I love Beijing and I love the Olympics. Proof of this is that I declined an opportunity to move to Shanghai if only for the Olympics. I also know now that my destiny of being in the Olympics will be fulfilled.As soon as I learned that tickets were available online, I immediately conspired with friends and family back home (my sis and best friend were flying from Manila for the Olympics) on what events to apply for. The process was arduous as we wanted to make sure we’d see all dream games which would include the opening ceremonies, gymnastics and lots of volleyball and badminton. As 10 were not enough (even as I initially feared the total cost if I got all the tickets), I even asked another friend to order a few more badminton tickets for me. Application done. Come August 28th, my friend emails me that she received an email from the Olympic Committee and that she got nothing but my badminton tickets. She told me to check my email. I did nervously logging into my email account, only to be disappointed with no email. I slept a sleepless night after that hourly checking my emails for THE EMAIL. None came…and day in, day out, zero. Sadly, the website even said, only those ALLOCATED will be NOTIFIED. Spoke to everyone else who applied, apparently, it was one disappointment after another, except for a former Korean colleague who won wrestling tickets (which she graciously offered me as she knew how much Olympic glory meant to me which I couldn’t accept anyway), all else got kaput. My Japanese colleague who had 4 applications (hers, her Chinese husband’s, her mom and dad in law) ended up with zilch. I though it was an impossible dream. I was ready to pack my bags….from Goodluck Beijing to Goodbye Beijing.
Come September 10th, the supposed last day for payment if you got tickets, I called the Olympic Hotline and asked why I didn’t receive any emails. She said, “You should have had whether you won tickets or not, I suggest you email us and wait for a response. To be sure you don’t waive your tickets though, I suggest you deposit money in your Olympic Account to be sure it has money if you won. I told her, “This is ridiculous! I only have the minimum required 10 kuai there. Why should I deposit 10,000 kuai if I wasn’t sure I got tickets? She said, “I understand it’s inconvenient but I suggest you do it.†In a frustrated state, I said goodbye.
Considering she said I should have been emailed whether I won or not, I checked my emails for the past 2 weeks once more, zilch, nil, nada….ayaaahhhhhh…. I checked my bulk aka spam mail, it shouldn’t hurt….September 9, 8…August 29, 28…hold on….there’s one from the BOCOG…I open it, pause, breathe heavily and read, “We would like to thank you for you interest in applying…..†(a thank you? this can’t be good)….â€We are pleased to confirm that you have secured your place at some or all of your selected sessions after a random selection…..†(at the very least I got one)….women’s gymnastics individual all around, women’s volleyball quarterfinals, women’s volleyball semifinals and women’s volleyball gold medal match, badminton mixed semifinals….(I got 5 events, my Lord, I got 13 tickets). It seems I’m the luckiest person I know. Now I know, China is my destiny. My quest for Olympic glory has been fulfilled. Goodluck Beijing, goodluck Marco.
Right now, we are behind a Colombian, several Americans and Brits who already got thousands of votes for this Expats for Olympic Torchbearers contest. So if you want a fellow Flipino to become one of the Olympic Torchbearers, let’s VOTE for Marco.
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There are 20 comments to this entry
Every vote (i.e. IP address) counts! Let’s support Marco Torres.
I posted an entry in support of Marco Torres. I hope you can read it and pass it on to your friends so we can convince them all to vote for Marco.
I posted it here:
(Lester’s blog)
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@Lester Cavestany: Thanks dude! I don’t think Marco can win against others who already got thousands of votes. But if ever Marco wins, support from bloggers will play a big factor I bet.
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Dear Lester & Marc,
Thanks for your overwhelming support, the kind words and your votes. It truly has been awesome.
With your support, this proud 100% Pinoy is now in the Top 15 considering I was a late starter (I started at September 20 while the others started as early as September 7).
Undeniably, when the Pinoys are one, we can achieve anything.
We still have a long way to go to make it to the magic 8 but with patriotic Filipinos like you, there’s no journey we can’t complete.
