ON CONTRACEPTION AND ABORTION

The Reproductive Health bill has raised a storm of arguments in favor and against its provisions. The controversy revolves around the argument about killing the unborn as well as in controlling population. The Pro-Lifers lumped the concepts of contraception and abortion as one of murdering the fetus. Those in favor of the RH Bill distinguish between contraceptives and abortifacients, as well as favor sex education in order to inform couples about how to plan their families.

For me, the most important feature of the Bill is its concern for the health of mothers by offering options to control childbearing and limit the number of economically supportable children without resorting to abortion or the use of abortifacients. One basic argument against abortion raised by a bishop is the commandment “thou shalt not kill.”

I took the liberty of extracting verbatim from the internet, mostly from Wikipedia, the following information in order to support the viewpoints I shall raise at the end of this blog:


“ABORTION is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion of a fetus or embryo from the uterus, resulting in or caused by its death. An abortion can occur spontaneously due to complications during pregnancy or can be induced, in humans and other species. In the context of human pregnancies, an abortion induced to preserve the health of the gravida (pregnant female) is termed a therapeutic abortion, while an abortion induced for any other reason is termed an elective abortion. The term abortion most commonly refers to the induced abortion of a human pregnancy, while spontaneous abortions are usually termed miscarriages.

“An abortifacient is a substance that induces abortion.

“Medieval Muslim physicians documented detailed and extensive lists of birth control practices, including the use of abortifacients, commenting on their effectiveness and prevalence. The use of abortifacients was acceptable to Islamic jurists provided that the abortion occurs within 120 days, the point when the fetus is considered to become fully human and receive its soul.

“CONTRACEPTION - Intentional prevention of conception or impregnation through the use of various devices, agents, drugs, sexual practices, or surgical procedures.

“The available methods of contraception may be classified in many ways. For the sake of this discussion, traditional or folk methods are coitus interruptus, postcoital douche, lactational amenorrhea, and periodic abstinence (rhythm or natural family planning). Barrier methods include condoms (male and female), diaphragm, cervical cap, vaginal sponge, and spermicides. Hormonal methods encompass oral contraceptives and injectable or implantable long-acting progestins. In addition, the intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) and sterilization (tubal ligation or Vasectomy) are also part of the contraceptive armamentarium.

“ONANISM - From the biblical name Onan: In the Book of Genesis, Onan, son of Judah, in fulfillment of the laws of levirate marriage was to impregnate his brother Er's widow, Tamar, in order to raise offspring from the union in his brother's name. In order to avoid raising descendants for his late brother, however, Onan spilled his semen on the ground when he went in to his brother's wife, so that he would not give offspring to his brother. (Genesis 38:9). Thus the word Onanism was coined, meaning ejaculating outside the vagina [during intercourse; (the performing of) coitus interruptus], or masturbation (because this also spills semen, rather than using it for procreation).

“To understand conception, it is helpful to know about female reproductive system and the menstruation cycle. A female is born with about 400,000 eggs in their ovaries. The female body begins to ovulate during puberty. About once a month, several eggs mature, and the lining of the uterus has been building and has become thick to act as a “nest” for the egg to implant. Then an egg is released from the ovary. If it is not fertilized within 12-48 hours, it disintegrates. Approximately 2 weeks later, the thick lining of the uterus is shed, and you begin menstruating. Your next menstruation cycle then begins again.

“Ovulation is the release of the matured egg from the ovary. In response to a hormonal signal, the follicle (holding the egg) bursts open and frees the egg - this is when you ovulate. Ovulation typically occurs around 14 or 15 days from the first day of the female's last menstruation cycle. Once you ovulate, the ovum (egg) travels into the fallopian tube and is receptive to fertilization by a sperm.

“Once you ovulate, this is the most fertile period for the female body. This is the time when conception can occur, and you are most likely to become pregnant. Since the egg has been released (i.e., you ovulated) and is available for fertilization, if a female engages in unprotected intercourse, fertilization and conception can occur. A female is most fertile during ovulation and can become pregnant from unprotected sexual relations that took place anytime during this fertile period - basically, from the 5 days before ovulation to 1 day afterwards.

“Conception occurs after the female’s egg is fertilized by a male’s sperm. After sperm are ejaculated in the vagina, they swim through the cervix and into the Fallopian tubes, where fertilization and conception usually takes place. Once a single sperm has penetrated the egg, conception has happened as the genetic material from the sperm and the egg has merged into a single nucleus (called a "zygote").

