I had a good laugh after realizing what these three pictures have in common:

Same Face

Sir Nerpy is very like Kaiser and vice versa. They are alike in many ways that students can’t help but notice. Looking and dressing alike is one amusing fact. Kaiser’s impersonation of Sir Nerpy is icing on the cake. Seeing them together in almost the same shirt color and wearing a mailman’s bag in a similar fashion is worth taking a pic.

Same Name

Teacher Eljay is a cam-whore. My folders are filled with her outrageous and emotion-packed poses. But this one is a rare shot, where she is joined by our students, whose name happens to be the same as hers.

Same Size

We didn’t see anything funny when Sir Jasper volunteered to drive for Precious to take care of some important need for a competition she participated in — not until they mounted that poor thing.

We are lucky today that technology has enabled us to take, keep, and share snapshots of events (whether spectacular or mundane), people (whether special to you or simply passers by), and place (whether the usual hangouts or some paradise). We can now make a chronology of our own (or other people’s) life story in photos, which is a treasure chest of memories, we would always wish to revisit.

I have one sad realization, though — memories can only be looked back at; some things can never be the same again.

Photo Courtesy of Rencalago.com

Last week, a habal-habal (motrcycle-for-hire) driver from my hometown was reportedly killed by an unidentified man, who also stole the driver’s vehicle. When I heard about it, it was already the third case of the same crime that took place in a span of just one week. The crime was carried out in the outskirts of my hometown.

These people are just so heartless that they simply watch out for motorcycles that the drivers they victimized worked so hard for. Worse, they kill the drivers after getting what they want. What soulless creatures could do this?

What troubles my mother is that I pass by the area on my way to GenSan. I have to go down to GenSan two nights every week for some commitments and I could go home only after 10PM. Here in the province, 10 o’clock is already very late. You could count by your fingers the number vehicles you would meet along  the dark highway.

The local police have already acted on the series of assaults on the roads. On my way home tonight, I passed by two checkpoints–one was newly put up and the other was manned by more men than usual. They check on the registration papers of every motorcycle that passes by. I have also heard that they already have a lead on who the  suspects are.

I really hope and pray that this problem gets solved soon. Being the tyro driver that I am, I already take heed of the possible dangers of mishaps on the road. What more with this thought that someone might just be lurking somewhere along the road ready to assail you anytime? Nobody wants dangerous roads nor lives being put to waste. No one.

If there’s one person whose travels make me envious, it’s Enrico Dee of Byahilo.com who gets to travel from one tourist destination to another.

SoCCSKSarGen bloggers got the chance to meet him in an event called Byahe Na! A Fireside Forum with Professional Travel Bloggers presented by GenSantos Online Magazine and GandaEverSoMuch.com at Little Dubai Kebab Grills last Wednesday night.

Photo Courtesy of Hector Miñoza

In a freewheeling forum, he shared some valuable tips and tricks about traveling and travel blogging.

Sinjin Pineda of Libotero.com also shared his passion about traveling and his desire to travel by himself.

I have been to several places, too, and most of those trips were all expense paid by the school. Those  trips, however, are official business trips so I don’t get to explore the places I went to. I am either limited by time or funds. Or, both.

After the meetup, I resolve to allot time and budget for some traveling this year. What would be my destination?

According to reports Pacquiao personally requested Judge Jaime Y. Infante to be the inducting officer, so the latter assisted Justice Carpio during Pacquiao’s oath taking.

Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez also took his oath for his last term as the province’s governor.

In his speech, he highlighted how Sarangani has improved from being the fourth poorest province in 2004 to being the 14th after his two terms as governor.

He promised that in three years’ time, Sarangani will no longer be classified a poor province.

In the picture below, he is flanked by his immediate family and a beautiful woman who could easily be identified as his fiance.

Vice-Governor Steve Solon, who is regarded as the governor’s team mate, with their slogan, ka-team-bayayong sa pag-uswag (partners in development) was also installed into office.

After the inauguration the Sarangani News Bureau of Kabataan News Network, composed of students from our school got the chance to interview Pacquiao, who gladly answered the students’ questions.

Tomorrow ( er, that’s later today I forgot it’s a few minutes after midnight already) at 8PM, bloggers will converge at Piyesta KTV Bar in Robinson’s Place GenSan for the SoCCSKSarGen Grand Eyeball. Here’s the poster designed by Rabsky:

I wish I could join them in the Summer Safari as well, wherein the bloggers will visit several places of interests and restaurants in the SoCCSKSarGen area.  I wish I wouldn’t be busy in the next three days.

Good luck to all the bloggers! Hope to meet you all!

When they were approaching the store, I was eager to see them perform, er, curious about how the improvised fiddle would sound. The other man played the guitar while the blind fiddled his improvised musical instrument, which was made from scrap wood, an empty can, nylon strings, and an old comb to adjust the pitch.

They played Julie Rogers’ Ave Maria and you wouldn’t believe that such music could come from that funny contraption that resembles a fiddle.

I asked them to play it again so I could take a video of it. Unfortunately, in my rush, I forgot that the camera was positioned incorrectly. My bad. Here’s the video:

When they left, I felt something different. I don’t know what it was but I knew I’ve become brave to face all the adversities in my life.

With a wide margin of over 11, 000 votes and getting the trust of about two-thirds of the voting population, Emmanuel “Manny/Pacman” Pacquiao knocked out the champion of a 17-year dynasty, Roy Chiongbian.

