Showing posts with label World Events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World Events. Show all posts

Thursday, July 16, 2009

down to earth

This is part of a blog entry I wrote last year:

"Last Thursday August 21, 2008, a Spanish jet crashed minutes after take-off at the Madrid International Airport, killing 154 passengers and crew. About 4 days later, another plane fell from the sky. This time, a passenger plane crashed in Kyrgyzstan's capital of Bishkek, killing at least 70 people, including members of a youth basketball team. On that same day, a small plane crashed in Guatemala killing 10 people, most of whom were on a humanitarian mission. And of course yesterday, an Air Force plane crashed in Davao City. Bodies of two of the nine people on board were already recovered, the others are feared dead.

Then there were the Qantas Airways incidents, where in a span of one week, 3 of its planes made an emegency landing. And just today, barely a week after the Madrid plane crash, an Air France-KLM Airlines skidded off the runway in Montreal, Canada. And did I mention a Philippine Airlines plane also skidded off a runway in Mindanao a week ago."


And just barely a year later, another series of unfortunate events took place. June 1- an Air France plane from Rio de Janeiro to Paris crashed in the Atlantic killing all 228 people. A few weeks later, a Yemenia Airways plane crashed off Comoros Island in Africa killing over 150 people. And just yesterday, a Caspian Airlines went down in Iran with all 168 people feared dead. The fatalities of the first two incidents include Filipinos. There are also several emergency landings in between the crashes.

It's scary, considering that just yesterday I was also on a plane. You'd think crashes only occur in poor countries or low-cost airlines. But no, Air France one of the best airlines in the world was not spared. That plane an Airbus A330 is also one of the best in the world with really good safety record. This just shows we can't tell our fate-- whether we ride a Zest Airways or the "reliable" Philippine Airlines- we really can't tell.

Fly high :-)

Saturday, August 30, 2008

America Votes

This must be one of the most interesting US Elections in history. From the primaries and caucuses season since January this year to the conventions and on towards the November 4 elections... this 2008 US Polls is surely gonna leave a mark in history.

The Democrats had their convention in Denver last week with Barack Obama accepting the party's nomination-- the first African American to do so. It's also funny that Obama chose Joe Biden as his Vice President... Obama Biden (seems like Osama Bin Laden).. :-)

On the Republican side, John McCain has announced his runningmate-- the virtually unknown Sarah Palin. She is the first woman candidate to become a Vice Presidential nominee. Both McCain and Palin are expected to formally accept their nominations this week in the Republican convention in Minnesota.

Both Obama and McCain made wise decisions in choosing their running mates. Obama didn't choose the popular Hillary Clilnton (even if she can bring in more votes)... primarily because Hillary can overpower him easily if they rule America. And Hillary can also beat him in the next presidential elections if she decides to run. McCain on the otherhand chose an unknown woman candidate because he needs the vote of women. He needs to have something different in his campaign. He needs people to talk about him and a woman running mate is the answer.

American politics is interesting now... and this people will surely affect not just the US, but the whole world as well.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Zero So Far

It seems one Filipino athlete is being booted out of the Beijing Olympics everyday. I just watched the boxing event just a few minutes ago... and yup we lost. Filipino boxer Harry Tanamor was defeated by Manyo Plange from Ghana by points system. Tanamor just scored 3 compared to Plange's 6 points. Our lone Filipino boxer is I think the 5th Pinoy Olympian bow out of the Olympics during Day 5 of the Beijing Games. It is just sad cause Tanamor was seen as the athlete with better chances of clinching a medal for the country, but it all went down the drain.

But not to lose hope, 10 more athletes have good chances of winning the Philippines' first ever gold medal, or at least a bronze. I just hope kahit isa man lang.

Isn't it weird that we don't have a gold medal winner ever since the country joined the Olympics in 1924? I don't think it's the built or the size of the athlete that mattered, since many Asians have won the gold too. Some would say funding. Well that's true, sports is not really a major priority in the country. But I really think it should be. I know there are a lot of problems in the country, and some would say putting money in sports programs is a waste compared to putting money in housing or food programs for example. But sports gives a different effect. It will always have a unifying power. History tells us that sports have united a country in ways not even a good economy can. Take Manny Pacquiao for example or Efren Bata Reyes (btw, why didn't they compete in the Olympics?). I am so sure a bronze medal can make Filipinos everywhere happy.

I believe government must step-up efforts to promote and improve our sports system in the country. Especially as the Philippines will host the 2014 ASIAN BEACH GAMES and the 2019 SEA GAMES... and is also planning to bid for the 2018 ASIAN GAMES (and probably for the 2024 OLYMPICS :-)

Thank you and Congrats to all Filipino Olympians!

*pic from www.op.gov.ph

Friday, August 8, 2008

beijing 2008

I've been watching some parts of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, considered as the world's most expensive ever. The entire Games is estimated to be worth $40B, just barely a fifth of the Philippine budget. But anyhow, I didn't see our team during the parade of nations, I was on the move kasi. But I saw the first part. It was pretty impressive. The dance moves, the choreography, the fireworks. Wow. It seems China is telling the world that: hey we're a major power too!! Truly it is a historical event for them and their entry to global spotlight.

Although this Olympics has been marred by protests, criticism and pollution, both supporters and critics can definitely say the opening event was spectacular or at least it wasn't that bad generally. Although admittedly there were boring points, medyo bumaba ang energy level in the middle part. But still good anyway.

Wishful thinking: I just hope it will be in my lifetime that there would finally be the Manila Olympics.



*pictures from getty images