“Medical experts (e.g., the FDA and the American Medical Association) agree that the establishment of a pregnancy takes several days and is not completed until a fertilized egg has implanted in the lining of the woman's uterus. A woman is considered to be pregnant once the implantation of the zygote has occurred.

“Human fertilization is the union of a human egg and sperm, usually occurring in the ampulla of the uterine tube. It is also the initiation of prenatal development. Scientists discovered the dynamics of human fertilisation in the nineteenth century.
“The process of fertilization involves a sperm fusing with an ovum—usually following ejaculation during sexual intercourse. It is possible, but less probable, for fertilization to occur without sexual intercourse, artificial insemination, or In vitro fertilisation. Upon encountering the ovum, the acrosome of the sperm produces enzymes which allow it to burrow through the outer jelly coat of the egg. The sperm plasma then fuses with the egg's plasma membrane, the sperm head disconnects from its flagellum and the egg travels down the Fallopian tube to reach the uterus.

“The egg and the sperm bind through the corona radiata, a layer of follicle cells on the outside of the secondary oocyte. Fertilization occurs when the nuclei of a sperm and an egg fuse. The successful fusion of gametes form a new organism.

“Where the spermatozoon is about to pierce, the yolk (ooplasm) is drawn out into a conical elevation, termed the cone of attraction. Once the spermatozoon has entered, the peripheral portion of the yolk changes into a membrane, the vitelline membrane, which prevents the passage of additional spermatozoa.

“The acrosome reaction must occur to mobilise enzymes within the head of the spermatozoon to degrade the zona pellucida.

“After binding to the corona radiata the sperm reaches the zona pellucida, which is an extra-cellular matrix of glycoproteins. A special complementary molecule on the surface of the sperm head binds to a ZP2 glycoprotein in the zona pellucida. This binding triggers the acrosome to burst, releasing enzymes that help the sperm get through the zona pellucida.

“Some sperm cells consume their acrosome prematurely on the surface of the egg cell, facilitating the penetration by other sperm cells. As a population, sperm cells have on average 50% genome similarity so the premature acrosomal reactions aid fertilization by a member of the same cohort. It may be regarded as a mechanism of kin selection.

“Recent studies have shown that the egg is not passive during this process.
“Once the sperm cells find their way past the zona pellucida, the cortical reaction occurs: cortical granules inside the secondary oocyte fuse with the plasma membrane of the cell, causing enzymes inside these granules to be expelled by exocytosis to the zona pellucida. This in turn causes the glyco-proteins in the zona pellucida to cross-link with each other -- that is, the enzymes cause the ZP2 to hydrolyse into ZP2f -- making the whole matrix hard and impermeable to sperm. This prevents fertilization of an egg by more than one sperm.

“After the sperm enters the cytoplasm of the oocyte, the cortical reaction takes place, preventing other sperm from fertilizing the same egg. The oocyte now undergoes its second meiotic division producing the haploid ovum and releasing a polar body. The sperm nucleus then fuses with the ovum, enabling fusion of their genetic material.

“The cell membranes of the secondary oocyte and sperm fuse.

“In preparation for the fusion of their genetic material both the oocyte and the sperm undergo transformations as a reaction to the fusion of cell membranes.

“The oocyte completes its second meiotic division. This results in a mature ovum. The nucleus of the oocyte is called a pronucleus in this process, to distinguish it from the nuclei that are the result of fertilization.

“The sperm's tail and mitochondria degenerate with the formation of the male pronucleus. This is why all mitochondria in humans are of maternal origin

“The pronuclei migrate toward the center of the oocyte, rapidly replicating their DNA as they do so to prepare the embryo for its first mitotic division.

“The male and female pronuclei don't fuse, although their genetic material do. Instead, their membranes dissolve, leaving no barriers between the male and female chromosomes. During this dissolution, a mitotic spindle forms between them. The spindle captures the chromosomes before they disperse in the egg cytoplasm. Upon subsequently undergoing meiosis (which includes pulling of chromatids towards centrioles in anaphase) the cell gathers genetic material from the male and female together. Thus, the first mitosis of the union of sperm and oocyte is the actual fusion of their chromosomes.

