Centennial of the House of Representatives
October 16, 2007 by mlq3
Filed under Daily Dose
Today is the centennial of the First Philippine Assembly, and thus of our present House of Representatives. It is also the 91st anniversary of the Philippine Senate.
Contemporary accounts of the inauguration of these two legislative chambers can be found in the Philippines Free Press blog: First Session of the Philippine Assembly, October 16, 1907 and Inauguration of the Senate, October 16, 1916.
Three later glimpses of the House (including its incarnation as the National Assembly): Last of the 100 days, May 27, 1939 and The Long Week, February 7, 1970 and The Philippine Congress, which I co-wrote with Teodoro Locsin, Jr.
Technorati Tags: history, House of Representatives, philippines, politics, society
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MAV on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 4:18 pm
The Sotto Law(RA 53)
“The Sotto Law, also known as the Press Freedom Law, is aimed precisely to protect press freedom and keep irate politicians from intimidating journalists and their sources if they do not like what they read,†the NUJP (The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines)pointed out.
“Protection of confidential sources of information is also an obligation for journalists and key to getting informants to come forward,†it added. “This is particularly important in uncovering, among others, corruption in government.â€
“If the Press Freedom Law is repealed or weakened, sources would be deterred from coming forward and the public would remain uninformed about vital matters,†the statement said.
“The fact that these shameful actions are being initiated by senators, who should know that protection of journalists’ sources is an essential part of press freedom, makes it even more reprehensible,†it said.
The SOTTO Law (RA 53) was authored by Senator Vicente Sotto in 1946. The law protects “The publisher, editor, columnist or duly accredited reporter of any newspaper, magazine or periodical of general circulation.
Phil Cruz on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 4:45 pm
What a way to celebrate a Centennial of the House. Filled to the brim with “cash gifts”. From a once upon a time House of Respect to a House of Ill Repute.
So now I will celebrate the House Centennial in my fashion. Now is the opportune time to send a letter to my Congressman to ask him whether he received that “cash gift†from Malacanang and what he has done or will do with the money. I am pretty sure he received it. Time to confront him.
Gloria’s Congressmen have been her saviors for the past three impeachment tries. They are the culprits. It is now time to put the pressure on these disreputable lot.
In the next couple of months there will be more largesse from the Palace. This time for the Cha Cha and the Federalism diversionary issues.
Next year another impeachment case. Congressmen will feign to impeach her again unless Gloria comes up with another bountiful “cash giftâ€. It is time to focus on these despicable House of Ill Repute. It is they who shield her. It is they who mock the public. It is time to confront my Congressman.
Phil Cruz on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 6:12 pm
And now Gloria wants to have a JELAC. The LEDAC is not good enough for her. This time she wants the Judiciary in on her side of the court.
The wily one would complete her shield of accomplices/scapegoats. Chief Justice Puno is getting drawn into a trap. He should shield the Judiciary from the tentacles of the Executive.
Let her do her thing. That’s the reason she has the DOJ and all those legal advisers. When a justiciable case is brought up against the Executive, then the Supreme Court would not be dragged into the issue as an accomplish.
Justice Puno should never be part of any council created by Gloria.
Equalizer on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 7:49 pm
“People Expecting Opposition to Fight Anomalies in Government!”
“Tabunda and Billones made this conclusion from Pulse Asia surveys. In the April 2007 survey, the study said that while 61 percent of Filipino voters said they will vote for candidates regardless of their party affiliation, this chunk of the voters were found to prefer candidates who “fight anomalies in government”—a perception which, according to the study, applied to many candidates from the Genuine Opposition (GO).Newsbreak”
It’s a pity we do not have a principled opposition. For example,the Senate investigation on the ZTE scandal has gone nowhere because the Blue Ribbon chairman, Senator Cayetano and others have gone to junkets abroad.
We,the people,are the true opposition!
Equalizer on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 8:11 pm
“GOVERNMENT will not tolerate any kind of human rights abuse, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said yesterday,. “As the most democratic country in the region, we have no tolerance for human rights violations of any kind.â€
Speaking at the Regional Workshop on the Establishment of National Human Rights Institution in Asia at the Traders Hotel in Pasay City, President Arroyo said the government deplores “any and all killings of political activists and journalists. I have met personally with the journalism community and the same with human rights activists. We share their outrage.â€
“No one should have to die fighting for, [or] speaking out for their political beliefs,†Mrs. Arroyo said.” Manila Standard”
AMEN.
tonio on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 9:48 pm
The Philippine Legislature: 100 years of History. Of what, we don’t know.
rego on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 10:00 pm
rego :
Pulse Asia: 2007 Senatorial Elections a Referendum on GMA
‘It is about people wanting changes in government’â€- The equalizer
I just coudlnot understand why the Pulse Asia, SWS and other survey orgatnization just keep on dong surveys when you can just use the data from 2007 election.
