Topnotchers na nga... bumibili pa ng boto?

Bubwit heard that (one or more than one of the) top-ranking senatoriables are now engaging into dirty politics, as they are buying counted votes from their co-candidates, in order to secure the top slot.

From what I remember, it was LL who was so confident of getting the top slot, saying that he/she could only fall to number 2 if he/she was cheated.

So is LL the cheater? Or is he/she the one being cheated?

Hmmmm... whoever you are, Mr. or Ms. Cheater, isa lang ang masasabi ko sa inyo....

BASTUSH! Binigyan ka na nga ng pandesal, humingi ka pa ng bakeshop. Sumalupa ang iyong kaluluwa. Sana ay tumuntong ka na uli sa lupa at pagsilbihan na ang taong bayan.

SM Cares, but...

Sent to us by the Autism Society of the Philippines:

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In July 2004, Phil Daily Inquirer columnist Conrado Banal III wrote in his "Breaktime" column about how a then 17-year-old person with autism (PWA) was "mishandled" by SM Megamall's security guards.

SM, thru then-VP now President of Operations Ms Annie Garcia, immediately acknowledged their " responsbility in extending full assistance" to ALL their customers, and assured the training of their guards about autism "to better appreciate" their customers.





But SM did not just conduct one training session on autism for their guards. They started a series of orientation on almost-all disabilities, beginning with their mall managers from SM branches nationwide. And then orientation in different branches followed. These were attended by a total of more than one thousand guards, janitors, and tenants.

Last May 22, SM started again another series of the same orientation program in Mega Trade Hall. At least 300 security guards, janitors, and mall managers listened to speakers from ASP, Downs Syndrome Association of the Phils (DSAPI), and the National Council for Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP). More branches will hold the same program in time for the celebration of the Disability Month in July.

Asst VP for Operations Liza Silerio told the participants the incident of the 17yo PWA. She said that what touched the management most about the incident is the mother's unconditional love for her special son. With limited resources, she did not stop searching until she found, after 15 hours, her son who ran out of the mall.

We can only agree with Ms Annie Garcia when she said that the success of SM's 28 branches is not because of beautiful buildings and modern facilities. It is because of people who truly care.

ASP National President Dang Koe explained what is autism, its symptoms (with examples in mall settings) and how to handle special situations involving PWAs. She ended her talk by reiterating that while our PWAs do not need special ramps, parking spaces and rest rooms, a little love and understanding from the guards, the janitors and everyone can change a PWA's life forever.

More power to SM. Truly, you've got it all for us...and you serve 'em all for us...including our children with autiSM.

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I am actually anti-SM, especially after their hostile takeover of EPCI, and because of their self-serving terms and lack of support for struggling suppliers who would want to have business with their retail chains.


But because of their efforts to please certain sectors of society... well well well. I still hate them! Anyways, I would just continue visiting their Supermalls. Visit lang ha, palamig sa aircon, makiinom ng tubig, maki-CR, etc.... I do not need to buy from SM if I do not need anything.

The public loves SM, and this is what is pretty visible, but hope you understand where I am coming from. There are small entrepreneurs who could not make money because of SM, and there are smaller guys out there (vendors, butchers, bakers, e-loaders, lotto operators, etc.) who are gravely affected by dwindling sales of their used to be "kumikitang kabuhayan", because SM has dominated all aspects of retail, killing all competition, no matter how big or small they are.

Hello Banker? Merger! Merger!

Honestly, I am not happy with the series of mega bank mergers.

iBank was a growing bank with a great customer service proposition. When Unionbank came into the picture, many iBank employees left, and those who remain have lost their morale.

BDO's hostile acquisition of EPCI is an indication of a stronger, bigger, and more powerful SM empire. And this is not that good for business, especially manufacturers, suppliers and other retailers.

There were some good consequences for employees of acquired banks. Most iBank employees became executives and officers in other growing banks, while the majority of EPCI's trust employees were hired by international investment institutions.

BPI swallowed Prudential Bank, who previously merged with Pilipinas Bank. Wala lang... I just miss the old times... the old Prudentail Bank buildings with elderly customers and staff.

Bank mergers will continue as the Bangko Sentral wants to strengthen the banking system. In this modern times, being big, really big, is certainly an advantage.

I can smell RCBC as the easiest aquisition target among the big banks. Perhaps a BPI-RCBC merger?

