UPDATED: PBS segment on Martin Bautista

PBS did a feature on Doc Martin and fellow doctor Jeff Lim in their "Searching for Asian America" back in 2004.

For those interested, here's the article.

Check this out:

Bautista and his wife Sylvia are raising their children as Filipinos, teaching them Tagalog and reminding them that their home country is far away. The decision of whether or not to return is looming before them in the next few years. While Bautista admits that all his dreams of material success have been met in Guymon, he feels a tug to return to his native land, to work for the betterment of the future of his home country.

He did return home, didn't he?

PBS Photos can be found here.

Video clip here.

UPDATE: Bautista may not win in 2007, but assuming that an independent newcomer like him does relatively well and beat other established names from the admin and oppo in the number of votes garnered, then this is good preparation for him in the 2010 elections. By that time mas kilala at experienced na siya.

I do believe that martin bautista's senate run in 2007 (where Conventional Wisdom says that he is a longshot to win) is in preparation for another run in 2010 (assuming he does relatively well , kahit na hindi siya nanalo.) By that time, mas kilala at experienced na siya.

adel tamano's current gig as opposition spokesperson is also in preparation for a 2010 run for the Senate or House.

On another topic, it sucks na the COMELEC started allowing senate candidates to campaign only after February 12, 2007.

SECTION 5. Period for filing certificate of candidacy. – The certificate of candidacy shall be filed on regular days during office hours except on the last day, which shall be up to midnight, as follows:

For Senator – January 15, 2007 to February 12, 2007; and

For Local Officials (including Members of the House of Representatives) – January 15, 2007 to March 29, 2007.

Napaka late na nito for some candidates to start a national campaign and cover a lot of ground. It hurts the new and independent candidates like Bautista, Paredes and Sison. The last 2004 elections for national candidates started on early January 2004.

SEC. 5. Period for filing certificate of candidacy. – The certificate of candidacy shall be filed beginning December 15, 2003 to January 2, 2004 for both national and local elective positions on regular days during office hours except on the last day which shall be up to midnight.

For people running for national office, that extra 2 months to campaign (jan-feb) can be crucial for their candidacies.

Here's what i said re the COMELEC's new stupid rule back then:

I think the new rules hurt the opposition more because the candidates have less time to campaign nationwide, as opposed to if the campaign started on Jan. 2007.

it's less of a problem for the admin because they have the money, the jets, helicopters and the gov't resources and tv stations to help their candidates campaign nationally.

....

I think another reason kung bakit mas late yung deadline for the filing of the certificates of candidacy this year was because of Malacanang's attempt to abolish the senate. Remember the admin's CON ASS attempt last december 2006? some of arroyo's allies were expecting na hindi matutuloy ang elections. When the admin finally gave up on their Charter Change attempt for the meantime, atsaka lang nilabas ng COMELEC ang bagong rules, which was published/promulgated only on Jan. 5, 2007.

Unlike the rules on the candidacy filing for the 2004 elections, where it was promulgated much earlier Dec. 10, 2003. (that's why the filing for certificates of candidacy for national and local candidates back in 2004 was much much earlier, dec. 15, 2003 to jan. 2, 2004)