What I would really like to see is a study based on the voter turn out and total number of voters.
Tried googling some figures but dont have much time to get to the official figure.One paper says the projected total number voters for 2004 is 49.25 milion. So that could be around 50 million by 2007.
And I dont have much time to sarch for the voter turn-out in 2007 eleksyon.
Anyway what I am saying is that Loren got around 15 million votes. That is like less tnan half of the total number of votes. Its like 30% And Triallanes got 11 million votes and its 20% like 50 million.
So i dont believe that the voice of 11 miliion voter is already a majority voice. It very much a minority
So equating that to the approval of Gloria administration. What do you got.? There is like almost 65 – 70 % voters who did not judge Gloria in the last eleksyon. And Im sure majority of those who trooped to the polls are the ones who hated Gloria and wanted express there dissatisafction of Gloria be heard through the vote.
Could this be the reason why is we are very far from the so called tipping point to osust Gloria and that is why Gloria is still in power ?
Therefore its just very hard for me to accept and to use the results of 2007 senate election as an outright repudiation of the Gloria administration. It is safer to say that is an outright repudiation of Gloria by those who hate her.
I dont know with you guys. But just correct me if im wrong.
rego on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 10:02 pm
ooooops this comment should belong to the other thread. not here reply to equalizer post, sorry!
DevilsAdvc8 on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 10:10 pm
rego, it could also be that the registered millions who did not vote are too jaded to give a shit. whether they like Gloria or not, they jz exercised their right not to vote.
so we also could not take that as a sign that the rest who did not vote were for GMA. it’s only a sign that too many Filipinos do not value the power of their votes.
Manila Bay Watch on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 10:40 pm
I think it would really do the Philippines a lot of good if it changed its voting system, i.e., with a run off between the two highest scores. There would be less of a problem in that the winner would have at least the majority of votes and thereyby govern with the moral backbone required.
FVR was lucky that despite his 20% or so votes, he was able to govern with less hassle.
Obviously, whatever the score or the outcome of that kind of 2-round election system, it is the character of the presidential candidate and the ultimate winner that will make the difference in how he or she governs the nation.
Manila Bay Watch on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 10:45 pm
On the congressional front, I don’t know how this can be done (2-round election system). It would be so much easier if people chose among party lists (as in a parliamentary system in Europe.)
On the Senate front, the current system of declaring the first 12 highest scorers seems to be alright.
But I think it is essential to give the would be president a moral mandate through a majority vote and that can only be achieved with a 2-round election system.
ramrod on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 10:45 pm
rego,
If you look at all the countries with elections, you’ll find that not 100% of the population will participate in any political activity, you’ll be lucky if you get 50%, actually perhaps 20% of the voting age within the population. Lets be realistic, some are not interested, whether they are happy with the status quo or don’t care at all, or for some reason are unable to participate. Its basically the critical few who actually participate actively in matters of the state, and it is this critical few who matter. Statistically we don’t have to get a 100% (one by one) survey of all these people, just a representative sample.
Even if you look at the odds, one can easily predict winning candidates just by using the SWS survey. If you dare, bet on it and you’ll see.
Hi MBW, Devils. I need some help here, I do I remove the website (mine)?
ramrod on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 10:50 pm
Sorry, its “how do I remove the website?” that I linked experimentally to my name, now I can’t seem to unlink it.
DevilsAdvc8 on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 10:53 pm
jz read the inquirer news: UNO to file ‘real impeachment complaint’ vs Arroyo
yeah right. huli man daw sa matsing, huli pa rin.
“‘We feel the public is entitled to read a real impeachment complaint, so the public can forget about the Pulido impeachment complaint,’ former senator Ernesto Maceda said, referring to the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Roel Pulido, which legal experts had described as shallow.”
pity really you felt that only now.
“There is the underlying opinion that 2010 will still continue to be an opposition year in continuation of the 2007 election results,” Maceda said.
don’t count on it. esp now that Cayetano et al have demonstrated the unreliability of the current opposition. if non politicians run and contest all posts, it would be independents’ year. and no, not like fake independents like Joker or Villar. these guys have really disappointed me.
On the Pulido complaint, Maceda said: “Let me take note that in all his TV interviews, Pulido said he was willing to withdraw his complaint if the opposition filed a new one. We’ll see if he’s willing to stand by that.”
dnt count ur eggs before you even have the chicken to hatch it, moron. we also had GMA on record, swearing on Rizal’s grave no less, and you’re counting on the enemy to stand by their words? when were you born?
Manila Bay Watch on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 10:54 pm
Ramrod,
I can safely say that in Europe, most national election turnout in recent years (in general elections) is somewhere between 60 and 70%.
Belgium has almost 100% voters turnout among registered voters because voting is obligatory in this tiny kingdom when you are a registered voter. Failure to vote means a huge fine and other inconveniences.
