Not Backing Down

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani "BF" Fernando said that he has no plans of backing down.

Despite not being chosen by Lakas-CMD as their standard bearer, Fernando said that he will run for president with or without a political party backing him up.

He said that he is “dead serious about running for the presidency. I will run even without party’s endorsement."

Not too long ago, Lakas-CMD chose Defense Sec. Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro as their standard bearer over the MMDA Chairman.

Personally, I will never vote for Fernando. If you've been reading my blog, you'd know how much I don't like the guy.

Of all the presidentiables, Fernando is probably the first one guilty of illegal campaigning. His gargantuan billboards not only spread along EDSA but throughout the metro as well. In fact, tarpaulins of his face were spread throughout the country, when his jurisdiction covers Metro Manila alone.

Even if people tell me that he was able to impose discipline in one city, that doesn't necessarily he can do the same thing across the board.

But that's just me. What do you think?

A Second Serving

..of the Erap plate is not edible - especially for the Filipino palate.

Having announced that he will really run for Presidency next year (alongside Makati mayor Jejomar Binay as VP), the online community was quick to lament on the on-going political turmoil that is Erap.

Dea Bunecamino, a friend, wrote this one:

Just because we didn’t like your successor, doesn’t mean we regret deposing you.

It's like she wrote exactly what I was thinking!

The thread that followed that post was equally interesting:

Dan Ramos

@Dea hay naku i dont know what to think of Filipinos na if they still vote for him. TANGA LANG

Thu at 8:04am · Delete

Andrea Francesca Flores Buencamino

Kaya nga. Kahit never ko gusto, yun siguro magpapapunta sakin sa ibang bansa. HAHA

Thu at 8:06am · Delete

Dan Ramos

magalit na sakin ang mga Pilipino pero grabe BOBO na lang talaga ang bumoto sa kanya.

Thu at 8:11am · Delete

I, for one, posted this on my Facebook wall:

Dan Ramos thinks that voting for ERAP is just plain idiotic and insulting to those who actually serve the country (if they still exist)

I was a highschool freshman when the 2nd People Power happened. And I am a proud member of that mass of people who ousted a thief. And yet, I'm also ashamed that the dwarf we substituted for the thief wasn't really any better, I'd actually like to believe that she's worse.

But honestly, would we want to go through the whole shenanigan again if people actually vote for the wristband donning dude??

What do you think?

Akala Mo Disente yun pala Bastos

The following is a letter to the Editor from an Inquirer reader:

Manny Villar’s latest TV commercial never fails to give me a minor shock every time I hear it due to the word “konyo.” Page 83 of my Larousse Spanish-English dictionary states that it is the vulgar word for “genital.” It can also mean “for f---’s sake” or “f---ing hell.”

No matter if the younger folk nowadays say it is derived from an accepted derogatory description of a braggy, affluent mestizo (konyo boy), I still believe the word is vulgar and quite unpleasant to the ears.

I can only imagine how the Spanish-speaking people in our midst are laughing at us Filipinos for allowing our ad board to approve this TV commercial for airing.

—ERNIE ZARATE,
erniezarate1939@yahoo.com

Zarate posed a very valid point. In our social context, the word "konyo" would refer to the lifestyle of the rich and famous. However, in its real essence, the word is nothing short of vulgar.

As Zarate pointed out, in the Spanish context, the word refers to the genitalia. And knowing our ultra-"conservative" society, someone should've brought this up as soon as the premature campaign started.

So why use such a word on a national campaign? Beats me.

But hey, if it would suit Villar to include human genitalia to his campaign, by all means.

The Delayed Announcement

Opposition senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero turned 40, nine days ago. This made him eligible to run for highest seat of power in the country. October 12, 2009, the country waited for him to finally announce his bid for presidency. No announcement happened. According to him, it would be inhumane to announce one's political plans while the whole country is still suffering and trying to recover from typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

Inqurier.net's Neal Cruz wrote on his column As I See It, Why Chiz has not yet made an announcement:

It has been nine days since Oct. 10, when Sen. Chiz Escudero turned 40 and thus eligible to be president of the Philippines.