“Each of the two daughter cells resulting from that mitosis has one replica of each chromatid that was replicated in the previous stage. Thus, they are genetically identical.

“The term sperm is derived from the Greek word (σπέρμα) sperma (meaning "seed") and refers to the male reproductive cells. In the types of sexual reproduction known as anisogamy and oogamy, there is a marked difference in the size of the gametes with the smaller one being termed the "male" or sperm cell. The human sperm cell is haploid, so that its 23 chromosomes can join the 23 chromosomes of the female egg to form a diploid cell. A uniflagellar sperm cell that is motile is referred to as a spermatozoon, whereas a non-motile sperm cell is referred to as a spermatium. Sperm cells cannot divide and have a limited life span, but after fusion with egg cells during fertilization, a new organism begins developing, starting as a totipotent zygote.

“The spermatozoa of animals are produced through spermatogenesis inside the male gonads (testicles) via meiotic division. They are carried out of the male body in a fluid known as semen. Mammalian sperm cells can survive within the female reproductive tract for more than 5 days post coitus.

“The sperm cell consists of a head, a midpiece and a tail. The head contains the nucleus with densely coiled chromatin fibres, surrounded anteriorly by an acrosome, which contains enzymes used for penetrating the female egg. The midpiece has a central filamentous core with many mitochondria spiralled around it, used for ATP production for the journey through the female cervix, uterus and uterine tubes. The tail or "flagellum" executes the lashing movements that propel the spermatocyte.

“Motile sperm cells typically move via flagella and require water in order to swim toward the egg for fertilization. These cells cannot swim backwards due to the nature of their propulsion. The uniflagellated sperm cells (with one flagellum) produced in most animals are referred to as spermatozoa, and are known to vary in size.

“Sperm quantity and quality are the main parameters in semen quality, which is a measure of the ability of semen to accomplish fertilization. Thus, in humans, it is a measure of fertility in a man.”

From the information presented above, there is nothing to “kill” even if the sperm and the ovum has united but has not been implanted in the womb/uterus. The “establishment of a pregnancy takes several days and is not completed until a fertilized egg has implanted in the lining of the woman's uterus.” Contraception is the process of preventing the implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus or womb. Surprisingly, “the use of abortifacients was acceptable to Islamic jurists provided that the abortion occurs within 120 days, the point when the fetus is considered to become fully human and receive its soul.” But that is Islam and not Catholic Christianity.

It seems that the position of the Pro-Lifers is that sexual intercourse is not for pleasure but to propagate humans. However, the pleasure attained during the sexual union is an expression of love – the uniting of two bodies into one at the moment of orgasm. The expression of mutual ecstasy at that moment is almost equivalent to ecstasy in uniting with GOD. As well, the Pro-Lifers consider the union of the sperm and the ovum, outside of the womb or uterus, as already a fetus and should not be eliminated. (I wonder what the stand of the Pro-Lifers on rape. If a daughter is impregnated by a rapist, will the Pro-Lifer parent decide to have the bastard survive?)

Without the sex education and the various options presented by the RH Bill, the methods insisted by the Pro-Lifers – Rhythm method and abstinence (!?) – can result to overpopulation and economic hardships to most of our people. (Sometimes, I am puzzled why some of the wealthy are beset by the problem of infertility, while the very poor who cannot afford large families are very prolific.) I am tempted to assume that the Catholic Church cannot accept any method that “wastes” sperms through the use of condoms, or masturbation, among others. What about the “wastage” of those unfertilized ova washed away during menstruation. And those sperms “wasted” via “wet dreams”?

The recent controversy involving the use of the condom, supposed to be acceptable to the Pope, also gives a questionable twist to the stand of the Catholic Church. It seems prostitution is tolerated so long as condoms are used in the exercise of the profession. The issue is raised to prevent the spread of disease. But is not the RH Bill also concerned with the same issue: health?

Another point I would like to raise: is respect for Life only reserved for humans?

THE PACQUIAO-MARGARITO FIGHT IN TEXAS

I realize I am a failure in forecasting election results.

This time, I shall endeavor to try and forecast the results of the Pacquiao-Margarito boxing bout on November 13 (which is November 14 in the Philippines), using my usual mode of computing planetary transits and their effects on the protagonists. (Transits are how the orbiting planets influence the planets in the birth chart during a particular time and place.)