Rumors say that a Taiwanese group is eyeing Metrobank... how true?

Unionbank has an interesting ambition in its company's vision statement: To be among the top 3 banks by the year 2010.

Well, we'll see...

Fearless Forecast: comelec tally

Ok.. so as of May 20, 2007, Sunday night, Team Unity is leading 6-5-1. Wow... what an achievement! Cheating has never accelerated this way!

So at this rate, I would foresee a 10-0-2 final tally. And this will be the final ranking:

1. Tessie Aquino Oreta
2. Kiram
3. Cesar Montano
4. Vic Magsaysay
5. Tito Sotto
6. Butch Pichay
7. Migs Zubiri
8. Mike Defensor
9. Chavit Singson
10. Ralph Recto
11. Oliver Lozano
12. Victor Wood

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Belated April Fool's Day, fools!

Stock politics

San Miguel shares are soaring high after the company partly got out of the shadow of Danding. Hmmm... yeah, good! But not that impressive.

Foreign credit ratings agencies now warn that they might cut their ratings on San Miguel which announced that it was investing in other businesses such as mining, utilities, infrastructure, and power.

Whatever! Basta!

You can never be at ease when you invest in companies that are linked to government and politics. Yes, that even includes PLDT, even though it is performing well. You can never be assured of its continued positive performance, as it still exists under the shadow of some past administrations. Aside from SMC, others may include PNB, Meralco, Maynilad, and most interestingly, the companies where GSIS and SSS have substantial investments.

DISCLAIMER: BUBWIT IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL ADVISER. HE IS JUST A POOR IDIOT PRETENDING TO RICH AND FAMOUS. IN OTHER WORDS... DUGYOT ANG AMBOT!

Why i campaigned against Loren

Loren Legarda, the No. 1 frontrunner in all surveys, said in an interview over the weekend:

"Madadaya para matalo... imposible!..."

"Madadaya para maging no.2? Posible! Kaya kelangan nating bantayan ang boto para di tayo madadaya!"

So, if I understood it right, she is saying that she is no.1 and she should be no.1, and that final election results that are not aligned with her belief would be unacceptable and would mean cheating.

The moment I heard this, I practically campaigned against Loren, knowing that she will win anyway. I asked my family, relatives, and friends not to vote for her, so that we can see her reaction if she indeed places a mere second.

Partial and unofficial results are coming in as of this very moment... She is on the second spot, and sometimes, third. Hope she can spend some time with us for another interview. We'll play her previous interview over and over again. and I'd love to see her reaction.

Senatorial Lineup

Bubwit's senatorial lineup:

1. Joker Arroyo
2. Ed Angara
3. Noynoy Aquino
4. Kiko Pangilinan
5. Nikki Coseteng
6. Manny Villar

on Bubwit's waiting list:
7. Loren Legarda... i dropped and changed to KIRAM!
8. Gringo Honasan
9. Tito Sotto... i dropped changed to ALAN CAYETANO!
10. Mike Defensor
11. Butch Pichay... i simply dropped!
12. Zosimo Paredes
13. Dr. Martin? whoever! anyway the 13th spot is invalid!

TUBERO!

Ever experienced having leaky pipes in your home? Where do you get help?

"TUBERO"... followed by a landline number, written in blue, black or red paint, usually on a small white cardboard or plywood, and nailed on the wooden Meralco or PLDT post along the road.

Ever tried calling up these tubero's to fix your leaky pipes at home? If you haven't, then I suggest DON'T. My bubwit tells me that Kuya Tubero offers services not related to water pipes, but provides other type of pipe, the more interesting one for the fastest growing market segment (based on gender) and of course, the matrona's--what is it? Nothing else but the male pipe.

Fr. Allan K.

Skip this. It's nonsense.

But if you wanna read through, just go on.

I have been bloggin' about politics and business, and criticizing government officials and tycoons/employers. I never thought I would be criticizing, in some way, the Catholic church.

Last Saturday, I attended mass at the Lourdes Church in QC. The 6pm mass, that is. I thought I mistakenly walked into a comedy bar. The voice of Allan K. is heard all over, saying the mass. Funny yeah, but all listeners needed to get serious, there is a holy celebration going on.