He had promised to officially announce his presidential candidacy on that day, but the day came and went and no announcement. The date for the formal announcement has been postponed to Oct. 12, they said. That day came and still no announcement. The new rumor is that he would do it on Monday.

Why the delay when his rivals are already all over the place campaigning although that is still prohibited at this time by election laws? Has he changed his mind? Was he dismayed by the drop in his ratings in the latest survey when he had been leading in most of the earlier surveys? Has he not yet reached an agreement with Sen. Loren Legarda? Did the latest propaganda ploy of the Lakas-Kampi party with the governors wanting to pirate Legarda of the Nationalist People’s Coalition as the running mate of its Gibo Teodoro have its desired effect on Chiz? Is he now wavering? You can read more here.

What is your take? :)

The Tycoon's Nephews

...won't be getting any support from their uncle.

San Miguel Corp tycoon Danding Cojuangco announced that he will only be supporting the presidential candidate that would be coming from the National People's Coalition (NPC) and no one else.

Two of his nephews are running under different political parties - Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro (under Lakas-NPC) and Sen. Noynoy Aquino (under the Liberal Party (LP))

Here is the complete story from Carla Gomez of Inquirer.net in an article entitled Cojuangco to support NPC candidate, not nephews:

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—Tycoon Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco will not be supporting any of his two nephews eyeing the presidency in 2010 but will instead back the standard-bearer of the party he founded, the Nationalist People's Coalition.

Cojuangco said even if his nephews—Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, standard-bearer of the Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats, and Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino, the Liberal Party's presidential candidate— are running for president, as founder of the NPC, he will support his party.

Cojuangco told reporters here Saturday he no longer involved himself in the selection process at NPC but he believed the party was going to field a presidential candidate in May next year.

"The NPC has not put up anybody yet; we will wait. I suppose they will. I am no longer active, it's the younger ones that are deciding for the party," Cojuangco said.

"The NPC is going to field a candidate I think. I think after these calamities they will decide," he added.

He said the last he heard was that the party had left it to Senators Francis Escudero and Loren Legarda to decide who between them should run for president under the NPC.

Asked if he would be in a dilemma if the NPC fielded a candidate while his two nephews ran under different parties, Cojuangco replied, "No. Why should it be a dilemma for me? I'm the founder of the party. I think I have to support my own party that I founded; I think it is but normal."

"Yung isang nephew ko hindi naman namin pinaalis, kami ang iniwan. Eh, ang ibig sabihin wala kaming kwenta sa kanya. Simple lang di ba? (One of my nephews left even if we did not ask him to leave. It only means that we are of no consequence to him.) So why should that be a bother to me?" said Cojuanco, referring to Teodoro, who left the NPC to pursue his candidacy under the administration party.

"The other nephew belongs to another party; I wish him luck," he said, referring to Aquino.

Asked if he and Aquino have talked, Cojuangco said he has not talked to any politician except to members of the NPC.

Aquino said during a visit to Bacolod on Thursday that while he has not had a chance to talk to his uncle, there had been "a few back-door talks" going on between his uncle and some of his backers.

"But at the end of the day I think we have to talk to each other. But I haven't had the opportunity to do so," Aquino said.

Asked if he would ask his uncle for support, Aquino said, "He's my uncle. I would not presume to tell an elder what to do."

Teodoro, on the other hand, said during a visit to Negros Occidental on September 23 that he has neither spoken to his uncle for sometime nor did he know of any discussions of an NPC merger with the administration party.

Asked if he would personally initiate the talks, Teodoro said "I represent the party, I don't represent myself."

Asked if there were reconciliation efforts on a personal level with his uncle amid rumors of a rift, Teodoro said, "There's nothing to reconcile because there's nothing wrong on a personal level."

But he did say he did not expect his uncle's blessings since he belonged to another party.

Danding Cojuangco, while refusing to discuss his personal relationship with Teodoro, is however reportedly backing his brother, Henry, to run against the reelection bid of Teodoro's wife, Representative Monica Louise Prieto-Teodoro, in the first congressional district of Tarlac.

Teodoro has himself said that his wife would still be running for Congress next year, "unless there's some major change" that would stop her from doing so.

Conjuangco was at a United Negros Alliance meeting here Saturday where the candidacies of Sagay Mayor Alfredo Marañon for governor and Representative Genaro Alvarez for vice governor of Negros Occidental in 2010 were announced.

