President Noynoy?

In a country mocked by the ironic realities of life, where poverty is never a new word, and politics has been exalted to a dirtier level, a fantasy of superheroes comes as a byproduct of desperation. And the most recent figure emerging from the clouds of desolation belongs to Sen. Noynoy Aquino.
After Mar Roxas finally jumping out of the presidential race, and Korina Sanchez losing every grasp of her possible first lady hopes, the son of the late Sen. Ninoy Aquino and the departed ex-President Cory Aquino is pushed to do the running. And while Sen. Noynoy seems to be pressured by unsolicited publicity that sets their family’s name in the limelight once again, the wish of another Aquino president is more than just possible. So, President Noynoy, anyone?
In an ANC leadership forum, a student asked Sen. Noynoy about the laws he has passed as member of the legislative branch. And with the witty smile but urgency hidden within his spectacles, he stressed that he’s not with the laws but the “system” after all. Honestly, what has he done to maximize the gift of genetics, being the celebrated son of two major political heroes?
In my opinion, what we need for a President is someone who has vital experiences up his sleeves. Though education cannot come as a requisite, formal edification is a plus.
From my observation, Sen. Noynoy is yet to be ripe for the picking. I, though, cannot decide what he still needs: time, space, learning maybe. He might come from the highest echelon of budding political dynasties, but he knows a lot more than speaking the tongue of his parents.
The death of Pres. Cory and the immediate commemoration of Sen. Ninoy’s death paved the way to good media hype for Sen. Noynoy. He is gaining enormous media mileage without giving out the bucks unlike possible contenders Sen. Manny Villar and Sen. Roxas. And seeing the way he handles all the pressure and the hazards of his possible candidacy, I am far from thinking that he had inherited Sen. Ninoy’s acumen or Pres. Cory’s dedication.
What worries me more is that there could be fiend people behind this propaganda. I am not saying that Sen. Noynoy is bad. He is a good person, I suppose. And there could be some who would exploit the lighted spot that is his. I don’t want to gamble my one vote for this matter.
I hardly imagine that my choice of whom to vote for lies within mere partiality and favoritism but feminine instincts advise me not to root for Sen. Noynoy. His being soft-spoken and seemingly unruffled attitude might be the reason why I think he doesn’t make up a good president. I picture our next president to be someone always ready to take the challenge, willing to step down the title if necessary and wanting for the betterment of the majority.
Actually, I am very hesitant whether I will exercise suffrage or what. Basically because I find the whole process futile. It’s like choosing who lesser evil is or picking the least rotten from a basket of decaying fruits. But my conscience won’t let me have peace, I know. And since the Election Day is already counting, I better think well.
Sen. Noynoy has every resource he could get to be a president, but he has to wait for his right moment to come. May 2010 is certainly not that time.
We need a president with a big heart for what he thinks is right. We need someone who knows how to look back to our humble beginnings but can welcome progress with open hands.
My religion has been known for a term called "blockvoting." Should the sect choose the person to vote for, we are called to follow the bloc on the premise of our one decision, one faith.
And faith is a word I am not too familiar with. Will I go with the bloc? SECRET.
Conscience is still the guiding word.
I have always believed that I am the worst enemy of myself. I just hate losing even over me. Complicated. Guess I'm used to it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

Bittersweet Devirginizing Station

Part 1

The alarm clock rings at full volume but Ria has been awake some hours before. She stares at the ceiling and smiles as she recalls the same dream she dreamt of yesterday and the days before, the only difference is that now she’s happy.

Her room smells of roasted marshmallows, a mixture of vanilla perfume and cigarette smoke, just worse. The walls are painted pink with some black stripes that will remind you of products’ bar codes. Some pop art decos are painted at random so that the whole niche looks less girly but more professional.

She literally jumps off the bed, careless about the fact that the pillows got thrown down and the blankets picture total mess. Rays of sunlight illuminate the room of her apartment, and the day spells nothing but fun.

Ria walks to the table and pulls down the page of a daily calendar so that now it reads May 25, 2020, Monday. “I’m getting closer” she thinks. She’s humming some nursery rhymes and stops to think if Humpty Dumpy did exist. The thought makes her dizzy, “Insomnia,” she thinks. She doesn’t want to relate it to any other reason.

She sips her black coffee and savors the bittersweet taste of her only obsession. “Ria, you can’t forget your other former habit”, she says to herself. Her thought slowly drifts away via the relaxing aroma of the cup of caffeine in her hands when suddenly a loud knock revives her almost unconscious self to life; she almost dropped the chinaware as she throws away a string of four letter words through her mouth.

“Good morning, huh? What’s with the door banging and all?” Ria welcomes the person at the door who immediately grabs her arm and hugs her tightly.

“You made me worry, bitch,” CJ exclaims at a high pitch voice. He quickly frees her off and heads through the bed.

Under a mood of disgust, he starts scrutinizing every single detail of the room, stopping at the technicolored portrait, saying “I told you a Madonna or Marilyn Monroe could have been better,” with a raised eyebrow.

“You can leave now.”

“Of course, I will. I can honestly say that I don’t trust the possible plans you have over my beautiful body in this little space of yours,” CJ says, emphasizing the words beautiful and little.

Ouch.

“Want some?” she asks lifting her cup a bit.

“I wonder what virus and germs taste like but no, thanks.”

Ouch. Strike two. Lalalala, she thinks.

“See, I don’t need your resignation letter. So you better see us in the office later.” CJ asserts.

“Give me a million and a half,” she replies, with an open palm and teasing smile.

“What for? That’s around twice my annual pay,” he says containing his anger.

“I went to the bank the other day and found out I had around 1.5 million,” She says before emptying her cup in a big gulp and continues, “two year's salary in total plus the interest of course.”

