Ramos anoints

A few odds and ends I learned over the weekend:

1. If you ask a Tausug, “have you eaten,” his only reply can be, “of course!” If you want to invite a Tausug to eat, tell him, “let’s eat!” If he demurs, invite him to “eat some more!” When a non-Tausug receives an invitation to attend a party, the usual vague “well, I’ll try” or “I’ll see” is taken as a definite yes, which can lead to hurt feelings on the part of the expectant host.

2. The problem with the new Chief of Staff of the AFP is his reputation for a kind of insubordinate thinking -no one, it’s alleged, can really command him. So the military is then set up as even more of a baronial institution independent of civilian authority.

3. If we look at Naga, Capiz, and General Santos, cities as places where the country is moving forward, how far behind are other places? In terms of how these cities have harnessed information technology, one person sadly says,  other parts of the country are behind “as much as thirty years.” If these three cities, among others, are places fostering a culture of cooperation and excellence, how much is that culture dependent on dynamic local executives? Almost totally it seems -which shows how much more has to be done: were their chief executives to pass from the scene, there seems to be no consensus advances would survive those local executives.

Weekend political scuttlebutt revolved around two topics: the President’s health, and what was left unsaid but could be read between the lines from the published mentions of her attending physicians: anyway the President’s been released from hospital and put on a strict regimen; and second, whether the wrangling over funds sent to Beirut was more about the DFA not trusting the Philippine ambassador there with hard currency, and thus preferring to send money in trickles so it would be properly accounted for.

However, Senator Joker Arroyo believes there is really missing money.

Angus Reid Consultants says Filipinos Split Over New Constitution.

Two bishops oppose the small town lottery (which is due to debut in places like Iloilo City).

In the punditocracy, my column today (first of two parts) is Institutionalizing people power.

Billy Esposo reveals what he had everyone on tenterhooks for: the Anointed One of both he and former president Ramos as the next man to lead the country is… Quezon City Mayor Felicano Belmonte, Jr. I must say, I’m very happy as a Quezon City resident and Belmonte has arrested the tide of disintegration and inefficiency that had seemingly engulfed the city. Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista is rather under appreciated, too. But presidential timber?

Amando Doronila says the State of the Nation address revealed the twin pillars of the presidency are: the bayonet and the pork barrel. He believes she’s decided the 2007 elections are necessary to give her a mandate, and that constitutional amendments will be off the table until then.

W. Scott Thompson writing in The New Straits Times, suggests the President is a Marcos in the making -and this, from opinions he’s gathered from people close to her:

In a discussion last week, he recalled my column in 2001, noting that Arroyo had a full decade of power at her disposal (no sitting president is going to fail to win re-election!), a name and fortune already achieved, and could devote herself to her place in history by transforming her country. Instead she chose the time-honoured path of “trapos” (traditional politician) politics, rather than reform. It is felt in every quarter.

My source went on to say that she might leave the country with a worse legacy than Marcos…

“The problem with Arroyo is that she is simply eroding all the achievements of the past, she is tearing away at what has been accomplished. Her husband has institutionalised greed to a new standard.

“With Marcos,” he went on, “you knew something had to give. The country had to change. We had a revolution. She is going to wear the country down, grind it down to a sick performer, saved from bankruptcy by the success of the neighbourhood.”

Ducky Paredes comments on PAL’s first flight -and how the Secretary of Justice helped a fellow official evade arrest.

Jojo Robles reminds us of something I’ve also written about: a huge land case in Caloocan than has become a litmus test on the validity of the Torrens titling system.

Bong Austero is left breathless by Mirant.

In Thailand: reconciliation or further division? This is the question before the opposition.

In the blogosphere, here’s a blog with political commentary with a twist: Kung Fu Shoes Says.

Philippine Commentary attended the One Voice meeting last Saturday. More from Toots Ople.

(Link to front page image: Kottke.org.)

Achieving Happiness says allegations concerning the evaporation of funds at the Overseas Worker Welfare Administration is not new.

Design Observer has top ten things never taught in design school -which can apply to life and work in general, too.

Technorati Tags: constitution, military, people power, people’s initiative, Philippines, politics, president, state of the nation

The President’s breathing condition

Please note that for those who have signed up for One Voice, or are interested in knowing more, there will be a One Voice Orientation Forum tomorrow morning at the Ateneo de Manila.

The President is down with the flu. She missed the Black Eyed Peas (but gave one of them a medal). Jove Francisco blogs about what covering a presidential illness is like.

Malaya reports that rebel soldiers have launched a website, Sundalo Tagapagtanggol ng Pilipino. Benjamin Pimentel interviews Erwin Ver, son of Gen. Fabian Ver: Twenty years after Marcos’ fall, his former guard talks about the regime and the crisis in the Philippine military ( he reiterates that Marcos assumed he was fleeing to Paoay, Ilocos Norte, and not Hawaii).

Supplemental budget submitted -but as a supplement to what?

The Speaker is optimistic about Constitutional amendments; Palace announces provincial funds to be released as a matter of course.

