Reviewing the Choice People Made in 2010

At this juncture, more people are seeing a widening disparity between what was promised in 2010 and what we're experiencing now.

Perhaps, at this point, it would be good to review the other choices that could have been made in 2010.

Gordon to Noynoy: It's not your face that matters, it's the book of accounts!

Having been quite a bit buried in the work needed to resurrect this blog, I think I missed the bit of news about Dick Gordon issuing a statement about Noynoy Aquino having the largest number of fans on Facebook -- which on the face of it, is really just another one of the many claims of being the most popular Presidential candidate.

Here's the juicy part of that statement as it appeared in GMANEWS.TV:

The statement, released at about 10:43 a.m., was questioning the qualifications of Aquino to lead the nation. “Ano ang kakayahan ni Noynoy Aquino sa local government? Hindi pa siya nasubukan ni sa barangay captain. Even in legislature, ano ang batas na nagawa niya na nararamdaman na ng taong-bayan?" it read.

(What are the abilities of Noynoy Aquino in local government? He has not been tested even as a village captain. Even in legislature, what law has he crafted that has already made an impact on the people?)

It also scored the Liberal Party standard bearer for allegedly being too ambitious.

“How many more chances do you want? You have had in your family a president, a vice president, four senators, congressmen, governors, lahat ng pwesto sa (all the government positions in) Tarlac, but how is Tarlac?" the press statement read.

"It is not Facebook that matters here; it is not your face that matters. It is the book of accounts," it further read, referring to Aquino's noticeable presence in Internet-based social networks such as Facebook.

Just today I found out that GMANEWS.TV came out with a report under the by-line of Amita Legaspi which made a bit of a fuss over an alleged attempt to withdraw this press statement on Noynoy Aquino's Facebook success.

Here the part of that report by Legaspi:

But some 15 minutes after the statement was emailed to journalists, Gordon’s staff sent another message withdrawing the press release, saying “a mistake" was made “in posting the message."

Gordon’s correct press statement, his office said, was about the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) implementation of the total gun ban starting January 10. It was based on the statement Gordon made when he was a guest at a weekly news forum in Manila last Monday.

Having worked in the Office of Senator Richard Gordon, there have been a number of times when we actually released a press statement but later decided to take it back.  This usually happens for a number of reasons and members of the Senate Press Corps don't make a fuss about requests to withdraw certain press statements for whatever reason.

I am sure the offices of other senators have also issued statements that, perhaps upon further reflection or advice, shouldn't be released and these offices likewise have requested that the statement not be printed or aired by the reporters.  Usually, members of the Senate Press Corps also heed such requests.

I just wonder why, in this instance, the editors of GMANEWS.TV decided to run a story about members of Gordon's staff asking for a withdrawal of the press release.

Anyway, whatever the reasons that GMANEWS.TV for coming out with this report, they did so out of what they believe was a good judgment call.

Personally, if I were still connected with Gordon's office, I might have advised that the statement be released and would have found one reason or another not to take it back.

It seems that Noynoy's camp is hellbent on pushing the propaganda that their candidate is the most popular, as if popularity were the end all and be all of leading a country. 

Over at Asian Correspondents, I have actually received a comment that claims that Noynoy Aquino's popularity has unified the country!  Wow! That guy must be on some kind of medication.

Anyway, for the next few months, reporters and editors will be under steady pressure as will the candidates.  PR agencies, advertising agencies, media consultants of all sorts, and even the publishers/owners of the media companies themselves will be calling for "meetings" with them.  The challenge will be to keep one's integrity through all of this.

Below is the copy of the GMANEWS.TV report.

Oops! Gordon's office sends wrong press release
AMITA LEGASPI, GMANews.TV

A case of second thoughts, or just a simple mistake?

The office of presidential aspirant Sen. Richard Gordon on Wednesday morning released a strongly worded press statement against rival presidential bet Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III – only to withdraw it later on.

The statement, released at about 10:43 a.m., was questioning the qualifications of Aquino to lead the nation. “Ano ang kakayahan ni Noynoy Aquino sa local government? Hindi pa siya nasubukan ni sa barangay captain. Even in legislature, ano ang batas na nagawa niya na nararamdaman na ng taong-bayan?" it read.

(What are the abilities of Noynoy Aquino in local government? He has not been tested even as a village captain. Even in legislature, what law has he crafted that has already made an impact on the people?)

It also scored the Liberal Party standard bearer for allegedly being too ambitious.

“How many more chances do you want? You have had in your family a president, a vice president, four senators, congressmen, governors, lahat ng pwesto sa (all the government positions in) Tarlac, but how is Tarlac?" the press statement read.

"It is not Facebook that matters here; it is not your face that matters. It is the book of accounts," it further read, referring to Aquino's noticeable presence in Internet-based social networks such as Facebook.

"Cut above the rest"

The statement also described the tandem of Gordon and former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando as “a cut above the rest."

“A cut above the rest of the candidates with their formidable track records, Gordon and Fernando, have committed to make the nation great and make life better for Filipinos so they could find their futures here in their own land and not in foreign shores," it read.

But some 15 minutes after the statement was emailed to journalists, Gordon’s staff sent another message withdrawing the press release, saying “a mistake" was made “in posting the message."

Gordon’s correct press statement, his office said, was about the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) implementation of the total gun ban starting January 10. It was based on the statement Gordon made when he was a guest at a weekly news forum in Manila last Monday.

Ely Maraon, Gordon's media relations officer, clarified to GMANews.TV that they did not withdraw the press release, saying there was just a “misunderstanding" among them. He did not elaborate.

Desperate

Aquino’s spokesperson, lawyer Edwin Lacierda, shrugged off Gordon’s withdrawn press statement, saying that the Aquino camp is more focused on how to change the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

“We just pray that he (Gordon) be enlightened," he told GMANews.TV in a phone interview.

He said he was not surprised with the senator's statement that the Aquino family has had several opportunities to serve the country but failed to deliver.

"Obviously, Gordon will say that. He will not appreciate the efforts of former President Corazon Aquino because he is a [President Ferdinand Sr.] Marcos and GMA [President Arroyo’s initials] ally," he said.

Are surveys useful to Filipino voters?

Don't vote for someone just because he or she is popular.

DJ Mojo Jojo, Magic 89.9

Surveys are useless to the Filipino voter

It seems we are being smothered by surveys, but are surveys of any real use or benefit to the actual voter?

As a voter, what you really need to base your decision on are the qualifications of the candidate and his/her platform of governance - if it is at all made available.

Surveys do not give out that sort of information.  Surveys just say that one candidate is popular at the particular time that a survey is conducted. 

Surveys are actually more useful for the candidate who must know how his or her campaign is doing.  Say, for example, the candidate's survey drops significantly or increases dramatically, the survey data can be correlated with elements of the candidate's campaign.  Through surveys, candidates can gain insight into what elements in his campaign are effective, ineffective, and counter-productive. 

If his survey improves or dips and it is traced to an element like a new political ad, then it should guide the candidate's decision on whether or not to pour more money into advertising. 

Moreover, in cases where the candidate has a very good standing, publishing the results of very positive surveys gives the candidate a psychological advantage over his rivals who may have a lower ranking in the same survey. 

In a time of universal deceit,

telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.

- George Orwell

Surveys are propaganda tools

Newspaper headlines and first gaps screaming that a candidate has topped one survey or another doesn't just provide publicity for the candidate, it is gives the candidate an opportunity to project himself as the most probable winner of the electoral contest. 

This, in effect, allows the candidate to claim victory long before the first ballot is actually cast.  By constantly hammering on the claim of being the frontrunner of every survey through the media, the candidate can condition the minds of voters into believing he or she is the "sure winner" in the electoral contest.  This helps create a bandwagon effect, which allows the candidate to tap the support of the less critically minded.

Choices are the hinges of destiny. 

~Attributed to both Edwin Markham and Pythagoras

My advice: BE INFORMED

The quality of any decision depends on how well informed you are. 

Perhaps it goes without saying that if you make a good decision, you're bound to achieve good results. And in order to make a good decision, you  need to figure out what your options are and then get as much information about each of the options available to you.

My good friend Magic 89.9 DJ Mojo Jojo says, don't vote for someone just because he or she is popular.  This is just like doing something because everybody else is doing it or joining a group just because everybody is joining.  That's not deciding for yourself, that's allowing others to decide for you.

