‘Miss Latinaverse’

“I think pageant girls just have a way of faking it until you make it, almost.”

—Hannah Brown

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WHAT transpired in Florida, USA on May 16 was a “Miss Latinaverse” and not a Miss Universe competition, many people who followed the event have suspected.

We were all taken for a ride?

Even the most beautiful and most intelligent woman in the world who’s not a Latina would probably have no chance in that fateful night at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for Hollywood, Florida.

From the panel of judges to the hosts Olivia Culpo and Mario Lopez and the three lady side hosts to the intermission numbers, it was all a Latina or Latino show.

Latina Lives Matter?

To add insult, Florida, the state with 5,809,000 Hispanic and Latino population and is known to be a largely Latino territory in America, had been chosen to be the host.

Thus it probably explained why pre-pageant favorites like Miss South Africa, Miss USA, Miss Canada, Miss Great Britain, Miss Philippines, Miss Croatia, Miss Thailand, Miss Netherlands, Miss Denmark, among other none Hispanic candidates didn’t land in the top five.

Except for Miss India as a “consolation” (to camouflage the sham?) the Hispanics probably made sure the “Miss Latinaverse” crown wouldn’t be snatched away by a none Latina candidate this time ostensibly by sending all four: Miss Mexico, Miss Peru, Miss Brazil, Miss Dominican Republic to the last five finals.

 

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Of course, this is just a suspicion and theory of many people who were not happy with the Q and A portion, which had heavily helped determine the winners.

The questions weren’t Miss Universe quality, to say the least.

They were predictable, answerable in basic and simple sentences with no need for jargon, and easy to decipher.

The topics thrown at the candidates about Covid-19 and the power of women in society could be easily answered in straight King’s English by candidates vying for a Miss Barangay contest in Ilocos Norte, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Leyte, Pampanga, Aklan, and Cotabato who are arguably much better in terms of diction and pronunciation.

The top five finishers could hardly express themselves intelligently and confidently and weren’t impressive with their answers despite the assistance of interpreters.

Imagine if they allowed Miss USA, Miss Great Britain, Miss South Africa, and Miss Philippines to slug it out in the final five with the same questions and pressure.

It could have been possible if they were in the ideal and vintage Miss Universe competition.

We’re sure our Miss Universe Philippines Rabiya Mateo would’ve given them real nightmare in the Q and A if she wasn’t toppled in the final 10.

But everything is now water under the bridge. 

Let’s move on and learn from the “Miss Latinaverse” telenovela.

 

-o0o-

 

AN email from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo dated May 17, 2021 which he also shared to other New Yorkers:

Dear Alex, Last week, the CDC announced new guidance on mask use and social distancing for fully vaccinated individuals, and beginning Wednesday, May 19, New York State will adopt the new guidance. Until more New Yorkers are fully vaccinated, pre-K to 12 schools, public transit, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and health care settings will continue to follow State's existing COVID-19 health guidelines. New Yorkers have worked hard over the past year to keep others safe and that has paid off and we are ecstatic to take this next step in the reopening of our beautiful state. The people of New York and visitors alike should take solace in the lifting of mask requirements, but be respectful of those who may still feel safest wearing their mask in public. Business owners can establish policy within the broad framework as they see best. It's a great milestone and yet another incentive to get vaccinated if you haven't already.

Here's what else you need to know tonight:

1. COVID hospitalizations dropped to 1,581, the lowest since November 9. Of the 101,173 tests reported yesterday, 1,278, or 1.26 percent, were positive. The 7-day average percent positivity was 1.11 percent. There were 387 patients in ICU yesterday, down five from the previous day. Of them, 228 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 11 New Yorkers to the virus. 

2. As of 11am this morning, 61.8 percent of adult New Yorkers have completed at least one vaccine dose. Over the past 24 hours, 70,722 total doses have been administered. To date, New York administered 17,626,145 total doses with 52.2 percent of adult New Yorkers completing their vaccine series. 

