January 15 Poll Survey: Yangot, Molintas, Olowan leading

After almost a month of vacation, watwatworld is back! Let me start my blog with the latest result of the online poll survey we are conducting. I have spoken to some politicians, lawyers, followers and supporters about the poll survey of watwatworld.com and just like in most cases, their opinions vary depending on how they are affected by the survey. Let me put it this way... if you gather 100 bright and intelligent lawyers in one room and ask their opinion on a certain legal issue, you will get 100 different opinions unless it is favorable to some. It is simply hard to please everybody.


Some traditional politicians and supporters dismiss online surveys as irrelevant and useless but they are dead wrong. There is a NEW sector of voters clustered on the freedom of technology. They are not as loudmouth as politicians or their supporters but they actively participate in the end results. One good example is the issue against the alleged MOA selling the Baguio Athletic Bowl to the Koreans. When journalist Pigeon Lobien made a post (article online) discussing the Athletic Bowl issue in Facebook, in less than a week, thousands of Baguio "onliners" commented and actively participated in forwarding the information to the Filipino people all over the world. And so with too much "online" pressure, the Baguio politicians who had something to do with the issue are now washing their hands. This "silent" online sector even helped in making a Senator in the last 2007 elections by the person of Sen. Trillanes.


However, relevant as it may be, this poll survey does not determine the end results. It will surely vary and differ on the day of the election. To give chance to the other candidates who are running behind the survey, watwatworld will end this current survey at by January 30 and a new poll survey will be created for February until March.


Watwatworld will also entertain political candidates who would like to be featured in the blog. Here, you can present your programs, ideas, and achievements. This will create your online presence faster and wider. Watwatworld has established its niche particularly Baguio City and the Cordillera Region with almost a thousand blog visitors per day. You can present yourself to a targeted audience. First come, first serve.


Below is the latest poll survey result as of January 15, 2010.





FOR MAYOR

1. Barcelo, Ruben Liwanag – “Ben” – INDEPENDENT
2. Busacay-Lazo, Erlinda Adan – “Erlinda Weir” – INDEPENDENT
3. Domogan, Mauricio Gambao – “Morris” – LAKAS-KAMPI CMD - 38%
4. Go, Marquez Ocampo – “Mark” – PWERSA NG MASANG PILIPINO (PMP) - 3%
5. Hernandez, Guillermo – “Willie” – INDEPENDENT
6. Labo, Ramon Lozano – “Jun” – INDEPENDENT - 1%
7. Mandapat, Julius Javier – “Butch” – INDEPENDENT
8. Molintas, Jose Mencio – “Joe” – LIBERAL PARTY (LP) - 56%
9. Puzon, Peter Dulay – “Terminator” – INDEPENDENT
10. Sembrano, Elaine Dominguez – “Kabsat” = INDEPENDENT - 1%

FOR VICE MAYOR

1. Domalsin, Carol Rosado – ” ” – LABAN NG DEMOKRATIKONG PILIPINO (LDP) - 16%
2. Farinas, Danilo Tesaluna – “Danny” – NACIONALISTA PARTY (NP) - 36%
3. Olowan, Faustino Atiwag – “Ulo” – LP & PHILIPPINE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST PARTY (PDSP) - 50%

FOR CONGRESSMAN

   1. Avila, Edgar Mendoza – “Ed” – PMP - 1%
   2. Balisong, Rocky Thomas Aseilan = “Rocky” – NP - 28%
   3. Bautista, Reinaldo Jr. Asperin – “Peter Rey” – INDEPENDENT - 3%
   4. Bello III, Dwight Nicolas Advincula – “Ike-Kimat” – INDEPENDENT
   5. Quilala, Rabindranath Pablo – “Kabagis Abet” – PDP-LABAN
   6. Ramos, Felipe Tribonaldo – “Felipe” – INDEPENDENT
   7. Vergara, Bernardo Mangacang – “Bernie” – LAKAS-KAMPI - 9%
   8. Yangot, Leandro Jr. Bagto – ” ” – LP - 57%
   9. Yaranon, Baraulio Dacanay – “Raul” – LDP - 2% 
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Muslims Secretly Conquering Baguio and the Cordilerras?