As it applies to the election in 2010, it is your responsibility as a voter to get to know about each candidate.

Don't just vote for someone because some personal circumstance that they went through tugged at your heart or because their TV commercial repeatedly tells you that they will help the poor or whatever.

You have to be critical about every candidate, find out if they are telling YOU the truth by reading as much as you can about each candidate and seeing if their actions are consistent with their words.

Get to know more about what their qualifications are, look into their track record as public servants, find out about what they intend to do once they are in office,  see if they've been involved in serious misdeeds in the past, and see if they can present a clear and credible plan for doing whatever they say they'll do.

Transcript of Noynoy Aquino as he TRIES to talk about his Platform

What follows is a transcript of Senator Noynoy Aquino's interview after his short speech wherein he declared that he is running for President.

I will not make any comments on this in the body of my post Aquino, but instead, invite you to join me in discussing it in the comments section of this blog.

Question: I am the national president of aksyon Mindanao, What is your peace agenda for Mindanao, and what is the difference between you, Estrada and GMA?

NOYNOY Aquino:

Well, can I say what I hope to do if I am given that opportunity.

Number one, when I was studying, they said the first step to knowledge is to admit that you do not know and then you seek to know.

I have just recently been to Davao and Zamboangga. And I have talked to, shall we say, both sides of the issue with regards to the MOA-AD (Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain) and afterwards, my impression was that they were too far apart.

Therefore, the need for more dialogue, the setting up of a (unintelligible)... whereby we can communicate better with each other.

Perhaps if the intermediaries are not enough, we need to find better intermediaries.

And I will follow the advice of a man more learned than me, to not stop talking because if we stop talking it becomes war war war.

Pia Hontiveros: (inaudible)

Aquino:

Governance. I think my political career is very, very clear. I want to make democracy work not just for the rich and well connected but for everybody.

I would just like to give two examples of my pet peeves as of today and there are a lot of peeves.

One, when you talk about the tradition every time it is the start of the school season, we have the person who finds all the errors in the books that makes it seem that the DEPED is uneducated because they cannot find the errors.

It seems to be as symptomatic of the love of the Filipino, in colloquial terms, they say… Ang Pilipino ba just-tiis, walang justice.

I do not understand why we have to settle for substandard materials with which to educate our youths, year in and year out, that should not be a tradition. That should be a tragedy that is not repeated again.

Justice. We talk about the hidden wealth of the Marcoses, with all due apologies to the innocent. It has been 23 years and there is still no closure to all of this. I don’t think justice is swift in this country, and as they say, justice delayed is justice denied.

And for that, I have asked my legal consultants to find out if political will, will really matter in speeding up the wheels of justice in this country. And they assured me that political will is necessary to afford justice to each and every one in this country.

As an economist by training, the efficiency and maximization of resources is a priority.

Last night, I had a briefing of how unwise the utilization of resources of the state have been for the past nine years of this current dispensation. Unfortunately, this professor of mine seems to have forgotten the lessons she taught me. I kept my notes.

There are other things, but I’d rather not spend the entire day talking about the platform…

Question: (Inaudible)

I will be a president that will be missed by the time I step down

Announcer: Last question...

Aquino:

Let me just emphasize, when I step down and I do look forward to the time that I will step down. I want to say that these are the list of our accomplishments, I will be there because of the people and I will stay there because of the people and hopefully, I will be true to my word to serve the people

There were a number of times that Aquino made odd pauses in his speech, I'll

A right to revolt

Do we have the right to revolt?

Over beer and pizza, the bloggers of Dona Victorina gathered at Carlo's in Metro Walk to discuss (as Rain B. puts it) plans for a national concern that affects the future of my son.

During the long drawn out discussion which touched on many topics, including Danny Lim's statement against Con Ass or Charter Change and his continued incarceration, I pointed out to Trixie Cruz Angeles that the Philippine Constitution actually enshrines our right -- our duty -- to revolt.

I can't cite chapter and verse right now or pull out a transcript of the discussions when the 1987 Constitution was being formulated, but just point to our electoral process as a form of revolting against the current status quo.

But for sure, others may interpret this to mean bearing arms against the government also and they would also be right -- as this actually conforms to the usual idea of a revolution, that of seizing control over the state by force of arms.

Anyway, Trixie described the idea as Jeffersonian and I looked it up right now. Being hungover, I just opened the first google search result and found an interesting passage in www.homeofheroes.com, and to wit, here's something attributed to John Locke:

Locke believed in government to the extent that it was the obligation of government to protect the rights of its citizens to "life, liberty, and property". He further held that there was a "natural law" that was supreme. This latter concept indicated that, when government became corrupt, it was not only the RIGHT of the people to revolt, but their OBLIGATION to free themselves. As Thomas Jefferson penned his Declaration of Independence he quickly established that the Colonies not only had the right to revolt, but that it was almost a fore-ordained obligation to the process of natural law....

And this eventually lead me to look up the American Declaration of Independence and this is something I think is relevant reading at this point.

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

However, a revolution -- even a successful one -- presents a number of problems and that mainly has to do with who gets control over everything.

Certainly, those displaced by the revolution will try to get back power -- if they are not all killed or rendered incapable of posing a serious challenge. Another problem would be that other revolutions may follow, instigated from within the ranks of those who revolted. Moreover, the problems become increasingly more difficult if the general population does not support the revolt but are merely forced to accept the rule of the revolutionaries after they are cowed into submission by violence or the threat of violence.

Nevertheless, revolts are always a threat any government will face if it isn't responsive to the needs and interests of the people it should be serving.

Anyway, just this morning, Facebook Buddy Izabelle Palanca Enriquez tagged me in a note and I sympathize with it's sentiments:

Ang Hukbong Sandatahan ay instrumento ng taong bayan.
Protektor ito ng mamamayan at ng estado.
Hindi nito obligasyon ang sang-ayunan ang katiwalian ng administrasyon.

Hindi trabaho ng AFP ang mandaya sa eleksyon.
Hindi dapat binibigyan ng premyo ang mga heneral na mahilig magbenta ng serbisyo sa mga politico.

At lalong hindi gawain ng sundalo ang pumatay sa mga aktibista, mga mamamahayag at mga taong walang kasalanan at walang kalaban laban.

The rest of the note goes on to explain that General Danny Lim (I assume) denies that his statement against Con Ass and Chacha was not a call to arms.

Sorry Trixie, I still don't buy this one.

Anyway, to the note, perhaps I would add that:

Hindi trabaho ng sundalo ang makialam sa mga demokratikong proseso at makialam sa politika.

Senator Panfilo Lacson junks 2010 Presidential bid. Really?

On the surface, Senator Panfilo Lacson's speech which was aired on ANC's Leadership Forum last night makes it appear that he has thrown the towel in the ring and decided not to run for President in 2010.

For someone who has not categorically declared his intent to run for President, why would it be necessary to make such a dramatic and public announcement that he is no longer running? He could, after all, just have remained quiet about not running for President.

Moreover, if the real and only objective of his speech was to say that he was no longer running for President, then the speech should have stopped at the first or second paragraph.

However, Lacson's speech went on for another 18 paragraphs and those 18 paragraphs basically tell about his vision for the country, the problems it has and the solutions that might be applied to the problems he sees.

Then, before reminding people of his track record as PNP Chief, he strikes at other Presidential candidates for pouring tens of millions of pesos in political advertisements:

But I refuse to lie. And I refuse to purvey make-believe storyboards and saturate the airwaves with fairy tales.

Even if I tried to communicate the truth to our people given the extremely limited resources that I could raise from well-meaning friends who have kept the faith, and believe as I do in my central advocacy of good governance and national discipline, the time has come to face the reality that the intent to lead in this land in order to do good, has become an enterprise only for those who have access to unlimited funds.

I bow to that reality, which is why I have chosen not to participate any more in this laudable forum of those who seek the presidency of the land.

Whether or not he winked after saying the last paragraph quoted here is something I cannot tell you. Then again, he might as well have winked or coughed and said, "Ehem! I need money to campaign for President."

More glaringly, why does his speech deliver a cheap shot at delivering his most recent Presidential Campaign slogan:

Equal opportunity. Level playing field. To each a fair, fighting chance.

