Dodging concrete demands

Earthquake news (Batanes, Catanduanes, and eastern Bicol) dominated AM radio last night; see the nifty Inquirer.net Earthquake Map.

There was an interesting observation made by Jove Francisco in his blog. He noticed that last Friday, the President held a mass oath-taking at the Palace, to which the military noticeable didn’t turn up. This helps explain, perhaps, why the President decided to sit out the Makati rally in the confines of Camp Crame. Read the whole entry, it’s a fascinating peek into what was going on in the Palace last Friday (see also his entry on the arrest of hecklers and continuing nervousness in the Palace; see the related news item, Rains abort unity walk of 77 mayors ).

Have fun with diagrams: See Romulo Neri’s cluttered booty capitalism chart. What’s interesting is his focus is on six captive industries, revolving around Alcantara, Aboitiz, Razon, Tan, and Gokongwei. The bubbles are, apperently, his view of “circles of influence.” For a detailed example, see PAL controls gateways through CAB, say experts.

On to today’s main event. Yesterday Amando Doronila pointed out that Battle arena over NBN shifts to SC. Today, the Supreme Court hears oral arguments, with one report saying it will be a Close call on Neri case. Last night, however, I ran into a former cabinet member with a formidable reputation as a lawyer, and he said that the case was really an open-and-shut one. He was confident the Supreme Court would divide along the lines shown by its decision on prior restraint. While a loyalty vote is possible, he viewed it as improbable. The reason is that everyone knows this will be a decision avidly studied in the schools, and the Justices know they’re deciding a landmark case with near-unbreakable precedents. They wouldn’t risk their reputations on this one.

Last night, the former cabinet member said the sensible path for the Justices to follow, would be to question Neri in an executive session. The news, today, is troubling: Neri a no-show as SC starts oral arguments. One has to wonder if this is of Neri’s doing or a Palace strategy, to deny the Justices information.

Read Fr. Joaquin Bernas SJ’s An E.O. 464 Catechism. He explains what the legal issues to be determined by the high court will be. Particularly relevant is the so-called “Nixon Doctrine”:

Q. Must every claim of executive privilege based on the above enumeration be honored?

A. No. The Court in Senate v. Ermita said that in determining the validity of a claim of privilege, the question that must be asked is not only whether the requested information falls within one of the traditional privileges, but also whether that privilege should be honored in a given procedural setting. Thus it is not for one claiming executive privilege “to unilaterally determine that a duly-issued Subpoena should be totally disregarded.”

Q. Who then determines whether the claimed privilege should be honored?

A. The Court. Thus, for instance, when the Nixon administration claimed privilege for certain tapes about the Watergate break-in, the Court, after looking at the claimed privilege behind closed doors, held that the tapes were not covered by privilege and should be released.

For this reason, our Court also said that “Absent then a statement of the specific basis of a claim of executive privilege, there is no way of determining whether it falls under one of the traditional privileges, or whether, given the circumstances in which it is made, it should be respected.” The lack of specificity renders an assessment of the potential harm resulting from disclosure impossible.

Speaking of E.O. 464… Let’s look at the the demands that have been made by three groups. The CBCP in its pastoral exhortation, the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan of the Ateneo, and the group of former government officials in their statement issued today.

Here are there demands, arranged in terms of their connection with each other:

demands.pdf

They are, on the whole, reasonable demands, that address present problems as well as the need for institutional changes. What the demands lack, however, is a timetable (except for the ex-government officials). This is a serious problem, because, as Edilberto de Jesus points out, today, the President continues to be ambiguous if not actually dissembling:

Arroyo made the following points in the interview:

1. Corruption angered her as much as it did the people.

2. As soon as there was talk of anomalies, she immediately took a step to cancel it.

3. As soon as an informant complained to her about corruption, she looked for a way to cancel the project.

4. She only received the report about corruption the day before the signing of the supply contract.

5. She could not see her way to canceling the project the night before the signing of the supply contract because another country was involved.

What she did not say also deserves attention.

1. She did not identify the whistle-blower(s).

2. She did not explain the anomalies in the deal.

It is not clear whether the “pag-uusap na anomalya” (talk of anomalies) and the “nagsumbong” (informant) referred to the same source. But her action, contrary to what the trio of Cabinet officials tried to convey, indicated that there was more than just loose talk of anomalies from tattle-tales.