Lebanon-related items: A tiff is going on over whether or not there are adequate funds for evacuating Filipinos from Lebanon (see link to Ricky Carandang below: the Americans, for one, charged fees for their citizens to be evacuated). Sec. Andaya says its a communications snafu, and nothing more.

Ricky Carandang publishes an email from a Filipina-American recounting the atmosphere in Beirut prior to her managing to evacuate the city. 1 Too Many Peaches has been calling friends in Lebanon and details some of the experiences recounted to them (driving through a tunnel at 160 mph every morning to go work, etc.).

Philippine Commentary proclaims support for Israel. Counterterrorism Blog, to my mind, helps indicate some reasons why.

(Cartoon from Harper’s)

The thinking of some American conservatives, such as The Strata-Sphere are a bit too Gotterdamerung for comfort. Belmont Club challenges some assumptions about what the news means. Compare his views with Chris Doidge’s blog, which tries to calculate how long it would take Israel to achieve military success, based on official Israeli figures. Whiskey Bar views the conflict in terms of the discomfort it’s causing what he calls the American puppet governments in the region.

A Slate Magazine article says Iran is winning. Harper’s has an article tackling scuttlebutt of a possible American military deployment in Lebanon. The article, in turn, points to an item in The Independent that analyzes potential outcomes.

Other things overseas: the Italian Watergate: because of an alleged CIA abduction. The Nation of Thailand is lukewarm to PM Thakisn’s call for reconciliation. Jailed Election Commissioners remain defiant.

In the punditocracy, the Inquirer editorial looks into the Bolante and Aragoncillo cases.

In the blogosphere, a nagueño in the blogosphere on Barangay planning and the integration thereof; which reminds me I need to review Manuel Valdehuesa Jr.’s book on the barangay system.

Manila Vanilla has a witty entry on “the hyper-realism of Dolphy.” On another cultural note, Carlos Celdran points out that the Marikina Shoe Expo has become a thriving artist’s colony.

My Liberal Times says in France, blogging has been integrated into the body politic. In the PCIJ blog, an entry on political battles and multimedia. barako cafe [points to a blog that points to another blog.... [thanks mamutong]) on how blogs are affecting the legal world.

Metroblogging Manila notes a curiously self-contradictory news article.

village idiot savant reminds us that PowerPoint is evil. SecondThoughts@Viloria.com points to “mindmaps” to help kids with homework.

McVie Show Season 4 engages in an orgy of culinary punning.

Technorati Tags: Blogging, constitution, Lebanon, media, Middle East, military, One Voice, people’s initiative, Philippines, politics, president, Syria

The Long View: Rootin’ tootin’ regime

Sizzling survey

In Thailand, the PCIJ’s Shiela Coronel reports from Bangkok on Thai reactions to the arrest of three members of their Electoral Commission. The three continue to be in jail, denied bail by the Thai Supreme Court. Prime Minister Thaksin is reportedly in shock, and presided over a rather droopy convocation of his party. There is the problem, though, of filling the vacancies in the Thai electoral watchdog.

Sobering reports in the Inquirer and The Manila Times on Filipinos affected by the Lebanon crisis.

Human Rights Commission warns the country may be blacklisted by the UN.

Ratings firms caution that the President’s planned infrastructure is well and good, but the government has to raise more cash.

Joc-Joc Bolante asks for political asylum; Michael Ray Aquino cops a plea; Black & White files latest impeachment complaint.

The Inquirer reports the results of the latest survey on public opinion concerning Charter Change. The Manila Standard Today trumpets the results as a triumph. Read the survey results, which have a plus or minus 3% margin of error for national results:

Charter change now, or later?
Now: 40% (biggest in Mindanao, 41%, and Class E, 47%)
Not at present: 38% (biggest in Metro Manila, 45%)
Undecided: 21%

If a plebiscite were held today, would you vote?
Would vote: 40% (Class E is the group most likely to vote, 49%)
Would not vote: 38%
Undecided: 22%

What’s the best way to amend Constitution?
People’s initiative route: 48% (increase of 8% from March)
Constituent Assembly: 28% (no change)
Constitutional Convention: 23% (down 7% from March)

Have you heard of the signature drive for Charter Change?
Yes: 67%
No: 33%

Are you in favor of the method used to gather signatures by Charter Change proponents?
Favor: 15%
Disfavor: 61%
Undecided: 24%

Specifically if you’re aware of the signature drive, do you approve of the manner in which it’s being done?
Favor: 16%
Disfavor: 65%
Undecided: 19%

So, if a plebiscite were held today, only 40% of Filipinos would be sure of voting in it; almost the same number seem inclined to boycott. There’s a statistical tie on whether or not Constitutional change is called for at the present time.

A large plurality believes that if the people themselves could propose amendments, it would be the best way.

But with regards to the means being pursued at present, large majorities are skeptical and disapprove: particularly among those who say they have heard of what’s going on. This last finding, is of course, being conveniently ignored by the Palace.

