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.

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

ABS-CBN and GMA 7 should stop accepting ad money from Presidentiables

If ABS-CBN and GMA7 really want to help the people make smart choices in the 2010 polls, they should do the following stop accepting TV and Radio ad placements from recognized or even rumored Presidential candidates. In fact, make it a policy not to accept money for airing TV and radio commercials that have political personalities in them.

This will really make their campaigns for Boto Mo, I-Patrol mo or whatever bullshit it is they are advertising REALLY mean

something more than a self-patronizing and self-aggrandizing play at showing everyone that they

"good" companies.

Huwag na tayong magbalat kayo at magkunwari na walang agenda ang mga news media. Halatang-halata naman eh.

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

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 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!"

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.

Ado Paglinawan chooses Dick Gordon for President

(Many thanks to Pedestrian Observer GB for posting and thus making us aware of it.  This article was written by Ado Paglinawan.  He is a former press officer of the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC who occasionally contributes to the Philippines Daily Inquirer. He writes for various email groups and blogs under the pseudonym "mymaestro888". Ado has best served overseas Filipinos as a resource person providing inside information and backgrounders about the celebrated fertilizer scam that rocked the Philippine Agriculture Department and the Presidency since 2004.)

My Choice as the Next Philippine President

The Bagumbayan Movement will be inaugurated on April 27, and subsequently it will announce its choice for Philippine President in 2010. Time is running out and unless you have a better man, I hope you will, as I have chosen, concur as to the next President of the Philippines.

Move all the presidentiables from top to bottom and matrix them with qualities and achievements from left to right, and you will find out that there is only one man who we can trust to deliver on his word.

Why? Because he has already performed a national track record even if he were not yet President. Nobody but he can we verify to govern effectively.

Why? Because he is the only one who has over-delivered on his promises and our expectations.

Why? Because he is without a tinge of scandal for the many years he has served publicly.

Dick Gordon was the youngest Con-con delegate. Early in his political career, he made Olongapo the model city because of a deliberate and determined local administration. Go to "Gapo" today and see how the color-coded jeepneys still ply their daily routes efficiently. See how clean and properly zoned the city is. See how despite the country's recession, the city is booming with commercial progress.

Then we saw Mayor Gordon on top of the natural disaster when the earthquake levelled Central Luzon from Pampanga to Nueva Ecija to Zambales. Thus it was no surprise that he was also on top of emergency management when Mt. Pinatubo erupted.

In fact, Dick saved Subic from being ransacked and looted as Clark when the Americans left us holding the bag of confusion the volcano caused. He mustered home-based volunteerism to help clean up the former US naval base and prevent it from being violated.

He did not stop there, immediately after the calamity, he stopped Subic from being a white elephant and a ghost town by working for it to be legislated as and coverted into a freeport.

President Ramos appointed him chairman of Subic Bay Management Authority. He enticed the Philippine middle and upper classes to invest in Subic from leasing housing properties to putting up businesses like the yatch club and the various tourism facilities in-base. He marketed Subic as ideal for light industrials globally and ahead of China, and was able to get Acer to manufacture their computers and electronic gadgets there, Enron to take on the power supply and Fedex to base its transhipment in Asia and Oceania. 

It is not an over-statement to say that Dick already established the Subic Bay experience as microcosmic of what the Philippines can be if seriously na dstragically governed. Si Dick Gordon lang ang magdadala sa sambayanan sa isang destinasyon na alam na natin dahil nagawa na niya.

I can go on and on but let me just say he did not ask for a single centavo from the national or local government to run Subic, he operated the freeport, funding it with its inherent income and giving whatever surplus to the national treasury starting from its first year. To save on personnel cost but getting the creme de la creme, he called on the best in the Pilipino - a new bayanihan or spirit of volunteerism that even attracted my oldest daughter right after her graduation from the University of Virginia and many more second and third generation FilAms. 

Gordon was violently booted out of SBMA by Erap Estrada trumping on his yet unfinished term because the latter wanted his crony former congressman Fely Payumo to be the chairman. Of course Payumo later ravaged Subic and became filthy rich from kickbacks from smuggling and casino abuses. This saw at least Acer and Fedex moving out to China and Enron selling out to the Aboitiz interests instead because SBMA under Payumo kept mulcting the Taiwanese and the Americans.