As usual, I tried “rectifying” the birth charts of the boxers by utilizing the software “Jigsaw” with the data on their boxing history. I obtained the following results:

Emmanuel Pacquiao – 17 December 1978, 9:49 a.m. General Santos City
Antonio Margarito – 18 March 1978, 5:31 p,m.. Torrance, California

Surprisingly, both boxers have their Moons in the same sign. Manny has 23 Cancer 08 while, Margarito has 23 Cancer 09. Thus, the planetary transits for November 13, 2010 during the boxing bout that is supposed to start at 8 p.m. in Arlington, Texas will have the same values for the Moon for both boxers -- both have transiting Jupiter trine Moon. They differ only in the effects of the other planets for the rest of the boxers’ planetary distributions. The graphs below show the comparative effects of the planetary transits on the boxers. It seems that Margarito has more transits (Activity) than Pacquiao.



However, in terms of the “positive” effects of these transits (Mood), Pacquiao has the higher values compared to Margarito.



From the graphs above, the values of Pacquiao’s transits are steady from beginning to end of the bout. On the other hand, Margarito’s transits have significant changes during the second and third rounds of the fight. It seems Margarito will try for a knockout during these rounds. Nonetheless, Pacquiao’s level of confidence (Mood) remains stable and higher than Margarito’s all throughout the fight.

In comparing the transits or how the actual orbits of the planets affect the birth charts, we found two significant passages on Pacquiao: transiting Pluto is conjunct Mars and transiting Mercury trine Jupiter. In turn, Margarito has transiting Jupiter trine Mars, but transiting Uranus is square Jupiter even as transiting Venus is in trine with it.

Pacquiao seems to be the winner in this bout, although the judges will find it difficult to score the rounds.

AN IRREVOCABLE FORECAST

In my previous election forecasts of 2004 and 2007, I had concentrated on the senatorial candidates in addition to the presidential candidates. I tried to review my records but could not retrieve those I computed for the presidential race. In the 1998 elections I could only recall telling Rene de Villa, who I supported, that he would win if Estrada backs out of the race. I cannot remember who the other candidates for the presidency were at the time. On the other hand, I wrote in 2004 that GMA would win over FPJ, but by a very small margin. I remember there were also several aspirants during the elections, such as Raul Roco and Panfilo Lacson. (In this matter, I did not crow about my successful forecast because of the Hello-Garci affair which polluted the outcome.)

On the matter of the senatorial races, my post-analysis of the 2004 elections, which I published in my StarTrack blog of February 25, 2007, showed I got eight winners out of the twelve candidates I chose. On the other hand, in my blog of April 6, 2007 forecasting the May elections of that year, I got nine out of twelve I listed as sure winners. (For those who want to check my claims, they can access my blog at http://rasolina.blogspot.com.) I am bringing out these matters in order to warn my readers how “accurate” I can be in choosing winners via computing how transiting or passing planets affect the birth horoscopes of candidates. Of special mention is my forecast about Trillanes, who was almost a nobody in the various opinion surveys done during the elections of 2007.

This time, however, due to the numerous senatorial candidates, I decided to concentrate on the presidential race, although I am not after predicting how many will win, but of the nine candidates, who will prevail. I have published three attempts at solving the matter and thought that should be the end of my experimentations. My results do not tally with published poll surveys; but that does not bother me because I am using a different method – how the solar system affects electoral contests. The problem, however, is that my results do not seem to be realistic. I kept getting Teodoro as my Number One, and yet, like Trillanes, he might still prove to be a miracle. In this matter, my brother-in-law prevailed upon me to make a definitive conclusion about my forecast, so I had to review and fine-tune my algorithm. I still got Teodoro as the front runner. As well, my wife’s friend asked a very relevant question: “Do you foresee smooth sailing for the new president?” I am including my views on these matters in this write-up.

The following graph and data are my FINAL forecast for the May Elections. As I have mentioned above my accuracy is a mere 67 percent (8 out of 12) to 75 percent (9 out of 12)


Incidentally, John Carlos delos Reyes, hitherto unknown and contesting better known candidates, could be a rising star of the group. It would really be a very big surprise if he comes out better than the other contestants.

Now, regarding the question “Do you foresee smooth sailing for the new president?” I shall try to guess, assuming that Teodoro will be the new president.

