Philippine Elections 2010

My mom's side of the family cleaned up with all of the people running for public office in the Philippines winning. Bong Revilla was the number one vote getter in the Senate, his second and final term. His wife Lani Mercado won in the lone district of Bacoor, one of four new congressional districts that Bong carved out, presumably so she can run (even though they live in Alabang. My cousin Edwin Bautista, AKA Strike, also won reelection as mayor, and Jun Inares, Andeng's husband, also won reelection as governor. Political dynasties are alive and thriving in the Philippines. The people have spoken, and now it is time for all who won, to deliver, as it is a clean slate.

Noy Noy Aquino, a seemingly reluctant candidate who decided to run only after his mother Corazon Aquino died last year, ran away with the presidency with more than 10 million votes. Now if that isn't a mandate, I don't know what is. His closest rival was non other than aging movie star Joseph Estrada, who was chased out of Malacanang amid corruption charges. I still cannot fathom those Filipinos who voted for this man. I am hoping that NoyNoy can gtruly deliver on at least some of the promises he made during the silly season, because the Philippines is truly regressing. It is time to see some progress.

Goodbye Jommy

On Friday I went to a service for a dear friend of my wife who ended his life. I had only met Jommy a handful of times, but I remember all the times that I met him and he was a very nice man. The first time I met him was in his apt. in Costa Mesa on Bear St. He had several windsurf boards on his patio and we talked at length about them, and how long he has been windsurfing. At the same time, he let me copy some records he had onto cassette tape (this was in the early 90s mind you). The second time I met him was in his place in Rancho Santa Margarita at his home. Again, Jommy welcomed me with open arms. You see, my wife Jovi was best friends with his younger sister, and Manong Joms was the elder brother who looked over his sister and my wife during the days they were growing up in the Philippines. Which brings me to his suicide. One can never understand why people choose to end their lives. His was especially tragic because he left behind what seemingly was a nice family. He has two teenage boys who loved him dearly as well as a wonderful wife. The story is that he had been severely depressed, having lost his job to this recession that has lingered. And soon he began to disassociate himself with those around him. I don't know, but it is still a sad story that has been on my mind since the service at the church in Rancho Santa Margarita. The church in which his family attended was full for the service. He apparently touched many lives in the community, with the church, the soccer club, and the boys schools. It seems he was popular given the number of people who attended the service. There must've been 300 people who came to pay their respects to Jommy and his family. His son Kai gave a heart wrenching eulogy. I was in near tears when he mentioned that Jommy won't be there to attend his high school graduation. Tough speech to give, especially for a 16 year old. That day, Kai became a man.

I googled him and learned that he was in the same industry that I was, him having worked for Pioneer and Sony, two companies which I have written about being a technology writer for the past 17 years. I was just thinking that I could have met up with him at CES.

I hope that his wife and kids will be able to rebuild their lives after the tragic death of their father, the anchor of their family. Goodbye Jommy.