Dog and Owner

What could a dog and a man have in common, aside from being each other’s best friend? I read about a research that dogs and their owners share the same personalities. The research was done online among 2,500 dog owners who were asked about their characters and those of their dogs. The researcher found out that the owners and their dogs share the same traits such as happiness, intelligence, independence and sense of humor.

When we choose a breed of dog we want to raise, we basically choose the one which has a similarity to our own qualities. As natural to human beings, we are inclined to be with people (or in this case with animals) to whom we can relate ourselves to. This is why people who have happy dispositions may also have happy and enthusiastic dogs.

This is probably why Ronnie Puno (my ideal VP) is also sharing some traits with his newly bought Labrador. He got the dog during his visit in the US for his youngest daughter’s wedding. His chocolate-colored Labrador, called Magnus Fortis, is a very rare dog because of its color. If the research about the resembling traits of dogs and their owners is true, then Ronnie Puno and his Labrador are indeed sharing the same personality.

Labrador is a favorite breed of dogs especially among families because a Labrador has good traits such as being loyal, intelligent, lively, and well-trained. On being loyal, Puno has already served Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, and Gloria Arroyo as presidents productively. He has remained loyal even if these three presidents are not actually in good terms with each other. By loyalty, it means that Puno has been loyal to one president at a time and has been faithful to the administration. Like a Labrador, Ronnie Puno is also intelligent as evidenced by being the best political strategist in the country. He was the man behind Fidel Ramos’ success in 1992, Joseph Estrada’s in 1998, and Gloria Arroyo’s in 2004 as being their campaign manager.

Loyalty and intelligence are just some of the traits that Ronnie Puno share with Labradors. These traits are major assets and help to the next president in 2010 and to his/her administration.
It’s amazing because even in choosing dogs, Ronnie Puno is politically correct. He even chose the one which is sort of like him in most ways. :)

Theories and Theorists

It is funny how from one presumption to another can create a big misapprehension. But it’s funnier when none of these presumptions is right. Speculations have been made while Secretary Ronnie Puno of DILG took a two-week leave from office to attend her daughter’s wedding. Theorists have assumed a lot of reasons why Sec. Puno was away for that period as President Arroyo appointed Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane as OIC-secretary of the DILG.

Several groups made their own theories about the reason why Sec. Ebdane was appointed as the OIC-Secretary for DILG. One group claimed that Sec. Puno has already lost the trust and confidence as one of Pres. Arroyo’s advisers. Another group has assumed that Sec. Puno is already completely out of DILG. They also presumed that the appointment of Sec. Ebdane was the start of the future take-over of AFP and PNP positions in Pres. Arroyo’s political faction.

But all of these speculations were confirmed untrue when Sec. Puno appeared on TV last Thursday after announcing the end of his two-week leave. Sec. Puno went on to business as soon as his leave ended when he went to Ozamiz City and met up with the local officials to discuss matter of peace and order. Sec. Puno has also proven that he is really back as the secretary of DILG when he announced several meetings with other politicians and political groups. He planned to meet Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa to discuss the clear out of all kidnap for ransom groups in Mindanao. He also planned to meet Sulu’s Governor Sakur Tan to discuss how to exterminate Abu Sayaf threat in the said province.

Sec. Puno has also asserted that the remaining months of the DILG before the 2010 election should be used in implementing programs such as the reorganization or revitalization of regional, provincial, city and municipal peace and order councils; the gun amnesty program ahead of the 2010 elections; and the distribution of equipment to the PNP and the Bureaus of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and of Fire Protection (BFP).

On the appointment of Sec. Ebdane as the OIC-Secretary for DILG while Sec. Puno was on leave, Puno said that he has no objection on it. Pres. Arroyo actually asked for Puno’s advice regarding Ebdane’s appointment. Puno said that he and Ebdane have the same “kindred spirits” when it comes to peace and order matters and national security. He also said that Ebdane is his “closest” in Pres. Arroyo’s cabinet and that Ebdane was chosen because of his background as a former PNP chief, which is a great advantage during national security jeopardy.

Political Awareness

Earlier today, I got to talk to a friend who’s a commissioner of our school’s COMELEC. Oh my, I never thought I would talk seriously about politics with her. We went on from the controversial Charter Change to the arising candidates for the 2010 election. I told her about how I have blogged about my being a first time voter this coming election and that I already have my little list of political names. I just told her about every little thing I know about politics and vice versa. It was actually educational, at some point, to hear opinions of other people about matter-of-fact stuffs.

I learned that I and my friend have the same bet for the vice president spot. I even blogged about it few weeks ago that I’m already rooting for Secretary Ronnie Puno as the next vice president. Surprisingly, I and my friend share the same bet (although she isn’t allowed to tell her bets as a commissioner, I forced her to). Being the politically-aware person that she is, she kept feeding me information about Sec. Puno that I probably read somewhere but have forgotten. So I’m going to keep talking politics here for the next few paragraphs. Haha!

I’ve learned recently that (as mentioned to my previous blog) there are some politicians, like Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Senator Miguel Zubiri, who have already spoken out their positive reception of Sec. Puno’s candidacy. My friend told me that there are few more politicians who have assenting statements about Sec. Puno’s announcement of his interest on the vice president slot.

Sen. Richard Gordon, one of the aspiring presidents for 2010, said that Puno would be “very much qualified” for the position. Although he still has no future political plans, he said that he would not think twice to team up with Sec. Puno if he decides to run for presidency. My friend told me that one of the things that really makes Sec. Puno ideal as a vice president is his expertise over the years not only as a secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government but also as a political campaigner and advocate.

Sen. Mar Roxas, also an aspiring president, is also very optimistic about Puno’s candidacy as he is considering Puno to be his vice president. Sec. Gabriel Claudio, presidential adviser on political affairs, has also approved of Puno as a vice president candidate. Sec. Claudio said that Puno’s political expertise would still play an important role for the administration party this coming election.

This was how basically a one-sitting conversation with that friend would go. I think I’ve gained few political skills and increased my political understanding from that conversation. I’m determined now to vote for the worthy and the qualified. And I’m just convinced more than ever to vote wisely because of this growing political awareness in me. Yeah!

The Ideal VP

I’m extremely excited to vote for the incoming May 2010 Election. It’s because I’m a first time voter. Not only because I get to experience the whole election process but also because I’m eager to take part in one of the country’s most important events. I’m already keen to become a responsible citizen of our country. Aside from that, I can’t wait to know new (and maybe old) candidates for the position of presidency and vice-presidency. I know choosing would really be a hard thing to do especially in our country where politics is just unreliable.

Now I’m thinking who, among the surfacing names of possible candidates, the worthy is. I can’t wait to vote for someone I know who deserves to be in the president and vice president positions (the two major positions to fill). I have already a bet though for one aspiring vice president. I know it’s too early to decide on but I learned on the news about one politician who announced his interest in candidacy for the position of vice president. So I made my own research about this politician and learned things about him. He’s the first person I learned who would seek for the nomination of his political party, Lakas-Kampi-CMD, to choose him as the party’s official candidate for the vice president position. He is Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government. Secretary Puno is also the current co-vice chairman of the merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD party.

Positive remarks from other politicians are made after Secretary Puno announced his interest in running for the vice president position. Senator Jinggoy Estrada was one of those who commented upon Puno’s announcement of interest in candidacy. Sen. Estrada said that Puno is a “formidable candidate for vice president” while Senator Miguel Zubiri noted that Puno is a big asset to the administration with whoever the president is.

So who is Secretary Puno as a public servant and political asset? Secretary Ronnie Puno is one of those skilled political strategists who excelled in political campaigns like of those with Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada and Gloria Arroyo. His excellence also reflected on his long years of work in DILG since 1974. He is also appointed as the minister-counselor of the Embassy of the Philippines in Washington DC in 1982. He also worked as a consultant to various competent companies such as Black, Manafort, and Stone & Kelly firm, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company and the Micron Public Affairs Co.

One of Puno’s political ideas to change is the mentality of other politician about the whole election experience. Other politician thinks either he/she wins or there’s a discrepancy in the votes if he/she doesn’t win. Puno stated that he wants to change this kind of mentality of politicians and that he would decently accept if he loses on the election.

Secretary Ronnie Puno is not only deserving to become the next vice president because of his good employment background but also because of his renowned skills as a political strategist and crisis manager, his efforts in assembling the Philippine National Police (PNP) in attaining partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in maintaining peace and order in the country, his proficiency in local government progress, and support of women and children protection.

Aside from Sec. Puno’s advocacy in maintaining peace and order in the country, one of his priorities in his political works is to reinforce and permit the Local Government Units (LGUs) in employing and creating funds for the development projects in particular provinces, cities or municipalities. He wants to strengthen the roles of the LGUs in the country’s decision-making and to take part on development programs and, peace and order projects. Sec. Puno is also eager to put up Women and Children Protection Desks (WCPDs) in all police stations across the country. Since his reappointment as the Secretary of DILG, 1,800 WCPD desks have been put in several police stations all over the country.

All of these and more are just few of what Sec. Puno has contributed to our country. Maybe if the Filipinos can give him a chance to be the next vice president, he can do more than these. With his skills and support for the country’s development, Sec. Puno would become the efficient leader we need. For me, with his advocacy and contribution to the benefit of our country, Sec. Puno would be the ideal candidate for vice presidency. Or who knows… maybe the ideal vice president for 2010 as well.

We can all choose to let our country progress as we like it to be but the starting point of this is to choose our leaders well. So heads up, people. I know this have been said a thousand times but it’s still profound to know that we should all… VOTE wisely.