Patas na laban, para sa lahat.

All said, it may just be a clever way of dodging a debate or even just an interview.

If this is what I think it is, it speaks badly about how Lacson regards the people who want to more closely examine or test what he has put forward. It is as arrogant as it is disrespectful.

To paraphrase his quotation of de Gaulle's remark “in order to become the master, the politician poses as the servant”, TO BECOME PRESIDENT, THE POLITICIAN MUST POSE AS A NON-CANDIDATE.

Perhaps, in doing so, his political and PR strategists are thinking that this will distinguish him from all the other contenders as being the reluctant Presidential candidate when all others seem overly eager to run for President -- so eager, in fact that they've already begun campaigning sans registering themselves as candidates with the Comelec!

It could also work effectively in motivating his financial supporters to give more money by embarassing them. After all, didn't he say in a round about way that he didn't have the funds to air ads like the other Presidential candidates?

So, if people make a clamor for him to run and if he gets more money to fund a campaign, will we see him GO BACK ON WHAT HE SAID IN HIS SPEECH and then RUN FOR PRESIDENT because "it is the people's will, not his."

Anyway, here's the copy of Lacson's speech, I've emphasized in bold letters his attempt to communicate what he things he can offer the country.

Thank you for this invitation to the second ANC Leadership Forum. Up until I made a decision last Sunday to retire myself from a race that would matter most in the lives of our beloved countrymen, I had every intention to share with our people my vision of what the Philippines ought to be in a Ping Lacson presidency.

Marahil sa huling pagkakataon, sa isang pagpupulong na tulad nito, nais kong ipabatid sa aking mga minamahal na kababayan na ang kahirapan at kawalan ng mga serbisyong pangkalusugan, edukasyon at seguridad ng mamamayan ay hindi mabibigyang lunas ng pamumudmod ng tulong mula sa mga pulitiko tuwing papalapit ang halalan; tulong na magaan at madaling ipamigay dahil madaling kinikita sa pamamagitan ng pagsasamantala sa kaban ng bayan.

My vision is clear as it is simple - the country's problem is government, bad government. The solution stares us right in the face of the problem itself. I believe that we need to discipline 1.5 million members of the civilian and military bureaucracy and imbue them with the right motivation and a sense of genuine public service. In short, if we hope to solve the problems of most of the 90 million Filipinos, we must set government right. This is the only way we can move forward as a country, and as a people.

But correcting government will not come easy if it does not start with the leader himself. One cannot discipline if one is unable to discipline oneself. One cannot preach clean government if one is himself on the take, or his relatives and cronies are themselves the thieves. If a president cannot lead by the power of good example, then governance will always be bad.

My vision for the Philippines is one where basic services are guaranteed, where health and education and public safety are prioritized, and no-nonsense government is instituted in all levels of the polity.

Sadly, what we have today is a feudal set-up foolishly labeled as democracy, where transactional politics is entrenched both in the bureaucracy and local government units; and where the poor are deluded into believing that throwing candies or giving instant noodles or occasional help in distress is the be-all and end-all of public service. In the grind for survival, the poor forget all too often that the occasional goodies they get are mere scraps from the tables of the immoderately greedy powerful who plunder public coffers, or abuse power for self-profit.

I have always maintained that if we doggedly and purposively set government right, the rest will follow. When people respect government, they pay the correct taxes and follow even the simplest of traffic rules.

Equal opportunity. Level playing field. To each a fair, fighting chance.

Patas na laban, para sa lahat.

But reaching out to the voters, particularly those in the D and E income levels, which altogether comprise some four-fifths of the population, does not come easy. It is most expensive in a political system which has neither strong institutions nor correct procedures.

Minsan ay sumagi na rin sa aking isipan na tanggapin na ang 200 milyong pisong pork barrel bawat taon para sa isang senador upang magamit at makasabay man lang sa isang magastos na pangangampanya. Nguni't, at mabuti na lamang, nanaig pa rin sa aking isipan na ipagpatuloy ang isang adhikain at paniniwala na higit sa ano pa mang bagay, mas mahalaga ang integridad sa isang tulad kong inihalal ng bayan upang maglingkod nang tapat at walang halong pag-iimbot.

The great Charles de Gaulle of France, who put order back in a land wracked by anarchy, once remarked that “in order to become the master, the politician poses as the servant”. Like his forebear Nostradamus, he might have foreseen the Philippine political scene of this generation.

But I refuse to lie. And I refuse to purvey make-believe storyboards and saturate the airwaves with fairy tales.

Even if I tried to communicate the truth to our people given the extremely limited resources that I could raise from well-meaning friends who have kept the faith, and believe as I do in my central advocacy of good governance and national discipline, the time has come to face the reality that the intent to lead in this land in order to do good, has become an enterprise only for those who have access to unlimited funds.

I bow to that reality, which is why I have chosen not to participate any more in this laudable forum of those who seek the presidency of the land.

To my loyal supporters and those who appreciated the kind of work ethic and purposive leadership I have demonstrated as a soldier, as the Chief of the Philippine National Police, and share the advocacies I have been fighting for as senator of the Republic --- beyond expression of my undying gratitude, I now pledge that I will continue my relentless battle for good governance; lonely and difficult this may be. Rest assured that in time, we will all join together to support a leader who could best deliver our people from the bondage they now suffer. That leader must have both the competence and character that are the preconditions to purposive leadership so imperative in these crossroads of the nation’s life.

And I appeal to the highly learned in our society to share their thoughts and help guide the vulnerable 80% of the Filipino electorate to vote wisely and conscientiously, not for their day to day personal needs, but for a country that we all love and care for.

Magkaisa po tayong tumulong sa isang taong batay sa karanasan at sa ugali, ay alam nating hindi magnanakaw at hindi gagamitin ang kapangyarihang hiram para magpasasa sa sariling interes.

Maraming salamat po. Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino!

Gumagalang,

PING LACSON

Number 1 si Villar sa SWS dahil sa 7,000 na tanga

Ipinagmamayabang ni Senator Manny Villar na number one siya sa SWS survey kung saan pitong libo ang sumagot sa naturang survey at pinili siya bilang kanilang choice sa pagka-Pangulo.

Wala akong duda na tutoo ang survey na ito. Tunay na tunay na si Villar nga ang number one choice sa pagka-Pangulo at siguro, kung gagawin ang halalan bukas, tiyak mananalo ito.

Kahit na sabihing ginamit niya ang kanyang posisyon at impluwensya bilang mambabatas upang maibenta sa pamahalaan ang lupain niya sa Las Pinas na dadaanan ng C-5.

Kahit na sabihing corrupt ito at kumurakot ito ng P 1 Billion sa pagpapagawa ng C-5. Kahit na sabihing balimbing ito o kakampi ng dalawang nagbabanggang Presidente na parehong corrupt.

Kahit na sabihing wala itong nalalaman sa pagpapatakbo ng pamahalaan bilang ehekutibo.

Kahit na sabihin na huwad ang pagpapakita nito ng sipag at tiyaga, na peke ang kanyang pakikitungo sa mahirap na mamamayan, at kaplastikan ang pinapakita nitong pakikidalamhati sa mga OFW.

Sa kabila ng walang saysay nitong lideratura sa Kongreso at Senado, ihahalal pa rin si Villar bilang pangulo ng bansa.

Pinapatunayan ng SWS survey na wala nang gagaling pa kay Villar sa pambibilog ng ulo ng tao. Wala nang gagaling pa kay Villar sa panloloko at pang-gugulang sa kapwa. Wala nang dadaig sa kanya sa pagsisinulanging at pang-oonse.

Number 1 nga eh. NUMBER ONE!

Pinapatunayan din ng SWS survey na 1,540 sa 7,000 na sumagot sa SWS survey ay pawang mga tanga at gungong, madaling maloko at nagpapaloko, at hindi marunong mag-isip ng tama.

Bakit nga ba nila pinili si Villar bilang Pangulo? Maniwala kayo o sa hindi, pinili nila si Villar kasi araw-araw nilang nakikita sa TV, nadidinig sa radyo, at nababasa sa diyaryo. Nung tinanong sila kung sino ang dapat maging Pangulo, hindi na sila nag-isip at nilagay na lang ang pangalan ni Villar kasi iyon lang ang natatandaan nila. Ganun lang kasimple.

