Is it really 'more fun' in the Philippines?

A young European couple who recently visited the Philippines to find out just how “fun” it can be here went for a vacation in Boracay. From there they flew back to Manila for an overnight stay in a hotel, then took a cab to the airport to catch their flight to Hong Kong for a connecting flight back to Europe.

When they got to NAIA, the young couple waited for the cab driver to open the trunk and bring down their luggage, but were astounded when the taxi driver sped away, taking everything they had including the “souvenirs” of their visit. The poor tourists were just too stunned to even take down the plate number, and since they were rushing to catch their flight to Hong Kong, did not have the time to report the incident and just asked their Filipino friend to notify the authorities. But by then it was too late. The couple was so downhearted, leaving the country with nothing but their passports and hand carry luggage.

We’ve heard dozens of horror stories about abrasive and arrogant taxi drivers who engage in “contract fares” or bully passengers into giving big tips, but the experience of the European couple is simply the worst and not “fun” at all. Could this be an isolated case? So is it really more fun in the Philippines?

Senate family firms

As the October deadline for the filing of candidacies for the 2013 election draws near, rumors are starting to go around about possible candidates for the senatorial race. One of them is Senator Bong Revilla’s wife and Cavite Representative Lani Mercado-Revilla who is reportedly being drafted to run under the LP slate. Rumors are also circling that Senator Bong Marcos’ sister, Ilocos Norte governor Imee Marcos, is said to be also eyeing a Senate seat. Then there’s Senator Jinggoy’s half-brother, San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito who is included in the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) ticket along with Jackie Enrile, son of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

With Allan Peter and Pia Cayetano staying on as incumbents, it certainly looks like the composition of the Senate could sound pretty much like the name of law firms in the country – with Cayetano & Cayetano, Ejercito & Ejercito, Marcos & Marcos, Revilla & Revilla and Enrile & Enrile (although JPE’s term ends in 2013 and will not be joining his son – should the latter win – in the 16th Congress).

Time’s up

Hopefully, a decision would have been made by the Supreme Court on the petition involving the Comelec’s decision to purchase the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines of Smartmatic as of this writing. Interestingly, no less than President Noy has indicated his belief in the credibility of the May 2010 automated elections – a sentiment shared by many of the winners who said they would not have won decisively had the elections been conducted using the old mano-mano system.

Whichever way you look at it, the SC has to make a final decision regarding the Comelec’s option to purchase the 80,000 PCOS machines for P1.8 billion – which is well within the poll body’s meager P7.9-billion budget, a large chunk of which (approximately P6.2 billion) – could go into leasing new machines through public bidding, leaving very little to cover costs for logistics, personnel, services and other election-related expenses.

The deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacies is barely four months away and before you know it, the May 2013 elections is upon us – which will make the poll body even more pressed for time. We guarantee it will be a mess if we go back to the old system of voting with results that people will not believe – especially with the continuing controversy involving Migz Zubiri and Koko Pimentel over the results of the 2007 senatorial, mano-mano style elections. 

No question about it – time’s up! 

Smart way to a smile

The Philippines is said to be a “land of smiles,” but for many children born with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities, there isn’t really much reason to smile since more often than not, they can be subject to ridicule and derision. And because the condition is not life threatening, not much attention is given to the plight of these children. Fortunately, a number of companies are supporting Operation Smile, an international medical charity that provides corrective facial surgery to children from poor families.

The organization started 30 years ago when an American couple, Bill and Kathy Magee, conducted a medical mission in Naga City. The number of children they had to turn away prompted the Magees to come back for another mission and thus, Operation Smile (International) was born – bringing smiles to thousands of children all over the world and transforming their lives in the process.

At the recent launch of the organization’s 30th anniversary “Journey Home” project, leading wireless provider SMART Communications reiterated its support for the medical charity and revealed its technological contribution to the organization via the OpSmile Mobile. This is a java-based mobile application that helps organize registration and record keeping of patients with cleft conditions.

With the java app, on-site volunteers can take photos of patients with their mobile phones and send the pictures along with patient information, which are then uploaded to a central web-based database for easy access by specialists and surgeons all over the world. That means information is sent faster, plus logistical and transportation expenses are cut because specialists/medical staff do not have to fly or travel to take an initial look at a patient’s condition. That’s what you call the “Smart way to a Smile.”

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