July 28, 2009

There is a saying that goes “youth moves and decides based on impulse and emotion like there’s no tomorrow while experience believes it knows everything and takes it’s time”.

When one is young, he is sometimes seen as an amateur and one who needs to get more experience to be taken seriously or be respected. When one is very experienced, he is sometimes seen as someone who might not be teachable or open to new things and might lack the energy needed.

There will always be pro’s and con’s on anything even on the topic of age. I would like to think that competence, skill, talent, preparedness and willingness are not solely based on age. It would be unfair to judge people solely based on the way they look, the way they dress up and based on their age. Sometimes, we even get surprised of young people who know a lot and who succeed in life quickly. Also, we can be amazed of how experienced people can still be so sharp and open minded.

Success is not based on age. Respect and chances should be afforded to anyone regardless of age. Whatever age one is, he or she can be successful, trustworthy and competent.

Thus, youth should not be put against experience but rather youth should complement experience and vice versa.

As what I usually say as my battle cry or my usual spiel, Para sa kauswagan sang Syudad sang Iloilo, UGYON Kabataang Ilonggo, UGYON Iloilo. Ilonggos are worth working and fighting for.

July 20, 2009

About 10 months to go before the elections, the heat of the campaign has been steadily rising. We hear, read and know about people interested in running for local and national posts more and more through mainstream media and new media. It seems that election preparations are much earlier than the usual most probably because of the much earlier deadline of the filling of candidacy which is scheduled end of November this year. This seems to have forced those who are thinking of running for elective posts to prepare early and to finalize their plans before the deadline. For the first time in Philippine election history, there will be declared and official candidates for the upcoming elections for about 6 months before the day of the elections.

Aside from the change of schedule of the filling of candidacy, the biggest change for the 2010 elections and the reason for the early filling of candidacy is the automation of the elections. People now will have a different manner and way of voting. It is said that there would be ready ballot with all positions and names of candidates in alphabetical order there. The voter would just shade their preferences from the list given. After which, the ballot will be counted by the machine so that results will be known in an instant. Some say there will still be manual voting because of the shading of circles with the choices of candidates but there will also now be an automated counting of ballots/votes.

With such major changes and other minor changes, there is a need for candidates to change strategies and plan schedules, and there is also an important role of COMELEC and other cause oriented groups to do massive voter information and education.

Let us all grab the opportunity to register before the October 31 deadline and to vote well next year. Voting equalizes all peoples of different backgrounds. We all have one vote and the right to be heard. Let us make sure we entrust our country and localities to good hands.

I would like to end with my usual spiel or battle cry, para sa kauswagan sang Syudad sang Iloilo, UGYON Kabataang Ilonggo, UGYON Iloilo. Ilonggos are worth working and fighting for.

July 17, 2009

What are the things that you want? What are the things that you consider as needs? What are your goals in life? What do you dream of having and of becoming?

As soon as we think of the answers to those questions, we get to know ourselves and what direction we have to take. We then proceed to the path so that we reach the end goal which is our destination. More often than not, a lot of distractions come our way. Sometimes, it seems that there are temptations that lead us astray or even the seemingly new wants that come to our lives. The question is do we know how to discern what are opportunities that we have to grab immediately and what are those we just have to let it pass by us? Distractions come in different forms and sizes. What we need is a firm commitment to our decision to reach our goal or want before any distractions came into our lives.

Let us not worry if ever there comes a time that we are misled or distracted. It happens. Let us just find a way to regain our focus and move on to our original destination.

As what I usually say as my battle cry or my usual spiel, Para sa kauswagan sang Syudad sang Iloilo, UGYON Kabataang Ilonggo, UGYON Iloilo. Ilonggos are worth working and fighting for.

July 15, 2009

I have a bachelor’s degree in Economics. Someone in my life before told me that I tend to avoid risks because I was so focused on managed and calculated risk that I was always on the safe side. That person said you won’t feel that you truly are alive when you don’t risk big at times especially in going for the things you want and making things happen and possible.

My biggest risks were running for office in a political territory that wasn’t as familiar as the province and the political personalities weren’t as friendly then, going for the woman I love despite the distance, going to top schools and getting courses that were challenging, opening myself to the public as a media personality and going for what I want and not just settle for anything less.

I would still suggest we go for managed and calculated risks but be reminded that with high risks there will always be high rewards.

As what I usually say as my battle cry or my usual spiel, Para sa kauswagan sang Syudad sang Iloilo, UGYON Kabataang Ilonggo, UGYON Iloilo. Ilonggos are worth working and fighting for.

July 7, 2009

Have you experienced asking people to do something nice or simple but they always say it can’t be done? Have you ever thought they were just finding reasons and ways not to do it? Well, you might be thinking right.

There is a cliché or “kasabihan” in Tagalog which goes, “Kapag gusto, maraming paraan…Kapag ayaw, maraming dahilan”. If someone wants or likes it, the person will find a way but if the person doesn’t, the person will find all reasons and excuses.

I would go out of my way and even beyond my limits for someone special but I might not do the same usually just for anyone. You might also have done something like that for a person, organization, work, city and country. We do it willingly and no one can force us to do it if we don’t want to.

So, always remember if a simple and easy thing isn’t done willingly by someone, then that person might not be interested in doing it.

As what I usually say as my battle cry or my usual spiel, Para sa kauswagan sang Syudad sang Iloilo, UGYON Kabataang Ilonggo, UGYON Iloilo. Ilonggos are worth working and fighting for.