Alex Lacson--A Vote for Him, A Vote for Hope and Change in our Country

Would it be possible for someone, a neophyte in politics like Attorney Alex Lacson to win a seat at the Senate without spending 300 million pesos? Pragmatics amongst us would say no.

I say a resounding YES. I say Alex Lacson will win this year's Senatorial elections.  

It takes great courage and fortitude of spirit to be able to do the impossible and if God wills it, nothing is far from one's reach.

Alex Lacson is running only with the strength of his convictions, only with a handful of enthusiastic supporters but for me, this is enough to prove to one and all that only with the will to help Filipinos, that is enough to propel someone from relative obscurity to national greatness.

Alex Lacson is running because he believes in the inherent goodness of Filipinos. Alex Lacson is a prime example of someone who has sacrificed himself and his family for the sake of his fellow men. What if he gets tired, what if he does not sleep enough, and what if he stakes the tuition money of his kids, the point is simply this---he wants to prove that every Filipino still loves his country.

For every vote that he gets, that's an affirmation that the Spirit of a New Philippines resides in each and every one of us.

For every single peso of support Alex Lacson gets, that's a sign that hope and change can still be achieved.

The campaign of Alex Lacson is something very historic in the sense that this runs in what I described as a "shared responsibility" platform---a pure form of voluntarism that is a direct denunciation of what we hate---traditional politics.

Trapoism depends on money. Trapo-ism insults the intelligence of the masses with its reliance on fancy infomercials and glossy electoral tacticals that cost millions of pesos. These tactics, relied for decades, are actually hit-and-miss activities. Politics is not an exact science. Even if you have a large grassroots organization, conversion of votes is still not a certainty.

Let us be one with him in creating History. Let us be one with him in writing a New page of our country's story.

Prove to the world that we can elect a Nationalist in the Senate without spending so much money.

Prove to the world that we can vote for someone, a neophyte in politics, without him spending millions.

Let us disabuse the minds of the people and rally behind Alex Lacson. And let our voice truly speak.

Villar intends to spend 15 billion pesos for guns and bullets

For offending the military top brass when he led Nacionalista party candidates in a virtual campaign sortie inside Camp Aguinaldo, presidential bet Senator Manny Villar promises to give 15 billion pesos to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should he win in this year's elections.

So, there. This early, Villar is starting to politicize members of the country's armed forces, dangling them a meaty 15 billion pesos, just to win this elections.

And who will be the next sector to be courted and promised billions by the wealthiest presidential candidate in Philippine history?

Will it be the urban poor? I hope so.

We have 25 million urban poor families, whose needs are ASAP, more than the military who needs more arms and ammunition. Which sector will Villar prioritize when he becomes president? Seems that this early, Villar's priorities are as warped as his television commercials.

Will it be the farmers and the fishermen who are now being affected by global warming and inadequate government support? I hope so.

More than guns and bullets that Villar wants to give the military, that 15 billion pesos carrot which he dangled before the top brass should have been promised to the rural sector which is now suffering from extreme poverty? Fifteen billion pesos-es are more than enough to modernize our agricultural sector and enable us to leap to the 21st century.

Will it be the workers who continue to suffer from low wages and oppressive situations? I darn hope he will.

Fifteen billion pesos are more than enough to create more jobs for the jobless, stable wages for the employed and spur growth to less urban or less developed areas.

This is the first time that Manny Villar cited a figure to give a certain sector if he wins the elections. And evidently, Villar was forced to do so.

Will the urban poor, the farmers and the fishermen do something very drastic before Villar ultimately give or promise to give them a certain amount like what he did with the military?

I hope it will not amount to that.

Senatoriables

Based on the Pulse Asia survey, familiar political brandnames top the Senatorial surveys, and only ONE (1) name belonged to a private citizen and that is, Joey de Venecia III. Joey de Venecia III has a high rank of 11-12 and with an awareness rating of 81% with a vote conversion of 24%. Quite high, considering that the rest of the pack bear familiar names:

1. Revilla, Bong (re-electionist)
2. Estrada, Jinggoy (re-electionist)
3. Cayetano, Pia (re-electionist)
4. Drilon, Frank (comebacking)
5. Defensor-Santiago, Miriam (re-electionist)
6. Enrile, Juan-Ponce (re-electionist)
7. Recto, Ralph (comebacking)
8. Osmena, Serge (comebacking)
9. Sotto, Tito (comebacking)
10. Lapid, Lito (re-electionist)
11. Marcos, Bongbong (new)
12. De Venecia, Joey (new)

De Venecia III's awareness rating is even higher than Pia Cayetan but since he is a neophyte in politics, De Venecia III's voter preference rating is expectedly lower. Meaning, what Joey has to do is try to further convince the people of his competence and his trust or voting preference rating will surely surge. For Joey, it is not a matter of awareness--it is a matter of trust.

Bongbong Marcos' awareness rating is higher than De Venecia's and for his credit, the higher his awareness becomes, the higher also his trust or voting preference ratings become. What Marcos has to do is increase his awareness and surely, he will definitely make a higher grade.

Ruffy Biazon follows at 13th with 19.8% voting preference with an awareness rating of 52% and Teofisto Guingona III at 19.7% voting preference with about 73% awareness. Look at this--TG's awareness is even higher than Ruffy's but the conversion is lower. Why so? Guingona's problem is really about conversion, not awareness. Solution? Pound those hands more, go to sorties more, explain your platform more than the others, and TG will probably make the grade.

Alex Lacson, a neophyte in politics, has a 33% awareness rating but a very high trust rating of 19.1%. Meaning, the more people learn about him, the more his trust or voting preference will increase and he is actually a threat to other senatoriables in the lower rung. Lacson has a bigger than average chance of clinching a Senate seat than the rest PROVIDED that he exposes himself more and make those critical rounds.

If, for example, Lacson gets a higher awareness rating, say that of TG Guingona at 73%, his voting preference would actually land him in the Magic 10. Look at Pia, whose awareness level is just 79% but about 46% will vote for her come May 10.

Look at Rey Langit, whose awareness level is at 59% but has a very low voting preference rating of 9.2% Meaning, the more you know about him, the least likely that you'll vote for him.

So, for others, the more they expose themselves, the least likely the people will vote for them. But, for newer faces, the more they expose themselves, the more people will vote for them. For new faces but bearing familiar names, it is not a matter of more exposure, it is a matter of trust. Therefore, the solution is not more media exposure; rather, more sorties, more doing the rounds and more grassroots support.

