The next Philippine national elections may still be a little over a year away from today but the various personalities believed to be among the “2010 senatoriables” and “2010 presidentiables” have started to make their presence felt here in Mindanao.
Just a few days ago, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay paid Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao a visit. He was the guest of honor in an SK-related event, I think. However, sources told me that he also proceeded to the Province of Bukidnon to meet some political allies.
Care to guess what they discussed?
Senator Mar Roxas, on the other hand, has also been visible around Mindanao as of late. Touted as the Liberal Party’s presidential bet, Senator Mar has been doing the rounds here as commencement exercises speaker.
Same thing with the solon from Sorsogon, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero. He was in Iligan City, Davao City, Ozamis City, Cagayan de Oro City and Maguindanao recently. Chiz’s office also released some video greetings wherein he spoke in various dialects including Bisaya.
Check out his Kaamulan 2009 greeting for the people of Bukidnon (this video also appears in Bukidnon Online):
The Office of Senator Richard Gordon, meanwhile, has also been on a roll as of late. I’ve been receiving a ton of press releases/media statements from his office.
Another Mindanaoan believed to have very good chances of winning a Senatorial seat has also slowly but surely started to become more and more visible — Atty. Adel Tamano.
With these types of direct and “subtle” PR efforts, you can’t help but wonder if the campaign season has already begun. When does being a public servant end and being a “presidentiable” or “senatoriable” begin?
And more importantly — given all their visits and PR campaigns here in Mindanao — do you think they’ve tickled the Mindanaoan’s fancy?
Kasadya Ni-ining Takna-a and Ani-a Kami are two of my most favorite Visayan Christmas carols. These songs bring back so many childhood memories – from my father cradling me on his lap to the glee clubs which want to raise money for their groups by singing Christmas carols around our subdivision to the children who bring their homemade musical instruments. I bet all Mindanaoans, Visayans and even Luzonians love these songs!
Just in case you’re also in the mood to sing Christmas carols, here are the lyrics of Kasadya Niining Takna and Ania Kami:
KASADYA NIINING TAKNA-A
Kasadya niining taknaa
Dapit sa kahimayaan,
Mao ra’y among nakita
Ang panagway nga masanagon.
Bulahan ug bulahan
Ang tagbalay nga gi-awitan,
Awit nga halandumon
Sa tanang Pasko, magmalipayon.
Bag-ong tuig, bag-ong kinabuhi,
Duyog sa atong mga pagbati
Atong awiton ug atong laylayon
Aron magmalipayon.
ANI-A KAMI
Ani-a kami
‘Ning gabii sa among panaygon,
Hinaut pa
Nga kaninyo dili makatugaw;
Pasko karon,
Panahon, panahon sa kalipay,
Kay natawo na
Ang Manunubos sa kalibutan.
Sa alas dose ang takna,
May natawo sa pasungan;
Ginatagna ug gipatu-ohan
Manunubos sa kalibuta
Don’t you just love these Bisaya Christmas carols?
What about you? Which carols do you like?
All right, call me crazy but wouldn’t it be fun if we had a Visayan version of the popular social networking website Facebook? After all, there’s now a Facebook Tagalog version (I’m not kidding! I was completely stunned, too, when I found the question “Ano ginagawa mo ngayon?” in there!). Even Friendster (arguably still the most popular social networking website among Pinoys) has its own Tagalog version. So why not Facebook Bisaya or Facebook Visayan? (Or as my friend Budoy of Junior Kilat and Celebrity Pinoy Big Brother fame would term it — “Pisbuk”)
Wouldn’t it be awesome and totally fun if we found something like “Unsay imong gabuhaton karon, dong/dai?” or if the Pokes were called “dutdut?” Knowing how fond of the LOLs we Bisdaks are, we’ll have a field day! The mere thought makes me chuckle.

Like










Mindanaoans who will run for national positions come May 2010
December 20, 2009
Advocacy, BIMP-EAGA, Bisaya, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Commentary, Controversial, Davao City, Features, Government, Headline, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Mindanao, Mindanaoan Artists, Mindanaoan Update, News, Opinion, Personalities, Politics, Society, agusan del norte, agusan del sur, armm
1 comment
Did you know that several Mindanaoans will gun for national political positions come May 2010? If you’re the type of person who wants to support fellow children of Mindanao in the next presidential elections, then you may want to check out the list below.
Among the vice presidentiables, two are Mindanaoans. Bangon Pilipinas’ vice presidential candidate Perfecto Yasay, Jr. is from Davao City. Jay Sonza, the vice presidential candidate of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan party, is also from Davao. All of Sonza’s children are fellow Ateneo de Davao University alumni.
As for the senatorial candidates, on the other hand, Mindanaoan has identified 10.
First is Nacionalista Party’s bet lawyer Adel A. Tamano of Lanao del Sur. He’s the first Filipino Muslim scholar graduate of Harvard Law School, the first Filipino Muslim commencement speaker of Harvard University and the President of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Atty. Adel Tamano is the son of the late Senator Mamintal Tamano. He was one of our valued speakers during the recently concluded Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3.
Second is Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana, the daughter of Senator Aquilino Pimentel and sister of former senatorial candidate Atty. Koko Pimentel. She’s running under the PDP-Laban party and serves as her father’s chief of staff. Miss Gana will apparently use her Pimentel maiden name during the campaign.
Third is incumbent Agusan del Sur congressman Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza. Rep. Plaza was also one of our valued speakers during the MBS 3. Recognized as the author of the landmark LPG Act, congressman Plaza comes from a large political clan in the Agusan area.
Fourth Mindanaoan senatoriable is Silvestre Bello III of Davao City. My fellow Dabawenyo will run under the LAKAS CMD KAMPI party. He was a former Justice secretary.
Continue reading →