Esquire covers Mar Roxas and why the rising flak for a glamorized epal

Mar "in action" wearing
a very clean polo shirt

The November 2014 issue of Esquire magazine features Liberal party presidential wannabe Mar Roxas sitting in a truck full of lumber, with his hair askewed, visibly tired face yet smiling, and gesturing and saying "hello". The photo must have been shot inside a DSWD compound, since there is a woman in the background wearing the standard DSWD jacket.

What's wrong with this picture?

Many says it's politically incorrect because it is "insensitive." Why is it insensitive? Well, at that time,  people are really trying to make a difference in the lives of those affected by Typhoon Yolanda. Thousands of volunteers are working "on site", helping survivors cope with the tragedy that befell them, and here you are, Mr. Roxas, the DILG secretary, the one who is supposedly commanding the "army" of government in relief efforts, sitting in an obviously scheduled "photoshoot".

It is also insensitive because the photo is some sort of a trivialization of the entire thing. Roxas appears like a freshman student in his very first volunteer relief effort. Nothing wrong with a "selfie", we, old and young alike, are pretty much guilty of shooting a photo of ourselves especially in such a monumental and historic event such as this.

My take is that this photo actually represents the prevailing "thinking" of men such as Roxas--that what I do for others, I do it for myself. Nietzsche once lambasted men of his generation for their "generosity" in giving donations. He wrote that these men are not doing the "giving" to benefit others--they are doing it for themselves, for their "egos". I leave it up to you my readers to judge if this is true in this case.

More than this though, I am more aghast thinking that this cover intends to mislead us into thinking of our DILG secretary as a "man of action". Actually, the cover is more of "humanizing him". See Mar's face, with his droppy eyes and beshevelled hair? That photo intends to show how tired Mar was "doing his job".

Maybe he was, and I believe them, meaning Roxas, his publicity handlers and Esquire.

Yet, the other elements of this photo actually countered what they intend to impress upon us, dear voters, err, readers.

See the immaculately clean polo shirt? That polo shirt betrays Roxas. Instead of seeing a dirty one, that polo shirt was as clean, as white as though it was cleaned by a very conscious laundrywoman who probably used Tide and spiced with Downy.

If that photo was really shot during a very tiresome "rehab" work, that polo shirt showed otherwise.

And I believe his handlers want to impress that Roxas was "in the thick of things". How would you believe this photo when it shows him sitting in a truck, inside a government compound and not inside a refugee shelter or an evacuation center?

This is the "onion" photo that got
Mar stung

So much for "being in the thick of things". This is another "onion photo".

That photo is actually what we modern political animals now describe as a glamorized "epal". Yes, epal.

This photo is distinctly similar with those of other politicians who take pictures of themselves giving donations, consulting with their constituents and even, consoling a sick voter, err, constituent.

This is a problem with Mar Roxas--he is beginning to tire himself to death, trying very hard to convince us that he is fit to be our president come 2016, that, because of this desire, he begins to be a bore, a trying hard baffoon who wants to reinvent even himself.

By trying to reinvent his own image, Mar Roxas gets across as a man who wants to fool the public into believing that he is what he is not.

Why change what people know of you unless of course, you yourself are not convinced of your own strengths and weaknesses?

So much fakery, so little personality.

Mar-Korina dispels breakup rumours

So, Mar Roxas's lovely wife did show up in yesterday's oath-taking ceremonies at Malacanang. Roxas took his oath before President Aquino and Korina Sanchez was there. The two hopes to dispel rumours of a breakup.


Fact is, the two newly married couples were like lovely dovely lovers. Mar really loves Korina. And to dispel further rumors, Korina gamely posed with her "rumored" rival in the person of Noynoy's social secretary Susan Reyes. Reyes was rumored to be Mar Roxas' "querida". Of course not.


Reyes is formerly wife of Toyota legendary guard Francis Arnaiz. 
Korina is still the "boss" of Mar's house. At last, with Mar at the helm of DOTC, expect an honest government from now on.

Mar Roxas: Noynoy's S-MAR(t)

President Noynoy Aquino is seen whispering something to his buddy, and now DOTC secretary Mar Roxas. 