Arroyo could not simply say that she heard talk about anomalies; she knew about the specific attempt to bribe CHEd Chair Romy Nery. Did she learn about other anomalies from other sources? In any case, she must have found both the whistle-blower(s) and the report credible. Despite assurances from her officials that the deal was clean, she eventually (not immediately) cancelled the project.

Let us grant that the confusion about Arroyo’s radio interview arose in part from language problems or from multiple voices interpreting what she said. She can quickly clarify the issue by explaining what she had meant to say in the interview. She knows which pieces belong to the puzzle and how to put them together.

At this point, however, what is important and what will contribute to the complete picture is no longer what she said or did not say, but what she did and did not do.

If she is as “galit sa katiwalian,” why did she not act, agad-agad, to investigate the anomalies and to punish their perpetrators?

Why has she not supported the Senate investigations? Why has she not provided the Senate with the documentation of the deal?

Why has she allowed officials who could shed light on the corruption to invoke E.O, 464?

Why has she not held to account those of her officials who continue to maintain that the ZTE-NBN deal was aboveboard?

There are appeals for the Truth, but no threat of consequences if the demands aren’t met. I respect the position of the bishops that they aren’t the ones who should be making threats, but if that’s the case, it’s incumbent among the groups pushing for a more centrist, moderate, resolution of current problems to come to a consensus on a timetable.

I understand that there are some natural dates and pressure point events that various groups are considering:

1. The decision of the Supreme Court on executive privilege, 3-4 weeks after today’s hearing of oral arguments;

2. Income Tax day in April;

3. The expiration of Gen. Esperon’s extended tour of duty as AFP Chief of Staff in May;

4. Labor Day;

5. Independence Day

6. The opening of the new session of Congress in July;

7. The expiration of the one-year ban on impeachment complaints in October (deliberations, including passing better rules, can begin in July);

8. pressure point event: if the government attempts a “same dog, different collar” tactic to achieve the same purposes as E.O. 464 while formally revoking it;

9. pressure point event: if the administration, even if faced with a S.C. decision clarifying executive privilege, continues to be uncooperative vis-a-vis the Senate;

10. pressure point event: if the administration attempts to revive Charter Change;

11. pressure point event: if members of the economic team resign from the cabinet.

The 6-7 month period from April 15 to October is more than enough time for even the most moderate groups to firm up what they will do, if the President proves more inclined to pursue dilatory tactics.

I believe, in light of the above, the urgent need is for:

1. The middle forces to consolidate and pursue a consensus;

2. And having forged that consensus to consider that while some are more focused on the President, and others on longer-lasting and more wide-spread reforms, the two are not incompatible if their goal is a Reform Constituency that can challenge the Right and the Left not just now, or 2010, but beyond. John Nery puts it this way:

The strategic value of the 2010 elections lies in that deadline; a transfer of power is already in the schedule. The more our aspiring presidential candidates prepare for the May 10, 2010 contest, the more any cancellation or postponement of the elections (say, through a manufactured people’s initiative) will be resisted. No Filipino politician, not even Ferdinand Marcos, has struck it rich by betting against the Filipino’s passion for the vote. So let Mar Roxas hawk more Tide laundry products, or Manny Villar visit more provinces, or Dick Gordon play coy with Cebu’s Gwen Garcia–their ambition serves democracy’s purpose.

At the same time, the outrage over the official impunity and immoderate greed revealed by the NBN scandal must continue to be expressed. Even if people power seems unlikely, protesters must still take to the streets, fill up the churches, organize school forums, reclaim the public square.

It’s possible that such “communal action,” in the Catholic bishops’ hopelessly ambiguous term, may provoke a confluence of events that will lead to an earlier day of reckoning for the Arroyo administration. Well and good. (We must be open to surprises.) But even if it doesn’t, what of it? The important thing is to do our part.

Father Rector Rolando de la Rosa of the University of Santo Tomas asked Lozada and former president Corazon Aquino and the others who attended the Mass for Truth at the university last Sunday to consider the best way to return integrity to government: “the best way is not through a “rigodon” of leaders who are forcibly removed through people power, but through an enlightened, educated and conscientious electoral process. We have 26 months before the next election. We have enough time to prepare ourselves so we can vote wisely. Let us use people power during election time, not only before or after.”

Some extremely thought-provoking entries in the blogosphere: the most thought-provoking being Writer’s Block’s A Comprehensive Proposal for an EDSA Reform. I do think, though, that when it comes to politics, personalities can never, and never ought to be, separated from the issues, because it is a human activity and not a science. Also, getting rid of the Senate is extremely unwise, though the process for electing its members can stand review. I disagree that Federalism goes hand-in-hand with the parliamentery system; it is, to my mind, even better suited to a presidential and bicameral system. As for proposals for the redistribution of wealth, I’ve long advocated the manner in which Britain broke the power of the aristocracy: through Death Duties. The accumulation of wealth in one person’s lifetime, is to be commended; the destructive effects of inherited wealth is what the British looked at and solved, by making it very difficult to pass on fortunes without greatly diminishing them. This democratized Britain in a generation without stifling entrepreneurship.

The following entries look into the various constituencies that are participating, or not, in current events. New Philippine Revolution on current and future configurations (see also an interesting entry of his on the Vatican position). Mon Casiple calls it the “elite dilemma.” Scriptorium asks, is impeachment better than People Power?

pastilan! reproduces a paper that gives us an insight into how the Left view the middle class, and ongoing debates on how to engage it -or co-opt it, or neutralize it. {caffeine sparks} looks at those who proclaim that being apolitical is a virtue. The need to take a stand, but not get used and abused, is tackled by abashet.

Sonnie’s Porch, and What Do We Care?, and Bayen’s Living Room, and I’m A Baby! and Ang Kape Ni LaTtEX express the reasons behind their misgivings concerning People Power. A Simple Life takes up the cudgels for loyalists. smoke has an interesting entry on what she perceives to be a war of political attrition. Peryodistang Pinay on image-making on media.

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Manuel L. Quezon III.

316 thoughts on “Dodging concrete demands

  1. “she is safeguarding our democratic ideals and institutions”

    Now this statement, I can’t let pass.

    Under GMA, there have been more extrajudicial killings of activists and journalists, than all post-Marcos presidents combined.

    How the fuck is that ‘safeguarding’!!!!!!

  2. shit, can this be all entertainment fodder fed by the politicians – to get people’s attention from what we really ought to be focusing on? — Mita

    THis is EXACTLY what it is.

    Politicians are taking advantage of the generally vacuous nature of the Pinoy mind to divert energies on shortcuts and away from the hard work. Hard work consisting of:

    (1) working the processes
    (2) evaluating people and circumstances critically and objectively
    (3) refining the processes

    From the perspective of the average Third World mind, you need a solid bedrock of education and intellectual maturity to do all of the above.

    But from the perspective of a the average First World mind, doing all of the above three is second nature and taken for granted.

    I wrote the following in an article called “Three misconceptions about democracy that Filipinos were led to believe” back in 2003:

    this whole “love of freedom” sloganeering associated with the practice of “democracy” is the work of a political machine averse to accountability. The point of democracy is not freedom as many of us were foolishly led to believe. The point of democracy is the practice of a system that enables us to hold our leaders to account. One can therefore understand why this, by now, puzzling obssession with “freedom” is prevalent today. Who else but our politicians are the biggest trumpeters of the “freedom” we enjoy under “democracy”?

    See the full article here:
    http://www.geocities.com/benign0/4-00_Leaders/freedom.html

    Kung baga, politicians would like the masses to focus on perverting freedom so that their own inability to work with due processes can be masked or swept under the rug.

    The masa for their part, in their infinite capacity to absorb misguidance, troop to moronic street rallies virtually on command from the usual architects of distraction from institutional process — those who trumpet “freedom” while ignoring the disciplines and rigour that make that freedom POSSIBLE.

  3. and who the hell do you think you are? so what if you “can’t let it pass”? it stands, whether you like it or not.

    do you have any proof that gma is personally responsible for all that alleged killings? authorities tasked to investigate and bring guilty parties to justice are doing what they are supposed to do.

    pgma is resisting all attempts to gut the constitution and the laws by enemies of her government. to use your own language, that’s “how the f..ck” democracy is being safeguarded.