3. Three new pop-up vaccination sites will open in collaboration with the MTA. Following a successful pilot, the new pop-up sites will be located at the following stations: 125th Street in Manhattan, Sutphin Boulevard-Archer Avenue-JFK Airport in Queens, and the LIRR's Hicksville train station. (See hours here.) If you get vaccinated at one of these stations, you will get a free 7-day MetroCard or commuter rail tickets. Four other pop-up sites (including Grand Central and Penn Station) will continue to operate. 

4. Starting May 22, the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets will have fully vaccinated fan sections. This will increase capacity at their 2021 NBA home playoff games at Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center. Individuals seated in the vaccinated sections will have to show proof of full COVID-19 immunization status, which can be provided through paper form (CDC card), digital application or the State's Excelsior Pass.  

5. The New York City Marathon will return for its 50th running this year on November 7. The NYC Marathon—the world's biggest—will return with 33,000 runners permitted. Registration for the marathon opens June 8. 

6. Radio City Music Hall will open its doors for the first time in over a year to host the Tribeca Festival's Closing Night film on Saturday, June 19. For this event, Radio City Music Hall will operate at 100 percent capacity with a fully vaccinated audience. The Tribeca Film Festival will be the first in-person film festival to take place in North America since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Additional details about the landmark event and screening for closing night will be announced soon.

Tonight's "Deep Breath Moment": A community came together amid beautiful weather to spend the weekend beautifying their city. Over 200 volunteers in Buffalo gathered in the University District to participate in a spring cleanup event. The volunteers from all over the city spent the sunny Saturday weeding, planting flowers, picking up trash and other cleanup-related tasks. Ever Upward, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo)

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Defeat’ that made all Ilonggos winners

“Winning a pageant or sometimes simply participating in a contest can change your life. Outer beauty is just a part of the judgement, but what's important are your views and opinions that are shown to the world.”

—Lara Dutta

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE word “defeat” doesn’t apply to the Miss Universe contest.

All contestants in this global beauty pageant are winners. 

The one who is crowned to wear the title of Miss Universe during the actual competition is chosen by the panel of judges based on combination of luck and performance; all contestants deserve the title except there’s a need to crown only one person to represent the organization in various outreach and ambassadorial programs and activities all-year long.

When Mexico’s Andrea Meza was crowned as the Miss Universe 2021 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida on May 16, it didn’t mean she was better than our own bet, Miss Universe Philippines Rabiya Mateo, or the rest of the 73 other represenatatives from around the world.

The Filipinos, of course, are heart-broken that Rabiya Mateo didn’t make it in the top 10, but if we translate everything the 24-year-old model and pageant titleholder from Balasan, Iloilo had amassed in her scintillating stint as the Philippines’ representative in the premier global beauty pageant, it’s actually a victory for her and her family and for all the Ilonggos who had rooted for her from start to finish.

 

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By being in the global stage for weeks and having attracted the attention of the powerful and influential world mainstream and social media, Rabiya Mateo became bigger than life from a virtual unknown less than a year ago.

Her name and image had reverberated in the pageant and entertainment world in a stunning fashion and, thus, she became a household celebrity even before she departed in the United States earlier in April. 

By being instant celebrity, her career both in teaching and modeling is expected to transform dramatically and skyrocket—and change her life for the better.

Rabiya Mateo’s perceived weaknesses, including the irrational bashing she regularly received from jealous and immature detractors, became part of her strengths, and she ended up being well-loved and admired by fans and those who believed in her capacity, talent and Cinderella-like journey from obscurity to stardom.

Never before did it occur that Ilonggos, as well as Filipinos in general, who have learned to love Rabiya Mateo in the entire planet were united in one common goal: cheer for her victory in Florida through the different social and mainstream media platforms.

Rabiya Mateo, her ever-supportive family, kasimanwas in the city and province of Iloilo, and kababayans as a whole who didn’t waver in their moral support and otherwise, have every reason to be proud of her after her nerve-wracking and spine-chilling exposure in Florida.

