Some Dangerous Photos
I found these two dangerous photos:
Photo # 1: Pacquiao for President
The thought of the PacMan being President is really scary. Thank God he is just turning 31 and is not yet qualified to run for President.
Photo # 2: Chiz on burgers
It's even scarier when you find yourself buying a burger with "Chiz" included in your purchase. Hahaha. If you know what (or who) I mean. I'll probably just look for french fries. :D
Labels: fun, jokes, politics, sarcasm
Introducing the VP candidate of Lakas-Kampi
The Inquirer posted a summary of Edu Manzano's
biography. I hope this can help you get to know the candidate better.
In addition, allow me to show you a music video of Edu Manzano's greatest dance hit: Papaya.
Makes me wonder, if Edu is capable of getting platinum hits, why would Vilma Santos
align with the Liberal Party? But then again, we will never know what Ate Vi will write in her computerized ballot come election day. Maybe I should revise my
trapo diagram.
On a slightly related note, the recently staged Liberal Party convention made me say "WTH???" after finding out that detained General Danny Lim was included in the senatorial line-up.
Labels: politics, stupidity
Pinoy Politics 2010 in circles
Click the larger photo here. Copyright of the image above belongs to Pinoy Potter's Chronicles, but the individual photos of politicians and celebrities belong to their respective owners and were found via Google Image Search. As usual, pinoy politics still hasn't changed. It is so "friendster", the same type of personalities just run in circles and are connected with each other in one way or another. Of course, the biggest and probably most intriguing circus este circle to date in the political arena is the 2010 polls, particularly the Prexy and VP post. With the addition of
Edu Manzano in this electoral circus este exercise, it should become really exciting.
Just for you to appreciate my not so artistic diagram, allow me to point out the following:
- ABS-CBN remains to be the undisputed biggest and grandest political party in the Philippines. Imagine, the network groomed newsmen and women, and actors and actresses, and they managed to penetrate almost all branches of government, except for the Presidency itself. But despite that, the network has talents that have direct affiliations with the 2010 Presidentiables (unless we count Erap, who recently starred in a Star Cinema movie). Allow me to quote The Professional Heckler in pointing out the affiliations: "ABS-CBN talent Edu Manzano, boyfriend of ABS-CBN news presenter Pinky Webb is the running mate of the ruling party’s presidential bet Gilbert Teodoro. Sen. Loren Legarda, former ABS-CBN news presenter is set to declare her alliance with Nacionalista Party’s Manuel Villar Jr. whose No. 1 supporter is another ABS-CBN talent Willie Revillame. Of course, there’s the tandem of Liberal Party’s Noynoy Aquino, brother of prized ABS-CBN talent Kris Aquino, and Mar Roxas, husband of ABS-CBN chief correspondent Korina Sanchez. And don’t forget Joseph Estrada, father-in-law of a Lopez scion, Beaver. It’s ABS-CBN vs. ABS-CBN vs. ABS-CBN vs. ABS-CBN in 2010. This just in! The Commission on Elections has just declared the network an election hot spot."
- The undeniably powerful influence of ABS-CBN is even stressed by current Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita in an interview with Inquirer, referring to Manzano's appointment as VP of the administration party. And I quote, "He’s being in ABS-CBN is the reason why he has very good exposure". It can be recalled that Edu Manzano took over the hosting stint from Kris Aquino in the now defunct "Pilipinas, Game KNB?", and in the same game show, he popularized a revival of what became a nationwide dance craze "Papaya".
- Thus, ABS-CBN will win in the end, even if you do a partial unofficial count. Even probably in the surveys of GMA-7 and exit polls of Pulse Asia. Haha.
- I didn't include Chiz under "ka-network sa kapamilya" because I ain't sure if Chiz had a radio program in DZMM. I also didn't include Ping Lacson in the diagram because I'm not sure if he will run as VP of Chiz if ever the latter decides to run as President with no political party backing him up. It can be recalled that Ping Lacson is the father-in-law of Jodi Sta. Maria, another ABS-CBN talent.
- Just to add something from what the Heckler pointed out: Pinky Webb was one of Korina Sanchez' bridesmaid alongside colleague Ging Reyes. Had Edu's announcement happened prior to the wedding, will Pinky's name be removed in the wedding entourage?
- Aside from the TV network affiliation, a lot of the politicians in the diagram are incumbent Senators who still have not filed their resignations in the Senate for doing "not much".
- Except for the politicians tagged as "ka-glue", and maybe except for Pinky Webb, all of them are obvious anti-Glorias. And yet, they became divided to conquer the seat of power from Gloria, and eventually, from each other.
- Erap and Mayor Binay are supposed to have strong ties with the late former President Corazon Aquino, and yet, they connived so Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas will not be elected and take the seat of power, and maybe to prevent Kris and Korina from being the hostesses in the Palace, and from doing a talkshow.
- Though I didn't point it out visually, there are so lots of match-ups in as much as there are lots of tandems. These include Cojuangco-vs-Cojuangco, and the rematch of Binay and Manzano. I'm not sure if I should include the "friendship over" match for Loren and Chiz. Too bad there weren't as much lovebirds.
The next time you see me become a mainstay figure in ABS-CBN, particularly in News and Current Affairs, it would probably mean that I'm already working on my entry in the political arena. Haha. Kidding.
Hay! Only in the Philippines.
On a slightly funny note, who would have thought that the two game show hosts that I mingled with two and three years ago, would be of significant influence in the 2010 polls.
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Personal: Happy Birthday to my favorite (and whom I believe is the most intelligent) Pexer slash really good friend.
Labels: elections, politics, stupidity
Vote for Pinoys' Youtube campaign on climate change
A former batchmate of mine took part in a video campaign, hoping that their voice can be heard at the upcoming
COP15 climate change conference,to be held in Demmark, and hopefully, they can represent the Philippines.
In order to show your support, please watch the youtube link below showing the news clip from Balitang America. The news clip contains steps to vote.
Below is their actual video entry.
Labels: climate change
Instant "E-Passport" Renewal
I've been planning to have my green Philippine passport renewed after I was told by an ex-officemate that green Philippine passports might no longer be usable by 2010. I found out from my
research that current green passports can indeed be used until their validity dates but the risk is that by 2010, some countries have the prerogative not to accept the green passport as a valid travel document. I wasn't originally serious about having my passport renewed, until I bumped into
this blog. I thought renewing my passport is timely since there's not much deliverables at work, and this season isn't really a busy season for passport renewal. Moreover, it might also be good to have a new passport since I was able to avail of Cebu Pacific's Piso Fare promo for Macau.
Thanks a lot to the blogsite
justwandering.org, everything became easy for me, except that it turned out that not all of the blogsite's
tips are applicable to me, or for E-Passport renewals for that matter.
Allow me to enumerate some of the differences vis-a-vis justwandering.org's tips:
- The interval between the day the appointment schedule was made and the appointment date itself was just 12 days (including weekends). I made my appointment October 28, and I was scheduled November 9. However, it can also be a factor of seasonality and volume of passport renewal applicants. Nonetheless, if you want to get the E-Passport, you better not be in a hurry, as only 100 E-Passport applicants can be accommodated each working day.
- justwandering.org's tips were applicable for those who will renew passports and avail of the "Machine Readable Passport (MRP)". However, for my case, since I won't be leaving the country this soon, I thought I could wait for the "E-Passport", only to find out that I will only be waiting for 12 days until my appointment schedule. (Updated November 14, 2009: For a detailed discussion of the differences between the "E-Passport" and "MRP", please see Wikipedia or NotOffline.com).
- Thus, if you decide to renew your passport and get the E-Passport, you don't need to bring a Passport ID Photo. You still need to accomplish the application form, but you don't need to put your thumbmark in the form. However, if you decide to renew your passport and get the Machine Readable type, you need to follow all the tips of justwandering.org and prepare the old-school requirements like Passport-size pictures with royal blue background and application form with thumbmark.
