Costs of political cannibalism

manuelbuencamino on Fri, 18th May 2007 12:36 pm 



Gloria is trying to frame the election as an overwhelming victory for her coalition and an unequivocal endorsement of her regime.

The real frame is how did her chosen ones do against opposition stalwarts in local races. How did pro-impeachment incumbents do? That’s the question Gloria is avoiding because the answer will might embolden incoming congressmen to take a more independent stance.

It’s also worth noting that Alfredo Lim finished off his campaign with an endorsement from Erap, a direct slap on Gloria’s face,

The Ca t on Fri, 18th May 2007 1:54 pm 



MB,

Even without the endorsement of Erap, Lim would win the Manila mayoralty race.

He was my former boss and I know how he is well loved by the Manilans.

Sheesh, mo alam mga ginawa ni Lim sa Manila and you do not know how he works as a public servant.

manuelbuencamino on Fri, 18th May 2007 2:43 pm 



Cat,

Parang di pumasok yun sagot ko sa iyo. nedyo mahaba yun so eto mas maikli.

Kung di kailangan ni Lim ang endorsement ni Erap bakit sa last weeks ng kampanya niya ay nagpalabas sta ng TV commercials na tinataas ni Erap ang kamat niys. Anu yun magtapon lang si Lim ng pera?

Ang point ng comment ko ay isang malaking sampal kay Gloria na yun bata niya ay tinapon sa kangkungan nang kandidatong ipinagmalaki ang closeness niya kay Erap. Yan ang harapin mong katotohanan!

Jon Mariano on Fri, 18th May 2007 3:32 pm 



There’s no question that votes for the opposition (especially for Trillanes and Honasan) were protest votes against Gloria Arroyo. It validates the surveys that show she is unloved by many Filipinos.

toniong pagod on Fri, 18th May 2007 4:10 pm 



an observation and a question:

i’ve seen the media and a lot of people out there say that the character of this election’s voting (meaning the apparent breakdown of the ‘machinery’) is proof that the general populace is more discerning, more careful, with their vote.

is this the case, or did the opposition play the underdog card to the hilt and had just merely won the sentiment of the masses? we’re the promises of the GO bets simply sweeter? or is this vote a signal of the awakening of a deeper level of political consciousness?

Jon Mariano on Fri, 18th May 2007 4:19 pm 



Tonio, usually such questions are answered by history. There are still a lot of unknowns as to why things happened as they did in the most recent past.

To MLQ3, whatever it was that you did, thank you. I could post comments again and am enjoying it!

hvrds on Fri, 18th May 2007 4:36 pm 



“In other words, to be on my list, one had to show a commitment to democracy, warts and all. As far as I am concerned, living under any form of authoritarianism is far worse than living under a flawed democracy.” Solita C. Monsod

This woman professor seems to be confused by her own words.
Command votes, killings and disappearances.

The official canvass for the Senators will be handled by a man named Abalos & Co.. A 9-1-2 NCR can very easily become 5-6-1 Nationally. A swing of 4-5 names at the bottom.

Will it be credible?

Recto, Zubiri, Pichay and Defensor are all lined up in 13th-15th place in the Namfrel count. All within striking distance. Honasan, Cayetano, Trillanes and Pimentel are settling in at 9-12th place.

Will someone fix this horse race? Will Defensor give way to Honasan? Enrile, Honasan’s godfather is an old hand at counting votes in Mindanao.

Less than 20% of the vote have been tallied by Namfrel. 72 hours past the close of voting. This is going to be an interesting race to 100%.

Esperon will have to salute the civilian Senator Trillanes. I have my doubts.

But that young man has raised goosebumps. People can make miracles happen. The power of communication technology projected and multiplied awareness of his act of self sacrifice. He has won already.

This is the formula for myth making. Someone should advise him about his wardrobe.

MARIA SOLEDAD T TUBAY on Fri, 18th May 2007 4:47 pm 



In fairness, i do not remember sweet promises from the GO candidates. At the most, sabi lang ni Chiz siya ang magiging boses ng mamamayan sa senado. Hindi niya sinabing tutuparin niya ang pangarap ng mga tao. Cong Pichay said taht. Does he know kung ano ang pangarap ng mga tao? If he wins kaya niya kayang sabihin din na di siya sang ayon sa mga garapalang sistema ng kasalukuyang administrasyon? Hindi ba malaking sampal talaga sa pangulo na si Pacquiao na talagang intuo para laban si Darlene ay na KO? Si Cesar na nanahimik ay kinaldkad sa politika samantalang puwede naman itong tumulong na sa sambayanan na di na kailangan maging senador. Akala ko ba ‘di mainam na ang mga artista ay mag ambisyon na maging senador? Bakit kinailangan nila ang isang Cesar Montano? Para ipakita sa tao na dinudumog ang TU sa mga rallies? Napagod din si Vic at Joey sa kakakampanya kay Tito sa EB. Bumaba tuloy ang ratings. Natalo ni Willie Revillame.

The gesture of the Atienzas must be taken note of by other administration member losers. nahihirapan lang talaga ang mga matitinong tao na sumalungat outright dahil sa abot ng kanilang reasoning ay baka mahirapan sila for the sake of their constituents kung kontra admin. Pero kailangang ipakita din sa admin ang kanilang pagkakamali, whatever it takes. Kaunting sakripisyo lang para sa bayan.

Jon Mariano on Fri, 18th May 2007 5:02 pm 



I can’t provide proofs, but I believe the table is set for a massive cheating exercise in favor of admin candidates because Gloria has to cover all her bases. I will be very happy if proven wrong though.

tagasulung on Fri, 18th May 2007 5:23 pm 



MLQ3,

Salamat po tabi sa impormasyon na nabigay niyo. Pwede po magrequest? Napansin ko lang kasi na masyado ang diin sa eleksyon at sa mga kandidato. Pero nitong eleksyon, sa aking pagboto at maski sa bilangan, kapansinpansin yung maraming mga teachers na ampapayat, parang mga malnourished. Baka naman pwede kang makapagsulat tungkol sa kanila para maparating ang kanilang sitwasyon sa kinauukulan at sa mas maraming tao. Salamat tabi.

Tonio,

Doon po sa amin, marami ang bumoto ng GO at ayon sa tinutumbok ng pangungusap mo ay baka may “awakening” nga. Pero mahigit kalahati ng botante ay ibinoto sa lokal yung mga namili ng boto. Kung iisipin mo e dapat mas hindi sila nagpapadala sa lokal dahil mas malapit yun sa kanila pero ganun pa rin ang gawi nila.

Sa aking palagay, walang awakening, kundi dual na personalidad na makikita sa marami nating kababayan. Kaya ganun ang boto nila sa nasyunal e dahil masyadong malayo yung at wala silang masyadong pakialam duon. Pero iba sa lokal. Parang ganito lang yun, e, pag ibang tao ang kawatan sa gobyerno nakikita agad ang kamalian at galit tayo; pero kapag kamaganakan, e ibang usapan yan.

Jeg on Fri, 18th May 2007 5:26 pm 



In fairness, i do not remember sweet promises from the GO candidates.

