WA finally gets a government

Western Australia finally got a government yesterday with the National Party favouring the proposal of Colin Barnett’s Liberal Party. The gist of the proposal is how both parties will be able to course funds to Regional WA, which is considered marginalized as most of the state funding are concentrated to the Perth Region or major cities in the State.

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.

Not just another tagging game

Well, at one point of this blog, I thought I would only be writing tag chores but thank God I didn’t (it became a pain rather than fun). Anyway, I was tagged again this time but I think this is worth the time and I believe also in this endeavor.

Thanks to Jonas.

Behind the award is a wonderful story of love and survival of a little boy given another chance to live through a heart donor.

Please help raise awareness for Organ Donorship in the Philippines and abroad.

So, now I’m tagging Kengkay, Chuckie, Jun, Lenggai and Badoodles!

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? 😉

Going home

I’m finally returning to my temporary home Australia after a month of searching for answers to some of my research questions. I’m excited to be back and embrace my girls. You can view some of the photos during my travel on my flickr account or on my photo blog. In one month, I’ve around the Greater Mekong Subregion from Bangkok to Vientiane, to Phnom Penh then to Hanoi. From Hanoi, I had to endure 15 hours butt numbing bus ride to reach Dien Bien Province, just to interview farmers, traders and animal health workers. From Hanoi, I flew straight to the World Heritage town of Luang Prabang in Lao PDR.

There were definitely a lot of news around the Region. As of this writing, Thailand and Cambodia are in the brink of war over a World Heritage recognition. Cambodia will be having its national election on the 27th of July, Vietnam’s economy is feeling the pinch of a fast growing economy while Lao is enjoying much needed help from foreign aid agencies. I was glad to see all the roads of Vientiane all cemented though drivers do need to be educated so to avoid motorcyles getting entangled with a fine looking Humvee (it’s ironic to see so many gas-gulping humvees roaming a poor country like Lao PDR).

Well, this is just a quick note, I’m off tonight this afternoon to Bangkok then to Perth tonight.

It’s good to be back…

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.

Bit busy but will try to come back

Well, that best describes my current situation. I’m on travel for my field work. Trying to talk to farmers in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam. I was in Bangkok last week, and now I’m currently in Lao PDR–in the beautiful city of Vientiane! It was nice to be back, though it would have been better if the family was with me. So, in my loneliness in quickly touring Bangkok, I ended buying a new lens for my camera and a DS game for my kids (nothing yet for the wife, but I’ll find something along the way) :). Well, hopefully I will have good photos to show you in the coming days–well head to my flickr page, that is. 🙂

till next time!

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.