MY ELECTION PICKS FOR 2004!

For President:

Will win: Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (K4)
Should win: Raul Roco (Alyansa ng Pag-asa)

For Vice-President:

I don't support any particular vice-presidential candidate. Noli de Castro (K4) was only senator for 3 years and he hasn't passed any useful legislation. At first, I was rooting for Sen. Loren Legarda-Leviste (KNP), until she backed the wrong horse and became FPJ's running mate instead of Roco's (why she didn't choose him is still a mystery), thereby betraying the anti-Erap cause as well as the spirit of EDSA II. Roco's eventual running mate, Herminio Aquino (AnP), has a good educational background & strong political experience, but he is not quite well-known outside his native Tarlac which leads to his lack of popularity. Therefore it is Aquino who should win as vice-president.

For Senators:

Will win: (in no particular order)

1. Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. (K4)
2. Manuel Roxas II (K4)
3. Miriam Defensor-Santiago (K4)
4. Jinggoy Estrada (KNP)
5. Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. (KNP)
6. John Osmena (K4)
7. Robert Barbers (K4)
8. Rodolfo Biazon (K4)
9. Robert Jaworski (K4)
10. Richard Gordon (K4)
11. Alfredo Lim (KNP)
12. Lito Lapid (K4)

Honorable mention: Juan Ponce Enrile (KNP), Ernesto Herrera (KNP), Pia Cayetano (K4), Jamby Madrigal (KNP), Orlando Mercado (K4)

Should win: (also in no particular order)

1. Roxas
2. Heherson Alvarez (Ind.)
3. Gordon
4. Pimentel
5. Lim
6. Barbers
7. Parouk Hussin (K4)
8. Biazon
9. Frank Chavez (AnP)
10. Perfecto Yasay, Jr. (AnP)
11. Bong Coo (AnP)
12. Mercado

Honorable mention: MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, had he run, he would have probably turned out swell (either as VP or senator)

For Party-List:

Since the elections in party-list is considered anybody's game and the voter is only entitled to choose only one from the crowded field, I support the ff.: Bayan Muna, Akbayan, Abanse! Pinay, Sanlakas, Partido ng Manggagawa, Migrante, Anakpawis, Gabriela Women's Party, Anak Mindanao, and Veterans Freedom Party.

Also, has anybody notice that elections in the Philippines are nowadays contested by "temporary" alliances instead of "stand-alone" political parties? I guess its time to revive the two-party system for now!