Before I start ranting I will state that I am not registered to vote (because of circumstances that I shall explain). My dad constantly told us that the village clubhouse will be having voters registration for new voters. Everytime I asked if we should register already on a particular day (since they needed to register as well as their still registered as voters in Caloocan), he would keep saying “magkakaroon naman sa village ng regstration (they’re going to have registration at the clubhouse anyways) and he kept saying the same thing until it was the final weekend for registration and there just wasn’t enough time for us to register. I also don’t have a driver’s license (which means I also lack a valid ID with an address for registration) and don’t know how to drive or commute myself to the city hall (who wasn’t making registration any easier by rejecting downloaded forms). If you ask why I can’t drive yet, that’s another long story.

And so, I am not voting this Monday but I do still have an opinion about candidates, issues and elections.

Lets start with PARTY-LISTS.

First of all, I think we really need to overhaul this system in the government. People are just making unions over unions over unions, its redundant.

I would probably vote for ang Ladlad because I do value equality for all and I do realize that our government is becoming too tied down to the Philippine Catholic Church.  Though I do still identify myself as a Catholic Christian, there really are some issues (like the RH bill) where I wanna shout STFU.

Next going on a general look lets look at issues. Be forewarned that these are personal opinions which I am entitled to, I will accept any comments regarding them so long as they are ABOUT THE ISSUE and are not disrespectful in anyway.

Land reform

Big issue, and probably where I’ll get criticism. I am actually against land reform as it is currently implemented by the government. My family owns sugar plantations in Negros and I see the negative that it can do to an economy and industry. First of all I should explain that majority (including my family’s hacienda) of Haciendas in Negros use hired labour not tenant farmers and that is a huge differentiating factor from land reform that happens in Central Luzon.

In Bacolod, a lot of land was already given away to the workers but the question is what happens after the land was given. Bacolod being known for sugar products produces less sugar now than it used to and a large part of this is because the lands that we’re given to land reform were eventually sold to real estate, not agricultural use.

RH Bill

I am for the RH Bill, I am for sex education in public schools and I am pro-contraception. I do not understand that in a world filled with sexual predators and constant carnal temptation we refuse to arm ourselves, our children and our families with the information that could save their lives (in all possible ways).

An idiotic mayor once said on radio that “sex education will just make our youth more curious and more deviant with sex”. I’m sorry I come from a Jesuit upbringing and this is BULLSHIT. Even in gradeschool we we’re taught to “respect our sex organs” (I remember this in guidance classes in grade 1 and 2) and sexuality. I remember being taught about referring to it properly (“penis” instead of “hotdog” ). We had talks on it throughout middle school. Though our form of sex education was most often mixed with catholic morals (because it was and still is a catholic school), I think this can still transmit to public schools without the addition of morals based on religion.

Cha cha, con-ass and all that jazz.

I made my feelings clear on this last year actually in a facebook status statement (and Im glad it was well received).

I am pro cha cha, whether by con-ass or con-con its progress. If you don’t agree with the proposed new charter then simply vote “No” on the plebiscite. According to the current constitution (which processes must be followed for the constitution to be changed), you can’t change the constitution without a plebiscite. If No wins then No.

For the fun part, the senators

I am not and I don’t think people should vote for Bong Revilla. A man who uses a slut actress’ idiocy to bring his name popular in the “political” (if you can even call it political) arena and by doing so halts legislation (and in a sense his job as a lawmaker) is power hungry man who craves attention which he wasn’t getting anymore because of his blockbuster blunders in Philippine Cinema.

I’d vote for Defensor Santiago because she certainly has the best track record when it comes legislation. I’ve always been a strong supporter of Mirriam (even though I find her campaign portraits extremely funny sometimes), the woman is a la Mirriam wyer who knows the law, knows her job as a writer of the law and is not afraid to speak out against the circus that the 14th senate sometimes becomes. I do know of her past questionable acts (such as voting not to open the second envelope during ERAP’s impeachment trial) but then again I find that a senator’s job is primarily to create laws.

Right now these are my only opinions on senatorial candidates so I’m gonna do more reading. Since this post is getting long as well, Im going to hook you into visiting my blog again to see who WOULD I have voted for president and vice-president.

This is the One, Utada's third english album. Released last may 2009

Hikaru Utada’s been doing another concert tour which launched last Janaury 15 . Her last concert tour was Utada United in 2006 which was held in various locations across Japan, this time though the tour is around the USA!

She’s doing the tour to promote her 2nd english album (3rd if you include her Cubic U days) This is the One. Some youtubers were able to sneak in their cameras and get videos! She sang soem of her japanese songs during the show! She also Sang Sanctuary and Passion together… AT THE SAME TIME! and she sang the backward-lyrics live as well!

I wish I had a VISA right now… I’d kill for tickets to see Utada.

For music interest though, if any of you guys reading this have never listened to Utada before, you should definitely try listening to the This is the One album. Its seriously not a Jpop/anime/asian music album at all and I think anyone and everyone can seriously enjoy it. I have the special edition US retail version (with additional bonus tracks) and its been part of my “study playlist” for quite a while! Some interesting songs to note:

Apple and Cinnamon

A very simple piano R&B ballad. I find it has a good mix of melody, well-written lyrics and deep pulsating beats. A great love song which focuses on a failing relationship with an interesting allusion to apple pie being Apples and Cinnamon work so well together.

Automatic Part II

A direct allusion to her first japanese single AUTOMATIC in 1999.  Interesting here is if you compare the two songs and play them one after the other you can really see the difference between Hikki back then and Hikki now as well as how different R&B music was 10 years ago from now. Automatic is less melodic than its predecessor but uses a heavier R&B beat. The lyrics are also… quite provocative with which in part shows how Utada 10 years ago was just a young 16/17 year old girl and now she’s a 27 year old woman.

Come back to me

The first single released for the album. After seeing the epic failure I thought Easy Breezy was as a lead single for an album during her Exodus days, its nice to see a single that reminds you why Hikki is such a powerful artist. Come back to me is a soft sad ballad which is reminiscent Flavor of Life and Prisoner of Love but uses a more western approach and style to the arrangement and treatment. Its a good break considering that I was getting sick of utada’s dance electronica english songs already.

There’s one particular line here I really like. It goes “I wish that I could photoshop all our bad memories” I think we don’t need to ask why

The best part I have to say about being there during a championship game was feeling the intense energy the crowd had. UE had more spectators than last time but that didn’t stop the blue army!

Thankfully the mosquito bites, the dozens of trike rides and the such for an upper A ticket paid off! BONFIRE TOMORROW!!!

I got bored this afternoon

The color yellow became part of her signature. I never really understood why yellow was the color for the whole aquino heroism and holiday until I actually searched it up today. The idea of the yellow ribbon came from when Ninoy referred to the song “Tie a yellow ribbon” in an interview. The yellow ribbon then became a symbol for Ninoy and Cory (not to mention on a shallow level, yellow did look good on Cory).

I just wanna give my tribute to madamme aquino, I was barely able to talk when she was president and barely able to see her T.V interviews (it was a time when cable TV was rare and blackouts we’re common) but she is a remarkable lady none-the-less. It is well quite a shallow attempt at glorifying Cory because really I don’t know much about her and I never had much curiosity till recently. In any case, the earthly world just said good bye to one magnificent lady may she rest in peace