*Here is my account on what happened last January 29, 2010 at the De La Salle UniversityThat was the longest day ever.
I went to school at around 8 in the morning. The auditorium doors would be opened for the forum at around 10:30. My partner in English research decided to do first one of our assignments so we would be done then we would line up to get into the auditorium.
Our surprise when one of my friends told me that the line was so long already.
Chances of getting inside the auditorium were slim and since most of the students there were early because they were saving a place for their friends.
We ended up watching in one of the classrooms.
The debate was great to listen to. It was just a little bad that most of the students really wanted to get inside.
But nothing would compare to the mayhem that occurred after the forum. When Gibo and Noynoy left the Yuchengco auditorium and were at the lobby of Yuchengco building. I was told that Gibo wanted to roam around his old school but students wanting to shake his hand and take a picture of him wouldn't allow it.
You could see it in his face how grateful he was for all the support of the Lasallians.
The forum was pretty great. Some answers were exceptional, some candidates played it safe, some were just down right disappointing. Some candidates didn't even answer the question at all.
My summary would be: Gordon and Gibo were good but played it safe with the Arroyo question. Villar and Madrigal were at each others throats all throughout. Noynoy answered well but played it safe most of the time and I didn't like his closing statement. Delos Reyes wasn't prepared for his questions and it was evident that he was nervous. Villanueva and Perlas were, well forgettable.
Top 3 would have been Gibo, Gordon and Noynoy.
And Villanueva and Madrigal kept calling us Lasallites. I know that was what we were called before but now its Lasallians. Ted Failon even corrected them.
Funny thing about watching it within the campus is you would hear Ted Failon's off the camera moments. Haha. Like. "Oh, mga Lasalyano pag balik natin energy pa rin ah?!" Haha.
I have to say that Gibo's answer with the Arroyo question was what I was expecting from him. And Gordon defending him was also a great show of camaraderie. Just because Gibo is within the same party as the President doesn't mean that they are equal. And Gibo's answer towards Madrigal's question was also exceptional.
Villar's comment about having famous relatives was un-called for. Good thing that Madrigal stepped in and commented him as well.
Gordon's answer that the Philippines was ready for Dick Gordon was very smart if one would think about it.
All in all it was a great forum.
Waiting in line then realizing that you should just watch in one of the classrooms, waiting for the candidates to arrive, then staying to shake hands with them (I had the chance to do that with Gibo and Noynoy!) and take their pictures was well worth the whole day in La Salle.
It shows that the Youth are really active in this upcoming election and they will really exercise their vote. Like it's tag line says:
Boto Para Sa Pagbabago!