They say having reached the top 21 and having failed to land in the top 10 was a “defeat.”

We say it was a victory disguised in another monogram and circumstance. 

We salute Rabiya Mateo and thank her for making us all proud and standing 10 feet tall.

 

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Email from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo dated May 15 which he also shared with other New Yorkers:

Dear Alex, As we near the light at the end of the COVID tunnel, it is imperative that we vaccinate as many people as possible. Our numbers remain on the decline but COVID is still out there, and if we let down our guard, we risk losing all the progress we have made. Our providers are working hard to get more shots into arms, and I urge everyone who still needs to get their shot to do so quickly—for themselves and for everyone they care about and want to protect.

Here's what else you need to know tonight:

1. COVID hospitalizations dropped to 1,767. Of the 203,852 tests reported yesterday, 2,068, or 1.01 percent, were positive—the lowest since October 10. The 7-day average percent positivity was 1.22 percent. There were 415 patients in ICU yesterday, down 18 from the previous day. Of them, 247 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 25 New Yorkers to the virus. 

2. As of 11am this morning, 61.2 percent of adult New Yorkers have completed at least one vaccine dose. Over the past 24 hours, 140,551 total doses have been administered. To date, New York administered 17,306,771 total doses with 51.0 percent of adult New Yorkers completing their vaccine series. See additional data on the State's Vaccine Tracker.

3. The Thunder on the Buffalo Waterfront Air Show will take place at Buffalo's Outer Harbor on June 19 and 20, 2021. The outdoor event, sponsored by the Vein Treatment Center, features a range of military and civilian aerial performers. This year's show will be a ticketed event, with reduced capacity and social distancing measures in place to ensure a safe return of the exciting Western New York tradition. 

4. The New York State Museum, Library, and Archives in Albany will reopen Monday, May 17. The State Education Department's Cultural Education Center reopens to the public on Monday, May 17, with new COVID-19 protocols in place and adjusted hours. Learn more.  

5. See how Excelsior Pass can help you be a part of NY's safe reopening. To help revitalize New York's economy safely, the State launched Excelsior Pass—a free and voluntary platform for businesses and individuals that can be used to easily access secure proof of a recent negative COVID test or vaccination.

Tonight's "Deep Breath Moment": A few weeks ago, we wrote about a peregrine falcon couple nesting on the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. We can share the happy update that the falcons' eggs have hatched and the chicks are healthy. You can keep up with the peregrine falcon family on the bridge's Falcon Camera. Ever Upward, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

God’s plans for Rabiya Mateo

 

“I may or may not win the crown. But one thing is for sure: I’m gonna make you proud.”

—Rabiya Mateo, Miss Universe Philippines 2020

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

RABIYA Occeña Mateo, 24, described internationally as “Filipino-Indian model and pageant titleholder”, was relatively unknown before she was crowned as the Miss Universe Philippines 2020.

Now, the Ilongga beauty from Balasan, Iloilo is on top of the world regardless of who will be crowned as the Miss Universe 2020 during the 69^th edition of the Miss Universe competition at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida on May 16, 2021.

Even if she was not yet the Miss Universe crown holder, she’s already the toast of the pageant world; lucrative modeling and endorsement contracts may be waiting on the horizon. 

And if popularity should be the basis for selecting the next Miss Universe, Mateo was already a runaway winner based on the number of her followers in the social and mainstream media, and the abundant glowing adulation from both her fans and admirers.

Coming from a very humble beginning and a family that had longed for a father figure, Mateo, an underdog both in life and in pageant competitions, vaulted into stardom in the Miss Universe Philippines competition when the world was besieged by the pandemic and people paid little attention to how she amassed the spectacular victory in Baguio City.

 

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God indeed has chosen another underdog in this field to rise to the occasion and make a king-sized difference in a competitive world.

He has big plans for Mateo who will certainly never be the same again after the Miss Universe competition—win or lose.