YOU soon to announce its Presidential bet

I had no chance in consulting Carlos Maglalang, founder and spokesperson of the Young Officers' Union (YOU), the precursor of the Young Organizers' Union (YOU) on what he has to say about the 2010 presidential elections. I am constantly working the grassroots, and found that many of our members, prefer the following as their senatorial bets:

1. Joey de Venecia III--the ZTE-NBN whistleblower and now under PMP-UNO/PDP-Laban
2. General Danny Lim--guest candidate of Liberal Party
3. Col. Ariel Querubin--official candidate of the Nacionalista Party
4. Susan "Toots" Ople--official candidate of the Nacionalista Party
5. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos--official candidate of the Nacionalista Party
6. Atty. Alex Lacson---official candidate of the Liberal Party
7. Ruffy Biazon---official candidate of the Liberal Party
8. Atty. JV Bautista--official candidate of the Liberal Party
9. Atty. Adel Tamano--official candidate of the Nacionalista Party
10. Riza Hontiveros-Baraquel--official candidate of the Liberal Party
11. Jinggoy Estrada
12. Juan Ponce-Enrile

This March, the YOU will announce something very similar to what the Samahang Magdalo did a few days back.

From Red to Orange: A Commentary on Magdalo's Endorsement of Manny Villar

Former soldier and now leader of the Samahang Magdalo Ashley Ascedillo publicly announced the support of his group to Senator Manny Villar, presidential bet of the Nacionalista. Ascedillo tried to rationalize the public announcement by saying that the organization underwent a selection process where 55,000 of their members nationwide voted who among the aspirants deserve their support. Ascedillo said it was a close fight between Villar and Liberal party standard bearer Noynoy Aquino, although Ascedillo failed to say how close the fight between these two stragglers was.

For the vice presidency, Magdalo chose Liberal party standard bearer Mar Roxas, leaving reserve officer Loren Legarda in a lurch. Legarda was with former president Cory Aquino during the Marine standoff in 2006. And Col. Ariel Querubin is right when he says that Legarda deserves the support more than Roxas. What I believe, however, to be entirely true is this--Roxas worked behind-the-scenes and did not publicly announced his support for the rebel's cause.

Those whom the Magdalo chose to support for the Senate are the following:

1. Colonel Ariel Querubin (NP)----brave soldier. Hero. Deserves to continue his fight to the Senate.
2. Senator Pia Cayetano (NP)----huh? why?
3. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada (PMP-UNO)---he deserves support since he provided not just morale-boastings but also logistical requirements.
4. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.(NP/KBL)---for his intelligence and his love of country, I say yes.
5. Susan "Toots" Ople---(NP) did I say more?This lady is a bundle of energy, of commitment and of sincerity. Ople deserves a crack at the Senate for being there when you need her and for really fighting for the rights of the Overseas Filipino Workers.
6. Representative Gilbert Remulla (NP)---huh? why? a result of political accommodation?
7. Atty. Adel Tamano (NP)---yes. He deserves some support.
8. Brigadier General Danilo Lim (LP)---hero. an inspiration. a brave person with a clean heart.
9. Representative Ruffy Biazon (LP)--yep. deserves support.
10. Former senator Tito Sotto (NPC)--yep. deserves support.
11. Atty. JV Bautista (PLM)---yep, deserves support.
12. Joey De Venecia III.(PMP-UNO)---of course. the whistleblower's fight must continue in the halls of the Senate.

Curiously, why was Atty. ALEX LACSON'S name not in the Magdalo roster? I wonder why....

Masidlak Class of 2010--the brightest PMA class since the 1990s

One of the things that always remind us of democracy at work in the Philippines is the Philippine Military Academy's annual graduation rites. Every year, we hear of inspiring stories coming from its graduates, mostly coming from poor families who wanted to improve their lives by enrolling in the academy. This year's graduate is one such success.

Erano Belen from Dumaguete is a son of a tricycle driver. Before coming to the PMA, Belen struggled very hard to live. He recounted how he and his family eat rice with salt just to live the day. A member of the Iglesia Ni Kristo, Belen vowed to uplift his family from poverty and one way to do it is thru the PMA.

This year's batch also includes many graduates who were raised under extremely difficult circumstances. One of the class' "Starmen", meaning graduates who had attained "cum laude" status, failed to finish medical school and decided to enrol in the academy. Others were sons and daughters of poor folks in Region 1 and the CAR.

PMA superintendent Vice Admiral Leo Calderon praised the class for being exemplary in their conduct and in their academics. This is the best class there is in this generation, says Calderon.

The question is--will this class serve the Country well by really fighting to protect the rights of the people? Will they really serve the People or will they just be pawns and knights of the elite?

Political blogging and the Art of the Critique

I attended a very interesting focus group discussion yesterday, which dealt with political blogging. Plogging, as a writing project of people interested in politics, is a new persuasion now by Pinoy bloggers since, as what one participant says, its the season to write about anything “political”. In the blogosphere right now, I think over a hundred posts are being written and posted on politics and personalities weeks prior to the start of the campaign. Many of these posts were written austensibly either by paid writers or by self-proclaimed political writers, many of whom never wrote anything other than personal angsts or rants against the system before they went “political”.

The increase in the number of posts in politics is expected since every candidate wants to emulate what Barack Obama did in his presidential campaign in 2009. People had this mis-interpretation of saving up propaganda money by going electronic. Using the web as a medium is cost-efficient, yes, but, until now, there is no evidence whatsoever that the Internet has indeed, caused a major effect in voter’s choices.

Claims exist in the United States, where everybody is wired in some way or form. Campaigners there claim that the Internet has caused substantive effects on democracy. The Obama campaign, they say, is one such proof that New Media can be used to campaign for the victory of a candidate.

In the Philippines, no such proof exists though that is about 23 million Pinoys out there who go online more than a hour a day. Out of this number, about 9 million Pinoys use the internet more than eight hours every single day, making the country one of the top Internet users in the region, a far fifth behind China, Korea, Japan and India.

Nine million online Pinoys, for a candidate, is a huge lot which could make or break a candidacy–theoretically. The problem however, is not the medium–it is how to use it to effectively cause a dent or even a bump in the candidate’s ratings that’s the primordial concern.

One such problem is the use of the Internet not as a source of critique or informed analysis but as a gaming platform or an information resource. Gaming is the top reason why most Pinoys go online and you know now why there are 23 million who do so every single day. There is still no concrete demographics of the online Pinoy, although respected blogger Janette Toralba had hers some years ago.

We can presume however, that most, if not about 80 percent of online Pinoy users are below the voting age, making the use of the Internet as a campaign medium a worthless and useless exercise. Worst, there is no study whatsoever which even indicates that people are influenced by political posts in their choice of political candidate. If, however, a candidate is able to penetrate the gaming community and infuse political messages in those addictive games can we safely say that, indeed, political blogging is effective as a campaign medium.

I think the effects of political blogging lies not in its ability to influence individual decisions or actions but rather on its unique effects on collective consciousness. I had numerous posts which were used by mainstream media as a source of their news. I had many political pieces which directly affected decisions by major political personalities and had some which were directly answered by the administration itself.

