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I THINK that since the election is now over save for the counting we can now do a post-election evaluation. Maybe candidates can learn a thing or two from this. I did not vote for Pichay because he apparently spent so much for his political ads. This worried me. Where will he get the money to recoup his "investments"? Also, there were so many ads that I feel it backfired. I got fed up hearing him promise that he dreams of fulfilling my dreams. But it seems the only way for him to do that is that I must first fulfill his dream of becoming a senator. I did not vote for Sonia Roco because of her "para silang autistic" remark aired over national TV. That's a very callous statement. She claimed in her apology that she was not poking fun at children with special needs. But the fact that she used the word autistic had hurt me. By the way, autistic is not the politically correct term. It's "children with autism." Because we have to see the child beyond his or her autism. I did not vote for Alan Peter Cayetano. Every time I hear him, he always attacks. What will he do in the Senate? Attack some more? He got suspended in the last Congress for his false accusations against the First Gentleman. My dear lawmaker, "tsismis" (or gossip) should have no room in a lawmaker's mind. Leave that to showbiz gossip writers. You cannot make laws based on "tsismis." Verify your facts first. Gather evidence before calling for an investigation. That way you will save us taxpayers our time and money. Cayetano came across as a witch hunter, not a fiscalizer that he tried to package himself. Plus, I cannot stomach his arguments against the political dynasty issue thrown at him. He claimed that, before he ran, he challenged PGMA that if she will not allow her sons to run for Congress, he will also not run as senator. That's baloney! If he really thinks that political dynasty is wrong, he should not run. Period. This political dynasty issue is also the reason why I did not vote for Koko Pimentel and Vic Magsaysay. They already have relatives sitting in the Senate. Can't they wait for their relatives to step down before running for the senate? I did not vote for Loren Legarda for she came off to me as someone out to be in power no matter what's the price. Whenever I see her, I see ambition written all over her face. She cried when the envelope was not opened in the Estrada impeachment trial. But during the campaign, I saw her all smiles while Erap is raising her hand. Where's her convictions? Were they for convenience or expediency? I did not vote for Antonio Trillanes not only for the Oakwood mutiny but also he came across as arrogant. First, he claimed it would be a slap for PGMA if he wins while campaigning behind bars. But then he applied for bail. It appeared to me that it was all for media sound bites. Well, some of these candidates may have won in this election. I just hope my perceptions are wrong. But I think I will not regret dumping them. It's my vote. It's my choice.

I AM supposed to be deep in my review for something. But instead, I find myself glued to the tube for the latest election results. And, on the road, my radio is on the AM band. I've never felt so damn involved with any elections and to think I've been voting for so long. I voted 8 from GO, 2 independents and 2 from TU. And hey, only 3 three my candidates didn't make it to the top 12 -- well, as of this moment. Roco seems to be stuck at 15. Zubiri has been making big strides from the late teens and is now actually 13th. But boohoo to Kiram, it would probably take a miracle to get him closer even to 12. I voted for him because I wanted Muslims to have a representation in the Senate; unfortunately my vote fell in the minority. I read somewhere that Escudero got into the coveted slot because he is a deadringer for Bamboo. Well, if he were, he'd probably be Bamboo after a plastic surgery gone awry. Don't get me wrong. I am a fan of Chiz but my point is... I don't like him because of his similarities with Bamboo (hello!). I like Chiz because of his brains. Probably also because he is so articulate. I like guys with spunk and who kick ass. In his case, not just an ordinary ass but the president's no less. I mean, he led the impeachment trials, right? I bet he would try again once he gets installed in the Senate. Way to go. I am not a fan of Cayetano. I haven't forgotten the BW scandal which involved his dad (may he rest in peace). But, I find his plight to nail PGMA admirable. A greenhorn practically raring to slam himself into a concrete wall (figuratively and literally!) And that thing with the other Peter Cayetano. Just plain hilarious! Later.

AS I was listing my choices for the coming senatorial and local elections, I felt a sense of hopelessness. There are only two people on my list:

• a very old man who should have retired but felt that no one can fill in his shoes yet; and
• someone who dared not to be proclaimed by presidents he previously asked to resign (nevertheless, if he is not married to a megastar he would not have that "principle."

All the rest were… enough to make me feel that I should start joining the queue to Canada, Australia, New Zealand or wherever. Among "senatoriables" there are turncoats on all sides, people with no principles, no platforms, and no political parties.

• We have bright young lawyers who talk too much but work too little (if they did their homework, they could have impeached GMA)…
• We have returning political veterans who never achieved anything substantial other than spark EDSA Dos by blocking the opening of the second envelope…
• We have children and relatives of heroes… but we all have heroes' blood in all of us…
• We have millionaires who swindled banks, depositors and house buyers to accumulate wealth (sipag at tyaga… at maraming pagbalimbing)…
• We have populists… they do not understand a single word they are harking (ever thought about the consequences of abolishing VAT or not paying our national debt)…
• We have local government officials who came from provinces that are not known for their progress or unparalleled development…
• We have political neophytes with no clear understanding of the legislative process…
• We have glorious men in uniform whose greatness was shot down because of women in their lives (one was asked by his mother to stop a mutiny, the other was caught in his female friend's house)…
• We have action stars who brawl on national TV and it is not part of a movie or a show…
• We have a dumb bar topnotcher who disgraces two universities with his un-common sense

(From INQUIRER podcast interview: OK, since I'm a lawyer, and I know the basic structure of our government. I'm running for senator, that's the legislative branch. The case of Estrada belongs to the judicial branch, and there is a wall of separation between the two branches. Then, well as an aspiring senator I should not comment cases pending before courts. I will let the justices of the Sandiganbayan... objectively and impartially decide the case of president Joseph Estrada. But since, on a personal note, since Erap is my wedding sponsor, ninong ko, I wish him all the best, and my wish is for him to be acquitted.)