France had more than 80% voters turnout during last May’s presidential election that Nicolas Sarkozy won. (The previous election in 2002 saw right-wing Jacques Chirac and far right Jean-Marie Le Pen winning the highest scores. The 2nd round voters turnout was very high: 86% with Chirac winning the highest score in history can’t remember if it was 80 or 85% of the total votes for that second round but that’s another story…)
DevilsAdvc8 on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 10:56 pm
ramrod, jz remove the url you typed in the “website box” before the comment box.
Manila Bay Watch on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 10:57 pm
Ramrod,
Re removing website (yours?) go back to the box under “leave a reply” and delete the web address from the tiny rectangular box just right above the enormous box (there are three so you go to the third one at the bottom) where you usually type in your comments. That should automatically get rid of your website.
ramrod on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 10:57 pm
ramrod on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 11:00 pm
Its okay now. I noticed that some people were using different names so I tried it using my son’s name last night but I had a hard time changing it back to ramrod. I used my company’s website earlier because until now I have not been successful in creating my own blog. I’m wha tyou call “blog creation impaired.” Many thanks…
ramrod on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 11:02 pm
Mav,
That shows that some European countries are politically mature, or they just have an effective/efficient/honest comelec like group?
ramrod on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 11:02 pm
sorry, its MBW not mav
Manila Bay Watch on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 11:04 pm
Devils,
I believe in the current political set up in the Senate, there really isn’t a real opposition. There are 1, 2 or perhaps 3 Senators who could be rightly called “opposition” senators but other than them – there’s no real opposition.
The “Opposition” banner you have today in the Senate is a complete mockery of the political system wherein there should be real, bona fide opposition party and a pro-government party debating things out. Majority of the members of the Senate are clowns. With them around in the august halls of the senate, politics has become nothing but a lotto show!
Manila Bay Watch on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 11:08 pm
Ramrod,
There is no COMELEC in any of the nations in Europe. There are NGOs if you like, election watchdogs.
In theory and in practice, the Home Ministry or the Interior Ministry in any EU country is the government agency that takes care of implementing election rules and it is also the same ministry that counts the votes and officially declares the winners. The Minister of Interior or the Home Secretary is the one that has overall responsibility for the elections.
Very simple, the Minister of Interior and his whole agency are obliged by law to follow the rules (and they do) — those who don’t follow the rules or breach the rules are severely punished. Really, it’s all a question of following the rules and respecting the law. As simple as that. Not hard to do really.
DevilsAdvc8 on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 11:10 pm
simply claiming opposition colors in 2010 will not stick. each candidate’s actions today will come back to haunt them. i just hope pag may tinapon na, wag nang isubo pa ulit.
ramrod on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 11:11 pm
MBW, Devils,
I talked to some people before the weekd before the Senate elections, you know casually, barbers, salespersons, taxi drivers, etc., and all of them did not have anything good to say about GMA’s endorsed candidates. Even Joker was not spared, it was as if they equated voting for admin candidates as voting for GMA herself. Another thing I also noticed, a lot of these people gravitated to “Tagalog” eloquent candidates especially Escudero. Has it come to a point where speaking against the administration in fluent Tagalog will assure you of winning votes? Never mind the content, just speak in fluent Tagalog in a defiant manner.
DevilsAdvc8 on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 11:24 pm
pag pinakinggan mo si Escudero, mahahalata mo kung pano magsalita ng napakarami na wala naman sinasabi.
Ako po si Chiz Escudero, inyong lingkod, tagapag silbi, ulirang tagapagbigay serbisyo, andito, nakatayo, nasa harap nyo, hinihingi, umaasa, nagdarasal, nagmamakawa, na sana sa darating na eleksyon, sa Mayo ho, sa 2010, sa araw ng pagboto, na ako’y wag nyong kalimutan, tandaan, isipin, itatak sa inyong mga puso, iboto, at isulat ang aking pangalan Chiz Escudero sa inyong mga balota, puso at isip. kung ako po’y parang tumutunog, nagmumukhang, lumalabas, nagsasalitang parang sirang plakang wala naman talagang sinasabing makabuluhan, importante, may laman, o may patutunguhan, pag pasensyahan, pagbigyan, patawarin nyo na po ako, ang inyong lingkod, ang inyong tagapagtanggol, ang inyong boses ng masa. ganito, ganire, ganyan, lamang ho talaga ako magsalita, mag oratoryo, mag deklama, mangampanya. Chiz Escudero ho, how to say a lot without saying anything at all, at your service po!
Manila Bay Watch on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 11:28 pm
Know what Ramrod? I have a feeling that the candidates who joined the “Opposition” bandwagon (ok, the GO party was apparently a coalition of several parties), save for 2 or 3 candidates, were not really opposition candidates in the technical sense of what political opposition is – so, I’m inclined to believe they were actually loose canon balls fielded from Gloria’s camp. Their actions today have betray their political leaning.