At least 2 (Chiz and Alan Peter) promised something sweet: no more new taxes. GMA and her cohorts are probably poised to impose new ones on us real soon instead of collecting the old taxes more efficiently–and by more efficiently, read: nothing goes to kurakot.

toniong pagod on Fri, 18th May 2007 5:38 pm 



tagasulung:

thanks. i guess it’s true. the national race is so far away from the daily experience of many of our countrymen. and in every election, it’s our public school teachers that bear the lion’s share of the crap.

soledad:

then was GO’s “hook” the opportunity to stick it to the Arroyo administration? their tagline after all is “isang boto laban sa nakaupo.”

jon:

true, these are questions best left for history to answer.

tagasulung on Fri, 18th May 2007 5:38 pm 



Natumbok mo Jeg. Naalala niyo yung national treasurer na nagresign bago mag-eleksyon? Sumakit siguro yung ulo nun sa kung saan kukunin ang pera matapos lustayin sa eleksyon ng nasa pwesto kaya ayun, nagbitaw na lang yung mama. Para talagang back to da pyuture of 2004. Binangkrapt ang ‘pinas kaya nagka-VAT, pero ayun, namamayagpag pa rin si Mr. VATman. Ano na naman kayang tax ang isasabatas nila ngayon?

nina on Fri, 18th May 2007 6:13 pm 



it’s just lame, really. no one will ever admit defeat because they’ve set their minds into thinking that their opponents have cheated. and indeed, some politicians do resort to cheating. if we had an honest elections, no one would even dare question the system, much more have a 12-0 win by team unity in Maguindanao with chavit singson at the top.

realist on Fri, 18th May 2007 8:33 pm 



MB,

Eto ang mas masakit na sampal: “Esperon will have to salute the civilian Senator Trillanes.” ni hvrds.

jake on Fri, 18th May 2007 9:17 pm 



so what’s next? will the philippines be any better now that we have a new set of senators?

The Ca t on Fri, 18th May 2007 9:35 pm 



so what’s next? will the philippines be any better now that we have a new set of senators?

Is the counting finished?

The Ca t on Fri, 18th May 2007 9:37 pm 



Eto ang mas masakit na sampal: “Esperon will have to salute the civilian Senator Trillanes.” ni hvrds.

Is he already a senator? If ever he wins, he will realize that to survive in Congress, one has to be a politician.

Jon Mariano on Fri, 18th May 2007 10:01 pm 



Cat is so right, kaya hindi pa tapos ang laban (kahit manalo man ang opposition sa election).

benj on Fri, 18th May 2007 10:11 pm 



But seriously, what has Escudero done other than cite blinding flashes of the obvious?

>Dapat ibaba ang presyo!

>Bawasan ang buwis!

Yada Yada. Escudero’s campaign was based on sheer rhetoric.

vic on Fri, 18th May 2007 11:03 pm 



benj,
that’s simply promises without substance. been in few elections campaign, and if a party campaign on promises, they will be supported by action plans of how it should be done, complete with timetable, and the source of financing, either raising the base tax, cutting expenditures somewhere or incurring deficits. otherwise the voters will tell the candidates where to go…

kimosabe27 on Fri, 18th May 2007 11:32 pm 



@ Tagasulung,

Hapit na hapit ang analisis mo tungkol sa mga gawi ng mga botante sa lokal. Hindi pa rin o hindi na siguro maaaring magbabago. Alala ko pa yung islogan nuong panahon ni Cory, “Ang pera sa bulsa, ang boto sa balota”, pero ala pa rin, hindi kumagat. Iba na talaga ang usapan kapag pera pera. Akala mo nga sa tinagal tagal ng kanilang paghihirap at sa dami ng mga progresibong elementong nakakasalamuha eh magkakaroon ng pagkamulat. Mukhang malabong magkaroon ng pagbabago kapag isinalalay mo lang sa ordinaryong taumbayan at eleksyon.

kimosabe27 on Fri, 18th May 2007 11:51 pm 



On na(g)wawala’s coverage of the polls in Bicol,

The first district of Camarines Sur is purportedly Red country, one should expect the citizens there to be more critical and will think twice about Dato Arroyo. Of course, one might argue about the heavily militarized environment weighing on the people’s ability to think independently but then the same situation can be said about the fourth district of Quezon which is a next door neighbor to the north and which has Erin Tanada for congressman. The irony is that the scion of a tradpol family will be peeping windows with someone who hails from an illustrious progressive and nationalist political lineage

john marzan on Fri, 18th May 2007 11:56 pm 



gosh, i’d rather see lacuna win than lim.

john marzan on Sat, 19th May 2007 12:03 am 



cathcath is right. hindi pa tapos ang bilangan sa Garciland mindanao.

realist on Sat, 19th May 2007 1:11 am 



Ito naman si cat akala mo e may talagang alam sa buhay sa congress. Umarya kana naman, yung buhay mo muna asikasuhin mo.

mlq3 on Sat, 19th May 2007 1:41 am 



Just some quick thoughts on the comments above:

1. neither congress nor its members constitute a magic wand, though there are some things a shift in power in congress can accomplish (the examples here and abroad are endless). there are some articles on the economy i linked to, for example, that show the past 20 years have done a lot to wean big business from over-dependence and over-involvement in presidential politics, which is why businessmen can make themselves scarce during elections. the political culture doesn’t necessarily adopt as quickly, which is why the problem now is that politicians look to gambling and drug money to finance campaigns.

2. i am uncomfortable with saying people are voting “more wisely,” people vote, and i think people essentially vote on their likes and dislikes, and their pocketbook and when dealing with large voting populations (nationally, for example) they also vote communal values, that is, in some ways more idealistically and less pragmatically than they vote locally, perhaps. politics like any human activity is subject to fashions and showbiz candidates losing has many explanations: the era of the big stars with massive drawing power has long passed, the novelty of showbiz candidates better able to communicate than politicians stuck in the balagtasan mode of public address has waned, politicians themselves have become better (more modern, effective) communicators, and there’s trial and error involved. if the showbiz phenomenon began in the 50s and peaked in 1998, inevitably it had to give way to something else. part of it of course is the change in demographics: a very young population won’t remember marcos, the premartial law politicians, and those politicians themselves are dying off. again, we’re in a kind of state of flux, i believe, in terms of what kind of leadership can have mass appeal or even the forms mass appeal is expressed -we could even debate whether the era of mass appeal has passed and its replacement is selectively targeting different constituencies (john nery has some ideas on this, and points to chiz escudero as an example to examine).

3. garcification has been well documented by pcij and newsbreak. the fpj people have put together some extremely interesting documentaries that alas, were never aired but make for fascinating viewing: as i mentioned not so long ago, it took them three years to figure out the pre-garci cheating; the garci part was the clumsiest and easiest to uncover; the more sophisticated operations involving disenfranchisement and vote-padding and shaving in luzon and the visayas required something similar to forensic accounting.

4. i’ve also commented elsewhere that you only have to remember what society was like during martial law to realize how much freer we, as a people, are, and taking those freedoms for granted is part of that change, and while a lot of it includes disappointment in what’s happened since, it’s extremely shallow (and innacurate) indeed to simply say nothing’s changed or that it’s changed for the worst. we’ve changed, period, for the better and for the worst, though i think there remains a tremendous amount to be excited about: again, as i said, the old obediences are going and i don’t know if there’s much to miss in those old obediences, nostalgia aside. it’s messier, more difficult, but i think we’re on the verge of a bigger change in our national mores than at any other time since the propaganda movement. what’s frustrating is that short-term peace is being demanded for some, instead of the painful shock treatments we need, including demanding accountability from the president, regardless of whatever virtues she may have (and like any person and leader, she has virtues of course, but she’s embarked on a course markedly divergent even from her own best instincts, such as she had them).

5. standard & poor’s did not give the credit rating upgrade and for the reasons i and many other commentators were pointing out even before the elections. the shell game doesn’t work anymore. the president has too many political bills to pay, and no political capital to get the bureaucracy to perform -why should they, when the president has made herself immune from accountability, so why should anyone else be held accountable? smuggling is rampant, so why shouldn’t customs people simply go on the take and not remit to the state?

manuelbuencamino on Sat, 19th May 2007 1:56 am 



Garci lost to Acosta, Pacquiao lost to Custodio, Lapid lost to Binay, Genuino lost to Binay, Atienza lost to Lim, Dy lost to Trinidad, Puno lost to Biazon, and now Pineda and Lapid lose to Panlilio.

TURN THE VOLUME ALL THE WAY UP!!!

“Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the dust
Hey, I’m gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust”

manuelbuencamino on Sat, 19th May 2007 2:00 am 



And in the Senate race,

“We will, we will rock you
“We will, we will rock you”

manuelbuencamino on Sat, 19th May 2007 2:05 am 



And in Malacanang they are singing….what else?

“And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain….”

