COMELEC Releases Official List of Candidates for President and Vice President

Initially, there were 99 aspirants who filed their certificates of candidacy for the position of President of the Philippines. However, after much deliberation, the COMELEC has only allowed 8 candidates to run for President.

The following have been officially considered eligibile to run for the position of President of the Philippines:

Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III (Liberal Party), Olongapo City councilor JC de los Reyes (Ang Kapatiran), former President Joseph Estrada (UNO-PMP), Sen. Richard Gordon (Bagumbayan), Sen. Jamby Madrigal (independent), former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), Bro. Eddie Villanueva (Bangon Pilipinas) and Sen. Manny Villar (Nacionalista Party).

Senator Jamny Madrigal Is The Only Woman Among the Presidentiables

The COMELEC has also trimmed down the vice-presidential aspirants to also eight, and these are:

Sen. Mar Roxas (Liberal Party), Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay (UNO-PMP), former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando (Bagumbayan), Sen. Loren Legarda (Nacionalista Party), Edu Manzano (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), broadcaster Jay Sonza (KBL), former Securities and Exchange Commission chief Perfecto Yasay (Bangon Pilipinas) and Dominador Chipeco Jr. (Ang Kapatiran).

The COMELEC has also allowed 58 candidates for the position of senator from more than the 100 who filed their candidacy for the position. That list will come out shortly.

So – there you go – out of that official list will emerge our nation’s next President and Vice President.

God save the Philippines!

Manny Pacquiao Will KO Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The Philippines is gearing up for its national elections on May 2010 with several notable politicians vying for the Philippine Presidency, and slots in the Philippine Senate, Philippine Congress and other local government posts.

Even boxing champ Manny Pacquiao has already field his candidacy to vie for a Congressional seat in his hometown district in Mindanao, and many were expecting that Manny Pacquiao‘s next bout was going to be in the political arena.

However, that’s all been sidetracked for the moment as Manny Pacquiao has just signed the fight contract to go up against the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. on March 13, 2010.

Manny Pacquiao recently won the WBO Welterweight belt from Miguel Angel Cotto via a 12th round TKO, and made history by being the first and only boxer so far to win 7 titles in 7 weight classes. Indeed, the feats of Manny Pacquiao inside the boxing ring have earned him the reputation of being the best pound-for-pound boxer in the history of the sport.

Manny Pacquiao Will KO Floyd Mayweather Jr

That reputation was also held by Floyd Mayweather Jr., who was also coined as being the best pound-for-pound boxer, and his recent demolition over Juan Manuel Marquez clearly showcases his capacity to be among the top fighters in the sport of boxing.

Of course, it wouldn’t take long for boxing fans to want to see a showdown between Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather Jr., two of the best pound-for-pound boxers. And after a month or so of taunting and negotiations between the two camps, the deal has finally been sealed. Well, at least in the camp of Manny Pacquiao.

Freddie Roach, the trainer of Manny Pacquiao, has already confirmed that Manny Pacquiao has signed the fight contract, and the rest of the world excitingly waits for Floyd Mayweather Jr. to back up all his talk and sign his name on the dotted line.

Meanwhile, boxing promoters are already expecting the Pacquiao vs Mayweather fight to be one of the biggest pay-per-view events in the history of boxing, and will certainly put sales through the roof, to earn both fighters a very, very heavy purse. Not only that, many experts anticipate that the Pacquiao vs Mayweather fight will last more than just one bout, and will look to exasperate itself to a three-fight trilogy.

However, my opinion is that if Manny Pacquiao wins, he’ll just hang up his gloves, enjoy the fruits of his wins, and concentrate on his campaign for Congress, and if he wins that, then that’s where he’ll be busy for the rest of his life. Well, at least, while he’s still in Congress. Perhaps, this fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr., will be the culminating event to a colorful and illustrious career.

Besides, it might be the same if Floy Mayweather Jr. wins. If Floyd Mayweather Jr. defeats Manny Pacquiao, then the whole world can expect a mouthful of arrogance from Floyd Mayweather Jr., and certainly he would love to keep his undefeated record in tact, and will just retire to enjoy his fat paycheck.

One thing’s for sure, all of this will be settled in the ring on March 13.

My prediction for that fight – Manny Pacquiao will KO Floyd Mayweather Jr., and shut up that loud mouth once and for all.

The 2010 Presidential Election Circus: The True Practice of Democracy

I love the Philippines. I love the fact that there are several well-meaning people who are motivated to serve the nation. Just take a look at all those who want to become President and lead the Filipino people. Wow, there are so many of them. Really – it’s so touching that so many of them are willing to dedicate so much time, effort and money to become President of the Philippines. Anyway, without further adieu – here is the official list of those who filed for their candidacy for the position of Philippine President, and their respective Vice Presidential partners and senatorial candidates (as applicable).

Potential President of the Philippines and Emperor of the World

Noynoy Aquino (President) and Mar Roxas (Vice President) are the candidates of the Liberal Party. Their slate for the 12 senators include Ralph Recto, Sonia Roco, Teofisto Guingona III, Ruffy Biazon, Ana Theresa Baraquel, Alexander Lacson, Nereus Acosta, Danilo Lim, Dr. Martin Bautista, Yasmin Busran-Lao, Franklin Drilon and Serge Osmena.

Joseph “Erap” Estrada (President) and Jejomar Binay (Vice President) for the Partido ng Masang Pilipino – UNO. Their senatorial bets include Jinggoy Estrada, Jun Lozada Jr., JV Bautista, Rodolfo Plaza, Jose de Venecia III, and Juan Ponce Enrile.

Gilbert Teodoro (President) and Edu Manzano (Vice President) for the Lakas-Kampi CMD. Their candidates for the senate include Bong Revilla, Lito Lapid, Rey Langit, Ramon Juico, Silvestre Bello III, Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Raul Lambino.

Manny Villar (President) and Loren Legarda (Vice President) of the Nacionalista Party. Their official candidates for the senate include Adel Tamano, Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana, Susan Ople, Ramon Mitra III, Pia Cayetano, Ariel Querubin, Bongbong Marcos Jr., Lisa Maza, Satur Ocampo and Gilbert Remulla.

Dick Gordon (President) and Bayani Fernando (Vice President) of the Bagumbayan Party. They have no senatorial bets because they believe they can work with anybody and everybody.

Jamby Madrigal (President) will run as an independent without a running mate, and also without a senatorial slate.

Brother Eddie Villanueva (President) and Perfecto Yasay (Vice President) of Bangon Pilipinas. Their senatorial bets include Ramoncito Ocampo, Kata Inocencio, Zafrullah Alonto, Israel Virgines and Alex Tinsay.

Manny Lopez (President) will run as an independent, and claims he is better than US President Barack Obama.

Rigoberto Madera Jr. (President) will run as an independent and if elected will move on to become the next US President, the next UN Secretary General and Emperor of the World.

Only in the Philippines do we see such awesome democracy practiced, and where everyone can qualify to become President of the Philippines as long as they fulfill the requirements for their Certificate of Candidacy (COC).

This is the circus, and this is  democrazy!