Former governor Daniel Lacson Jr., who is not a member of UNA and is campaigning for the Aquino-Mar Roxas tandem in Negros, said he was supporting Marañon's gubernatorial bid as a close friend of the mayor.

I think that it's only wise for Cojuangco to support the representative of the political party that he was the founder of.

And I don't think the two boys care anyway.

4 vs 100

Four Presidential aspirants faced 100 local government officials to answer various issues involving local government units (LGUs).

The forum dubbed as "Face to Face: 100 Local Government Champions versus Four Presidential Contenders" was attended by Senators Manny Villar, Noynoy Aquino and Chiz Escudero and Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro.

The sharing scheme of the internal revenue allotment (IRA) between the national govt and LGUs, pork barrel system and the Mindanao peace process were some of the issues that the presidentiables had to address individually as they were given an hour each to meet with the local officials.

One of the most applauded statements was that of Escudero when he said that he is “in favor of abolishing the pork barrel system,” he said.

According to Escudero, he has not been receiving his pork barrel allocation since 2005 when he led the impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He defines pork barrel as “lump sum allocation sa budget kung saan di na natin alam kung san pupunta o pumupunta, lumalabas na lang at nakikita na lang bigla, minsan hindi pa.”

He proposed institutionalizing line-itemizing of government projects that would state how much money is needed, what it is for and the proposed timeline of the project. Escudero said that this would solve two problems regarding the pork barrel system – corruption and the “absence or lack of focus when it comes to the utilization of government funds."

However, results of an informal survey done among the local officials after the forum showed that they chose Teodoro as their top choice (although some criticized him for being endorsed by the infamous President), then Aquino and Escudero, while putting Villar as their last choice.

Helpful SHAMEFUL

We all witnessed the spirit of the Filipino people as we helped each other rebuild lives destroyed by the recent typhoon.

But some people are just plain SHAMEFUL.

At least three photos of such shameful acts circulated online referring to three particular politicians and their supposed disgusting deeds.

Photo #1

A photo of a man buying liquor at Rustan's Supermarket along Katipunan Ave. during the storm. People claim that this was Pampanga Rep. and Presidential son Mikey Arroyo.

Naturally, the online community was angered by the photo. As this would implicate that while the whole metro was suffering, here is the presidential son being too busy shopping for liquor.

In an e-mail response published online by news agencies and bloggers, Arroyo said that “My picture was posted on Facebook with a caption saying I was shopping for wine at the height of [Storm] ‘Ondoy.’ [This] is another malicious attack on my person. It is so depressing.” With his statement, he really didn't deny that it was him on the photo. What does that say? Hmmm. Watchathink?

He then proposed that Facebook content be regulated. Is he for real??? Wouldn't that be censorship? Brainless. Just brainless.

Photo #2

Food in labeled styro being distributed to Ondoy victims. Disgusting electioneering. The name written on the sticker still hasn't released any comment regarding this photo.

Photo #3

Is somehow of the same nature as Photo #2. Residents of San Mateo, Rizal are seen holding this piece of paper in order for them to receive their relief goods.

Both Photos 2 and 3 make us question if the concerned parties are actually authentic with their desire to help their countrymen. Or is this just another opportunity to campaign for themselves?

SHAMEFUL.

The Padyak is Back!

A feisty Mar Roxas announced his vice-presidential bid as Noynoy Aquino's running mate under the Liberal Party (LP) for next year's May 2010 National Elections.

This early in the game, Roxas dissed Defense secretary and administration/Lakas-NUCD candidate Gilbert Teodoro saying that Aquino is much better than Teodoro.

When Aquino announced his bid to become the country's next president, he said that he's offering the VP position to Roxas. It should be noted that Roxas too aspired to become president, but a former president's death and the rise to political fame of that president's son prompted Roxas to withdraw his bid and settle for the passenger seat.

The pair said that they are partners in the "fight for genuine change." Looks like we have a slogan that we'll hear quite frequently the next few months.

I pity Roxas and his padyak dreams for the nation. He aimed so high only to find out that he's only suited for the next best thing.

And the same question still lingers in my mind: Would the political move wedding between Roxas and Korina Sanchez still happen?

