Hi there! It’s another weekend and America has elected Obama as her new President. Here at home, some kibitzers were quick to say that the election ought to have an effect on the Philippines considering the special relationship between the countries of Uncle Sam and Juan De La Cruz. Common, get real, what special relationship? Wait when the new administration holds office, many quarters will be imploring that special relationship again and again. Okey, we are the only colony that the U.S. ever had. I guess that’s about it. It’s a whole new ball game now. One thing I’m sure of, remember the line a news reporter said on TV: “Pagbahing ng Amerika, Trangasko ng Pilipinas” (or something to that effect). That line has something to do about how the economic crisis in the U.S. can have a great effect on the Philippines. Now that’s a special relationship that borders on reality. Anyway, can’t blame them. The U.S. is “THE U.S.”; add to it the fond memories that our old folks have of the good times (for some it’s the best time) that they had after the liberation; and okey, globalization and other stuff. So, does it explain why the lines of visa applicants at the U.S. embassy keep getting longer?
Talking about lines. When the Americans went to the polls, some reports had it that voters had a common complain: the long lines. Lucky for them, that’s their only concern. They should try voting here (or at least in the non-urban areas of the country). There were also (isolated) reports about shenanigans at the polls. Hmm, these guys (doing some mischief) must have been watching reports about elections in other countries like Zimbabwe and Venezuela. Do we include the Philippines?
Still on the issue about the U.S. election. Erratum on my column last week (October 31, 2008) Last line of paragraph 4: “Well, remember their 2004 election, Florida and the chad?” It was supposed to be year 2000. My apologies.
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(The newspaper edition of this column contains something about Kit Urmeneta Batalla, the BSP representative during the 2nd ASEAN Scout Jamboree which was held at the Cibubur Camping Grounds in Jakarta, Indonesia. I have already featured him in this blog. In case you missed it, please check these: link 1, link 2)
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We now know who the next American President is. Yup, Obama is the guy who has the unfortunate fate of inheriting the economic mess, the never-ending war in Iraq and other headaches brought about by Dubya’s (that’s Bush dahlings) policies. So, will that historic win mean recovery from the economic meltdown now creeping every crevice of the world? I’ve got no idea (should I add that stocks plummeted a day after the election?). One thing I’m sure of is that I had fun when Jay Leno joked that during the last Halloween celebration, kids bought pumpkins not for decorations or lanterns but as something to eat. And yes, a few days ago in Calbayog, I dunnow if it was due to poor sales (due to economic downturn? or that less people are dying?)? Or marketing strategy? A funeral service provider had a motorcade announcing their services, discounted (and with freebies at that, if I may add). Can you believe that?
Talking about the erratic behavior of the economy, I thought I would like to share something which I got via email: New Stock Market Terms
- CEO - Chief Embezzlement Officer.
- CFO - Corporate Fraud Officer.
- BULL MARKET - A random market movement causing an investor to mistake himself for a financial genius.
- BEAR MARKET - A 6 to 18 month period when the kids get no allowance, the wife gets no jewelry, and the husband gets no sex.
- VALUE INVESTING - The art of buying low and selling lower.
- P/E RATIO - The percentage of investors wetting their pants as the market keeps crashing.
- BROKER - What my broker has made me.
- STANDARD & POOR- Your life in a nutshell.
- STOCK ANALYST - Idiot who just downgraded your stock.
- STOCK SPLIT - When your ex-wife and her lawyer split your assets equally between themselves.
- FINANCIAL PLANNER - A guy whose phone has been disconnected.
- MARKET CORRECTION - The day after you buy stocks.
- CASH FLOW - The movement your money makes as it disappears down the toilet.
- YAHOO - What you yell after selling it to some poor sucker for $240 per share.
- WINDOWS - What you jump out of when you're the sucker who bought Yahoo @ $240 per share.
- INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR - Past year investor who's now locked up in a nuthouse.
- PROFIT - An archaic word no longer in use.
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This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!
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