Dispensing with formalities, Senator Mar Roxas assumed the post of DOTC secretary immediately. He vowed to cleanse the department of anomalous deals, and implement plans and programs for the benefit of the Filipino people.


Fact is, Mar just likes to be called S-MAR, meaning "Secretary Mar". Many thinks he's Noynoy's SMAR(t)est Cabinet member. He's the top technocrat around.


At last, one honest public servant in the Aquino administration. With Mar now part of this administration, expect a graft-free DOTC and government from now on.

Source: DOTC Post to Mar seals his political fate

President Noy just announced Mar as the next DOTC chief. Sources say Mar accepted the post. This begins Mar's descent into political oblivion.

The DOTC post is not one that befits a technocrat like Mar.  First, that post is not as "public" or as highly visible as the other posts. It's a post fit for somebody who wants to retire in politics. It is not an agency that rewards local government units--it's for somebody who wants to carve something, a legacy, instead of pursuing more lofty plans in 2013.

Right now, the impression is Mar has been effectively shut out of Malacanang and given a post that it clearly outside the sphere of power and influence. This happened to Mar some moons ago, when Liberals successfully convinced him to renounce his presidential bid and instead, run as Vice President. Now, it happened again. 

Mar has been outmaneuvered politically. HOw can he now influence Malacanang when he is now officially relegated to just one side of the power game? 

This will put a serious damper in the plans of Mr. Roxas come 2016. As expected, Mar Roxas list yet again in the power struggle within the palace of competing conos.

Chief of Staff post for Mar, not possible, says Ochoa

So, the truth is slowly revealing itself. A group within the palace itself is preventing the formal entry of Mar Roxas as the president's Chief of Staff. 


A meeting held last week reportedly between Executive secretary Paquito Ochoa and Roxas led to a standstill. Ochoa allegedly gave Roxas the post of Presidential adviser on economic and political affairs, a direct contravention of the order of Pnoy to give Roxas the chief of staff post. 


Roxas has reportedly declined both the DOTC and this new designated post. Roxas, sources say, wants nothing more than the Chief of Staff post. Why are groups making it very hard to implement the President's own order?


Sources revealed that the reason is simple: control of government projects.


If Roxas assumes the COS post, he will have full control of the powers of both the Executive secretary and the Presidential Management Staff (PMS)--two critical posts which approves projects in the government.


So, it's really not the welfare of the people that these people are concerned about. They are concerned about losing power and money in the process.

Mar Roxas flexes muscles: Reason why Nereus Acosta's appointment as DENR secretary did'nt push thru

After so many meetings with President Aquino and after visiting the Department of Environment and Natural Resources offices for so many times during the past six weeks, former Bukidnon Congressman Nereus Acosta will not succeed or replace Ernesto Paje as DENR secretary afterall.

This surprised many who really thought that Acosta is a "shoo-in" for the post since Aquino himself told and even promised Acosta last year that the Liberal party member will get the post once the one-year election ban has been lifted. 

Fact is, Acosta has even prepared himself for the post and already tasked his men to be appointed in sensitive posts at the DENR. Reportedly, he even offered the undersecretary position to a friend, who happens to be a director of another government agency.

what happened? 

sources say, the reason why Acosta's appointment did not push thru is he being a part of the block of Senator Kiko Pangilinan in the Liberal Party. Remember that it was Kiko who opposed and paved the way for Roxas's exclusion as the party's official presidential candidate and replaced him with Senator Aquino.

Kiko controls the SLAMMAT LORRD group, a group composed of Liberals and Leftist members including Akbayan and some volunteer groups.

a source says that Mar reportedly blocked Acosta's appointment since Acosta belonged to the wing that opposed his candidacy for the presidency. Mar's group reportedly vowed not to allow members of the SLAMMAT LORRD group to assume sensitive government posts.

How true? Read this entry for more information at http://philippine360.com.

Super Chief Mar Roxas and the PCSO Scandal

As I write this, the office of the Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa is drafting an administrative order reviving the office of the Chief of Staff under the Office of the President. The administrative order is being crafted for former Senator Mar Roxas. 