By directly affecting discourse can we safely and indeed conclude that political blogging does cause substantive ripples in the Philippine political pond, more effective than television or radio advertisements. Discourse is viral and when people talk about your posts or your political pieces, you then cause a very unique process which will eventually benefit the candidate. The measure therefore of a political post’s efficacy is not the number of visits nor the number of threads that the post generated–it is its persuasive power that political blogging is actually causing within the public sphere. It is the content and the persuasive effects of the posts that are very crucial components  if a candidate indeed uses this as one way to campaign.

Therefore, plogging is all about persuasion and the use of the Art of the Critique. It is the skill acquired through years of study and the talent to spun analysis from it.

Failure of automated polls puts Philippine democracy in total jeopardy

A few months ago, it was ZTE-NBN whistleblower Joey de Venecia III who first cautioned the public on the automated elections. De Venecia III said that the public should maintain vigilance and always be on the alert against certain attempts by individuals to subvert the public will and make havoc the first automated polls in this country's history.

Now, Joey's cautions are being recognized not just by a few, but most of the Filipinos who desire change thru the democratic exercise of suffrage. De Venecia III, the Father of Information Technology (IT) and of the application of newer technologies in the BPO industry, knows what he is talking about. Operating an automated system in about 350,000 areas is no joke. It requires extensive study and management. That's why the plan of Comelec to employ 45,000 IT technicians at the onset, is, says Joey, a near impossibility.

With the elections only a few weeks from now, Joey De Venecia III and most of civil society (including this side) are still doubtful if really, the Comelec has the wherewithal to really implement full automation. Problems in energy, power and physical sabotage hound the poll body, not to mention fears of hacking and software attacks. These are things are expected to affect the outcome of the elections. The specter of a non-proclamation of winners vying in the national posts is as real as the sun sets in the West.

A non-proclamation of winners puts the entire democratic process in jeopardy since this will be the first time in the country's history where almost all posts will become vacant by May 10, 2010. Come May, the only Constituted body which will remain in operation will be the armed forces. All civilian posts will be up for grabs and for Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile, this is entirely problematic.

Who will exercise civilian authority when every posts are open? Enrile posits that, should a no-proclamation scenario appears, the armed component of the State should constitute itself into a transitory government and elect an interim civilian leader. That is like a coup.

I am even thinking that if the penultimate result of all these will all lead to an establishment of a Council of State composed of civilians and military chiefs, then, why waste 14 billion for the electikons?

A Poem for you, my beloved

Hey, I'm going to La Union early tomorrow. And since this is a long weekend, my friends, pardon me for writing a poem just for all of you. I love you. I love those who love my Motherland. I love those who want and seek change in my Homeland.

For all of you (I'm like, wow, making an intro before singing), a poem:

"Inang Bayan"

Come near, my beloved
and I'll show you my Reality.
Come close, closer my love
and I'll show you my Misery.

My Mother is no more.
She was born out of poverty
and died due to misery.
She did not raise me
but, she was my mother.

those white figures which you see
these are my brothers who sacrificed
their lives for my Mother
they hover here and there
trying to make sense
of the darkness that I live,
trying to help those who
gnash their teeth
trying to feed those who
shiver in the cold of the night
trying, making, sense of everything
in this blight of an Age.

Come close my beloved and I hope you see
this raging fire within me
there's a hole in my heart
a hole with a blue ember of light
my Mother put that fire in me
and I am sharing it with you
so that you may know
what it is to be an orphan.

Come closer and be one with me
create something new out of this misery
put out your hand and try to get
something out of my fury

share that light to everyone
make them see our reality
make them feel all that misery
and turn that into victory.

The Tipping Point

Okey, we have 50 million registered voters of which, only between 80-85% will be able to cast their votes. Analyze your Comelec data and you'll arrive at a figure closer to 40 million voters, plus or minus two, who will actually cast their votes. (10 million obviously, will not be able to vote. So there.)

So, if you expect 40 million to vote, how many of these votes will actually be counted in favor of the candidate? With a plus or minus two, assume that only around 38 million votes will be counted, either manually or electronically.

Meaning, there is an expected 2 million or so votes wasted, either due to ballots being considered "spoiled" due to human error or simply wasted due to human sabotage.

Now, if 40 million votes, that would mean they'll vote in about 250,000 clustered precincts each having 2,000 registered voters each. Picture the physical arrangement of every precinct. One precinct can actually house only 30 or 40 or so seats (one classroom=one precinct). Make that 50 seats, give the Principal the benefit of the doubt that she can actually arrange the room to accommodate 50 seats.

So, in one batch, you have 50 voters lumped in one classroom, voting. Divide 2,000 by 50 and you have 40 batches, all in one precinct. How many minutes will it take for a voter to complete the almost 2 feet long ballot? 8 minutes.

So, if humans are robots and everything goes well, 40 batches will take only 320 minutes which is about 5.2 hours. If the precinct opens at exactly 7 in the morning, expect the entire process to complete by 12pm. Now, give each voter at least 15 minutes each (finding his name, going to the election officer to get his ballot, sitting, thinking whose name to shade and so on and so forth), it would take well over 10 hours to finish the voting. So, the entire thing would probably complete at well, 5pm, just an hour early than what the Comelec expects.

And we know for a fact that not all precincts open AT EXACTLY 7AM. If a precinct loses just ONE HOUR, meaning it opens at 8AM, chances are that 200 voters will surely get disfranchised. For every hour lost, 200 voters get the boot.

Picture that happening in 1,000 precincts nationwide and you have 200,000 disfranchised and extremely angry voters.

Picture that happening in one city, and you have a very irate citizenry. Replicate that in one province,and you have a hot spot. Do that in Mindanao, and you have a situation going.

This is a tipping point which, if you look at it, do not even consider election violence or physical sabotage or jamming of counting machines or what-have-you.

It simply showed how disfranchisement can cause a lot of ruckus and probably lead to a revolt.

That is just casting of votes. Wait if you hear about the COUNTING OF VOTES.

Since the entire voting will end at 6pm, and that's nearly dark in some places, many things might happen, one of them, physical sabotage.

Many classrooms in our country are not so well lighted. Many cheaters collude with teachers during elections and jammers as small as a car key can very well, sabotage the counting. According to Comelec rules, if the machine fails to transmit the data, then, the teachers are expected to resort to manual counting of the ballots.

So, very simple. Even in areas with automated elections, chances are, excuses will be made to justify manual counting. Will that affect tallies in national posts? Yes. Will it affect tallies in local posts? Surely no. Local candidates will not allow that to happen. Yet, expect that also to happen since the names of local candidates are in the bottom rung of the 2-feet ballot.