Francis on Sat, 19th May 2007 2:24 am 



The big difference in the last election was the Roman Catholic Church.

PPCRV showed that action speaks louder than voice.

camry on Sat, 19th May 2007 4:20 am 



I am eager to see good governance in Pampanga now that Fr. Panlilio is proclaimed the winner.

Bencard on Sat, 19th May 2007 4:46 am 



mlq3, i am from the era of what you call “old obediences” and contrary to your description, we had a more ordered society – heroes were real heroes whom we honored, and scoundrels and wrongdoers were mostly where they belonged, in a world of shame, if not in jail. We respected our elders and our leaders, and when we pledged our allegiance to our flag and venerated our God, we usually meant it.

With fewer exceptions, we made our living the old fashioned way – through hard and honest work. In short, we, for the most part, valued and observed time-honored principles and virtues.

Somewhere along the way, the “old” values lost thir ground, and had to give way to modernism and other isms, including ultra-liberal permissiveness, that all but destroyed the values we hold dear. Our world, as we knew it, had been turned upside down.

I believe, though, that everything in the universe is in constant motion, never static, and life is like a pendulum that sways in both directions. In time, our lost way of life will come back in all its glory.

kimosabe27 on Sat, 19th May 2007 5:16 am 



Demographics aside(Gen-X ers are now populating both local and national seats), we can also attribute the preponderance of the new media (cellphones, the Net) and the “immediacy” of government (Senate proceedings live on TV, political gossip transmitted through txt) to the changing political landscape. There may be tradpol holdouts as evidenced by reports of massive votebuying, nevertheless, people’s perceptions on governance are now changing.

Noted Jesuit thinker Wilmer Ong postulated that changes in information technology affects changes in human behavior. We are now witnessing the sunset of passive participation where we see the the people as captive audience in whatever antics the popular media/mash/political machinery throw at them (think vaudeville). Nowadays, people are more inquisitive, particularly those who have access to the internet. People want to know more. Juxtapose the a picture of a man on a lazy boy surfing the TV to a picture of a man digging and sifting through layers and layers of information on a networked computer. We are in the transition between the two, from an acquiescent recipient of policy to an involved and active polity.

Because of this, it is important to remember Michel Foucault who says that power is not necessarily aggregated to one sector in society but, like information, is dispersed throughout. Perhaps the next best step for the coming generation is to harness the linking capability of the new technology, share power and information, and forge new alternatives to immediate and future adversities.

By then, Garci will be as obsolete as a furry mammoth.

Francis on Sat, 19th May 2007 6:05 am 



bencard your generation invented “Makapili”.

We don’t need our lost way of life, we need to evolve to survive.

Nick on Sat, 19th May 2007 6:27 am 



I just read your article “Malacañang’s alternate reality”…

Well written, and great overall point on the Administration’s attempt to thwart off negative news after another…

She’s in the denial stage. (Or still expecting the machinery to pull off some upsets?)

Karlo on Sat, 19th May 2007 8:36 am 



Hello!

I think it’s not denial. Expect her “machinery” to work wonders with the election results in the remaining days of the canvassing.

I will not be surprised if Pichay and Defensor will make it to the bottom of the Magic 12. That is after all the administration machinery (cheating machine) at work.

hvrds on Sat, 19th May 2007 10:36 am 



The struggle for freedom and democracy are a constant struggle.

Power will always attmept to create and define reality. Adam Smith said that apart from money being one of the most important technolgical breakthroughs of man, writing ranks up there as well.

The printing press, microwave transmissions and finally the digital revolution gives everyone a leg up on the power structure.

But still the powers that be insist on being the absolute lords of the manor.

Nixon Rides Again
It’s only Illegal when the President Agrees it’s Illegal.
http://www.slate.com/id/2166589/
http://www.slate.com/id/2166468/

The rationalization process for declaring questionable votes has begun. Nothing is illegal unless Abalos says it is illegal.

If they are doing it in the U.S. the Phils is a snap.

MARIA SOLEDAD T TUBAY on Sat, 19th May 2007 10:52 am 



I hope may kaunti pang kahihiyan at konsiensiya ang mga mandarambong. Mabuti at masama ayon sa taya ng administrasyon, ang mamamayan pa rin ang namimili ng gusto nilang liderato at di dapat pakialaman ang desisyon na ito.

The Ca t on Sat, 19th May 2007 1:09 pm 



Ito naman si cat akala mo e may talagang alam sa buhay sa congress. Umarya kana naman, yung buhay mo muna asikasuhin mo.

So what’s wrong with my personal life?

devilsadvc8 on Sat, 19th May 2007 2:44 pm 



The biggest thing this election has proven is this:
you can’t save a nation who doesn’t want or isn’t yet ready to be saved, and that people like Dr. Martin Bautista are more of a hero and a person to be idolized than intellectuals and “talkers” like MLQ3.

Don’t get me wrong Manolo. I idolize you. From the way you present your views, to how erudite you seem to be. But “genius” talk with no action is shown up to be just lame when people like Martin and Fr. Ed (who are nowhere near Manolo’s intellectual capacity) show up and step to the plate with nothing more than the genuine desire to “take action” and bet on the people.

We have multitudes spewing rethorics, only a genuine few taking the hard path. The hardest thing of all is to “walk the talk.”

We have no shortage of honest people with good intentions. Only a shortage of them wanting to sacrifice their private life to serve the public.

The real problem is that the Filipino people are not given many “good” options. If they are, we see them proving that they are more than up to the task of being “wise” voters.

benj on Sat, 19th May 2007 3:54 pm 



you can’t save a nation who doesn’t want or isn’t yet ready to be saved, and that people like Dr. Martin Bautista are more of a hero and a person to be idolized than intellectuals and “talkers” like MLQ3.

How can a christian fundamentalist who spent 20 years abroad be a hero? Bautista has disillusioned a lot of people.

cvj on Sat, 19th May 2007 4:40 pm 



I’m not sure if guilt-tripping Manolo into running for public office will be more effective than Edwin Lacierda’s proposed guerilla campaign the other day. Mlq3’s entry into the Senate (or any political office) would be a great boon for representative democracy but will also be a loss for direct democracy (i.e. his blogging and other advocacies) so i’m not sure if it would be a net gain or loss.

I think Martin Bautista is both a christian fundamentalist and a hero. Even Hezbollah can contribute to nation building. He can do without the messianic rhetoric though as it rubs people the wrong way. No one is that good.

devilsadvc8 on Sat, 19th May 2007 6:04 pm 



“How can a christian fundamentalist who spent 20 years abroad be a hero?”

- the same way Rizal did. It isn’t the spending abroad that defines a person’s “unhero-ability” (as Rizal proved when the larger part of his life was spent abroad) but the coming back and offering oneself to his nation that proves his heroism (as Rizal proved when he decided to come back, even though he knew he’d be prosecuted and probably killed for his “advocacies”)

“Bautista has disillusioned a lot of people.”

- I don’t know where you got that “lot of people,” but if I and the others I read about are any indication, then Bautista inspired more than he disillusioned. In fact, Bautista’s action got me into thinking: reklamo tayo ng reklamo sa masamang pagpapalakad sa atin, pero wala naman tayong ginagawa. Why don’t we start by involving ourselves actively? Perhaps come next elections, we’ll see less of those “unopposed candidacies” and see more “ordinary individuals” challenging the trapos running for office.

“I’m not sure if guilt-tripping Manolo into running for public office will be more effective than Edwin Lacierda’s proposed guerilla campaign the other day. Mlq3’s entry into the Senate (or any political office) would be a great boon for representative democracy but will also be a loss for direct democracy (i.e. his blogging and other advocacies) so i’m not sure if it would be a net gain or loss.”