Hmmmmm.

Pink is Out!

You and I both know how I really, really, REALLY DO NOT LIKE Bayani Fernando. I hate his tarps, his pink fences, his urinals, his ugly footbridges, his sucky online game, his freakin' political will. And as much as I don't like Mar Roxas as well, I'd easily choose him over Fernando if the universe conspires that I choose only from the two.

Imagine my joy when I learned that after much deliberation, Lakas-CMD chose Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro to become it's standard bearer in next year's elections over the Pink Dude.

In a closed door meeting of the political party, only 5 of 47 members voted for Fernando. While the rest voted for Teodoro.

Lakas-CMD conducted the meeting after Vice-President Noli de Castro categorically announced that he will not run for the administration.

---

I was able to interview Teodoro back in 2007 while I was still a student and he was still a congressman. I was writing our Congress beat paper for our news writing subject and he was one of the authors of the bill that I was writing about. I did not set-up an appointment with him. But he was gracious enough to accommodate my friends and I in his office even if we 'ambushed' him. He answered my questions candidly and he clearly knew what he was talking about. I didn't think then that the man that I interviewed would later on become a Presidentiable three years after - proof that our political landscape changes by the second.

So long Pink Dude!

No More Padyak?

Mar Roxas backed out of the race.

Well, armed with his padyak, the probablity of him winning the race was slim.

Last night, in a room packed with microphones and rolling cameras, Roxas announced that he is supporting Sen. Noynoy Aquino as the Liberal Party's (LP) leading man for the May 2010 National elections.

ABS-CBNNews.com published his full statement:

Country above self. Bayan bago ang sarili.

Iyan ang habilin ng aking lolo, President Manuel Roxas.

Our nation is in trouble. Leadership is bankrupt. Institutions are in disarray. People are hungry.

Noynoy Aquino and I share the same outrage over the mess we are all in, the same way we share the solution-clean, honest, selfless public service.

Marami at matindi ang mga problema ng bansa. Kailangan nating ayusin. Matindi ang kalaban. We need a determined force for good far stronger than the festering evil around us.

We need to fight just as our own fathers fought dictatorship, and just as both died believing that good will conquer evil.

Noynoy and I want to make a difference, but we also know that we need to unite to achieve what we want.

I am the President of the Liberal Party.

It is within my power to preside over a potentially divisive process or to make the party a bridge for the forces of change. I choose to lead unity, not division. Bilang pinuno ng aking Partido, magdedesisyon ako.

Mahal ko ang Partido Liberal. My grandfather founded it. My father led it during the most difficult times of Martial Law. Sa harap ng peligro, sa kabila ng napakaraming tukso-hindi siya sumuko.

He inspired me-to stay the course, to fight the good fight, to pass the test of true character. To believe.

Over the weekend, Noynoy and I had many long conversations... Masinsinang usapan. We agreed: Let us forget about ourselves for a moment. This is not about us, this is about our people and our country. This is about our common dream. The dream of our parents.

But let us not remain a country of dreamers. Tama na ang pangarap. Gawin na natin, ngayon.

Today, I am announcing my support for the candidacy of Noynoy Aquino for President in 2010.

Noy has made it clear to me that he wants to carry the torch of leadership.

The passing of our beloved former President Aquino has reawakened a passion among us. I acknowledge this as fuel to bring us to the realization of our dream: Good will triumph over evil.

Ito na ang pinakamabigat na desisyon sa buhay ko. Maniwala man kayo o hindi, ginagawa ko ito para sa bayan, para sa inyo. I do this for unity in support of change. And if that means that somebody must make the sacrifice, it must be me. Ako na.

To you Noy, I say: I began the campaign to sow the seeds para sa pagbabago at reporma. You must now be the one to grow them in the arena of leadership.

Hindi kami maghihiwalay ni Noy. I will stand with him.

At sa aking mga kababayan, sa mga nagtiwala sa akin: Mahal na mahal ko po kayo. Mahal na mahal ko po ang ating bayan. Hindi rin tayo maghihiwalay. Itutuloy natin ang pagbabago sa ating bansa. Itutuloy natin ang laban para sa reporma!

Kay Noy, at sa aking mga kababayan: Country above self! Bayan bago sarili!