  4. benigno, it’s not the masa joining the parliament of the streets. a big chunk of the masa gave up on it after realizing it didn’t help them.

    re presidents in this country. every president na lang in our country after marcos, was accused of the same things as this president is being accused of. i remember during FVR’s time everyone said he was going to declare martial law, he was going to change the constitution and make himself president forever….that didn’t come to pass. even jdv is no longer speaker of the house, something I never thought I’d see during this administration…

    where is this coming from? is it our own paranoia that’s putting us where we are – time and time again?

  5. GMA has to go, period.

    If she still makes it to 2010 and gracefully exits, well and good. All these political noise coming out “under her watch” whether the Gloria supporters like it or not is her mess, being the leader the weight of responsibility is on her shoulders, she asked for it when she ran for office. Anyway, she cannot function effectively under such conditions.

    Business will go on inspite of all these noise, but it would be a lot better if we finally settle down with a new set of leaders who we will support all throughout already, apparently, an oversupply of retired generals in the administration is not an ideal equation also. I would suggest a moratorium on people power (if and when we get there) for at least 10 years after that. For us who are directly/indirectly involved in the local industry we need “closure” to all these issues. We need to find the time to hunker down and focus on what really matters and that is, as some have continously mentioned, job creation, productivity, and reforms (on all needed fronts).

    Benign0 here is always saying the country is the “bunghole” in the region. He must be referring to the perennially pointed out issue that our neighboring countries have achieved NIC status while we haven’t. Well, that would be easy to say from where you’re sitting, but tell that to people here who are busting their behinds, wracking their brains on a daily basis running their businesses – its a “wake up at dawn, pride swallowing seige!” As someone once said IF YOU COMPARE YOURSELF WITH OTHERS, YOU WILL BECOME VAIN AND BITTER, AS ALWAYS THERE WILL BE OTHERS LESSER OR GREATER THAN YOURSELVES. We’re working on it, you might find it hard to believe but we are. Of course you all would want a China-like breakneck speed right? We don’t. Why? A substantial number of Chinese industries are heavily subsidized, and a lot of them are not making any money at all due to problems in (1)power (2)water (3) fuel (4)raw material. We will see a lot of closures when the bubble bursts. In fact, some businessmen think that our “slowness” has even cushioned us from the effects of the US economic crises. A majority of our local businessmen would rather grow their businesses slowly, basing expansion on actual gains (not utang) and actual market response. We cannot force these people to risk their inheritance, are we going to reimburse them if they lose it all? In the meantime, we have the OFW remittances and the BPOs to tide us over.

    Be that as it may, there are several companies that did venture, San Miguel Corporation has a regional presence, United Laboratories, and Splash (its not even Chinoy owned), etc. The challenge is, our industries have not kept up with our population, it happens. Add the negative impact of monopolies to the heap, graft and corruption, as well as the exodus of skilled workers and good managers. But then again, we’re not stopping. We all have our roles to play, for some, we need to keep the industries going, for some they need to fight for good governance and continued crackdown on monopolies. Gloria’s administration can’t be helped, its time we all accepted that and finally hunker down to work.
    For all those who like her send her some cards or emails of comfort, at least let her know you care. Your comments on this blog are useless if they don’t reach the person concerned.

    Like what I tell my staff when I overhear them talking in the pantry about politics – “lets all get this over with, and get back to work…”

  6. Madonna, people are SOOO not treated equally in the US….they are swamped with racial and gender issues and the gap between the rich and the poor is so glaringly wide that the increase in income of the top 1% in the US exeeded the income of the bottom 20%.

    then there’s taxation…the minimum wage earner is taxed more than the captains of industry who make billions a year. oh, and the minimum wage hasn’t increased since 1938 when roosevelt was president.

    but their elections are fair and relatively clean. however, the philippines has a higher voter turnout or maybe it’s the dead casting their ballots…

  7. Mita,

    I don’t really care much about the US. I’m not even following the elections. I believe voter turnout there is really low as I assume politics is not a favorite pastime for most people there as I assume that people don’t notice the government if they are content. That or Americans don’t give a damn on these matters.
    Voter turnout here is fairly high, even if we take away the 1 million or so that are on the election returns but we can’t find the corresponding ballots for. And yes, there were names of dead people that came out, but the number is negligible.

