7-Elections: Drink to your candidates!

Ooohh! Summer's getting hot! And so is the Philippines as we swing into full election mode! Everybody's in it now from the office mate who can't help but forward you the latest hogwash about your candidate to the street sweeper who still has their old Gloria-adorned shirt when she tried to muscle her way in for a 2nd term last 2004. Yes, we're all into politics here in this country, and we can discuss them for hours and still feel productive--yes, even those who never vote anyway.

Don't even get me started on the surveys commissioned left and right. Yes, I've enough of a scientific mind to appreciate the concept, and maybe the use of these tools, but they're just that, tools. People flaunt surveys here like they were the elections itself. And why do we never see the study itself? What sort of questions were asked? Who were asked? Heck in all my years of hearing about these surveys, I've yet to be surveyed. I'm not sure I even know anyone who's been asked in a survey. And really, you can answer anything you want in a survey, but vote someone else entirely come election day. So forgive me if I don't give it much weight at all. In fact, I feel that surveys are pretty destructive in that it conditions peoples mind far more than it gauges it.

So I suppose I can be forgiven for feeling some trepidation when I heard that 7-Eleven is launching their own nationwide poll to see who people prefered to be president. What could they hope to achieve? I prematurely dismissed it as silly and stupid. Oh how wrong I was.

7-Eleven's 7-Elections isn't exactly a survey, at least not in the sense we're familiar with--and they're not trying to pass it off as such. What happens is really quite simple, you get to "vote" for your candidate by buying a 16oz. Gulp using a cup that bears the face of whoever it is you want.

Here we have Noynoy, Gibo and Villar sporting their campaign colors.

Here we have Dick and Erap rounding off the top 5 candidates who will have their own cup.

Don't be disheartened if your choice isn't one of those 5, because they also have cup that shows the faces of the other 5, Acosta, JC delos Reyes, Jamby, Nick Perlas and Brother Eddie Villaueva including your right to abstain or defer choosing for now.

Each candidate's cup has a unique barcode that allows each store to record your choice.

Sure it's not scientific, it's still a bit silly seeing as it won't affect the outcome of the elections at all, it's probably going to be skewed towards Class B-C markets inclination, it doesn't differentiate voting age or if the person participating is even registered. And yes, you can vote as many times as you want.

Here's the result of a trial run done at the press launch where the number of respondents were 55. Pretty interesting results huh?

So what's the point? Well, the way I see it, regardless of the validity of it's results, it creates awareness anyway. It's fun, the cups are cool and you know your vote is counted. 7-Eleven in it's 7-Elections website will allow you to track your vote via the receipt, and see if it was indeed counted, and they would even allow you to monitor the trends in different areas all over country wherever 7-Elevens are located. Interestingly, 7-Elections done in the US the last 3 presidential race actually mirrored the results! I'm not saying it will here, but at the very least it would an be interesting sport of sorts and it won't even cost you extra!

I know where I'm getting my drinks this summer.


Polls open on March 10 and ends on May 4, 2010. Go out and gulp now!

Healthy Heart Day 1: Nestea Fit Camp Hot 2010

Wow! I just had the most amazing Valentine weekend ever! Nah, no dates (that wasn't why I didn't blog for a month). And that's fine seeing as I've never been on a Valentine's Day date before, so nothing much to miss. So what did I do? I just spent these last couple of days doing heart healthy things! And seriously, it was so much fun!

Yesterday, I attended the Nestea Fit Camp Hot's press launch at the Bonifacio Open Field. Camp Hot is a 6-Saturday course composed of a series of sports clinics and fitness activities facilitated by the country’s top athletes and professionals. The objective is to encourage everyone to get into summer form by staying active, and of course drinking Nestea Fit with L-Carnitine.

Introducing the instructors most of whom were really good and really nice.

The Camp Hotties... 2 of them will eventually win the right to represent Nestle Fit.

We got a preview of what's going to happen in Camp Hot. Let me show you what those were. Let me start with what I was able to try:

1. Flag Football
It's essentially American Football without the body tackles, instead you remove the flag from the flagbelt of the ball carrier. This difference adds 2 unique facets to the game: one, you're less likely to get seriously injured (spinal cord injury anyone?); two, women can play the game as competetively as men can. And since no body tackling is involved, body bulk or strenght is probably not as important quickness and agility.

Just practicing catching at this point.