This reminds us of what Robert Morris had emphasized that the great paradox of living the blessed life is when we give without thought to whether or not we will receive, then we receive.

Truly, nothing feels blessed about being broken. 

“In fact,” Charles Stanley once said, “certain circumstances in life hurt so intensely that we think we will never heal. But blessing can come in the wake of our being broken." 

In the video, uploaded by the Miss Universe Organization on May 13 (May 12 in the US), Mateo was asked about her pageant journey. She admitted that she was never really a favorite and was a dark horse going into the Miss Universe Philippines competition.

“Nobody noticed me. When I won, I received different comments. There were people who did not expect me to do well, who thought I cheated,” quipped Mateo, who will vie for the country’s fifth Miss Universe crown. “That’s why I needed to do well in Miss Universe, I needed to do well in this competition.”

She may or may not win, but Rabiya Mateo has already made many Filipinos proud of her with her beauty and intelligence combined with gracefulness and humility seldom found in any beauty crown holder.

Good luck, Rabiya. 

May the full force of our prayers and moral support give you the coveted Miss Universe 2020 crown.

 

-o0o-

 

An email dated May 13, 2021 sent by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo which he also shared to other New Yorkers:

Dear Alex, Late last night, the New York State Clinical Advisory Task Force approved the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 12 - 15-year-olds. This approval allowed us to begin administering the vaccine to this newly eligible age group today. Reminder: All New York State vaccination sites are open for walk-in appointments to all eligible individuals. You can also make an appointment online through the Am I Eligible tool or by calling 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829). Let's get vaccinated, New York.

Here's what else you need to know tonight:

1. COVID hospitalizations dropped to 1,852. Of the 204,531 tests reported yesterday, 2,216, or 1.08 percent, were positive. The 7-day average percent positivity was 1.25 percent. There were 433 patients in ICU yesterday, down 30 from the previous day. Of them, 258 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 22 New Yorkers to the virus. 

2. As of 11am this morning, 60.9 percent of adult New Yorkers have completed at least one vaccine dose. Over the past 24 hours, 111,885 total doses have been administered. To date, New York administered 17,166,220 total doses with 50.4 percent of adult New Yorkers completing their vaccine series. See additional data on the State's Vaccine Tracker.

3. The moratorium on disconnecting utilities is extended until the COVID-19 state of emergency is lifted or December 31, 2021. This week, I signed legislation extending a moratorium that prevents utility companies from disconnecting utilities to residential households and small businesses that are struggling with their bills due to pandemic-related hardship. The moratorium is extended for a period of 180 days after the COVID-19 state of emergency is lifted or 180 days after December 31, 2021, whichever is earlier. 

4. I signed legislation protecting New Yorkers' COVID stimulus payments from debt collectors. All relief payments to New Yorkers under these federal acts, including stimulus payments, tax refunds, rebates, and tax credits to support individuals and children qualified for or received prior to the effective date, will be protected.

Tonight's "Deep Breath Moment": A 10-year-old boy earned the title of National Chess Master, becoming the 28th youngest person to do so. Tanitoluwa "Tani" Adewumi, a refugee from Nigeria, won the New York state chess championship in 2019 and has continued to hone his skills to win the national title on May 1. Next up in Tani's chess ambitions is to become the world's youngest grandmaster. Ever Upward, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo)

 

 

 

 

Will Rabiya Mateo finally meet her dad in America?

“Every parting is a form of death, as every reunion is a type of heaven.”

—Tryon Edwards

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

NOW that the Miss Universe Organization has set the 69^th competition of the 2021 Miss Universe in the United States on May 16, will Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Occeña Mateo finally meet her long-lost biological father who is now reportedly residing in Illinois, USA?

Syed Mohammed Abdullah Moqueet Hashmi, an Indian national, reportedly vanished after Mateo’s mother gave birth to her and brother, Mokmok, in Balasan, Iloilo.

