Binay Won’t Take Any Cabinet Post

The Aquino-Binay meeting finally took place Wednesday, but it did not result in a clear delineation of Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay’s role in the new administration, if any.

Asked if he had accepted a post in the Cabinet of President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, Binay said: “Nothing yet as of now. Let us see what happens in the next few days.”

But later in a statement, Binay said he had decided “to decline any Cabinet position so as not to burden the President and allow him to focus on the many challenges facing the nation.”

He said he had conveyed this to Aquino Monday night, ahead of Wednesday’s meeting.

Aquino himself said in a text message to reporters after the meeting: “I offered him several posts that he declined. I asked him to think about it. When we announce our choices, you will see how we sought to be as inclusive as possible.”

Neither Aquino nor Binay disclosed the posts that were offered.

Binay said the plan of Aquino’s defeated running mate, Sen. Manuel Roxas II, to file an electoral protest against Binay’s victory was not taken up during the meeting.

Roxas is seen as the main stumbling block to Binay’s ambition to head the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). Aquino has reaffirmed his support for Roxas by naming his losing running mate as his alter ego in the transition team.

The source from Binay’s camp said the Vice President-elect had “respectfully declined” any Cabinet post to avert disarray in Aquino’s official family.

The source, who asked not to be named for lack of authority to speak publicly on the issue, pointed out that many of those being considered for the Cabinet were known to be loyal to Roxas.

A person present at the two-hour afternoon meeting at the President-elect’s residence on Times Street, Quezon City, said Binay turned down all the posts offered but promised to support Aquino’s administration and continue their personal friendship.

According to the source who spoke on condition of anonymity, the two friends sat on a couch in the living room and reminisced on their long history together. They also discussed their common passion, gun collection.

Fresh fruits were served during the meeting.

Binay earlier declared his desire to be named to the DILG.

But Aquino has named Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo, a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for government service, as his top choice for the DILG.

Helping A Friend in Chicago

A friend in Chicago just put up a web startup and is asking me if I know any company that offers promotional campaigns. I told him to search first the phrase marketing solutions chicago and I'm sure he'll stumble upon one in his area.

Although since it's a web startup, I also said that he should also try to make marketing campaigns in social media such as Facebook and Twitter and also introduce his company in various online forums and do email marketing as well.

I'v had some experience with creating online buzz and I also shared my strategies with him. In any case, I do wish him luck in his new venture. I'm sure he will be successful at it.

Shoebox Treasure

You know that old shoebox stashed down in the basement that you find by accident? The one that you find when really you were trying to get a lightbulb or a box of trashbags or whatever you keep down in the basement?

It takes your curiosity, look at the things inside, and then you start to reminisce? I found one yesterday. Mine had small toys, magnets, photo cards and all of them reminded me of my childhood.

And judging from my collection, it seems that trading cards were really my thing back then. I didn't notice but I was down at the basement for the rest of the afternoon. I took the shoebox up to my bedroom after that. I will continue to sort through the stuff maybe later.