Kaya, tiyak! Pagdating ng Mayo 2010, si Villar ang pipiliin ng karamihan ng mga Pilipino.

Tapos niyan, ang tangang mga Pilipino eh magtataka kung bakit pangit pa rin ang takbo ng buhay nila.

Magtataka sila kung bakit kahit anong sipag at tiyaga nila, hindi pa rin sila umaasenso.

Magtataka sila kung bakit ang laki sa mahirap na si Villar ay napakayaman pero sila nanatiling mahirap pa sa dagang kumakain ng basura sa kanal.

Magtataka sila kung bakit pangit pa rin ang edukasyon, hindi sila makabili ng sapat na pagkain, nakatira pa rin sa barong-barong, biktima lagi ng taunang sakunang dulot ng bagyo, biktima ng karahasan ng giyera at krimen sa langsangan.

Magtataka sila... Hanggang ganun na lang... Titingala sa langit o di kaya mag-aaklas, pero, sorry na lang sila at wala na silang magagawa.

Ang Kapatiran to field JC de los Reyes as Presidential Candidate

Today comes with the merger of Lakas and Kampi, but in the periphery there is talk that key members of both parties might bolt from the merging parties.

Tarlac Rep. Monica “Nikki” Prieto-Teodoro said that if her husband Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro is not declared the standard-bearer for the 2010 presidential election  by the administration coalition,  certain members of the soon-to-be-merged Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), civil society and big business would support his independent run for the presidency.

Beneath this is all the talk of power and money that seems to be the pre-condition to considering winnability.  There is, again, a lack of discussion of the merits of the Presidential candidacy being

 propped up.

Whether the standard bearer for Lakas and Kampi is Gibo or Noli de Castro, the resulting discussion will still be about the power and money that will back the Presidential bid.

What people perhaps should hear is what good will such a Presidency give?

Some would answer that once you hold the reins of power, all manner of good things can be given out and it wouldn't matter who that person is as long as you're in cahoots with them.

This is the typical answer that, while reflecting the truth about Philippine politics, is also a truth I will try to subvert and overthrow -- no matter how puny my attempts may look.

In sharp contrast, the Ang Kapatiran Party (AKP) has boldly announced that it will field a lesser known candidate sans big time political hoopla and fanfare.

I received a text message a couple days ago from AKP's Eric Manalang that his group will throw its support behind Olongapo City Councilor John Carlos "JC" de los Reyes as its presidential candidate for 2010.  

I've already told Eric about who I think ought to be supported as President in 2010, but I am giving him and AKP some space in my blog because I still think that their group has a lot to say about selecting candidates based on merits -- in terms of vision for the country, experience, and track record.

As far as Presidential candidates are concerned, I'd rather discuss what they intend to do for the country and scrutinize their ability to deliver on what they say they'll do. 

Here's an excerpt of the article announcing AKP's Presidential candidate:

JC, who will turn 40 on February 14 next year, was unanimously selected by the Party’s national electoral committee from among 37 names/personalities nominated by both Party members and the general public.

JC delos Reyes has a degree in Theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, USA, a master’s degree in Public Administration from the

 University of the Philippines, and a Law degree from St. Louis University in Baguio City. He obtained his primary and secondary education from the Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle – Zobel, respectively. He is married to Dunia Valenzuela. They have three children.

He is lead animator of Solidarity Philippines , a movement that pro-actively advances the social justice agenda of the Church. He is also executive director of Breaking the Yoke of Poverty Foundation, which oversees the Jubilee Homes for the Poor, a housing project for 60 families in Olongapo City.

As human rights advocate, he has raised issues on extrajudicial killings. He has openly criticized Hanjin in Subic over worker’s rights violations, urging government to prioritize the dignity of the Filipino worker.

He has opposed the reproductive health code, saying it is a dictated and imperialist law that muddles women’s rights. He is also against the establishment of Ocean 9 Casino in Subic and the commissioning of the Bataan Nuclear Plant.

He has been an organizer of Kapatiran sa Pangkalahatang Kabutihan (KPK) as early as 1998 and worked for the Comelec accreditation of AKP in 2004. He was the lone winner of AKP in 2007 when the Party fielded 30 candidates for national and local positions.

AKP is confident that principle- and platform-based politics, personified by JC de los Reyes, will destroy the paradigm of big-money and popularity politics. The nation, with the youth at the forefront, will experience a new and promising beginning - asserting the Party’s call for prophetic politics of personal and social transformation.

The open nomination system will also be adopted for the Party’s subsequent search for candidates for vice president, senators, and other local elective positions, details of which will be announced soon.

Noli de Castro for President, Ronnie Puno for Vice

As things are shaping up, it looks like the emerging Lakas-Kampi super party might field DILG Secretary Ronaldo "Ronnie" Puno as its Vice Presidential candidate and current Vice President Noli De Castro as its Presidential candidate.

Following the route of incumbent President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,would be a great tact for Puno if he's aiming to succeed Noli WHEN his Presidency flails and his term gets cut short.  Puno would then take over the Presidency and, still following President Gloria's steps, rule the country for about 10 years.

Then again, just think about it and you'll see that there is a real possibility that Vice President Noli De Castro may just win.

But what has Vice President Noli really shown the people in terms of real leadership?

Appearing on television in the Pag-IBIG TV commercials (bought and paid for by the members of Pag-IBIG Fund, most of whom still do not have their own homes) is one thing, but leading a country is a whole other thing.

And would we really want to have the fair haired boy of the Lopezes to have full control over the highest office in the land?

Think about it.  It's not Noli Boy who will hold reign over the power of Malacanang, it will be the Lopezes.

They already own Meralco which supplies electricity and Maynilad which supplies water.  Just try to imagine what they'll own next.

Your mind?  You may not be aware of it, but they already do.  Wowowee, endless melodramas, and  showbiz talk showsl have all but completely addled the already atrophied intellect of the masses that partonize their TV shows.

I wonder if we really have a choice in the 2010 elections.  I wonder if what the Merovingian in Matrix says is true: Choice is an illusion created between those with power and those without.

Anti-President Gloria movers, not necessarily pro-people

"Patas ako sa lahat. I don't trust them all"
-- LPGD, www.betterphilippines.com when asked about his concept of fair and balanced treatment of politicians in blogs.

This will just be a short entry to make an appeal to my fellow Filipinos to be more discerning about people claiming to be Anti-Gloria but are really using this to serve their self-interest.

There are people claiming to be members of the opposition but what they really mean is that they are against Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself. Their objective, really, may be just to replace Gloria with someone who will help them pursue their self-interests or be the one to replace Gloria herself so that they can have full reign in pursuing their self-interests.

Perhaps, one way of differentiating the real opposition from those who are merely Anti-Gloria is to look at what they are doing as elected government officials and see if it is the opposite of the negative traits attributed to President Macapagal Arroyo. More importantly, it would be good to scrutinize their actions to see if they've really worked for the people's interest.

Perhaps, to be a real member of the opposition, an elected official does not have to subscribe to an ideological system or philosophy that is diametrically opposed to the ideological system or philosophy of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

One just really ought to be more effective in helping the people rise out of poverty -- a situation which gives rise to all the problems that the country faces.

If it is said that Gloria is corrupt, the real opposition would be one that is not corrupt and will not abet corruption.

If it is said that Gloria circumvents the law, the real opposition would be one that follows the letter and spirit of the law.

One can probably list all the attributes assigned to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and then find the opposite value that would be beneficial to the common interest.

That would be the real opposition.

Don't trust any politician, let them prove every claim they make.

The ANC Leadership Forum and our options for President in 2010

The ANC Leadership Forum which was held on May 11 (exactly a year before the 2010 elections) at the Leong Hall of Ateneo De Manila University gave the Philippines a hint of the character of those planning to run for President in 2010.

Such forums are rarely seen and kudos goes to ABS-CBN, one of the country's leading networks, for broadcasting the forum live nationwide through the ABS-CBN News Channel.

Present during the forum were Senator Francis Chiz Escudero, Senator Richard Gordon, Senator Mar Roxas, Pampangga Governor Ed Panlilio, and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

After attending the forum at the Leong Hall, I initially had the opinion that it had turned out to be rather a light discussion and more of an introduction to the emerging Presidential candidates. But then, days after the forum, I've begun hearing people in the street talking about the forum.