Cheers to your blogs! May you inspire more people with your positive thoughts with these.
From Beijing, China. Xiexie ni! (Thank you!)
Mabuhay ang Pinoy!
Marco
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Marcvill, I don’t think he won’t be able to catch up considering he’s only been in the race for about 5 days. A thousand votes shouldn’t be that difficult to get. If you think about, if all students in one average-sized school votes for him….he already gets his thousand.
That’s what I think he needs…backing up of major organizations. Watchathink….
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@Karen: Hey, guess what! Marco says he’s already in the top 15 with 724 votes and 223 comments in just 5 days of campaigning!! Yeah you’re right. With support from Pinoys all over, we can win!
Mabuhay ang mga Pinoy. What I can do on my end is to keep on promoting this cause to the blogging community. I’m sure Marco appreciates the support he’s getting from fellow Pinoys like us Karen! Keep me posted on your plans ok. Thanks.
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Marcvill and the rest,
Thanks for all the support. As of this minute in fact, we now have 1021 votes and just need about 50 more to make it to no. 14. See rankings here….
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/torch_page.html
Slowly but surely getting there. Thanks for all the support. I know with your help we can make it. Keep on forwarding…. just by having each person have another person vote….2,000 na kaagad!
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Para sa pagkapanalo ng mga Pinoy! Mabuhay!
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Peeps,
Vote lang and forward….use YM, emails, Facebook, Friendster, Multiply, fax, DHL, Fedex, etc. etc lahat na… Let’s make sure a Pinoy makes it.
Kung sa Miss Universe nga chaka American Idol, Pinoy lahat ng bumoboto, dito pa kayo.
Kaya natin to! Go for the GOLD!
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Dear Fellow-Filipinos,
Thank you for making a stand and exercising your rights of suffrage…Let us not let this golden opportunity pass us by…Vote Marco Torres! Our most eligible candidate to represent us in the Beijing Olympics…We can make this happen!
A toast to Marco! We believe in you. May God’s mighty hand uphold you… Godspeed!
Peace and unity to us all!
Kathy
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Mga kababayan ko!
I would like to thank you for the support. Of 349 candidates, we are now at no. 14 with about 2,500 votes. We are getting close to making the Beijing Olympics even more special to Filipinos. After all, bihira lang naman umabot sa Asia ang Olympics.
We have until the END OF OCTOBER TO VOTE. Please forward to all your friends, relatives and countrymen.
Kung magkakaisa ang mga Pinoy, there is no limit to what we can achieve. Maraming salamat muli. Let us keep the torch burning in our hearts!
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Go for Gold!
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We, the Pinoys in Sacramento, are all out to support Marco Torres!!! We are very proud to have a Filipino carry that Olympic torch and hope to see it happen again in this lifetime.
Go Marco! The strong Filipino community in Sacramento, California and the US are with you in your quest.
GO PHILIPPINES!
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Please take time out to read my blog regarding Marco’s bid for the Beijing Olympics. Maraming salamat po.
http://ricocalma.multiply.com/journal/item/5/THE_FIRE_BURNS_WITHIN
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goodluck
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goodluck!!! we are proud of you
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Mga kababayan!,
Thanks for all the support! We have made it to the Top 10 (Marco is now in a neck-to-neck battle for no. 8 currently).
FINAL VOTING IS OCTOBER 14, SUNDAY, MIDNIGHT! So need all your support now to get a Filipino to carry that torch!
Keep forwarding this link please and ask friends to vote: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/torch_page.html
Check out also the GMA 7 interview which appeared in Saksi and Unang Hirit:
http://www.gmanews.tv/video/12640
Marco also be in TV Patrol Tonight! Tune in!
No time to lose. Go for the Gold! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
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GUD LUCK MARCO MABUHAY KA.
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goodluck…pursue it! 4 sure ull give honor 2 our country! goodluck
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An update on Marco.. check out this article!
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2007-11/02/content_6224493.htm
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