WA Politics

As most of my Australia-based readers know, Western Australia had its state election last Saturday. After about two hours since the closing of the polls, initial results were already available with neither of the major parties having a hold of the government. It was a ‘hung parliament’ thus, the situation made a kingmaker of National Party Leader Brendon Grylls. There were about seven seats yet to be confirmed as of this writing and regardless of the results, the decision of the Nationals will make or break either of the Party (Liberals and Labor; Labor is the current administration).

As an international student/temporary resident, I found so many interesting contrasts in the political exercise here and back home in the Philippines. Campaigns are mostly done via the Internet, TV, radio and post boxes. Most of the debates revolve on issues and not on personalities (well, not much). It was very peaceful, not a drop of blood was shed but just ‘diplomatic mudslinging’ but a far cry from how politics is played back home. And then the most surprising of all for me is the sincerity of most of the politicians here. Back home, when one independent or party aligned politician is being courted by another, they are promised hefty amount of money or a juicy position in the government, in short, it is all personal benefit. However, here in WA, probably in the whole of Australia, the common reply of most of the indepent politicians being courted by both parties were ‘I will align with the party who offers the best interest for my constituents.’ You would never/seldom hear that from a politician back home, but then I hope that time comes.

Flight drama

Back in cool and wet Perth.

My flight was delayed for three hours in Bangkok ‘due to weather conditions’ in Perth. Perth did receive wild weather condition with some reports of hail storms and strong winds, however, last Saturday morning was relatively peaceful.

Well, flying is said to be the safest in the world but even with the safest airline any ‘minor’ accident is never welcomed. Australia’s national carrier, Qantas, recently had to make an emergency landing in Manila after its fuselage was ripped open. Investigators suspect that a blown oxygen tank might be the culprit but they have yet to arrive at a conclusion. Then last night, another Qantas flight had to revert back to its origin due to a door that opened in the middle of the flight.

After a strike by its engineers in Perth last month, the timing of these accidents never come at a right timing, do they come at the right time? 😉

Around the GMS

The Greater Mekong Subregion consist of Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), Lao PDR, Thailand, Yunnan Province of China and Vietnam. It also happen to be the beneficiary of the international aid project where I used to work for. Three of the priority countries, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam, eventually became my area of interest for my studies at the university.

Lack of knowledge

That the Abu Sayyaf kidnapped Prof. Octavio Dinampo together with the journalist Ces Drilon and her crew reflects badly on the bandits—but they are bandits, plain and simple. The initial response of the police to Dinampo’s fate reflects badly on the government too. We hope they can still listen to reason.

iPhone news leak was false

The Australian version of Gizmodo was rebuked by Optus for an alleged leaked info on its pricing details of  iPhone. Gizmodo reported that a tipster reported that Optus will be offering the popular smart phone on post paid contracts.

Optus and Vodafone will be offering iPhone in Australia next month. Optus has started receiving reservations for the phone though those who reserved are not obliged to buy the phone when it comes out on July 11. Both companies have yet to release pricing details on the pre-paid iPhone.

In the Philippines, Globe will be offering iPhone on post paid plans but there are plans to offer pre-paid plans on iPhone according to a report by Yuga.

Pirates of the Southern Archipelago

Pirates attacked a Philippine Livestock transport ship for about two hours in Indonesian waters, Perthnow.com reported. The ship came from General Santos City and was bound for Broome in Western Australia. None of the 22 Filipino crew were reported hurt. The ship was able to evade four speed boat carrying the pirates and had to return to its port of origin for repairs. The ship was to pick-up a shipment of cattle.

The Philippine Navy said that this was the first time that a pirate attack was reported in the area.

Of government trust and realities

This year, Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Chief-of-Staff Hermogenes Esperon retired from army service but he wasn’t giving up on his government pension, he was ready for another post in the government and was very much ready to fill any job as a ‘civilian public servant.’ While it was expected that most of the retired AFP chief end up in another government post, the Philippine Daily Inquirer editorial team summed up the fishy motive behind the latest move. It was also here that the editorial team suggested that there is more to the quick punishment and reward of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV‘s former colleagues, who were sentenced and in record time were ordered released based on the President’s pardon.

Optus to have iPhone

A Philippine Mobile Network announced that it is one of the first mobile phone service providers in Asia to bring the most anticipated phone of the decade, the iPhone. According to a report on Inquirer.net, Globe Philippines will exclusively offer iPhone in the country while Optus will carry the smart phone in Australia and Bharti in India. Both Optus and Bharti have yet to confirm the agreement which was said to have been finalized yesterday.

UPDATE: Optus confirmed that it will be bringing iPhone to Australia.

Australian Media Allege Press Freedom Attack

Western Australian Police from the Major Fraud Squad raided The Sunday Times last week in a complaint against the paper allegedly by the Department of Premier and Cabinet. A report from Perthnow.com quoted department statements as saying that “it had ‘referred allegations of the unauthorised disclosure of a confidential document to the police and the Corruption and Crime Commission’ relating to a political exclusive about taxpayers’ money being used to fund the Labor Party’s re-election campaign.”

Most requested radio online

Since I’ve blogged about Inquirer’s Radio online, it has become my most read blogged post ever. It has served the purpose for most of our expats and OFWs who Googled Philippine Radio Stations Online and relieved homesickness, I suppose. However, I’ve been contacted by some of Blogbastic! readers and visitors inquiring about 90.7 Love Radio. The Manila-based radio station is one of the most popular radio stations in the Philippines and appeals to the masses because of its lively programming and witty Disc Jockeys.

I’ve made online searches for any source of online broadcast streaming of Love Radio to no avail. So, I decided to write a person connected with Manila Broadcasting Company , the owner of the station, and inquire if they are broadcast streaming but as of this writing, I have yet to receive a response.

If you are kind enough to lend a hand and you are based in Manila, you might want to contact the station manager of Love Radio and inform them that a number of OFWs and expats are requesting that Love Radio find a way to broadcast online. It might be better if some will be able to ask permission from the station to stream the broadcast of the station online! Hopefully this call will be noticed by someone with close network to the station.

As one of my readers said, kailangan pa bang i-memorize yan?! 🙂