Gordon's Campaign Style

At the start of the campaign period, presidential aspirant Richard Gordon made one thing clear: "I sing but I don't dance."

One month after, the Bagumbayan standard bearer seemed to have reconsidered his statement. Who would have thought that it would only take two popular Filipino Youtube celebrities—Moymoy Palaboy and Roadfill—to change his mind?

In a lip-synched video released on Moymoy’s Youtube site, the 60-year-old senator made a surprise appearance as he danced and sang to the tune of “In the Jungle"—showing the public a glimpse into one side of him that most people never got to see earlier.

Uploaded three days ago, the two-minute video instantly became viral, reaching as much as 50,173 views as of Wednesday evening. Its 500 comments—which were a mixture of praises and disappointment—revealed that most of the viewers wanted to see the soft side of the senator, who is better known for his tough staccato style of talking.

One Youtube user, Kidkilatis, exclaimed: "Panalo (Winner)! It really shows his carefree side. 'Yun yata ang hindi kilala ng nakararaming mga Pilipino (That’s probably what most Filipinos don’t see)."

“This is soo cool," said snakeymcviper040794. “The senator, who is a no-nonsense worker, who's usually very serious, deserves this kind of break! It’s refreshing to see his lighter side,.."

Some disagree, however. Like another Youtube user, notnot0128, who says: "A bit corny, but kudos for the effort, Gordon."

On the campaign trail

Popularly known for being curt and straightforward, Gordon has long been perceived as a strict, no-nonsense leader. When attending presidential forums, he often comes across as a disciplinarian who makes sure that everyone is attentive to his speech. He is quick to react to a noisy audience.

In a campus forum in Zambales on March 19, for example, the Bagumbayan presidential bet was distracted thrice by high school girls who were busy chatting and giggling as he lay down his platforms.

He told them: "Miss, if you are having a conversation there, tatahimik muna ako para marinig ko pinag-uusapan niyo diyan (I will keep quiet for now so I can hear what you are talking about)."

But not all students take him sitting down. In Cagayan City two weeks ago, the tough senator had to take a dose of his own pill. (See: Students grill Gordon in Cagayan Colleges Technology forum) http://www.gmanews.tv/story/185941/students-grill-gordon-in-cagayan-colleges-technology-forum

Not a few students—Gordon’s preferred target audience—have left the forum impressed with his clear-cut platforms and straight-shooting talk. On the other hand, what disappointed many of them was the senator’s tardiness.

Watch out for the sequel

Meanwhile, Momoy’s manager, Mitch Razonete, said her talents came up with the video because they found Gordon as the “most impressive" presidential aspirant.
Moymoy and Roadfill, now talent artists of GMA Network, are known for their comic and lip-synched videos uploaded on YouTube.

Aware of the senator’s tough image, the comic duo thought of ways to “show [Gordon’s] other side," said Razonete.

At first feeling intimidated, Razonete said her jitters subsided when she saw Gordon all jolly and up for the show. “After a while he’ll make you feel relaxed," she said, adding that they were impressed at how the senator quickly adapted to her talents’ gimmick. Dspite his age, she said, they not have a hard time briefing him on what do.

Everything was “impromptu," Razonete said, with the video shoot taking only three minutes using Moymoy’s cellphone. Their satisfaction, perhaps, was encapsulated in the video’s caption which read: “Havin[g] fun time! We didn’t know Senator Gordon would be this cool!"

One thing is for sure, said Razonete. Her comic duo will “definitely come up with a sequel" to further feature Gordon and his running mate Fernando.

David Mikael Taclino
Inyu Web Development and Design
Creative Writer

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Google and Yahoo Cries foul on Australian Internet Filter