    Its 9:00 already. Time to get back to work…see you guys…

  8. ohhh ramrod…di na sana kita papatulan eh…kaya lang. man oh man, can you dish the shit!

    kakasabi ko nga to sa isang comment ko dito din:

    “oh yes, this is the Philippines where everyone projects to be intelligentsia or CEO and expect “others” to do the dirty work….”

    o sya, alam na ng buong mundo ng Quezonia na ika’y isang kapitan ng industriya, nguni’t di ko mainitindihan talaga kung bakit kailangang pang ipangalandakan ito. Di ko rin maintindihan kung ano ang relevance nun sa pagpalitan ng kuro-kuro dito.

    get back to work? your staff in the pantry? AHAHAY! like rego said, you do sound condescending…

    wala ka naman sa rally. why didn’t you stand up and be counted when it mattered? sana nadagadagan yung crowd na pinagtalunan ang laki kinabukasan. kasi kung talagang committed ka sa cause mo, ipagtatanggol mo kahit sino pa ang mag-imbita sa yo sa EDSA Shang.

    project mo pa naman you are different from those of us who come here to shoot the shit….

  9. Mita,

    Apologies for the confusion. I kinda tend to use the word ‘masa’ loosely nowadays. What constitutes as ‘masa’ to me now, anyone who is at the beck and call of the architects of these moronic rallies and street circuses.

    These ‘circus architects’ for me include:

    (a) The Holier-than-thou Bloc; i.e. Aquino, Lozada, and the CBCP
    (b) The Makaba-masa Bloc; i.e. noisy militant leftist groups like Anak-Pawis, Akbayan, Gabriela, etc.
    (c) The Me-want-Power-soon-and-cheap Bloc; i.e. Erap, and some opposition politicians who don’t want to spend money on a proper election campaign.

    You’re right in saying that a chunk of the traditional masa no longer buys the cr@p dished out by the above three. These would be the ones who to some degree now actually THINK and EVALUATE rather than just HEAR and FOLLOW.

    But those who do — those who hit the streets on command of the above — now fit the bill as the ‘masa’ even those Lasallistas and Atenistas who participate can funnily be now counted as such (kawawang mga magulang, working their arses off to pay off tuition fees in excess of hundreds of thousands of pesos only to have their kids incited to dance the ocho-ocho in Manila’s streets).

    If you’re wondering where this is all coming from, look no further than the above three. They’re relevance in our society is determined by the ability to keep up this paranoia — kind of the same way that organised religion derives its power from people’s perception of themselves as good-for-nothing sinners.

  10. Mita,

    Hey. Its a personality flaw. Nobody’s perfect. Did I say I didn’t support the rally? As I said, we each have our own roles to play, some have to be in the frontlines, some have to be behind the scenes. Whatever it is people like me do for support is for us to know and for you not o find out. 🙂

  11. “ahahay ramrod! politics a pastime? yun nga eh…pastime lang pala sa yo….” – Mita

    Pastime. Yes. We all have our day jobs right? Itong blogging nga sinisingit ko na lang in between reading/sending emails eh.

  12. oh, and the minimum wage hasn’t increased since 1938 when roosevelt was president.

    individual states have increased their minimum wage higher than the federal. for example, california has $8, hawaii – $7.25

  13. oh gee…personality flaw. o sya. thanks for the laugh ramrod. you really made my day…

    you blog? ahhh…oo nga pala. pero walang laman ha! “space cadets” – bagay na bagay ang pangalan…mala kevin “space-y”!

  14. Mita,

    Hey. I’m not a professional blogger. I just do this for fun nga eh and to meet interesting people like you. there are some people you’ll love to hate in this lifetime, I’m one of them (either that our you’ll just love). 🙂

  15. “get back to work? your staff in the pantry? AHAHAY! like rego said, you do sound condescending…” – Mita

    Don’t take this comment seriously, I’m the head janitor, I was talking to the appentices, alangan namang ako lang ang maglilinis dito? 🙂

  16. Mita,

    If you are in the Philippines, and you have time, seriously – meet me at EDSA Shang lobby this Friday 2:30PM at the lobby, look for a short haired, middle-aged male, pecking at the laptop…

  17. excerpts from

    Interfaith rally: The view from below
    By Honesto General PDI

    The interfaith rally was a sham, or, at least, half a sham.

