One Day More
Listen to “One Day More.”
Itaguyod ang Katotohanan.
It is time to be COUNTED!
Join us at the Friday Inter-Faith Prayer Rally
Ayala cor. Paseo de Roxas – 4:00 to 8:00 PM
Where former President Cory Aquino and Jun Lozada will join us as we make the call for Truth and Accountability.
Black and White Movement, together with Hyatt 10/La Salle 60, MBC, MAP, Manindigan,
and other professional and church groups will assemble at the
AIM (Paseo de Roxas) Parking lot at 3:00 PM.
Please join us.
Sa Totoo Tayo. Now Na!
Today there will be people from all walks of life and different generations and varying political and non-political persuasions, coming together to make a stand.
It’s unfortunate that the focus on Makati will obscure the efforts being made elsewhere in the country. Whether a rally in Cebu City, or elsewhere, the only divide I see is between urban and rural Filipinos: though the majority, for some time now, of Filipinos are urban dwellers. I strongly believe the sentiments among urban Filipinos are converging while rural opinion won’t be far behind.
Returning to today’s rally, the authorities are pulling out all the stops: PNP renews warning about communists, terrorists at rally. They’re spooked.Yesterday, something remarkable happened at PUP, see: PUP bomb threat fails to stop Lozada. And something else happened, see: Dirty Tricks in Uniffors.
But two bloggers say it best.
Market Manila declares he will be there:
Because we live in a democracy by choice. Because not speaking up when you know something is wrong makes you an accomplice to the wrong. Because I think everyone must be held accountable for their actions, particularly where their actions impact the welfare of millions. Because of the increasingly brazen disregard for the laws and even basic ethics that should apply to educated individuals. Because in many ways, I am embarrassed to be in the same gene pool as those who are perpetrating and then possibly getting away with such outrageous actions. Because of dozens of other reasons I will keep to myself as I know you get the point.
A reply he gives to a commenter is zeroes in on the issues even more:
mapster, I agree that we have to do everything we can everyday. I pay my taxes and a LOT of them. I have never ever slipped a policeman lunch money. I have voted with a conscience and watched at the polls. I have volunteered services for politicians or candidates which I thought rose above the rest, and I have never accepted any gifts, compensation or positions for the effort. So yes, I think we have to do our daily bit. But I also used to believe that we had a high corruption rate because we were poor… and that somehow the petty corruption of the streets and licenses, etc. were a function of poverty. But that is simply not true. The folks who are implicated in multi-billion scandals are well to do, and as someone above says, how much money do they need to live a decent and comfortable life? And the Hello garci scandal was offensive precisely because it suggests that the elections themselves are rigged, hence the votes of the people are ignored. At the very least, we have to indicate a great deal of displeasure and let everyone know they can’t get away with these kinds of behaviors.
As for being in the company of crooks and wannabees as some intimate above, I think in all democracies people from all walks of life will band together for similar causes, though they all may not look, sound, or be the same. While some of the folks who will be there at the rally this afternoon are opportunists and perhaps not folks I would normally look up to, many others could or should be every day folks who simply want to say, TAMA NA! And while I am not the biggest of Cory fans, I think she IS someone to look up to and her presence is only one of the minor reasons I would show up this afternoon.
I agree with other sentiments about changing the system et al. But I would agree more that we need to change the people on a massive scale with folks that really want to do the BEST for their country, a noble and difficult scenario, I concur.
As for others, you are definitely entitled to your opinion and free to choose what you will, can or want to do. With Marcos it took 20 years to reach the “boiling point.†In subsequent administrations the flare ups occurred with less time required. But at some point, when we all are personally so incensed or affected directly, you too will feel the need to do something.
If you re-read the post above, I would like to point out that I only said that I WOULD BE GOING. Not that I thought all of you should as well, that is obviously your choice.
Touched By An Angel says,
Though not a popular choice by our Catholic Bishops, I believe, GMA has to go. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has to go.
I truly believe that The President and her people have engaged in so much lying that they can no longer recognize the truth even if it stared them in the face. (PDI) As to the next step to take, I will take one step, one day at a time. I do not have the answers yet but in time, I will discern it. Our Filipinos will discern it. I will be there at the The Interfaith rally…
Among young people, there will be those, like on a red day who will be there, as will Tristan’s Mental Assylum ristan’s Mental Assylum and Jamel Ignes who is attending a rally for the first time! (for the religious, see melo touch). Other young people share their views, and efforts at discernment: a slice of wine.. and a shot of cake.. points out the dividing line and respects those who have decided to speak up against the President. There are others who are still uncertain, yet watchful, like Prudence and Mandess, and such as student Timmyland or who remain ambivalent, who will not go but who will be keeping those gathered in their thoughts, see OFW jihAn.zillA. Sh, and Yeweifang’s blog .
Among more senior bloggers, Red’s Herring puts everything in perspective:
If the events that have led to People Power I (EDSA Revolution of 1986 or EDSA I) are any guide, revolutionary uprisings go through certain levels (of consciousness): First, the underlying belief by a sizeable segment of society that the rulers and certain institutional arrangements have lost legitimacy; second, certain intense participants or change agents have gotten around their sense of powerlessness and come to realize they have the power or capacity to effect the needed changes; third, the disaffected members of society have more or less formed a consensus as to the nature and or scope of the changes they desire to occur in lieu of the illegitimated rulers or arrangements, whether be it about a total systemic overhaul, a “regime change,†an extra-constitutional overthrowing of a corrupt or immoral government, etc.
My sense is that People Power III has already reached the first and second levels of consciousness described above. However, before the Great Beast “could take care of itself†today it has yet to hurdle the third level of consciousness.
For one, I have noted even the reformists in the military and the progressives in the civil society are still tentative about the scope and the nature of the changes to be sought (note should also be taken for instance that the mere suggestion during the Manila Peninsula “uprising†that a military junta was being contemplated has not sit well with potential supporters), while other veteran people power practitioners are apprehensive the next exercise “could again end up repeating a vicious cycle of simply ‘moving on’ in circle, and not leaping onward or to a higher ground†or a “new qualitative state. 
…Now, the question once again: Why is People Power III taking its time?
My own take is: There is yet no general consensus among potential people power participants and activists, as has been in EDSA I or EDSA II, as to what change to aspire for and institute.
Arguably, proposals for reforms or transformations, at odds with each other for the most part, still abound. To cite a few: some who believe the two EDSAs were both a failure aim this time to act against a failed system and plan to overhaul it either according to some rigid ideologies or based merely on the “best practices†of ongoing successful experiments; other groups are just angry and frustrated because of “relative deprivation†(middle class weighed upon with a looming downgrade to the next class complain how come only their counterparts in other regions are having all the fun); still others are focused only on struggling for control of the state apparatuses and effecting “regime change†while keeping both the political and economic structure intact; and specifically, accused coup leader and now detained senator Sonny Trillanes is eager to transform the nation “without reinventing the wheel†or whereas Bishop Francisco Claver can only entertain the belief that “our problem comes down to this: how to correct the aberration that is the present administration without destroying the stabilizing structure that is our democratic system of government.â€Â
…As a result, reactionary moves from old and once reliable alliances, the CBCP in particular, are silently taking place in the form of tokenism (a plea to President Arroyo to take lead in the fight against corruption) and diversion (a call for a new brand of People Power through “communal actionâ€Â).
Mon Casiple on the part of the political pundits, observes,
The nature and circumstances of this political crisis is such that it can only have one resolution: the end of the Arroyo regime within the context of the existing electoral democracy. From there, it may result in the affirmation of this electoral democracy and thus the integrity of the 2010 elections. Or, more remote, it may lead to the ending of the electoral democracy itself. At any rate, these are the days of reckoning.
The people’s consciousness and readiness to action are developing by leaps and bounds. The usual tactics by the GMA administration are not working anymore and proved to be ironically pushing faster the momentum for change. From the JDV triumphal ouster to its present travails, the Arroyo administration has rapidly traversed a half-circle towards a downward spiral.
What’s Casiple referring to? I can only guess, but think of this. Did you notice the article, 52 governors troop to Palace to show support for Arroyo ? A friend encountered one of these governors on a plane bound for Manila, and the governor prattled on about how he was going to Manila on business -only for my friend to see the governor on TV lurking near the edge of the gathered governors. Said my friend: you see, they’ve begun to get embarrassed over their support for the President (the governor knew my friend’s an oppositionist; but a mere month ago, the governor would needle my friend and crow about the President every chance he got). And the news leaves an even bigger question hanging: what of the other 29 governors?
Recall that one of the officials proclaimed a convenor of the Loyalist rally in Manila on Feb. 25 pointedly told the media, “oh, I’m in Manila doing shopping.”
While Amando Doronila notices that:
Speaking to a joint meeting of the Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines and PinoyME Foundation last Feb. 26, Aquino did not make a pitch for another People Power uprising, to the disappointment of many people. She merely called on President Arroyo to step down, saying it was the least disruptive way out of the “severe moral crisis†facing the country. She said, “She must give way to a credible government that could lead by example. Given our concern to protect the moral pillars of democracy, the extra-constitutional removal of the President is not an ideal we would want to aspire for.â€Â
Aquino’s call for restraint was echoed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, which in a pastoral statement on Feb. 26, called on the President to allow her officials to tell the truth about the slew of allegations of corruption related to several government transactions, but fell short of demanding her resignation. Instead, the bishops urged the President to be “part of the effort†to seek the truth.
The coyness of Aquino and the disappointing position of the bishops restraining people power highlighted the departure from the dynamics of 1986, when Aquino rode the crest of a forceful people power movement driven by the activist archbishop of Manila, Jaime Cardinal Sin, and the mass civilian participation in street protests in support of the military mutiny led by Marcos’ Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Constabulary chief, Lt. Gen. Fidel Ramos.
Today’s configuration has lost the fervor for mass action of 1986. It tells us that today’s movement is not based on mass action to bring pressure on the key support institutions of government to defect, such as the military and the bureaucracy. Today’s movement has changed emphasis. It has shifted its cutting edge from confrontation in the streets to bringing moral pressure on government. The shift is not exerting a powerful pressure on government officials to step down. It emboldens them to stonewall.
Though as the Inquirer editorial today points out,
We realize that, in itself, the language of the recommendation (“Urge the President and all the branches of government to take the lead in combating corruption wherever it is foundâ€Â) seems to be neutral. But in the present context, it actually disregards a fundamental reality. In the scandal over the National Broadband Network, the President and her men have been less than forthright in telling the truth. That, in fact, is one of the reasons we have a crisis in the first place.
