The People Have Spoken - We Have Our Next President

A day after the historic May 10th national elections it looks like we have a new president in the form of Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

Mud had been slung, lies had been made, accusations had been sung and after all that the people of the Philippines has spoken - emphatically.

4 presidential bets have already conceded - Senator Manny Villar, Richard Gordon, Gilbert Teodoro and JC de los Reyes.

A good gesture because based upon the unofficial returns there was no way in hell either of them could overtake Aquino.

The other presidential bets should also do the same because barring a major catastrophe Aquino is it.

People may hate him, they may not like him, they may be apathetic towards him but it is a fact that he is going to be the one.

Hence we should put aside differences and loo forward to working with the government of the Philippines which will soon be under new management.

That being said Aquino should not forget that when he takes his seat as President he did not get a majority since if over 40 million of us voted then he is only at about 40% or so.

He has to remember that more than 55% did not vote for him for one reason or another so they will be looking, and looking hard, to see how he would perform - especially in his first 100-days.

As for who his vice-president is going to be it seems like it will be Jejomar Binay. However it is a closer battle for this position what with Aquino's running mate Manuel Roxas breathing down his neck.

We'll soon see how that will go. Should it be Binay we're potentially seeing the next in line to be president after Aquino.

But then again predictions are not always a sure thing.

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Note: The automated elections seem to be a success based on the outcome. There were glitches along the way but nothing that couldn't be fixed. That being said I hope that next election we have a true electronic voting system where we just press a screen and our vote get's counted.

Despite my earlier misgivings good job Comelec. Let's give credit where credit is due at least.

It Comes Down The Wire For The Presidentiables

A little over two more days to go before we get to elect our new government. Well I say new government but really it's the same type of government but simply under new management.

So who will you vote for president? That all important position - the head of all corrupt politicians everywhere. But I digress . . .

Villar? The billionaire businessman who supposedly grew up poor and became rich out of pure hard work and diligence. A true rags to riches story.

Opponents argue he was really never that poor and that they were actually middle class.

They also say that he will ruin our country economically because he's only here to make money.

Whatever . . . he can't do any worse than Arroyo. Let's face it there is really nothing left to get, her administration made sure of that.

Then there's Aquino, son of two of the most beloved (depending on which generation you ask) people in the country - Ninoy and Cory.

He has their legacy but does he have their acumen? Let me ask this: during his term as senator what exactly did he do? What laws did he pass that could have benefited all of us?

At a loss on what how to answer? That's OK. You're not alone. Neither does anyone else. Maybe he just "thinks" he did something good for the country or that he will do good. Who knows to whom he listens to.

And hey he got the Iglesia Ni Cristo's endorsement. Wow talk about not being corruptable. The fact that you are actively seeking out endorsement from one religious entity or another means you are already corrupt.

And don't get me started with the whole separation of church and state thing. It's only on paper anyway so technically are we really a secular country.

Maybe we should all convert to Islam so then we don't have to pretend we don't let religion control our country. That just makes us hypocrites.

But that's better than the hubris to call yourself the "son of god" much like Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, head of the sect "Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name." Like I said in my last article I always thought there was only one "son of god?" Well depending on which religion you follow of course.

But I suppose it's OK for GIBO to accept that kind of an endorsement. After all, he hasn't been really getting any support from the administration - considering he is the administration candidate.

I guess Arroyo is a little busy trying to cover her tracks and campaign to become a congresswoman.

But why bother getting endorsement from the religious groups when you can have one for your very own.

Brother Eddie (Eduardo C. Villanueva) is also a televangelist like Quiboloy but to his merit he hasn't openly declared himself to be the son of god (that I know of). If he did then that would make him and Quiboloy brothers.

He has his own cadre of followers under his "Jesus is Lord" church so in that regard he has an advantage over GIBO and Aquino.

And should I say anything about former president Joseph Estrada? Probably not. Besides what is there to say. He was president and was ousted in a people power (sounds familiar) and was replaced by his back-stabbing vice-president at the time and soon to be congresswoman Arroyo.

And since he has been pardoned wants to be president again so he can get back against the people who ousted him especially Arroyo. OK OK I made that one up but will it really be a surprise if he has that in mind? I won't.

Richard Gordon - Former Mayor of Olongapo and Chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. See I liked him when he was still Mayor of Olongapo. He was able to bring order from what was a chaotic "sin" city that was Olongapo.

And I was one of those who supported the call for the retention of the U.S. bases during that nationwide campaign that he led.

But back to what we were talking about. He's a dark-horse and who know he may do good. Of course if surveys are to be believed he hasn't a chance in hell but then again he doesn't believe in surveys anyway.

Now if only he learns how to just shut up.

Then there's Madrigal and Perlas. Sorry to say I don't know squat about them so I'll leave it at that. Note to their spin doctors - maybe everyone else don't know much about them too. Just a hint.

Anyway regardless of which one you vote for it will not be a 100% guarantee that they will be the medicine for what ails the country.

Will they be more corrupt or less corrupt than the regime they are replacing? Who knows. The thing is only time will tell.

The sad part is, our country doesn't have anymore time to spare.

And Here I Thought There Was Only One Son Of God

Apparently there are two. One we all know is Jesus Christ and the other one is apparently so called "Appointed Son of God" televangelist Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

And of course to make it more interesting and/or controversial depending on who you ask, Quiboloy has endorsed presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro Jr. making Gibo the "anointed one."

Which means that Gibo will get Quiboloy's sect's, called "Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name," four million or so follower's votes.

Whew that was a mouthful.

Ah what presidentiables will do in order to win that coveted seat. Get the indorsement and be in debt.

So does this mean Gibo will be the next president? Is this an assured sign from god that he, indeed, will be the one to lead our nation for the next six years.

Who knows? Stranger things have happened. But one thing is sure it may not work that way.

After all, he is getting endorsed by a self-proclaimed "son of god" and you know what they say about "the devil quoting the scriptures if it benefits him."

And besides there are other big groups out there just raring to put the other presidentiables under their thumb.

And they say we have a dirty political system here in the Philippines.

For shame . . .