- I’m not jz guilt-tripping Manolo. I’m guilt-tripping everyone. And I don’t think his entry into public office would signal the demise of his advocacies. It doesn’t follow that if you become a public official, you have to give up your advocacy. You are even more in a position to strengthen it, and spread the word when you are elected into office.
And btw, I don’t think Manolo would be largely effective in the Senate (or the House). The framework of our government is such that collective idiocies (like the senate and the house) do little to make an impact in the everyday life of Filipinos. After all, what is there to lawmaking if the laws aren’t being enforced? The power, as always, resides in the local gov’t. A good and honest politician who is determined to improve his city will be able to (as proven by Robredo), regardless of who sits in Malacanang. In fact, the focus of the “other” opposition (those outside Erap’s circle) should’ve been to field local candidates to all cities nationwide, and I’m sure we would’ve seen the people vote them all into office. That would’ve rendered GMA a sure lame duck. As she and her cohorts would then have lost that vaunted “grass-roots” they keep talking about.

If even just enough cities start having politicians like Robredo, then the people would slowly realize that their dream of being lifted out of poverty lies in public officials who doesn’t only patronize through money, but in public officials who will be an exemplary one, in thought, action, and example. There would be a domino effect, as people in neighboring cities would see the good things happening near their fence, and envy that city for having that kind of mayor. They would then aspire to have the same kind of thing, and sooner than you know, would demand the same thing from their leaders.

realist on Sat, 19th May 2007 6:17 pm 



Cat, you tell us. binulgar mo na yan noon, diba? paawa o patawag pansin?

realist on Sat, 19th May 2007 6:40 pm 



On Martin Bautista:

I admire martin bautista kasi matagal na niyang ambition na sumali sa politics at pinangatawanan niya, pero hero?

agree ako kay benj. nawala si martin ng maraming taon tapos bumalik at gustong makisermon. Pero mas mabuti na yan kay bencard at cat na dada ng dada pero nasa amerika at di naman naaapekto ng naghihirap sa pinas.

cvj on Sat, 19th May 2007 6:53 pm 



devilsadvc8, i take your point on the need to focus on local races and i think that was the idea behind the black and white movement’s campaign for selected candidates for the house during the recent elections. However, ignoring our ‘collective idiocies’ does not mean that they will go away. After all, it is the long arm of the Arroyos that have recently caused trouble for Robredo in places like Naga. Without effective opposition at the national level, impunity has a way of catching on and catching up at the local level.

On having more people like Martin Bautista run for public office, i agree which is why i voted for him. I also fully subscribe to your last paragraph, but i think we are missing an intermediate step. We need to remember the recent experience with EDSA Dos. That was Civil Society’s first attempt at taking power and governing and see where that has led us. The entry of civil society members into the State has had a double negative effect in that it has led to loss in momentum in the advocacies of those on the outside and has corrupted a lot of those remained on the inside. The people in government whom we are fighting now are the same ones who had high ideals back then. Civil Society has a finite amount of energy and i believe that we were more effective in the public sphere rather than within the institutions of the State. Let’s concentrate on improving our ability to discipline those who are on the inside before we dream of taking over wholesale. A good start would be to rid ourselves of the ‘let’s move on’ mentality.

The Ca t on Sat, 19th May 2007 7:25 pm 



Cat, you tell us. binulgar mo na yan noon, diba? paawa o patawag pansin?

Wala ka na naman bang masabi kaya pati buhay ko pinakikialaman mo. Kalalaki mong tao. Sa forum na ito alam mo ang makitid ang utak.

O mag-exercise ka para madagdagan ang utak mo.

Pag pikon, nagiging mababa pa sa ahas na gumagapang sa lupa.

The Ca t on Sat, 19th May 2007 7:27 pm 



Mga bobo lang ang hindi makakaunawa sa relasyon ng mga pulitiko sa Kongreso. Hindi ka makakapagpapasa ng bill kung walang approval ang iba. Kaya kahit sabihin mo pang independiente ka, kailangang isusuko mo pa rin ang iyong idealismo para maipapasa mo ang isang batas.
Ayan isalaksak mo sa utak mo yan realist. Para magkaroon ng laman kahit kaunti.

The Ca t on Sat, 19th May 2007 7:31 pm 



Cat, you tell us. binulgar mo na yan noon, diba? paawa o patawag pansin?

Nang ibinulgar ba ni MLQ3 ang kaniyang tunay na kasarian, may karapatan ka bang sabihan siya tungkol sa kaniyang buhay. I was making a point when I revealed a little about myself. At ano naman amg ikahihiya ko doon Realist? Ano ang dapat kong ayusin sa buhay ko?

Ikaw, duwag, nakatago sa alias mong realist. Lowlife.

rego on Sat, 19th May 2007 7:43 pm 



Exactly! I too revealed a little of my self in this blog. I dont exactly know why…But I think it gives some personal touch on these forum and it makes it different from other blogs. Im not really sure..

Whose life is perfect anyway?

But whatever personal troubles we had should not prevent us from expressing our opinion on something that we feel we wanted to say something….

I was wondering realist, why you haven’t revealed something about you in these blog??? hhhhhmmmm. takot ka ba na may masilip na konti ang buhay mo?

devilsadvc8 on Sat, 19th May 2007 8:07 pm 



“That was Civil Society’s first attempt at taking power and governing and see where that has led us. The entry of civil society members into the State has had a double negative effect in that it has led to loss in momentum in the advocacies of those on the outside and has corrupted a lot of those remained on the inside. The people in government whom we are fighting now are the same ones who had high ideals back then.”

- No. The people we are fighting now have always been the same people back then. They only shed their sheep’s clothing. If u review the actions of Arroyo et al, u would see the pattern, and would surmise they never had the same ideals as the civil society that catapulted them in power had.

“Civil Society has a finite amount of energy and i believe that we were more effective in the public sphere rather than within the institutions of the State.”

- this is where we disagree of course. If in fact CS has a finite amt of energy, then it seems more logical to concentrate that energy into where it won’t be wasted. GK is the perfect example. One whack of the demented Arroyo regime and everything it accomplished will be in ashes. You should read Randy David’s discourse on Volunteerism. It’s an excellent primer on why Politics and NGO/GK-like orgs can never be seperated. The action of one affects the other.

“Let’s concentrate on improving our ability to discipline those who are on the inside before we dream of taking over wholesale.”

- And how can we discipline them if they are the ones in power? Short of another People Power?

devilsadvc8 on Sat, 19th May 2007 8:19 pm 



“Hindi ka makakapagpapasa ng bill kung walang approval ang iba. Kaya kahit sabihin mo pang independiente ka, kailangang isusuko mo pa rin ang iyong idealismo para maipapasa mo ang isang batas.”

- Which is why I think going into Congress to effect change is senseless. Congress has morphed into a collective idiocy. It has become a herd of mindless people following the call of the pork barrel. Idealism indeed has been lost in the number of people you need to please in order to pass that law you wanted so that you could “help” the people.

OT: to Rego, Cat, and Realist.

Personal attacks show you up for who you really are. Debate ideas and not personality. Stop the fighting. You are degrading the quality of this thread by starting a flame war.

UPn student on Sat, 19th May 2007 8:24 pm 



To label Dr. Martin Bautista as a christian fundamentalist is to ignore his history — a Pro-Choice internist in Oklahoma.

benj on Sat, 19th May 2007 8:38 pm 



To label Dr. Martin Bautista as a christian fundamentalist is to ignore his history — a Pro-Choice internist in Oklahoma.

He’s opposed to the use of Oral Contraceptive Pills in the Philippines btw. So what now? He’s a hypocrite if that’s the case – a philosophical turncoat. :p

cvj on Sat, 19th May 2007 9:12 pm 



No. The people we are fighting now have always been the same people back then. They only shed their sheep’s clothing. If u review the actions of Arroyo et al, u would see the pattern, and would surmise they never had the same ideals as the civil society that catapulted them in power had. – devilsadvc8

Some of them are, but a lot of them came from the ranks of civil society. A few of them became the Hyatt 10. The rest have chosen to stay because they say that they want to see the programs they started take effect. The Arroyo government’s support base comprise the otherwise decent citizens of the middle and upper class fearful of a Coup, a Lacson ascendancy or an Erap restoration.