This is a good sign and an indication that the show had somewhat succeeded in getting people talking about who to vote for as President in the 2010 elections.

In assessing how the guests/Presidential candidates fared, I'd probably rank them as follows:

1. Senator Richard Gordon.
2. Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.
3. Governor Ed Panlilo
4. Senator Mar Roxas
5. Senator Chiz Escudero.

Why?

First, I must confess that my mind was already made up even before I attended the forum, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it could not have been unmade.

My first consideration in choosing a Presidential candidate, and therefore ranking them this way, follows the idea that we ought to look at the elections as a job interview.

In a way, we are interviewing people who will be filling up a post that is executive in nature. In looking at the qualifications of the candidates, we ought to be looking for people with the background and track record which shows clearly that they are executive material.

I ranked Gordon first because, among Presidential candidates, he has the longest track record for being a successful and effective executive. Starting with his early days as Mayor of Olongapo City to his days as Founding Chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority to his days as the Secretary of the Department of Tourism and then currently, he is serving as the Chairman and CEO of the Philippine National Red Cross.

My second runner up would be Teodoro because of his avowed intelligence and current handling of the Department of National Defense. Sure, not all will agree with this and cite the defects of his leadership in the Department, but then again, he is still an executive.

Third is Governor Panlilio. He has had some success in eliminating corruption in his province.

Fourth would be Senator Roxas, because he atleast had served as Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Fifth would be Senator Escudero, because among the five who attended the forum, he has absolutely no experience as an executive. Like the rockstar he is being projected to be, he makes a lot of noise but really lacks substance.

As to how they fared during the interviews, I'd still keep Escudero in the lowest rung because of the obvious lies he pandered. Most glaring of all was his claim that he was not rich when in fact he belongs to one of the richest, most influential clans in Southern Luzon.

Slightly higher than him is Roxas who basically answered questions about his love life and he couldn't even say definitely if he would be marrying Korina Sanchez or not. He failed to hedge even a month.

Panlilio ranked a bit higher because he couldn't say how exactly how he'd settle the issue of family planning and all he could mutter was that he'd go for a broader dialogue -- a safe answer.

Still, Teodoro would rank second in the line up because of his definite and specific answers. What got me was what he said about changing the country and he believes that the work will begin with changing our institutions because institutions change behaviour.

Gordon trumped him on this point when he said that what is needed is leadership by example and this shows Gordon's experience in leading people, because he knows that people will do as their leader does.

Senator Villar closer to senate trial for double entry, but may just get slap on the wrist

Despite the filibustering of Senators Aquilino Pimentel and Alan Peter Cayetano, the Senate committe of the whole presided by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile succeeded in pushing through with the preliminary inquiry into the complaint filed by Senator Jamby Madrigal.

I heard the whole thing on DZMM and I was electrified by the way Senator Enrile forcefully rebutted all the points raised by Pimentel and Cayetano.

Lawyer Ernesto Francisco, counsel of Madrigal, was eventually able to present the complaint before the body. After answering questions from the members, committee chairman Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile declared the completion of the initial inquiry.

According to Francisco, the whole C-5 project was diverted to go through properties of Villar and had even been extended by around 3 or 4 kilometers. This added several billions of pesos, Villar's companies were paid for the property acquisition needed for the project, and all the while, Villar was orchestrating the whole thing.

The charge is that by use of his influence as a Senator he was able to corner a land deal with the government.

Enrile then directed the committee general counsel and special counsel prepare and submit a report on the result of the preliminary inquiry on Saturday. Another hearing on the double insertion charges against Villar is scheduled on Monday next week.

The report may contain a recommendation on whether or not the committee should go into an adjudicatory hearing or a trial hearing.

The next hearing, if I am not mistaken, members of the committee of the whole will vote to accept or reject the report submitted by the committee general counsel and special counsel. If the report recommends an adjudicatory hearing and the members of the committee of the whole vote to accept the recommendations of the report submitted, the committee of the whole will go into trial.

No matter what will happen during the trial, it will eventually terminate in voting for whatever motion is submitted for approval to the body. It will be a numbers game.

The motions may include declaring Villar either innocent or guilty of the charges.

In case Villar is found guilty, a two thirds vote will be needed to either suspend him or expell him. This means 15 out of 23 senators have to agree to either suspend or expel Villar.

Early guesses right now indicate that a two thirds vote may not be reached.

Definitely, the six minority members of the upper chamber will not vote for a motion to suspend or expel villar. These are Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Senator Pia Cayetano, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Senator Joke Arroyo, Senator Manny Villar.

This leaves 17 senators but among these senators, you have to account for Senator Antonio Trillanes (who cannot vote because he is in jail), Senator Jamby Madrial (who has inhibited herself because she is the accuser in this case), and Senator Ping Lacson (who like Jamby, has accused Villar).

This leaves 14 senators, already less than the number needed to suspend or expel Villar.

Possible swing votes among the remaining senators who could possible still vote for suspension or expulsion might be whittled down even further. Swing votes might come from Senator Edgardo Angara, Senator Loren Legarda, and Senator Noynoy Aquino.

This leaves jus 11 Senators and of the 11 remaining, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago may not even vote. So, in reality, only 10 senators could possibly vote for Villar's suspension or expulsion.

After all the sound and fury about money lost and corruption perpetrated, Villar may just receive a severe reprimand and perhaps more embarasment.

But as it is, Villar has already been thoroughly shamed. The question is, will this have any effect at all on his plans to run for President in 2010?

Reviewing the ANC Leadership Forum: Part One

I actually intended to blog about the ANC Leadership Forum live and onsite two nights ago at the Ateneo's Leong Hall.

Seats were scarce and I was only able to get in because I was part of one of the participant's entourage.

I am struggling to write a relatively good post right now because I found it a bit short of what I expected. Struggling because I found no real issues being tackled. Struggling because of the many other things which I think could have benefited more from a more incisive exposition.

It was good enough if the intent was to merely introduce the people who are planning to run for President in the 2010 elections to the youth who are just beginning to get more socially and politically involved. Perhaps the producers of the ANC Leadership Forum didn't want the show's topics to be more accessible to those who have not been thoroughly initiated in the workings of Philippine politics.

Much can be said about the youth's capacity to make change happen and being the biggest voting demographic in the Philippines right now, you'd expect a higher turnout of those registering to vote for the first time. Perhaps the show is really part of a bigger effort to get more of the youth to register and vote in 2010 -- which will be truly historical if the Philippines holds its first nationwide automated elections.

The Comelec expects at least 2 million new voters to register during the continuing registration. But as of Jan. 19 only around 10 percent or about 200,000 of those who registered were first time voters. Data from the poll body showed that the Comelec-Election and Barangay Affairs Division (EBAD) has approved 191, 872 out of 196,011 applications for registration.

Another thing to consider is the very real possibility that if producers gave an indication that the program would really be thorough in scrutinizing the candidates, none of the candidates invited would have attended.

I learned from a friend of one of the show's staff that the candidates who were invited insisted that they first see the questions so that they can prepare their answers.

In attendance at the forum was Senator Francis Escudero, Senator Richard Gordon, Senator Mar Roxas, Pampangga Governor Ed Panlilio, and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, who had earlier confirmed his attendance, notified the producers of the show at the last minute that he had suddenly taken ill (bum stomach?) and had to cancel. What made me roll up my eyes was that he sent word that he would attend the following leadership forum, only if other Presidential candidates (so called survey frontrunners) Senator Manuel Villar, Senator Loren Legarda, and Vice President Noli De Castro would be there.

The ANC Leadership Forum started off the first hour of its program with Tina Monson Palma interviewing Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero.

Among those who have indicated their plans to run for president, Escudero is the youngest at the age of 39. The minimum age for those seeking to run as President in the Philippines is 40, according to the Philippine Constitution.

Some political analysts say that Escudero won his seat in the senate during the 2007 elections because of the enormous support of the youth, who they say identified with Escudero and therefore voted for him. He ranked second to Legarda in the 2007 polls, in the midst of speculations that like the 2004 elections, wholesale vote manipulation was conducted by some of the senatorial candidates.

Escudero's interview started off with Monson Palma asking Escudero about his greatest strength and weakness as a Presidential candidate.