Mateo was quoted in the Philippine press as saying the following in November 2020: “I think it was his plan to abandon us, ‘cause what happened was when he went back to the US, his two brothers are still here studying.”

“And then all of a sudden, all of the connection was cut. And my mother went to the school to talk to his two brothers, but unfortunately they also left for the US.”

“As of the moment, I still have no contact or any trace, where is he right now. The last time I heard, he’s in Chicago and he’s practicing as a doctor.”

Mateo had said her mother never said anything bad about her father.

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Florida is 16 hours and 49 minutes away from Illinois by car, or two hours and 27 minutes away by plane.

Mateo, born on November 14, 1996, is the Philippines' official representative vying for the country's fifth Miss Universe crown when

the Miss Universe competition returns with a live telecast after a year and a half off the air on May 16  at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood in Hollywood, Florida. 

The competition will be held in the span of seven days and organizers vowed that all safety precautions for Covid-19 will be followed like Miss USA 2020 and Miss Teen USA 2020 competition.

Hollywood is a city on Florida's east coast, between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Palm-dotted Hollywood Beach is backed by the long Hollywood Beach Broadwalk. ArtsPark at Young Circle features an outdoor amphitheater and a striking fountain. Nearby, the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood offers contemporary exhibitions and performances.

The last Miss Universe pageant held in December 2019 was won by Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa, who has worn the crown longer than anyone else due to the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

 

-o0o-

 

Miss Universe Organization president Paula M. Shugart announced in a press release March 3  that they've spent months planning a safe competition but they will follow similar guidelines as November's 2020 Miss USA competition held in Memphis.

The Miss Universe competition will air in more than 160 territories and countries across the globe. In the U.S. it will reportedly air in Spanish on Telemundo and the English-language broadcasters will soon be announced.

Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi from South Africa, who has been performing her crown duties with utmost sincerity and honest even in tough times like pandemic will be crowning her successor at the end of the event finale. 

The representatives of respective countries have reportedly expressed their sheer excitement towards the date that has been revealed for the pageant and have started to prepare for their final night. 

The organization posted a video on their YouTube channel where the divas could be seen showcasing their confident and graceful walk from their homes.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

Mateo is a blessing for the Ilonggos

“I believe that whatever comes at a particular time is a blessing from God.”

—A. R. Rahman

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

AT the time when the Filipinos were being besieged by COVID-19 pandemic and the economy was in a tailspin, God gave Iloilo City Miss Universe Philippine 2020 Rabiya Occeña Sundall Mateo.

A nebula of exultation and exuberance suddenly blasted in the horizon for the Ilonggos peppered since March 2020 by the mysterious virus that has infected 53,875,361 people around the world and killed 1,310,688 (as of November 14) in 191 countries, including the Philippines.

MISS UNIVERSE PHILIPPINES 2020 RABIYA MATEO

Fellow Ilonggos forgot their worries for a while to celebrate Mateo’s fascinating ascension to the constellation of glory and stardom.

Mateo is a perfect gift and blessing to all Ilonggos in this period of distress and desolation, when some families lost livelihood and employment; when the pandemic snatched away their loved ones and stymied their enthusiasm to hit the road of recovery at least in 2021 as the world wallows in uncertainty for the vaccine.

As manifested by their wild reaction when they welcomed the Queen during her first homecoming Friday since being crowned as Miss Universe Philippines 2020 in Baguio City on October 25, the Ilonggos, led by Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas, look up to the lovely Mateo, 23, a perfect combination of beauty, grace, intelligence and humility, as a symbol of pride and inspiration.

For one fleeting moment during Mateo’s arrival, the Ilonggos were incredibly united and triumphant like champions in the Trojan War.

When she hopefully brings home the Miss Universe crown next year (let’s cross our fingers), all the pain, sadness and tribulation experienced by the Ilonggos, as well as all the Filipinos, these past months brought by the pandemic and economic doldrums will quickly evaporate. 

