Elections

CEBU, Philippines – I’m sure many are still reeling from the 9th Island Tee, which ended last Sunday, but are now looking forward to next year’s event, which will again fall on the week of the Kadaugan sa Mactan.

The showers last Sunday drenched the hopes of some players to do better, but more said that it was a good thing since they found the perfect excuse to have played bad.

The conditions were not exactly the same the whole day as it was so humid Sunday morning that walking around the course reminded me of our summer camp at Camp Aquino in Tarlac back in 1987.

It wasn’t because I was with a senior Cavalier (PMA graduate) in Retired Gen. Ben Diamos, but because of the heat and the exhaustion. Now, let’s hear your reason why you played bad. Hehehe…

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Where will you be on Sunday?

This is a question that many people are now asking with the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight set this weekend.

While it was quite difficult to get a seat in the places that showed the fights of Pacquiao live in the past, many establishments are cashing in on the Filipino ring hero to bring in the customers this Sunday morning.

I’m once again rooting for Pacquiao to win as any Filipino should, but more than bringing more glory and more money to his bank account, I want him to win this bout so that he may once again delay his foray into politics.

I’m now here in the Big City for the annual meeting of the Philippine Press Institute and the theme of the three-day activity is the coverage of the 2010 elections and how the media should behave.

We have talked about the automation of the elections and many other related issues that shall hopefully better inform the community press people.

One thing I always dread during elections is seeing people, who are good in other things throwing their hats into politics because they are very rich and popular and can afford to fund a campaign.

We need to mature as an electorate and I believe that one way to do that is to start convincing people, who we think fall in such category not to seek political office and not encourage them to run.

I hope that those who will show their support for Pacquiao this Sunday won’t rub his ambition to become a congressman. Yes, this is a free country and anybody can seek public office, but then only those really qualified must do so.

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Several alumni of UP Cebu High School have already expressed interest in the golf tournament organized by batch ’84 on May 15 at the Mactan Island Golf Club.

I am just helping the class that graduated ahead of mine but since this is for a good cause, our school, I am hoping that the other alumni and even non-alumni would join the event.

Tickets are only P2,000. Do get in touch with me.

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MILESTONE: Happy birthday greetings to Marvin Briones, who turns a year older today. – THE FREEMAN