Sources told NPR that Roxas' role in the Aquino administration will be two-fold: first, assist the President in dealing with daily operations of the bureaucracy and second, man the finance department. This is in concurrence with what President Aquino told reporters a couple of days ago, that aside from being his Chief-of-Staff, Aquino wants Roxas to assume a full-time Cabinet rank position.

Many sources say, Roxas will also assume the finance portfolio since Cesar Purisima's confirmation is "dead in the water". Likewise, there are insinuations that the President does not trust Purisima any longer due to his so-called under-the-table "activities". Recently, a group of Customs officials charged Purisima and his protegee, Customs Commissioner Boy Alvarez of graft and corruption. This will further affect Purisima's pending confirmation from the CA.

Weeks prior to the formal announcement of Mar's inclusion in the cabinet, many of his trusted advisers and associates have occupied sensitive directorial posts in government. Mar is hands-on in picking the right people for the job, a trait admirable to the former banker and DTI secretary.

Roxas' ascension as "super chief" brings new blood and new life in the Aquino administration. Many believe, including this writer, that this will arrest the sagging popularity of the administration. Many are also urging Roxas to replace the Communications Group for inefficiency.

Meanwhile...

A source within government reveals that a group of businessmen are thinking of filing a multi-million graft charge against Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) chairman Margie Juico.

Juico, according to several highly placed sources, reportedly got a hefty share from the abrupt sale of the PCSO property in Manila. Likewise, they have uncovered a slew of alleged irregularities inside the state charity agency reportedly involving Juico.

Juico, according to my source, is on her way out. To save her hide, she will be appointed as an ambassador by President Aquino.

LP member with 3 pending graft cases to become member of Pnoy Cabinet

A Liberal party member, who is purportedly very close to Mar Roxas is expected to get a very juicy Cabinet post from Pnoy. Nothing wrong, except that this party arse licker has three pending graft cases before the Sandiganbayan.


And to think that the whole world is watching us, very closely, on how we treat graft and corruption. The Global Integrity Report has just downgraded us, telling us that the graft and corruption situation is getting worse even under the so-called "matuwid na daan" or straight road administration of Aquino.


The question is---will Pnoy allow this? Obviously yes.


If he can hire a veteran insider as Customs commissioner and other people of dubious records as his lieutenants in his government, chances are Pnoy will also allow this, in deference to his friend, Mar, who is expected to get the Finance department post from the beleaguered Cesar Purisima come the third week of May.


Heard that Customs chief Angelito Alvarez will be replaced by his boss, Bert Lina.

Gutierrez impeached--and who'll replace her?

So, Congress voted to impeach Merceditas Gutierrez. The articles of impeachment will be submitted to the Senate. The Senate will then determine the veracity of the pieces of evidence against her.


This is historic because Gutierrez will be the very first government official impeached for betrayal of public trust. This is a precedent, because the very process which will be used to impeach Gutierrez will likely be used to other government officials who'll likely be accused of the same offense (s) later. Paging Arroyo! Madame, are you listening? :-)


Technically, Gutierrez is already impeached. The question now is--who will replace her?


Basing on the record of this administration, Gutierrez replacement will most likely be: (a) a close ally of the President, probably a shooting range or Playstation buddy or (b) someone close to the former and present administration. So there.


Are we really hopeful that something will change for the better?


If Atty. Alex Lacson is nominated for the post, I am hopeful. If someone else, an operator hiding in the cloak of a politician or "legal expert", who knows the ins and outs of this industry called graft and corruption, nothing will happen.


Look at Customs. An insider was appointed, someone very close to an Aquino relative and what do we have? 


Lobbyists want Justice secretary de Lima for the post, but she declined. Executive secretary Ochoa is also a nominee, but he'll probably decline out of respect for Mar who is looking for a right place to wait for 2013.

AMPATUAN LAWYER AS COMELEC CHAIR

Election specialist Sixto Brillantes Jr. is now the head of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Wow. Yet, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano says there's no "wow" factor in his appointment.


I say "wow" because appointing Brillantes Jr. shows the true nature of this administration--it is still playing politics instead of minding the change business. Malacanang chose a pragmatist instead of an idealist, a wrong way to start the change business.


