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Observing local elections, it appears candidates for congressional districts and local posts don’t bother to carry party platform and ticket. In Manila for example, Sen. Alfredo Lim, Ali Atienza and Danny Lacuna don’t identify themselves with any party. They realize perhaps that their personal character and performance, not their party affiliation, will give them the vote.

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The Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) is planning a worldwide campaign to invite OFWs and foreign investors to invest in the Philippines. PTA general manager Robert Dean Barbers said that a World Caravan 2007 is scheduled to kick-off in the middle of this year. To be targeted are e selected cities in the United States, Canada and possibly Japan, Dubai, Italy and England. Barbers is confident that World Caravan 2007 will attract foreign tourists and Filipinos abroad and potential investors into purchasing some PTA properties. Several local broadcasting networks and telecommunication companies have been invited to participate as media partners in the endeavor.

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We were shocked that in Valenzuela City, four sons of businessman William Gatchalian, known as "plastics king," are running for the most powerful political positions in that city. But I was even more shocked when I learned that two sons of President Arroyo are running for congressmen. It seems that political dynasties are here to stay. With the First Family leading the way?

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Former President Fidel V. Ramos noted the recent diplomatic iniatives being carried in a global scale by the two leaders of China – President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao. "With all the Asian countries aiming for enduring peace and sustainable development, it is now the time, more than ever before, to exert our maximum collective effort to put the Philippine state in order. For our country to be still perceived as the ‘laggard’ in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of good governance as determined by various measurements – the corruption index, the human rights records, the incidence of poverty, resources conservation and environmental protection, health and life expectancy, basic education and functional literacy, etc. – is unfair to our hard-working and law-abiding people."

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Ramos was re-elected chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) for a three-year term. He was originally elected chairman of BFA in 2001 for a five-year term. The BFA provides its members and other interested parties with materials and documents significant to economic, security, social, cultural, environmental and other issues. President Arroyo was the keynote speaker at the 5th anniversary of BFA which was attended by some 1,800 members and guests from 28 countries last April 21.

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How does the Comelec place under its control provinces, cities and municipalities? The day-to-day functions of the civilian authorities will continue without any intrusion by the poll body. The Comelec will only intervene in the enforcement of security. There should be a closer link between the Comelec and the local governments.

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Email from Mario B. Garcia (Mario.garcia@pccpi.com.ph): "Nakakawalang pag-asa ang nangyayari sa atin ngayong eleksyon, kahit saan ka pumunta nagkalat ang bayaran ng mga kandidato - mapa La Union, Pangasinan, mga kandidato sa pagka kongresista, konsehal, mayor ay walang pasubali at lantarang pagbabayad sa mga mamamayan kapalit ng mga boto. Sa totoo lang marami ang kumakagat sa sistemang ito dala na rin ng kahirapan, kagaya ng mga kapitbahay namin na lubhang kapos at wala namang mahanap na pagkakakitaan ay sabi nga nila "sayang din pambili ng bigas.

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"Kaya gusto sana nila ay araw araw eleksyon. Nag bubulag-bulagan at nagbibingi-bingihan ang Comelec pero kung tutuusin ay kayang hulihin ang ganitong ginagawa nila. Hindi na matatapos ang paghihirap natin dahil hangga’t nakikinabang ang mga kongresista sa kanilang CDF at Pork Barrel ay sila mismo ang magsusulong ng ganitong sitwasyon. Kung talagang nais nilang magsilbi sa bayan gumawa sila ng paraan gawing centralize ang CDF at pork barrel."

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Some 40,000 day-care centers participated last April 28 in a nationwide breast-feeding program sponsored by the Children for Breast Feeding. Also an active partner in the breast feeding program was the Nurturers of the Earth. Last year the group made the Guinness Book of Records after it gathered 3,541 mothers who simultaneously breast-fed their children in Manila. The organizers of national breast-feeding program are looking forward to establish a new Guinness record in breast-feeding in answer to the aggressive media campaign of multi-national companies manufacturing and promoting breast milk substitute.

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I disagree with the views of some prominent writers and educators against Executive Order No. 210 issued by PGMA requiring among other things, the use of English as the medium instruction in the public schools. I do not agree with their stand that the use of English caused the deterioration of the education system in the country, and put the poorer students at a disadvantage, and that it adversely affected the students’ ability to learn English as well as alienated them from their cultural heritage. I hope these proponents of the move to recall EO 210 realize that the Philippines has entered the global scene where the English language is universal. Look at those TV shows and public gatherings where young Filipino children are asked questions in English and they can hardly answer even in Taglish.