First woman or first black?

The recent developments in the complicated (to many of us, that is) American election process seems to be of surprisingly great interest to Filipinos. It seems to me, though, that most of the people I've talked to about the subject are disappointed that Hillary Clinton failed to make it in Iowa, and not only did not beat Barack Obama, but even landed third! And everybody thought getting there would be a walk in the park, with husband Bill and daughter Chelsea beside her.

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But American voters can be contrary. While some of us over here see Obama as a virtual neophyte, or, as the cliché goes, rather “wet behind the ears”, to them – to those who voted for him, that is – he appears like a liberator because, for one, he promises to end the war in Iraq . Now, a friend I met in church Saturday told me she is afraid that he might be an anti-Christ! Maybe that's a bit too much, but who can tell? At the moment, what the American people must decide is whether they want to have their FIRST woman president, or their FIRST black one.

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What also surprised me was the result of the Iowa votes as far as the Republican Party was concerned. Rudolph Guiliani, the gung-ho mayor of New York, who was everybody's hero after the Nine-Eleven tragedy in his city, landed way down below in the rankings, sixth, I think. How could people forget so soon? What had he done to lose his popularity so quickly? Could it be the fact that he had divorced his wife soon after and went with another woman? Are the Americans that particular about their candidate's morality? Sounds very strange to me.

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Perhaps our own wannabes who are now casting moist eyes on the presidency and setting all plans towards 2010, should take a leaf from Guiliani's book. Those who seem so popular now may not be able to maintain their ratings and sustain their good marks for two years more. They say the administration is fielding Vice President Noli de Castro. Well, he is supposed to be Number Two now, isn't he? But there's a long way to go yet, especially for someone who was perceived to have been picked for the position only because of his vote-getting capacity, being a popular TV personality. But again, who can tell? Those hot-shot American public relations experts reportedly hired recently for millions of dollars by our government must know their job, you see.

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Meanwhile, one politician who must be basking in other than political delights is Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who won honors the other night, nor for having filed the most number of bills in the Senate (which, I hear he has done), but for having been selected as the best actor of the year for his role in the movie “Katas ng Saudi”. Long before the Metro Manila Film Festival was held, the betting had already been on Jinggoy for his reported performance that was believed to be truly award-winning. Well, he is not his father's son for nothing. Will he be able to match the awards record of Joseph Estrada, his, dad, who also, like him, became a mayor and then a senator, and farther?

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At the moment, the world is watching developments in the health of two high-profile heads of state now in precarious conditions. In Cuba , strongman Fidel Castro, now in his eighties and sickly, has been reported to have declared that he is giving up the presidency which had been entrusted to his brother Raul when he first fell ill. In Malaysia , Muhammad Suharto, who had held the reins of government tightly in his hands also for decades, is now very seriously ill, and has been diagnosed to be suffering from anemia, low blood pressure, and having liquid in his lungs. Well, world media and many of their own people had not been very approving of their policies, but wait until they both pass away. It is not true what Mark Anthony said of dead people, that “The good is oft interred with their bones”. Most often, only the good is talked about, publicly, the evil is what gets buried.

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Anyway, 2008 is starting with more happy events and socials, like the birthday party at the L'Fisher Hotel last night of the ever popular and well-loved Shirley Ledesma. Shirley's pals in the Circulo Negrense, the Soroptimist Club, her former college chums and fellow school administrators, helped gather their members to prepare a rollicking program in her honor. Several sang for her, others gave testimonials on what a friend Shirley had been to them, and the Soroptimists and Circulo both had lively dance numbers to show. With her friends, and her children all celebrating with her, surely dear Shirley's cup last night was running over. Happy Birthday again, Shirley! Who's the sponsor next year?*

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