Brillantes is a veteran of COMELEC wars, among them, the manipulation of poll results in Maguindanao, the province of the Ampatuans. Numerous ballot boxes were found there. And the Ampatuans are no expert in election law, they are only experts in killing their enemies, and stuffing their mouths with earth. Who then advised them to hide those ballot boxes?


Justice secretary Leila de Lima says Brillantes' appointment will improve the image and reputation of the COMELEC. Come on, dear Mam! How will that happen when everyone knows that Brillantes orchestrated several issues that actually put the COMELEC's reputation at stake.


What this administration is concerned about is the possibility of lording it over the mid-term elections of 2013.  This election is crucial because it will determine the fate of those who want to be president in 2016.


If a particular party dominates the politics "from below", it will surely grab the politics "from above". Meaning, grassroots support is very crucial in any election. If a political party strengthens its hold over the grassroots machinery, then, whoever does that, will win the 2016 elections.


The Liberals want nothing more than this. Mar Roxas is again putting his lot come 2013. He is running as a Senator, in preparation for 2016. Chiz Escudero is doing the same thing. Only Jejomar Binay and Bongbong Marcos, potential presidentiables, are staying away from the mid-term elections.

Mr. Palengke's predicament and 14 million Filipino voters who failed to vote

Only 73% of the total registered number of Filipino voters were able to actually cast their votes last May 10. Those 27% or 13.7 million voters were either disfranchised, were'nt able to go to the precincts due to work, or, as reports say, a million to five million of them were victims of a new scheme---preventing voters from going to their assigned seats in the actual day of the elections.

Comelec previously said, they expect between 80 to 85% of the voters to cast their votes. In the day of the elections itself, 27% of the people failed to cast their votes. In real terms, that is nearly 13.7 Million voters, more than the 800,000 lead margin of Jejomar Binay against Mar and could probably upset Aquino's lead over Estrada. Aquino's lead is between 5 to 6 million. What if these 14 million disfranchised voters went against Aquino and majority of them voted Estrada and/or Villar?

Even a fraction of this 13.7 milliion could change the political fortunes of Mar Roxas and Jejomar Binay.

It could also probably affect the tenth to the thirteenth standing in the Senatorial race. What is the probability of the people really not voting for Lapid? High, since there is a probability that these 13.7 million Filipinos are celebrity haters or not as jaded as those who voted for Bong Revilla or Leon Guerrero.

The one person with an enormous problem is Mar Roxas. If he loses the count to Binay, for concrete reasons of fraud, how then will he contest this? By going to Congress on May 27 and file protests? If there was fraud, it is like admitting to former president Joseph Estrada's charge that there was indeed, "electronic Garci" and " irregularities in the PCOS machines". How will this affect his buddy, Senator Benigno Aquino III, who leads Estrada not just by a mile, but by almost 5 million.

And when the Comelec admits that 700 PCOS machines faltered, that's about 140,000 "spoiled" votes? That would change the political fortunes not just of the mayors, governors, Congressmen, but even Senators and the Vice President?

How will the elites resolve this contentious issue between Roxas and Binay? I say, let Roxas win. Binay, anyway, still has his Makati turf. If Mar loses, he'll be a bigger problem than Binay.

It could have been very different if Aquino was trailing Estrada, the elites would have raised hell (not just a howl). The system was probably designed to favor Aquino and damn the others, says my favorite barber. Anyway, was it just Aquino who said that another EDSA was in the offing if people cheat him?

Next time, if Villar runs again for President, he should be intelligent enough and say that he'll go to the streets if cheated. Had he did so, Villar could have been at second place. Or, even at first.

By the way...

I am sorry to presume that the 13th and the 14th slots in the ongoing Senate count could still become members of the chamber. According to Atty. Harry Roque, only 12 winners will be included in the present number of 2013 term Senators. To complete the slate, the Senate has to announce a special election for the purpose of electing additional members of the Upper House. This can be done in the forthcoming barangay elections in October.

Binay leads over Roxas with the slimmest of margins: 2%

If the presidential race has a very clear trend, the vice presidential position is a different matter.