A beaming President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo confers on 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman the Order of Lakandula with the rank of Champion for Life during a Testimonial Lunch Wednesday (July 26) at Malacanang’s Rizal Hall. Quigaman was conferred the award for besting contestants from other countries in the 2005 Miss International beauty pageant. (Rey S. Baniquet-OPS-NIB Photo)

Gawad Kalinga village named after dead astronaut who had a Filipina wife.

Growth industry: porn production outsourcing moves to Philippines.

In the punditocracy, my column for today is Rootin’ tootin’ regime.

Pundits continue to buzz about the State of the Nation address: Juan Mercado, and Lito Banayo, and Tony Abaya and H. Marcos C. Mordeno all opine.

Billy Esposo quotes Fidel Ramos: the detention of Bolante, he thinks, may be an American effort to engineer an end to the President’s hold on power. Esposo and Ramos have also apparently decided to anoint a potential successor, to be announced in Esposo’s column next week.

Ashraf Ismail on why Israel can’t win. And, was the address by the Iraqi Prime Minister ghost-written by the White House?

In the blogosphere: Ricky Carandang dissects a beauty queen’s charges against Estrada and how they may be hokum.

Catholic bishops in Congo supporting election boycott.

Alleba Politics points to Botante Kami! An electoral-information site.

Open Source bill filed in Congress.

Technorati Tags: constitution, impeachment, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, people’s initiative, Philippines, politics, state of the nation

Garci for Congress!

Ran into Rep. Neric Acosta (LP). He says the administration candidate against him is going to Virgilio Garcillano.

Also, the First Gentleman’s sister is running for Congress, in Iloilo province.

And besides Mikey Arroyo, currently congressman in Pampanga (who will either run for reelection or try for the Senate), the President’s other son Dato Arroyo will be running in Bicol.

Like I said, “bastusan na”.

Technorati Tags: constitution, Hello Garci, Philippines, politics

The Explainer: The Lebanon sources

The title of the show, “The Lebanon,” comes from a song by the Human League, which my generation’s familiar with.

I. Books

The literature on the Middle East, its politics, and individual nations is vast.

For the show, I relied on two books for background on the current conflict: “From Beirut to Jerusalem (Updated with a New Chapter)” (Thomas L. Friedman) (although my copy doesn’t have the new chapter) and “GOD HAS NINETY NINE NAMES : Reporting from a Militant Middle East” (Judith Miller).

Islam is an immensely complicated religion to understand, and its political thinking is a contentious subject. I’ve read, and can recommend, “Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet” (Karen Armstrong) but have yet to read something written by a Muslim for the non-Muslim on the subject.

On Muslim culture and society, how it’s viewed by the West and how it views the West, there are also many books competing for attention in the bookstores. An influential book is “Orientalism (Vintage)” (Edward W. Said).  Also, there is “What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East” (Bernard Lewis), which I’ve read with great interest.

“Crimes of War: What the Public Should Know, Revised and Expanded Edition” (W. W. Norton) is a glossary of terms, and provides a description of what are considered war crimes according to international law.

Even if you don’t have the time or funds to read the books I’ve mentioned above, you may find the reviews and discussions in Amazon.com interesting.

II. Periodicals

I also found the following periodical readings extremely helpful:

From the Council on Foreign Relations: Israel and the Doctrine of Proportionality and Profile of Khaled Meshal.

Six Questions on Lebanon in Harper’s.

III. Online

Online sources are plentiful. The CIA World Factbook is a handy source of country profiles. There are many Lebanon timelines available on line, such as this one. The BBC has a regularly updated online collection of maps on the conflict as it develops.

A pro-Israel website is Middle-East-Info.org. Criticism from within Israel: Israel’s raid on common sense.

IV. Maps

We made use of a great deal of maps that are in the public domain. Many are in Wikipedia, including the following: The Greater Middle East for an overview of the area; a map of the area of conflict at present (that’s the map reproduced in this entry),  and Areas of Israel that have been attacked. Other useful maps include a map of Shia populations in the Middle East.

Others (including a series of magnificent maps on the spread of Islam and the Ottoman Empire) came from De-Mystifying the Middle East, which has a series of PowerPoint Presentations as well as a downloadable set of maps.

Slate Magazine even has a “buddy list” to explain organizational relationships in the Middle East (not used for my show, but interesting nonetheless).

V. Blogosphere

The Truth laid bear kindly consented to our using his map of blogger locations in the Middle East in the show. The conflict has served to highlight the differences between reportage on Lebanon in 1982 onwards, and now.

Thus, old media: intrepid correspondents eventually writing books, and new media: today’s everyone-is-a-correspondent nature of the blogosphere.

From the Palestinian point of view, diaries by different people. Global Voices Online has a selection of links to Lebanese bloggers (also, an earlier entry on Israeli blogger buzz).