 

-o0o-

 

IN my last “live” radio interview in the Philippines about the Trump versus Biden matchup on Saturday evening (U.S. time), I explained that as the Americans moved on with their lives after the chaotic U.S. Presidential Election 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 10,690,665 cases of the novel coronavirus, an increase of 181,801 cases from its previous count.

The number of deaths had risen by 1,364 to 243,580.

The CDC reported its tally of cases of the respiratory illness known as COVID-19 as of 4 p.m. on Nov. 13, compared with its previous report released a day earlier. The number could increase as of this writing. 

After the election fever, I have been monitoring the changing data and statistics as the Americans battle and try to resist the spike of the deadly virus.

This developed as the head of Democratic U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's coronavirus advisory board announced on November 13 there was no plan to shut the United States down and that the new administration's approach will be targeted at specific areas.

U.S. News quoted Dr. Vivek Murthy, a former U.S. surgeon general tapped to lead the board, as saying that “doctors have learned a lot about how the virus spreads and what steps to reduce risk are effective.”

 

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“We're not in a place where we're saying shut the whole country down. We got to be more targeted," Murthy said in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America."

Another member of Biden's COVID team, Dr. Michael Osterholm, suggested in a Yahoo Finance interview on recently that the country could cover individual companies' and local governments' losses for a four-to six-week lockdown to drive numbers down.

Osterholm clarified in an interview with ABC on November 12 that he did not discuss a lockdown with anyone on the advisory board and he did not think there was a national consensus for it saying "nobody's going to support it.”

Neither Murthy nor Dr. Celine Gounder, another Biden adviser, who appeared on CNN on Friday, embraced the idea of a national lockdown.

"Right now the way we should be thinking about this is more like a series of restrictions that we dial up or down depending on how bad spread is taking place in a specific region," Murthy said.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, was a former editor of two dailies in Iloilo, Philippines)

 

 

 

   

  

 

 

 

 

‘Beauty and the Brave’

“I've never liked the recognition, the questions, the publicity. I have often felt like running away and hiding.”

—Al Pacino

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WITH apology to Walt Disney Feature Animation which produced the 1991 American animated musical romantic fantasy film “Beauty and the Beast” and released by Walt Disney Pictures, “Beauty and the Brave” is how I describe the contrasting exposure in the national media of two Ilonggos in the last week of October albeit in two separate events and controversies.

Beauty refers to Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo who hogged headlines not only for becoming the first Iloilo City resident to be crowned the MUP titleholder during the pageant at the Cordillera Convention Hall, Baguio Country Club in Baguio City, but after some losing contestants had sour graped in the social media to undermine Mateo’s victory.

The controversy was intensely tackled and went viral in the national entertainment news, social media, vblogs, and Western Visayas media where the villains and their disgruntled relatives (including some backers and aunts) have been exposed and ribbed by the netizens.

Brave refers to Jefrey Celiz also known as Eric “Ka Eric” Almendras, who came out in the open in a press conference in Manila on October 28 to denounce the Makabayan Bloc and accused several left-leaning partylist representatives of having links with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

 

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Celiz admitted he was a former NPA cadre for 27 years and is now in the fold of the government helping end the country’s insurgency problem.

Celiz, former chair if Bayan in Panay Island, said he left the movement because he wanted to end the killings of innocent people, and that he is now being targeted for possible assassination.

Celiz’s appearance came in the heels of the plan of Senator Panfilo Laczon to investigate on November 3 the red-tagging and alleged involvement of the military in the practice of accusing individuals of involvement in the insurgency.

Prior to Celiz’s “expose”, Lt. General Antonio Parlade, Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) chief and ranking official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELAC), was in the news drawing widespread condemnation for his controversial remarks against female showbiz and beauty celebrities Liza Soberano, Angel Locsin and Catriona Gray.

Celiz’s decision to come out in the open drew different reactions from his friends and foes.