    No one can fake a People Power Miracle. No one can manipulate Divine Providence. Not even with all the money in the world.

    I estimated the crowd at 20,000 maximum. At least 10,000 were there for the money, and only for the money. The total cost, including jeepney rental, amounted to P5 million minimum. Where did the money come from?

  18. “I estimated the crowd at 20,000 maximum. At least 10,000 were there for the money, and only for the money. The total cost, including jeepney rental, amounted to P5 million minimum. Where did the money come from?” – James

    Unfounded allegations! Innuendos! Where’s you evidence?! 🙂

  19. Don’t take this comment seriously, I’m the head janitor – Ramrod

    Ramrod, if you haven’t yet, go watch the movie Michael Clayton. ighly recommended. 🙂

  20. ramrod,

    hindi si james ang nagsabi ng estimate.

    totoo siguro ang estimate kasi ang pangalan ng nag estimate ay honesto, general pa ang last name.

  21. “totoo siguro ang estimate kasi ang pangalan ng nag estimate ay honesto, general pa ang last name.” – dinapinoy

    Hahahaha 🙂

  22. read your favorite newpaper PDI bout the estimate

    by the way if there is barangay bansot could barangay ‘butlug’ be far away?

  23. it is very easy to say to just follow the “rule of law” if the individuals in power being accused just bend or break the laws and constitution of the land to fit their needs.

    again as in the rules of court where the one needs to prove the guilt beyond reasonable doubt, is not reliable as doj, ombudsman, comelec and the majority of congressman are obviously in connivance with administration in subverting the laws and constitution.

    it is only in the supreme court where the aggrieved party, the filipino people, find respite, just and fair treatment. time and time again the supreme court justices rebuked the gma administration’s attempt to bastardize and prostitute the laws of this country.

    why then people go to streets and go to rallies? when the avenue for voicing people’s concerns and pains are being undermined by the very people in the government who’s primary responsibility and mandate is defend the weak and unjustly treated, then we are left with no choice but to use the streets to show our anger and outrage.

    when the government promises to punish the perpetrators of crimes, but turns around and promote them and give them commendation, then it just a normal reaction of a decent and sane person to voice their anger disapproval.

    now calling gma a moral leader is tantamount to calling the jews as hitler’s fan. gma is one of the most if not the most morally bankrupt filipino. what morals does gma has to speak of?

  24. “totoo siguro ang estimate kasi ang pangalan ng nag estimate ay honesto, general pa ang last name.”

    galing niyan, Dinapinoy. 😉

  25. istambay,

    Keep doing what all of you are doing. Dito lang kami sa likod nyo, oops, baka isumbong pa tayo ni james kay general honesto. 🙂

  26. grd, i was impressed by team rp. they’ve thought things through, they have passion. they aren’t where our group is, now, but they don’t have closed minds. as you know, i’ve always been confident that sooner or later public opinion will swing around to realizing that the admin will squander all opportunities to give it the benefit of the doubt.

    until that happens, these young people have shaken up the landscape and entered the fray, and whether as a moderating or radicalizing influence, it’s all good.

  27. the problem with gma is she’s too pragmatic – cory.

    so sc puno’s compromise on neri too.

    judicial activism/restraint?

  28. Bencard,

    I want to gut the Constitution but I can’t. Gloria beat me to it.
    I want to throw out the rule of law but I can’t. She beat me to that one too.
    I want to tear down the institutions but I can’t. She already razed them to the ground.

    Gloria is so hardworking, there is nothing left to destroy.

    Shit, even anarchists can’t get work these days!

  29. Sino ba itong coldking na ito….masakit sa mata yung sulat niya…sigaw ng sigaw…shades of napoleonic complex???

  30. cold king, okay lang naman maging passionate, nababa naman yun, hindi na kailangang all caps. tapos, okay lang naman sa min mga bisaya na insultuhin paminsan minsan, huwag lang sobra…

  31. I find it so hilarious that a country of more than 90 million cannot find one good leader who could unify the Opposition much less one good person who could be a good president someday.

