Commercial Tacloban City

I've always been proud of being a Taclobanon. 

There's this immense outburst of comfort that I feel whenever I hear of anyone speaking Waray-Waray in my school here in Metro Manila. It feels great to know that there are Waray-Waray people hanging around.

The Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival Park opened yesterday, according to Philippine Information Agency. I really wish I were in Tacloban right now to celebrate the city fiesta and commemorate its traditions. Looking back, Tacloban City was once a small city with few establishments. Now, it boasts one of the most progressive local economies in the Philippines, which is evident in numerous openings of shopping centers, retail shops and other entrepreneurial and industrial areas.

Sometimes I wish progress in the city was not this fast-paced. Majority of the people living there cannot cope up with the inflation of prices and the influx of lifestyle pressure. The effects of being a Highly Urbanized City are now undeniably surfacing up. In ten years time, this city will be able to compete with bigger local economies like Cebu's and Davao's.

As I've said earlier, I've always been proud of being a Taclobanon, but the stress of being in a highly urbanized region is building up, morally pressing the low-to-middle income-earning households which make up a large portion of Tacloban City.

Romualdezes Spent Least Last May 10 Polls

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines - Based on the statements of election contributions and expenditures passed to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in Tacloban, the Romualdezes who ran for different positions in the local government did not use up too much money during their election campaigns.

Here are the numbers:

Mayoral Post

Reelected Mayor Alfred Romualdez - P 46,350

Defeated Runner Ranulfo Abellanosa - P210,490.73

Vice Mayoral Post

Defeated Runner Alfredo "Bejo" Romualdez - P87,877

Reelected Vice Mayor Arvin Antoni - P303,003

Councilors

Alfred's Wife Cristina Romualdez (placed 2nd) - P119,000

Reelected Councilor Jerry Yaokasin (topped the list) - P251,9860

The Omnibus Elections Code states that a candidate is only allowed to spend P3 per voter. Tacloban has more than 101,000 registered voters, thus election runners can only spend about P300,000.

This article is based on a report from Inquirer.net by Joey Gabieta. To see the original article, click here.

Aquino, Binay Win in May 10 Elections

MANILA, Philippines - Incumbent Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, landed victorious in the presidential race with a wide lead of about five million votes to his closest rival, former president Joseph "Erap" Estrada. Meanwhile, Makati Mayor Jejemor Binay won the vice presidential seat with a sharp edge of over 727, 084 votes over Roxas.

Here is the official tally of votes after the Congress, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, completed the canvass of 278 certificates of votes after eight days.

PRESIDENT
Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III - 15,208,678 votes
Joseph "Erap" Estrada - 9,487,837 votes
Manuel "Manny" Villar - 5,573,835 votes
Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro - 4,095,839 votes
Eduardo "Eddie" Villanueva - 1,125,878 votes
Richard Gordon - 501,727 votes
Vetallano Acosta - 181,985 votes
Ma. Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal - 46,489 votes
Nicanor Pelas - 54,575 votes
JC Delos Reyes - 44,244 votes

VICE PRESIDENT
Jejomar Binay - 14,645,574 votes
Manuel "Mar" Roxas II - 13,918,490 votes
Loren Legarda - 4,294,664 votes
Bayani Fernando - 1,017,631 votes
Edu Manzano - 807,728 votes
Perfecto Yasay - 364,652 votes
 Jay Sonza - 64,230 votes
Dominador Chipeco - 52,562 votes

Source: Inquirer