VI. My view

This was my closing statement for the show:

The idea of peace is not only a question of principle, it is an essential requirement for human survival. A few days ago i received a copy of an email written by Rasha Salti, a New York-based writer and cultural organizer now in Beirut. She says Israel is mistaken in assuming that exterminating Hezbollah is not only possible, but will achieve security. At stake, she says, is the life of Lebanon which only very recently thought it had finally emerged from the horrors of the 1982 Israeli invasion. Her remarks must make us reflect why is it that Lebanon must die, so that Israel can live.

In my closing statement, I summarized some points made by Rasha Salti, who  has written a series of emails that are being passed around on the Internet. Her email on the sixth day of the conflict is what I quoted from. Read what Rasha Salti has to say (in her Sunday column, Sylvia Mayuga also wrote about that piece and related articles). In Slate, there’s also an essay from someone else who has declined to flee Beirut.

VII. Guests

My guests were Rasheed Abou-Alsahm, my editor at the Arab News, and Felipe Donoso, with the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Technorati Tags: Blogging, explainer on anc, history, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, Philippines, politics, Syria, war

If only Abalos was Thai

It’s clear that there are concerns over the health of the King of Thailand, who recently underwent spinal surgery. (See Woolly Days for details on the King’s dynastic history -he links to the rather lurid circumstances surrounding the death of the present King’s predecessor-  and health; also, there are some interesting photos of how Thais love their King).

(image borrowed from thaitraitors blog)

However, what is of central interest in Thailand now is the arrest of four members of the Thai elections commission (their equivalent of the Philippine Comelec). An analysis points to a recent (and uprecedented) communication from the King, expressing his wishes for peace, stability, and clean elections. the king threw his considerable moral influence behind an appeal for the courts to resolve the Thai political crisis (among his objectives, the analysis asserts, is to head off a potential coup by soldiers upset over the ongoing political scandals).

The courts seem to be complying. the analysis argues that if the courts confirm the arrests, then Prime Minister Thaksin could be in political trouble. An Associated Press report indicates as much, too. (picture from the blog Traitors). Another interesting thing is that a few parties could be disqualified from participating in future elections for violating the rules.
It all sounds achingly familiar, though more positive for the Thais. Then again, someone asks, can this ever happen in Malaysia? With, apparently, the same kind of wistfulness I feel.

A part of me now understands why under the 1935 Constitution, Congress only had 100 session days out of the year (today, Congress holds session continuously except for a specified period between one regular session and the next, and prior to an election). So perhaps Congress should be part-time again.

Two commentaries, also from The Nation: one calling the arrests poetic justice; another says the arrests serve as a much-needed shock treatment.

(today’s editorial cartoon from Inquirer)

My Arab News column for this week is Do Filipinos Long for a More Charismatic Leader? I decided to focus less on the particulars of the President’s speech and more on what the speech says about her way of thinking (if the provinces want their infrastructure, not only will they get it, but they should get it: the only concern should be that the various plans make some sort of overall sense, and they do, and that they don’t end up worthless due to illegal commission-taking).

Other columnists have weighed in on the details of the President’s address. Bong Austero says the plans are nice, and at least the President has a plan; Manuel Buencamino says it’s a holiday resort map and essentially meaningless. Mike Tan concentrates on what he believes was ominously left out of the speech.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer and The Business Mirror both editorialize, skeptically, on the speech. Going from strength to satirical strength, The Professional Heckler unleashes a string of devastating one liners.

Patricio Diaz discusses an ongoing debate about what should be done with the traditional Moro ruling families.

Slate points to an engrossing article in The New Yorker on Wikipedia, how it’s grown, what it contains, and how it’s demonstrating the benefits and limits of accumulating information according to a democratic framework. I like Wikipedia very much, and I have depended on it a great deal -though its limitations are there and obvious (but the benefits far outweigh them, I believe).

Technorati Tags: Blogging, media, Philippines, politics, state of the nation

SONA hangover

The blogosphere was abuzz during and after the State of the Nation address (billed by the Press Secretary’s office, modestly, as the longest and first interactive and high-tech SONA). You can watch it or read it.

The reactions of young bloggers ran the gamut from admiring to dismayed.

Students like Waypoint to sudden death, or the present’s just a pleasant interuption to the past and anne_17 had to watch it because of school requirements (and seem mostly bored). Sarcasm makes the World go round… and pearlpaopao listened (the former hopes it’s not just promises, the latter found it informative, while qtme was more skeptical). Twenty-One believes it’s better to work together to correct the administration’s shortcomings.

Others, like princesstala, attended one of the rallies. Some, like My Suite, watched cable.
Punzi gave a running account. Peryodistang Pinoy weighed in with her (highly informed, I must say) reactions.  Alleba Politics reacted, too. Genocider believes the problem is not the President, but the people who surround her. Nagsusulat Lamang reacts in a pithy manner. Hope springs eternal in Comelec AKO (despite initial skepticism). Bunker Chronicles makes a provocative comparison to how Saddam Hussein gained power. In withoutwax, there’s a pretty thorough commentary, too (the speech, the blogger says, had vision).