Apropos of the bishops, read An Open Letter to the CBCP at Brown SEO.
(courtesy of pedestrianobserver)
An excerpt from the column of Amb. Ernie Maceda
“Politicians now welcome. The Black and White Movement’s exclusive “no politicians allowed†policy for today’s Ayala Rally was rejected by other organizations when Makati City Mayor Jojo Binay threatened to pull out of the rally. Binay said “I am a politician, so exclude me too. Former President Cory is a politician, and so was Ninoy and now Noynoy. I am out and you can build your own stage.â€Â
By the way, who are members of the Black and White Movement? We only see Vicente Romano and Leah Navarro. Maybe they should release the list of their members and explain who are black, who are white and who are gray.
Maybe the Black and White Movement can stage a rally exclusively by itself and show any attendees it can gather. UNO and the politicians have proven several times we can gather 20,000 anytime.”
This is the reason why I am so wary of joining the rallies.
“This is the reason why I am so wary of joining the rallies.” -Ernesto Maceda, Trapo
Well, that’s great news motherfucker!
Tonight the pro Gloria rallyists will celebrate mass and all that at the welcome rotunda. I will drop by that rally after the Makati rally so I can take pictures and listen to the homily of their priest.
the expletivw was not addressed to you silent waters. it was addressed to maceda, a trapo who can make gloria and mike look honest and respectable by comparison
Mr.Buencamino
For somebody who claims to be a diplomat (in your previous blog commenatries), you certainly have colorful language.
Mr. Buencamino,
I think you still should not have used such colorful language.
I am just telling you that this is one of the reason why these rallies do not prove anything to ME yet. Kasi mga trapo ang nandiyan. Even Erap, if I did not misunderstand the news, is going to be there. Mr. Lacson is also going to be there. Baka naman mabalik lang sa kanila ang kapangyarihan, if not in form, in substance.
ALso, I think you misunderstood the excerpt. Mr. Maceda is telling people to join the rallies. I am saying I don’t want to join as politicians will be there. Hakot lang nila rin. Padamihan lang ng hakot ang pinagmamalaki niya.
manuel,
Maybe you should leave the profanities to me.
What’s wrong with the site, the borders have been removed. Manolo, please embed the youtube video again. delete the code first and re-embed.
SilentW, who cares if politicians will be there? Ano talaga laman ng puso mo? Yun ang sundin mo. Wala nang paki kung ano man ang ginagawa ng mga nasa labas ng puso mo, kesyo politician man sila o nagtitinda ng taho.
The difficulty of mass rallies today and the deliberate method in which critical mass is achieved should be a lesson to civil society and all concerned citizens. EDSA may not be dead but it’s getting difficult. We have only one option, the politicians have several and, obviously, Gloria has been educated by the mistakes made by Erap.
I really feel bad for the Black and White Movement if Mr Maceda is to be believed on what he wrote. I mean B&W have very good intentions in promoting good governance. I guess sometimes reality trumps idealism. Philippine politics is so dirty that if you want to dabble on it, you sometimes have to compromise certain principles.
Jeg
I have learned my lesson. Paulit ulit na lang ito, tanggal palit, tanggal palit. Kahit sino ilagay mo riyan, ganun pa rin. Ginawa na natin kay Marcos, Kay Erap at ngayon kay Gloria. Panahon lang ni FVR nanahimik ang bansa natin.
Kung palagay ninyo, dapat tanggalin, kayo ang bahala. Pero nakikini-linita ko na na hindi ito ang huling pangulo matatanggal dahil sa people power…dahil ang iluluklok din diyan, pulitiko rin.
Lahat ng mga taong ilinukluk na inakala nating idealistic nung nasa labas pa sila ng kulambo..ano nangyari??? Si Tiglao, Si Defensor, Si Neri….
Bakit di na lang kaya kayo ang tumakbo sa puwesto. Tignan din natin kung gaano kayong tatagal sa pagiging malinis..
Peace
Bakit di na lang kaya kayo ang tumakbo sa puwesto. Tignan din natin kung gaano kayong tatagal sa pagiging malinis..
Haha. SW, naunahan mo ako. Yun sana ang imumungkahi ko sa ‘yo. Hayaan mo, si Atty Lacierda hinihimok si MLQ3 na tumakbo. Malay mo.
Ayoko sana’ng mag-benign0 pero kung ayaw natin ng politiko, bakit politiko ang binoboto natin? Sa susunod na halalan, kung wala tayong makitang hindi-politiko, tama lamang na ilagay sa balota, “wala”.
Naalala ko dati may magandang mungkahi si MLQ3 na mga gobernador at mayor ang tumayong Kongresista, pero tignan mo, mga gobernador at mayor ngayon ang isa sa mga pinaka-haligi ni GMA.
Kaya lalong mas kailangan natin ng People Power, o ang pagpapalakas ng taong-bayan. Para matakot sa atin ang mga hinalal natin. Unti-unti, kaya yan. Kung pagod ka na sa paulit-ulit, pahinga ka muna. Kakailanganin ka namin sa susunod.
I will be at Ayala and these is my wish list:
1. Arroyo must go;
2. Noli can go, too;
3.
3. If Noli stays, the Comelec must be overhauled/revamped;
4. Judiciary next;
5. Bureucracy ratinoalized;
ganyan din lang naman pala ang gusto mo di gawin natin tanggalin na lang ang halalan. idaan na lahat sa people power total mukhang hindi ka naman napapagod. tingnan mo ang mga kasamang personalidad na bumubuo ng people power ngayon sila yung napeople power noon o natanggalan ng poder. ika nga ni silent paulit-ulit lang yan. it’s a cycle. so maige talaga idaan na sa people power ang pagpili ng lider. sigurado pang matino ang mapipili dahil matatalino ang pumili. sa halalan may dayaan pa at maraming botante ang bobo at nabibili.
SW, palitan na lang natin si Gloria ng kahit sino. Si Gloria wala nang chance magbago, ang ipapalit sa kanya meron pa di ba? I don’t buy the argument na lahat lahat sila ay pareho lang naman kaya huwag na lang palitan si Gloria. I will take a chance on somebody new.
yup. hell, i’d even go with ColdKing for president. he’d be crazy enough to kill the corrupt people in government. just give him enough guns and bombs.
grd, sino na ba ang natanggal sa pamamagitan ng people power? Di ba si Marcos at si Erap pa lang naman? Sino ba sa dalawang ito ang naibalik sa pwesto, di ba wala naman?
At saka, ano na ba ang mga lessons learned natin sa People Power? We can use those lessons if ever Gloria si gone! If you don’t like Gloria, then ask her to go. Doing nothing right now means that you want her to stay. That’s your choice and that’s fine. If somebody else’s choice is to join the call for her to resign, then that’s fine too, di ba?
o, kita nyo gusto nyong matanggal si gloria tapos yung legal na papalit ayaw nyo rin. dapat talaga idaan na sa people power lahat para masunod lahat ng gusto nyo. isama na rin yung sa mga lokal na pamunuan.
Jon Mariano : I will take a chance on somebody new. and your neighbor prefers another somebody new, and another neighbor insists on somebody old like erap, and so on and so forth. perfect formula for chaos.
ganyan din lang naman pala ang gusto mo di gawin natin tanggalin na lang ang halalan.
Pwede rin yan. Di naman talaga kailangan ng demokrasya ang halalan. Kaso madami na tayo kaya nga representative democracy ang napiling paraan. Kaso marami pang problema na di naman siguro lingid sa kaalaman ng lahat.
so maige talaga idaan na sa people power ang pagpili ng lider.
May mas maayos na paraan sa pagpili ng lider. Pero tingin ko nasa tama kang landas. Kailangan lang maayos ng konti para lahat ng tinig maririnig, hindi lang yung maimpluwensiya. Marami talagang problema ang universal suffrage sa panig nating botante, at ng paraan ng pagkwalipika sa panig ng mga tumatakbo, i.e., kailangan marami kang pera.
total mukhang hindi ka naman napapagod
Ano, superman?
(By the way, all of the above are neither here nor there. Tingin ko sa comment mo, grd, red herring e. Ang topic kasi namin ni Silent ay ang pagsali ng politiko sa rally. Sani niya ayaw niya, sabi ko wala akong pakialam kung gusto din nilang umatend.)
Wonder what happened to this new blog format, naka align-center lahat, medyo nakakahilo, hope that it’s not only in my computer. Noticed that Ellensville’s blog comments cannot be accessed, hmm, hope its temporary.
In any case, in several hours I’ll leave these fascinating analysis to you guys; got to do what one has got to do.
jon mariano,
may sinasabi ba akong ayaw kong palitan si gloria? hindi ba ang sabi ko para maganda at masunod ang gusto natin idaan na lahat sa people power ang pagpipipili ng mga lider?
sino na ba ang natanggal o nais natin tanggalin pa sa pamamagitan ng people power? after ni marcos at maliban kay cory na namuno sa isang transisyon na pamahalaan si ramos lang ang hindi na people power. sige nga sabihin mo sa akin kung ano ang trend.
Ang hirap makapasok sa blog mo! Bakit kaya? Dirty tricks na naman ba ito. O sya see you in Ayala.
kabayan:
i think manolo’s tech people haven’t finished adapting his template to the new version of wordpress.
jeg, i was responding to your 1:46pm post na reply kay SW 1:39pm post. clearly, your topic of discussion is not anymore about those politicans joining the rally but about people power at tangggalan ng lider.
jeg, i was responding to your 1:46pm post…
Ah, but the 1:46 post isnt about tanggalan at all if youll notice. It’s about politicos and people power as it has always been. (People power isnt just about tanggalan. Teka, baka yun nga ang akala ng mga tao; that PP is just about tanggalan.)
Anyway, I’ll be off in a bit. Thanks, grd.
jeg,
tungkol naman sa pagpipili ng mga local leaders through people power, why not? kung kaya natin mag-organize ng people power sa national level why not in the local level? total naman palagi na rin tayo naloloko ng mga local representatives natin. di idaan na rin sa people power ang pagpili sa mga yan. that way, if pumalpak sila sa kongreso mapalitan kaagad. palagay ko puede naman sigurong maayos eto at maeliminate yung maraming problema na sinasabi mo. tayo naman ang nagimbento ng people power so walang karapatan ang ibang nasyon na humusga sa atin katulad ng sinasabi ni gloria na “the world will not forgive another edsa people power”.
lagi sinasabi ng palasyo wla na daw intest publiko sa rally—eh kng hindi ba naman sila gunggong eh pinahaharang nila mga gzto pumunta sa rally. tanga talaga!
kalmado daw sila ngayon eh kng alam ko lng nagpapanik na sila eh at naiihi na sa mga pantalon nila HAHAHA!