“What do you need that amount for?”

“Secret”

“Maria Rosa...”

“Shut up.”

“Fine. Don’t tell me you’re into this illegal and uncertain thing again?” he bursts into serious laughter.

Silence.

“You’re crazy Ria. You’re totally nuts. I don’t believe you. You’re insane. You’re ...” he pauses to think, “You’re indeed my best friend. But hey, it’s been five years,” CJ couldn’t muster whether to offer pity or annoyance to her. “You’re crazy.”

“I am crazy. Thank you very much.”

“Move on.”

“Soon.”

“Now.”

“Later.”

“Maria Rosalia, for God’s sake, stop whatever you’re planning to do.”

“Whatever.”

Quick glances of memory lane invade CJ’s mind and after their ten year friendship all he can think of is how much they have become at strong bond and thus he decides to leave his trust to her friend instead. Ria, on the other hand, is ready to give up just so she can make her plans done. But why pearls of tears run down her cheeks, she doesn’t know.

A deafening silence slowly separates their thoughts and CJ finally speaks.

“I’ll give you one and a half million. Just wait for the check tomorrow. And happy birthday.”

Ria’s silent sobs begin to grow louder as she walks closer to him initiating a hug. Which he does not accept. He’s also crying.

“Thank you,” she utters between soft wails.

“That would be my last birthday present for you. I know you’re at risky gamble but I’m your friend. And friends don’t jump high cliffs with you. They’re at the bottom to catch you.”

“I love you,” she shouts while CJ heads the door.

“I love myself, too,” he looks back and smiles at her before closing the door with a bang.

Meanwhile, Ria think she’s never going to be happier than now while thinking, “Carlos Jimenez III, I wish you had become a real man, but thanks for the friendship.”

...to be continued...

The interview with Arwind Santos at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

RAGS TO RICHES
It’s anybody’s ballgame!By Lovelyn M. Quintos
Known as “The Whirlwind,” “The Spiderman” and “The Human Eraser” of the country’s most prestigious basketball league, Arwind Santos shares how he made his way through the basket of success.

To his fans and to local basketball enthusiasts, the name Arwind Santos does not only ring a bell but has also certainly made quite a huge label for this six-foot-four stalwart of the Air21 Express and pride of Angeles City, Pampanga.

“Langit at lupa”: this was how he described how different his life is now from what he experienced in the past. Being born third to the four children of Ernesto Santos and Araceli Anaya-Santos, he unfortunately had to suffer a lot of adversities in life, a common struggle for families being tested with several hardships on their travel to triumph.

At the height of his career, rumors revealed that Santos actually worked at a young age and even played “ending,” a form of gambling whereas the winner is determined through the final scores of basketball games. When asked to clarify this issue, during an interview, Santos did not deny the whole thing and admitted that it was before, and we can now see a totally different and changed Arwind Santos.

“Oo, totoo ‘yun (that I participated in gambling) but that was before. Totoo ‘yun, lahat ng naririnig natin…marami pang iba. Kaya lang iba na ‘ko ngayon,” he proudly said.

He also shared that the reason for such major leap in his development is that he holds on to his dream and leans on to the Almighty Father and to his loved ones.

“Ginusto ko lang, tapos pinagtiyagaan ko kahit mahirap, kahit malayo sa mga mahal ko, sa family ko…tapos tinibayan ko yung loob ko, kasama ko ang Diyos, nagdadasal ako lagi, tapos ''yun natupad ko yung gusto ko,” Santos exclaimed.

The road to his fruitful career is definitely no laughing matter. Before entering the nation’s top basketball association, Santos played for the Far Eastern University at the equally renowned Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) where he managed to wow the crowd with his famous two-handed dunks and soft touches, thanks to his envied leaping ability and long arms. The FEU Tamaraws enjoyed five seasons with Santos', who, in that short period of time, bagged two UAAP Most Valuable Player Awards and led his team to two championship titles.

When he left the team in 2005, Santos marked a major part in FEU's basketball history as his jersey number, 19, retired and is hung at the school’s gym, symbolizing FEU’s recognition to the feat that he showed.

His performance was also not new to the Philippine Basketball League, where Santos gained more experience in playing the game he loves the most, clearing the way to one title for the Viva Mineral Water team while getting the unanimous nod of spectators and judges for the MVP award.

In 2006, Santos decided to enter the Philippine Basketball Association and was drafted by the Air21 Express as second pick overall.

The league and the team might change but the ball is still round. He showed the same intensity on the court and never failed to make his family proud of his accomplishments.

Something that is admirable of this 27-year-old basketball star is that he always shows how much he wants and loves basketball, one of his secrets on how he was able to collect all those titles under his name.
“Ang basketball parang buhay, parang sarili ko, pag di ko inalagaan, hindi ko makukuha, kaya kailangan ko na alagaan ang sarili ko at ang basketball para magtagal pa sa ‘kin,” he added.

Despite the fame and the fortune he benefits from his lucrative effort, Santos always remains respectful to his family and to God from whom he gets his inspiration whenever he is on the hard court playing.

“Syempre sa mga mahal ko sa buhay (ako kumukuha ng inspirasyon). Sa family ko, sa ating Amang nasa langit, sa sumusuporta sa ‘kin, sa team ko, sa Air21.”

His message to his fans and to those who dream of following his path:

“Always pray, basta whatever you want na gusto mong matupad sa buhay, tuparin mo at gustuhin mo…importante sa lahat, isama mo ang Diyos para siguradong matupad mo.”

Arwind Santos’ story remains to be one among the many success tales proving that when you have a dream, there is no boundary to success, as long as you know how to grasp that goal and never forget the people around you and God along the way. It is anybody’s ballgame and we should hold on to the ball tighter.