(A report from General Santos City was intriguing: supposedly, the mayor expressed opposition to the mega regions scheme, saying it would only add to red tape. I hope the Mindanao media looks into this. So far, there’s this from MindaNews.)

Jove Francisco gives an eyewitness reaction (good observations on the audience in the Batasan).

My reaction to the SONA:

1. Two campaigns have begun. The first, for amendments to be approved in a referendum (immediately after the speech, the drum-beating began); the second, the 2007 elections (Neil Cruz on Viewpoint surprised me when he asserted it’s likely that more than 79 opposition members of the House will be elected).
2. It was a division of the spoils.
3. It was the Mother of All Pork Barrel Speeches.
4. It is, however, proof of something we don’t pause often enough to recognize. Regardless f what the President does, or doesn’t do, things move on their own. Many of the plans and projects announced aren’t the fruits of the President’s hard work, or leadership, it’s the result of continuous meetings between national and local officials, elected representatives and members of the bureaucracy. Some of these projects began when the administration was new; others date back to previous administrations; some were identified and mapped out long ago, but it is only now that they have been given the green light.
5. Therefore, much of what was announced would have happened, regardless of who is President; but there are definitely many officials happy that they have been given a curtain call, and that regardless of her motives, the importance of those plans has been recognized.
6. We should rename the Batasan Pambansa the Kroll Opera House. Not even Ferdinand Marcos indulged in such public displays of legislative sycophancy. Or double-speak. As Torn & Frayed points out, she condemnded killings then praised to the skies the number one suspect.

Foreign commentary: Thaksin and Arroyo, two thick-faced devils, on top for now (in The Nation of Thailand).

Christmas in July: coverage

Manuel Villar is elected Senate President (the first person to have held leadership of both chambers since Manuel Roxas). At the opening of the House, the Speaker made a pitch for amendments, saying the House is 12 votes short of the needed votes for a Constituent Assembly, and that only Makati City stands in the way of the “people’s initiative”. Not-so-subtly, he said the eyes of the country are now on the Supreme Court for its guidance on the question of amendments. Another impeachment complaint is filed. The rain is a bit of a damper on protests but also might affect attendance.

Let me say that some senators and congressmen being a no-show, to my mind, is wrong. Just as the chief executive is required to report to Congress in person, I believe Congress is required to attend and listen (respect for the office, whether or not legitimately held by a person).

See also Inq7.net State of the Nation Address coverage.

2:21 pm

Ricky Carandang compares security at the Batasan to the security during George W. Bush’s address to a joint session of Congress in 2003. Pia Hintiveros reads snippets from an advance copy of the speech. The galleries in the Batasan are filling up.

2: 30 pm

Much buzz on the PowerPoint presentation the President is widely expected to use, and other potential bells and whistles. President to chopper in to Batasan complex.

2:38 pm

Strong downpour.

2:50 pm

Protesters undaunted by rain. Oddly enough, Cerge Remonde and Ricardo Saludo shown huddled in a Quezon City restaurant with some local government leaders, apparently having given up on trying to show up at the Batasan. Government propagandists say the President’s speech will probably run 35 minutes -or longer, depending on the “expected applause.”

2:56 pm

Video clip of Rep. Baraquel extremely elegant in a terno (someone asked me, “but what is that scarf? So Imeldific!” Couldn’t resist texting back, “it’s a Good Morning towel, but of silk.”). Baraquel’s sister, Pia Hontiveros, also striking in a terno, getting Mike Defensor’s bubbly burbling on how “interactive” the President’s speech will be. Defensor President will materialize about quarter to four.

3:10 pm

Ricky Carandang burbles over Fidel V. Ramos who snaps, “So what’s new? Everything that’s going to be taken up today… has already been announced…” Asked his view on Mike Defensor’s saying the President will not focus on amendments, and whether this suggested the President was backpedaling on the issue, Ramos snaps some more and says it seems so, and “the people are disappointed.” He reminds everyone he’s been working to help the country since he was a 2nd Lieutenant. Gives trademark thumbs-up and wink at camera.

3:17 pm

Manny Pacquiao makes an appearance on the session floor.

Adel Tamano: I give her a C, she’s hard working.

Twink Macaraig: But don’t hard working students get more than a C?

Adel Tamano: Well, of course there’s the question of whether she even enrolled at all in the school…

Palace announces the color of the President’s gown: coral. (via Inq7.net, but each update isn’t linkable, sorry).

3:34 pm

Inq7.net starts streaming video coverage on line.

3:47 pm

Downpour strong again with strong winds. I’ve heard there is also a pro-administration rally going on, but no news as to its size (or staying power).

3:48 pm

The President has arrived at the House of Representatives.

3:51 pm

First Gentleman waddles to his seat in the gallery.

Ricky Carandang reports two choppers landed, Congressional delegation thought it was her. A few minutes later, the President arrived in a car (choppers were a decoy). Says President in a very good mood.

3:57 pm

Sec. Arthur Yap denies it was a decoy.