“My family has never made money illegally, much less made money from government. My father has always steered clear of any action that might even cast doubt on my mother’s integrity.”Luli Arroyo
silent, have you heard the quote:
“Those who are truly fit to hold power are those who do not desire it.”
re B&W policy of no politicians, i think it’s a commendable policy. if we would give up our idealism, what would make us different from the folks we want to remove? yes it is hard, but setting the bar high is the only way to get others to aspire for the same standards. in fact, this policy is even more effective.
it screens out the opportunists, and identifies the genuine people really wanting change. even if that rally reach only small numbers, it’s identifying who your real allies (and those with the same principles as you) that would really prove important in the long run. achieving critical mass would just happen some day.
as for not attending bec opportunists are present? why not make it: attend so that opportunists won’t be able to hijack the change?
this goes with same argument as not voting. di ako boboto kasi ganon din lang naman, pare-pareho sila.
disengaging from the system only makes it worse. participating doesn’t make it better INSTANTLY, but at least it gives us the fighting CHANCE we need.
this is also the same with the thinking: dito na rin ako magtatapon ng basura, lahat naman ginagawa eh.
why follow hive mentality? do some things and make decisions based on what your heart tells you, not bec of some other people and what they do.
grd has one foot on the other side already.
jeg,
everyone knows that if you talk of PP or say edsa PP, it’s all about tanggalan. it’s a demand for the removal of whoever is the sitting inept leader either through force or voluntary resignation. it has been the symbol eversince. surely it’s not just about demand for reforms or good governance and second chances isn’t it? it’s a total display of lack of trust in the leader, or in the system it is a call for action through extra-constitutional means of removing a leader (as what pro PP in this blog has been advocating all along). otherwise, i think people like BW would not be wasting their time organizing this PP. maybe i’m wrong with my perception about PP? maybe you or mlq3 can enlighten me on this one. what exactly is the meaning and purpose of PP if not just plain “tanggalan”?
anyway, thanks also jeg for the pleasantries.
lam mo kaya nagkahetot hetot bansa ntin dhil sa mga selfish, greedy at family-oriented na mga kbabayan mo!
kng palitan ba nlng ntin yan mga opisyal mataas na yan hangang janitor sa gobyerno ng hapon edi sana may narating pa tayo!
tama si almonte kinokontrol ng mga oligarchs etong bansa ntin. maiaayos lng ang sistema kahit unggoy ang ilagay mo dyan sa govbyerno aasenso tayo!
“SW, palitan na lang natin si Gloria ng kahit sino. Si Gloria wala nang chance magbago, ang ipapalit sa kanya meron pa di ba? I don’t buy the argument na lahat lahat sila ay pareho lang naman kaya huwag na lang palitan si Gloria. I will take a chance on somebody new.” — Jon Mariano
Sana Erap would have a chance to run for president again so that we could establish once and for all the actual degree of the collective stupidity of Pinoy society.
Kahit sino nga ba?
“disengaging from the system only makes it worse. participating doesn’t make it better INSTANTLY, but at least it gives us the fighting CHANCE we need.” — DevilsAdvc8
Unfortunately, to use Mr. hvrd’s analogy — Pinoys would rather fnck democracy than make love to it.
Just like we perverted the concept of “Merry Christmas”, we’ve perverted not only democracy but People Power itself.
I wrote about the Pinoy’s propensity to pervert otherwise brilliant ideas way back in 2005:
“What was cited above is actually “adaptability” perverted into tolerance for mediocrity and impropriety. We have “adapted” so much to aversity that we now tolerate the worst of dysfunctions not only in our government but in the very soul of our society.”
Check out the full article here:
http://www.geocities.com/benign0/agr-disagr/10-5-perverted.html
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Napupuno na ang Ayala, I got to go before it fills up, bye guys and gals
wait for me!
lets party! haha
cvj, can’t get my drift? pardon my sarcasm but my stand eversince is to remove the sitting president through constitutional process. make the system works and strengthen it.
there they go…
there they go again…
grd:
oh but that would mean doing things the right way man. since when did THAT ever appeal to people over here?
Fiesta Revolution!
tonio, and that’s why we are bad. while erap, jvd hand in hand with cory are now on the good side.
plus ça change, plus c’est la meme chose….
sorry for being sarcastic, but i promise you i will be the first to rejoice if i see something new come out of this..
grd:
that’s cause our solution has no entertainment value. hahaah!
manolo,
hindi ka ba mag la live blogging? Yung online radio putol putol. Yung online news naman ang bagal. Mamaya na talaga kami makakita pag TV Patrol na.
“benigno
“disengaging from the system only makes it worse. participating doesn’t make it better INSTANTLY, but at least it gives us the fighting CHANCE we need.† DevilsAdvc8
Unfortunately, to use Mr. hvrd’s analogy  Pinoys would rather fnck democracy than make love to it.
Just like we perverted the concept of “Merry Christmasâ€Â, we’ve perverted not only democracy but People Power itself.
I wrote about the Pinoy’s propensity to pervert otherwise brilliant ideas way back in 2005:
“What was cited above is actually “adaptability†perverted into tolerance for mediocrity and impropriety. We have “adapted†so much to aversity that we now tolerate the worst of dysfunctions not only in our government but in the very soul of our society.â€Â
Check out the full article here:
http://www.geocities.com/benign0/agr-disagr/10-5-perverted.html
-
”
You are out of tune. But anyone, your piece is relavant to those idiots massing in Welcome Rotunda.
You can still catch up. As of this moment, they have already prayed 2000 Hail Mary’s.
Ooops… But anyway, I mean.
Armed revolution anyone? (Thanks for the link Sir Manolo)
@grd
“through constitutional process….”
GMA resigning is still constitutional.
“cvj, can’t get my drift? pardon my sarcasm but my stand eversince is to remove the sitting president through constitutional process. make the system works and strengthen it.-grd”
This is what I dont understand, some people are trying really really sooooooooooo hard to make people power work. But there are existing and well defined processess and systems that I believe is easier to work on.
After joiningg two People Powers , I came to realized that people power just open more debates, arguments questions, confusions and even chaos. First and formeost there is a question on how many warms bodies really constitute a peopel power? Then who are the people and group of people behind it. And then what are the motivation of this people? Self interest or really sincerity to make the country move forward or Ego and Pride or Elitism or just simply flexing tmuscle for teh next election or Media mileage? There is really no clear and real way of determining them.
And then theere this concerns of manipulations and how do you protect peopel power from it. Peopel power is just sooooooo open to manipulations and other ill motives . Remember the talks that Mike Aroyo manupulated Peopel Power 2.
Id rather stick to Bencard’s advocay of Legality, Justice and Fairness. I believe is its a principled and reasonable compared to unstable and emotional approach like peopel power and resignation call. Id rather nor subject myself and the peopel to another round of never ending debates, arguments, confusion etc etc etc again and again and again
Armed revolution anyone? (Thanks for the link Sir Manolo)
Wow taas na nama ng mga EQ.
“rego
And then theere this concerns of manipulations and how do you protect peopel power from it. Peopel power is just sooooooo open to manipulations and other ill motives . Remember the talks that Mike Aroyo manupulated Peopel Power 2.”
I think its unfair to compare the mass actions now to what manipulation Big Mike did in 2001. This time the movement is driven by a higher and nobler cause. Social change and not merely leadership change.
Thats why 2001 is more like a naked power grab. This time around, if it will succeed in regime change, is truly a moral revolution.
Minsan, hinala ko maka-Gloria si Erap.
Tingnan mo last rally, biglang siningit ang sarili niya as caretaker president, turned-off ang marami. hahaha
@ balatucan
sana nga…dalawang beses ko na narinig kasi iyan na moral revolution…..
Noong umasenso ang Pilipinas dahil kay Ramos, credit ni Ramos, pag kay Gloria, kahit sino na lang, aasenso din ang economy.
Sige manghuli ka ng unngoy para maging presidente mo. Ganyan lang naman kababa ang tingin mo sa sarili mo.
@rego
“Bencard’s advocay of Legality, Justice and Fairness”
Huh?? Eh tanggap nga ni Bencard na there is nothing wrong with calling and exerting pressure on an election official during the counting eh….
@ balatucan, is that the moral revolution being pushed by jdv?
@nash, you mean gloria resigning on her free will? nothing’s wrong with that, i think it’s legal. but realistically speaking, do you believe she will do that?… after 3 long years of this never ending “entertainment” as what tonio regard this whole brouhaha is all about?
I read that the PNP is saying 12~15 thousand, while the organizers are saying 75~80 thousand.
Anybody have a first-hand account/estimate?
As long as there is no alternative in sight, GMA will remain in power until 2010.
Assuming GMA quits, De Castro is the next in line, constitutionally, babalik na naman ba sa EDSA kasi ayaw nila or ayaw namin kay Noli?
Pakita mo alternative, then I will decide kung susuporta sa rally o hindi.
Armed revolution naman kaya?
@mandaragat
well, it will serve as an example that if you aspire to be top sayote of the land, you have be fit and competent for it….hopefully, we will get better leaders because they know they would not survive if they are incompetent or corrupt.
@grd
no, realistically, GMA will not resign. She thinks God is on her side and that delusion keeps people like Mugabe in power. Sadly
Flexing the muscle
There was a crush of people in Ayala, before I left in the afternoon, it was already 80,000 people and when I arrived they kept on coming and increasing. I would not be surprised if it already doubled by the time I arrived. It was funny; shortly before I left, helicopters and other aircraft were banned by the Air Transport Office from traversing the massive rally area, apparently this was to prevent any camera photos to have a real estimate of the numbers. Even up to now, this evil administration is clutching at straws trying to foment the Big Lie just like Hitler did during World War 2. Meanwhile the police are blocking incoming people from the province from the rallies, they were denying they were doing this however the police block was seen from the helicopter on the air. Another Big Lie. Our police are learning fast from the lies of the Big Liar in Malacanang. In, a way, I am not surprised.