Escudero answered that his critics would say it was his youth, which barely concealed an attempt to immediately identify with the youthful audience at the Leong Hall auditorium. It seemed like a typical answer for a slumbook or Facebook survey, if you want to be cute and witty about the answers. It was also an attempt to portray himself as an underdog, but no one has really questioned his qualification to lead because of his youth -- he had to raise this spectre himself.

In the course of the interview, he also managed to say that he was not born rich.

I almost laughed out loud when I heard this, because it is an ABSOLUTE LIE. The Escudero clan of Sorsogon (a vote-rich province) is among the richest clans in the Philippines. Salvador Escudero, his father served as Minister for Agriculture under the Marcos Regime and then again as Agriculture Secretary during the term of President Ramos. His clan, since time immemorial, has had at least a congressman serving in their district.

He was also asked about his being a member of the opposition while at the same time being a member of the Nationalist People's Coalition, which has the rest of its members allied with the current administration. He said that he was not a spokesperson for the NPC party.

This, to my mind, is indicative that he's only after the advantages of having a party but won't cleave to its principles or stands or go with its alliances.

Another thing that cropped up was the total amount of Congressional Pork Barrel he received during his three terms as Congressman. He said that he received P70 million a year for 7 years, all totaling P490 Million.

What surprised me was his answer that all of this allegedly went to road construction projects (which usually is a source of kickbacks) and a lighting cum electrification project for his district.

I am not saying that he did actually get kick backs from road construction, but consider that roads in Sorsogon have to be constantly rebuilt with the passing of seasonal typhoons. Without a disaster risk management plan in effect and without development plans that are in tune with disaster plans, Escudero could have been building roads which would eventually get destroyed and hence need repairs every year. He may have been pouring hundreds of millions of pesos in projects that eventually were a waste of money.

What made it even funnier is the fact that on Facebook (he has three accounts and 15,000 friends), he posted a note that took MMDA Bayani Fernando to task for the floods that happened in Metro Manila.

What he didn't mention in that note was that, unlike Metro Manila, at least ten (10) people in his province got killed during the onslaught of typhoon Dante, many were missing, and thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed. This happens every year in his province and Escudero has not done anything to implement a disaster risk management plan that would minimize the damage of typhoons which visit his province every year.

(More later)

Mar and Korina, why can't I be happy for them?

I am so happy I can't stop laughing.

But my Facebook buddy and long time friend Louis the King from Upsilon had a different take. He said that the masa was so kilig by the Mar and Korina engagement announcement, it may just as well swing votes for Senator Roxas and this might win him the Presidency.

And, did you see the 50-ish bachelor cry because, like my candidate, the emotions were running a bit too high.

Hmmm...

In a land where people voted for Erap as President, this is very plausible. Then again, if surveys really count for anything, Mar seems to be lagging behind. Let's see if the wedding drama on noon time TV can work some magic for Mar.

I have nothing against Mar. I worked for him ages ago and I know he is a decent guy. If you want a relatively clean candidate, one who hasn't been accused of corruption, then he is your guy.

As congressman, he successfully got an education law enacted and as Trade Secretary, one of his pet projects was to give away computers under the Japanese funded PCs for Public Schools program.

Cheaper Medicines through parallel importation is a brainchild of his and we now have the Cheaper Medicines law -- where the cheaper medicines actually are, is another matter.

Whatelse did he do?

Well, he hurled choice gutter language at President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for choosing to push for Charter Change.

He's giving away lawyer services for those affected by the sinking of some pre-need plan companies.

He also rode a padyak or pedicab in a TV commercial -- one I really hate.

What more? Honestly, I don't know. That is what bothers me.

You can ask the same thing about Senator Manny Villar, Vice President Noli De Castro, Senator Loren Legarda and even Senator Chiz Escudero.

What more?

I am one with Better Philippines in his call to demand more from our candidates.

My suggestion is this, why don't we look at the 2010 Presidential elections as a job interview.

The job itself is very difficult and crucial. It is to lead the country out of the cess pool it is sinking in.

We need someone who knows what to do and where to go.

We need someone who not only claims to know what to do and where to go, but also has experience in saving people from tough situations.

We need someone who, beyond all of this, already has a long standing record of saving people from tough situations.

Does Mar have the backbone to really crack the whip on corruption? What if some of the people he has to battle are as rich and as powerful as he is or maybe even more powerful?

To get an inkling of Mar's political DNA and therefore find out what kind of leader he'll be, you have to do some research and find out what his grand father, Manuel Roxas I did during the Japanese Occupation.

After Quezon's departure, Roxas went to Mindanao to direct the local resistance.

In 1942 Roxas was captured by Japanese forces and was imprisoned as a prisoner-of-war at Bukidnon, Mindanao.

For fifteen weeks he was interrogated and threatened with death, rescued only by members of the Japanese puppet government under José Laurel's sponsorship.

He was returned to Manila and joined Laurel.

His records under the puppet regime was unclear.

A resistance group's offer in 1943 to extricate him was declined, "he either thought the plan unsafe or was feeling friendlier toward the enemy; it is impossible to tell", said William Manchester.

Dr. Emigidio Cruz, an army major and also Quezon's personal physician, infiltrated Manila and made contact with Roxas in fall of 1943, Roxas made known to Cruz that he had no interest to go to the United States, while at the same time did not report Cruz to Japanese authorities.

The next year another mission was planned to infiltrate another operative to speak to Roxas, but it was tipped off and everyone involved in that plot was beheaded, except for Roxas.

Records were not clear whether Laurel granted amnesty for Roxas, if the Japanese valued Roxas' presence in the puppet regime, or perhaps if Roxas was actually the source of the tip.

In Oct 1943, he helped to write the constitution of Laurel's government and signed the final draft. He later became the head of the Economic Planning Board and the Biba, the powerful branch of government that regulated rice distribution.

When Philippines was liberated by MacArthur's forces, Roxas was originally arrested under the charge of collaborating with the enemy, but MacArthur cleared him. His rank in the US Army was also reinstated.

Many Filipinos forgave his apparent collaboration for that he was rumored to had been a valuable inside agent for resistance fighters and guerrilla groups during Japanese occupation.

He assumed his elected position as the president of the Senate in 1945. In 1946 Roxas ran for presidency under the Nacionalista Party ticket, and defeated Sergio Osmeña; he won the election of 23 Apr and became the first president of the new independent Filipino republic.

Elpidio Quirino was his running mate who became the vice president.

Mar Roxas and Korina Sanchez engagement on Wowowee!

It was a status update on Facebook that tipped me off about Mar Roxas and Korina Sanchez announcing their engagement on Wowowee.

Could it really be love?

I'd hate to think that nothing is sacred any more and that even wedding plans can be used as a political gimmick. Then again, we have Sharon Cuneta and Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Vilma Santos and former Senator Ralph Recto, and Judy-Anne Santos and Senator Jamby Madrigal...

If this were a political gimmick of any sort, it would probably eat the cake -- literally. That is, if and when, the wedding actually pushes through.

Willy Revillame actually asked Mar Roxas when the actual date of the wedding would be and Mar didn't mention a specific date. He went into this winding diatribe about just how really simple they really are and that they're just contented to go through a drive-in (movie) which Mar later corrected to say drive through.

In anycase, I guess, I shouldn't pass judgement on the sincerity of the act displayed so publicly on one of the biggest noon time shows in the Philippines. I mean, after all, engagement announcements are often publicized in newspapers and for a billionaire like Mar, he can probably afford to do it on live television with millions watching. Only the best that money can buy for Mr. Palengke!

Any how! Is it really love?

I ask myself this question whenever I see a foreigner and a Filipina walking together along Mabini. I ask myself this question whenever I see websites or newspaper ads with the words, "Filipina Bride".

Who am I to doubt their motives?

Then again, if you watch Willie Revillame, it seems even he got a little green around the gills and got the bad sort of goosebumps that portend a major date with the porcelain bus.

Anyway, normally, newly engaged couples normally get the ribbing of their lives and here's my opening salvo...

It's not true that Mar Roxas originally wanted to announce his engagement to Korina on the corner of Ayala and Paseo De Roxas in Makati City by shouting, "Putangina! Ikakasal na ako!"

Wedding planners have factored in that the actual wedding, if it happens, will be at least three hours late. That's the time it takes to take a pedicab from Cubao to wherever the church is in Metro Manila.

Instead of the traditional freeing of doves that happens at wedding receptions, Mar and Korina will be freeing a flock of ducks. Senator Manny Villar was much relieved by the news -- then again, he didn't see that the menu included Peking Duck.

On their wedding night, Mar won't be calling his mother Judy Araneta for advice. Neither will Korina.

On their wedding night, Mar won't be calling his mother Judy Araneta for advice. Nope, we won't hear Judy say, "Mar, iho, just put your biggest thing in her hairiest thing." And to which Mar would reply, "Okay, my checkbook is in her armpit, what next?"

On their wedding night, we won't hear Judy say "Iho, just put your biggest thing in her hairiest thing." And to which Mar would reply, "Okay, my balakang is in her armpit, what next?"

On their wedding night, we won't hear Judy say "Por dios por santo iho! Get Boy Abunda out of the room first!"

On their wedding night, we won't hear Judy say "Iho, remember what I said about taking risks?", to which Mar said, "Yes Mama, you said 'a bird in hand is worth two in the bush." and to which Judy would say, "Iho, it doesn't apply to honeymoons."

On their wedding night, we won't hear Judy say "Que horror! Who put Jamby and Pia together in the same table?!! Was it you Korina?"

On their wedding night, we won't hear Judy say "Padyak! Padyak! Padyak!!!!!"

We certainly wouldn't want to hear, "Korina, I want you to meet Mr. Hoy! Hoy! Hoy!"

Hacking the 2010 Automated Elections or Laying the predicate for Villar's electoral protest when he loses in 2010

I think the name of the game here is to stop Automated Elections in the Philippines, no matter what the cost is.

Then again, we may have an example of a duck that laid, not a golden egg, but a predicate for an electoral protest when his billionaire candidate loses in 2010 -- despite the surveys that say he will win.

In an Inquirer article Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said at a press conference that he has filed a resolution setting aside P100 million as an incentive to anyone who can convincingly demonstrate the weakness of the automated poll system.

Cayetano, at a press conference Friday, said that if any IT expert can establish that the system to be used in the 2010 polls is not secure from fraud and tampering, “Comelec should cancel the contract, save the P11 billion and sue for damages the contractor in the event of such successful hacking.”

He said he would rather revert to the manual counting of votes if the computerized system would lead to wholesale cheating.

The reporter did not mention if Cayetano's resolution identified the source of funding or if such funds are really available.

I think what Cayetano is really doing is laying the predicate for a electoral protest later, just as is often the case with all the elections we have been through since we had elections. This is the rotten, transactional culture that is HIS legacy and heritage -- kay Cayetano, walang nananalo at walang natatalo, kungdi may mga abugadong nagsasabi na may mandaraya at may nadaya.

I think it is short of saying that he knows that with the Automated Election System in place, his favored Billionaire Presidential candidate from Las Pinas will lose in the 2010 elections -- contrary to all the surveys that say he will win.

Another reason why he wants to find out if the Automated Election System has flaws is that he wants to find out how the automated election system can be cheated, so his billionaire buddy from Las Pinas can exploit the vulnerabilities.

But in any case, as I have said, any mere mention of money for hacking is enough to create a friendster among computer geeks.

I can see a situation where hundreds of Filipino geeks with laptops are going to claim that they can hack the Automated Election System and live-out their fantasy of being Hugh Jackman's character in Swordfish -- because many of them weren't alive when Robert Redford did Sneakers.

And right on cue, the Computer Professionals' Union (the first time I've heard of them) has surfaced to say that hacking the Automated Election System can be done.

A group of computer experts has warned that the planned automation of national and local elections in May next year will not diminish fraud and cheating and could lead to the rise of a new type of election operator capable of manipulating the results of the automated polls.

Rick Bahague, national coordinator of the Computer Professionals’ Union, said automated large scale cheating could happen with the Commission on Elections’ (COMELEC) plan for automated elections. He said poll automation could give rise to a new "Garci", referring to former Commission on Elections official Virgilio Garcillano who allegedly tampered with the elections results of the 2004 presidential elections.

"Perpetrators of cheating and fraud like Garci will be back in 2010, more manipulative and more systematic than the past elections with the help of [automated elections system] that we have to be ready to preempt their plans," Bahague said in a statement on the CPU website.

Bahague said the proposed automated election system (AES) has several technical vulnerabilities including insider threats, software engineering limitations, network vulnerabilities and lack of required auditing procedures.

In the last paragraph, Bahague's claim of knowledge about technical vulnerabilities in the Automated Election System seems like he really knows something about it. But then again, terms such as "insider threats" or "software engineering limitations" or "network vulnerabilities" are just high fallutin terms which can be attributed even to the most advanced and sophisticated computer systems.

I am sure, there are geniuses within the Computer Professional's Union that can claim to have hacked an ATM network and made away with hundreds of millions of pesos.

I've met a lot of Filipino super geeks in my life and the more respectable ones are still blowhards when it comes to hacking.

Anyway, not one sentence in the article says that the Computer Professional's Union has actually gotten their hands on the Automated Election System or has actually tried to hack the system successfully.

Just as well, Cayetano and the Computer Professional's Union are both barking at the wrong time as the ideal time to spot flaws has already passed. They should have tried spotting flaws when the Automated Elections System was tested in the ARMM elections.

The Automated Election System was already tested and passed successfully during the ARMM elections. The ARMM is among the most difficult areas in which to ensure honest, clean and accurate elections. It was an acid test for the Automated Elections System and if any so called technical vulnerabilities were present, it should have shown up during the ARMM polls and would have been exploited -- but no one was able to breach the security features of the AES.

The Computer Professional's Union, lest it be suspected of wanting or planning to sabotage the electoral process, should have volunteered to do ethical hacking when Automated Elections were being held in ARMM. For real hackers to earn their keep, they should try hacking on a real live system and not a simulation -- that would have been available during the ARMM elections.

I wonder who's funding the Computer Professional's Union? See if the bank is from Pateros or Las Pinas, you'll have your answer -- unless, of course, they got their money in cash.

Ang Kapatiran solicits nominees for Presidential Candidate

Perhaps New Philippine Revolution and Better Philippines will perk up to this bit of news as I am eager to find out their own views on this development.

The Alliance for the Common Good or Ang Kapatiran is soliciting nominations for a Presidential Candidate in 2010.  

The group is a Comelec-registered national political party that stands on a platform with clear and specific policy objectives all aimed at enhancing the common good, promoting the politics of virtue and the politics of duty.

I think that Ang Kapatiran represents another indication of our people's growing ability to create choices for themselves and I support their effort.

Here is their announcement which also appears in their website:

At the meeting of the Party’s National Executive Committee held at #142 Swallow Drive, Greenmeadows, Quezon City on 20 March 2009, a quorum was present and acted throughout; the following resolution was adopted and approved.

“RESOLVED, that ANG KAPATIRAN PARTY shall elect, through a nomination and selection process, its candidate for president for the upcoming 2010 elections.” 

The following are the requirements for nominees:

1. Must possess the qualifications required by law which are (a) a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, (b) a registered voter, (c) able to read and write, (d) at least forty years of age on the day of the election, and (e) a resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years immediately preceding such election;
2. Must be willing to become a member of AKP and accept the AKP Founding Principles and Political Platform in whole without any mental reservation;
3. Must be morally upright, courageous and competent individual, responsible citizen and parent, and trusted leader;
4. Must have no previous conviction or pending criminal case in court, in the Ombudsman, or fiscal’s office;
5. Must have a college degree;
6. Must be willing to accept and abide by the AKP Code of Conduct;
7. Must be willing to run for president under the AKP.

The nominating individual must be a bonafide member of AKP.  Deadline for submission of nominations is 30 April 2009.  Nominations may be submitted via email to angkapatiranparty@yahoo.com.

I actually exchange text messages with Eric Manalang and was able to learn that any one can nominate their choice for President providing that they join Ang Kapatiran.

I've scoured their website this morning and couldn't find an on-line registration form, which would have made things much simpler for me.

In anycase, if you want to know what an AKP candidate should adopt or integrate in his or her platform, you can find it here.

On a side note, I am just wondering if Better Philippines will nominate Victor Wood.

Panlilio-Padaca for 2010, still more questions than answers

I really wouldn't know how Pampanga Governor Among Ed Panlilio and Isabela Governor Grace Padaca intends to win the 2010 elections as President and Vice President, but I am really interested in seeing them run.

Running priest, Fr. Robert Reyes has already voiced his support for the two. I wonder if Senator Pia Cayetano would have anything to say about it.

As I've told my friend Junep Ocampo, I'm all for good choices in 2010 and as I've said before, the emergence of the Padaca-Panlilio tandem for 2010 may be a sign that Filipinos may have realized their capacity to create options other than those presented by the moneyed and influential.

Then again, I'm given to a fair amount of wondering if indeed Panlilio and Padaca really isn't being backed by a faction of the moneyed and influence behind them. I'd really like to see that they aren't being fielded just so that the votes for a moral and intelligent Presidential Candidate will not be divided. It's an old tactic.

Right along with Among Ed and Grace is Brother Eddie Villanueva and Supreme Court Justice Reynato Puno.

(Perhaps and this is just a wild idea, we should all just back one candidate as a moral and intelligent choice. I mean, this would be the way to go, if they are all serious about having a really serious contender against Villar, De Castro, Loren Legarda, and Roxas.)

In anycase, there are really tough questions that Among Ed and Grace ought to answer in the coming days and the easier ones, as Junep says, will be the ones regarding their plans or programs of governance.

Junep sent me this message:

Programs are simple:

- Bring back the dignity of the Philippine government by ridding it of corruption.

- Leadership by example.

- No-nonsense governance that is anchored on justice, peace and simple living.

- Governors Panlilio and Padaca are both single, with no families to take care of, and no debts to pay. They only have the country to serve.

For sure, these may not be the entire programs of governance but perhaps they represent a good direction.

I remember only too well the Presidency of Cory Aquino. Apart from dismantling some of the bad, along with the good, of the Marcos' establishment which was supposedly corrupt to the core -- not much else was achieved in terms of ridding our government of corruption. In the latter years, what we witnessed more and more of was the return of democracy and the democratization of corruption. Instead of paying off just one corrupt government official, you'd have to pay more people.

What I'd really like to hear Among Ed and Grace tell us is how successful have they been in stamping out corruption in their own provinces. Whatever success they may have, may already be a sign of how successful they may be in the future -- if and when they get elected.

But more than graft and corruption, I'd like to hear about their plans for strengthening our economy and how they plan to steer it through the difficult days ahead when the effects of the global recession finally hits the country. How are they going to provide jobs for the Overseas Filipino Workers who may lose their jobs in the coming months?

Also, what are they going to do about the public education system?

What are they going to do about the public health system? I think it was during the Ramos Administration that the Department of Health deregulated health services and now we have instances where health clinics at the city and munipal levels are virtually shuttered closed. Have you been to PGH recently? No dearth of sob stories there.

How about disaster preparedness? Climate change is a reality we will have to face and weather disturbances are going to be more and more severe. What are their plans to end the cycle of disaster and poverty?

Of the many disasters that happen in our country, there is one sort that happens in just one small place in the Philippine Archipelago that does more damage to the entire country than a year's worth of typhoons. That is the kidnappings that is perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf in places in the provinces of Basilan and Sulu. What does Among Ed and Grace intend to do with them? What do they plan to do about the peace or lack of peace situation in certain parts of Mindanao?

I'd really like to hear more and I'll post whatever answers I get.

Senator Manuel Villar to celebrate Easter with duck eggs?

It will be Easter Sunday in the Philippines tomorrow and as if we didn't all have calendars with Catholic Holidays marked by red print, newspapers like the Manila Bulletin will probably display banners reading "Filipinos celebrate Easter".

Then again, you wouldn't realize it was really Holy Week, anyway. It used to be that as soon as Holy Monday rolled in, most commercial centers in Metro Manila would be closed up for the week. These days, malls are all open.

Holy Tuesday and Holy Wednesday were regular working days, for all intents and purposes.

Maundy Thursday was supposed to be the beginning of a long four day holiday. You'd expect everything to be shuttered up but no. Malls and fast food chains were still open.

On Good Friday, we called up Ace Water Spa to ask if they were (by any chance) open. They proudly announced that they were. We spent the entire morning there, getting massaged by the many water jet and air bubble massage treatments.

I got a much needed soak in a 38 degree celsius herbal pool and it really got all the ache out of my back, between the shoulder blades.

If there was anything Holy about Holy week in the Philippines, I surely missed it and I am sure, I am not alone.

Next week, thousands are due back to Manila from their vacations, spent not in church but on beaches and inland resorts all over the country. So starting on Monday, for the next 358 days, I'll be missing the peace and quiet of an almost empty Metro Manila.

In anycase, Easter is coming and strangely enough, some shopping malls here in the Philippines might be celebrating it in a big commercial way -- if last year's Easter will be any indication. Malls will have Easter Egg hunts.

With this in mind, I am wondering if Senator and Presidential Candidate Manny Villar will sponsor an Easter Egg hunt using duck eggs? It would be a great publicity gimmick and his supporters in Pateros, Bulacan, and Laguna (all duck raising capitals) may very well donate all the duck eggs that will be used.

In anycase, here are a bunch of duck jokes I swiped from Duck Eggs dot com

Why did the duck cross C-5?

He was tied to the chicken.

***

Why didn't the skeleton duck cross the road?

He didn't have the guts.

***

What do physics ducks say?

Quark, quark quark.

***

Why did the basketball player bring a duck to the game?She wanted to shoot a fowl shot!

***

So, a duck walked into a bar, and asked the bartender, "Do you have any grapes?"

The bartender replied, "No, this isn't a grocery store, get the hell out of here!"

So, the duck came back the next day, and asked the bartender "Do you have any grapes?"

The bartender said "No, I told you before, this isn't a grocery store, and I don't have any grapes, now leave!"

So the duck came back the next day, and asked the bartender, "Do you have any grapes?"

The angry bartender said, "NO! And if you come back and ask me that again, I will nail your butt to the wall! Now leave!"

So, the duck came back the next day, and asked the bartender, "Do you have any nails?"

The bartender, puzzled, said, "No, why?" The duck said, "In that case, do you have any grapes?"

***

Three ducks went into court. The judge called the first one to the stand.

"What is your name?" he asked.

"Quack." the duck answered.

"And why were you arrested?" the judge asked.

"I was stepping on bubbles." he answered.

The judge didn't see anything wrong with that, so he dismissed the duck and called up the next one.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Quack," the duck answered.

"Why were you arrested?" the Judge asked.

"I was stepping on bubbles." the duck replied.

Again, the judge saw nothing offensive, so he called up the next duck.

"What's your name?? No wait, let me guess, Quack." he said.

"No," said the duck, "My name is Bubbles."

***

A duck walks into a pub and orders a pint of lager and a ham sandwich. The landlord looks at him and says, "But you're a duck!" "Your eyes work", replies the duck, wryly.

"And you talk!" exclaims the landlord.

"And your ears", says the duck,

"Now can I have my beer and my sandwich please?".

"Certainly", says the landlord, "sorry about that... it's just we don't get many ducks in this pub. What are you doing round this way?".

"I'm working on the building site across the road", explains the duck.

The landlord watches, astounded, as the duck drinks his beer, eats his sandwich and leaves.

The duck visits regularly for 2 weeks. Then one day the circus comes to town.

The owner of the circus comes into the pub and the landlord says to him, "You're with the circus aren't you?, I know this duck that would be just brilliant in your circus - he talks, drinks beer and everything!".

"Sounds marvellous", says the owner, "get him to give me a call".

So the next day when the duck comes into the pub the landlord says, "Hey Mr. Duck, I reckon I can line you up with a top job, paying really good money!".

"Yeah?", says the duck, "Sounds great, where is it?".

"At the circus", says the landlord.

"The circus?", the duck enquires, a bit bemused.

"That's right", replies the landlord.

"What, the place with the big tent?. Big canvas roof, hole in the middle, loads of animals?", asks the duck.

"That's right!", says the landlord.

The duck looks confused. "Why would they want a plasterer"

***

I have two ducks that I use as an alarm clock.

They wake me up at the Quack of dawn.