As of 10am today, May 11, 2010, the difference between Liberal party vice presidential bet Mar Roxas and PMP-UNO vice presidential bet Jejomar Binay is a mere 813,471 votes with just nearly 30 million votes counted. This represents 80% of actual votes cast (AVC). They are still contending for 7,500,000 votes. Between Roxas and Binay, Binay only edges Roxas by about 2 percentage points--not a very safe margin. That is only about 750,000 votes if the trend continues.

Anything can still happen and the "upset" that some sectors fear, may actually be the other way around. Roxas could "upset" the other camp and if he gets at least 13.5 million votes that will surely spoil the victory party of Binay.

A 13.5 million vote will edge out Binay from the race and clinch for Roxas the victory he claims. Just a difference of half a million for Roxas will give him the victory.

Why is it dangerous for democracy in the Philippines for an Aquino-Binay tandem? I'll write it later in another post.

However, there's a caveat here.

If the trend continues, with Binay getting 40-42% of the votes, then, it would be totally impossible for Roxas to catch up.

What is surprising is this--about 5 million from the 18 million "natural constituency" of Roxas seemed to have shifted their allegiance somewhere. Roxas got 18 million votes in his last senatorial run, a consistent figure. Even if he wins this elections, Roxas should go back to the drawing board and re-assess what went wrong with his campaign. This very close call is alarming, especially since he will be gunning for the top post six years from now.

What were the factors that affected the Roxas campaign?

First, the endorsement of Chiz Escudero. Surveys say Escudero's endorsement counts for 37-38%. With Binay's mass base, and with the inability of Roxas to convert die-hard Escudero fans to his side, this constituency shifted to Binay and allowed the Makati mayor to edge out Roxas from the race.

Lastly, Binay's communication strategy is, I think, a thing which communicators should study in the future. Binay's communication strategy was a national version of a local campaign. Focus was ability and experience, two things which Filipinos want to see from their candidates and consistency in messaging.

Roxas tried to do this but by rehashing his Mr. Palengke image at a time when prices are very high and the black propaganda from the Binay-Escudero camp that Roxas has something to do with the E-VAT implementation, affected his campaign. Danny Gozo is not experienced in crisis management and the Roxas camp failed to recover from this just one punch.

Binay was offering himself as an experienced local executive who knows the problems and possesses some of the solutions.

Roxas continued with his Mr. Palengke image at a time when prices of basic commodities were at an all-time high. The reality on the ground did not jibe with the propaganda of Roxas or what I call " a communication disjunct" or "disjointed messaging". Roxas says he was instrumental in lowering prices of basic commodities when the reality on the ground shows otherwise.

Roxas could have summersaulted a little bit and could have diverted the discussion from "skills and experience" to "integrity". Because he lacked the time and he has an inexperienced political communicator in his team, Roxas failed to raise the bar of discussion and again failed to divert the discussion. He was late in the game. Roxas was late in exploiting the "integrity" issue hurled against Binay. In truth, Binay's communication team is quick on their feet. This was actually a war between a communication team wearing ties with one with their sleeves rolled up. In a political war like this, the victor is simply those willing to go to the trenches.

Loren Legarda has a credibility problem

Last night’s HARAPAN featured vice presidential candidates: Mar Roxas of the Liberal Party, Loren Legarda of the Nacionalista, Jejomar Binay of PMP-UNO/LABAN, Jay Sonza of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), Bayani Fernando of Bagumbayan and Atty. Perfecto Yasay of Bangon Pilipinas.



The format was better than the presidential since it was really fashioned like the debates of old, where they pitted candidates against each other.


What was good about this was it afforded us the chance to really know and compare who was better. And based on online and text reactions from the viewers, Mar Roxas got a 55% trust rating.


Jay Sonza was a revelation though. He has the widest understanding among the vice presidentiables. True, he is really well prepared.


Mar Roxas appeared very confident and very prepared as well. Roxas was attacked by Loren Legarda a couple of times, but all attacks fell by the wayside.


Curiously though, Loren’s trust rating fell between 6-8%, the same as Sonza’s. Binay got even higher trust ratings than Loren’s, with about 15-18%.


Loren has a credibility problem. Every response that she gets appeared fractured. Every time that she uttered a word, ratings hover between a higher trust or a lower trust. Meaning, she does not have a solid base of support.