If a precinct chooses to manually count, that will take at least two days for a minimum sized area and at least four days for those counting in the provincial level. That will surely frustrate people and will increase tensions.

Imagine where counting takes 5 days and nationally televised poll counts such as the PPRCRV, NAMFREL and quick counts of television networks show a national candidate, say Villar, leading. Five days are a lot to cook up something. Quick counts are not official counts, but traditionally, they influence politics more than anything else.

What if, example, these quick counts show varying figures, what then? How will the Comelec resolve that if only a few, say 30% of areas successfully counted the votes electronically while the rest of the 70% resort to manual? That is surely, an expected delay in the entire poll process.

A 30% automated count will not be substantial in a two or three-way fight, especially in the presidential polls. And this is not un-likely to happen. Fact is, many people expect this to happen.

That is the tipping point.

As I wrote some weeks ago, the winner in the May 10, 2010 elections will be the one who will stand up and seize the initiative. The winner will not win by count. No. He will win by default.

Noynoy Aquino and Joey de Venecia III supporters being harassed in Mandaluyong

The Commission on Elections should clarify and make certain common poster areas in cities, especially in Mandaluyong. And Comelec officials should ensure the safety of political opponents of the Abalos' and Gonzales' families. I personally witnessed how the dominant political hegemon in Mandaluyong is denying their political opponents, both national and local, access to these common poster areas.

Last night, while doing my midnight rounds in urban poor communities, I and my group of grassroots organizers were harassed by member of the barangays and the Mayors Action Center (MAC) of Mandaluyong mayor Benhur Abalos. When I was still a journalist, Benhur was a good friend. I even supped dinner with him, when he was still being groomed by his father as a successor to him. Now, I myself, fell victim to the rapaciousness and the almost dictatorial-like behavior of his men.

Unfortunate since I know Benhur to be a good man. And he, definitely, will not tolerate these kinds of behavior.

It seemed though that politics have indeed changed the man.

I learned from barangay officials in Mandaluyong that the Abaloses' gave explicit instructions to deny postering of known political enemies of the family in the city. The COMELEC designated common poster areas in all other cities. I observed, however, that in Mandaluyong, there were no designated common poster areas. If there were, then, these are BANNED from being used by political opponents of the two dominant political clans in the city---the Abaloses and the Gonzaleses.

Fact is, the long stretch of Martinez avenue is banned from Noynoy Aquino and JDV3 posters. JDV3 Movement supporters were warned not to place JDV3 posters in these areas, even in public markets and residences because Joey de Venecia III, according to some barangay officials, is a known political enemy of former mayor Benjamin Abalos sr.

When a Noynoy supporter reportedly posted a tarp of the Liberal party bet infront of his house, which happened to be along Martinez avenue, people wearing vests and with firearms reportedly cased the house and took some photos. After a few days, the house was ordered torn down for allegedly being an "obstruction."

Urban poor residences along the avenue are being constantly warned of dire consequences should they disobey the wishes of the Abaloses. Fact is, suspicions arose that the fire which ate up most of Welfareville was a "warning" to those who were planning to oppose the Ampatuan-like political clans in Mandaluyong. Previous to the big fire, peoples of Welfareville were planning to oppose the Abaloses and were, in fact, supportive of the Domingos who are traditional political opponents of the Abaloses.

Similar instances were also noted when some residents of Parola installed tarps of Noynoy Aquino and plastic posters of Joey de Venecia III. These posters were placed in areas legally allowed by the Comelec. However, some barangay officials reportedly visited these residents and asked them to tore down these posters otherwise " there'll be consequences."

Urban poor supporters of Noynoy Aquino and Joey de Venecia III were reportedly being harassed constantly by barangay officials in Mandaluyong. Supporters of the Domingos and the De Guzmans who are planning to contest the mayoral posts being held by Benhur Abalos are also being asked not to take part in the polls for pain of "harassment or death."

The Comelec and the military should put Mandaluyong in their hotspot list. My colleagues in the Media and civil society should not look far--here in the heart of Metro Manila lives a very dangerous political clan out to terrorize and deprive the people their voices and subvert their wills.

They have been doing this for the past twenty years and the peoples of Mandaluyong are sick and tired of them. Civil society should struggle against this political clan and people must militate against the Abaloses.

What is most comforting is this---one of the Noynoy and JDV3 supporter told me that no amount of coercive or terroristic tactics will ever deny them their right and their will to vote for New Politics in their city.

Joey de Venecia III represents New Politics, as well as Noynoy. The People's will will be followed. And Justice will reign in Mandaluyong if the people unite and civil society help them.

Let the New Patriots of the New Generation train their guns, err, sight on the Abaloses.

Tyranny in Mandaluyong: Abalos-Gonzales clans acting as Ampatuans

Residents of Mandaluyong are fed up with the tyrannical rule being imposed upon them by two political families--the Gonzales' and Abalos' families. Since the 1980s, these families have lorded it over the political landscape--not thru purely democratic means but thru the employment of terrorism.

I experienced it personally last night when I did some grassroots organizing work in the area, especially in Barangay Daang Bakal and Addition Hills. These two populous barangays are full of Estrada supporters and mostly PMP-UNO supporters.

I, together with 12 people, were harrangued and utterly harassed by close associates of Abalos for having Joey de Venecia III posters in our cars. Likewise, when we were asking common poster areas where we could put JDV3 posters, we were denied access and constantly watched by mobile patrols and harassed repeatedly by the Mayor's Action Center or MAC.

Remember that it was Joey who exposed the bribery attempt by Abalos in relation to the ZTE-NBN deal.

A few weeks ago, the son of former vice mayor Bibot Domingo was charged with drug possession. It was a few days after Domingo declared that he will contest the mayoral post being held by Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr., son and name sake of controversial ZTE-NBN conspirator former COMELEC chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr.

Reportedly, unknown people cased the residence of Domingo and after a few days, an arrest was made against the prospective candidate.

Another candidate, a certain De Guzman, wants to contest the post being held by Abalos. He is now under surveillance.

Seems like we actually have a very delicate situation here, and a very Maguindanao-an-like political situation at the very heart of the metropolis.

People of Mandaluyong according to some organizers I worked with, are fed up by the lackluster administration of the Abaloses and the Gonzaleses. They are fooling the intelligence of the masses. The political situation in Mandaluyong could be likened to a case of revolving chair--when the incumbent mayor finishes his term, a member of the allied political clan replaces him. If it's not the father, then, its the son. If not the son, the grandson and so on and so forth.

People of Mandaluyong are yearning for new faces. It is time to give them what their hearts' desire.

I appeal to the Comelec as well as the police and the military to take stock of what is happening in Mandaluyong and protect the people.

BREAKING NEWS! JOSEPH ERAP ESTRADA SURGES AHEAD OF THE RATINGS GAME: AHEAD OF NOYNOY AQUINO

THIS WILL SURELY BREAK THE HEARTS AND EVEN CAUSE ALARM BELLS TO RING.

A HIGHLY CREDIBLE AND CONFIDENTIAL SURVEY CONDUCTED IN THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY 2010 SHOWED FORMER PRESIDENT JOSEPH "ERAP" ESTRADA GARNERING 38%, TEN (10) POINTS AHEAD OF LIBERAL PARTY STANDARD BEARER NOYNOY AQUINO, 27.8%

THE SURVEY, COMMISSIONED BY NO LESS THAN SEVERAL BUSINESSMEN NOT RELATED TO PMP-UNO, NOR TO THE LIBERAL OR NACIONALISTA PARTY, HAD A 2,500 RESPONDENTS BASE WITH A PLUS OR MINUS 2 PERCENT ERROR.

I AM STILL NOT AT LIBERTY TO DIVULGE THE ENTIRE SURVEY SINCE THIS WILL COMPROMISE MY SOURCE, BUT LET ME TELL YOU FOLKS--THIS IS NOT PROPAGANDA. I AM NOT AN ERAP SUPPORTER NOR AM I ALIGNED WITH ANY POLITICAL PARTY.

THE SURVEY IS VERY, VERY, VERY CREDIBLE.

RESULTS OF THE FEBRUARY 2-12, 2010 SURVEY SHOWS THE FOLLOWING:

JOSEPH ERAP ESTRADA------38%
NOYNOY AQUINO--------------27.8%
MANNY VILLAR----------------26.2%
GILBERT GIBO TEODORO---5%
EDDIE VILLANUEVA---------2%
RICHARD GORDON----------0.6%
JC DELOS REYES-------------0.2%
JAMBY MADRIGAL-----------0.1
NICANOR PERLAS------------0.1%

RESULTS FOR THE VICE-PRESIDENTIAL:

MAR ROXAS--------------------54%
JEJOMAR BINAY---------------23%
LOREN LEGARDA--------------13
EDU MANZANO-----------------7%
PERFECTO YASAY--------------2.1%
JAY SONZA-----------------------0.9%

RESULTS FROM THE SENATORIAL:

1. JINGGOY ESTRADA---------57%
2. BONG REVILLA--------------46%
3. JOEY DE VENECIA III------43%
4. JUAN PONCE-ENRILE-----42%
5. BONGBONG MARCOS-----36%
6. MIRIAM DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO---33%
7. DANNY LIM-----------------28%
8. ARIEL QUERUBIN---------22%
9. PIA CAYETANO-------------19%
10. ALEX LACSON-------------19%
11. LITO LAPID-----------------17%
12. RALPH RECTO-------------17%

Where is Truth in Advertising in political ads?

Some of the things people are talking about in slums which I visited on TV ads and slogans by politicians

On Noynoy Aquino's " Hindi Ako Magnanakaw" promise:

" Hindi nga siya magnanakaw pero pano ang mga Kamaganak Incorporated? Hindi rin ba sila magnanakaw?"

On Manny Villar's "Naging Mahirap" ad:

" Hindi na siya mahirap pero sa bilyong bilyong pisong ginagasta niya sa kampanya, siguradong pag presidente na siya, TAYO na ang maghihirap."

On Gibo Teodoro's Galing at Talino ad especially that one where he is a pilot:

" Ngayon pa lang, gusto na nyang mag-travel kung saan-saan. At san yung galing? Yung galing na lumikha ng isang warlord sa Maguindanao? At yung talinong hayaang magnakaw ang mga kapanalig niya sa gobyerno?"

On Dick Gordon's Transformer ad:

" Buladas lang. Galing magsalita para itago ang nakaw sa bayan."

On Joseph Erap Estrada's ad:

" Sabi nya tahimik daw sa Mindanao nung panahon nya. Anong tahimik? Dalawang giyera ang inilunsad niya nung panahon nya. Saan ang tahimik dun? Gusto ni Erap, gerahin ang mga Bangsamoro at alagaan lang ang mga tradisyunal na Muslim leaders sa Mindanao."

:-). Truth in advertising should apply to political ads.

2 billion spent on ads and what it means to us, Pinoy voters

A billion pesos were thrown in the air--literally--by candidates who aspire the presidency. And by the way, this Jay, only documented those placed from November to January 2010.

And you got it right, the biggest spender happened to be Nacionalista party presidential candidate Manuel Villar.

Villar promised to rid us out of poverty and he did, almost literally, by spending close to a billion pesos and literally, yes, literally, throwing those billions in the air. Picture Villar throwing those billions in a fiesta, in a Pabitin, standing in the middle blindfolded, while holding a stick and bashing a palayok, with all those television executives smiling and laughing with all those cash around.

Yes, 500 million pesos would have fed close to 4 million families in a month. It would have created thousands of jobs for impoverished fathers. It would have constructed hundreds of farm-to-market roads. And it would have hired thousands of jobless new graduates.

Yet, Villar chose to make ABS-CBN and GMA 7 executives wealthier than ever. That shows you the kind of "anti-poverty" program Villar and all other presidentiables will make when one of them makes it to the presidency.

Worst, PCIJ said TV ad spending reached 2.1 billion pesos, equivalent to the annual budget of the National Anti-Poverty Commission or even more. That would have created hundreds of low-cost houses, jobs and literally thousands of small and medium sized enterprises.

Yet no. These candidates want those billions thrown in the air like Mickey Mouse bills.

That shows you, that in the end of all these boastings, of promises of getting us out of the poverty rut, of sheer bravura of ending corruption, these candidates show their real colors this early in the game. Just by this very act of placing ads, you already found candidates tolerating corruption, you already got their real thinking on how to get rid of poverty by spending money and making the rich wealthier than ever and abandoning the poor and you even got their real take on Philippine reality--making an extreme effort of communicating with those who are not poor and can even spend time watching television.

General Lim to AFP: Respect the Rights of Morong 43

“Follow Gen. Lim’s example. Be real officers and gentlemen.”

This was the challenge issued by Belle Enriquez, Official Spokesperson of detained Brigadier General to the Armed Forces of the Philippines concerning the detention of 43 health workers suspected by the military of being members of the New People’s Army (NPA).


In a statement, Enriquez said the captors of the detained health workers should respect the rule of law.


“Whether they are combatants or civilians, is a non-issue. Due rights and privileges as provided and guaranteed by the law must be accorded to them. There must be no double standards,” Enriquez said.


Enriquez said the bemedalled soldier who is also gunning for a senatorial seat in the upcoming national elections is known for tirelessly advocating inside the military establishment the faithful adherence of its members to the rule of law as well strict obedience to the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ “Rules of Engagement.”


Enriquez said Lim exemplified this best last July 28, 2001, when his 42 Infantry Battalion stationed during that time in Ragay, Camarines Sur captured Mathias Rafael Padilla Din, an NPA member.


It was reported that as a prisoner under Lim, who was colonel during that time, Din was never maltreated nor abused. It was said that Lim contacted Din’s parents and was even brought to a nearby district hospital because of suspicion that the captive had typhoid or malaria.


Enriquez also said that inside the camp, Din ate three meals a day on the same table with Lim and was even fetched water for his personal hygiene use.


“I am telling this story not to accentuate that the detained health workers are NPA combatants. Rather, this story is being told to highlight the need for the AFP to follow its mandate, to be professional, if it wants to earn the respect and trust of the people,” Enriquez stressed.


“More than being simple military men holding guns, the AFP leadership down to the rank-and-file must become genuine officers and gentlemen of the people. If they are sincere in shedding their image of berdugos and human rights violators, I call on their highest sense to replicate Gen. Lim’s ideals and graciousness,” Enriquez concluded.

Breaking News! Comelec mulling on selective automation

I had a chance to talk with various sources yesterday on the May 10 elections. And it seems likely that we will have a manual instead of an automated elections. And the manual count is being planned curiously and quite strangely, in Mindanao.

Why in Mindanao? No body knows for sure why there when the region was known as a traditional election hot spot and source of widespread fraud. Think of Garci and you'll remember Mindanao. 

A group of lawyers (Lente) and the IBP chapters throughout the Philippines are apprehensive about the automation, calling it a "very dangerous experiment". Lawyers worry on the expected huge number of disfranchised voters that this will create, given that it will take 22 hours for all voters to finish casting their votes while the law only allows half of the time. (Voting is only from 7am to 6pm--or about 11 hours).

The limited time already puts the entire process in jeopardy because of the huge number of voters per clustered precincts. If you have 50 million voters clustered in 50,000 precincts and every one votes, it will take 22 hours for every one to finish the casting of votes. The inevitability of a massive disfranchisement of voters will surely cast doubt on the entire poll process.

And granting, for the sake of argument, that everything is finished by 11 hours, you still have a huge problem---counting the ballots will be done in the evening which opens the possibility of physical sabotage. There are already groups out there who are thinking of destroying these optical machines to force manual counting.

Worst, both PLDT and Globe Telecommunications already indicated their unwillingness to provide Comelec and Smartmatic-TIM of digital data centers, fearing of sabotage. Seems that these two telecommunications firms will not risk their own multi-billion peso facilities for the elections. 

That's why, there's a bigger possibility now that the Commission on Elections will announce selective automation instead of full automation. The question is---will this change the contractual obligations of SMARTMATIC-TIM? 

Talks are rife that the Comelec will only do automated elections in Metro Manila, Metropolitan Cebu, Metro Davao, some key cities in Ilocos region and some in Northern and Southern Luzon. Mindanao will have manual counting of votes. 

It should be, given that the requirements are changing. Comelec already paid two billion pesos to Smartmatic-TIM. And given that it is still unable to deliver the rest of the counting machines even up to this time, government should re-visit its Contract and invite Smartmatic-TIM to sit at the negotiating table again and reduce the financial considerations of this contract.

In the end, the penultimate loser in all of these is still the Filipino People who pays billions for a project that the proponents planned to fail. 

National Spirit, not poverty nor corruption, is core election issue

Let me disabuse your minds a little bit and let me propound one question–what is really the core issue in this elections? Is it the eradication of graft and corruption, as what Noynoy Aquino is saying, or the prioritization of anti-poverty programs, like what Manny Villar is indicating in his ads. Some people blame poverty for the corruption while others see corruption as the leading cause of poverty. Yet, this is far from being the chicken and the egg debate.

Poverty and corruption are both real and states of one’s mind. If you’re poor, you feel it. If you’re corrupt, or somebody is, you sense it. Both concepts are states of mind. You might have a few bucks in your pocket and say you’re poorer than the other guy beside you. You might have seen somebody holding a fist-full of cash and want them for your own. Or, you’re a government employee receiving tax payments and desired in your heart to get it to pay the tuition fee of your kid.

Villar is probably correct when he sees poverty as a leading cause of corruption, yet, he is probably wrong when he concludes that it is the only cause of the nation’s misery. It is noteworthy to eradicate the reality of poverty but that will not be the end of it. If people continue to be misery in their ethical or moral behavior, then, poverty will never be eradicated.

Aquino stands firm that graft and corruption leads to poverty and he cited numerous figures to support his claim. Yet, even though he successfully ends corruption in government, poverty as both real and a state of mind will continue to exist because Aquino presents no concrete program to end it.

I think what lies and probably, THE most important issue in this elections is the fortitude of the Nation’s spirit. Poverty and corruption are emanations of a weakening and sickly National Spirit. They are like boils that appear in our Nation’s Id. The most important issue is how to actually strengthen the National Spirit so that people will not feel poor and they will not see the need to do corruptive acts. If Filipinos have high morale, then, they will not feel hopeless and feel poor. If people have emotional attachments or linkages with their government and trust their government enough, they will not commit grave acts of corruption and promote graft.

Like what I wrote in http://pinoyobserver.com, the next six years will be about re-construction and democratization of damaged institutions. It will not be about eradicating poverty nor completely cleansing the bureaucracy of graft and corruption.

The next President will have his hands full, modernizing our old and decrepit democratic institutions and re-imagining how government works more efficiently and more effectively in servicing the people. Without, however, a re-strengthening of the martial Spirit of the Nation, these efforts will all be put to naught because people will still feel hopeless and poor and corrupt.

The next six years should be about re-instilling pure Filipino nationalism and strengthening the very institutions to reflect the National Spirit. There should only be one message and that is, unity under a democratic regime peopled by individuals who believe that change can happen and it will happen. Whoever has the wherewithal to exercise leadership will be the one respected by the People and admired to lead this country out of chaos and national disaster.

The Neo-Red Menace Campaign of the AFP

Is there a silent Commie persecution going on right now? It seems like it. So, if you're a Communist sympathizer or you're just a plain and simple admirer of Karl Marx or Vladimir Lenin or someone heard you speak of the analects of Mao Tse Tung, you better watch your back. For there could be an agent behind your back, ready to pounce on you.

Are we back in the Cold war era where the mere mention of Socialism or Communism is a crime? Are we really back in that age when someone shouts "imperialism!" or " Mabuhay CPP-NPA-NDF!", he'll be hauled to jail immediately?

Blame General Dominquez book, " The Trinity of War" which is on its third edition. This almost Nazi-like book is to be blamed for the renewed paranoia of the military against anything red. This book spells out the new doctrine of the Armed Forces of the Philippines when treating Communism or its branches. The book actually encourages the destruction of legal and legitimate organizations which at least believes in the National Democratic agenda of the CPP-NPA-NDF, albeit, not openly declared. 

