Erap Leads SWS Latest Presidential Survey

Former President Joseph 'Erap' Estrada is back in the game.

After his ouster from office in 2001 due to allegations of plunder and corruption (see history here), the Filipino people must have forgotten the sins at all, and may have forgiven Erap, as he is now on top of the presidential surveys conducted by the Social Weather Station last June 2009.

Erap Estrada, who gathered about 21% of the approval ratings, is closely followed by Senator Manny Villar (19%), Senator Chiz Escudero (18%), and Vice President Noli De Castro (15%).

However, the Erap Camp must still have to wait for the final decision on whether he is still eligible to run on 2010.

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Meanwhile, as Former President Estrada continues to increase his popularity, President Gloria Arroyo finds herself at the center of yet another series of controversies on her alleged dinner overspending in New York alongside her state visit with President Barack Obama in Washington.

OBAMAstruck

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's wish has finally come true. She is now in the US and have actually met US President Barack Obama.



Meanwhile, Senator Lito Lapid has self-confessed that he had personally asked President GMA to take him along for the meeting with President Obama at the White House.


“I hope I’d be lucky enough to be chosen among the five that would be allowed to accompany the President when she meets Obama"


“Kahit makunan lang ng litrato (Even just for a photograph),”







Senator Lapid's wish, however, did not come true, as the President has already named her official delegation which includes Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Speaker Prospero Nograles, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy Gaa and staffers Patricia Paez and Mei Ann Austria.

Catch Me If You Can

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Chance of a Lifetime

President Arroyo made a sudden side trip from Bahrain to Washington last Feb 5, 2009, to attend the United States National Prayer Breakfast (and possibly to get the chance to finally, finally, finally meet US President Barack Obama).

But the chance never happened.

Neal Cruz, in his Inquirer column, describes Arroyo's move to seemingly chase Obama as Pathetic.


Must have been better if Arroyo attends a local prayer meeting together with Cory, Erap, Ramos, Villanueva, Velarde, Rosales, De Venecia, Roxas, Lozada, Lacson, Mike Arroyo, Tindero, Jocjoc, Villar, etc.

Wouldn't that be a sight?

(But of course, not to mention, to disallow Sec Dureza to lead the prayer).



To conclude, Neal Cruz states,

"Don’t pretend to be what you are not. Accept what you are but try to be better."


Amen.

Obama's Inaugural Address

US President Barrack Obama
Inaugural Address
January 20, 2009
Washington


Excerpts:

• On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

• The time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

• Greatness is never a given. It must be earned.

• The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works -- whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.

• To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history.

• For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

• This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.



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The Complete Text: here.