an email that found its way to my inbox

[kampanaryo_spy]

Dear Fellow Filipino,

Good day to all of you! Before I begin my letter... just a
disclaimer, for people who know me they know that I love the
Philippines very much and I am not really one who rants and
complaints to high heavens about what is happening to our country and
does nothing about it, in fact, I feel that at my relatively young
age of 27, I have done much service to the Philippines by setting up
Pathways to Higher Education which has sent more than 500 poor but
deserving students to college and AHON Foundation which has already
built two public elementary school libraries that have benefitted
more than 3,500 students. Yet, after seeing how events in our nation
have transpired the past few weeks and talking with some friends, I
feel the urge to share with you my own thoughts and feelings.

Over the weekend, we saw the completion of two major political
alliances for this coming Senate Elections that has just began here
in the Philippines . Now we have two political forces with familiar
faces nonetheless on opposite sides of the fences. On one end, you
have Tito Sotto and Tessie Aquino-Oreta who were two major stalwarts
of the opposition and the FPJ Campaign in 2004 hobnobbing with the
woman (Pres. GMA) whom they claimed to have cheated FPJ in the last
Presidential Elections.On the other side of the fence, you see Manny
Villar, the former house speaker who was actually responsible for
impeaching Erap now part of the United Opposition who is led by no
less than... Erap himself. Now if you don't see anything wrong with
this picture then you must be one of the many Filipinos who have
accepted this very sad reality that there is indeed no permanent
ideals that our government leaders stand up for but rather they just
go where there self-interests can best be served. It is this kind of
politics why I no longer wonder why good people like Ramon Magsaysay
Awardee Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga City or outstanding Bulacan
Governor Josie Dela Cruz will find it hard or worse, never be elected
to national positions.

It is with these in mind that I'd like to share with you what are
events this coming May elections that will make me consider leaving
the Philippines :

1.) If former COMELEC Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano of Hello Garci
fame wins in his bid to become Congressman of Bukidnon...seeking to
replace a good man no less in incumbent Cong. Neric Acosta... We
would really be the laughing stock of the whole world if we allow a
man with the reputation of Garci to be one of our so called
"Honorable Gentlemen".

2.) If Dancing Queen Tessie Aquino Oreta reclaims her seat at the
Senate... I hope that all of us would still remember that dance that
she did during the 2001 impeachment hearings after they voted to
overrule the decision of then Chief Justice Davide... let us make
sure that people like her never make it to the Senate again.

3.) If Richard Gomez becomes a senator... what does he know about
making laws? We already have the likes of Bong Revilla and Lito Lapid
in the Senate and their performance or lack of it would be reason
enough not to elect another actor who has no prior experience in
government to the distinguished halls of the Senate.

4.) If Gringo Honasan wins again.... have we not learned our lesson?
I cannot believe that just because someone is charismatic then we
will just elect him to become one of our senators despite the fact
that he has time and again caused so much instability in our
country... if we want a military junta similar to that of Thailand
... then lets all vote for this guy....

5.) If Manny Pacquiao becomes Congressman of General Santos City...
everybody loves Manny the Boxing Champ but Manny the Lawmaker? Lets
be realistic here, Manny is our Hero alright but I think it takes
more than just great boxing skills and a desire to serve to be able
to make appropriate laws that would help uplift the lives of the many
Filipinos who live in Poverty.

6.) If Lito Lapid wins for Mayor of Makati City... I don't like Jojo
Binay as well but Lito Lapid as city mayor of the country's finance
and business center?!?! And do you really think he is from Makati and
has good plans for the city? The Arroyos asking someone like him to
run just goes to show you how much love and concern this government
has for our country.

7.) If Chavit Singson becomes a Senator, Illegal Gambling = Chavit...
enough said.

Now if all of these 7 things happen during this coming elections then
don't be surprised if I decide to leave this country that I love
dearly. Like I said during the first part of my letter, I feel that I
have done much for this country but I think its time that Filipinos
become more vigilant and critical in selecting our leaders for the
sake of our future and the generations that will go beyond us. So I
appeal to every Filipino who asks what can I actually do for my
country... Choose and vote for the right people this coming
elections, huwag na tayong magpaloko sa mga kandidatong maganda lang
ang jingle o gwapo lang sa mga poster. Let us choose leaders who have
a good track record for service and who are genuinely committed
towards serving our country.

Manindigan naman tayong lahat para sa ating Kinabukasan at para sa
Kapakanan ng ating Bayan!

Thank you very much for your time in reading this letter.

Sincerely,

Harvey S. Keh
Email: harveykeh@gmail. com

KAILANGANG MABASA ITO NG 80 MILLIONG PILIPINO !!! IPASA NYO NG IPASA!!!

[kampanaryo_spy]

oh well, all i can say is: time again for the best DOG SHOW in town!

[Insomada]

Grief stricken I couldn't avoid to partake.

It was good reading the above post. It made me aware on the "what's" and "who's" of the forthcoming election. As to the "hows"- never mind …..what else is new with Philippine politics.

Such dilemma is not new to us at all. It is a perpetual happening and inherent phenomenon in our society that majority of people are allured to vote for candidates who have the money, good looks, those who are famous, etc. Majority of voters fail to take into account the candidates' ability to perform the job based on experience, good education, dedication and to add, fear in God. It's really a sad fact and I hope voters would be shrewd enough to decide who should be the right candidate for the position. Good luck voters.

[BONSAL]

you see Manny Villar, the former house speaker who was actually responsible for impeaching Erap now part of the United Opposition who is led by no less than... Erap himself.