Internet giants Google and Yahoo have criticized Australia's proposal for a mandatory Internet filter calling it a heavy-handed measure that could restrict access to legal information.
Their statements were among 174 submissions to the Department of Communications related to the filtering policy.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, who made the submissions public Tuesday, has explained the filter would block access to sites that include child pornography, sexual violence and detailed instruction in crime.
Adopting a mandatory screening system would make Australia one of the strictest Internet regulators among the world's democracies, and the proposal has put the country on the Reporters Without Borders annual "Enemies of the Internet" list.
"Our primary concern is that the scope of content to be filtered is too wide," Google wrote in its submission, also suggesting the filter would slow browsing speeds.
The company said it already had its own filter to block child pornography.
"Some limits, like child pornography, are obvious. No Australian wants that to be available—and we agree," the Google submission said. "But moving to a mandatory ISP level filtering regime with a scope that goes well beyond such material is heavy-handed and can raise genuine questions about restrictions on access to information."
Lucinda Barlow of Google Australia said Wednesday that Australia's proposal went beyond filters used in Germany and Canada, which block child pornography and, in Italy, gambling sites.
"This enters the gray realms of restricted classification, seeking to ban politically and socially controversial material," Barlow told Australian Broadcasting Corp.
Yahoo's submission struck a similar note, saying the filter would block many sites that contain controversial information—such as euthanasia discussion forums, safe injection information, or gay and lesbian forums that discuss sexual experiences.
"There is enormous value in this content being available to encourage debate and inform opinion," Yahoo's submission said.
The filter would not block peer-to-peer file sharing nor prevent predators approaching children in chat programs or social-networking sites, and both Google and Yahoo backed a national campaign to educate parents and children about safe use of the Internet.
Other submissions came from Australian telecommunication companies, lobby groups and many individuals.
Conroy said his department would consider the submissions before sending the final proposal to Parliament later this year.
"A range of views have been expressed in the submissions and I would like to thank everyone who contributed their comments and valuable ideas to the public consultation process," Conroy said in a statement. "(We will) examine whether the ideas can be used to enhance the proposed accountability and transparency measures."

David Mikael Taclino
Inyu Web Development and Design
Creative Writer

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Legarda on Roxas

How about a basic classroom lesson on climate change after an acrimonious debate Sunday night?
Vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda told reporters here that she was willing to “educate” her rival, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, on climate change issues, after the latter apparently belittled her environmental advocacy during the ABS-CBN “Harapan” vice presidential debate.
Legarda quipped that Roxas might have been taking a snack or could have left the Senate session hall early, during the countless times she delivered privilege speeches on the warming planet.
“Climate change is not just an election issue. My advocacy for climate change started in 1998. It is a timeless, universal issue,” she said Tuesday during a press conference.
Two million trees
“I am willing to teach him about the needs of the farmers and fisherfolk. I am willing to give him copies of my speeches on climate change in the United Nations and the Senate. I am willing to sit down and teach him, so that he could understand that El Niño is connected to hunger,” said Legarda, chair of the Senate committees on agriculture, and on health.
She claims to have planted over two million trees under her Green Philippines’ campaign for which she was recognized by the UN in 2001. She is also the UN Asia Pacific regional champion for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
At Sunday’s debate held at La Consolacion College in Manila, Roxas had questioned Legarda’s priorities in making the environment her campaign advocacy, noting that the Philippines accounted for less than 1 percent of the Carbon dioxide (CO2) emission that is chiefly blamed for global warming.
Legarda had said that climate change was a gut issue, as the Philippines was one of 10 countries considered most vulnerable to disasters related to climate change.
Directly affects people
The El Niño-caused drought that damaged crops and the floods that killed many people during Storms “Ondoy” and “Pepeng,” showed that climate change was an issue that directly affected the people, she had said.
“This shows the ignorance and elitist nature of other people who don’t understand climate change, protecting the environment, banning cutting down of forests, rehabilitation of irrigation facilities, and preparedness for coming disasters to lessen tragedies caused by the changing climate,” Legarda said.
She called on her closest VP rival to go down to the grassroots and ask farmers, fishermen and ordinary folk about the effects of last year’s cyclones Ondoy and Pepeng and this year’s El Niño.
“To ignore climate change is to neglect the poor,” said Legarda.