Hindi ko kayo pababayaan! Lalaban tayo!

---

And so we wait for Aquino's official announcement if he will run the race that Roxas and his padyak backed out off.

Two questions though:

1. Now that he's backed out, would the Roxas-Sanchez Nuptials still commence? Or is the whole thing out the window now? Including the Wowowee stunt of crying on national TV? Or is it true love?

2. If not for Pres. Aquino's death (I do not mean any disrespect), would Aquino have the same influence as a politician as he has now?

Willingly Yours

By now, you probably know that Wowowee is one Philippine facet that I am not proud off. I even went to the extent of saying that "it's one of the suckiest shows on local telly ever!" in one of my blogs.

Recent political developments rumors suggest that the infamous host of the show by the name of Willie Revillame was asked Manny Villar to run for senator under Villar's slate.

A more recent political rumor surfaced that the infamous host might actually run for vice-president instead! And I see humongous neon "WTF!!" signs floating all over your heads. Right?!?!

Juan Country's blog says that during a conversation between Kris Aquino and Revillame during an episode of SNN, the latter dropped hints of the possibility that he might actually run for the second highest position in the government.

It's bad enough that Revillame might run for a Senate seat, why make matters worse by running for VP? And what scares me the most is that Filipinos might actually vote for him.

And if he does win, our country will become a laughing stock of the international community. And we'll never hear the end of it.

"The country that voted for a host of one of the lamest shows not just in Philippine shores but in television history worldwide."

Would you want that? I don't think so.

Cockfight!

Credits: temporarybrand.com

A slot in the House of Representatives for sabong enthusiasts? Has the world gone bonkers? (Well, we all know it has, but I think there's this small speck of hope that it's gonna get saner soon.)

I was reading articles on Inquirer.net and i came across the story about a group who expressed their desire to run as a party-list in next year's National Elections. Alyansa ng mga Sabongero is particularly interesting since their aim is to represent and protect the interests of sabong enthusiasts! WOW!!! LIFE-CHANGING! SERIOUSLY????

Although, at some point, their argument makes sense. Our country is known for voting for people by their sheer popularity. Even if we all know that such people have no capability whatsoever to be given such a position. (Oh by the way, I'm still proud of General Santos City for not voting for that Boxer during the 2007 elections. Woot. Hopefully Saranggani does the same thing.) So having a party-list for such a specific and useless interest is not really surprising.

On the Inquirer's story, senators make fun of the idea. Sen. Lacson said that maybe the fighting cocks might as well form their own party-list too. “If they’re going to make a mockery of the system, we might as well go all the way.” Win!

Isn't the party-list system intended for marginalized sectors of our society? So sabongeros are marginalized??? And they actually have specific needs and rights that need representation in the country?

For me, the whole thing is just ridiculous.

You think they deserve a spot in the House?

Second in Command

So far, the ones making noise are the Presidentiables (i.e. Roxas and his padjak invading Friendster profiles, BF and his ridiculous online game, and the most disgusting political move known to man, Jamby and her yellow beads.

Not much is heard from people who are planning to run for the second highest seat in the bureaucracy - the vice presidency.

Currently, it is filled by former broadcaster Noli de Castro whose claim to fame is his Saturday show that specializes on anything related to the Halloween.

And this got me thinking, among all our politicians, who would actually qualify to become Second-in-Command?

Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan has already expressed his desire to run for the position. I will not vote for him though.

Buzz is rising on the possibility that Sen. Noynoy Aquino might actually run for the position. Ever since the late Pres. Cory Aquino's death, much talks have been raised regarding the Sen.'s plans for next year's national elections.

I think, Noynoy would make a good vice-president provided that he is second to the right President.

Who do you think would make a good vice-president?

Bloggers and Sen. Escudero

Image from HeaRty's Haven

We ate our food and waited. Past the chicharon, Coke Lights (yes, that's how the waiter called it), loads of laughter, magic tricks and chatter (we tried to figure out how much sisig can be bought from Gerry's with $20,000), it was finally our table's turn. It's 9:15pm.

Bloggers had the privilege of spending some informal time with Sen. Francis Escudero at the Club House of his political party in New Manila.