But when Erap was himself booted out in a power grab by Gloria Arroyo, Dick accepted the portfolio of tourism secretary, and because of that we saw structural reforms combining with promotional programs erstwhile true only during the Marcos era. Intramuros became a historical showcase with year-round festivities that brought in a radical increase in in-bound traffic. With the Wow Philippines campaign, the local governments outdid each other in beautifying their towns and cities and offering attractions powered by local nuances drawing inspiration from Olongapo and Cebu cities as paradigms.

Gordon ran for senator under the administration coalition, but never joined any political party including Ramos' Lakas or Arroyo's Kampi. In fact, he does not belong to any political party. That is why he has been effective in authoring electoral reforms and piloting the Blue Ribbon investigation of the fertilizer scam that Jun Magsaysay was not able to finish.

Thus there is no hot air such as an Among Ed Panlilio promising if elected president to prosecute the Arroyos for corruption. While yet senator, Gordon has already started prosecuting Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, her husband and their ilk.

And as we speak, Dick is presiding over the return of his fellow Red Cross volunteers that have been taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf, something that I suspect as a stated-sponsored kidnapping to stop Senator Gordon from further damaging the Arroyo presidency. I say so because this is the longest time that the Philippine military and police have cordoned off armed insurgents without really getting anywhere.

With Dick Gordon there is no guesswork, he is the definite adrenalin that we need today for a serious, deliberate, time-tested and moral leadership.

Mar Roxas the Padyakito Vs. Manny Villar the Itik Man

I am not looking forward to it but the recent Padyakito TV commercial of Senator Mar Roxas may portend other TV commercials that similarly pander to the sentiments of the lowly masses.

It will be a circus of sorts, probably with one billionaire Presidential candidate engaging in a trumpsmanship of sort. They'll probably try to portray themselves as more masa than the other.

And if it is a circus of sorts, will we see Senator Manny Villar eat a live duck? Entertaining? Yes. Helpful? Not at all.

What will these Presidential candidates think of next? Who will eat PAGPAG (food thrown in garbage bins, recycled, sold, and eaten by the poorest of the poor)?

Who will shout invectives at President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo just to show that they are really against her? (Ooops, Mar already beat everyone to that.)

Who will play as the Muslim sympathizer, just to show that they are for peace in Mindanao?

Come on, people.

We deserve better treatment from our politicians. The only way they will treat us better is if we demand that they treat us better and if we hold them to their word.

So, the next time you see Villar or Roxas on TV, switch channels!

Panlilio for President? Whaaaaaaat?!

Perhaps this is an example of people being too literal about restoring morality in governance.

Priest on leave and Pampanga governor Among Ed Panlilio was heard on news radio yesterday referring to himself as a 'last resort' Presidential candidate. He explained that if a suitable Presidential candidate could not be found, he would be compelled to run for the highest position of the land. He also said that unlike most candidates for the position who are afraid to lose, he said that he is afraid to win.

I don't really know what to make of what he said over the radio and I was straining to hear some more.

It's not the typical spiel for a Presidential candidate or a candidate of any sort to say such things. I will grant that it is a breath of fresh air in an atmosphere polluted by the spleens of so-called frontrunner Presidential candidates who wave their money about, dance like lunatics in every fiesta including Cenaculos (passion plays), and announce to the whole world that they are going to save the country from the mess it is in.

But then, again, will it amount to anything?

The idea of a philosopher king ruling this 7,100 islands of ours is a romantic ideal. Having a priest President (as priests usually, at least in UST, major in Philosophy in their undergraduate studies) might be the next best thing.

Perhaps, Panlilio wouldn't be so scared of winning as President if he knew exactly what to do if he gets elected. It would help if he had a vision for where to take our country and a specific plan or plans of how to solve a couple of perennial problems.

For the moment, I'll pass on his vision statement because I'd hate to hear about the pearly gates and Jesus floating down from the clouds.

I'd like to hear about what he'll do about stopping corruption in government, since he is presenting himself as a moral alternative which I assume should be against all manner of stealing.

Stamping out corruption in government alone would do a lot of good and perhaps, if accomplished within the first year of his term, we would be amazed to find out that:

• the construction cost of classrooms are at P350,000 to P400,000 per unit. Right now, the government bills us P1,000,000 per classroom.
• the construction of roads only cost 30% of what the government bills us. What is surprising is that contractors still earn from road construction.
• fertilizers and seeds cost only 10% of what the government says it costs.
• text messages and wireless internet connections should be free! (Er, if you are wondering where that came from, so am I.)

(more later)

Manny Villar's grand entrance at a fiesta nearly kills people

It is a usual recourse of politician who are running for one position or another to attend fiestas as a way of introducing and ingratiating themselves with voters.

Manny Villar, who claims to a be a contender for the 2010 Presidential elections, apparently wasn't satisfied with just getting his PR people to publish articles about his P 10 Billion political war chest. He wanted to show it off as much as he can.

At the Rodeo Festival in Masbate, Villar had set up his entrance to be as grand as possible.

To the blaring sound of music, he orchestrated his arrival on a luxurious helicopter.

Apparently, the ostentatious show was too much for the crowd and the horses in the rodeo. Five horses went wild and nearly ran over several people in the crowd, causing a stampede.

Beware of candidates such as this, Machiavelli warns of politicians seeking positions who nurture a reputation for liberality (with money) and but later starve the people with heavy taxes.

Villar already said that he will increase taxes when he steps in. Right now the BIR is over taxing people with the right hand and collecting bribes with the left hand. In Caloocan, Ever Gotesco was assessed back real estate taxes amounting to P722 Million for the Grand Central property it was LEASING from the Caloocan City government. When it refused to pay, Ever was harrassed by the Caloocan City government.

What can we expect from Villar when he wins as President? Gun wielding taxmen.

Cowboy Manny spooks horses, guests in rodeo
By Ephraim Aguilar
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:08:00 03/22/2009

MASBATE CITY – Talk about a dramatic entrance.

A helicopter descended from the heavens, stirring up dust, while a political jingle played at full blast. Senator Manuel Villar, who came dressed as a cowboy, alighted from the chopper and was brought to the grandstand by a mob of aides and supporters.

This happened in the middle of the opening ceremonies of the annual Rodeo Masbateño festival here on Wednesday, disrupting a speech by a top local tourism official.

Five horses, spooked by the chopper’s landing, dashed around the stadium like mad creatures and ran over a boy who was injured and rushed to the hospital.

Dr. Adolfo Almanzor, provincial health officer, said the boy arrived at the hospital semiconscious and was found to have suffered abrasions on his face as well as cerebral contusions.

Meanwhile, the star-struck masses howled as cowboy Villar paced closer and started shaking everyone’s hand.

Villar, who is running for president in 2010, later delivered a speech.

Respect culture of place

For most people, the senator’s entrance was too grand to ignore.

But for education supervisor Erusita Rosero, cultural coordinator of the Department of Education in Masbate City, Villar’s behavior was not proper.

“No one should disrupt an activity like that. Visitors should properly respect the culture of a place,” Rosero said.

“Since he (Villar) was invited by politicians, there could also be something political behind his visit,” she added.

So sorry

Rosero said all guests were welcome to Masbate. She added there was nothing wrong with inviting Villar but his visit should not be used as an opportunity to campaign.

Throughout the opening rites, Villar was repeatedly referred to by emcees and other politicians as the “next president of the Republic of the Philippines.”

Asked for comment, Villar said he had no intention of disrupting the event and apologized to those who felt offended.

“From what I know, there were some [safety] issues but the pilot was able to land without too much disruption. Nevertheless, if some people were inconvenienced, I apologize. The very warm reception of the crowd on that occasion encourages me to return to Masbate soonest,” he said.

Not intentional

Masbate Governor Elisa Kho, who was with Villar during his late entrance, said the circumstances were not within the senator’s control.

She said they already apologized to Maria Ong-Ravanilla, regional director of the Department of Tourism, for unintentionally disrupting her speech.

“I think it was not being disrespectful,” Kho said in a phone interview.

She added that the 2010 elections were not that far off and politicians tend to grab every opportunity to introduce themselves to the public.

“It cannot be avoided,” Kho said.

She also said that Villar pledged support for the annual rodeo festival and to Masbate province once he was elected president.

Why not the airport?

Local trader Carmelito Fajara, 37, said there were varied reactions from Masbate residents. Some were offended, while others couldn’t care less.

“But since the city has an airport, I think it would have been wiser if [Villar] had landed there so he could quietly enter the stadium,” Fajara said.

“It’s only now, after many years, that I have witnessed such a scene during the rodeo festival!” he added.

“Dili pa ngani siya nagiging presidente (He is not even president yet),” was another comment from a local resident.