Secrets that I Can Share Now -- Vote Wisely on May 10

Let's let it out right away. There is going to be the Philippine national elections in May 10 and I have PERSONALLY known some of these "politicians". Nah, the ones I know aren't "evil", so if you think I am up to campaign for someone and call another something like the "anti-Christ", you can skip this blog and NOT waste your time.

Leading in the presidential survey is Noynoy Aquino. Have I met him?

Yes, in fact he's my "kumpare" and was my former neighbor. This was years ago when we were living at the same street (Times Street). Naturally he was young but he was extremely decent. I wrote a book then about his father who was assassinated and he helped me and wrote the preface (I should probably scan that and later place it on one of my blogs). He used to smoke Benson and Hedges and when I would visit him, he was generous about my bumming a cig from him then. He was such a "closed" Catholic then so when I got pregnant (by my boyfriend then) , I invited him to be the godfather "kumpare" of my baby. I forgot the baptismal date and he had to send his bodyguards to TELL me to hurry and GET to the Church fast -- if I recall, the Church was Sta.Rita Church at West Avenue, also near Times Street. The NICEST thing this guy has done is that for the first three years -- even during his mother's presidency -- he would remember Christmas. He also was my friend even if I was working then for Juan Ponce Enrile, who as (at that time) their "enemy". He knew I had to make a living by working in the Senate and we never became "enemies" because of that. Of course we met again in Congress years later and that's another story. Noynoy Aquino is a good person. Oh another thing, he's a conservative but I hope he allows more AIDs/Condom/reproductive rights for women -- AIDs is something a President SHOULD deal with. I also hope he isn't controlled by MERALCO or the Lopezes incidentally. Noynoy is a lovable honest and is a man of empathy. He probably will be one of the youngest presidents in the world.

Bayani Fernando is someone I met when he was Marikina mayor. I was then with another Senator when he started his Marikina River project. I forgot the occasion BUT I never liked him because there we were (with the Senator keen on the environment) eating lunch on the "stage" and when a 4 year old boy attempted to get a Coke, he actually showed a little child displeasure. It was the senator who got the Coke for the kid, which meant that the senator was a better person.

Richard Gordon is good. I was there when Mt Pinatubo erupted and i SAW what he did. This is one guy who can be completely selfless even in danger. I mean, if there is someone capable of caring (and there was no elections then), this is the guy.

Manny Villar (next in the surveys) is an extremely generous person even while he was just in Congress. I needed help to go abroad then and it took me only one letter of request for him to make sure that I get my ticket. Another nice thing is that I bought a house and decided after paying it that I didn't want it anymore -- I wrote him and he returned my deposit right away. (Of course, it could have been NICER if he gave me the house then.. lol!.. but how many real estate owners would return YOUR deposit?Yes he's a caring person.

Juan Ponce Enrile is running for senator. Notice that I haven't asked anyone to VOTE for anyone yet? Now, this is one guy I recommend that everyone vote for and I am not too hot on text messaging. Having covered the defense department then (yep, along with Bing Formento and the gang) , I discovered that this is one of the most decent men in the Philippines. Later, I worked for him when I was young (OK.. so have a clue.. who I really am?) and was always everywhere he was as his back-up PR. He is a lot more intelligent than most US politicians and he was some kind of a "teacher" who was extremely attractive in a blue suit. He wanted "his people"  HAPPY (that campaign ad says it all REALLY) and he's an incredibly patient man (I was young and tempestuous ). He is a great teacher and you should hear the story of his life! Was also with him in jail (both at the NBI then Camp Karingal) where he was acquitted by the Supreme Court. He would lecture about books, philosophy and history while we were eating lunch (at PECABAR..in his law office). One word he represents -- DECENCY. Despite his age, he always has had " a beautiful mind. " I recall his library and he would lend books for us to read. I remember that I thought he was weird because in a "tight" senatorial campaign he even campaigned for his friend Jovito Salonga who belonged to another party. I mean,how good can a person be?

Joseph Estrada for president again? There are so many things I can say about him. He did give me a birthday party once (when I was broke) in his own Alcalde Restaurant. When my grandmother passed away, he sent me a square "thingy" filled with flowers and the presidential seal. My grandmother died June 18 -- he wasn't President then yet because it should have been June 30 -- but he did it anyway. In fact, I had two presidential bouquets during the wake of my grandmother. One was from Fidel V Ramos, whom I think is the BEST president the Philippines ever had.(You can disagree) Anyway, Erap isn't perfect but he isn't what he was "painted" to be either. In fact, he was courageous when fighting these nutty extremist terrorists. Erap was a media victim much as he was also a media "creation" much like Gloria whom everyone adored. Because I genuinely like Noynoy Aquino, I PRAY and HOPE this NEVER happens to him. Erap is an example of how public opinion can be manipulated.. and it is so fickle.

Toots Ople for Senator.. well he had a great father. I personally knew his father and he was sweet, thoughtful and unlike most politicians, he was straight-shooter with a big heart.

Meriam Santiago for Senator? Why NOT? Met her when she was in the Cory cabinet. Had a 30 minute interview with her at the Department of Agrarian Reform. The supposed 30 minute became something like a 2 hour chat and she always had a "beautiful" mind (and legs). I recall we talked about FM radio then and she gave me her picture calling me "the apothecary of sex appeal" (I was young then! ) She always had the wit and the cute wry humor. Actually, when she ran for president in 1996 (was that it?),I voted for her. If I were a guy, she would be the kind of woman I would marry.

Guia Gomez who is running for mayor of San Juan City. Oh we went a LONG way... we were stranded inside a municipal building surrounded by Erap supporters and there were "threats" that they would burn the building down. I was inside and she was wit Erap then. The only reason I didn't leave (I could have) was that she was pleasant and pretty and I was rather pissed OFF that after a peaceful revolution we HAD to have such violence. I knew that as long as some people knew I was inside with them, they MAY not harm us. A brilliant lady? YES. Talk to her about HISTORY and you'll realize who made a "president" . It was her.

OK, that's IT. I know these people FIRST HAND. Please make the right choice. Choose good instead of "bad". Clear enough? This is a hub.. maybe I shall do a bit more on my blog.