3:59 pm

President emerges from Presidential Legislative Liaison’s office and makes her way to House session hall.

4:00 pm

Once again, President is announced (incorrectly) as “Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines” (it should be, simply, “Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the Philippines”). Oddly enough, the band doesn’t seem to be playing “Mabuhay,” the presidential anthem (perhaps it’s the newfangled Ramos-era one, “Bathala Bless the President”).

4:04 pm

Another odd thing is that the President came in first, before the Senate President and the Speaker of the House gaveled the joint session open. Tradition is, Congress convenes, and then invites the President to address it. Speaker once more incorrectly introduces the President.

Speaker interrupts (to cackling), before you speak… the entire nation is waiting for the singing of the national anthem. Hooting and cheering.

Good grief.

4:05 pm

National anthem. Then, invocation (thank God they got the order right: Catholic schools are particularly notorious for insisting on the -wrong- innovation that invocations should precede the national anthem).

4:08 pm

Speaker: “Ladies and gentlemen, Excellencies, now the real moment has come, for the President to deliver her state of the nation address…”

More cheering and clapping from the adoring throng.

President says “thank you” five times.

4:10 pm

She congratulates the Senate President. Acknowledges VP, Ramos, Chief Justice, Senators (who are booed).

Says she is attending to the Filipinos fleeing Lebanon. Says 500 more will come home in the next few days (applause).

To our OFW’s: You are truly new heroes. Thank you for your sacrifices.

To our countrymen: a journey of a 1,000 miles does not begin with the first step; it begins prior to that. To our allies in Congress who passed essential fiscal reforms, many thanks. You are the true friends of the Filipino.

(Congress applauds itself).

The true challenge is not to affix blame but to fix what’s wrong… to give our people jobs… Now we have the money to pay down our debt and build up our country.

To the Civil Servants.. tasked with building.. a Strong Republic.. through increased tax collection, many thanks…

(applause)

We are lining up corrupt officials to face the consequences of their misdeeds…. We are embarking on being respected abroad for fiscal discipline…

(applause)

To our men and women in the armed services: the huge and deep.. loyalty… has earned the nation’s gratitude… the mutineers… their funders… and cohorts are being brought to justice (she repeats the thank you in Filipino)…

(applause)

At a time when we must… take greater responsibility… our local officials man the front line of change…

(Local government lustily cheers itself)

Most of all, thank you to the Filipino nation for your sacrifice… for sticking to the course… You, who have resisted persistent if not pathetic calls for despair… anarchy… thank you, from the bottom of my heart, deepest thanks!

So I stand before you today, to deliver a state of the nation focused on what you want… I’m not here to talk about politics… I’m here to talk about what the people want… And what government is doing… every single day.

(applause)

Together we will push forward the country towards a twinkling future…

(she begins her PowerPoint presentation)

Too many are hungry. I will not stop until our fight against poverty triumphs.

(applause)

We now have funds to stamp out terrorism and lawless violence (repeats it in Filipino)…

We have earned 1 billion pesos from US Millenium Challenge Fund to fight corruption… We’re matching it with another billion from savings.

(no applause; President seemed slightly puzzled at this)

We now have the funds for constitutional and electoral changes.

(cheering and applause).

Change is slow… We have the means to take power away from Imperial Manila… and bring power to the people and the provinces.

(tremendous applause and unbridled happy hooting -in two waves of increasing volume)

For surely there must be a better way to do politics without those who lose elections causing problems…

(president cackles -ahee hee hee hee hee- as adoring audience cheers her)

Repeats thought.

Repeats it again.

Discusses how fiscal reform has been achieved. The second step is to increase social expenditures (accompanied by PPT slides of her sitting with her cabinet). Phase three: invest in national resources and advantages of major sections of the nation.

We will advance natural advances of three mega regions: North Luzon; agriculture Metro Luzon urban beltway; Central Philippines; (cheering)  Mindanao ( cheering); and the cybercorridor.

North Luzon: prioritize agribusiness investments; agriculture and fisheries of Ilocandia, Cagayan valley, Benguet can feed Metro Manila; and export to region; says daddy built Halsema Hiway to Rice Terraces (and says Unesco praised Philippine handling of terraces). Says she’s rebuilt most of it; will rebuilt the rest. Will upgrade Bahaba airport; will build new airport in Cagayan; upgrade Tabuc-Tuguegarao road.

Discusses other goodies: such as land titles for landless in fulfillment of accords ending rebellion in Cordilleras. Points to gentleman who was benificiary and who handed his title to his grandson.

(gentleman and grandson take a bow)

Mentions La Trinidad, Benguet harvest facilities she undertook.

I want affordable vegetables!

Pays tribute to how Ifugao has cut poverty in half in the first three years of her administration.

Points to Domogan and Brawner in Session Hall…

Says they are an example as we prepare for Federalism, in accordance with the changes in the Consitution (there you have it folks, it’s on track!)

Says ladderized education to be pursued. Says Ramos’s baby, the San Roque dam, will be expanded.

