Long Silence of Friendship

Dearest Friends,

Hi! I've been missing you all lately my dear friends! . My apologies for not being so visible on line since the start of the year. My eyes closes everytime I opened the computer and start writing, I have to wake up early morning to catch up with people and end the day very exhausted.

But today , I'm writing you just to let you know how I am going. Thank you Tina for missing me! Because of you , I write this letter. I'm so happy because I really love writing. But with so many pressures ahead of me - just the thought of it made me feel so exhausted and find difficulties to write anymore. But friendly words always did great miracles..

Last march 19 was the graduation of my daughter from kinder school. It was so great for us! She received her two academic gold medals and seven special awards. And you know what? I was also given an award as the "Best Mommy". Wow! I was so happy ha! ha! ha! A special way of giving recognition of my hard work. Such a great school !

As of now, we are confronted by so much pressures by our forthcoming election this May 10. Whew! one month from now we will be selecting new set of political leaders for three years. My day's activities are really driving me crazy like hell!

Our election system will be computerized for the first time. For most of rural women population, this will be the first time they're going to see a computer . They will vote for the first time not names of candidates but vote through shading of circles. This is really crazy because a background agricultural country likes ours, only majority knows how to operate computers. I'm sure their will be heaps of invalid votes. There are scenarios of the possibility of no election and President Gloria Macapagal will remain in power as president of the Philippines.

Our election is marred by so much violence. Just last week, a hand grenade was thrown at the ancestral house of the Ciry Mayor who is vying for a set in Congress. A month ago a mayoral candidate was shot by unidentified gunmen after hearing the Sunday Mass in our neighborhood.

It's scary but we have to be courageous. Who will speak for the poor women and children, if we are scared to speak up for them? Who will take them to the path of righteousness and justice, if we will not go with them?

Lots of challenges along the way! In the coming election in May - my group will be hosting the People's International Observer's Mission . Mostly of them will be from the US -and they will be doing alot of obervation and documentation of electoral fraud and violence in our communitties here. I will be joining them as a Pulsewire Correspondent hopefully.

So friends, this is all for now. I'll be leaving tomorrow early morning to sit down with a political candidate. I will be presenting to him our women's agenda and hopefully get his support.

Thank you so much for bearing with me. Even if you feel I'm not around - just drop by and give me a warm friendly Hello! Take care and wish you all well and happy..

love much ,
Malaya