The MUSLIM DEMOGRAPHICS VIDEO BELOW was uploaded on youtube months ago. I did not see its relevance and easily dismissed it as a hoax or over kill. It was discussed overly across the internet and in the western parts of the world. However, with the rising issues involving the muslims conquering the streets of Baguio city and the rest of the Cordillera region, I think this video has some sense to share and discuss. Also, I've heard of stories where the original settlers and natives of Baguio City are being harassed by these new settlers especially when it comes to selling space. Locals who were originally selling goods and vegetables in the streets, rented small booths and sidewalks were displaced by these new settlers using force and intimidation under the cover of their religion. I have nothing against their religious practices, but I despise the harassment and show of force that they are doing to the original Baguio residents. I'm sure you have heard or experienced some of these issues in one way or another. Time will come, there will be no more Igorots or originals in Baguio city. Most likely we will be new servants of the new settlers.
Another sad thing is the laxity of some politicians running the city. Some of them are to be blamed for the upsurge of new settlers because they welcomed them with open arms and even encouraged them to stay for good. In addition, stories running around coffee shops about the politicians being "bought" to serve as  "protectors"  to these new settlers. A clear indication of sloppiness when it comes to standing out for the real Baguioans. Their self interest is overwhelming in favor of elections.
As for the so called Christians... many of the younger generation are somewhat disappointed because some of their priests, pastors, ministers, brothers etc are so busy debating on who has the better faith and interpretation of the holy bible or criticizing each others practice or belief. Time will come that when they will look over their shoulders, all they can see are themselves and an empty church because most of their believers have converted to another religion.
Also, having too many religious organizations in one faith is actually causing more trouble to a family or clan or tribe than these priests, pastors or ministers can imagine. There was this story where a clan that was close to each other eventually hated each other. Reason? Each family accepted different religious organization. In one reunion, the food was prepared on the table and it was time to eat. The trouble began on a simple quest... who will lead the prayer? Just imagine all the Christian organizations present and the host is a Catholic. When the host started to make the sign of the cross, one said he will instead lead the prayer then another said they will lead the prayer, another said it is not their practice to pray every mealtime, another said their pastor is better than their pastor, then one belittled the priests then one said their minister has a good meal prayer, sigh... YOU BE THE JUDGE. While Christians and Catholics fight over the flocks on who has the better interpretation and practice of the holy bible, other religions such as Islam,  Atheism and Scientology are advancing in a scale no one has ever imagined possible.

Here is the ever famous video:

MUSLIM DEMOGRAPHICS (10,936,639 views)



Whether we like it or not, the political leaders of Baguio city are the proper authorities to solve this issue, so put your vote in good use. Otherwise, there is a possibility that Cordillerans will bring back the old practices to protect themselves, their livelihood and their land.

The Muslim, Catholic, and Chinese challenges

The Muslim, Catholic, and Chinese challenges

Slowly but surely, the local Muslim community has grown to unexpected proportions in a city high up in the hills, with the nearest body of water several miles away.

Muslims are supposed to be a coastal people, diving for fish or riches in the ocean deep, or, for the criminal of mind, engaging in piracy, raiding helpless towns, and robbing honest traders plying the surface of the sea.

* * * * * * * * * *
No one really knows when and what made them merchants of the soil, selling all kinds of wares from sunglasses to DVDs, and before that, branded rubber footwear like Adidas and Nike, not exactly made in Switzerland or Germany.

The joke is that articles for sale by Muslims come cheap because of their questionable origin.

When the cell phone business became a booming industry, the Muslims were practically the first to benefit, knowing where to scour for cheap but fancy-looking mobiles that were later sold for twice their actual value, with outlandish claims of being imported but smuggled.

* * * * * * * * * *
They also quickly learned how to do repair work, charging fees for loose wirings that need only to be tightened, or replacing a missing screw, making it appear that it involved intricate work by telling you to come back hours later or the next day.

To the consternation of the police, not a few cell phone dealers were soon engaged in the fencing business, buying cheap and selling high, since it is almost impossible to trace a stolen cell phone by simply substituting a new SIM.

* * * * * * * * * *
And as the Muslim community grew in number and affluence, so, too, did they become bolder, acting as a mob when a member is threatened even with legal arrest.

In one celebrated city incident, about 50 Muslims faced off with the Baguio police, who were greatly outnumbered and forced to call for back up. Occurrences like these are not healthy for a peaceful and law-abiding city like Baguio, whose citizens, alas, are united in purpose but not of action.

* * * * * * * * * *
This is true not only in politics, but also in the battle against crime or evil.

Oh, Baguio folks will march against Jadewell and for peace and order, but would not dare stand up against a group aching or looking for a fight.

Their biggest fear is that politics as practiced in the northern provinces will soon contaminate the city.

In fact, I am rather perturbed that certain politicians who continue to suffer defeat at the polls election after election are proposing that the only way to beat Domogan is to “take him out.”

* * * * * * * * * *
What, replace a “perceived evil” as seen from the eyes of the blind, with a real one? I hope those desperados are only joking.

And yet to some extent, and I do not refer to Domogan, the only way to fight fire is with fire itself. I mean, who are the people taking Baguio away from us? Who are the carpetbaggers from north and south of the city?

Well, if you do not fight back, be prepared to become slaves in the place of your birth.

* * * * * * * * * *
Long before the invaders from the lowlands came to Baguio, the Chinese community was already in place, but preferred, to borrow the words of a magazine writer, “to assimilate and integrate, rather than dominate.”

Unhappily, one can not say the same of (their) Mainland China, whose economy is said to have overtaken all other industrialized countries except the United States and Japan, and judging from the weather signs, may have visions to take over as world leader in case the United States and Europe falter.

But with all the problems facing these God-forsaken islands, this is of little concern to us, especially since we are treated as beggars anyway by the present world powers.

* * * * * * * * * *
China may be treading that path, but better a fellow Asian than the Caucasians, who have this irritating notion that color of skin signifies superiority.

But racing in that same direction are the Muslim countries, said to be scheming to bring the world to its knees by means of annihilation, and although there appears to be no sinister link between this ambition and terrorism, it is thru this means, planned or otherwise, that could lead to that end—an Islam earth.

* * * * * * * * * *
And while these are happening, the Catholic Church, unless a miracle similar to Fatima happens, appears to be losing its grip over its flock, who seem keen in moving over to other religions, if only to resurrect their badly battered belief and faith in God.

Except perhaps for the nuns, there is a silent but angry perception that Rome’s messengers are interested in more mundane things rather than spreading the Gospel of the Lord.

A priest enjoying the perks of life—dining, wining, driving around, sometimes with a woman in tow— certainly does not sit well with the ordinary parishioner, since men of the cloak are deemed to be literally servants of heaven.

* * * * * * * * * *
There is nothing also Christian about the way Catholic-owned schools treat their employees and students, exacting high tuition fees and paying low wages. Whoever said that tyranny went out with the Spanish friars was dead wrong.

So today we have a choice between becoming a Muslim or a communist, while the apostles of the church busy themselves accumulating worldly possessions instead of saving the souls of the faithful.

Why, even the running priest is a politician in disguise, and the bishops use their power to have their protégees appointed to choice government positions.

Power does not only come out of the barrel of a gun, but in a democracy, even more so from the mouths of those who preach sacrifice and goodness.

Like they say, “hindi ko naman linalahat, kaya lang….yun na nga.” Condemn them Lord, for they know what they do. Amen. 

 

Article by: Benny Carantes

Title: Opposite Connection

Publisher: Baguio Midland Courier, 

October 25, 2009

Credits are due to the author and publisher above.

Locked in Lepanto; world politics

Locked in Lepanto; world politics

Either the world has learned from us, or maybe the kind of politics that we practice here was originally the world’s all along, since it is more the quid pro quo or “you scratch my back and I will scratch yours” kind of thing.

Take US President Barack Obama, for example. He and his wife, Michelle, traveled nearly halfway around the globe to persuade the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to hold the 2016 Olympics in Chicago, Illinois, Obama’s home city and state, quickly installing Chicago (to most Filipinos, Chicago’s reputation is that of a Mafia city in the ’20s and ’30s, reminiscent of bootlegging, submachine guns, and gangland killings in the days of Al Capone; also the home team of basketball great Michael Jordan) as the odds on favorite over Tokyo, Madrid, and Rio de Janeiro, with the latter city eventually getting the honor. This proved not only a disappointment, but probably also an embarrassment to the Obama couple.

Chicago, in fact, was first to be eliminated in the preliminary balloting.

* * * * * * * * * *
Anyway, guess what happens next?

In a totally unexpected turn of events, President Obama is awarded the Nobel Peace prize.

The announcement caught the White House by surprise, so that even the usually articulate Barack, who seems to have the right words for everything, was hard-pressed to come out with a statement that would neither make him look too eager or even undeserving, which is how the rest of the world feels about the latest feather in Obama’s cap.

* * * * * * * * * *
So what does this mean? First they hurt Obama’s feelings, (something of course denied by Obama proppers), and then make up for it by giving him an even bigger plum.

Personally, I feel that former US vice-president Al Gore is more deserving of the award, but that’s Gore’s luck, losing to George Bush in a presidential election under a cloud of doubt, yet conceding defeat early so as not to divide the American people.

And no one seems to remember that it was Gore who trotted the world to warn us about the effects of global warming and climate change.

Unlike Gore, statesmanship is something that Filipino politicians do not have, particularly Erap Estrada.

* * * * * * * * * *
Also hugging the international news is the Philippines, citing specifically, not only Metro Manila and the other storm-affected provinces, but also the City of Baguio itself, the reason why we keep getting calls from relatives abroad asking how we are.

I wouldn’t know exactly, since over the past two weeks I remain trapped in Lepanto, Mankayan, unable to travel because of several landslides, rendering Halsema Highway impassable.

Not that my Minda and I are surviving on camote and other root crops, but being isolated in a place away from family can be tough on the mind and heart, but thank heaven for cell phones, one gets to know how things are at home no matter the distance, although our two boys, albeit living apart from each other, say that calling up every couple of hours is plain too much parental concern.

* * * * * * * * * *
I am familiar with Little Kibungan, where a lot of people died following a huge landslide in the area caused by the heavy rains, even if it lasted for only a little over a day, but the amount of rainfall, as measured by PAGASA, was the equivalent of a month’s downpour, which explains the flooding all over.

If you motor via Tam-awan to and from La Trinidad on a regular basis, you can’t help but notice the small landslides along the way every time there’s a torrential burst from the clouds.

As our Lepanto colleague and friend, geologist Froi Conde explains it, the soil is incompetent (he quickly adds that he isn’t talking about lawyers) meaning the earth is unable to hold itself together when water seeps through, and will naturally slide or fall, more so when there are no imbedded rocks and vegetation to at least make the soil firm and stable. I hope I got that right, Froi.

Funny, but like the soil, I failed to put things together when Froi and I were introduced to each other by Lepanto senior vice-president Gus Villaluna – you know Conde, UP, geologist, great prose – right on that day I should have known it was you, Froi. Sorry.

Ah, but I was still an assistant prosecutor when we first met, and old age affects the memory.

* * * * * * * * * *
There is nothing we can do about natural disasters, and even with all the scientific advances, there is no way to avert them.

But to some extent, deaths and injuries can be avoided. The trouble is that we do not listen. People who live in low-lying or coastal areas, or in places prone to landslides, refuse to heed the warnings, but the question might well be asked—where exactly will they go?

Government must partly be blamed for this. Leave now, government cries, (lisanin nyo na ang lugar), but government does not make ready where the people will move to.

Evacuation centers crop up only after the damage is done, and the people are moved out in the course of the typhoon, or following the aftermath—a little too late, I would say.

* * * * * * * * * *
The weather bureau makes the forecast, but all the other government agencies do not coordinate with PAGASA on what steps to take before the typhoon hits.

Like loose soil, or military prosecution witnesses (a private joke), government appears to be incompetent. Similar to showbiz folks, politicians love the heroics of after-the-fact-TV exposure, postures of sympathy, with the ever “sickening,” humbling (kuno) statement, “ang sarap pala ng pakiramdam.”

Frankly, true charity is never showy, and should even be anonymous. But for showbiz, rescuing a distraught Christine Reyes is the essence of chivalry.

How sad that not too many know the names of the young man and the soldier who gave up their lives saving others. Hopefully, in time . . . 

Title: OPPOSITE CONNECTION

Author: Benny Carantes

Publisher: Baguio Midland Courier

website:www.baguiomidlandcourier.com.ph

All Credits are given to the author and publisher above

No Takers Yet For Tent City.

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- None of Benguet’s residents have so far taken the tents set up at Benguet State University (BSU) here.
Almost 20 shelter boxes have been set up between the strawberry farm and the BSU marketing center as of late Monday afternoon. But no family seems to want to live there.
BSU information officer Jennyline S. Tabangcura said families are yet to be identified and talks on permanent relocation for the homeless are underway.
A lot owned by the BSU is being eyed to become the site of permanent residences for over 350 people rendered homeless by Typhoon Pepeng.
Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan said the priority is to set up permanent structures for the homeless as people are having second thoughts in living in a tent city.
Through the Rotary Club International, ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity that gives emergency shelter, warmth and dignity to people affected by disaster worldwide.
The boxes were set up over the weekend.
In the meantime, nine centers are still accommodating those who have nowhere to go while private families have taken in people they can accommodate.
The Puguis Elementary School, National Irrigation Administration compound, the church of the Nazarene, Veterans building, Girls Scouts of the Philippines, Garden City, Holy Angel Church and the Assembly of God Church still play host to hundreds of displaced families.
Fongwan said talks are ongoing to provide shelter and the city is finding a way to acquire materials needed for the homes.
The tents can accommodate five persons, while provisions for kitchen, bathrooms and shower are yet to be set up.

The tent city is one of the temporary solutions for those rendered homeless by the typhoon.
Fongwan said 35 houses were destroyed by the typhoon in this highland town, leaving hundreds homeless.

Title: No Takers Yet For Tent City.
Author:Ma. Elena Catajan
Publisher: Sunstar Baguio. www.sunstar.com.ph
All Credits for this article is given to the author and publisher above.

Baguio politicians getting ready for 2010 battle

Baguio City is now on the trend set of politicking in preparation for the 2010 elections. Politicians attend funerals, birthdays, ceremonies, anniversaries, graduations, etc etc. etc. just to get attention. Some politicians allegedly even bring with them paid media practitioners to report their every move.

Baguio city is living in the ice age...

I say this because of all Highly Urbanized city, only BAGUIO City has the oldest un-upgraded website ever! All you can see are press releases and nothing more. If your kid is given an assignment on who are the members of the city council, you kid will probably end up writing the politicians way way way back 2006.

Maybe the Baguio city has no budget for a P600 website update... but the officials have millions worth of luxury cars... hay naku Baguio...