As a minority president garnering a mere 14 percent of the votes, there will be no smooth sailing for him since he has a number of encumbrances to deal with in matters of education, employment, justice, etc. He has to cope with the perception that he is merely a stooge of the ex-president. Fortunately, the numerous defections during the election campaign rid him of political baggage he would have to accommodate had they not left his party. As well, there are a lot to change in the morality of this benighted country. In this his leadership style will do a lot to restore confidence in the presidency.

He will have to cope with an Opposition Senate, since his defeated rivals – namely, Villar, and Aquino -- will only continue their interrupted senatorial terms that will end in 2003. (There is also Legarda.) Unfortunately, Teodoro has a weak senatorial slate that may not make it to support him in the Senate. Hopefully, some re-elected senators will be the Opposition of his Opposition and keep the Senate in a constant civil war. How Teodoro will effectively deal with such a composition to support his programs is a test of his ability to harmonize and cope with divisiveness.

His smooth sailing will be in matters of continuing the productive economic programs of his predecessors. He does not have to re-invent the wheel, figuratively speaking. The usual behavior of new presidents is to come up with his new concepts and discard the programs or projects of “enemies” even if these are strategically beneficial for the country. He merely should enhance and make effective sans corruption what worthy plans are being implemented. In this matter, I choose and firmly believe that Bayani Fernando will do a good job as his VP “bastonero” to keep the bureaucracy moving efficiently. (Bayani will do a very good job, having 2016 in his telescopic sight.)

TEODORO: THE FILIPINO MESSIAH?

My previous efforts, which I chose to publish in my blog StarTrack, were to determine the presidential candidate who is most likely to lead in the May 10 elections. The different approaches I took in computing the estimated outcomes gave some divergent results depending on the factors I utilized. As I have mentioned earlier, my most difficult problem was in determining the birth times of the candidates. I have to resort to doing researches on their life histories and somehow trying to give dates to the various significant incidents in their lives.

My tries somehow gave a very distinctive place to a particular candidate: Gilbert Teodoro. Although the other candidates landed in different places in the lineup, somehow Teodoro continues to maintain the leading position. He was always Number One. I myself could not reconcile the actual fact of his being Number Four in most of the opinion surveys conducted during the campaign period with his being Number One in my computations. His being Number One in my three attempts to fine-tune the results brainwashed me to accept him as my choice (at the start of my computational experimentation I had tentatively chose one other candidate, although not the front-runners). I have also noted his novel style of campaigning, without resorting to demeaning his political rivals but focusing on what we can expect from his method and style of governance. He has so far followed the rules; he has not overspent nor exceeded the air time allowed by the law.

Fortunately, my sister-in-law was able to get his actual birth data at 10:25 p.m. on June 14, 1964. This time, I shall write about his astrological character analysis to determine if he really is worth being our President without his having to engage in objectionable techniques of winning. Given the published public pulse, I have my own misgivings but then I believe in miracles. We, Filipinos, deserve the leaders we choose. I hope that this May Elections will give us the opportunity to select a President who can bring us out of the depths of despair. And given my own study of Teodoro, I have faith that in choosing him we shall be saved.

So as not to be accused of biased analysis, I shall borrow the astrological interpretations of a software, Solar Fire, sans its jargon, to highlight the qualities of Gilberto TEODORO:

“You are gentle, loving and charming. You express yourself in an affectionate manner and enjoy the company of other people. You also have a love of art and beauty. You can be idealistic and easily hurt… You have much empathy for other people's suffering and may become a healer or counselor… You have so many original thoughts and ideas that you find it difficult to capture them on paper… You are focused on your own thoughts and opinions and may not listen to others… You may find that you have an urge to express yourself through artistic avenues.

“Relationships will play an important role in your accomplishments. You need to make sure that your need to keep the peace does not hinder decisive action… You are stubborn if opposed… You have the ability to state your thoughts and ideas strongly… You are on a persistent search for the truth. You have the ability to be a loyal and wise teacher. You have a strong desire for abundance… You are a great thinker and talker. You seek ever-increasing communication networks and inspire others through your insight. You are always seeking to expand your mind.

“You are enthusiastic about so many things, and have the ambition to succeed. You naturally find yourself in leadership positions and react well to them… You are responsible and reliable, and probably somewhat cautious… You have a gift for understanding people and lending a caring hand in their times of troubles. Your sensitive and accepting nature encourages people to tell you their heartfelt problems. You may be drawn to the spiritual side of life.”