Even up to now the crowd does not diminish for as some leave (some were assembled at the outskirts of the rally area since 1 PM) people keep on coming. It’s now beyond the 8:00 PM curfew but the crowd is maintaining its number.
Hi Manolo,
I would like to suggest a new paradigm in crowd estimates. I have noticed while the traditional method of counting people is using the old per square meter area estimate, this method does not count people leaving and arriving. For example if there are 250,000 people at a rally, even if the 250,000 goes home but 250,000 take their place, in totality there is in attendance in one time or another a total of 500,000 attendees. If the rotation of people is rapid, it is possible to have even three times the actual crowd, giving it a total of 750,000 people who attended in on time or another.
To Anti-corruption groups,
Good show, I know many of you are still out there as I can see you on TV. This is simply a first major step among many other major steps still to be taken to rid our nation of all these corrupt and abusive men and oligarchs in power. Continue to build, strengthen yourselves and list down people we want kicked out including so called trapo “allies”. The job does not end with Gloria being kicked out, in fact it is only the beginning. The evil and corruption is very deep, we have to continually degrade them even those who disguise themselves as wolves and balimbings in sheep clothing. Mabuhay kayo at Mabuhay tayong lahat.
Oh by the way … Don’t get cocky.
Cebuanos also staged a rally… Many sectors of society, across all regions joined the call for resignation.
OFWs too staged rallies abroad calling for the resignation of Gloria Arroyo
According current news media estimates, there was more or less 80,000 in the Makati rally.
This is not counting the crowd rotation total estimates. Not bad for a follow up rally
I agree with Mr. Buencamino on Mr. Maceda. Even when in the US on self exile, Mr. Maceda, probably not being able to help himself, also had a questionable reputation.
I suppose that it is really hard to go against one’s nature.
Silent Water, I think I know what you mean about being wary of joining rallies. I had the same sentiment until I realized that I was cheating myself from exercising my right to protest just because someone I distrust is also at the rally.
According to news reports, Gloria is not in Malacanang when the governors rushed to “support” her. She is suspected to have holed up in Camp Crame
It’s now 9:17 PM, far beyond the 8:00 PM deadline, the program ended but the people are still there
Kulang sa middle class ang rally. So few people. I was near the artista corner behind the stage. I went around before that. There’s not more than 2000 people there when I left. I went up and down ayala and paseo de roxas. Not many people. Well, at least I sweated it out for a couple hours.
@kabayan
baka merong free concert, di kaya?
observations at the rally, i was there.
the middle class and professionals need to exert more.
the left ( not necessarily the CPP-NPA) is still a political reality in the country.
there is really a sense of outrage, at least among the rallyists.
i think the outrage has not peak yet and there is still the absence of a feeling a snowballing movement.
but the protest movement has now gained a life of its own and only future developments whether it will lead to arroyo’s ouster.
arroyo is still favorite to weather the crisis but only if she played well and the protest movement played bad.
assuming that both played their cards well or bad, arroyo will be out in months, wanna bet?
BrianB, you must have attended a different rally. while kabayan is saying that the rally is more than 100k and people keep on coming, you’re saying that so few people were there.
No, I was there from 6:30 to almost 9. Just got back home, really. I live in Ortigas. Mga 2k lang talaga. Compare it to the crowd inside glorieta or any sizable mall. I’m not a mathematician, so maybe I got it wrong. Still, it’s an anemic crowd. The speakers are much louder than the crowd themselves, another reference point for the size. Not anywhere near 100k.
Haha, we were probably joining a different rally, there was a small pro-Gloria rally at Welcome Rotonda. Though I’m not certain if BrianB was referring to that.
Let the news camera speak for themselves
However in fairness, according to current news estimates it was at around 80,000. That does not count rotation estimates of course.
While there were people arriving, the early birds were leaving. When I and some people left, still others were arriving.
BrianB
We’ll see the news estimates tomorrow, and see who among us is more accurate okay?
I agree with BrianB. I have just come back from the rally and it was a disappointing affair, especially after all the talk earlier in the week. I was there from about 5.15 to 6.45 and I wouldn’t put the number at more than 15,000 (and that’s generous). What struck me as odd was the fact that even as I made my way to the rally, I saw people leaving even though it had hardly started and the speeches had not yet begun. I am not talking about office workers here, but people who had obviously come to rally. That suggests that even those who showed up weren’t that committed. The fact that it wasn’t possible to attract a decent crowd after the revelations of the last few weeks is surprising and disheartening.
I’m not suggesting it’s a failure. I was just surprised at the 100k estimate. There were definitely some very sincere folks out there, especially the non-celebs.
Complain ko lang. There was someone giving away free bottled water (a cooler full of it), but he was positioned in the area occupied by the upper middle class (the artista crowd) while there were some very thirsty people down Ayala Avenue going towards Edsa. They were buying ice scramble and water in plastic bags.
torn,
Your estimates are the police estimates, the program started as early as 3 PM so it is not surprising that some are coming home, yet many are arriving. Air Transport Office has banned any helicopter from flying to give proper crowd estimates. The police too denied they were blocking protesters from the province, but they were caught in the camera of helicopters.
“Razon said the President happy throughout the briefing, especially after learning that the crowd in Makati reached its peak only at 15,000.”
They have to lie on every single thing happening in this country.Hopeless…
BrianB,
You have just seen the tip of the iceberg, but no matter, believe what you want to believe. We’ll see the crowd estimates tomorrow okay?
I remembered someone saying the Feb 15, 2008; 9,000 people mass rally at Ayala was “supot”, now it is far more numerous.
Doesn’t matter what others believe, what matters is the growing movement geared against corruption.
Watch it on TV, the rallyists being blocked by police and prevented from joining. Check out the news regarding the Air Transport Office ban on helicopter flying and covering the rally; a lame attempt to prevent the media from properly estimating the crowd.
Gloria holed up in Camp Crame, scared shit I should say. Meanwhile the ***-licking governors went to Malacanang but were at a loss where to find her. Now who has lost her “commitment” now?
SWS Survey, 76% percent of Filipinos have small or no trust in Gloria Arroyo.
In the US, Fil-Ams held demonstrations against Gloria Arroyo.
Sorry I think that was a Pulse Asia Survey.
The AFP and PNP gathered their tanks and soldiers at Aguinaldo and Crame, while Gloria cowers within.
Tomorrow, expecting Gloria’s spin doctors to make it look like a victory for her.
Benigno,
Not that I want to pre-empt Jon Mariano but I’ll guess that based on his quoted statement and your post; you seem to have a different interpretation from him of the term “somebody new”.
Why Gloria? Can’t take the consequences of your deeds and the deeds of those close to you?
out in months… shall we start the official countdown?
DAY 1
It depends on who gives the estimates. Don’t fool yourself.
Lozada failed to convince the people of his hero image.
Filipinos in US stage Anti-Arroyo rally in San Francisco and New York. More than 1,000 said to have participated.
Huge crowd of 10,000 protesters in Bacolod
500 protesters in Iloilo
200 protesters in Gen Santos City
Neri met with protest at Davao City
CAT,
Actually, Lozada was more popular than Erap or Cory. He got a better response from people – from what I see on TV.
The movement grows, to my fellow anti-corruption protesters, build, develop and grow…
grd, frombelow,
Don’t jinx the entire thing by betting on it.
Ninoy Aquino was part of the landed oligarchy. However he was one politician who refused to compromise with the dictator. He could have. But he did not. Jose W. Diokno was another. But he was way ahead of his time to be appreciated by the Filipino people.
Aquino was the equal of Marcos in ruthlessness and drive. In their battle of wills Ninoy never gave in. In the end there is no doubt the dictator or his people were so frigthened when he returned since Marcos was seriously ill.
That grinding commitment created the symbol of sacrifice that united enough people and eventually the dictator shot himself.
Politics and political action is more emotion than it is rationalty.
Hence those televised hearings are defining the reality for a lot of people.
Politics and religion are about rituals and symbolism. Trust and faith are abstracts.
Unfortunately the masses of poor people do not have time to think about the future and trust and faith will be translated on who can help one feed himself for the day.
The trapos are the social security safety net of the country. They work together with Church. The oligarchs make sure the system is kept in place. We are an ersatz state.
Reforms or reforming the system is a protracted process. Anyone thinking of another manner should think as the corrective process that shock treatment will entail will mean a pacification or re-education campaign that would and could go haywire.
In the country the moneyed and powerfull have debased the institutions to point that they do not work. Retribution and restitution are essential.
Recently the U.S. Senatorial select judiciary committee through their special counsel had subpeonaed the emails of a sitting V.P. in the person of Cheney. off course they are all now missing.
Check and balance. The imbalance in the social structure in the country cannot be sustained. A break up of the country would probably be in the offing. The country could operate like the E.U. The Europeans are all related anyway.
Visayas anti-corruption movement grows.
Most of the Stocks up today.
Come to think of it, this whole exercise parang election din as both sides battle to win support on their side. But unlike a straight out election where individuals vote, we have institutions casting their votes as well like the military, the cabinet, church, business etc. Nung Edsa 2, yung vote ng military and cabinet tipped the odds in favor of GMA.
Say, if this battle will not be a protracted one contrary to what pundits here would hold, then GMA will have a fresh mandate if the opposition fails to topple her government in the coming days.
So ayan, the battle lines have been drawn, the people and our institutions are in the process of choosing, so whatever the outcome, let’s accept it and yes, “move on” for lack of better phrase.
Si Cory, si FVR, si Erap, at si Gloria ay nasubukan na. Somebody new naman. Noli is fine too as he is the constitutional successor. Si Mayor Lim kung gusto niyo okay rin. Si KC Concepcion pwidi na rin
This will not end in a “few days”, this will be a protracted movement to remove a corrupt and mafia-like governance. Anti-corruption movements does not believe in “instant noodle” victory.
A section of the rally filmed from one side of a building:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d4bva8D1lg
Now you know why they banned a helicopter to show the whole crowd
Next time they will ban filming from buildings, wonder who would enforce this? The MTRBC?
Ok, based on the YouTube video, definitely more than 10,000, maybe close to 20k. But this is in the beginning, right?
Maybe they will ban the use of the handycam altogether, it is just “not fair” for the pro-corruption groups. Wonder who would enforce this, the BIR? Customs? LTO? Hmmm.
I agree with you hvrds. Found this in the abs-cbn site. I’m truly amazed on how media in this country spins things without giving their sources. Besides the ratings wars, is abs-cbn under instruction from the Lopezes to keep this alive for some score to settle with the Macapagals? Just asking. Don’t throw me out Manolo.