In any case, how can we be sure that Dr. Martin Bautista is also not a wolf in sheep’s clothing or that he will not be corrupted once in power? In reality, there is no assurance. If we do not have a means of disciplining him/her from the outside, what do we do then?

“If in fact CS has a finite amt of energy, then it seems more logical to concentrate that energy into where it won’t be wasted. GK is the perfect example. One whack of the demented Arroyo regime and everything it accomplished will be in ashes. You should read Randy David’s discourse on Volunteerism. It’s an excellent primer on why Politics and NGO/GK-like orgs can never be seperated. The action of one affects the other.” – devilsadvc8

Actually, this is where we agree. However, i do not limit involvement in politics to holding office in the State. We are better off staying in the Public Sphere as a network of NGO and GK-like orgs with the difference that the focus should not just be limited to the local. We should also come together at a national level.

“And how can we discipline them if they are the ones in power? Short of another People Power?” – devilsadvc8

Precisely, which is why i said we should get rid of this “let’s move on” mentality which encourages apathy. On the other hand, it is the quest to keep power that has corrupted those who have come before in our name.

The Ca t on Sat, 19th May 2007 9:16 pm 



OT: to Rego, Cat, and Realist.

Personal attacks show you up for who you really are. Debate ideas and not personality. Stop the fighting. You are degrading the quality of this thread by starting a flame war.

Why did you not write this, the first time that lowlifer told me to mind my personal life. Sheesh. Isa ka rin.

vic on Sat, 19th May 2007 9:40 pm 



Is Martin Bautista a pro-choice? And campaigned against the use of oral contraceptive? Then if it is true, we call it “fishing”. A pro-choice advocate would not oppose the use of any means of terminating or even helping the progress of pregnancy.

I been following Mr. Bautista campaign platforms, especially the issues regarding affordable health care and drugs availability to all. It is very ambitious and you need an absolute majority in government to even get to preliminary stages.

Tommy Douglas had to do it by introducing it first in his Province of Saskatchewan by winning a Government there and show to the whole of Canada that it worked. But even then it took suceeding Governments of his party to eventually implement the programs of affordability of health care and several more years for the whole country to see its benefits.

Medical practice in the U.S. is indeed lucrative (I should have known) but it’s nothing compares to the practice of a Philippines Senator. Show me a Philippines Senator who makes less than a U.S. medical practitioner? And pays less taxes, And I’ll show my two siblings income tax returns of whatever left after filling their tax returns…

mlq3 on Sun, 20th May 2007 12:49 am 



i hope no one will ever spare their ammunition when it comes to blasting away at ideas, our officials (of whatever side) and me and other bloggers, but when it comes to commenters vs. commenters, some things are totally beside the point.

cat disagrees with many things on this blog but she’s always been respectful of personal issues. i think we should respect her and each other when it comes to her personal life story.

manuelbuencamino on Sun, 20th May 2007 1:22 am 



Cat

Mayor Lim was on DZMM this evening

Announcer: gusto ninyong magpasalamat sa mga supporter ninyo”

Lim : Oo. Nagpapasalamat ako kay Erap at sa Iglesia din….

manuelbuencamino on Sun, 20th May 2007 1:26 am 



sa katotohanan lang yun God-based politics ng Lapatiran medyo patungong Taliban ang dating sa akin kaya hindi ko sila ibinoto.

benj on Sun, 20th May 2007 1:33 am 



sa katotohanan lang yun God-based politics ng Kapatiran medyo patungong Taliban ang dating sa akin kaya hindi ko sila ibinoto.

I whole heartedly agree! I wish the Filipinos were more like the Turks in Istanbul – ready to fight for secularism.

rego on Sun, 20th May 2007 1:54 am 



Sino nga pala ang vice ni Mayor Lim? Si Isko Moreno ba?..

Devils,

I have no problem with your suggestion. Subalit dapat mong mainitindihan na ang comments section or dicussion sa blog na eto ay freewheeling in nature. Kaya kung saan saan napupunta ang isang topic eh. Maganda talaga kung ang lahat ay mag stick sa issue at walang personalan. kaya lang kung minsan nag kakapikonan talaga at yung hindi kayang makipagrason sa kanyang nagkabanggan yun ang mailimit na namemersonal.

Now you have a choice to skip it naman kung hindi mo type yung sagutan. O symepre may choice ka rin sawayin sila.

Just the same, nakakaenjoy pa rin ang blog na eto….

Bencard on Sun, 20th May 2007 2:09 am 



mlq3, i totally agree with you regarding personal issues. In these days where almost nothing is sacred, some things are still, and must remain, inviolate. Assailing one’s private life for his/her viewpoint is like beating up the messenger for the message he bears. Thanks for the reminder, i guess, we needed that.

realist on Sun, 20th May 2007 5:56 am 



Cat, low life, duwag, ano pa? E ikaw kaya, ano ka? Gusto niyo ng matigas na bola, pero pag tinamaan ka, iyakan na! Kung makaatake ka ng mga taong di mo naman kilala, o kaya naman mag galing galingan sa bagay na di mo naman talaga alam, tapos ipagyabang ang inyong background, sali-sali na yan.

So, si mlq3 ibinunyag na bading siya, so what? Hindi naman siya nangaatake at nag gagaling-galingan na tulad mo, cat. Hinde naman siya nasa US na nagmamagaling tulad ni bencard. Si mlq3, bading man, puwedeng respetohin.

Cat, kung di mo kaya at iiyak ka, huwag ka ng magbulgar ng buhay mo dito. Di ako impressed. Hinde high school to.

Bencard on Sun, 20th May 2007 7:08 am 



realist, marunong din akong makipag-insultuhan pero hindi ako kailanman nagmagaling. what i say speaks for itself and i don’t need you to judge me, as a person, on that basis. if you think I’m “magaling” or “nagmamagaling” its your own problem, not mine.

i don’t need you to respect me either but i don’t think you are qualified to judge who is “puedeng respetohin”. I think coming from you, respect is like a pie on the face, if not a dagger on the back.

inidoro ni emilie on Mon, 21st May 2007 12:34 pm 



edwin is urging manolo to run? and all this while, we’ve been clamoring for political reform?!?

with all due respect, and no offense to mlq3, but personally i’ve made it a point not to elect anyone whose historical political lineage has already been tried and tested. not even a descendant of rizal will make him earn my vote. i’ve learned my lesson after macapagal ran for senator. ‘nuf of this popularity contest. no to mar roxas for president. my rallying cry is not, “pare-pareho lang ang mga iyan” but “sila-sila na lang ba?”

rego:

“I was wondering realist, why you haven’t revealed something about you in these blog??? hhhhhmmmm. takot ka ba na may masilip na konti ang buhay mo?”

this is not to defend realist, but i didn’t realize that mlq’s blog is a confessional box. you yourself is not even certain why you have to reveal aspects of yourself.

ask these questions before you engage in a debate/forum like this: was your personal revelation relevant to the discussion? would your personal life make for a MEANINGFUL answer or example to a political issue being discussed at hand? or were these just blatant attempts to show off? would your arguments make any difference if you did not share aspects of your life (e.g., who cares about where your brother or sister or father or uncle graduated from? or where you work?)–if it didn’t, what was the confession for? would flipping your academic badges, for example, make you more erudite argument, or was this made to make a fallacious appeal to “authority” (when maybe you have none)? can one argue without involving personal circumstance, unless the issue or topic discussed here is worthy of “maalala mo kaya” segment? if the issue of mlq’s sexuality was discussed here, that was because the issue was about sexuality.

you need respect–respect yourself. find the right forum to unveil yourself. set up your own ego-inflating personal blog. but if you think your personal life is in the middle of any political issue, then by all means, get ready to be scrutinized. perhaps the only personal thing relevant in this forum is your view on issues, not your biography.

janie on Mon, 21st May 2007 1:01 pm 



personalan na…

i used to think that it’s not hard to set aside personal issues from the “real” ones (that, being the essential and what concerns most of our fellowmen). but to see that comments in this blog have went beyond what is presumed to be proper, maybe, it’s hard after all.

i believe most visitors of this blog want reform and change and good for our nation. if we continue attacking personal issues of other people rather than tackling what the real issue is, then aren’t we the same as the politicians we condemn?

jude on Mon, 21st May 2007 4:03 pm 



Despite the urge of some hatemongers to crow about some high-profile races, the fact remains that Congress is solidly with the administration, perhaps even more so. While much is made about a few races where the opposition scored a victory, some of those who voted for impeachment have been trounced during this election as well. Neric Acosta will be gone. He tried to move up to the governor and got beaten black and blue by Joe Zubiri. His sister, Malu, was also dumped by the electorate in favor of Zubiri’s candidate. Clavel Martinez ran for vice-governor and was resoundingly defeated. Dodot Jaworski ran and lost for Mayor, a double whammy for Mikee Cojuangco whose dad, Peping the “wazn’t me” coup plotter, was foiled in his quest for Tarlac governor.