Additional to the description above, the aspects of the Fixed Stars to the natal planets of Teodoro indicate the following significances (the conjunction and the parallel add power to the planets involved):

• Aldebaran conjunct Mercury means “Success through integrity”
• Deneb Adige conjunct Saturn means “strong will, strong temper”
• Thuban conjunct Uranus means “to protect or make a treasure”
• Zuben Elgenubi conjunct Neptune means “positive social reform”
• Zosma conjunct Pluto means “A victim or a savior”
• Hamal parallel Sun means “to follow one’s own path”
• Arcturus parallel Mars means “a different approach”
• Spica parallel Saturn means “the potential for brilliance”

Despite the published surveys of various survey companies, Gilberto Teodoro may turn out to be a miracle that God will bestow on us. Miracles do not mean easy sailing; there will be a number of difficulties we have to collectively surmount. Hopefully, the process will be a purgation of the ills that have hounded us for a number of years. As our leader, Teodoro will be an appropriate inspiration for us to perform morally and well in the performance of our duties.

THE PEARSON R COEFFICIENT AND THE MAY ELECTIONS

In this essay I shall come up with a different thrust in trying to figure out how the May 10, 2010 elections will eventually turn out.

In my previous essays, I worked out estimates of how five presidential candidates will fare in terms of votes they presumably will get, ignoring the four other candidates in the process. The process I adopted was to compute the “values” of the transiting planets as they affect the planets in the natal horoscopes of the five candidates. Working on these results, I estimated how the transiting values will translate into votes. In so doing, I combined the other four as one candidate and thus came out with an unrealistic figure to complete the forty million votes all of the nine candidates will garner.

Thus, in my second attempt to calculate the votes the candidates may garner, I had to research and complete the astrological data for all of them. In this try, the lineup of the candidates changed. While, for instance, in the first attempt I got Teodoro as Number One, followed by Estrada, the second try brought Villar as the Number Two instead of Estrada. And then, as I mentioned in my last article, I could not imagine Perlas as beating Aquino III, and Madrigal ahead of Gordon.

I am thus ending my astrological computations using the effects of the transiting planets on the birth charts of the candidates, since I have run out of ideas on how to proceed. (There are other factors in astrology that I could resort to, but then I am merely bringing so much effort to bear on something I cannot influence at all. For instance, I could resort to character analysis and weigh the factors to determine how the person will fare, but, as pointed out by my brother-in-law, I could be charged with libel in case my findings do not favor the person.)

In this essay, I shall venture to find out how the candidates “correlate” with the Republic. In the parlance of statistics, I shall engage in solving the correlation between the candidates and the country. The Pearson correlation coefficient shall be my indicator of “significance” ranging from positive One to negative One (statisticians will understand my method although they can question my doing so).

Firstly, I have to convert the planetary zodiac degrees into numbers so as to make them amenable to statistical computation. Each zodiac sign is thirty degrees wide. For instance, if the Sun is at 20 degrees and 36 minutes in Sagittarius, I do the following.

Since Sagittarius is the Ninth sign in the zodiac, I subtract one from nine and multiply the total by thirty degrees. Then I add the 20 degrees and convert the 36 minutes into decimal format. Thus the Sun is at 8 times 30 plus 20.60 or 260.60. I proceeded to convert the rest of the zodiac degrees of the other planets of the participants in the exercise.

With all the coordinates of the horoscopes of the Philippines, and the nine presidential candidates, I utilized the Excel software to compute the Pearson correlation coefficients for every candidate with the country. The results are as follows:

TEODORO 0.4016
MADRIGAL 0.1908
ESTRADA 0.1829
DELOS REYES -0.0154
AQUINO -0.0196
GORDON -0.0310
VILLAR -0.2254
PERLAS -0.3708
VILLANUEVA -0.6631

I am truly surprised to see Teodoro at the head of the list, followed by Madrigal etc. (The result will be cause for rejoicing to all Gibo fans, considering the weakening of his party due to massive defections to his opponents.) I shall not attempt to translate the figures into expected votes, since there are negative values (which apparently show opposing tendencies towards the Republic). We shall see how the May 10, 2010 elections end – will the correlation between the candidates and the country indicate their relative standings?