(audience hoots in favor of FVR who loves it)

Points to irrigation projects in Region II (such as the one headed by Bishop Ramon Billena); funds for farm-to-market roads. International airport in Poro, La Union.

(more happy hooting)

Improvement of airports in Batanes as recommended by the governor.

(happy hooting)

Ilocos Sur airport in Salamague. Port Irene to be improved.

To save dollars, windmills in Batanes and Ilocos Norte, turning megawinds into megawatts. Points to a general who became a “soldier-farmer” planting alternative fuel.

(Officer takes a bow)

Metro Luzon urban beltway: must be globally-competitive services center. Five strategies for competitiveness:

1. food plentiful and affordable to keep labor costs competitive
2. reduce cost of electricity to keep factories regionally competitive (happy hooting)
3. modernize infrastructure at least cost, to improve transport of goods and people
4. technology dissemination for productivity
5. cut red tape in all agencies (happy hooting)

The biggest red tape is in our outmoded constitution. We need constitutional change to bring our rules of investment into the new millenium.

(happy hooting)

New public bidding process has been reduced to 45 days as of today. Number of Metro Manila businesses paying bribes has declined. Congratulations, Metro Manila.

Machine-readable passports.

Human trafficking: USAID has helped us convict human traffickers. We are off the anti-trafficking watch list.

(applause)

To lower electric costs: let’s give spot market a chance.

We want big power consumers, like exporters, to avail of lower rates from Napocor.

On cocodiesel: we are just waiting for law to be passed (sneering from audience at senators).

Burbles about legacy to her kabalens: jointly with Lito and Mark Lapid, etc., “my son Mikee,”  etc. with giant investments in Subic seaport, Clark airport, and expressway.

Will extend highways to Nueva Ecija. Also to port of Real.

On traffic in Metro Manila: we will have continuous highway from Clark, to Metro Manila, to Batangas port.

Clark-Manila expressway finished; 1 hour from Clark to Monumento! We will join North Expressway to C-5.

C-5 connected to South Luzon Expressway; it’s being widened to Calamba; in August, widened all the way to Batangas.

Coastal Road to Bacoor will be built (praises Jesse Castillo).

We will join LRT and MRT from Monumento to North Edsa. (shows map of system)

North Rail to Clark; South Rail to Lucena and on to Bicol. Upgrade link between them.

LRT to be extended to Bacoor, Cavite.

People can afford to live in more spacious and nicer provinces with the extension. The areas along railroad tracks have been cleared; relocated families are happier. Teddyboy Locsin said: couldn’t be done before, and couldn’t be done at all. Well Teddy? (Locsin blushes; crowd hoots happily).

Now, this will be done in Manila. Lito Atienza will take care of it. We thank China for making possible these housing needs. Also, thank you to Iglesia ni Cristo and Gawad Kalinga.

West Zone of Metro Manila needs water. Not only food, energy, health and education but water will be provided. Las Pinas, Paranaque, Muntinlupa will benefit from new pumping station.

New port in Lucena. Through such projects we will end oppression of barangays by rebel terrorists who kill even their own.

(applause)

Provinces in 7th Division: Jovito Palparan is part of the fight (cheers). He will not retreat (cheers). Until the horrifying darkness is dispelled and the bright light of justice is restored! (cheers).

In the strongest terms: I condemn extrajudicial killings. Together we will stop it; witnesses, come forward!

(applause)

Central Philippines: happy hospitable people provide tourism advantages -Palawan, Romblon, Visayas, Bicol, Camiguin, Dapitan…

(applause)

Boracay, Cebu, Palawan: more than half of foreign tourists go here.

(applause)

Also center of geothermal power in country, which we continue to develop.

Coming soon for superstar Boracay: instrument landing system for airport; investments in Romblon airport; good roads for spill-over destinations all over Panay.

Cebu: Gwen Garcia building world-class convention center for Asean and East Asian summits in December.

Fall in bribery for public sector contracts in Metro Cebu.

(applause)

Congratulations to Cardinal Vidal for shepherding his flock; congratulations to all the political leaders.

(Cebuano leaders cheer themselves)

Bohol has become distinct tourism destination since insurgency was defeated (pays tribute to military commanders there). Now has its own international airport.

Just as our country deserves a world-class constitution, strongly supported by… League of local governments…

(whee!)

Puerto Princesa, San Vicente (points to Palawan congressman), Balabac poirts; continuous road from El Nido to other points.

Oriental Negros -Valencia could attract semiconductor. Negros can attrack biofuel investment (once law is passed) in San Carlos. Pays tribute to Miguel Zubiri.

(Negrenses cheer lustily)

Silay to Sapalay to be further linked; right of way for international airport in Daraga, Albay.

Upgrades for airports of Siargao, Tacloban, etc. Widen road to Dakak, Dapitan. Ro-ro will connect Siquijor to Cebu, Camiguin, etc.

Eastern Nautical Highway announced -Masbate to Bicol.

More goodies: new generators, more roads, etc.