Please allow me to correct the report. Senate President Manny Villar is an independent senatorial candidate. He is only a guest and adopted candidate of United Opposition. Let’s put into record that he nevered sought the endorsement of ERAP. ERAP being the de facto head of the opposition only endorsed 10 from their line-up excluding Villar and Pangilinan.

Another peculiar phenomenon this coming national election is that those personalities, who hardly and furiously fought for the abolition of the Senate, are now running for senator. Dili ko dakan e mention sin-o yadto na mga political figures. Weird di ba? Kawawang pinoy! I agree with you K-Spy, time again for the best DOG SHOW in town!

[Insomada]

ay, ay, gayod taraw inin imo pangampanya kan Villar. Taga diin sa ini siya Bon? Hala kay kon madayao ini na candidate ikampanya ko isab siya sa ako mga lumon ug amigo ngaton.

[BONSAL]

ay, ay, gayod taraw inin imo pangampanya kan Villar. Taga diin sa ini siya Bon? Hala kay kon madayao ini na candidate ikampanya ko isab siya sa ako mga lumon ug amigo ngaton.

Hehehe! Salamati daan Mana. Dako an kabubut-on ko nan ini na tao and I can vouch for the integrity of this person. He is truly an inspiration to the filipino masses. He was a poor boy from Tondo who work hard to achieve his dreams. Hard work, persistence, and perseverance are his guiding principles in life. This earned him the title “Mr. Sipag at Tiyaga.”

Visit http://www.mannyvillar.com.ph for more info about his profile.

[manday]

Ok it is given na may sipag at tiyaga si Mr. Villar galing sa mahirap at nan dyan na sya mayaman na sya maraming business and I know you are one of his trusted business executives but my question is Anong Sipag At tyaga na contribute nya as a remarkable contribution to our country during his term when he was elected as a senator,a tangible contribution that the great multitude of filipinos benefited and enjoyed, please enumerate those and I would gladly spread the news.

[Alibangbang]

Alright Manday. . . . Go Manday Go.....

[Alibangbang]

K-Spy,

Curious - wonder if this is the same Harvey S. Keh na bagan director nan Pathways to Higher Education Program sa Ateneo. Not sure, pero bagan isa sa gud ini sa mga successful nominees nan AIM-Mirant Leadership Fellows Program.

Mana C,
Check out Harvey's point # 7. Inka operahan kono nan abdominal aneurysm week before I arrived sa PI. (Snippet of conversations over dinner sa White Plains). Laong ko "uhmm lucky hindi sa aorta". Tubag sab nila "only the good die young!!!". twing! ! !

[kampanaryo_spy]

abb,

yesiree! He's the one! Pathway to Higher Education at the Ateneo de Manila Universisty is an organization that helps less fortunate students gain access to quality higher education in the Philippines.

Tina Arceo-Dumlao of the Philippine Daily Inquirer had a long piece yesterday on Mr. Keh entitled, "Young leader wanted to give up on RP but.... "

[Insomada]

Ok it is given na may sipag at tiyaga si Mr. Villar galing sa mahirap at nan dyan na sya mayaman na sya maraming business and I know you are one of his trusted business executives but my question is Anong Sipag At tyaga na contribute nya as a remarkable contribution to our country during his term when he was elected as a senator,a tangible contribution that the great multitude of filipinos benefited and enjoyed, please enumerate those and I would gladly spread the news.

Go go go go Manday. Good question!!!! ......Pero Manday yabasa ko an autobiography niya and I was impressed of what he has done for his constituents and in the country in general as far as his legislative performance is concerned. Abay namo nan bana ko domdomon kon yaabutan pa namo ini siya sa Manila and yes he was able to recall na madayao an iya ngan naadi during the time na bagan ini siya ni Ramos. Adoy taraw yangampanya na kay ako anhi malipay gayod si Bon.

[manday]

Abbs I think pathway sounds familiar with me because both of my two pamangkins Mira And Oyence were/are active with this org. I remember Mira when she was in her undergrad in Ateneo - she went into teaching in math as part of the org's mission to teach students nearby public schools and it so happen Lorenze her cousin was her student when he was still in high School at Marikina Science High School.Right now Lorenze (son of Elmer my brother) a full schoolar of Ateneo is very active in this org.


pasensya na malipay sa lamang kita sa mga bata because they are fortunate they have reached this kind of school.Si Lorenze I would say, is exceptional,he just passed all the scholarship offered by Ateneo to study abroad France, Austrialia,USA,JAPAN and others.The Scholarship offers only free tuition free but the rest shoulder by the student. Much that we would like to help him in this desire but finances is too tight nowadays, maybe next time.

Above, just want to say something about pathway.

[BONSAL]

Ok it is given na may sipag at tiyaga si Mr. Villar galing sa mahirap at nan dyan na sya mayaman na sya maraming business and I know you are one of his trusted business executives but my question is Anong Sipag At tyaga na contribute nya as a remarkable contribution to our country during his term when he was elected as a senator,a tangible contribution that the great multitude of filipinos benefited and enjoyed, please enumerate those and I would gladly spread the news.

As a senator, he authored 44 laws during the 12th Congress, among them are: RA 9178 Barangay Micro Business Enterprises Act, RA 9189 Overseas Absentee Voting Act, RA 9208 Anti-Trafficking of Persons Act, RA 9257 An Act Granting Additional Benefits and Privileges to Senior Citizens, and RA 9262 Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act. He has filed Bills aimed at providing business opportunities for the people and improving the Filipinos’ quality of life through basic health care, decent shelters, responsive social services, and high quality education.

Outside the Senate’s halls, Villar actively sponsors the Sipag at Tiyaga Caravan Kaalaman, a livelihood training program that provides skills and inspiration to people that will allow them to venture into their own businesses. The caravan travels all over the country conducting livelihood seminars that are consistently widely attended and appreciated.