Are you using LPG (liquified petroleum gas)? I am. I guess most of us in the Philippines, do.

What advantages do I have using LPG?

- it’s fast (one-click fire)
- it’s cheaper than petrol (gaas) in terms of efficiency
- I don’t hurt any trees (compared to charcoal or firewood)
- my nose is clean (unlike firewood or charcoal)
- easy fire adjustment (unless your stove’s not working well)
- saves on electricity
- great for power outage emergency (instant light while looking for your candle)

What else? Please comment below if you have something in mind.

LPG used to be a lot cheaper. Those were the days. Now, it is as if every time I buy, I pay a higher price! My 11kg tank gets consumed in 1 1/2 to 2 months.

Good thing a party list is going to watch over the LPG industry. Liquified Petroleum Gas Marketer’s Association party list (LPGMA) will be #161 in your ballot sheet. It’s non-stock, non-profit organization representing the independent players. The party list will be our watchdog affecting so many Filipinos across the nation.

If LPG prices continue to hike, many most likely will resort to charcoal or firewood which implicates to denuded forests and black lungs due to the fumes. Food prices will go up as well, for those who continue using LPG (carinderia and restaurants and one’s own household kitchen). Budget will shrink…and nobody likes that!

You can also connect with LPGMA 161 on Twitter and LPGMA 161 on Facebook. Its president is Arnel Ty. Remember #161 on May 10, 2010. It’s a party list that directly affects my wallet, my family, my community, my country…and could well affect yours too.

I’m no politician, nor do I like politics. Here’s a theory, though, that just popped in my head 2 days ago.

People are driven to decide by the way they are which can be categorized into three: the introverts, the extroverts, and the in-betweens. The introverts decide using their heads while the extroverts decide using their feelings/hearts. The in-betweens are torn with the combination of both which can be the best of both worlds, deciding intelligently with a mix of human touch.

The introverts don’t act on impulse. They’re good in emergencies. They think before they speak. Whether it is for self-gain or for the welfare of the country, they will elect someone based on what they know about the candidate’s capability, moral standing, integrity, and platform. If someone buys their votes, the introverts will readily see that the candidate is already corrupt. They can easily spot a candidate who is always late and will not vote for that person. They think if a candidate cannot be trusted in least, how can he be trusted in much? They can see if a candidate can be swayed to and fro or if he is knowledgeble or not in the field he is entering into. The head rules in the introvert’s point of view.

The extroverts are ruled by the heart–their feelings. Whether they pity a candidate or are mad of another, this type of voter will be drawn by other people’s emotions. They like the crowd without thinking what it’s all about. They’ll vote for the candidate who sways their emotions by mere talk. They’ll vote out of pity and buddy-buddy mentality. They’ll vote for someone because they feel so.

The in-betweens will vote based on both about what they think and what they feel.

So, who do you think will win? It depends on how many voters are introverts, extroverts and in-betweens. Do you have any data on that? If you do, the next president is caculated…given that the program is not erred. Has it been tested that if a voter selects no one or selects everyone, what will be the result? An IF statement can be (possibly) inserted like If voter  did not select any candidate, put 1 point for specific candidate, or if no one is selected, give 1 point to a specific candidate. Something like that.

How do you know, by handwriting, if someone is an introvert, an extrovert or an in-between?

1. Writing that is vertical to one that slants to the left is that of an introvert.

2. Writing that slants as much to the right is that of an extrovert.

3. Writing that slants a bit to the right is that of an in-between. The farther right it slants, the more an extrovert the person is.

Put this to a test. In a group of ten, for example, identify the introverts, extroverts and in-betweens. How many for each category did you arrive at? How about a hundred? A thousand? You’ll have a rough idea who will in that particular group.

If you are an old-timer in the voting scene, say, voting more than thrice at least, you may say that you have learned by experience…or you still have not learned, for that matter.

How much more for a first time voter?

Good thing, in this age that we have the internet, plus the many lessons the lot of us have learned, either from a distance or firsthand, we have now an avenue to make an informed decision on who we should vote for.

In partnership with COMELEC, PPCRV, and Youth Vote Philippines, politicalarena.com is the first socio-political networking site that promotes voter education through special features like blog, chat, forum and even the latest news about what’s happening around and about the politicians. Would-be voters get personal by asking questions in different aspects and the politicians themselves answer. In each of the answers, the public can comment or ask further questions. While reading some of them, I can say that I’ve learned a lot more.

I’ve been educating myself in the questions/answers portion because not only do I see the point of view of the politicians but I also see the objections of the public. I myself have posted a comment in one aspect as it directly affects myself and the many who are like me, which also affects the general public.

There are many political issues that need answers. Our politicians are giving them although some say nothing yet about certain topics. Whether they have good or lame answers, or none at all, the important thing is we are informed. The site also has its political forum where users can exchange views.

Although this tool may not be reached by our uneducated and computer illiterate country men and women, it will be a big help for those who are better equipped and be the instrument for the less privileged to air their side of the story. As our own hero, Efren Peñaflorida said, there’s a hero in each of us which just needs discovery.

As a Luzon-based blogger, I think I can influence more people in my neighborhood to use this tool to have an educated decision before the actual voting. Even someone as myself who is not interested at all with politics and politicians, learned something. Whether I vote or not, what others do will still affect the whole result. Still, it is much better to be informed than just guess or do a mini-mynie-meni-mo kind of voting.

Politicalarena.com operates under the network of 88DB.com, the Philippines’ first rich media service portal.