David Mikael Taclino
Inyu Web Development and Design
Creative Writer

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Pinoy Director Honored

Filipino filmmaker Adolfo Alix Jr. has been listed by The Hollywood Reporter (THR) among 20 young entertainment personalities dubbed “Next Generation Asia 2010.”
Alix told the Inquirer that Tommaso Campione, executive international director of THR, informed him of his inclusion on the list, which includes Hong Kong actor Daniel Wu (of “Bishonen”), Thai filmmaker Chookiat Sakveerakul (“The Love of Siam”) and Korean actress Kim Ok-vin (“Thirst”).
All the honorees were profiled in the March 12 international edition of the London-based paper.
Alix said he would attend the formal reception on March 23 in former Crown Colony, during the Hong Kong International Film Festival.
Best and brightest
According to THR, the honorees, “all age 35 and under … [are] the best and the brightest among their peers” from a vast region considered “the world’s biggest entertainment market.”
Alix, the lone Filipino in the list, said the honor was “a pleasant surprise.”
“I’m thankful and glad they chose someone from the Philippines. It’ll be an inspiration to do better,” the 31-year-old director told the Inquirer .
The Hollywood Reporter essay pointed out that Alix isn’t just one of the most promising, he is also one of the most prolific and hardest-working filmmakers in the current indie scene.
Right decision
Since his 2006 directorial debut, “Donsol,” he has megged about 13 feature films.
With the first quarter of the current year barely over, he has already finished three movies—“Romeo at Juliet” (which opened March 24), “Presa” and “D’Survivors.”
Jean Altavas, writer and producer of “Romeo at Juliet,” was “excited” when she learned of Alix’s THR honor.
“I knew I made the right decision, entrusting my story to him,” Altavas explained. “He understood what I was trying to express with the story. Plus, he continuously collaborates with the cast and crew.”
Lead star Alessandra de Rossi agreed. “He listens to my inputs. We go a long way back. We got close during the shoot of ‘Mga Munting Tinig’ which he co-wrote (in 2002).” De Rossi also said she and Alix grew up together.

David Mikael Taclino
Inyu Web Development and Design
Creative Writer

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PBA UPDATE

Coca-Cola coach Bo Perasol figured out Sammy Monroe pretty quickly, and the Tigers made Barako Coffee play like the whipping team of old.
Throwing a suffocating defensive blanket on Monroe, the Tigers led from start to finish in a 97-74 victory Wednesday night that sent the Coffee Masters crashing back to earth in the Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
James Penny was the imposing presence on both ends for the Tigers, finishing with 27 points, 13 rebounds and missing a triple double by just three assists as he outplayed the sleepy-eyed Monroe.
The Barako Coffee import, the big difference in his team’s 97-93 decision of Sta. Lucia Realty last Sunday, was challenged up high by the Coca-Cola defense, and by a double team every time he went beyond the free throw line.
He finished with just three free throws in the first half and 25 for the game.
“I challenged James (Penny) and told him that everyone was not talking about him (but of Monroe),” Perasol later said. “But he proved (tonight) that he is one of the best (imports here).”
Monroe, who debuted with 39 points and 11 rebounds in 39 minutes, highlighted his 22 points in the second half with a triple at the halfway mark of the third that shoved the Coffee Masters to within four.
But Penny took over again, even beating the third quarter horn with a triple of his own which made it 65-53.
“Our defense was planned on minimizing Monroe. We got him out of his rhythm in the first half,” Perasol explained.
In the second game, San Miguel Beer opened up its title defense on a bright note, holding off Air21, 92-87.
The scores:
First Game
COCA-COLA 97—Penny 27, David 17, Taulava 11, Gonzales 9, Lanete 6, Rizada 6, Espino 6, Macapagal 5, Bono 4, Allera 3, Cruz 2, Ross 1, Rodriguez 0.
BARAKO COFFEE 74—Monroe 25, Alonzo 10, Vergara 6, Aljamal 6, Dimaunahan 6, Wainwright 6, Najorda 5, Menor 4, Duncil 4, Reyes 2, Gaco 0, Faundo 0, Hubalde 0.
Quarters: 20-12, 42-27, 65-53, 97-74
Second Game
SAN MIGUEL 92—Freeman 23, Washington 19, Cabagnot 13, Pena 12, Pennisi 9, Santos 4, Hontiveros 4, Yeo 3, Miranda 3, Villanueva 2, Ildefonso 0.
AIR21 87—Young 23, Buenafe 13, Belga 12, Matias 9, Ritualo 8, Kramer 4, Sharma 4, Alvarez 4, Gonzales 4, Williams 3, Cortez 3, Billones 0, Yee 0.
Quarters: 21-20, 44-39, 70-62, 92-87

David Mikael Taclino
Inyu Web Development and Design
Creative Writer

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