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.

Bagong Sigla's Apokalipto

Whoever this guy is, his video is made of AWESOME!

Gratitude for Sale

For the whole image, click here: GMANews.tv

I have a plan, I will visit Baguio. Maybe, just maybe, I'd find tarpaulins all over the city thanking me that I visited the city. But then again, I do not have the funds to pay for those tarpaulins. Unlike our dear President.

GMANews.TV reports in an article entitled "Arroyo government sponsors thank you's to itself" published today, that Philippine Information Agency (PIA) chief Secretary Conrado Limcaoco Jr., received a memo from PIA Cordillera Director Helen Tibaldo with the subject “Tarps for Presidential Visit.” Notice that PIA is under the Office of the President.

The memo is thanking PIA for their preparations for GMA’s visit from August 28 -29. At the third paragraph of the memo, it states “For our part, we would like to request for the printing of the tarps along the route with the following suggested messages.” It then lists down at least five messages that the tarps would contain. All of them, expressing thanks to our dear President for her work and dedication from different sectors of the Cordillera community. But something’s fishy about these sectoral groups. They are groups that are “amorphous” in nature. Go figure.

Both parties have confirmed that a memo was sent but both did not comment on the contents of the said memo.

And I wonder, did she have to buy all these tarps just so she can assure herself that she is actually doing something for the country? What’s your take?

The "First"

And since my personal blog has become a weird mix of blog entries, I created this blog that would be totally dedicated to all my political brain farts. :) no more entries that are political in nature interspersed with the awesomeness of day-to-day living or other brain whack experiences. So read up, maybe, just maybe, you'll find my thoughts bearable to share to other people :)

"Politics of God" 2.0

This morning, before going to work, I had a very interesting discussion with my parents. I shared to them how disliked Eddie Villanueva. And they were quick to tell me that I should not be careless with the words I exhale on my blogs. So here I am, writing a version 2.0 of yesterday's blog. And this time, I'd have basis with things that I'd write.

I was 10 years old when the 1998 Presidential Elections happened. I barely remember anything from that year. But I do remember that among the leading Presidentiables then were Jose de Venecia and Erap Estrada. We all know that the latter won. And we ousted him three years later. This morning I learned something new. Apparently, Villanueva was a part of the scene as well. He "prophesied" that JDV would win the elections. According to Villanueva, JDV was the God-mandated next President of the Philippines. He further adds that de Venecia "was ordained by the Divine providence to fulfill his vision for the Philippines as a great nation for God. The glorious prophetic vision of God for the Philippines is for it to become prosperous and we cannot turn traitor to God's calling and mandate." The same year, Erap Estrada was sworn into Presidency.

Fast forward six years later, the 2004 Presidential Elections happened. This time, Villanueva announced that he too will run as President, against political giants GMA, FPJ, Panfilo Lacson and Raul Roco. He was widely supported by the Christian community. Well-known celebrities like Connie Reyes, Donita Rose and Piolo Pascual endorsed him. Even my family campaigned and voted for him (I was not registered then). He said that God called him not just to run as President but to become the country's leader. Common knowledge would tell you that that he lost that war. In fact, out of the five, he placed last.

What happened after disappointed a lot of people. NationMaster, an online political encyclopedia, wrote: "When he lost the election, a lot of his followers were disappointed with him because it took him so long to concede victory to the elected incumbent President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, despite his having run so far behind. So many followers expected that his reaction would be totally different from the other politicians but to many he was seen to be singing the same melody with them." I don't think I need to expound what those words meant.

In an article entitled Villanueva supporters break away from BPM - written by Edu Punay, published May, 22, 2004 on The Philippine Star - BPM source said that they "don’t understand why he can’t concede when he’s not even in the close second or third spot of the race." But Villanueva coutnered with "I was well-advised by my close friends to concede... but I just can’t because this is my commitment to the truth." And my question for Villanueva is, what truth is he committed to?

In another article entitled Bro. Eddie's brethren say he should concede - published June 24, 2004 on The Philippine Star - was a clear indication of the loss of support for the religious leader. A group of pastors and bishops yesterday told religious leader Eddie Villanueva, who came in last in the presidential race, to stop mixing religion and politics, labeling his campaign tactics "a perversion." One of them, Reynaldo Carillo told Villanueva, "You did not hear the voice of God. You should accept the reality that you lost. If God really called you, God will support you."

Villanueva's prophesy of being "called" by God to be the leader of the country was toppled by landing fifth on the Presidential race.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22 says (and yes I am quoting the Bible)

21"You may say yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?" 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him."

On the basis of Villanueva prophesy for JDV and his own prophesied presidential bid in 2004, in contrast to the verse above...

FAIL.