Sermon comes, and whoaaahhh!!! I just couldn't stand it. The priest was talking as if he was a gay stand-up comedian, cracking jokes, teasing the parishioners, asking couples to raise their hands, even pinpointing a pair and asking them to stand up and kiss on the lips. And they did, in front of hundreds of spectators.

He kept using vulgar language to air his homily and keep the parishioners awake and listening. His sermon has some direction, and to a slight degree, has its objective of preaching the Gospel. He kept "spoofing" the majority of parishioners, who, as we've all noticed, are just passively listening or daydreaming during the mass. Whenever responses are called for, this priest kept asking the listeners to respond louder and louder. Naturally, his homily extended for minutes, and he hit those who kept looking on to their watches. "Yung mga tingin ng tingin ng oras, sige lang! Tingnan nyo lang, at lalo kong hahabaan ang homily na ito!", he shouted.

One joke he cracked was this:


Misis: Father, papabinyagan ko po yung tuta ko.

Priest: Naku po misis, di po namin pinabibinyagan ang mga hayop. Pwede pong ipa-bless na lang.

Misis: Ay ganun po ba? Sige, dun na lang ako sa ibang relihiyon magpapabinyag ng tuta.

Priest: Ok.

Misis: Eh father, magkano po kaya ang ibibigay kong contribution sa simbahang iyon?

Priest: Kayo po ang bahala. Voluntary lang naman dapat yun.

Misis: Ok na po ba ang P300,000.00?

Priest: Kayo talaga misis! Eh bakit di niyo agad sinabing Katoliko ang tuta niyo?!


Then there was laughter among parishioners. The priest did not explain whether it was a good or bad joke. Nor did he tell any lesson of the story. And just went on and on, telling stupid stories, cracking foolish jokes, teasing a couple of parishioners... anything goes, just like what happens inside a comedy bar featuring Allan K. or any other gay comedian.

We all ended up, yeah, listening intently, but absorbing nothing sensible.

I know there is a lack of Catholic priests nowadays, and that is why the Church is considering to allow married men to become priests. But this one is simply unacceptable. I have nothing against gays or gay priests, but please, Fr. Allan K., please naman, behave!

Election Fever

By now, many of us may have a short list of candidates to vote for come May 14. I also do have one, but just like most of us, we simply cannot complete the 12 slots for the senate. There seem to be a lack of qualified aspirants, and an excess in ambitious nonsense assholes.

I will now roll out my short list of candidates who will probably win, but I will NOT vote for:

Ping
Ralph
Chiz
Sonia
Loren

Now these are the ones who I will vote for:

Joker
Ed
Gregorio
Kiko
Noy
Nikki
Alan

So now my list is complete! I now have 12 names! Stupid me. Or better yet, stupid Philippine politics.

Boto Mo, iPatrol Mo! Taka-taka-takatakatak!!!

ABS-CBN is asking each responsible citizen to go out and vote on May 14, bringing along video cams or cellphones to capture images in case any sort of cheating comes along the way. Great initiative, paving the way for viewer-driven contents for its news programs.

But what is this I heard that the government will be prohibiting the use of cellphones in polling precincts? They said that vote buying is now high-tech. Instead of using carbon papers, vote buyers will require potential sellers to capture images of their actual ballot, indicating the names of candidates who they should write, and the payout given only after presentation of the captured image. Hmm... sounds logical, but definitely not a solid reason to prohibit the use of cellphones on election day.

This prohibition may be government's answer to ABS-CBN's innovative Boto Mo, iPatrol Mo campaign, in order to stop all concerned citizens who may want to report irregularities during the elections. Tsk, tsk, tsk.... too bad, too desparate. Administration candidates are, of course, trailing behind because of rampant cheating associated with the president's win over the king of Philippine movies in 2004, and here they are again, exercising their right to stay in power.

I just hope that whether or not we are allowed to be equipped with gadgets for safeguarding our votes, we still write down the names of candidates who really deserve the positions and will take the challenge of managing the country with unconditional service and integrity. Cheating will still remain, but I guess, with our collaborative efforts to junk ruthless and undeserving candidates, their unfair practices may not be enough to garner the votes they need. Remember when Erap was voted president? Supporters of the runner-up actually padded a lot of votes for Big Ears, but because of the overwhelming votes that poured in from the masa, no amount of cheating was able to change the rankings of the 1998 presidential polls.