For all I know, the Anti-Subversion Law has been effectively repealed. Communism was considered de-criminalized in 1994, and whoever believes in Communism has the right to freely expressed it, however others hate it. Believing in something is an inherent and inviolable right. And being a Communist is one of them.

When a State authorizes the use of military or State power against those who merely believe in an ideology, it acts as a dictator or an authoritarian. And when a government transforms itself into a dictatorial or an authoritarian regime, it is the right of Peoples to militate against it. This is even recognized by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the People.



As far as I know, even if you're a card-carrying member of the Communist Party of the Philippines, you'll not be arrested because it is not a crime anymore to be a member of the CPP-NPA-NDF or any other political party. 

It is a crime however, if you're a combatant or an armed member of the New People's Army. That's another story. 


Bearing arms against the government and declaring that you believe in the protracted people's war and you live in the mountains and subsist only with potatoes or camotes, of course, that will clearly put your life at extreme risk. There are two (2) things you must know: believing in something and acting on it.


If you believe in something and acted based on it, meaning, you actually rebelled, got your firearm and declared rebellion against the State, you are now, a declared enemy of the State. The State has the right to exercise its right for self-preservation. The State will kill you. The State has the right to arrest you, detain you and present you in court with charges of rebellion. If the civilian courts deemed you guilty, then, be ready to face the consequences of your actions.


Yet, if you just espouse Communism and you just propagandize, then, that is a right enshrined in the Constitution and you will not be arrested. 


In the case of the Morong 43, their arrests shows you the effects of a misunderstanding or a mis-appreciation or worst, a mis-interpretation of current reality. If you're a health worker and you believe in the National Democratic ideal, you are okey provided you don't mingle with the Communist rebels. If you don't live with the rebels, and just help the poor folks, then, you are not a combatant; hence, safe from prosecution.


Our soldiers should know the distinction. It should be very clear with them. 


Otherwise, people might suspect that, in their desperation to defeat their enemy, they'll commit the same mistakes as what they did during the Marcos years.

Paranoid AFP 2nd Division must free Morong 43 Now!

They are supposed to be the protectors of the Filipino People. Yet, the way the 2nd Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) acted in response to the order of the Courts for them to release the Morong 43 shows a clear contempt to the rule of Law and of the Constitution which the AFP has sworn to defend and protect. As what former Defense chief Gilbert Teodoro said, the AFP's failure to produce the Morong 43 is "inexcusable."

What are they trying to prove?

The behavior exhibited by the 2nd Division is mutinous to say the least. They have been given an order by a highly competent civilian authority and further given orders from the AFP Chief of Staff himself, General Victor Ibrado to "respect the authority of the court". Why is there a failure to obey the order of the C-S himself?

Is the 2nd Division higher than the Chief of Staff? Is this division of the Army directly contravening the very authority of the Highest Officer of the organization? And is the Army saying or telling us that the C-S is just a lame duck officer, just waiting for his replacement?

The overzealousness of the 2nd division to "produce results" in the promise to "eradicate the CPP-NPA terror organization in 2010" shows you how they will even resort to violating human rights just to bolster their record in the anti-insurgency department. The AFP just gave itself a task, a task which is quite impossible to achieve, yet given after being forced by the Arroyo administration, and that promise is, the total diminution of the CPP-NPA-NDF by year's end.

That's why the officers on the ground are getting extremely paranoid, arresting even health workers in Morong Rizal. These health workers, government employees at that, were attending a seminar when they were arrested. The 2nd division said these workers were Communist sympathizers. 

Whether or not these arrested health workers do sympathize with the Communist ideology, fact is, these arresting officers do not have the right to arrest them.

Firstly, attending a supposed "CPP-NPA_NDF" seminar is NOT A CRIME. It is everybody's right to believe in something, and Communism has been de-criminalized. That is presuming that these health workers did attend such a seminar. Reports say, these workers were conducting a health-related seminar.

Secondly, even if, granting they are sympathizers, this is an inviolable human right. As I said, the 1987 Constitution respects the rights of the individual to free expression. Like how AFP members have the right to join organizations such as the Guardians, Masons and the YOU, these health workers have rights too. 

Thirdly, the AFP only has the right to arrest these workers if they saw them brandishing weapons and declaring or publicly announcing rebellion against the State. Facts are, these health workers did not do anything rebellious nor seditious. They were just doing their jobs when they were arrested by the AFP soldiers.

The means does not justify the ends. And in all likelihood, even the determination of the "ends", there was confusion on the part of the soldiers. And really, I don't blame them.

Imagine being given an "impossible order" to wipe out the Communists before the end of this year? Who will not be crazy enough to arrest everybody just to say that they did, indeed, eradicated the Reds in Rizal?

 

Nine years without God under the Arroyo regime

There are three pockets of lights glowing amidst the enveloping darkness. We have the struggle of the peoples of Isabela, headed by ousted Isabela governor Grace Padaca. We have the very political struggle being waged by supporters of Jon-Jon Mendoza against groups led by former governor Roberto Pagdanganan. And now, supporters of priest-turned Governor Ed Panlilio have now lighted their candles and donned black shirts to show their rage against a pretty controversial Comelec decision declaring presidential ass-licker Lilia "Nanay Baby" Pineda winner by a breath in the last 2007 gubernatorial race in Pampanga.

And this forebodes ill for those who seek the destruction of democracy and the perpetuation of an evil regime.

Ed Panlilio says only 100 votes had "Nanay Baby" yet when Comelec re-counted the votes, it magically turned into 2,000 votes, as if the Name was uttered inside a cave and sounded like hundreds of ripples being repeated over and over.

Panlilio says that the Arroyo regime has just re-constructed a "miracle". Father, do not be surprised. In these times, miracles are just figments of someone's wild imagination. The hallmark of this evil regime is simply create something out of nothing and re-create those whom God willed. As the Bible says, the devil has his powers.

The message is loud and clear--in this age, there are no miracles, Father, only human creation. The miracle of People Power has been supplanted by the Will of a Few, a few who serve the Mammon instead of God. We live in a God-less age, all the more emphasized by Strength of Force rather than of Love and Reason.

Let me describe the age we are all in--it is Nine years without God (a take from Nora Aunor's 70's movie, "Tatlong Taong Walang Dios").

Do not despair, Father and my fellow Filipinos. For as the days and weeks pass, the forces of Darkness are slowly being defeated by the Forces of Light and Reason. A clear distinction is being made, and those who love darkness should stay in that devilish realm and those who love Light should seek the Truth.

The Truth, as predicted by God, will always prevail.

Let no man boasts---the forces of Light will always triumph against the forces of evil. It has been uttered many centuries ago and it is true in all ages.