Easily my favorite among all I've tried. It's a fun way to get some exercise, it's competitive enough not to be boring, and women can play! I wasn't really good, but I'm seriously considering signing up for this.

2. Zips (more popularly known as Poi)
It's sort of like dancing done with you holding on to 2 balls suspended in what seemed like socks which you swing around your body somehow. It looked easy until I tried it. I couldn't get the hang of it, but it looks fun. Given more time, I'm sure I could learn the basics. Definitely worth a second look.

A lot harder than it looks.

3. Hiphop Aerobics
Aerobic dancing hiphop style. The beat is hip, the moves makes you look and feel cool, and the instructors were fun. What could be a better way to exercise?

Ok... so I'm not a good dancer.

4. Beach Basketball
Basketball except the court is circular and smaller, no backboard, and obviously played on the beach. I didn't really get to officially play this. Me and JC took some shots, that's it. It looks fun though, and has different set of challenges from the original game. If you're used to a backboard, then this takes a lot of getting used to, plus you can't really dribble.

Strange looking basketball game I know, but really fun to play!

5. Yoga
Well, it's yoga, lots of breathing and stretching. I'm not really flexible so I tried zip and hiphop aero instead, but if you're into it, then I hear it's a solid way to get fit.

Not my thing, but the instructor was hot! And really good so I hear.

There was also Outdoor Volleyball, Touch Rugby and Extreme Frisbee. You already know about Outdoor Volleyball I'm sure, they're pretty much staple on any beach sporting events. Touch Rugby is a passing and running sport, basically rugby without the tackling. Think of it as patintero with a ball. Extreme Frisbee is frisbee crossed with soccer. That's about all I can say about those 3 because I didn't really get to play them since I had to leave early.

I really enjoyed the whole thing and I look forward to joining them, the next 6 weeks. Between the fun activities, the exercise I got, and the hotties everywhere, this is easily the best Valentine's day celebration I've had so far.

Oh, and meeting the gorgeous Karylle Padilla was a definite plus... just wished I didn't look so grubby.

Go join! Just go to the Bonifacio Open Ground next Saturday at 730am. Registration fee is just P150 and you get the Nestea Fit tumbler to go with it (day rates is P50/ day). You might just get hot enough to make the summer season seem like 2 months of Valentines!

Here's the map:

Putting an expiry date on marriage?

Sounds absurd right? Yet this proposal has been made not abroad but here in the Philippines and by a women's rights group no less. At least they claim to be for women, though I'm not sure what sane woman would vote for a party list group with such an unstylish name as "1-Ako Babaeng Astig Aasenso (1-ABAA)". Now I imagine while it sounds absurd to me, some people actually agrees with this idea. So I tried to objectively examine its merits before I dismiss it for the publicity stunt that this obviously is (but do you really doubt that this is in fact a publicity stunt? Their name alone suggest that they prioritize being listed near the top of the Party List group listing more than having a good name.)

Let's examine the statements from Margie Tajon, the president of the group (taken from this article from the Philippine Star):

"By putting a prescription period on the marriage license, the couple will be spared from the legal process that is clogging our courts of law"

“A marriage license should be just like a passport or driver’s license. If we are not interested to renew it, then it expires”

“We are tough women, we will fight for our right to be free from the bondage of marriage”

These are rather silly statements, obviously made for their shock value more than their legislative merits. First of all, the marriage license has nothing to do with the marriage itself. It is a requirement for getting married sure, but not for maintaining it. It's not like a passport or a driver's license where you need to periodically show that you are eligible to leave port or drive a vehicle. You only need a marriage license to show that you are in fact properly informed entering it and are in some cases waived. And there is in fact a prescription period for that particular license, it is valid for 120 days upon approval to get married anywhere in the Philippines.

I suppose I'm being technical here, I'm sure she means the marriage contract itself rather than the license, and I suppose most people would understand her statement for what it is. But it sure is difficult to take seriously someone who can't get her terms right.

And what's with the tough woman talk? Free from the bondage of marriage? And who agreed to that marriage in the first place? And I imagine this might sound sexist, but aren't women generally the ones who insists on "the security" of marriage in the first place?

