Marcus Can Blog

 Once again, I’m somewhat overwhelmed with what have been going on around me. To start with, our little boy seems to be getting more active and restless each and every day – which may either be a good (entertaining) or bad (frustrating) thing depending on how unpredictable he can get. With regards to school, time flies so fast that I’m now actually approaching the last few weeks of my 3^rd term, and as early as now I can already feel the hectic schedule brought about by the next subjects I’m yet to get enrolled to. And although the holiday feeling is now in the air and gets me more excited everytime I hear people, especially on TV, countdown the days before Christmas, anticipating it however doesn’t do any help to avoid getting stressed; for one, it will be the first Christmas vacation when I will be celebrating as a bum. The last time I had such careless, or what I’d call “studently” for the lack of a better word, feeling was way back in college – which was more than 15 years ago. Imagine that.

Also worth noting is that as weird as it may appear to be, but politics plays a part, bigger this time than before, on the way I’ve been thinking and acting lately. Just like most people nowadays, my excitement for what might happen when the elections campaign period starts by the end of November (incidentally, it happens to be my birthday) and how it will eventually end come May 2010 is keeping my adrenalins up and my brains working and thinking. In fact, my eagerness to learn and share my unsolicited advices keeps me hooked most of the time to the Twitter world where recent talks about politics made every concerned Filipino tweeps (celebrities included) fidgety as the nation’s political scene gets hotter and hotter by the minute. For today I saw a couple of interesting links from tweeps I follow. Check http://sinongmasokey.org (by @gangbadoy) and http://bagongmedia.blogspot.com/ (by @jonasdiego).

Interestingly, while most of us are still reeling from the eventful 10 months that have passed us by, and some even wish if they can already call it a year and start a new one, let’s ready ourselves for the last two-month stretch before 2009 ends. Yes, let’s accept that fact that while our children know that Christmas and Santa Claus is just around the corner, us adults on the other hand had to deal with the dirty world of politics and the grinches (better known as politicians) it brings along with it as they all lurk behind every one of us smiling yet ready for the kill. So as we all live, unfortunately, in the hustle and bustle of both the holiday and political season, let’s just enjoy whatever might come our way. And however we define the word busy, one thing is certain – it will just get busier and busier in the next few days to come. Merry Christmas and Happy Election Year to all. Oooppsss. Got carried away.

Mood: 2/10 Honks! (at least the financial indicator looks better.)

My sleepy mind is now getting radical. Here are some lines I just thought about while preparing myself into to slumberdom:

1. If drug products can have it, why not end a political infoad with “No approved therapeutic claims” as well? Makes sense, right?

2. It’s high time we start every political TV shows with, “Voter discretion is advised.”

3. “Vote moderately.” Whatever.

4. If a candidate shamelessly decides to make a movie out of himself, then including these lines in the ending credit might just be appropriate: “Any resemblance to a saint, prophet, or a divine being is purely coincidental and most likely were just due to the intent of the character to be depicted as such.”

5. Surgeon general warning: “Voting, if unwisely, is dangerous to your health.”

These are all for now. Can you think of more?

Mood: 4/10 Honks! (sleepy, sleepy, sleepy)

Fellow Filipinos, a few more days left before the deadline of voter’s registration - October 31, 2009,  and we need to act fast. May 2010 election is fast approaching as well and the last thing we want to do is pass up on the opportunity to make each vote counted. It is in May 2010 that we get to choose who will lead our nation for the next 6 years. Remember, May 2010 is a make-or-break for us Filipinos so let’s do every effort to participate - start it by being registered and end it by being an informed voter.

Photo credit: Twitpic

Mood: 3/10 Honks! (will attend Watchpad Live! tomorrow)

A couple of nights ago, despite the piled up school assignments, I was tempted to design a logo which I will post here on my blog until next year’s election is over. Like most people (I assume), the recent development in the political arena is quite something that should be of concern to us Filipinos.

Once again, we see a circus of events and a mix of personality that seems to make a mockery of our intellects or whatever is left out of it. Politicians are now more active than ever with a few more months before the May 2010 event. Unfotunately, their sudden activity doesn’t translate to any benefit to the majority but on the contrary, large sums of money, likely from the taxpayers, are once again circulating to benefit these self-serving individuals.

This logo with the Filipino phrase, Boboto Ka ba? (Are you voting?) is a sign of both my frustration with the political development and my commitment to vote wisely. And by posting it on my blog site, I hope to help instill informed decision-making and critical thinking. With this logo, I encourage everyone to…

…not get suckered into believing that those mingling with the poor are immediately for the poor.

…not get emotional and get carried away into picking one because he is related to someone we adored so much.

…not blindly follow someone because he said was called by god to lead his people.

…not get jiggy with political campaign jingles (or songs) because most likely it’s there to sugarcoat our tamang akala.

…not believe when they say that the info ads were paid by friends (and if it were, these friends will likely get a favor in return).

Let’s take a look what they really can offer and if they can get that offer done in the end. Let’s be properly informed and then let’s decide who gets to take our country’s top seat.

Remember that after 2010, there will be another 6 more years. Let’s rub off the thought that we can just go back to EDSA again, hold hands, say a prayer, sing another mushy song, wear yellow or whatever color is IN and kick (figuratively or literally) whoever is in power and then do it all over again. Being an informed voter isn’t easy but at least let’s try our best to be one. O ano, BOBOto KA nga ba? Sana oo.

Mood: 5/10 Honks! (hope he’ll decide against it.)