So there we were, seated on wooden chairs around the Senator. We knew what we wanted to ask but no one seemed eager to draw first blood.

Before we knew it, everyone's laughing and the conversation did not feel as awkward anymore.

The million-peso question was somehow a given: are you planning to run for President next year?

Sans pretense, he answers that he does want and plan to run for President. He said that he's running for two reasons - 1. he wants to prove that the younger generation can be entrusted to lead this country and 2. the younger generations are to suffer for the bad governance that the older ones are continually running.

He reinforces this by saying that he'd want to run while his still young and idealistic, because for him the government doesn't make one better but worse through time.

He also promised his wife that if he does lose next year, he'd stop politics altogether, saying that there must be someone else who can do the job.

An animated discussion followed regarding his choice for VP and Senators.

The night ended with a twisted fork on the Senator's palm.

The 2010 Presidential Elections is right around the corner and every one is running with their best foot forward.

Shameful

I've always thought that the political ads that are obviously in preparation for the national elections next year, are just plain disgusting. BF's humongous tarps spreading across the metro and the small ones across the country even if we all know that his jurisdiction stops outside Metro Manila. Mar's padjak TVC. Villar's Akala Mo campaign. So far, it was an even playing field. Until Jamby Madrigal came along. Having announced that she too will run as President, all hell broke loose. And so far, what she did is the most shameful and disgusting campaign move I've seen. Seriously.

Facebook user H Appy Feraren narrated her experience while waiting for the late Pres. Cory Aquino's cortege at the South Super Highway, entitled Shame on you Jamby Madrigal!

Now that we’ve remembered, relived and recreated the spirit of ’86 let’s make sure this yellow ribbon doesn’t get tangled up in other people’s political campaigns.

Subtle electioneering IN A FUNERAL?!?! SHAME ON YOU. Do not ride on Cory’s wave to pursue your vested interest. The people who waited in the streets weren’t there to see you! The revolution doesn’t belong to you, phony politician, it belongs to the people. And what makes you think you could get away with such a dirty trick? Cory’s lasting impression of sincerity, humility and honesty is now the benchmark of what leaders are supposed to be. You think people don’t see through you? The respect we have for Cory is not something you acquire with falsity (or through endorsement from Judy Ann Santos) it is earned. How dare you pose as someone offering sympathy to the Aquino family while you think about the votes you’re going to get come election time.

As I waited for the cortege (news networks’ new favourite word) along the South Super Highway, my mom and I bought 2 yellow umbrellas from this street vendor who was also selling nuts. And then as we paid, he pulled out something from his pocket – a yellow beaded bracelet nicely packed in a small clear plastic bag. Upon handing it over to us, he said: “Eto o, bonus para sa inyo.”Of course my mom and I were pleased and were all “awww how sweet.”Until I actually looked at the bracelet and saw a little tag with the name and photo of Jamby Madrigal.

I called out to him and asked, “O bakit may Jamby Madrigal itong bracelet na ito” and when I looked at the vendor for an answer he had already walked away.

Maybe an hour before this incident, I saw her car passing by the growing sea of people. Window open, flashing the L sign and strangely enough, a cameraman in front filming the people. My mom started shouting “Transparencyyyy!” and then I looked at her asking if I could put up my middle finger and my mom looked at me and said I should just shout transparency, accountability or good governance. In other words “BOOOOOOOO!!!!” And then the two of us just started shouting BOO JAMBY!!!

I am utterly disgusted by you, Ms.Madrigal. And to you other filthy politicians, behave yourselves because we are all watching you, even if you’re supposedly Cory’s “favorite” mayor. Genuine democracy is People Power and everything Ninoy and Cory stood for. It also means that now, whenever there’s a phony claiming he or she is there to protect Cory’s legacy, we will be able to speak up and act with the same fearless fervour we had before.

You know sometimes I wish I could march in the government offices with a magical broom that can sweep away all the dirty politicians we have in this country. A giant clean up, but this time not just for the environment but for our government. Haha, imagine if we could really do that? I'm already writing down the names of the people I'd attack first with my magic walis!

So, before you file for candidacy (a bit too late though in this case) think again. Actually, good luck! The people have remembered.

SHAMEFUL. DISGUSTING. PATHETIC. DESPERATE.