When our co-commenters here say that senators from the “opposition” are being shot down by Malacanang left right and center, has it occurred to them that these non-performing senators are not really opposition senators?
Take Villar for instance and even Escudero or Cayetano and lots of other senators there. They are all making noises but they are not doing the job they were voted to do: to be in opposition as in OPPOSE!
Mockery, total, utter, complete mockery of the democratic political system!
vic on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 11:29 pm
ramrod said this:
rego,
“If you look at all the countries with elections, you’ll find that not 100% of the population will participate in any political activity, you’ll be lucky if you get 50%, actually perhaps 20% of the voting age within the population”
ramrod, I have been a long time party member of the Conservatives Party of Canada (used to be Progressive Conservatives) and you are Very Right, not more than 20% of voting population are actively joining the Parties membership, and we will be very lucky if we get 70% votes cast in any election. Municipal elections so happy for passing Halfway.
But that does not mean that people are not concern of the issues. It is just that the confidence by the people to most parties and candidates, that unless there is a very important issues between candidates and a very wide or opposing programs among different parties during the campaign, voters just don’t care much who’s going to win or lose the government, but very quick to punish any party in government who is exposed to have gone the “wrong way” and we can thank the oppositions and Most Importantly the Media for always on the watch..
supremo on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 11:35 pm
“rego said – So equating that to the approval of Gloria administration. What do you got.? There is like almost 65 – 70 % voters who did not judge Gloria in the last eleksyon. And Im sure majority of those who trooped to the polls are the ones who hated Gloria and wanted express there dissatisafction of Gloria be heard through the vote.”
Your analysis is flawed. First, don’t expect 100% voter turnout. Second, you can’t say that since Loren got 15 M votes then GMA got 35 M votes. You should instead count all the GMA senatorial candidates (Angara, Arroyo, Zubiri) that won and divide that by 12. 25% is the result. Third, it’s impossible to know that ‘majority of those who trooped to the polls are the ones who hated Gloria’. It’s like saying that pedestrians who enter the Starbucks along 5th Ave. near the Phil. consulate in NYC are coffee drinkers and those who don’t are not coffee drinkers.
Manila Bay Watch on Tue, 16th Oct 2007 11:38 pm
In theory, the legislature is to check and to balance the executive part of the political apparatus but the way things look today, there is no such thing and whatever one says, THERE REALLY IS NO MORE CHECK & BALANCE!
Abe Margallo summed up governance in the Philippines today by describing the type of governance under Marcos and under Gloria. One padlocked the institutions, the other hasn’t. The latter being more wily and cunning and doing it through legalistic manner (I grant you that), i.e., legislature, courts, etc., but the end result is the same, de facto authoritarian rule.
And why is that? Because there is NO OPPOSITION because 3 senators and a few representatives in the lower house do not make up for a healthy, credible political opposition that’s meant to check and to balance the exective branch! This is a very UNHEALTHY state of affairs. Healthy for Gloria and her friends but not healthy for the nation.
Can’t do that — just isn’t the way democracy works.
Blackshama on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 12:35 am
The Philippine Legislature has had several incarnations in the last 100 years. Now which one has been most representative of the people? This is what we should be reflecting about.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 12:49 am
“voters just don’t care much who’s going to win or lose the government, but very quick to punish any party in government who is exposed to have gone the “wrong way†and we can thank the oppositions and Most Importantly the Media for always on the watch..”
Vic, I guess it comes with the territory. I for one cannot probably survive a day as a Senator.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 12:58 am
mlq3,
I saw part of your “The Explainer” tonight, you had JDV as a guest. What was this “letter” all about?
I have to admit I appreciated his candor in admitting that during elections some candidates receive support from drug lords, gambling lords, smugglers, etc. to fund their campaign and when seated has to give back to these “supporters.” He admitted this fact on national TV, so this eliminates this practice as mere “heresay?”
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 1:00 am
Guys,
A few minutes ago from ABS CBN channel, the UNO or united opposition is filing a new impeachment complaint and this guy who filed earlier Cong. Egay (I can’t remember his name) is willing to withdraw the one he filed.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 1:52 am
The principal legacy of the Marcos authoritarian rule has been a structurally weak and divided political opposition. This weakness has allowed the ruling elite (supported by the military) to govern using a reconstituted version of the Marcos -style of political rule.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 1:55 am
hi equalizer,
where has everyone gone? this is just about the only time I have for blogging.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 2:02 am
Ramrod:We can’t rely on the “political opposition”.They have been co-opted by the administration.We,the people,are the opposition!
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 2:09 am
“Public indignation against the President is indeed building up. I hope she realizes that her name has become like dung for many people, many of whom are not her personal enemies. But they are frustrated, and are becoming perhaps already cynical. Many, unable to express their powerlessness by demonstrations, try to cut the President to size by humor. Teodoro Bacani Jr.”
What else can you do with a “shameless” administration?
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 2:10 am
Precisely, basically all those who are not happy with the status quo or the excesses of the current administration are the opposition. Unfortunately we can only speak through the ballot and the “political opposition” are the people we chose to speak/act in our behalf…
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 2:14 am
Again, being part of the business community I still encourage sobriety, we can manage this crises as we have always weathered strong typhoons, landslides, wars, and earthquakes – together, and with clear minds so we don’t cause irreparable damage to our institutions along the way.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 2:17 am
equalizer,
Its 2:20am, I have to say goodnight. Long day tomorrow, thanks for being here…
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 2:18 am
We do not have anymore the archetypal political oppositionist who fights for his convictions with little regard of the cost.
The closest to Ninoy ,the great dissenter,is Senator Trillanes.
I may not agree with his politics but I admire the strength of his convictions.
Manila Bay Watch on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 2:30 am
In the absence of a true political opposition in the current set up, Ramrod is right – the opposition is in the hands of the people, of business and of good thinking NGOs. A nation cannot call itself democratic in the absence of a political opposition.
Political opposition doesn’t mean sabotaging genuine efforts at reforms, political opposition to my mind is a genuine debate among the representatives of the people based on genuine democratic ideologies. Political opposition is about engaging those who support the executive branch in honest to goodness discussion of what is good for the nation first and foremost and not just what is good for the chief executive.
We don’t have this today in the Philippines. There is no debate, there are noises but not debates. More often than not, those whom we elected under the opposition banner are silent and we don’t know the reason why? Is it because they are indebted to the administration one way or another? Is it because of fear? Is it because they have run out of ideas? Is it because they have been “bought”, i.e., ‘bribed’, ‘charmed’, etc. by the administration?
What I see is that these politicians across the board, whether so-called anti-Gloria administration or pro-Gloria have stopped representing the people’s interests, they represent their interests first and then the administration’s next and at the bottom of their political priorities are the people who voted for them.
This is not democracy.
It’s wrong to believe that democracy is a numbers’ game — if we believe that then we may as well accept that authoritarian regimes have the numbers to do the bidding of the dictator.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 2:37 am
“What I see is that these politicians across the board, whether so-called anti-Gloria administration or pro-Gloria have stopped representing the people’s interests, they represent their interests first and then the administration’s next and at the bottom of their political priorities are the people who voted for them.”
“Plus ça change, plus c’est la méme chôse”
Manila Bay Watch on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 2:47 am
Equalizer, êtes vous TdC auparavant?
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 2:50 am
ANA:sorry the French lost in Rugby!
DinaPinoy on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 3:08 am
We don’t have this today in the Philippines. There is no debate, there are noises but not debates. – MBW
———————————————–
you got it right. parang doon sa isang blog, walang debate o honest discussions. any dissenting opinion will be labeled as pro gloria. puputaktihin ka na. babanatan na ang messenger, wala na ang message. the mere mention of marcos or erap, sasabihin sa iyo, you’re diverting the issue. tapos deleted na ang mga posts mo.
tungkol naman sa opposition, wala na yan sa pinas. wala na ang nacionalista at liberal party. you guessed it, courtesy of marcos’ martial law.
DinaPinoy on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 3:24 am
The closest to Ninoy ,the great dissenter,is Senator Trillanes.
I may not agree with his politics but I admire the strength of his convictions. – equalizer
———————————————–
trillanes compared to ninoy? admire his convictions?
ano ba talaga ang purpose niya noon sa oakwood? to air grievances ba o patalsikin si gloria? convictions ba yun na magbago ang plano as in plan ‘B’ kung hindi ka sinuportahan ng tao (physically as in dumami ang tao sa oakwood)? kung hindi legit ang gloria gov, bakit senador ka nito?
Manila Bay Watch on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 4:09 am
Dinapinoy,
Re: “tungkol naman sa opposition, wala na yan sa pinas.”
All the more Filipinos should be alert. If the politicians they elected have surrendered their right to represent them in the proper forum, it’s the people’s duty to call them to taks, to make them face their responsibilities and if these representatives continue to do the people wrong, they should be punished and punished resoundinlgy at the polls, no ifs no buts.
DinaPinoy on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 4:33 am
punished resoundinlgy at the polls, no ifs no buts. – MBW
———————————————-
polls after polls, ganun pa rin. punished? bakit kaya nandyan pa si enrile?
Manila Bay Watch on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:07 am
Dinapinoy,
I don’t know… do you?
DinaPinoy on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:21 am
Manila Bay Watch :
Dinapinoy,
I don’t know… do you?