As well, it would be interesting to study past candidates and their resonances with the country.

ELECTIONS 2010 – LAST PART

In my previous “astrological” forecast, I concentrated only on five presidential candidates. The effort somehow showed my bias towards those whom I thought mattered.

As I explained in those forecasts, I had to research on their life histories since I must have their birth times; the various websites I went through merely indicated their dates and places of birth. Without the time of birth, no horoscope (or view of the hour) can be cast.

There is a method by which to determine times of birth, but the procedure is time consuming and a test of patience. In order to proceed, the researcher must come up with the significant events in the life history of his subject, such as dates of the deaths of loved ones, marriages, births of offsprings, appointments to top positions, etc. And then for every hypothesized time of birth, he has to test every event for significant planetary passages. Often times, to shortcut the process, so-called "solar charts" are computed, either by placing the Sun on the Rising Sign or the Midheaven. This method has also its limitations.

Fortunately, there is a software, JigSaw2, that lessens the tedium of going through the algorithms involved. Still the significant events are utilized, but then the process of testing them becomes faster.

My foray into the “rectification” of the five candidates I mentioned in my previous forecasts forced me to do researches on their lives. As I said above, this selective method betrays my apparent bias. I must correct the impression that, like opinion surveys, I do not care about the other candidates. Such impression does not do justice to my pretensions of being coldly analytical using mathematical procedures to support my findings. Then, I had to go through the process of collecting the significant events of the four other candidates.

To complete my research, these are the following birth data I obtained from JigSaw2 and used in my study of the 2010 elections. For those who know, they are free to correct my figures.

BENIGNO AQUINO III – 11:14 p.m., February 8, 1960, Manila, 14N35’ 121E00’
JOSEPH ESTRADA – 4:38 a.m., April 19, 1937, Manila, 14N35’ 121E00’
RICHARD GORDON – 4:13 a.m. August 5, 1945, Castillejos, Zambales, 14N56’ 120E12’
JAMBY MADRIGAL – 1:48 p.m., April 26, 1958, Manila, 14N35’ 121E00’
NICANOR PERLAS – 00:37 a.m., January 10, 1950, Manila, 14N35’ 121E00’
JOHN CARLOS DELOS REYES – 8:10 p.m., February 14, 1970, Olongapo City, 14N50’ 120E17’
GILBERTO TEODORO – 12:49 p.m., June 14, 1964, Manila, 14N35’ 121E00’
EDDIE VILLANUEVA – 2:44 a.m., October 6, 1946, Bocaue, Bulacan, 14N48’ 120E55’
MANUEL VILLAR – 8:25 a.m., December 13, 1949, Manila, 14N35’ 121E00’

The results of my computations are shown in the table above, based on a turnout of 40 million:

I realize that my so-called astrological forecast (without any character analysis) is rather farfetched as compared to the various results of the opinion surveys conducted during the campaign period. For instance, I cannot imagine Nick Perlas beating Noynoy Aquino, and Jamby Madrigal ahead of Dick Gordon. As well, my daughter will never forgive me for placing her favored candidate last. Much as I would like to rearrange the lineup, that would be doing a "Hello Garci" thing.

On the other hand, the character analyses done by my wife on some of the top four candidates would be an interesting reading. She interprets even the zodiac degrees of the planets in the horoscope; she has a number of books on esoteric astrology which she refers to in coming up with her astro-portraits. She may publish her character portraits in her blog at gcsolina.blogspot.com.

ELECTION FORECAST FOR 10 MAY 2010

Assuming voter turnout is 80 percent of the registered 50 million reported by COMELEC, the expected lineup of the candidates after May 10 is as shown above.
The figures are based on the results of the computations done for a previous blog.

ABOUT ELECTIONS 2010

Whenever I am asked about outcomes of certain contests, I initially try to understand the significances of planetary formations of the horoscopes of the contending parties. Unfortunately, the birth data of the personalities lack one important element -- their birth times -- which should indicate the patterns of the planetary formations especially as they form under the Midneaven or roughly the zenith when they were born. I still exert effort to compute their birth times by researching on their lives. With at least nine significant events in their lives, I "rectify" their birth times by studying how the movements of the planets in their orbits affect their horoscopes.