It took the COMELEC three days after the election before finally proclaiming the new set of provincial government officials due to delays in the transmission of election returns.

VICTORIOUS: (From L-R) Gov. Migz Dominguez, Cong. Manny Pacquaio, Election Officer Atty. Michael Abas, and V-Gov. Steve Solon

Just before midnight of May 13, Pacquiao was finally proclaimed a winner, together with re-elected Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez and Vice-Gov. Steve Solon.

Dominguez and Solon and the only Lakas-SARRO candidates elected into provincial government posts; the rest are all from the People’s Champ Movement.

Following are the Final and Official Results of the Election in Sarangani Province:

Congressman of Sarangani

Governor

Vice Governor

Board Members – District 1

Top 3 Only

Board Members – District 2

Top 6 Only

*Photo from Sarangani Province Updates

Following are the Final Official Results of the Local Election in Alabel, Sarangani Province:

Mayor

Re-electionist Corazon Grafilo of People’s Champ Movement won by a margin of 831 votes. It had been a close fight with Ronnel Español of Lakas, who the led the poll for a number of times during the canvassing, leaving the watchers gasping for breath.

Vice Mayor

It’s almost a 60-40 share in favor of PCM’s Vic Paul Salarda in the Mayoralty race, beating then Mayor Hernando Sibugan of Lakas..

Councilors

The Municipal Council of eight members was split equally between PCM and Lakas, with young engineer and re-electionist Mark Senit on the lead.

The council is also a mix of the young, newbies, and seasoned politicians. Marivic Flores, Menandro Dambong, and Moises Alaba are all experienced in the field of politics. Businesswoman Lotis Villarico and engineer Joel Aton of the Southern Philippine Power Corporation are new to public office. Meanwhile, Paul Villamora (son of a former councilor) and Irish Louie Arnado are the youngest ones. Arnado is only 22.

May this new set of public officials bring about change in my beloved hometown.

Visit this link for other election results.

*Provincial officials have not yet been declared because as of this posting, canvassing is still going on in the municipality of Glan. One thing is sure, Manny Pacquiao is really going to be our new congressman, given the wide margin between his and contender Roy Chiongbian’s votes.

WE ARE inching closer to the big day. We will again exercise our right of suffrage and perform our duty as citizens of this country.

Now here are some final notes that I’d like to remind myself about before I cast my vote on Monday:

1. Finalize my picks for the different positions from national to local level. I will write it in a clean sheet of paper I can easily put inside my pocket.
2. Keep posted on the recent election updates via RP2010, the election blogwatch.
3. Go to my polling precinct tomorrow or on Sunday, so I won’t have any problem comes election day. You could do the same, too, especially if you are not familiar with the school. If you don’t where your precinct is located. You can get help from Google’s Find Your Precinct Project, which we helped map. (Image courtesy of Sir Hecky)
4. Wake up early on Monday, so I could cast my vote early.
5. Make sure the batteries of my phone and camera fully-charged so I can post updates on plurk, fb, and on this blog after voting.

The fifth reminder is actually my way of taking part in ensuring a successful election through citizen journalism. Thanks to programs like ABS-CBN’s Boto Mo I-Patrol Mo for making the people realize that they have a role to play in the elections.

As of this posting, the CF cards are not yet installed in the PCOS machines at Alabel Central Elementary School. Expectedly, the same is true to precincts located in far-flung areas.

Fears of cheating by interfering with the operation of the PCOS machines still  abound. A lot of people are even doubting that the election with push through given the recent glitch with the automated election system.

Let us all pray for a peaceful and successful election.Let us also pray that whoever will be elected as leaders of the land can unite the country and finally bring about real change. Furthermore, let us pray that the losing candidates will humbly accept their failure and give their support to the elected officials.

I SAW this tarpaulin signage erected along the highway. I could not help but notice it, not because of its size (it’s only about 4ft tall and 6ft wide) but because of what it says. Something is wrong with it.

I have a friend who lives in Dapitan and he gives me updates about the political situation of the city. He told me that the people there have been so used to receiving money from a powerful political clan for their votes. I had to ask, “Do they have to buy votes? Aren’t they powerful enough to gain position without resorting to vote-buying?” He told me that it is already part of the system and that nothing could be done about it.

On the way home yesterday, two men were talking about their presidential bets. One of them mocked Eddie Vilanueva’s slogan, Anim na Taong Walang Kurapsyon. Impossible, they both agreed. One man said, “Testingi daw sugo ang bata kung motuman ba wala’y suhol?” (Do you think a kid would run errands for you without you giving him anything?)

And there is that sign in the photo above. Rough translation: “Accept the cash, but choose the good ones. Secure the future.”

Is there really no hope for this practice to end?

My friend would tell me, “In these difficult times, we have to be practical. They wouldn’t know if I’d vote for them or not. I will vote wisely but I’ll accept the money. It would be enough to pay for our electricity bill for a month.”

Many of us would find that a sound principle. But I see it narrow and shortsighted.

Whether you like it or not, by accepting a bribe from politicians, you make the process continue; you give it life.

You may call me a hypocrite, but what would you call yourself if you accept the bribe?

And to the Konsensya ng Sarangan, with that advocacy, are you really thinking of the future by encouraging the people to participate in the practice of vote-buying? Think again.