Limpag: Getting to South Africa

By Mike T. Limpag

ONE of the sentences you hear regularly these days is “Vote for me.” It’s not one of my favorites, but it’s one that we have to live with.

We can’t be a democracy without it.

But I like “Don’t open this door” better since it guarantees that what’s behind the door is interesting. Or my other favorite—“minors not allowed.” “Promise never to repeat this,” always makes you think of whom you can tell before you hear what you promised not to tell.

“Vote for me” is sometimes preceded by something funny.
They dance or they say they’re really poor despite driving Mercedes Benzes. Ever notice how so many rich people are suddenly so poor, these days? They say they’re smart, or they’re after your welfare or para sa mahirap even if they can’t recognize a can of sardines even if it dances butt-naked in front of them.

Vote for me!

I always wanted to avoid that phrase. It’s kinda ridiculous. Back in high school and college, I told a lot of people to vote for them or vote straight. But never vote for me.

I’m not running for public office, by the way. Nor am I telling you to endorse my favorite color yellow.

We are in the sports pages after all.

I’m rambling about “vote for me” because of a dream to see the World Cup in person—yep, that World Cup in South Africa this June.
An all-expenses-paid trip!

And they’d even throw in a brand new Sony Ericsson handset so I’d get to brag about my trip to friends and other people who’d die to be in my place.

I’m not trying to pull your leg by the way. Today is April 5, not April 1.

I’m just a few clicks away from realizing that dream and to get there, I have to ask people, well, to vote for me.

Sigh.

This all started March 25, when somebody posted a comment in my blog and asked if I was interested in joining a Sony Ericsson contest for Asia Pacific bloggers.
It was a shot in the dark.

The deadline was on March 30, so I submitted an old entry, that one about the CES Theater of Dreams.

If I was aiming for a dream, why not drag CES’ own dream in it, I thought.

I learned I made the top 20—the final leg they call it—and surprise, surprise, I’m the only one from the Philippines.

Not surprisingly, I am currently 16th in the top 20 with 30 votes. The top three have 724, 647 and 388 votes.


Here’s the e-mail I got just a couple of days ago:

“Hi Mike,

We’re pleased to inform you that your post has been shortlisted to be in the Top 20! You’re now in the final leg so do mobilize your readers and get them to vote for you here: http://extratime.posterous.com/tag/top20/ (third post from bottom).

Remember, voting is limited to once a day per person. :) Once again, congrats!

Cheers,

Amelia Wong”

Sun Star Cebu

Comment : Vote for Mike every day !! 289 votes now