Was in Tacloban, Leyte two days ago to judge the Bulilit Leyte Idol singing fest. I was a judge together with Danny Javier and Amy Perez. It was quite a surprise and delight to watch kids from age 7 to 14 perform their hearts out before a full crowd of partisans. The show opened with a medley of 5 of my songs–When I met You, Batang-bata ka pa, Panalangin, Nakapagtataka and Bawat Bata as sung by the winners of the newly held adult Leyte Idol.
All in all, the show had great production values, and even a live band with a string quartet to boot! It was a great night for Leytenos as their young kids from all over the province gave their all in the hope of winning the generous prizes. This wonderful idea of a singing competition is the brainchild of Governor Petilla who sang with the kids to the great delight of his constituents.
Every province should do this. It’s great for the kids and it contributes to the cultivation not only of local pride but the fostering of community as well.
We stayed at the uber luxurious pool villas of the Leyte Park Hotel owned by Engineer Wilson Chan and managed by Vicky Arnaiz Lanting. The accommodations were marvelous in an extravagant kind of way. Each time I had to leave the room, I felt bad having to turn my back on the infinity pool that was directly outside my room beside the sea!
If you ever visit Tacloban, make sure you book yourself for a night or two or three at the villas.
–A few minutes ago, my daughter Erica and my apo Ananda arrived from Australia and walked in to the house. It was great to get a hug from Dada who said that she missed her Lolo a lot!! Simple joys.
— I can’t get over how hot it is. I am melting. All day I am without a shirt and in shorts and I still feel debilitated by the heat. My electric bill will be astronomical for sure. I don’t think I have used my aircon as often as I am using it now. Bahala na. Meanwhile, Mio and Ala in Sydney are complaining about how cold it is getting over there.
Global warming indicators show that things are happening 40 years earlier than expected. Does this mean that every year, summers will get progressively worse?
–I am not too sure how to feel about the elections just yet. While I am happy that many showbiz people did not make it, and that some otherwise popular people are behind in the counting, I am saddened that the electoral process in this country is still so vulnerable to cheating and manipulation. Look at Maguindanao. How is it that an Ilocano (Chavit) has suppose3dly gotten the highest vote and that a Muslim is not topping it and instead is no. 12? People in the area do not have indelible ink on their fingers and the 12 zero score favoring the administration appears very suspicious. And why is the Comelec rushing to count the votes there despite the accusations?
When will we ever have real electoral reform? The people have been clamoring for it but the politicians do not want it for obvious reasons. “O bayan ko kailan ka tatayo?’
It’s clear from the results that
a) any association with GMA is a political kiss of death for anyone running for office.
b) people have an affinity or empathy with the rebel archetypes
c) Filipinos do not like vegetables. Pichay is nowhere near the magic 12 despite the 200 million media spending he did.
4) People like their heroes e.g. Paquiao to be heroes and to do what they do bes, not to posture as political leaders.
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