Under the circumstances, I eventually resort to quantifying the "actual" transits or passages of the planets affecting the horoscopes. In the jargon of astrology, I quantify the "aspects" of the transits. These aspects are in angular measures and shown whether they are "approaching" or "separating". The usual interpretations give the approaching degree more power than the separating aspect. For every planet, there is supposed to be an "orb" or degree of effectivity and force. Usually, a planet is given an orb of 4 degrees, coming or going. The strongest effect is when the orb is 0 degree or conjunct. At 4 degrees, the force is nil. Thus, as the transiting planet moves closer to a natal planet, or planet in the individual's horoscope, we ought to have a value or quantity of the planetary effect.

On the other hand, the aspects are classified either as positive or negative. If the transiting planet forms a 90 degree angle to a birth planet, this is translated as a very difficult effect. If the transiting planets are Saturn and the trans-Saturnian ones, namely, from Uranus to Pluto, the individual affected will have a difficult time in his life for the duration of their effects.
In my quantification algorithm, I come up with two consolidated values. One value is the absolute total of the aspects, which I usually interpret as the "activity" or busy-ness of the individual. The other value is the actual total, either positive or negative, which I consider the "mood" or emotional condition of the individual.

Having explained my process of analyzing horoscopes (without resorting to any astrological jargon), I now proceed to show the results of my findings about the coming national elections. I concentrated on only five of the presidential candidates -- Aquino III, Estrada, Gordon, Teodoro, and Villar. (I apologize to the other candidates for considering them as not in serious contention, since, as I have explained above, I do not have the necessary significant events with which to "correct" their birth times.)

I came up with three phases in the election period, the "pre-election", the "post-election", and the "inauguration" phases. These are my findings.

PRE-ELECTION PHASE
ACTIVITY

• GORDON = 1048.88
• ESTRADA = 886.88
• TEODORO = 870.88
• AQUINO = 852.88
• VILLAR = 650.88

MOOD

• TEODORO = 49.41
• ESTRADA = 43.91
• VILLAR = 24.41
• AQUINO = -0.84
• GORDON = -9.34

During the days immediately preceding Election Day, the most active in terms of planetary aspects, seems to be Gordon, and the least agitated is Villar. On the other hand, the confident ones are Teodoro and Estrada separated only by about six points. The least confident is Gordon.

POST-ELECTION PHASE

ACTIVITY

• GORDON = 2675.04
• AQUINO = 2181.04
• TEODORO = 2059.04
• ESTRADA = 1799.04
• VILLAR = 1331.04

MOOD

• ESTRADA = 179.78
• TEODORO = 101.53
• VILLAR = 39.28
• AQUINO = 32.53
• GORDON = -33.47

During Election Day and the following weeks, Estrada seems to hold first place in terms of positive scores, followed by Teodoro. The lowest ranking is Gordon, But the daily scoring, when the scores are graphed, indicate some fluctuations in their attitudes. Although the total of Estrada is the highest, it seems that Teodoro will catch up with him by the end of the two-weeks period. The ranking by then will be: Teodoro, Estrada, Villar, Aquino and Gordon.

I have included the effects of the transiting planets on the candidates during the two-week period spanning the Inauguration Day, that is, one week before and one week after the event. The scores of the candidates (I am focusing on the Mood data) as the indicator of the outcome of Election 2010. Although the total scores place Estrada in the lead followed by Teodoro, the eventual results show that Teodoro is the "happiest" of the lot.

INAUGURATION PHASE

MOOD

• TEODORO = 81.85
• ESTRADA = 40.6
• VILLAR = -9.90
• AQUINO = -27.15
• GORDON = -31.15

Even as I have my own preferences in this Elections (which I have not indicated or hinted on) I have to accept the results of my computations. They may not turn out to be accurate in terms of the actual outcome, still I have to present my findings if only to satisfy those who insist on my coming out with a forecast. (Serious and professional astrologers will have their own forecasts and interpretations based on the horoscopes of the candidates and the aspects indicated therein. As well, the various opinion surveys conducted by prestigious organizations do not tally with what I have presented above. For instance, the top two close contenders are Aquino and Villar, followed by Estrada, at less than twenty percentage points, then Teodoro, with a single digit percentage point, and the others trailing dismally behind. I truly wonder how Estrada and Teodoro can catch up and overtake Aquino and Villar. There may be other explanations for the positive scores of the two other than their "winning" the contest over the hitherto frontrunners as of early March.)