I give her this though, I think it makes sense to allow parties to leave a marriage that's clearly not working. I for one grew up in a broken home, and while I wanted my parents to stay together then, I can see how it really couldn't have worked for them. They were lucky enough to take advantage of a legal loophole and was able to get their marriage annulled (I'm not privy to the details, and I'm not sufficiently knowledgable with marriage laws to make a smart assumption as to which), but I can see how difficult it is for most couples whose marriage have failed and want out. Annulments are expensive and can take forever. And really, the whole idea of the marriage never being valid in the first place is a joke. Having said all this, I still don't think that this does the trick though.

Sure this eliminates the need to go through the expensive and lengthy legal process to terminate marriage, but how about the added costs to continue it? While there are many marriages getting annulled, most would want to stay married, why should their rights be compromised? And 10 years? Surely 10 years is too short for one who's committed to a real marriage--kids are just entering school age at this point and hard times are sure to come up. And 10 years is certainly too long to endure an abusive relationship. And what prevents the abusive partner from threathening the other party or their loved ones harm if they allow the marriage to lapse?

Divorce is obviously the better option. If we take morality out of the picture, it is easy to see why this is the logical alternative. Marriage regardless of your initial motivation, if entered willingly like any contract, can't be voided by mere disatisfaction unless otherwise stipulated under the said contract. You can mince words all you want, but annulment as it is currently practiced in the Philippines is divorce. So why not do it properly? Declaring the original marriage null is not doing it properly.

Obviously, an institution as important as marriage--essentially the building block of society--should not be entered into lightly, and should not be dissolved so easily. Hence a process should be in place to make sure that dissolving it is not made hastily. Proper counseling can be given, repercussions discussed, responsibility to their family properly aportioned, every reasonable steps to make sure that both are disolving their marriage willingly and sufficiently informed. I say reasonable, meaning only the bare necessities should be included, minimizing beaurocracy and thus the costs.

Does this mean I believe in divorce? Support it even? No. My Christian beliefs teaches me that marriage is a lifetime commitment. A burden one must bear when a burden it becomes. For that is what the vows of marriage entails. Yet believing this does not give me the right to impose those same beliefs to others. I think it was Isaac Asimov through his Foundation novel character Salvor Hardin who said, "Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right". And what's right here is not to insist my morals on others, much less the legal system.

I don't see myself ever suggesting divorce, I probably would convince them otherwise, but does this mean they should not be allowed to? In the end, my answer is no. We are ultimately responsible for ourselves. This is why the law requires a certain age to enter this type of contract. This old saying have become trite with use but has nonetheless remained true: "Ang pagaasawa ay di parang mainit na kanin na iluluwa kapag napaso¹." Yet just because I like my rice does not give me the right to insist that others enjoy theirs the same way.

¹Entering marriage is not like eating steaming rice where you can spit it out when you find it too hot.

Happy New Year!

Sure, New Year is merely a symbolic change. December 31 of 2009 and January 1 of 2010 isn't really all that different, but it sure feels like it, doesn't it? What makes new years useful? I imagine it's the thought that we get a mulligan of some sort. Call it the reset button if you wish. However much you messed up last year, this year might just be different. And it can be too! Though a mere symbolic reset won't do it. You have to reflect and introspect. See what went wrong last year. Was it procrastination that got you like it did me? Or did you try to do too much too soon? Whatever it is, the only way it can be managed is if you realize what the problem is and take the necessary step to remedy it.

This year, my only resolution is to do things better and to explore doing things differently. I think this phrase says it succinctly:

If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got, so if you want something you've never had, you've got to do something you've never done.

2010 looks like an adventure to me. Hope it is for all of you too! Happy new year and prepare for the roller coaster ride that 2010 promises to be! Hiyaa!!

The UST Grand Alumni Homecoming 2009

God of all nations

Merciful Lord of our restless being,
Sweep with your golden lilies;
This fountain of purest light;
Trace with the sails of the galleons
the dream beyond our seeing
Touch with the flames of your kindness
the gloom of our darkest night.
Keep us in beauty and truth and virtues
impassioned embrace
Ever your valiant legions
Imbued with unending grace.
Amen.

Did you sing just now?

Did the song made you reminisce the great times you had at the hallowed halls of our beloved alma mater?

Do you well up with pride at the thought of once again passing through the historic Arch of the Centuries?

If your answer was yes to 1 or all of these questions, then don't wait for the quadricentennial celebration on 2011! Join this year's Grand Alumni Homecoming (see details on the poster below)

Onward to 400!