————————-
sa tingin ko, simple lang: ang pinoy, palaging ‘oposisyon’ sa presidente. simple lang ang reason – corruption and pinas is going nowhere. walang pagbabago sa buhay ng ordinary pinoys. kaya naman, last election, naturally panalo ang against kay gloria. ano ba ang plataporma ng UNO? wala. ang masaklap dito, maliit lang ang middle class sa pinas, the ‘alert’ ones, ang mga nag-iisip ika nga.
Manila Bay Watch on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:30 am
Judging from your comments, Dinapinoy, you seem to have given up — there seems to be no possible solution so am curious, do you suggest that we should stop elections altogether? Or perhaps vote only those that are pro-president?
What do you think should be done? (To my mind, taking on the ‘blaming’ stance is certainly not gonna get anywhere either…)
Manila Bay Watch on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 5:38 am
First thing to do is for Filipinos to realize — all Filipinos, from the highest officer of the land down to the smallest particule of a human being in the country — that it’s all a question of following the rules and respecting the law. As simple as that. Not hard to do really. When people start to do that, there will be changes.
There should be no legal shortcuts, none whatsoever. Rules must be followed — the highest officer of the land MUST DO it too, no ifs no buts.
Life really becomes a lot easier when rules are followed and when laws are respected.
bogchimash on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 6:09 am
back to earth…
talsik na ba jdv?
tonio on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 7:18 am
ramrod:
even if JDV goes on national television saying that politicians have received campaign funds from criminals, unless he’s got documents and is willing to name names… it’s still “hearsay”.
MBW:
follow the rules? hmm… shouldn’t the highest officials set the example in this department?
DinaPinoy on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 7:28 am
Manila Bay Watch :
Judging from your comments, Dinapinoy, you seem to have given up — there seems to be no possible solution so am curious, do you suggest that we should stop elections altogether? Or perhaps vote only those that are pro-president?
What do you think should be done? (To my mind, taking on the ‘blaming’ stance is certainly not gonna get anywhere either…)
———————————————
tama si marcos – bagong lipunan. sa tingin ko, yan lang ang solution. ang problema, naging slogan lang at sa salita lamang. ang gobyerno ng pinoy ay produkto ng pinoy. saan ba nanggaling si gloria? sa buwan?
sayang – binigyan ni Ninoy ang pinoy ng pagkakataon na maibalik ang PRIDE ng pinoy. nang patayin si Ninoy at wala ring nangyari, umalis na ako ng bansa.
panalangin ko, magising na sana ang pinoy…..
individual:
-sumunod sa batas. pumila. huwag magtapon, etc. simple lang at kaya naman. tingnan mo ang pila sa taxi stands sa mga SMs.
-huwag maglagay. umpisa yan ng corruption.huwag maglagay para bumilis ang papeles. sa airport, huwag mag-ipit ng $10 sa passport para di na buksan ang box mo. ito ang dapat gawin ng bawat pinoy. kunan ng video ang lagayan i-post sa youtube o ipadala sa TV.
military:
huwag tularan si ver at esperon.
president of the republic:
huwag tularan si marcos, erap at gloria. not necessarily in that order.
mlq on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 8:03 am
Get rid of all politicians!!
mm on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 8:06 am
testing testing
rego on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 8:13 am
“Your analysis is flawed. First, don’t expect 100% voter turnout. Second, you can’t say that since Loren got 15 M votes then GMA got 35 M votes. You should instead count all the GMA senatorial candidates (Angara, Arroyo, Zubiri) that won and divide that by 12. 25% is the result. Third, it’s impossible to know that ‘majority of those who trooped to the polls are the ones who hated Gloria’. It’s like saying that pedestrians who enter the Starbucks along 5th Ave. near the Phil. consulate in NYC are coffee drinkers and those who don’t are not coffee drinkers.”
————————————
Supremo,
Im really not claiming that my “analysis” is flawless. If you notice I leave my proposition open for correcton of everybody who have any other/
Your simpe math of just getting the percentage of the admin winners over the over the rest of the winners has loopholes too/ And that is surely not acceptable to everybody.
First how would you consider the 2 independents who won. Are they admin or opposition? If you are anti GMA , defintely you will consider them opposition that will surely lessen the numbers for Gloria.
Then you have to assume that all those who voted for opposition hated Gloria.
Then
rego on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 8:32 am
rego,
If you look at all the countries with elections, you’ll find that not 100% of the population will participate in any political activity, you’ll be lucky if you get 50%, actually perhaps 20% of the voting age within the population. Lets be realistic, some are not interested, whether they are happy with the status quo or don’t care at all, or for some reason are unable to participate. Its basically the critical few who actually participate actively in matters of the state, and it is this critical few who matter. Statistically we don’t have to get a 100% (one by one) survey of all these people, just a representative sample.
Even if you look at the odds, one can easily predict winning candidates just by using the SWS survey. If you dare, bet on it and you’ll see.
———————————-
Ramrod,
You’re right there is really no election with 100% turn-out. So its really difficult to analyze the senate election. All we can come up is our individual perception of teh results
On the survey as a tool for predicting results. I would go with Manolo that the top 8 candidates is the safest that they can predict.