Anyhow, allow me to give you the steps you need to do if you want to renew your passport and get the new E-Passport:
- Make an online appointment via the DFA website. If you feel that you need to leave really soon (as in like in the next few days from date you plan to do your online appointment), then you might have to set an online appointment for the Machine Readable Passport. Otherwise, I think you better avail of the E-Passport. Just a disclaimer though, if you are a first-time applicant and you wish to apply for a passport online, you have no choice but to apply for the Machine-Readable Passport. For the time being, no online appointment is made for first time applicants who wish to get a new E-Passport.
- Once you set an appointment, you will get an email from the DFA in less than 24 hours (I dunno though if you try to book for an appointment on a Saturday or Sunday. I guess that you might have to wait for a reply from DFA the following Monday). DFA will reply to you with a proposed schedule for renewal. If you are agreeable to the schedule they set for you, you need to reply with a confirmation. Otherwise, you need to reply and request for another schedule. I know for sure that you can ask them to set another date for you (since I was supposed to be scheduled November 4, I replied with their email and told them I have a meeting that day, so I need to be set on another date). However, I'm not sure if it will be ok if you request or tell DFA a specific date that you want to undertake the passport renewal.
- Once you are scheduled, you need to accomplish the application form. You can either download the form online and have it printed back-to-back at a long bond paper, or get a copy of the form from the basketball court inside the DFA compound. For the time being, the application form for Machine Readable passport is also being used for renewal and availment of E-Passport. However, just to reiterate, the only difference is that in accomplishing the form for securing a renewed E-Passport, you don't need to attach Passport-size photos, and you don't need to put your thumbmark.
- You also need to prepare your photocopy of your passport's important pages, including the inside front and back cover, the amendments page, and the latest departure and arrival stamps.
- You also need to print a copy of your online appointment emailed to you by the DFA.
- In going to your appointment, make sure that you wear a decent attire with collar. This is for strict compliance.
- On the day of your appointment, all you have to do is go inside DFA (and as advised by justwandering.org, ignore the rest of the people, especially now that you don't need most of their services). You need to look for the gate and counter window where you were assigned in your email. For my case, I was assigned at "Gate 3", where I may submit my requirements at "Windows 26, 27 or 28". Make sure you come on time, or else, your appointment will be void.
- Just submit to the window your old passport for cancellation, together with the requirements I enumerated above at items 3-5. You will then be issued with an official receipt and a tag number that will be used as your "line" number inside the "E-Passport Room". Then, your passports will be "cancelled". For my case, when I went to the assigned windows, there was no line, and everything ended in like five minutes.
- Afterwards, you need to pay your Passport Fee at the Cashier. If you can wait for fourteen working days, you need to pay only PHP950.00. If you can't wait and want to get your passport in five working days, you need to pay PHP1,200.00.
- After paying, you need to proceed to the "E-Passport Room" where your photo, thumbmark, and personal details will be taken and encoded electronically. That's the reason why you don't need to bring passport-size pictures and an application form with your left and right thumbmark. I only had to wait for like 15 minutes inside the room together with the other E-Passport applicants.
- After your photo, thumbmark and personal details are encoded digitally, you just need to verify all the details. Then you are free to go.
- You may choose to personally pick-up your passport on your scheduled day of release. Just make sure to bring the official receipt with you. However, you may also choose to get the delivery services of the various courier companies so that your passport will be delivered at your doorstep or office. If you want to take this option, you need to go to their booths located at the DFA basketball court. 2Go charges PHP99, while LBC and Air21 charges PHP100. If you decide to avail of their delivery services, your passport will be delivered one working day after the scheduled date of passport release.
Again, I would like to thank
justwandering.org for giving me an idea that there's a very convenient way of having my passport renewed. In fact, I was able to finish everything in 30 minutes (40 minutes if including applying for delivery services with 2Go). I also would like to commend DFA, particularly the staff inside the "E-Passport Room" for their efficiency.
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Shameless plug: I have a new blog called "
View from Ayala Avenue". It's about my thoughts and reactions in my own professional capacity as an aspiring financial analyst and investment banker.
Labels: government, personals, travel