Pays tribute to reconstruction in Leyte.

(more happy hooting)

Says governor is “our own Rudy Giuliani”.

Says she asked Japanese government to help Southern Leyte implement an integrated ecological management system.

Mindanao: agribusiness is our priority.

(really happy hooting)

Mindanao is fertile; largely typhoon-free; coconuts and high-value crops; more than 40% of fisheries; but also has poorest provinces and regions; we need investments to lower costs.

2003: we introduced Ro-Ro; slashed travel time to Luzon from 36 to 28 hours; cut costs for food shipments. Now we will develop more roots: Cagayan de Oro on to Cebu, etc., the Central Nautical Highway.

Poverty decline in many areas.

We can see the changes in Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi. Jollibee in Basilan!

(happy hooting)

Balikatan exercises with USA, combined with other projects, have no doubt contributed to this. In Sulu, one day in May, it rained: Bitan-ag was entered by contending groups; they embraced and made peace under the auspices of a Marine general.

(Marine general takes a bow amidst applause)

Arms to farms: Sulu has armies of tractors literally invading rebel areas. Congratulations.

Pays tribute to other Muslim leaders.

(happy cheering over tributes)

If we can harness the forces of good in our nation, the positive force here at home, and abroad such as USA and Malaysia, we will prevail in Mindanao with peace agreements to bring hope and peace in Mindanao. We will have agribusiness, not agression… Peace dividends will be pro-poor projects like roads in Zamboanga del Norte… etc., etc. Enumerates detailed list of roads-to-be-built in Mindanao (and bridges too) plus Surigao-Davao road (to be as nice as the highway built by Zubiris).

Points to 10% per annum growth in coconut industry in Mindanao. Asks Archbishop Capalla to help ensure coconut farmers get their rightful share.

Announces corruption in contracts in Cagayan de Oro has decreased.

Praises Duterte and Nograles for similar drop in contract corruption in Metro Davao. Things are coming together in Mindanao! A prelude to eventual Federalism.

Cybercorridor: all super regions, from Baguio to Cebu to Davao. Points to electronic government accounting systems, praises call centers in provinces. The English and communication technology skills of the youth give them advantages. We hailed ICT as growth sector; we opened up market for international phone calls and brought prices down. Cites coffee with call center agents: points to Lynn (who rises to take a bow). She told me, now I don’t have to leave the country to help my family.

Says she was touched by Lynn.

With these structural reforms, we not only found jobs, but helped keep families intact. Thank God, or someone would have tried to impeach me for violating Const. provision on solidarity of family.

(happy, happy, hooting)

Praises Rep. Villafuerte’s saying research and development funding required. She announces it will be expanded.

In  today’s global economy, knowledge is the greatest creator of wealth.,

Your government is working, and working well.

(applause)

Our economy is growing over the longest period over the last quarter century; 22 quarters of consecutive growth.

In the first three years of my term, the number of the poor has gone down and the income of the poor has increased.

70% of medium size business owners are optimistic. Bickering in politics may delay, but not derail our agenda… Regardless of the fate of national budget, we must automate our election process.

Local governments must get rightful share of revenues.

(lusty cheering)

Asks Congress to pass supplemental budget to make this possible.

We are a great people; honest students and cops; we’ve scaled Mt. Everest.

(Everest team takes a bow)

We have dominated SEA games.

(athletes take a bow)

We have won international beauty titles.

(beauty queen smiles and waves).

And of course, punched our way to triumph in the boxing world!

(Pacquiao waves, crowd cheers).

We win everyday in every imaginable job. Together we must take on the challenge to build a new, competitive and peaceful nation and prevail!

(orgy of cheering, hooting)

For those who want to pick up old fights: we’re game.

(more lusty cheering)

But what a waste of time.

(happy hooting)

Why not join hands instead?

(delirious cheering)

Join hands in the biggest challenge of all -where we all win, or we all lose- the battle for progress and survival of our one, and only, country.

(applause)

After three years, 11 months, and 6 days, I shall relinquish the presidency with all that I have outlined, completed.

(applause)

I do not want it said then, that I defeated my enemies. I want it said all of us, you and I, achieved a country prosperous and united. Thank you and Mabuhay.

(final orgy of cheering)

5: 10 pm

SONA ends.

5:15 pm

Joint session of Congress gaveled to a close.

Technorati Tags: liveblogging, Philippines Free Press, politics, state of the nation

Roll out the barrel

The party line is, Arroyo in triumphal mood. Therefore, Sona: Economy is the focus.

My column for today has a different view… it’s going to be a scene straight out of the Gulag Archipelago. Amando Doronila says the mood is the message (something Bong Austero discusses, too: the mood is indifference). And the Inquirer editorial reminds readers that the lack of legitimacy has kept the country in a rut.

Here’s the real inspiration for the SONA:

Oh, and someone wants me cleansed.

Oh. and watch this. Someone from Akbayan is a genius! (Found via Random Thoughts).

Technorati Tags: Philippines, politics

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