On interpreting the senate election results , I would go with tilliling.
And I am sticking to my belefe that we cannot really use lection as a tool to fix our problem. because our electoral system is just so defective.
confused observer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 8:47 am
egualizer,
“we the people are true opposition”
Well how can the people just be opposing, who? Time to buckle down to work. Let the opposition do its role. The make their choices during elections. The last one shows that things could balance out for the better. The senate is now opposition dominant. If the hous ggores opposition for example, then the balance is lost and it’s a grid lock. So the people are the loosers if the balance is not maintained.
rego on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 8:56 am
“Again, being part of the business community I still encourage sobriety, we can manage this crises as we have always weathered strong typhoons, landslides, wars, and earthquakes – together, and with clear minds so we don’t cause irreparable damage to our institutions along the way.”
———
I totaly agree. I really hope we can rise above the weaknesses of Gloria and all the politicians by not allowing that weaknesses to rule over us. I wish we can see their strengths use that to move the country forward.
BrianB on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 9:15 am
“Get rid of all politicians!!”
No one still sees it my way. Free the indios!
vic on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 9:16 am
Among the proudest moments of the Philippines Congress was during l963 when Senator Jose Diokno was first elected senator, the first of his two terms, after being sacked (resign kuno) by former President Diosdado Macapagal from the Office of Secretary of Justice when he pursued the case of one American named Stonehill for Tax Evasion. The reason for the sacking was to save the many politicians who protested the “investigationâ€because they were suspected of being Greased by the American…that for you was the Father of PGMA.
Jose Diokno distinguished himself as among of the few untouchables in the senate (incorruptible), a very rare breed indeed, you could hardly find today….
supremo on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 9:33 am
rego,
you said ‘First how would you consider the 2 independents who won. Are they admin or opposition? If you are anti GMA , defintely you will consider them opposition that will surely lessen the numbers for Gloria.”
Kaya nga independent. They are neither admin nor opposition. It’s 25% for GMA and 58.3 % for the opposition. Get it?
“Then you have to assume that all those who voted for opposition hated Gloria.”
Pareho ka pala ni GMA. If you are not with her, you are against her. That’s so immature.
Equalizer on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 9:37 am
The Palace Gang is hell bent in turning our country not only into a “cyber province” but also into a “real world” feudal province of China!
“Gov’t Leases 1 Million Hectares to China Firm in Vague Contract. Cause-oriented groups and some legislators have expressed concern over the potential implications of the contract on the agrarian reform program and on the country’s food security. NEWSBREAKâ€
“With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow – I have still joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud.” …Confucius
cvj on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 10:37 am
Brianb, it is impossible to “get rid of all the politicians” as a category. It’s the dynamics of the system that causes people to act the way they do so if you replace the current crop with business people or NGO-types, their behavior will adjust to the system and you’ll see them behaving as politicians. As can be seen from Among Ed’s experience, even priests are subject to tremendous moral pressures after entering the political system.
Also, your “free the indios” seems to be too broad and too narrow at the same time.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 10:59 am
cvj,
Good morning! I have to agree with you there. We all have our different roles to play and “politicians” to me have this unsavory one also. How anyone would want to be a politician I cannot imagine. The rewards may be great but the stress for me is too much, you have no privacy, people can attack your personality, morals, family, etc., the perils of being a public figure.
I am relieved that some people came out into the open with these strange “cash disbursements.” This has been practiced for quite some time but easily dismissed as hearsay and most recipients just clammed up. The administration must have been taken by surprise by this, not all people clam up even if you ram money up their throats. Even JDV admitted these irregularities in the system (elections) in “The Explainer” last night. Though these could still be brushed aside as hearsay or something else as there is not evidence, proof, court decision, we still know its there and fact that its out in the open diminishes the power of these people to take advantage of silence and darkness…
qwert on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:30 am
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/64632/Woman-cries-rape-after-sex-with-wrong-man
…just like some politicians they receive some money and they do not know who gave it because they did not see the face…
cvj on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:37 am
Good morning ramrod, saw your pictures. Your handle fits you.
From my acquaintances who belong to political families, they say that they have to be corrupt because the members of the public come to them for all sorts of assistance. Since the problem is inherent in the system, moral fortitude alone is not the answer. So it might be the case that practically all of them get money on the side to survive in which case the only way to distinguish among the corrupt political class is what proportion they give back to the public and what proportion they channel for their own use.
That’s the reason why i think politicians (and their immediate families) should be cut-off from the cash economy. Give them a huge salary adjustment (to attract good talent) but every time they engage in a personal transaction, they should use a voucher (or electronic voucher). If you’re familiar with the ‘NETS’ system (used by the public) here in Singapore, that’s sort of the thing i have in mind for our politicos and their families.