Those who seek the destruction of this country for their own personal desires and longed for the perpetuation of an evil so foul, will have their day before the People's Tribunal.

If this election become violent and it fails to reflect the Will of the People, then, let the People rise up in righteous Anger, knowing that victory will surely be in the hands of the People, eventually.

Let the Light so shine upon you, lovers of democracy and your sacrifice will not be in vain.

For the New Patriots of the New Generation, the members of the Young Officers Union (YOU) and thousands who believe in the struggle of the Young Organizers' Union (YOU) will always be with the People, come hell or high water.

WE ARE READY TO PROTECT THE FILIPINO PEOPLE.

MABUHAY!

MABUHAY ANG YOU!
MABUHAY ANG SAMBAYANANG PILIPINO!

Capt. Carlos Maglalang
Founder YOU

Patricio Mangubat,
Secretary-General YOU

No Love lost for our Leaders

In the latest Pulse Asia survey "Most Loved Filipino Political Leader" conducted last January, a whooping 48% of us Filipinos have lost our love and respect for our leaders. Quite dismal and sad, since this reflects how low we now regard our present crop of leaders. And quite sadly, this shows how our politics has deteriorated into a state when people already hate and loathe their government.

What had happened? Even our national heroes, like the likes of Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto have already lost their relevance to our lives. Only Dr. Jose Rizal got a dismal one percent love.

The most loved political leader happened to be former president Cory Aquino who got 35% of our love, lagging behind are former strongman Ferdinand Marcos and former president Joseph Estrada who is now running for president in the May 10, 2010 polls.

Curiously, no one expressed appreciation and love for former president Fidel V. Ramos.

Former senator Ninoy Aquino got in fourth and fifth is former president Ramon Magsaysay.

Will this impact in the forthcoming polls? Quite interestingly, no.

Fact is--just half of those who love and revere Cory---will vote for her son. The only presidentiable who does not have a political name and landed in the "love list" is Senator Manuel Manny Villar.

So, what's the meaning of all of these?

It means that it would probably take a very long time for our leaders to regain the trust and confidence of the people.

Or most likely, this reflects the sentiments of the Filipino people--that there is an overwhelming desire and passion for everything new, especially in this animal called Philippine politics.

This is a veritable affirmation that the People want new leaders and new faces who will regain their trust, confidence and love.

What a Baby Pineda win means to Philippine democracy

PinoyObserver "What a Pineda win means to a Gloria Arroyo" is a very interesting take on what is happening in Pampangan politics. It deserves a read. 

Yet, let me add that more than a maneuver to actually dominate the political landscape, this Pineda win is a lethal dagger poised against Philippine democracy. It is sending a very wrong message to the people---that good men do not deserve even a second in politics. That politics is simply for those who kowtow and has traditionally dominated and governed the poor folks. 

This clearly is an exact opposite of what people want. I am organizing people on the ground and knows that most, if not all, feels that there should be new faces and new personalities in Philippine politics. There is an overwhelming desire for change among the people and when the very nexus of power tells people to shut up and forget about change, it is simply running against popular aspirations and when this happens, sociological theory always give us a very concrete picture of what would happen in the near future---an outburst of social aggression.

The Theory of Aggression is based on the observation that individuals resort to violence when a third party blocks or hinders them from attaining their aspirations. 

Of course, the State would always welcome popular aggression particularly at this crucial stage when it is now months away from being dislodged from power. Political violence is always resorted to by a weakening hegemon as a means to strengthen itself. Popular Aggression is always met by an equal application of State power, and by no means, this is what this government wants, and needs to extend itself in power. 

Yet, when a hegemon meets silence instead of violence as a reflex reaction to its clearly injurious and unjust actions, this weakens it. Silence, as I said, is not a show of acquiescence, nor of weakness, nor of complete apathy. It may mean that individuals are exercising more of their rational options before completely acting upon a dubious or debatable issue. When people are acting with Reason, not with passions or emotions, this should be viewed by the State as a more dangerous and clearly a more direct threat than any other. 

So there, a Pineda win just means that the Arroyo administration again committed a very grave sin against the Filipino People. That this is a mockery of democracy is simply an understatement.

The Baby Pineda-Gloria Arroyo Gamble and What it means to all of us

And so the ending turned out to be just a numbers game. And what was betted upon was no petty sum. They actually gambled the very essence of democracy and what it really means when we say "clean elections".

The Comelec second division yesterday declared Lilia "Nanay Baby" Pineda, winner by a breath against Priest-turned-politician Ed Panlilio in the 2007 gubernatorial race. First, Pineda countered cheating, which did not really jell. Then, what obviously follows is simply countering by numbers. 

Malacanang, as if by cue, immediately issued a statement saying that all sectors should respect the decision, as if they expected a huge outpouring of disgusts and hatred against the Comelec's decision. No one went to the streets nor any one got his firearm and cried foul. What had happened here was simply a developing social phenomena that is more dangerous than any coup or a pseudo-EDSA.

The slip is showing, says one kibitzer. The palace probably knew the results even before the Comelec formally issued its controversial decision penned by no less than homophobic Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer. What is NOT surprising is the fact that the entire Republic already knew that this administration will turn things upside down and will do whatever it takes just to satiate the hunger for power of one of their most trusted underlings.

Pineda won, Panlilio lost. But it was not only Panlilio who lost this one---the Comelec lost all credibility when it issued this decision. And it puts the entire May 10, 2010 at the stake.

It was clearly a gamble to test the strength of public tolerance. It gambled the very belief of the public in the forthcoming polls, that, despite automation, a poll body peopled by individuals with dubious traits and characters will definitely exercise its powers and just whisk its wand and change the entire political scenario. 

Such is the gravity of this one that had it happened in other countries, it would have placed the entire country under a state of alarm. Yet, there lies the extreme irony of it all--total silence. 

But, don't think that silence means acquiesce. No. Silence just means that people are preparing for the final burst of monumental anger, just quelling, waiting to explode.

Pineda may have won and jueteng may have triumphed over decency, but the fact remains, and this is quite evident---in this next elections, Kapampangans should rise up and show the world that they are not as brazen and as walang hiya as these two ladies--Gloria and Baby Pineda. 

Next elections, Kapampangans should really show the entire Nation that they hate injustice, that they hate the prevalence of jueteng and they are not of the same kind and stock as that of Gloria Arroyo and Baby Pineda and they will do the right thing---vote overwhelmingly on the side of good, rather than shameless evil.

Himig Natin and What Filipinos now struggle against

I made this video for the Pinoyobserver.com channel. Let me just share this with you. This is what I meant when I urge Senator Noynoy Aquino's advertising guys to change their strategy of presenting Noynoy to the public.



Himig Nating Mga Pilipino