campaign started?" Sometimes, it just takes some push or even a tap for one to be able to go that extra mile. That for me is what we all want; that for me is what counts.



After all of this, yes, it's hard to go back to "normal student life." Though hard and tiring, I miss everything. Now, it's time to perform, to walk the talk. I hope that all of you would still be there. :)



*Edit* P.S. Unsolicited Advice to all: Remember, if student service is really your passion, you can still achieve that noble goal even if you're not "in power".









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I am the CHANGE, are YOU?

Please take note of the change in time.
It will be from 5-7pm instead of 6pm.

Also, please input your information below (in the blanks provided) if you are able to join us or are very willing to help out with the campaign. Thanks so much!

Related Posts:

• Change begins now
• IamChange! Are YOU the change?

Elections

Nakagugulat na pagpasok mo pa lang sa college ng NCPAG, lahat ng tao'y bumabati sayo ng "hi Brian", "hello", "kamusta?", at kung anu-ano pa.

Ay, aba siyemre at oo nga naman, dadatal sa iyo na, "eleksyon na nga pala." At iyon nga kung bakit ako pumunta ng UP ngayong Wednesday, para sa CEB meeting. :))

So we extended the deadline of filing of COCs until 6:30pm today for Undergraduate and Graduate students. (Fair, para wala nang masabi..ok?) And we'll deliberate tomorrow morning regarding the candidates. We'll be releasing the official not yet final list by 8:30? 9:00? am.

Other dates to remember:

Feb. 21 (Thurs - 4pm) Deadline: Filing of Protest against Candidates
Feb. 22 (Fri - 12nn) Release of Final Official List of Candidates
Feb. 22 - Mar. 1 (Fri-Sat) Official Campaign Period
Mar. 01 - (Sat - 12nn) Last day: posting campaign materials
Mar. 03 - (Mon - 2pm) Students' Convocation (Miting de Avance)
Mar. 03 - (Mon) Deadline: Submission of Official Poll Watchers
Mar. 04 - (Tues) ELECTION DAY
Mar. 05 - (Wed) Announcement of Election Results
Mar. 07 - (Fri - 5pm) Last day: Filing of Election Protests
Mar. 10 - (Mon) Release of Decisions
Mar. 17 - (Mon) Oath-Taking of New Student Council Officers

Please exercise your right to vote. :)