MAV on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:56 am
Equalizer:
Just let me know if you intend to use this handle of yours. Why are you hiding in another handle? You trying to evade Tililing? You were the one who used the Harry handle of Tililing, right? You’re already very old so please comport yourself in a manner that befits your age.
ramrod on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 11:56 am
“That’s the reason why i think politicians (and their immediate families) should be cut-off from the cash economy. Give them a huge salary adjustment (to attract good talent) but every time they engage in a personal transaction, they should use a voucher (or electronic voucher).” – cvj
This is a radical departure from the way Philippine politics has been eversince but is the most sensible system I’ve seen. It could also separate the ones with professional intentions from the dubious ones and would even elevate the label “public servant” into a respectable line of work.
BrianB on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 4:02 pm
If I were dictator, bureaucrats would be the highest paid Philippine employees. The most educated as well.
BrianB on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 4:07 pm
“Also, your “free the indios†seems to be too broad and too narrow at the same time.”
CVJ, this is in line with my belief that Filipinos still think like slaves. A harsher word for “colonial mentality,” the inadequate cliche.
cvj on Wed, 17th Oct 2007 7:41 pm
Brianb, i’m not so sure about bureaucrats being the highest paid. Well paid yes, but i believe that the highest paid should be the salesmen (on commission basis of course). In my experience within the Corporate world, i realized that a big corporation is actually a socialist cocoon, at least that part that is not exposed to the market. Believe me, if it were not for market pressures and corporate culture, corporate bureaucrats would behave exactly the same way as government bureacrats.
Thanks for the clarification about slave mentality. It’s just that i don’t think it’s indios vs whoever since indios are already among the bad guys.
vic on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 2:19 am
rego,
you mentioned our charitable works among my townmates in North America and now it involves all townmates worldwide, thanks to internet.
ours involves mostly giving back to our town (see alimodian.net) mostly in infrastructure, like helping finance a barangay centre or chapel, and lately my townmates in Northeast and Western states started the project of supplying thousands of books and a Reading center in town and also distributing the books among barangays. Its been going since l986 and we also take pleads for donations among the town’s civic citizen and raise funds for them, mostly by contributions from our town mates here that keeps growing with later arrivals.
But we are open to suggestion among town mates and even consider some from our LGU officials. And I believe we are making some impacts…
BrianB on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 4:00 am
“the highest paid should be the salesmen”
CVJ, salesmen are a dying breed, naturally. That we have lots of salemen here, that there are more need for salesmen than any other worker is an indication of our backwardness.
cvj on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 7:50 am
Brianb, the sales profession falls under the category of what Hardt and Negri calls affective labor, which is:
Far from being a sign of backwardness, the rise of the sales profession is part of a general trend towards immaterial or biopolitical labor, i.e.,
…which is the new hegemonic form of labor. As Hardt and Negri explains…
Salesmen (and -women), along with our nurses, call center agents, IT professionals and even lawyers are the future of labor.
BrianB on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 10:59 am
CVJ,
I use the Internet to purchase stuff. Saves me time and a lot of bullshit.
Equalizer on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 12:43 pm
GLORIA
Tandaan mo,
“ang batang swapang at sinungaling ay d tatangkad,uusli ang ngipin, at mananatiling unano!â€-Diosdado Macapagal
ramrod on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 12:56 pm
Actually, technology has radically changed the sales profession, case in point is BrianB’s internet purchases. When I started out as a salesrep for Zuellig a long time ago, we divided the Philippines into several regional units, each unit was managed by a national sales manager, each unit or PD (pharmaceutical division) had several AM units (or area manager) who had several PD salesmen under him, all in all the salesforce was more than a thousand or so.
Several years after, the AM units were reduced to 1 KAM (keys accounts manager), a laptop, pos hand held, and ZEOS (fondly called Zuellig Eliminates Old Salesmen by the union), the system connects major hospitals and major customers directly to the warehouse (computer base of course). Now we are just talking about local operations here.
In our company now, the whole Philippine operations (in billions of Php) is run by 1 person alone (with a help from a call center). Of course, there is still a need for the company to have a face (person) and who will make the market analysis, political scenario, plant visits, etc.? Honestly, you have to be a salesman and a marketing man rolled into one, add IT literate to the list. And if you want career advancement in the regional level, you need to speak Mandarin or Cantonese, if you’re eying global career advancement you have to speak a European language (I’m still deciding between French or Finnish), my boss advises French.
cvj on Thu, 18th Oct 2007 2:41 pm
Brianb, yeah we know the Internet is bullshit free.
kaptan on Wed, 24th Oct 2007 6:58 pm
100 years of desperate championing of elite interests. 100 years of pseudo-nationalism at the expense of the Filipino people.
100 years of outright marginalization of the Left.
100 years of landlord land reform.
100 years of fake political parties.
100 years of bludgeoned democracy.