 

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THE new U.S. president won’t be known yet on November 3, the Election Day. In fact, there are fears here today that reelectionist President Donald Trump (who apparently doesn’t believe in losing) might declare victory (Tuesday night, November 3 U.S. time) if he will lead in the swing states.

This would be a tense moment for American democracy; this will test the resolve of America.

It will be the Electoral College that will elect the president. Here’s summary of how the Electoral College will work in the 2020 presidential election:

Nov. 3, 2020: Election Day, when voters in each state will select their presidential electors. The names of electors are not on the ballot in most states. Rather, when a voter casts a vote for a presidential candidate, she or he is also casting a vote for the electors already selected by the party of that candidate. 

If a majority of voters in a state vote for the Republican candidate for president, the Republican slate of electors is elected. If a majority vote for the Democratic candidate, the Democratic slate of electors is chosen.

-o0o-

Dec. 8, 2020: Deadline for Resolving Election Disputes. All state recounts and court contests over presidential election results must be completed by this date. 

For the majority of states the date of certification is the same as for all contests, but in eight states there is a deadline that either directly references or uses similar language, requiring that disputes surrounding the selection of presidential electors be resolved in time to meet the “safe harbor” deadline: Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.  

Dec. 14, 2020: Meeting of the Electors. The electors meet in each state and cast their ballots for president and vice president. Each elector votes on his or her own ballot and signs it. 

The ballots are immediately transmitted to various people: one copy goes to the president of the U.S. Senate (who is also the vice president of the United States); this is the copy that will be officially counted later. 

Other copies go to the state's secretary of state, the National Archives and Records Administration, and the presiding judge in the district where the electors meet (this serves as a backup copy that would replace the official copy sent to the president of the Senate if it is lost or destroyed).

Dec. 23, 2020: Deadline for Receipt of Ballots. The electors' ballots from all states must be received by the president of the Senate by this date. There is no penalty for missing this deadline.

Jan. 6, 2021: Counting of the Electoral Ballots. The U.S. Congress meets in joint session to count the electoral votes.

Jan. 20, 2021: Inauguration Day.  

The president-elect becomes the president of the United States.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo)

 

  

 

  

 

 

         

 

 

‘Victory has many parents’

“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” —Harry S Truman

 By Alex P. Vidal

 

ALL of a sudden, so many people are now claiming to be “responsible” or “instrumental” behind the meteoric success of newly crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo.

Some of these eager beaver characters, in fact, competed with the publicity that ground-swelled in the post-coronation days where Mateo instantly became the toast of the beauty pageant community after her Cinderella-like ascension into the world of celebrity and stardom at the Baguio Country Club on October 25.

Hardly had the moment of ecstasy and state of euphoria during the pageant hours simmered down, some of these publicity freaks were already in the media talking about how they supposedly molded the 23-year-old winner of Miss Iloilo 2020 to become a phenomenal beauty queen.

Why can’t they wait for Mateo to mention their names and give the credit due them if indeed they were part of her smashing success in the Miss Universe Philippines 2020 competition?

Mateo is very much aware of the difficult roads and sacrifices she went through before she amassed the gargantuan achievement that placed Iloilo City in the radar of reverence and respect nationwide.

With her humility and intelligence, Mateo definitely knows how to give credit where credit is due; she will remember the people who delivered the yeoman’s job that helped catapult her to become a national beauty titleholder. 

The more they make a noise and give credit to themselves, the more the people will suspect they are nothing but credit-grabbers and enthusiastic humbugs.

John F. Kennedy once said, “Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan.”

 

-o0o-

 

UP to the eleventh hour, sinking U.S. Presidential Election releectionist President Donald Trump continued stick to his incredible theory that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a hoax.

We suspect the Trump campaign has decided to sustain its stand on the pandemic issue in order to avoid the COVID-19 discussion during their campaign sorties.

The pandemic and its deadly onslaught in America, where more than 230,000 Americans have died and nine million people in the U.S. have been infected, has become a central topic being zeroed in by the Democratic Party.