    I’d say that reality says a lot about the nature of Pinoy society as a whole. 😀

  32. benign0,

    I’m still keeping my fingers crossed, look at the sky every night for that wishing star, grab the wishing bone everytime we eat at Max’s, ….and of course, read the posts here because there are some interesting candidates (thought they may not know it yet). Like you for instance, wanna go for it? I’ll pledge my vote for you, honest? 🙂

  33. and a question from left field, just to shake things up…

    one thing i haven’t really understood since i started voting… why don’t some people vote where they live?

    i mean i do, i’ve changed residence three times (once per election i’ve been in) and i saw it as a matter of course to tell the comelec that you’ve moved and switch your voting districts.

    then there’s my dad who still goes all the way to the province during elections.

  34. ramrod:

    i know. since day one of my time spent reading manolo’s blog, benigs has always entered the fray as the “ideas man”, who starts out by denigrating the way Filipinos think and then trumpets his own ideas about reform.

    maybe he should go for it in 2010.

  35. from what’ve heard here, benign0 is not a filipino but an australian.if that’s the case, then what is his business here lecturing us about the nature of filipino people and our values?

    what about the history of australia? their treatment of the aborigins? ask him who are the first white people of australia? what quality of people they were from england? why they end up in australia?

    maybe he himself could shed some light on these questions? just the facts, please.

  36. tonio,

    Actually I’m already looking for a presidential candidate (just for my own purposes). Its good to start early, but I can’t seem to find one yet. So, based on what I’ve read so far, Pres – benign0, CHED Chairman – DJBRizalist, if possible DOJ Sec – bencard…

  37. Yes, the influence is deep indeed, we have to speak English to speak to who supposed to know better, unfortunately they many are divorced from the reality which most Filipinos suffer. Perhaps in another alternate world where the US didn’t invade the Philippines we could be speaking Spanish or other European languages. It is hard to bridge the gap between what the destitute Filipinos experience and those insulated in their nice houses in posh subdivisions.

    Kung Pilipino ang wikang gagamitin ko rito, yung mga sanay sa wikang Ingles ay mahihirapang maintindihan ang sitwasyon ng ating bansa, lalo na kung sila’y hiwalay o bulag sa hirap na dinadanas ng karaniwang Pilipino. Kaya ako na ang gumagawa ng tulay upang maintindihan ang sitwasyon ng pangkaraniwang Pilipino at kasama na rin dito ang mga naghihirap nating kababayan.

    So now I build a bridge. To those who wish to know, check out my blogs titled, Amid the Flags and Banners, For Whom do We Fight For Part 1, and For Whom do We Fight For Conclusion, if you care.

    For those who simply care for their self-interest, personal luxuries, armchair analysis, twisting the spirit of our laws and raking in billions at the expense of the Filipinos; don’t bother to visit for these are the kind of people that destroy our nation, our people and our nation’s values.

  38. A British penal colony was set up at Port Jackson (what is now Sydney) in 1788, and about 161,000 transported English convicts were settled there until the system was suspended in 1839.
    Free settlers and former prisoners established six colonies: New South Wales (1786), Tasmania (then Van Diemen’s Land) (1825), Western Australia (1829), South Australia (1834), Victoria (1851), and Queensland (1859).
    –www.infoplease.com

    The Stolen Generations (also Stolen Generation and Stolen children) is a term used to describe those children of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who were removed from their families by the Australian and State government agencies and church missions, under various acts of their respective parliaments, denying the rights of parents and children by making Aboriginal children wards of the state, between approximately 1869 and (officially) 1969.[citation needed] –wikepedia:stolen generations

  39. tonio, istambay,

    Seriously, whoever sits as President will have a handful this time around. He/she has to survive media scrutiny, unite the congress, enlist the governors, mayors, win the peoples’ acceptance (both masa and rich), win the business community’s cooperation, and deal with interest groups from powerful businesses seeking monopolies. Add the Spratleys issue with China into the cart…

  40. wala lang, supreme court hearings on neri has produce no real result….basically back to square one. the senate hearings then will go back to same unproductive exercise. we cant just get it right, going round and round in a circle without direction.

  41. ramrod:

    i know, i know…. the next president is gonna have to be like… i don’t know the Buddha or something. but i know this person exists. like i said, sa dami ba naman nating Pilipino…

    but remember though all of those issues that you’ve put forth are not only for the President to solve. i think it’s time for comprehensive change, in everyone.

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