Chiz takes the hot seat in first ever Philippine election live chat forum

Last September 10, GMANews.TV broke new ground with the launch of Exchange, the first and only Philippine live chat forum where people from all over the world can log in and personally interview aspirants for the 2010 elections. Exchange debuted with Sen. Francis “Chiz" Escudero on the hot seat. At 11 a.m., Philippine time, Escudero entertained queries fielded by web chatters. He answered questions that tackled everything—from his political platforms to his “cheesiness." A total of 645 questions were fielded by the participants. Escudero answered 377 of them during the hour-long live chat session. Still, Exchange’s initial outing elicited many insightful answers from Escudero, who is believed to be one of the major contenders for the presidency in May 2010. When asked whether he has plans to run for president or vice president next year, Escudero replied, “Wala pa. Magpapasya at magdedesisyon ako pagsapit at pagpalo ko ng kwarenta anyos. Si Noynoy nagdesisyon 40 days matapos mamatay ang kanyang nanay. Ako’y magde-desisyon 40 years matapos akong pinangananak. ([I have] no plans yet. I will decide when I reach 40 years of age. If Noynoy announced his decision to run 40 days after the death of his mother, I will announce my decision 40 years after I was born.) Escudero will turn 40 on October 10. The former Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) spokesperson also reacted to some people who have branded him a young traditional politician. To the question, “What is your reaction to people who call you ‘trapotito?’" Escudero replied, “Karapatan n’yong sabihin ‘yan kung ninanais ninyo pero hindi po ako ganoon at hindi po ako affected." (It’s your right to say that if you want to but I am not like that and I am not affected.) Answering a question posed by chatter Imcsanchez about the platforms he would champion if he decides to run for president, Escudero enumerated six focal points: graft and corruption, education, infrastructure, economy, environment, and health care. He emphasized that tackling graft and corruption should be the top priority for the president so that resources could be properly allocated. “Pay our officials right," he said. “Put in jail the first corrupt official you will find to serve as an example." On a lighter note, some of the chatters asked him personal questions like if he is a “family man" or why he speaks a certain way. Chatter Lady Karen2009 asked him about his good traits, to which he replied, “Anong magandang trait? Di ako humihilik ‘pag tulog. Mabilis ako maligo. Konti ako kumain. Kaya kung patitirahin niyo man ako sa bahay n’yo, hindi kayo mapeperwisyo." (What good trait? I don’t snore when I sleep. I shower quickly. I don’t eat much. If you let me stay in your homes, I won’t be much of a nuisance.) Escudero also gamely answered a number of cheeky questions sent in by the chatters. A fan, cheezyluv, asked him, “Cheesy ka ba?" To which he replied, “Hindi ko alam kung anong ibig sabihin nu’n. Kung ang ibig sabihin nu’n ay malambot, hindi. Kung ang ibig sabihin nu’n ay kulay dilaw, hindi rin. Kung ang ibig sabihin nu’n ay masarap, siguro. Kung ang ibig sabihin nu’n ay ano pa ba…ano pa bang ibig sabihin ng keso? Pwedeng ipalaman? Hindi rin. Kung ibig sabihin nu’n ay masarap pang-agahan o pang-almusal, hindi rin siguro." (I don’t know what that means. If that means I’m soft, no. If that means I’m yellow, no. If that means I’m delicious, maybe. If that means, what else? What else does cheese mean? That you can put it in a sandwich? No, too. If that means I’m good for breakfast, I don’t think so.) On September 24, two other presidential aspirants will chat with Netizens live on Exchange. Nicanor “Nicky" Perlas will go online at 11 a.m. (Philippine time) while Ang Kapatiran’s JC de los Reyes will answer questions at 3 p.m. (Philippine time). - GMANews.TV