And it has brought poll wonders for former Vice President Joseph Biden who has been leading in all the pre-election day polls by at least eight percent nationwide as of October 31.

To add misery to the Trump campaign, the stock market has spoken and has predicted a win by Biden. 

The stock market's time-tested "presidential predictor" was penciled to be right about who would win the election: The S&P 500's 2.2 percent decline in the three months leading up to November four years ago signaled that the incumbent party in the White House—the Democrats—would be replaced, even when the polls were wrong in 2016.

“In other words, the stock market predicted Donald Trump would defeat Hillary Clinton despite polls to the contrary,” reported Fortune’s Jen Weiczner. 

 

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Now, Weiczner explained, the same stock market indicator, which is dependent upon S&P 500 performance for the three months from August through the end of October, “has finalized its prediction.” 

With the S&P 500 down slightly (just 0.6 percent) over that period on the last trading day of October, the stock market's presidential predictor, as it's known by market analysts, is reportedly officially signaling that Biden will win the election.

“Though the dip is minor, the negative S&P 500 performance over those three months indicates that the incumbent party—in other words, President Trump—will be voted out of the White House and replaced with a Democrat,” stressed Weiczner.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo)

 

    

 

     

 

Margie Moran can’t even congratulate Rabiya Mateo

“No one knows what to say in the loser's locker room.”— Muhammad Ali

 By Alex P. Vidal

WHEN the big names in the world of beauty pageant speak, fans normally lend credence to their messages. 

Thus it is important they don’t pander in ambiguity and should be straightforward and truthful when they dabble in a general conversation. 

But no one should begrudge Miss Universe 1973 Margie Moran when she recently shared on Instagram a photo of Ysabella Roxas Ysmael Martinez, her niece, who lost in the finals to Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo of Iloilo City at the Baguio Country Club on October 25.

MISS RABIYA MATEO

Moran, 67, president of Ballet Philippines (BP) and chair of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), thinks her niece, the first runner-up in this year’s national Miss Universe Philippine pageant, is the deserving title winner.

“The first runner up is my Champion,” Moran wrote in the photo’s caption.

Stately accolades normally are bestowed on the winner instead of finding their way to the runner-up’s court; thus the Instagram message speaks volumes of Auntie Margie’s chagrin and exasperation for her niece’s defeat.

 

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The Philippine press reported that Moran has been vocal of her support for the aspiring pageant queen from Parañaque.

Moran wrote: “You were a stand out but the purpose designed for you is greater than you can imagine.”

She added: “A star does not compete with other stars around it. It just shines.”

Any aunt or relative would have done the same in their social media accounts and otherwise.

Patronize your own product. Charity begins at home. Blood is thicker than water.

Moran, who must be very excited, was entitled to her own opinion; her sentiments were an exercise of her freedom of speech and expression. 

Moran must also be probably frustrated and, to some extent, bitter that an Ilongga beauty from Balasan, Iloilo dashed to pieces the dreams of her niece to emulate her feat when she became the second Filipina to win the global beauty competition in 1973 after Gloria Diaz in 1969.  

 

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So disheartened was Auntie Margie that she forgot one fundamental courtesy expected of a famous name in the world of beauty pageant like her: congratulate the winner.

It’s a simple moral obligation for “those who have been there before.” 

Auntie Margie’s high-mindedness and magnanimity would have been the perfect vaccines to eviscerate the pandemic of envy, jealousy, and unsportsmanlike behavior that has gobbled up the sore losers’ GMRC.      

With her stature, Auntie Margie can easily put off the flame of intrigues and chicanery tossed and marshaled by the cry babies and sore losers in the social media if she congratulated Rabiya Mateo right away with no prejudice to Auntie Margie’s personal felicitations for a vanquished niece. 

Her failure to congratulate Rabiya Mateo on Instagram and other platforms and at least acknowledge the 23-year-old national beauty titlist even after paying homage to her niece, betrayed Moran’s personal bias, sugar-coated acridity, and unchivalrous-like attitude.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo)