Mong Palatino

Kapit ng mahigpit, babyahe tayo….

From Laoag airport, we travelled to San Juan, Ilocos Sur. I attended the flag ceremony and delivered an inspirational talk in a public high school. Then, we went to the Vigan campus of the University of Northern Philippines. I visited the provincial capitol first before proceeding towards Candon. I met the SK officials of Candon and nearby municipalities. I also attended a forum in UNP-Candon.

I arrived in San Fernando, La Union to meet the SK officials of the province. I also gave a lecture in St. Louie University. We went to a surfing site to swim. Two days before, I was in Cagayan State University.

I went to UP Baguio a week before the State of the Nation Address. Later, I met student leaders from various schools at Oh My Gulay resto.

I spoke at Tarlac State University, Gordon College in Olongapo, Bulacan State University, and Baliaug University. I went to the wrong St. Mary’s College in Meycauayan but fortunately, we made it in time for the closing of the forum.

I was invited to address the convention of youth leaders from the Iglesia Filipina Independiente at Maryhill School of Theology in Taytay. I participated in an Asian Youth Day workshop at Rogationist College in Silang, Cavite. I’m impressed with the Cavite campus of the Adventist University of the Philippines. A provincial assembly of Kabataan Partylist was held in Philippine Christian University – Dasmarinas. Southern Tagalog student council officers met at the University of the Philippines Los Banos. We tested the Comelec-Smartmatic voting machines at the Lyceum of the Philippines in Calamba. After attending an assembly of youth leaders, I bought a bag of kapeng barako in Lipa, Batangas. Campus journalists from the College Editors Guild invited me to speak in their Congress in Lucena.

I was at the Ateneo de Naga University last July. I visited the Legazpi campus of Bicol University twice this year. I was invited by UP Ibalon during their annual Padunungan event in Guinobatan, Albay. I joined new voters when they registered at the Comelec office in Sorsogon.

I visited three schools in Iloilo: West Visayas State University, West Visayas College of Science and Technology, and UP Iloilo. I explained our opposition to Con-Ass during a Sunday mass in an Iloilo City church. I was surprised to discover that the cityhall is located inside a Robinsons mall. I saw an abandoned Lopez Jaena shrine in the city.

West Negros University hosted a meeting of campus journalists in Negros. I saw the imposing but controversial Bacolod City Hall. I met the incumbent mayor who is Pacquaio’s lucky charm. Siya yung may hawak ng belt ni Pacquaio. I visited a “liberated” farm village in Bago City.

I was in Davao City not once, not twice, but thrice this year. I was finally able to set foot on Samal Island. Durian and Marang are my preferred pasalubong items from Davao. I was at the provincial capitol of North Cotabato. I sang during the flag ceremony in the provincial capitol of Misamis Occidental. Nakakahiya ang boses ko pero mas nakakahiya naman kung hindi rin ako kumanta kasi lahat ng bisita kumanta. Ang aking inawit: More than words. I went to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan too. Cagayan’s pastel is a favorite of my wife. I visited the ancient city of Butuan. The cost of a movie ticket in the city is only P40.

I gave a lecture on leadership at the Our Lady of Perpetual Succor College in Marikina and Polytechnic University of the Philippines Taguig. I presented the anti Con-Ass position in Rizal Technological University Pasig, Miriam College, Philippine Normal University, College of St. Benilde, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, St. Paul Manila, Adamson University, and University of the East. I discussed the role of the youth in the 2010 elections in Miriam High School, Philippine Women’s University, College of Holy Spirit, De La Salle Araneta, Univesity of Makati, UP Diliman, UP Manila, UP Integrated Schools, and Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology. I joined a fellowship of youth leaders and parishioners at the United Methodist Church in Pandacan and a catholic church in Novaliches Bayan.

Through our Tulong Kabataan campaign, I was able to participate in clean-up operations in Pasig, Sta. Mesa in Manila, Tumana in Marikina and Lapaz in Tarlac.

I visited Taiwan in June, Canada in November, and Thailand this month. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office sponsored and organized the trip to Taiwan. I joined a Congress delegation which visited Taipei, Kinmen Island, and Kaoshiung. The Canada trip was an official trip. It means my plane ticket, visa, and hotel expenses were shouldered by the government. I met Filipino-Canadian students and migrant groups in Toronto. I spoke at the University of Toronto. Thanks Diwa for taking me to the majestic Niagara Falls. I gave a lecture on Globalization and Philippine Education at the Student Christian Center in Bangkok. The trip was sponsored by the Asian Students Association. I cut short my Bangkok trip because of the joint session of Congress.

Related articles:

Candidate survey
Travelogue: Southern Mindanao

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 24th, 2009 at 11:11 pm and is filed under travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.