“Noli ‘all set’ to assume presidency. The vice president is in close contact with personalities who will advocate constitutional succession in case of a power vacuum
Exclusive to abs-cbnNEWS.com
By Aries Rufo”
Heheh Brian dream on, that was from ONE SIDE of the building, they closed off a MAJOR INTERSECTION. An intersection has FOUR sides.
That is why the 2,000 estimate made me shake my head in incredulity.
Where were you BrianB? I thought you were there? Or did you just peep from afar?
No, I was there from 6:30 to almost 9. Just got back home, really. I live in Ortigas. Mga 2k lang talaga.-brianb
I was there 4:30 until 6:20 brian b check your mathematics
2K???
Sorry to have underestimated the crowd in my mind before this day. I was afraid we may not actually take action although, as surveys show, they beleive worst corruption is happenning in the present administration.
I took pictures of employees from UCPB, SGV, Assumption, Ateneo law,UP students, Adamson Students, and yes, Oscar Orbos.
I hope Mr. MLQ3 will allow me to upload pictures here.
I wouldn’t like the idea of trapos piggy backing on the successful efforts and genuine concern of the people to press for accountability and truth.
Now the smoke screen of the administration is broken, even the ATO helicopter ban came to naught. The administration has severely lied, is lying and will continue to lie for a long long time to come unless removed.
The cabinet was a huge factor in determining the Edsa 2 outcome. But the military is the Ace of Diamonds in the president’s hand: I learned that lesson from the Hyatt 10.
Nevertheless, I think defections from GMA’s cabinet at this time is crucial to the opposition.
But ironically, the Hyatt 10 have unwittingly strengthened GMA’s hold on the cabinet as the 2004 event weeded out those cabinet men who would more likely defect given the events happening now.
third paragraph should read- Sorry to have underestimated the crowd befor this day. i was afraid we, the people, wouldn’t actually take action although, as surveys show, wwe are convinced that worst corruption is happening in this administration.
alas ka dora,
Up to now alaskadora, they still believe what they want to believe. Unless you’re really there and MADE THE ROUNDS you cannot see the truth. They tried to ban the helicopters and foment the lie, they blocked the incoming people from the provinces and claimed they were not doing this however they were caught in camera.
In the end the lie will be discovered since the estimated 80,000 plus those who later arrived knows the lie and tell this to their families. The lie if for the convenience and comfort of those who support this corrupt administration.
The Hyatt 10 had a conscience. The niceties of strategies by the corrupt does not matter. Corruption and abuse is continually exposed today. It does not matter if takes a long time or a short time, the anti-corruption movement will not allow such behavior to proliferate in governance.
kabayan,
I went around up and down ayala and then paseo de roxas. Two thousand lang talaga estimate ko. That is 6:30 and beyond
kabayan, hindi ko nga maintindihan sa mga opisyales natin alam naman nila na sa ginagawa nila lugi ang bayan ang panalo ang pamilya arroyo bakit hindi man lang sial mahiya.
i have been setting as an examble Mr. Abe of Japan the duly elected Prime Minister of japan after koizumi. At the mere instance showing the distrust of the people based on survey, it was enough for him to go. he was not even accused of corruption.
Ang kapal na ng mga mukha ng mga tao natin sa gobyerno walanghiya talaga.
Namalikmata ka lang siguro, anyway it does not matter, perhaps it is just what it should be. The youtube show speak for itself, it was taken from one side of the building. Let’s leave it at that.
I went around up and down ayala and then paseo de roxas. Two thousand lang talaga estimate ko. That is 6:30 and beyond.
Kasi nga as early as 6 may mga nagsi uwian na rin. isa ako dun sa mga umuwi bfore 6:30 because i live far. Nanay ako I still need to attend to my children after office.
Grabeng tao sa mrt!
alas ka dora,
Nagtataka rin ako dati, pero ngayon hindi na. Kung ilang bilyon ang makukuha nila sa iisang transakyon lang, at paniwala nilang nabulsa nila ang Kongreso, pulis at militar, lumaki ang ulo. Akala nila hindi sila hahabulin ng karma ng kanilang pinaggagawa.
Breaking News
Gloria had already stepped down after the people in the rally threatened here to KICKBACK. He He.
correction 101: (threatened her not here)
Corina Sanchez Live in TV today 11:12 PM , estimate tonight already at 85,000 people. Umuwi ako ng 7:30pm at marami pang iba. If that is accurate, 100,000 people including those who went home a while ago should be easy.
Expect the following:
1)Gloria and her “GloLiars mob” will argue that the “crowd was very small”(police estimates:15,000,rally organizers:75,000 and Reuters :50,000).
2)GloLiars will also say that protest rally confined to “Imperial Manila”.The rest of the country remains very happy with her.
3)The majority of the rally crowd was composed of students and young people.Student power is truly on the rise!
4)The unthinkable happened.Ex-Presidents Cory and Erap on the same stage.We now have the two ex-presidents versus Gloria and FVR on the other side.It’s no brainer to guess which side has the popular appeal.
5)The people have drawn the line on the sand.The bishops will have to take a stand soon(“manindigan!)or become irrelevant.
6)The crowd remained cohesive even after Presidents Cory and Erap left the stage.This
is a growing movement that does not revolve around personalities.
7)Gloria sought refuge,literally and figuratively,in the military camp during the height of the rally.It shows her state of mind.
8)The Movement for Truth and Accountability is leaderless.”The ability to get along without an exceptional leader is the mark of social vigor.”Eric Hoffer
9)The big mistake of Gloria is her complete reliance on the military.In the end,will the military side with her or with people?
10)Gloria is acting like a wounded puppy.Senator Dick Gordon warns “I’ve always been a risk taker but we have to be careful because it could be a ‘coup me,’” referring to a scheme by which a coup would actually benefit the administration.
The people does not seem to want to go home, they’re really outraged.
Anybody has a TV right now showing the site, watch it. Let the live film of Ayala protest speak for itself.
Spin doctors probably preparing to say tomorrow the whole affair as “supot”.
I rest my case
to everyone who went to makati…my CONGRATULATIONS FOR STANDING AND BEING COUNTED!!! but the work is not finished yet until we get rid of the illegal squatters in malacanang! and prosecute for the crimes they have committed against the entire nation.
whether it was 100, 2000, 40000 or 5, at least they were brave enough to stand up for their convictions.
2,000 people? 15,000? “disappointing affair”?
That Youtube video doesn’t even show the crowd along Ayala from the corner of Paseo to Makati Ave. and beyond. That’s where the contingents of Watch, Pray, and Act (the Catholic schools) and BAYAN (national democrats) were positioned. Watch, Pray and Act occupied one lane (Stock Exchange side), BAYAN the other. These were the two biggest organized contingents in the rally.
Kudos to all who attended the rally. Thanks to the organizers, great job!! It was a good size crowd and i liked Lozada’s speech. He was in his element.
NOw you should undertand why other people don’t join the rally. You just don’t call them apathetic and pro-corruption. They have also families. They work 6 days a week and one day holiday is big time for them to be with their families.
You are not the only commenters/bloggers na magaling lang sa mga discussion pero pagdating sa totohanan, excuse na sila. Kasama lang sa gayak. hohoho
Di bale iba yong iba. Kina-reer na nila ang magrally. Kung baga investment. PAg naupo ang kanilang tao, tiyak na ang position nila sa gobyerno.
YOng iba naman ang pilit. Just like the University of Makati staff and students. Ano kayang memo ang natanggap nila para sumali? Sana naman si Mayor Lim, hindi ginagawa yan sa PLM.
Nice try Cat, if some people here are trying to increase the number of participants, on the other hand you’re trying to hit on the reason why people join rallies? Did you do a survey? Huwag mo naman sasabihin na kaya mong mag-read ng mind? Ano iyan, superman?
Itanong natin kay Ms. Either-We-Have-Press-Freedom-or-Not Maria Ressa.
To all those who went and participated, congratulations for being brave and making a stand.
Not joining the rally is standing up for one’s convictions. Inaction is a decision.
Just because someone doesn’t agree with your views and join you doesn’t mean he doesn’t hold a conviction.
tonio, no it’s because your solution is a non-solution. new regulations are being drafted so that neda cannot release any documents to the public without presidential permission. in contrast to the way it was, say, in winnie monsod’s day. the purpose is of course to fend off even the formal revocation of eo 464 in case the supreme court decides harshly against the president on march 4.
it’s because your solution relies on a president who sneers at a supreme court decision making inutile the portions of eo 464 manny gaite wrote to shield the president, and why students and teachers have to go to the streets just to demand the president do what she ought to have done the moment the supreme court struck down the controversial portions of her order.
balutacan, sorry nasa rally ako kanina.
and i find it funny the loyalists are sneering at erap -who pardoned him, i wonder?
geo, you can see the link yesterday for how to compute crowd estimates. i was in the middle, at the crossroads. at its height, from there the crowd stretched to about makati tuscany/gilarmi going towards edsa; to roxas triangle and buendia on the other; to the makati fire station and buendia again; behind the stage, only to bpi family bank. that was at its height before jun lozada spoke at around what, 630? as soon as he spoke, people started to leave. i can’t say though how densely packed it was, but not too densly packed except from around 530-630. personally i think it was larger than the largest rally prior to this, which is when susan roces addressed the crowd at makati in 2005.
End-Game (Partial until there’s agreement on the number of Pawns at play)
8. While green is color of current revolution, former King arrives in red.
9. New cult Bishop (who wanted to be King in 2004) calls for transition court.
10. Star Pawn speaks (he earlier admitted cheating on his lady, but that’s beside the point. Present game is after high crimes)
11. Meanwhile, Queen holes up in Knight’s garrison
12. Queen happy that only 15,000 Pawns attend
13. Queen survives second uprising of third revolution.
The crowd today couldn’t even fill up Araneta Coliseum.
Tsk.
jakcast, i actually think the lopezes are being extra prudent, because gma has them by the balls over meralco. ever wonder why christian monsod is so ardently pushing the keep her until 2010 movement?
Best to stop analyzing and just go there whenever a rally against the liar, cheater and thief is called.
well, the amusing thing about the no-fly-zone order was: now the palace can’t debunk even inflated opposition claims, but then, neither can the opposition prove its claims.
but everyone’s missing the point. a loyalist rally took place tonight, at the welcome rotonda. people stood up for the president. except i don’t know if even the pnp bothered to count them.
