First there was Chiz

Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero was in the city last week for the Presidentiables Forum held at the Grand Regal Hotel. Only three of the supposedly Presidentiables joined the Forum among them Escudero, Senator Loren Legarda and Nicanor Perlas.

Escudero said he has not yet decided which position to vie for in the 2010 elections but said he will abide by his Party's decision.

On top of Escudero's priorities is an increased budget for agriculture not only for Mindanao but for the whole country as well. He said the reason why Mindanao could not attain long lasting peace is the lack of economic opportunities here. With an increased agriculture budget, he said, there will be more farm to market roads, increased production and lesser dependence on imports.

Mar Roxas For President?

Stumbled upon this blog “Oras Na, Roxas Na MAR ROXAS”, campaigning for the purportedly presidential candidacy of senator Mar Roxas in 2010. I am not sure if this blogger is doing it on his own (although he has a disclaimer on his site) or this is included in Roxas camp’s political strategy but watch out for his blog as it may just deliver what it purports to do---put Roxas in Malacañang.

I had the chance to accompany the senator during his trips even before he became a senator and I think even before he became the DTI secretary. As Lapanday’s external affairs manager, I was tasked to the entertaining task of being his school bus. He was a very important guest in the city since he is a good friend of my former boss, Cito Lorenzo (another decent by tough guy if you ask me).

So armed with my L200 pick white pick up I fetch Mar from the airport whenever he was Davao and then bring him to where he was supposed to go. I think that was his first or second time in the city of durian. He’s a very nice man though, not the usual politician you’d expect. But that was several years ago and I’m not sure if he has changed since then.