Think about it
Obama hysteria
By Jun Velasco
SENATOR Barack Obama’s ascent to the US White House has kindled a ray of hope on the lives of millions tottering from near-despair around the world due principally to the global economic meltdown and related woes.
Even our friends here and abroad — in the US especially – manage to force a smile on account of the perceived fulfillment to the new president’s battlecry for change.
First in Obama’s agenda, undoubtedly, must be the economy, because it was that issue that dealt a fatal blow on the Republicans led by outgoing president George W. Bush and ex-future president John McCain.
Actually, it matters little to us in the Philippines on whoever would have won, but Obama’s victory carried a more positive impact because change is normally better than stagnation.
If the world had been good, the “change” battlecry would have been meaningless.
Even our friend, former Governor Oscar Orbos, inspired by Obama’s win, texted us more than once to seize the day and revive his call for change and reform in this country, with God’s blessing and guidance.
The tone of Oca’s message was optimistic, an upshot of the new mood in the US created by Obama’s victory.
Also from San Francisco, California, Nards Galvez called us twice to make a blow- by-low account of the McCain-Obama presidential race, announcing the latest on the election coverage. Thanks a million, Manong Nards, you were much better than CNN and Fox.
There was another call from the US – that of Alfred Dawana, who just recently left Dagupan a day before the election to cast his vote for John McCain. He had earlier warned that Obama had no performance ranged against his candidate. Up to now, Alfred hasn’t changed his mind about an extremely popular politician ending up in tragedy due to a racial angst, which America hasn’t completely shed off.
Let’s not forget what happened to John Kennedy, he said.
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Embattled Jocjoc Bolante used to be a close acquaintance when he was assisting Frank Alba and Vic Barrios set up the regional Dagupan office of Prudential Life Plan, Inc., after Alba’s group broke from Loyola.
Jocjoc, then, was a marketing guru, brilliant, clean-cut, articulate, warm and success-driven, when he would drive us home in the wee hours of the morning.
We sort of predicted the day he’d get into trouble because he was in a hurry to reach the top. Had he been made of sterner moral and ethical moorings, his life would have gone differently.
We hope he’d make a come-from-behind decision to save his family and, more importantly, his soul.
His hellish life should remind us of the Good Book’s admonition, “what would profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?”
(Readers may reach columnist at junmv@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/think-about-it/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)
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