Should Trillanes win, the Armed Forces Chief of Staff says that it is better that he become part of the establishment instead of fighting it through arms. Or as Lyndon Johnson once said, “better him pissing out than pissing in”.

In the end, Digs Dilangalen, who just won as opposition Congressman for Maguindanao, makes a lot more sense than hotheads who would want to sow intrigues and destroy the gains of the past 2 years. He has pledged not to support any impeachment moves against the administration. Says Dilangalen:

“I don’t see any good and convincing reason to impeach her. It will not succeed. The country must move forward. Impeachment will only serve as a drawback to our steadily growing economy. We are all losers in the end.”

While we await the final results of the elections, a punishing experience that is like watching the grass grow, the peso continues to improve vs the dollar and the stock market goes to one record high after another. This is the most important vote of confidence in the administration’s handling of the economy. Like Dilangalen, I hope the troublemakers will take the electoral verdict peacefully and stop trying to rock the boat.

Bokyo on Mon, 21st May 2007 5:00 pm 



““I don’t see any good and convincing reason to impeach her. It will not succeed. The country must move forward. Impeachment will only serve as a drawback to our steadily growing economy. We are all losers in the end.”

While we await the final results of the elections, a punishing experience that is like watching the grass grow, the peso continues to improve vs the dollar and the stock market goes to one record high after another. This is the most important vote of confidence in the administration’s handling of the economy. Like Dilangalen, I hope the troublemakers will take the electoral verdict peacefully and stop trying to rock the boat.”

Sounds good at first but really it’s just echoing the Administration line. Let us forget all about the past and focus on the growing economy.

But if we must grow, let us not forget to improve or correct the wrongs in our institutions as well. We cannot do this by just ignoring or be blind to what has happened. We must continue to seek the answers and to hold accountable those who are suppose to answer for what they have done. Just like when you are erecting a high or multi storey building, we should be careful in laying out our foundation, for in the end we will suffer if we rush to finish as many floors as we want to have, having a weak foundation.

Jon Mariano on Mon, 21st May 2007 6:00 pm 



I agree with Bokyo, can you just imagine how much success the Philippines will achieve if we have leaders of unquestionable mandate supported by the people and goes hand in hand with a growing economy?

I am happy for the Philippines to have a buoyant economy where everybody benefits but at the same time I am for the punishment of leaders who abuse their powers and break the laws of the land they’re supposed to protect.

If balancing the two makes for a poor economic situation today but creates a better view of the future, I would still go for that instead of just closing our eyes to the abuses and focusing on the economy.

realist on Mon, 21st May 2007 6:09 pm 



Bencard, this is tiring and old so, tapusin ko na pinasimulan ninyo ni cat. Ang salita mo ay bumabalik sa iyo. Counter puncher ako, nagre-react lang sa batikus. Sabi mo: You don’t have the right to judge me? Ang korni mo! People judge people here there and everywhere all the time, lalo na ikaw at yung isa pang pusa. Don’t kid yourself!

Manuel L. Quezon III: The Daily Dose » Blog Archive » The machinery broke down on Mon, 21st May 2007 6:09 pm 

[...] before we start attributing a flourishing stock market to the President, let’s take a look at what the rest of the world is doing. Where the President directly [...]

janie on Mon, 21st May 2007 6:15 pm 



jon mariano, right you are.

but, we must make sure that EVERYBODY benefits. because as far as i notice, even if the dollar-peso exchange rate is improving in the past days, prices of commodities remain and have a threat of increasing because of the oil price hike.

this is one of the few moments though, when forgive and forget should not be the case.

rego on Mon, 21st May 2007 6:16 pm 



inidoro,

Of course i feel it was! Im sure Ca T feel same way too. That revelation happened on the thread about Laurgarism’s ranting about her personal issues. That she was comntemplating on leaving manila becuase of those issues.

Then I remember, Ca T and I was sharing our personal experiences as a cuationary tale.

I think what was wrong is to use that revelation to attack us in other arguments which is nt totally related to the topic. In the first place that was just too little part of our life. ( we are not that stupid para ibuyang yang ang buong buhay namin dito).Yun ang mali sa ginawa ni realist.

At ang mali mo naman, di mo tinanong ang sarili kung familiar ka ba sa doon sa sinsabi namin ni Ca T na revelation at kung saan thread namin ginawa yun. Kasi kung familiar ka, Im sure marerealize mo na related yung revelation na yun sa link ni Manolo about Laurganisms. Or kung familiar ka naman, Im sure di ma na gets ang ibig naming iparating. Which is not our problem but yours! Alrighty?

An dthis wi be my last say on these “issue”

vic on Mon, 21st May 2007 6:55 pm 



I totally agree with Bokyo in his comment above that no matter how good the a leader or a party manage the economy or the fiscal policy, the people can not just ignore the “wrongs” committed along the way without dealing with it.

To give an overview on our case, the Leadership and Long stewardship of Prime Minister Jean Chretien Liberal Government was the Best performing 11 years of our Economic Boom that we were out of Federal deficit into sustained surplus, his government defined our foreign policy distinct of that of our neighbor in the south; he was able to conclude all the unresolved treaties and agreements with our aboriginals, But when the Auditor General discovered the Corruption that was the only taint to his otherwise unquestioned leadership, “the Sponsorship Scandal” it lead to the defeat of his Government Party and the conviction of the people belonging to his party and disgraceful exit in Politics of all others involved. And we still able to Move On after…

mlq3 on Mon, 21st May 2007 7:26 pm 



jude: re clavel martinez, she shifted back to supporting the admin; also her defeat was part of the larger defeat of the forces that wanted to divide cebu into several new provinces.

dodot jaworski, too, didn’t support the 2nd impeachment and joined the administration (haven’t been following the protests over his defeat though), and dilangalen also supports the administration whatever his nominal affiliation (admin. support was required to turn his district into a new province).

The Ca t on Mon, 21st May 2007 7:44 pm 



cat disagrees with many things on this blog but she’s always been respectful of personal issues. i think we should respect her and each other when it comes to her personal life story.

Thanks Manolo.

The Ca t on Mon, 21st May 2007 7:49 pm 



Cat

Mayor Lim was on DZMM this evening

Announcer: gusto ninyong magpasalamat sa mga supporter ninyo”

Lim : Oo. Nagpapasalamat ako kay Erap at sa Iglesia din….

One of the traits that I like in him. He’s always prim and proper which he balances with his politics.

The Ca t on Mon, 21st May 2007 8:27 pm 



At ang mali mo naman, di mo tinanong ang sarili kung familiar ka ba sa doon sa sinsabi namin ni Ca T na revelation at kung saan thread namin ginawa yun. Kasi kung familiar ka, Im sure marerealize mo na related yung revelation na yun sa link ni Manolo about Laurganisms.

Thanks rego. My anecdotal experience was about being a member of a highly educated family in SF in relation to the article in Laurganism.

In my 10 years of joining forums, this is a good example of FLAMING.

realist :

Cat, you tell us. binulgar mo na yan noon, diba? paawa o patawag pansin?

Ano ang dapat kaawaan sa akin?