She’s even trying? Her best option is to ignore everything. See no people, hear no people, don’t feel for the people.
Thanks, mlq3. Ms. Luli has been complaining that they are given air time to reply.
carlos, i’ve been to the araneta colisseum plenty of times. it certainy would have been filled to the rafters.
but anyway, on sunday why don’t you go to the araneta colliseum where admu vs dlsu will play an exhibition match to raise funds for the whistleblower fund? with ust as cheerleaders.
please, go. and cheer for the president.
you should have gone to the welcome rotonda and saved us taxpayers 200 pesos.
Meant: Ms. Luli has been complaining that they are not given air time to reply.
March 1st, 2008 at 1:11 am
jakast, you can see, any time something is going on a whole parade of government officials invite themselves to push the party line. they have no shortage of airtime minutes.
MLQ, Here is a scandal brewing that could explode or fizzle depending on the outcome of the RCMP investigation, but not posting it as may distract the discussion at the moment, but it touch on some sort of Bribery in Government that was just revealed in a book..you may check it here in today’s headline:
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/308112
Luli is going to need a psychiatrist after this.
But that ABS-CBN piece on VP Noli talking to puschists (I’m not sure of the spelling but you used loyalists) of a post-GMA scenario is poor judgement knowing that he was and is still close to the station. I read it as planting seeds of doubt.
I am dismayed at the presence of the ex-convict Estrada at the rally, sitting on the stage beside former president Aquino, at that. So the enemy of our enemy is now our friend?
jakcast, unless it’s true. though you do have a point. what if he’s been sending feelers to many groups? every instance should be reported, i suppose.
aames, how can you be dismayed when you don’t even sympathize with the various issues that drew people to that rally??
that’s like my saying i’m upset the president hangs out with drug lords like luis villafuerte.
In that case, a pressure point will be to VP Noli. I pity the guy.
BWA HA HA HA HA HA, YOU CAN REALLY TELL HOW DESPERATE THAT BIGGEST BITCH IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD IS ALREADY BY HOW MANY OF HER PAID-HACKS ON THIS MESSAGEBOARD ARE IMMEDIATELY TRYING TO DOWNPLAY THE SUCCESS OF THE RALLY TODAY.
YES, THE SAME CYBER-WHORES* THAT HACKED THIS BOARD AND ELLENVILLE YESTERDAY AND THE DAY BEFORE, ARE NOW TRYING TO MAKE US ALL FEEL BAD ABOUT THE SUPPOSED “FAILURE” OF THE COMMUNAL ACTION , BUT THEY HAVE NOT FOOLED ME, AND I HOPE FOR YOUR OWN SAKES THEY HAVE NOT FOOLED ANY OF YOU EITHER.
* NOW DO YOU BELIEVE ME ABOUT THE BLOGGING BRIGADES OF MALACANANG?! I REALLY DON’T KNOW HOW, IN A WORLD WHERE THE CHINESE HAVE THEIR OWN OFFICIAL CYBER-HACKER ARMY, THE RUSSIANS RECENTLY ENGAGED IN A CYBER-INVASION OF ESTONIA, AND WEBSITES ACROSS THE WORLD ARE CYBER-ATTACK EVERYDAY, YOU PEOPLE CAN STILL REMAIN SO NAIVE ABOUT THE VERY REAL POSSIBILITIES OF CYBER-WARFARE?!
OH BY THE WAY, ABOUT THE SO-CALLED LOYALISTS OF GMA, IT WAS SHOWN ON ( IRONICALLY ) GMA NEWS, THAT NOT ONLY DID MANY OF THEM NOT EVEN KNOW WHY THEY WERE THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE, EVEN THE REGULAR PEOPLE AROUND THEM ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY WERE MOSTLY “BAYARAN HAKOT” , SO MAKE OF THAT WHAT YOU WILL!
So, this S.O.B. tagalog is still alive.
Henceforth, I’ll call you “TheColdCut” for your tiny weiner. Everyone knows Bisayas have bigger dicks.
This guy thinks I didn’t mean it when I said I required an apology for all Bisayas.
mlq3, I don’t understand your comment. I am against corruption and the rally was a stand against corruption. What was the ex-convict Estrada doing there?
my two cents:
aames, i support your cause. but one at a time, one at a time. estrada carries the votes of the masa–believe it or not, he was a good man. he won the trust of this masa enough to bring them to the so-called Edsa 3. to cut him down now would also cut down the strength of labor and the masa.
you noticed that estrada was a little disconcerted in his presence in the rally? with his pardon hanging over his head, he and arroyo are certainly “two sides of the same coin”. but think of it this way: he, at least, did his fair share of punishment. maybe not enough, but we were vindicated. the bitch is a different story.
to those who are anti-edsa:
“those who are not with us are against us; those who are against us SCATTERS”
to everyone else:
do you hear the people sing?
singing the songs of angry men
it is the music of the people
who will not be slaves again!
when the beating of your heart
echoes the beating of the drums
it is a start of a new life
when tomorrow comes!
BrianB, why? Are you a Bisayan? (Cebuano?)
Just watching at the news (TV Patrol), I could say that the police estimate was a downplay (dumbplay could be a better term). I may be wrong, but I think the protesters could be anywhere between 50k to 80k at the time of the newscast. It’s a lot, lot bigger than the previous rally.
Kabayan, and all those who were there, your guess estimates are much better than the “folis” figure.
(Sigh!)I wish I were there.
Will: I like that song!!!! But you did not quite tell the ending, and Marius singing.
When you lambaste a people that makes up half this country, you are not only showing your prejudice but saying in effect you have no clue what democracy is all about.
brianb:what did he say?
aames, well, let’s look at why he was there. he was impeached. the people rebelled, he went home, he was charged, so he was jailed, he was convicted, and he was pardoned.
so legally speaking he’s a perfectly free man and starting afresh in the law.
the rally was for the truth in getting to the bottom of many things.
again, come to think of it, he’s a pretty good poster boy for the system at least functioning sort of, kinda. instead of not functioning, totally, completely, as it is now.
hey, i’m beginning to see why he still gets lustily cheered.
Sen. Gordon today mentioned about some of the unresolved issues I was saying about the 1986 and 2001 upheavals: who killed Ninoy Aquino?, compensation for human rights victims, claims on Marcos wealth. I’ll add these: who killed Bobby Dacer? who’s telling the truth/lies, Erap or Chavit. Senator Gordon called “no closure” issues. I call them scores to settle. For as long as we keep them in inventory, we will have more, and more of these days of reckoning. And more frequent. Am i pro-corruption for raising these? Certainly not. Realist maybe. Are these part of vibrant democracy? Maybe. But please let us not try to enforce our politics to the people in the countryside, who in all simplicity, may just be trying to earn a daily living.
TheColdKing
This can also be directed to the OFWs. Hnestly, I don’t know what Beho means.
We had a company Christmas party last December @ SMX and it did not really require too much area to fit us 8000+ employees. Looking at how compact and massive the crowds were in both sides of Ayala Ave and and Paseo de Roxas Ave, the 15,000 estimate was, I’m sorry to say, either done by a sane person who can count only up to 15000, or else a lunatic who was trying to sell us a joke. I’d say at least 50,000 thousand just within the 200 meter radius of the stage, and since I think it stretched further than that, 80,000 would have not been impossible.
BrianB, rom, coldking,
Ah, what coldking said is unacceptable not only to Bisayans but also to Tsinoys (“beho”). It’s a statement that reeks of ethnic prejudice, no matter where you look at it.
That’s the same as the movie “Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo” which earned the ire of Sen. Pimentel (a Bisayan), because it is derogatory to all Bisayans. He cited the portion of the film in which a grandmother was telling a nanny in Tagalog: “Bakit pinapalaki ninyong Bisaya ang apo ko?” The mother butted in: “Speak to the kid in Tagalog. Para Pinoy.”
Apparently, coldking’s statement follows about the same line: “sabagay halos karamihan ng mga katulong sa pilipinas, mga Bisaya naman” (most maids in the Philippines are Bisayans). I doubt if that statement is founded on statistical reality.
Why can’t we tolerate other pinoy groups? Being a Bisayan or Tsinoy doesn’t make one less (or not) pinoy or whatever.
What we shouldn’t tolerate, regardless of ethnicity, is the cheating, lying, stealing of this govt under Gloria. As the saying goes (in obverse), “what’s not good for the goose is also not good for the gander.”
Guys, pagpasensiyahan na lang natin si coldking. Tutal, katsokaran naman natin siya dito. (Kabalo na ta sa mga ingana nga sinultihan, ayaw na dungagi pa aron walay gubot. Pasabta na lang siya nga sayop kana.)
what can one say about a “communal action” led by one convicted plunderer and one fascistic (mendiola & luisita massacres) ex presidents; partisan rabble-rousers in priestly garbs; fat nuns “praying” with upraised clenched fists in bellicose stance; turncoats and disgruntled former partakers and beneficiaries of the “corruption” they are now hypocritically denouncing; out-of-power politicians pining for another opportunity to retrieve past glory; former influence-hawkers who have fallen out of grace but suddenly found instant-celebrity status; partisan businessmen who have axes to grind against the incumbent president; assorted malcontents and the ubiquitous red flag bearers, and ideologues from both sides of the political divide. yeah, that’s some kind of “diversity” all right.
but like the old song asks: is that all there is? 20,000, 50,000, 100,000, out of 80 plus million. that’s people power?
hundreds of helpless victims of landslides and flooding in bicol and samar are digging for their lost loved ones with their own bare hands while these self-righteous hate mongers are busy findings ways to depose a sitting president. and they mask their unchristian activities by calling them “inter-faith prayer rally”. right! what is happening to our country?
wonder how costly these unholy exercises are in terms of lost productivity, lost energy, expenses for transportation of everyone involved, security and maintenance of order, street-cleaning, traffic disruptions, absenteeism at work, and impact on business and commerce, as a whole. for the oligarchs and the “elites” among the agitators, it may not matter. but what about the ordinary masses, wage earners, jeepney and tricycle drivers, employees who survive from small paycheck to small paycheck, etc., etc.? it’s good for their soul, they are told, but what about their body?
and the 64 million-dollar question is: who will enjoy the spoils if these “leaders” succeed in deposing gma?