"Politics of God"

The title of this blog, he says, is what his campaign will be all about. Eddie Villanueva proclaimed recently that he will run for President at the May 2010 Presidential elections. I was reading Carlo Ople's blog - JuanCountry - when I came across his blog on Villanueva's bid for Presidency. And my blood pressure shoot up to it's highest level.

When that pastor from Cebu claimed that Villanueva is the "David of this Generation," one thought came to mind "WHAT THE HECK?!?!?!!!!!"

And I quote Ople's blog:

"The pastor boldly declared that Brother Eddie is the “David of this Generation”. He goes a bit further, saying that Brother Eddie is God’s anointed one and that he will be the one to set the Filipino people free. In his message, the pastor also calls on the people to rally behind Bro. Eddie and to support him in whatever way and form they can. He talks about building an “army of change” from all corners of the Philippines which will destroy the machinery of old politics and will bring about the freedom of the country.

In response, you could see the thousands of followers raising their hands, crying, and shouting praises to God.

A Dangerous Promise
What’s wrong with what happened last night? Personally I find it to be worrisome because they’re painting Bro. Eddie to be a messiah of sorts for the Philippines. What’s also alarming is that they’re zeroing in on God and the paradise that the country will become instead of talking about a concrete platform of governance."

Notice the lines that I put on bold. As much as I do believe that only God can flip this country around, we are also in desperately need for "a concrete platform of governance" that I don't think Villanueva has.

What irks me the most is that he claims that he was "called" by God to run.. AGAIN. Sounds utterly disturbing. Cause he claimed the same thing in 2004. Christians believed him, so they supported and voted for him. And when he lost, he staged a rally claiming that he was cheated out of Presidency. Didn't he think that maybe it was God who did not want him to win in the first place? And that only FPJ has the right to claim that he was indeed cheated out of office?

I will not vote for you Villanueva. Not next year, not ever.

And I think Ople's challenge for Villanueva was spot on:

If Brother Eddie does push through with his candidacy, I have this one appeal. Do not use the name of God in vain. This is a political arena, and you should talk about your political agenda. If you really believe you can bring about reform and change, then explain how you will do it and don’t just say big words like “righteousness”.

Yes Villanueva, MAY PAG-ASA PA. And you're NOT IT.

The Tip-ping Point

I hate giving tips. Especially to waiters/waitresses who are of the Slowpoke kind. Or whenever I see the service person's face that s/he seems to hate what they're doing. Such people do not deserve an extra bill in their pocket. I bet they cheated on the "Pleasing Personality" test. So when I read on GMANews.TV that the infamous President spent P6 million on tips during her US visit, my first thought was "dengggg, those service guys are lucky! The President gave them 6million in total when she can't do the same thing for her countrymen."

Albeit the controversial meals of Gloria, the woman and her entourage still had the guts to spend P6million - SIX-FREAKIN-MILLION-PESOS - on tips for those who served them during the 6-day US trip. This is according to a breakdown of expenses provided to GMANews.TV by the Palace's deputy executive secretary for administration and finance, Susanna Vargas.

They spent $66,000 = P3,300,000 in Washington DC and $59,000 = P2,950,000 in New York. ($1 = P50)

WHERE THE HECK DID THEY GET ALL THAT MONEY?!?!?!??!

Maybe they'd use another scapegoat Congressman to claim that they paid all that. Or maybe Mikey Arroyo would say that there is more "dignity" in tipping that much than eating in turo-turos or McDo.

Quick question: IS THIS TAX-PAYERS' MONEY?

And I close my ears, so as not to hear the truth or lies that they would answer.

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?

Jetlag

She cancelled the jet that she ordered. If she pushed through with it, our country could have lost P1.2billion.

After receiving much flack for eating and drinking expensive things in New York and Washington D.C., while the rest of the country die of hunger, the decision to cancel the jet was a wise one. Cause if she didn't, ewan ko na lang talaga.

According to minion Press Sec. Cerge Remonde, the President will postpone catering to her "needs" even if the next President would actually be the one benefiting from it. The jet was supposed to be used for her travels around the world.

Arroyo has been receiving much criticism from sectors of the society for her alleged extravagant lifestyle of overseas trips and luxury dinners. If I were a hungry kid along Katipunan and I hear that the President is out of the country eating caviar and drinking champagne, I'd be angry too. And then you hear that she plans to buy a billion-peso jet while you can't even afford to build your own kariton is just adding insult to the industry.

Honestly, how can she take doing all those things when she know that majority of her country is living in despair?

Spending 2.78 billion pesos just for her foreign trips in just five years, 2003-2008? And we tell our people, that our country is in great debt and our economy is in bad shape? That we do not have enough money to provide proper care, health and education to majority of our people?

Heartless.

Good thing, she was wise enough not to purchase that jet. Cause if she did, she'll never hear the end of it.

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?