So i dho not knowwhat’s wrong with my personal life and what has to do with my statement about Trillanes’ possibility of joining Congress.

realist :

Ito naman si cat akala mo e may talagang alam sa buhay sa congress. Umarya kana naman, yung buhay mo muna asikasuhin mo.

devilsadvc8 on Mon, 21st May 2007 9:03 pm 



@cvj – Yes. We all need to trust somebody I guess. The only assurance we can have is if we run for office ourselves. lol. And that can give assurance only to ourselves and to those who know us best. There are many causes of apathy more than just this mentality you’re referring to. Two things top my mind: entertainment, and breaking past the “breaking point.” I am more in the view that our greatest enemy has always been entertainment. The gladiator fights were created this way too. To divert the public from the hardships of their life. Today, this has been replaced by showbiz and video games. The other cause of apathy is more tragic. And that is to go past the point of caring because your life has been reduced to nothing but subsistence.

@cat- Bec. I thought u were better than that, and wouldn’t give it a moment’s notice. And bec. i thought if left alone, it wouldn’t escalate.

@rego- Yeah. I know. I may have jz been too used to the environment of the forum I frequent that I forgot Manolo’s blog isn’t so much moderated as that one. Don kasi eh pag nag OT ka mapagsasabihan ka kaagad. Plus sinasaway kaagad ang potential flamewars kasi nga sinisira nito ang thread na binuksan ng topic starter. Isipin mo nga naman kung ang puro mo mababasa eh sagutan nung dalawang nag-aaway. As for ur comment abt this blog being enjoyable to visit, u got that right. This blog isn’t on Philippine’s Top 100 for no reason. Altho I hate it when Manolo jz post charts/tables/stats and links w/o general explanation or summaries. It then falls to me to dig thru the dirt jz to get what he’s saying. Which of course I fail to do. Which is why I like his PDI column more than this blog. lol.
I’m more into what ppl are posting here. From the absurd, to the enlightening, it sure is an interesting read.

The Ca t on Mon, 21st May 2007 10:36 pm 



Yeah. I know. I may have jz been too used to the environment of the forum I frequent that I forgot Manolo’s blog isn’t so much moderated as that one.

As far as I know, I have assumed the role of reminding people to refrain from unsavory remarks.

cat- Bec. I thought u were better than that, and wouldn’t give it a moment’s notice. And bec. i thought if left alone, it wouldn’t escalate.

This is not the first time, this individual crossed my path. And that was just because, I made a comment about his hero, Pacquaio.

tagabukid on Mon, 21st May 2007 10:36 pm 



Dami na palang revelations sa forum, ngayon ko lang nasagap ang iba…hehehe.

Ayusin nyo na mga bangayan nyo, isyus na lang ang pag-usapan. Mas maigi siguro mag-post pag tapos na ang bilangan, i think by second week of June tapos na yan kasi pasukan na at kelangan na ng mga canvassers na ienroll ang mga anak nila. Sa totoo lang, ang bagal ng quick count.

Yung mga matindi ang ego, sundin nyo na lang ang payo ni Inidoro: build your own blog at doon kayo magkalat.

manuelbuencamino on Mon, 21st May 2007 11:01 pm 



Jude,

“While we await the final results of the elections, a punishing experience that is like watching the grass grow, the peso continues to improve vs the dollar and the stock market goes to one record high after another. This is the most important vote of confidence in the administration’s handling of the economy.”

On the contrary, the peso and the stockmarket surged because investors welcomed the opposition victory. They saw there would be some oversight over your beloved crooks.

I told you before and I’ll tell you again. Your data is fucked and your spin technique is amateurish. You remind me of those alex magno and ricardo saludo types.

devilsadvc8 on Tue, 22nd May 2007 12:20 am 



A lot of sharp economists here, I see. *sarcasm unintended*

Just my 2 cents.

The evaluation of the Peso?

An effect that will happen regardless of GMA being president or some other scmuck like Victor Wood.
In fact, the peso’s evaluation cannot be stopped even if we wanted it to.

Point 1: our economy is being propped up by remittances. with every year seeing record highs.
Point 2: the US dollar is an embattled currency, thanks in large part to the genius known as Bush. With the drain on Iraq war, the US is already so far down that dark pit of budget deficiencies, it’s a wonder the whole world economy doesn’t tailspin into another great depression.
Point 3: Why be so proud of that gain? Most other currencies had been going better against the dollar than us, from strength to strength ever since Junior came into power. It’s like boasting after duck hunting. We got four feathers. The others got whole ducks.
Point 4: peso appreciation has a downside. exports earn less. a marker of a good economy is this: a country spends less on imports and earns more on exports. guess this isn’t us huh?

So, is our economy getting better? Let us count the ways:

More investments since that damn mining act went full blast. Jobs and money flow into the country. Still more investments because of the BPO industry. Wow. So many jobs, so many are happy we don’t even care if they’re exploiting us anymore! After all, beggars can’t be choosers, right?
Our credit rating has finally improved. What does that mean? Well it only means lesser interests rates for all that debt we have. Wow. Finally, a glimmer of hope that maybe we could finally chip off a small part of our natl debt’s principal…just after paying a few decades for a debt our country incurred mainly because of CORRUPTION!

Hmm. That list glows. Do inform me if I’ve missed others.
Now onto the consequences:

Mining. After a decade of that, the investors pack up, leaving each sites a wasteland and sucked dry of all minerals. All the lucky workers given jobs now have assorted respiratory diseases. The investors grin like hyenas having struck pay dirt. wow. buying our resources cheap and making off like thieves. Wow. Feels like a virgin who begged to be paid for sex, was paid 20 bucks, and then raped by 50, was left dead and spat on after being used. This one’s a sure winner I tell you.

BPO. Hmm. Nope. This is actually good. I totally agree with this one. Exploitation aside, so what if they’re paying us like peasants compared to what their earning? Dependence on us is actually a good thing. If only those damn Indians would get out of the picture, we could totally milk this cow and demand higher wages. This cow’s got a few more years to live anyway. After which the Koreans and the Chinese enter the picture. We’re all teaching them to be our future competitors, aren’t we? How smart of us!

Pandering to IMF and WB just to have our credit rating increased, nuff said. So what if most of those debts were due to illicit transactions by the same devils who’ve impoverished our nation? We’ll never get out of this hole unless the powers that be approve that total debt write-off for all developing countries that we’ve always been asking for. If they’ve already given it to the poorest African nations, we should be next in line huh? Or why would they bother? After all, our gov’t is already so gung-ho abt paying all this debt, we should thank GMA if they deny us that request huh?

Edwin on Tue, 22nd May 2007 4:49 am 



I kept hearing and hearing people saying lets just move forward. lets stop trying to create trouble and just concentrate on nation building. See our economy is growing and getting stronger. Let us stop the escudero and cayetano tag team from trying to impeach Gloria again.

I dont fcuking think so.

Nobody can move forward if the we dont believe in the driver of the car. Nobody can start the nation building if we dont even have the sense to lay the proper foundation. the reason why I think a lot of people voted for those 2 is the same reason why we just talked and talked here. They are going to talk for us. They might have a lackluster performance as a legislator but sure as hell knows how to talk ( listen to how Escudero talk, calm and with an uneducated ears like I have,he sure sounds like a man with common sense)

here in manolos blog. I read a lot of educated and smart persons yapping and yapping and yapping. The term keyboard warrior comes to my lowly mind. and I am also sick and wanted to puke to the so called intellectuals bashing the so called opposition, calling them names and telling everybody hey we got a strong economy! yippeeee! thank us we saved you from an actor. yeah and thanks to you, we are also benefiting to a lot of things that I am ashamed to mention.

Im just trolling and venting my anger. Pardon my rudimentary use of english language. For im just a high school graduate and I am super pissed about whats happening to the country WHERE I LIVE.

jonphil on Tue, 22nd May 2007 9:36 pm 



INSOFAR AS speaking fluent-english is IS CONCERNED, cheeze pales in comparison with my 20y.o. nephew who grew up in LA. Most importantly, my nephew can distinguish right from wrong. Escudero a is paid jukebox of erap and FPJ, he says. Just like his father was a tuta of marcos.