Bogardo: 80,000 people will need about 320,000 square feet (3-sqft to 5 sqft per person, depending on how “friendly” to each other — “cheek-to-cheek” versus “cha-cha” dancing — the crowd is). A traffic-lane is about 9 feet wide. So 4 traffic lanes and 2 sidewalks (on both sides) will be 50 feet wide. 80,000 people will “need” about 6,400 feet by 50-feet-wide “space”. 6,400 feet is just a shade under 2-kilometers.
The road to an Ed Panlilio presidency is being paved..
I do not have read minds. alas kadora wrote:
Kasi nga as early as 6 may mga nagsi uwian na rin. isa ako dun sa mga umuwi bfore 6:30 because i live far. Nanay ako I still need to attend to my children after office.
Am`sure that it is not only she who wanted to be out of that place. As passionate as she is in commenting here, she can not spare more than a few hours for the anti-gMA advocacy.
so what do you think of those people who are working in makati? they make usi muna, stayed a little while then go home. they were never there to join these professional rallyists.
yong career eh mag rally and the moment, their anointed one becomes the president, they solicit juicy positions in the government.
Parang edsa 1.
investment lang yan.
Just pull out a ruler and a calculator and you can compute to your imaginings and your satisfaction. And when the 80,000 bodies are “butt-cheek-to-butt-cheek” magka-AKBAYAN/KAMPI friendly, still need a 4-lane boulevard… a little under kilometer.
Ganoon, pagkasama ninyo sa anti-GMA, okay lang ang bigot pero pag pro-GMA, kapaos kayong pagalitan at tawaging mga pangalan.
Sheesh.
I saw the aerial view of the mass rally.
May description sa tagalog na hindi mahulugan ng karayom pag maraming tao. Iyon, kahit kalabaw ang ihuhulog mo, sasayaw pa ang kalabaw malaki pa ang espasyo. Ilang libo din kaya yong mga vendors. Isama ang 5,000 policemen, siguro nga may 10,000. peroang alam, ilang daan lang ang kasama ni erap tsuwariwap.
Yong green tshirt ng mga kampon na binay at para makita kaagad sa roll-call. hehehe
he just want to be in the right place at the right time when there is people power. baka makasingit pa rin. hohoho.
cant make it dear,severly laid up in bed dear,head feels like a train wreck dear! with jeremy here on his “business trip” went out on the tiles LaST night ,started in Makati dear (your pinoy gin really packs a punch)bumped into Glor somewhere ,I think she was incognito! ended up at some twadry establishment in Ermita at 5 in the morning!! now if you can please keep the noise down and stop shouting ,your hurting my head dears!!
UP n student: I suppose you will be correct if the person in your 3 to 5 square feet/person computation is as big as fatass FG.
My estimate is the size of a lowly Juan Dela Cruz who can squeeze in (contented enough) and occupy quarter the size of what you had given.
Do your math kung taga-UP ka talaga.
What an a–ho–e he made of himself this Favila! FG for Florante G Igbiten? Dapat dito kay Favila, IBITEN patiwarik para malaman niya na ang FG stands for First Gentleman, plain and simple, end of story.
Sorry guys, ipost ko sana sa ellenville, pero kahapon pa, hacked iyong site niya.
if you pack people shoulder to shoulder (4 per sq meter), you need to fill ayala from herrera to makati av and paseo from dela rosa to ibm to get 80,000 people
Ca T,
Ikaw naman. Pati hindi katsokaran, pinagtatanggol ko din, at pinagpapasensiyahan lagi. Pero ung ethnic prejudice, mahirap talaga ipagtanggol un, tulad ng pagsisinungaling, pagnanakaw at pag iimbot. Hindi ba?
bogardo: My estimate does not have to match your estimate. You are as correct about your numbers as you desire to be.
Enough with complains!
Let’s talk about alternatives. Meron ba?
So far as I can tell, many of the commenters who argue for a higher crowd figure are basing their estimates on the TV and Youtube. Yet this was not a tightly packed crowd. You could move around easily enough, even quite near the stage.
Compare this to the crowds in front of the EDSA shrine in 2000/2001. Anyone who was there knows that once you got close to the shrine you were stuck as more people piled in behind you. A big crowd should give you a slight frisson of panic “how will I get out of here?â€Ââ€â€I doubt many felt that last night.
My football team in Scotland plays in a 16,000 capacity stadium. I have been there many times and I have a good sense of what 16,000 people look on the streets before and after the game and en masse in the stadium. When I go to a rally I try to imagine fitting the crowd into the stadium and, as I said above, yesterday’s crowd could have fitted in there comfortably. That’s just my opinion of course; we are just comparing guesstimates.
Still, it was bigger than other anti-GMA rallies I have observed (as mlq said) and may be a stage on the way to bigger things.
I would agree with your 4 person/sq meter.
If you come up with 20,000 sq meters to accommodate 80,000 people, and that this is just equivalent to 200m x 100m, then you can easily imagine that the crowd yesterday surpassed this area more than enough.
This is just equivalent to 16 Olympic sized pools.
sidewalk-to-island of ayala is 10 meters, herrera to makati av is 700 meters, do the rest
my point is, to test the accuracy of an estimate, compare the actual density to 4 per sq m, and if filled up ayala up to herrera and makati av. if it didnt, it’s probably less than that. if it did, it’s more than that.
From Inquirer:
Director Geary Barias, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, told the Inquirer that the corner of Ayala and Paseo de Roxas measured half a hectare, or 5,000 square meters.
So, given your 4 person to 1 sq meter figure. This would already be equal to 20,000 people. And, we know that the number of people surpassed this area quite easily. And that’s just counting one side of the intersection.
and you didn’t check? the corner of ayala and paseo measures 30×30 = 900 sq meters
pro gmas here are talking about the proper venue of removing gma- impeachment or other legal processes. the problem is gma and her minions have already bastardize and prostituted or blocked any attempt of following the rule of law. she has been rebuked by supreme court time and time again! majority of the congressmen men are under malacanang’s payroll. gonzalez is the sec. of dept. of injustice. ombudsman’s office head is an arroyo lapdog. the comelec has been bought. top brass of the military is not protecting the state’s interests but of gma and gma is not the state.
people are fed up and outraged by all the greed and corruption in the arroyo administration. the only venue left to vent that outrage is to go out to the streets and express them collectively. anger is just an understatement of how people feel! being angry and outraged is not only right but also that is how people should feel if his rights are violated by those same people who should be protecting them!
people who don’t see the obvious (or just refuse to see it for reasons i don’t want to speculate- may involve some pera?) are the __________ (fill in the blanks)!
Go ask the General. but 70 x 70 is not bad. The length is just almost 1-1/2 the length of a 50m pool, which I think you can easily fit there.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (which is on tonight!) gets more people than that and its more fun!
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/politics-and-partying-on-sydneys-gayest-day/2008/02/29/1204226997048.html
i measured it in google earth, and i used to work at an office in manilabank building, so im familiar with the place. definitely 30×30.
cory shouting against corruption beside a convicted plunerer? makes me want to puke
and seeing dinky girl again..puke some more
so I’ll put it even at 50,000 gullible people in imperial manila…can the number give us truth? it seemed like truth is now relative..
but the truth that I know is the undisputable truth that armin’s Lozada is filthy as can be…more puke
cory shouting against corruption beside an convicted plunderer makes me want to puke
seeing dinky girl again …more puke
so I’ll put it close to 50,000 gullible people in imperial manila, will that give us the truth? seemed like truth is relative to some
the indisputable truth that I know is that armin’s hero lozada is fithy as he can be.. puke some more
erap was complaining that he “understayed”. yeah, he did understay…in jail! pardoning the perp was the biggest mistake pgma could have done -that and appointing the “hyatt 10″ trojan horses in her cabinet.
lozada and jdvenesia3 continue to bask in their infamy. with those kind of “heroes”, who needs villains?
Honestly, who are these leisure time bloggers kidding? These guys cannot do anything of consequence, they defend Gloria but are not even doing anything to help her – JUST MORE CHEAP WORDS (from obviously cheap people).
Have fun reading your own comments pro-GMAs, its all you’re good for anyway…PSYCHOLOGICAL QUADRIPLEGICS!
bumaliktad na ata ang Mundo..Ang admininstration at manga opisyales ang suspetsado sa manga anomaliya, ngayon yon manga testigos pa ang dinadali. kung ganyan ang systema, di pa-ano masolbar and Corruption sa Bayan Natin?
Dapat sana dito, ang Gobyerno manguna magkompanya laban sa anomaliya, dito baligtad na naman tayo, Gobyerno ang kontra Bida. Sila ang nagtatago, dapat lantaran ang laro..
abs-cbn news hardly has any other “news” than the anti-arroyo rally. moronic speeches by lozada, devenesia,erap & cory & some non-sequitors are covered to the hilt with gushing reports by korina, failon, etc. guests from the hate-gloria crowd dominate talk-shows, mouthing the same diatribes, dire predictions, and self-righteous prejudgment about gma’s “corruption”. fair and balance? my foot!
Hawaiianguy,
I’ve watched Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo a few days after it was started to be shown last December and that particular scene did not happen as it was described.
Sen. Pimentel must have been gravely misinformed.
And if you believe that ethnic prejudice is hard to defend; then I suggest that you don’t try.
Coldking seems very capable of defending himself by going very low. If he wants to accompany you is one thing but I don’t think you need to accompany him. You might hurt your back.
Bencard,
Camarines Sur is one of those affected by landslides.
Dato Arroyo is a congressman from Camarines Sur.
Where was Dato Arroyo yesterday?
justice league,
Don’t waste time with useless people, not even Gloria will have anything to do with these kind. They can’t do anything really except post empty words.
For those of us who are actively involved in business here in the Philippines, while some won’t have anything to do with rallies – are hoping that these events will trigger much needed revamps and reforms in our goevernment most especially in evening the playing field. Corruption can only exist if it is hidden, lexpose it and lets do something about it. We can actually achieve a lot more if we remove this obstacle as opposed to inspite of it.
If they don’t like Lozada et al, who cares? They can go with Chavit Singson, nobody will miss them at all as they are not contributing any good to the Philippine situation anyway – ZERO! Just a lot of hot air! Its sickening really…
Ramrod,
Thanks for your concern.
jl, i assume he was in libmanan where he resides unless he was in batasan. sorry, can’t possibly have personal knowledge since i’m about 30,000 miles away.
