Marvin Isidore "Sid" Macatol Weblog

How can I disagree with forbidding surveys as proposed by Tulfo during election time? Indeed, if we ban our media from discussing merits of a case in a litigation, how much more with the selection process for the country's top position? Surveys defeat the spirit of the campaign period. It influences people in a way that will detrimental to the country. Indeed, "If judges, supposedly men and women of letters, could be influenced by the discussion of the pros and cons of a criminal or civil case in media, more so the ignorant voters who are easily swayed." How can I disagree with that? In fact, I am completely sold out to that! in reference to: "If judges, supposedly men and women of letters, could be influenced by the discussion of the pros and cons of a criminal or civil case in media, more so the ignorant voters who are easily swayed." - Forbid surveys during election - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos ( view on Google Sidewiki )

To me there's one ELECTION FRAUD that is WORSE than dagdag-bawas. That FRAUD is writing the names of candidates that others tell you to (thanks to popularity surveys and everything people do with it), and not those of whom you sincerely believe in. Either way, the consequence will be a President and a future we all deserve. Fate shall accept neither praise nor blame.

It's the Holy Week in the Philippines once again. The word "Holy Week" translates to many languages in the multi-lingual Philippines. Photo from boston.com To some "Holy Week" translates to "spiritual retreat" after a whole year's work. It can also translate to "pabasa" and "processions" that slow down traffic in the provinces.

Chinese New Year on February 14 coincides with Valentine's Day. I find that interesting. So, let me honor Chinese Filipinos who celebrate Chinese New Year that day. I have lots of friends these days from their ranks and I wish I can greet each one of them by name here. The list is long and that's heart-warming. Photo courtesy of www.zazzle.com My wife spoke about her first impressions of Chinese-Filipinos in her first Toastmasters meeting around two weeks ago. She told the audience about saying "No" to a Chinese-Filipino suitor because she knew back then that Chinese parents wanted Chinese in-laws. She didn't want an unwelcome look, from anyone.  Now, here's the thing: most of those in the audience were Chinese Filipinos LOL! I benefited sometime later from my wife's decision. Good decision, Dear! Couldn't be better! He he.

My business partner introduced me to Blackberry. At first I thought this thing was l-ux-u-r-y. I knew nothing about Blackberry, except that Obama had one and the Secret Service wanted him to give it up. The US President had a Blackberry. It therefore had to be costly. I was wrong.

More than 50 dead in Maguindanao on November 23, 2009. Was it a human encounter? or an encounter with the undead ? Worse, was it an encounter with Satan himself? As bodies from the worst political massacre in the nation’s history were being uncovered from freshly dug mass graves, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Tuesday declared a state of emergency in the provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat and in Cotabato City. ( Source: Inquirer.net ) I have the feeling the President should have called Sector 7 instead. Too bad that Sector in the US government was disbanded in Transformer 2. I think our Catholic President should perhaps ask the assistance of the Vatican in exorcising Maguindanao and cast Satan himself out of those lands.

Relief goods in the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) allegedly gathered dust in four warehouses, one month after typhoon Ondoy. There was indignation about this in blogosphere lately. The October 29, 2009 post entitled " Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo " at ellaganda.com lambasted DSWD for alleged hoarding of relief goods in DSWD warehouses. Overzealous people in Facebook and eGroups circulated the link to this post. But earlier, on October 26, 2009, DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral has already made a statement on these relief goods , admitting that the DSWD "warehouses are indeed full" but that this was . . . "inspite of the fact that we have distributed 500,000 food packs and 200,000 clothing packs as well as thousands of sacks of rice, blankets, beddings, and items of personal hygiene in the past almost 4 weeks." Let me say my piece.