WHO is running for senator? Noynoy [Benigno Aquino III] or Ninoy [Benigno Aquino Jr.]? Can he (Noynoy) not run and campaign for senator with his own merits? Kahit pa anong sinabi ni Ninoy sa iyo, kung isa man sa mga ito ay wala sa iyo, wala ka pa rin! Bakit hindi ka na lang mag-kandidato sa sariling kayod mo? Kailangan mo pang sumandal sa mga ginawa ng ama mo? Wala ka bang sarili? Ang laki-laki mo na nagpapatulong ka pa sa tatay mo. -- Bernie Bituin, Edmond, Alberto, Canada (via e-mail)

WITH just two weeks to go before the election, the campaign is nearing the homestretch and we're getting bombarded with one promise after another by the candidates? Do you plan to vote on May 14? If not, why won't you be casting your vote?

THE REPORTED feud between Team Unity members Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson and Michael Defensor seems to be heating up after Singson said several Ilocano associations would not include Defensor on their sample ballots. Here's an excerpt from the Philippine Daily Inquirer article:

VIGAN, Ilocos Sur -- Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson, a candidate for senator in the administration's Team Unity, said Saturday a group of Ilocano associations will not be including another TU candidate, Michael Defensor, on sample ballots that it will be distributing.

Singson and Defensor are reportedly feuding because Defensor had allegedly suggested that Singson give up his TU slot in favor of indicted coup plotter Gregorio Honasan, an independent senatorial candidate, because the governor was doing poorly in the pre-election surveys. Singson said the Confederation of Ilocano Associations (CIA), which boasts 2.3 million members nationwide, would drop Defensor's name from their sample ballot.

So, what do you think will be the outcome of this "feud"? Will they kiss and make up in time?

WE lament the position of candidates [Joker] Arroyo, [John] Osmeña and [Tessie] Oreta against the completion of CARP [Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program]. Apparently, except for Osmeña and Oreta who are consistent anti-CARP advocates, Mr. Arroyo is either misinformed or has not appreciated the facts well. CARP is a social justice program which has a significant impact on the political, social and economic inequalities pervading in the countryside. It aims to break the rural poverty trap, the political exclusions of rural folks, and the skewed agrarian relations that exploit rather than protect poor and hapless tenants, farmers and farmworkers. Ironically, it is a revolutionary measure that breathes in a democratic environment. And while it started as a centerpiece program of the government, its budgetary and enforcement support can, at best, be described as palliative. CARP is not just land reform. It includes the whole package of support services that would ensure land productivity and fair economic development of farmer-beneficiaries. Government should give serious attention to land development and economic development needs of agrarian reform beneficiaries, as they face new challenges in the rural development arena after they are finally awarded the land they till. This certainly needs resources that only the government can provide or guarantee. It is poverty and the lack of support services that prompted farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries to encumber or sell their lands. Do we really think we can effectively address the century-old problem of poverty and injustice (which caused the social unrest in the countryside) with a 20-year agrarian reform program that enjoys token support from the government -- from Congress? Amidst these odds, CARP has distributed more than three million hectares of agricultural lands to more than 1.3 million farmer-beneficiaries. But for lack of funds they are geographically consolidated in what is called today as the Agrarian Reform Community. The purpose is to optimize use of meager resources for post-harvest facilities, technology transfer, social infrastructure building, production enhancement programs and market development, among others. While this strategy works, it has a very limited reach in terms of number of beneficiaries actually benefitting. It only served about 30 percent of the total number of farmers that equally deserve much needed support services. It is sad and frustrating to know that there are members of Congress who fail to see the gains of CARP. Had they been sincere in promoting and protecting the interest and welfare of our farmers, farmworkers and agrarian reform beneficiaries, they would have observed and appreciated positive developments in the agrarian front. And they would have shared and heeded, as civil society and farmer-stakeholders do, the call by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines for the completion of CARP by 2008. And that if completion is not feasible by then, it must be further extended and funded more seriously and generously. If there's one good thing that this incident has produced, it is the opportunity to know, finally, the position of Joker Arroyo on CARP. Now, we know why we cannot vote for him. -- Mark Amor, Davao City (via e-mail)

HERE'S a video of Ex-Navy Lieutenant Antonio Trillanes IV saying he would support moves to impeach President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo if he is elected to the Senate. Video taken by INQUIRER.net reporter Joel Guinto, who conducted the interview inside Trillanes' detention cell on April 23.

SIMPLENG tao, simpleng explanation. We understand him well because he means what he says. He's not the typical politician na will promise you tapos wala siyang ginagawa, pero magaling magsalita at galing daw sa "Harvard." Magaling silang lahat mambola o may asawa na artista, o artista din sila, larga na. Vicente P. Magsaysay, good luck ho sa inyo. Mabuhay! -- Edward Bautista, Vancouver, Canada (via e-mail)

THERE is no sincerity in [Sonia] Roco's apology. She said that she would work for the cause of autism if elected. Supposing she is not elected, does she still have a commitment to the cause of autism? In other words, Roco's apology is conditional. A sincere apology knows no condition. She is making a mockery of Raul's name. -- Angel P. Ramos, Quezon City (via e-mail)