“…listen to how Escudero talk, calm and with an UNEDUCATED EARS LIKE I HAVE,he sure sounds like a man with common sense.”

INSOFAR AS INSOFAR-AS-IS-CONCERNED IS CONCERNED, escudero has indeed lots of common sense to a lot of UNEDUCATED EARS that listen to him.

Bencard on Wed, 23rd May 2007 3:59 am 



edwin, you will be miserable and bitter wherever you live. cursing and writing obscenities will not do you any good – might even get you into trouble because no one likes a bellyaching whimp. nobody owes you a happy life. you try to make your own, and you cannot rely on other miserable people to make things better for you. they can only make them worst.

inodoro ni emilie on Wed, 23rd May 2007 9:08 am 



INSOFAR AS speaking fluent-english is IS CONCERNED, cheeze pales in comparison with my 20y.o.nephew who grew up in LA.

so what’s your point? your nephew has imbibed english as a first language. naturally we expect him to be fluent in that. but does he have the gab of fluency to speak filipino as a second language? besides no where in edwin’s thread did he mention which language soothes his üneducated” ears.

“Most importantly, my nephew can distinguish right from wrong.”

apparently you are making your own subjective judgment, and therefore the better introspection to ask is can you distinguish right from wrong?”

edwin:

“Im just trolling and venting my anger.”

feel free to express it, edwin. indifference is only for the living dead.

jonphil on Wed, 23rd May 2007 8:43 pm 



“…does he have the gab of fluency to speak filipino…”
“…can you distinguish right from wrong?”

Me and my nephew are not fluent with filipino/tagalog, bisaya man mi. We don’t even have to be a high school/college graduates to distinguish right from wrong.

You and majority of the commenters here are tremendously outraged by GMA’s alleged cheating. So am I. I am even more disappointed that her sons and in-law are occupying seats in congress. I am against political dynasty/nepotism.

Despite escudero’s “lackluster performance as a legislator” and being a representative of erap/fpj, instead of sorsogon, why did people vote for him? The only visible acomplishment he & cayetano did was to grandstand and get noticed in the media.

Despite honasan and trillanes’ acts of mutinee. Why were they voted for? When sonny boy was tried in court, he kept on insisting that the oakwood mutinee was merely an oakwood INCIDENT. If he becomes a senator, just imagine how he would justify his irregularities by mere OCCURENCES.

On one hand, we focus too much on GMA next moves (too many soothsayers). On the other, we tolerate other politicians’ wrongdoings?

I believe all of us want to rid our country of corruption and all forms impropriety. We want a better future for us and our children’s. Let’s be consistent. Aside from GMA, let us make others accountable for their wrong doings:

- The biggest of them all is marcos and his heirs
- behest loanees enrile, disini, cojuangco, etal
- tax evader lucio tan & the likes
- murderers honasan, lacson, etc
- plunderer erap and his accomplice
- corrupt militarymen and mutineers
- political dynasty families & disarm their private armies

Let us make past and present politicians (president downwards) make known to the public how their pork money were spent or where account they went.

You want objectivity, let’s go after ALL all of them NOT just ONE.

devilsadvc8 on Thu, 24th May 2007 2:32 pm 



“You want objectivity, let’s go after ALL all of them NOT just ONE.”

AMEN.

Bencard on Fri, 25th May 2007 12:46 am 



jonphil, i concur. let’s get all the bastards. let’s make it an equal opportunity endeavor. no untouchables, no sacred cows, no hypocrites. but let’s not forget “due process” and the “rule of law”. they are imperfect, but they are the best we have against injustice.

mlq3 on Fri, 25th May 2007 1:24 am 



I appreciate Bencard’s points because without our laws, we’d have the law of the jungle. but i think we have to keep returning to what impeachment is, which is essentially a political process meant to preterminate an elected term, which otherwise is expected to run its due course. at stake in an impeachment is neither life, liberty, nor property, it is political office: the people giveth, the people’s representatives can taketh away.

bencard and cat often return to the reality that impeachment, under the present constitution, has never been easier -yet unattainable twice so far. we disagree on the reasons why this is so.

i do think the majority in the house, everything considered (and the ultimate consideration was the pork barrel, something estrada denied congressmen and so it made going against him so much easier at the time), had a point when the minority complained of the way the impeachment rules for the 13th congress had been put together. they were crafted so as to make the presentation of evidence something that would take place only after the consideration of the charges. i pointed out that in the case of quirino, for example, before the charges were tackled in terms of form or substance, the evidence was presented and publicly so. and since impeachment is a political process, the use of the president’s majority then as now, was perhaps inevitable but much more understandable -and less debatable.

not so, now, and as the majority pointed out, the minority acceeded to the rules because they thought the procedure wouldn’t matter, they could get the public upset enough and drive the president from office.

but in that political calculation the experience of the 2000-2001 impeachment was forgotten, as were the lessons from 1986: a people power moment, as teddyboy locsin angrily pointed out, cannot be manufactured. it can be helped along, but you cannot speed up its ripening.

that being said, the question for any leader in the face of a challenge is to fight or flee; the president i think deserves criticism and continued opposition for simply turning her back on two decades of democratic rebuilding. she was free to reject calls for her resignation, but she then threw every obstacle in the path of vindicating herself: and there were ample means to do so, whether from a truth commission, a proper impeachment, or even asking congress to appoint a special prosecutor.

she could have been proactive and not reactive -proactive is what fvr, much as i criticize him, tried to be in 2005. he tried to identify a way forward and it could have been a winning formula, but ultimately his proposal required too much sacrifice, not only of the senate but of the president herself. and even from the house.

so we remain divided, both sides who have opted to declare for or against the president in a kind of war of attrition, while the public itself that was not on either side had made its preferences known: in favor of impeachment, not in favor of taking to the streets, against hammering the senate, against the senate fighting back but not doing anything else, unexcited about the leadership options from the vice-president on down, against military force resolving matters, against the gratuitous use of the police power, for a peaceful means, and above all else, keeping things within a democratic framework.

the recently concluded election had a lot of people staying away, not least because not much could be expected of a situation where the comelec is the same one that discredited itself in 2004, and where the leadership options again, would be uninspiring -but it voted in favor of a more aggressive new bunch of senators because the public doesn’t feel the president deserves any slack or favors -and until the process is made to work, then things might as well slide until 2010 when the president is well and trulty out of the picture -and make no bones about it, the public was prepared not to tip the balance either way from 2005 onwards, but an extension for the president isn’t in the cards, and the public came closest to a revolt when the house seemed poised to even take away the emotional outlet (and test of whether institutions discredited after 2005 could redeem themselves) of the 2007 elections.

the comelec’s failed to redeem itself. so has the palace. those gambling on the palace’s resources have seen its limitations. the new senate will be on probation. other groups have redeemed themselves, namely the watchdogs from namfrel to the ppcrv, even the survey firms and media.

personally i’m skeptical anything drastic will change unless something fantastic (as in beyond belief) like sneaking in chavit singson or mike defensor or suddenly and majorly overturning what’s emerging as an 8-2-2 result takes place (even a 7-3-2 at this point will raise eyebrows). i don’t even know if reviving charter change by the end of the year will convince the public of anything beyond what it already expects from the palace, which is bad faith. but it will lead to simply, a stubborn continuation of the confrontation that began in 05.

Lantino Yamsogez on Thu, 23rd Apr 2009 12:33 pm 



I hate MAR ROXAS. I wish he won’t be the next president. I completed the CAP college Plan (CAPHelp Plus) for my son and suddenly this damn Mar Roxas is Pulling CAP down. That is supposed to be the future of my son and he is ruining it. I’m not sure but I guess he is just using Korina Sanchez for his campaign. Few years back, everything was silent about Mar & Korina. Now, it’s back. Sorry to Ms. Korina Sanchez. I have nothing against her. I HATE MAR ROXAS. I beg, Please don’t vote for him if ever…

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