20 years ago (or so), we had this officer who made it his personal mission to capture Fr. Balweg, who at that time gained notoriority being with the NPAs – people that we were trained to hate and condemn as traitors to the country. We were surprised to hear one day that he was able to capture Fr. Balweg finally but released him, it was probably the end of his career… What did he learn after talking to Balweg? That as a priest serving the people he could not stand idle while rich people were using the government forces to grab their lands from them, terrorizing them, to the point of massacres…Truth has a strange way of showing itself – only to those who really listen, only to those who get out of their asses and actually talk to actual people, as opposed to watching news on tv in between favorite soap operas.
As all this proves is that we have COUCH POTATOES pretending to be real people.
btw, jl, i suppose that self-anointed “corruption fighter” has any use at all just because he is some hot-shot “businessman”. hot air? i say his is a lot of foul air, aka utot!
Justice League,
Thanks. I’ve not watched the film myself, just got it from Pimentel who made the case, and suggested that the objectionable lines be taken out. But I’ll take your word against someone who may have secondary info.
I just read coldking’s apology in another thread, so for me that’s enough. I don’t know for BrianB, who has taken the initial offense.
Bencard,
Very well but I don’t think he was in Libmanan, but definitely he was in Malacanang by afternoon till night.
Bencard,
Your last reply is taken under advisement.
Hawaiianguy,
Ok.
justice league, yesterday the palace summoned mayors and governors to the palace for a loyalty check. quite a few were told to fly to manila to do that. dato led a mass at the palace for what was announced was 100 congressmen and he spoke after the mass.
however the effect was spoiled because the president wasn’t at the palace as she was lurking in camp crame instead.
Speaking of disasters and officials, the double whammy that struck the typhoon belt two years ago brings to mind an example.
Did people ever took stock of what’s happening, while Bicol and adjacent areas were devastated by two supertyphoons (Reming and Milenyo) in Sept-Nov 2006? While 700 lives reportedly perished, and the estimated damage was over $250 million, excluding revenue losses to businesses and lost opportunities?
Our congressmen and other officials were doing something else more important. Instead of attending to the poor flood victims and damaged infrastructures, Villafuerte, Lagman, Salceda and others were busily “railroading” the constitution to suit the needs of Gloria and their own. The Lower House focused on cha-cha, as if people’s lives wholly depended on it, forgetting those who badly needed help to keep their heads above water.
Pathetic!
bencard, who’s stopping you from stopping to watch? go subcribe to ptv4.
who cares about numbers?!? she only needs to prick her conscience.
barf.
barf.
barf.
Manolo,
Prez holing (not hiding) up inside Crame is the tell you’re looking for.
I’m giving her a few months. Hopefully her cabinet will see the light as I do not feel she has eyes anymore.
Torn,
Yeah, a football fan should know crowd estimates. I’m sticking to my 2k (at 6:30 onward). A few people actually trickled in around 8pm, presumably just after having dinner.
Gloria sought refuge,literally and figuratively,in the military camp during the height of the rally.It shows her state of mind.
Manolo,
Yeah. Watched part of it in the news. But I just can’t tell Dato’s exact whereabouts the whole day.
But it definitely seems he wasn’t in Bicol to personally oversee any rescue efforts.
Of course its really the local executives main domain along with help with the National Disaster Coordinating Council. (But last time I heard; the NDCC heads were in a meeting in Camp Crame also yesterday although the calamity in Bicol, Visayas, and Mindanao have been several days old)
But its still not wise for a congressman to appear to have other priorities other than their constituents in their constituents’ moment of great crisis.
And wouldn’t it be just grand, not to mention JUST, if she wold be ousted by lesser numbers compared to the one that ousted Erap? You can spin it that way.
Another thought: couldn’t we hasten things up by someone declaring that we do not need the CBCP? Bishops can stay in their moral ivory tower. Won’t take much getting rid of this mad madame.
brian yuour 2k boggles my mind. we must have been in alternate unverses at that time.
You were stuck on your vantage point, correct? I was going around. At the center, the intersection, itself, there wasn’t more than 300 people and I did an unsystematic actual head count.
Anyway, the effect of a crowd is not in mathemathical numbers but more like its gestalt.
Guys, smething’s wrong with Ellen Tordesillas’ blog. You cannot comment.
Saw this from GMA News site: “De Castro: I’m always ready to assume presidency” clarifying the earlier abs-cbn report of “I’m ready to become president.”
mlq3 – if VP Noli indeed sent feelers to the enlightened side. He could (1) promise to lead only until 2010. (2) amend the Constitution. (3) Becomes a patriot. But how do we hold him to such promise?
Reminded me of favorite passage (the Prince):
“The cause is just; we have before us unexampled proofs of Divine favour. Everything has concurred to promote your greatness. What remains to be done must be done by you, for God will not do everything Himself.”
densely packed, the ayala-paseo intersection can contain less than 5000 people. so up to where is the crowd in ayala? did it reach herrera and makati av?
if we cant get this simple arithmetic right, i doubt if we’ll know the truth in this zte deal, even if it stares us in the face
This stupid practice of commandeering containers to blockade the palace everytime there are incidents like these is causing a shortage in containers leading to delayed shipments. I thought this administration’s priority is the economy? Can’t they use their rusting, overpriced APCs and tanks instead? Really?
mindanaoan,
Are you really from Mindanao? Asa didto? Pangutan-a bisag kinsa didto kung suportado ba nila si Gloria wala kay makit-an. Ngano makakuha sila ug 1M votes siguro mga dili ingunato to?
The earth’s circumference is less than 25,000 miles, so if you’re ’30,000 miles away’, that must mean you’re not on this planet. (But we already knew that.)
jakcast, i can only think of two ways.
1. commit to providing a reform constituency that will support him and serve as a buffer on other pressure groups, provided he commits to a reform agenda. these have been percolating since 2005 and have pretty much been firmed up on broad points across various groups, anyway.
2. outside of that, committing to guarding the process every step of the way and raising hell if he starts engaging in monkey business.
what people overlook with regards to the vp is that he has two things the president lacks: a base of support among the people, a significant reservoir of good will; and an unquestionable electoral mandate that has survived legal scrutiny.
“erap was complaining that he “understayedâ€Â. yeah, he did understay…in jail!”
Ha, ha — nice one Bencard.
OH OKAY, IF IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER, I APOLOGIZE TO ALL BISAYANS FOR PUTTING YOU DOWN AND OUT FOR GENERALLY NOT BEING QUITE UP TO PAR WITH LUZON, IT’S NOT JUST YOUR FAULT, ALL FILIPINOES HAVE TO SHARE THE BLAME FOR THAT :-p
AND I REALLY DO NOT PERSONALLY WHICH REGION WHERE ANY OF MY ASCENDANTS CAME FROM ORIGINALLY, ALL I KNOW IS I AM METRO MANILA BORN AND BRED, GODS BLESS THE IMPERIAL CAPITAL!
All this hulabaloo about “truth” is getting to be nonsense already. We have allowed everybody to say their peace to the public – to the people, and let them be the judge right? We have the people’s answer already, overwhelmingly, so what are these nay sayers going to do next, destroy the credibility of the people? The nerve! If you really are serious about your stand, will you put your money where your mouths are? Are you willing to bet on Gloria winning an honest election if we had one right now? Let the people speak and listen!
What needs to be done is to finally find leaders that the Filipino people will be responsible for, that true representation has been established, no “hello garci, 1million votes, etc. manipulations.” If these guys still don’t see what manipulation of “electoral returns” means its downright stupidity! If we speak of dagdag-bawas in ballots that is done by precinct level (everybody’s ballgame) but if its “election returns” it can only be done by people who have access to it – the COMELEC. How do you account for filled up election returns and no ballots? Magic? Of course, the culprits won’t sign documents that they did this, or sign affidavits, or sign vouchers after being paid for it. There is no paper trail but logic dictates that we see the clear picture even in the absence of so called legal evidence.
coldking,
No harm done. You can’t possibly put down the bisayas from down there.
And for MLQ3, kabayan, and others who went to Ayala yesterday, I’m proud of you. My heart was with all of you all the time I was having meetings in EDSA Shang, btw, I saw Prospero Pichay there.
ramrod : unsay 1M votes? sa 2004 elections? daug man si gloria diri zambosur. i cant say for the rest of mindanao, but as far as i can see, there’s not much of anti-gma moves here. there was even a pro=gloria rally yesterday in pagadian. btw, im not pro-gma but i dont like rallies
mindanaoan,
Rallies are an expression of our sentiments, where our outrage can really be shown and being in one to actually experience is REAL. It is the hallmark of democracy, we should be grateful we can still have them as not all countries do. Also, it is constitutional, “Peaceful redress of grievances.” My parents are in Gen. Santos, I was born there but raised in Mactan, I am a red blooded Bisdak but I don’t believe in this Imperial Manila bullshit, no such thing.
“carlos, i’ve been to the araneta colisseum plenty of times. it certainy would have been filled to the rafters.
but anyway, on sunday why don’t you go to the araneta colliseum where admu vs dlsu will play an exhibition match to raise funds for the whistleblower fund? with ust as cheerleaders.
please, go. and cheer for the president.
you should have gone to the welcome rotonda and saved us taxpayers 200 pesos.”
Manolo. What a silly childish reply. So unlike you, dude. You could have come up with something wittier than that. I don’t get the 200 peso joke.
But if it’s money lost. How much did we lose in productivity from that exercise in futility last night? Do everyone in Makati a favor and hold rallies in Quirino Grandstand the old fashioned way. The Makati venue is not only disruptive, it’s just cliche na.
AND why is it that if we aren’t on your side, IT MUST IMMEDIATELY mean we are pro Glo or loove her to death? Things aren’t BLACK and WHITE like that in real life, dude. You are smarter than that.
Don’t get pikon just because yesterdays numbers were sad, OK? You are bigger than that.
And on SUNDAY I WORK. And I think that all of you should do the same too. I’m sorry but yesterday’s crowd was same old same old and a wake up call that your issues DO NOT RESONATE with the people. It’s obvious that the anti glo crusade guys haven’t tapped fresh markets or developed a new audience so to speak.
And just like a TV show that has outlived it’s relevance, this attempts at People Power and grandstanding all needs cancellation and you guys need to find a new game plan. This old one isn’t working and you are alienating more people than appealing to them.
OR you could Just wait two fricking years and save your effort and energy. And I’m not saying this because I love Glo. I’m saying this because it’s the truth.
Sorry for speaking my mind. I apologize in advance because I know you guys hate hearing opposing opinions from your own in this echo chamber of a blog.