I really doubt now if Loren will really clinch the vice-presidential post, what with Mar Roxas there. Loren's media team should work double time but I really doubt if she can really overwhelm the public with her statement than Roxas'.

Loren was really affected by her political actions. The perception that she's a political butterfly really stuck. And that Villarroyo tag really affected the chances not just of Loren, but the rest of the Nacionalista party slate.

Loren Legarda should review her campaign and fix this problem. I doubt though if there are still time to do it.

Trouble in ChizNation? And Angara brokering the wedding of Loren Legarda with Manny Villar

Is Senator Ed Angara playing the role of a wedding broker, arranging the possible tandem of Nacionalista party bet Manny Villar and coy vice presidential aspirant Senator Loren Legarda? It seems like it. And Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) presidential bet Chiz Escudero does not like what he's hearing.

Chiz Escudero’s closest adviser says the NPC bet is thinking of junking Senator Loren Legarda as his vice presidential bet. Escudero's camp has decided not to announce Loren as its vice presidential contender after a series of failed negotiations with her camp. Loren remains non-committal with NPC because of talks that Danding Cojuangco is also thinking twice of letting it all out for Chiz.

Escudero is set to announce his presidential bid tomorrow at the Bahay ng Alumni, at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. He is expected to announce his full slate, including six (6) senatoriables. Some of those expected to be with the ChizNation includes: Susan “Toots” Ople, Ompong Plaza and Grace Poe. Last Monday, the Samahang Magdalo endorsed Chiz as their presidential bet.


Now, going back to this Angara-initiated talks. What is the topic of the negotiations? Well, Loren is asking for full logistical support in her vice presidential bid. Understandable, since Loren will be fighting against a formidable opponent–Mar Roxas–who has billions in his campaign kitty. Loren enjoys a definitive edge over Mar in the mass base or grassroots department. However, in Philippine politics which behaves like local politics, money changes everything.


Angara is asking Villar to give full financial and logistical support to Loren Legarda in exchange for agreeing to be his running mate. As source says, these talks are now in its final stages. With two political financiers supporting her—the Cojuangcos and the Villars—nothing will stop Loren from getting what she wants.

Certain quarters are saying that even the administration is intent on backing Loren Legarda's vice presidential bid just to spite Mar Roxas. Legarda's palace meeting with Mrs. Arroyo reportedly sealed the deal.


The question is—what will Mar and the Liberal do to stop a Loren rampage? And what will be the political plans of Vice President Noli de Castro? Will he do a second round against Loren?

Ironic is'nt? A few months ago, when Noynoy Aquino was still a non-factor in Philippine politics, there was even talks of a Mar Roxas-Loren Legarda tandem. Now, they will be fighting against each other for the second highest post in the land.


The more important question is—what will Chiz do at this point, now that the stacks are ranged against him?

What leadership?

Mar Roxas, if we are to believe newspaper reports, is losing his mass base in the province he considers his bailiwick. I don't know why, but it seems that fertilizer scammer Joc-Joc Bolante is doing his destructive work there, with his mission cut out for him by his principal---steal the rug under Roxas' feet. Roxas admitted that some Liberal Party members are abandoning ship and transfering to Bolante's newly formed regional political party.

Roxas just lost his vice governor, Congressman and some councilors over to Bolante's group.

“Election in Capiz has been peaceful for the past years. But today, it's different,” says a visibly mad Roxas when interviewed by the Inquirer. Roxas accused Bolante of disturbing the peace.

With a very sensitive issue such as this, I don't know why Mar Roxas forgot one very basic tenet in power dynamics---smiling while you're losing. I mean, this is an internal thing which Roxas should have resolved internally rather than announcing publicly that he is losing support from the very same place he was born. Is Roxas pleading to the Gods to save him?

By announcing to the whole Philippines that Bolante is wrecking havoc in his bailiwick, Roxas just exposed himself as wanting in the leadership game. He should consult with the Pangandamans how their family still manage to solidify LGU support behind them.

As a reform-minded Liberal, Roxas should have welcomed Bolante's actions as part of the dynamics of democracy, instead of accusing him of "disturbing the peace." This statement shows you the true character of the one who aspires to become vice president. If you are a change agent, is'nt part of your agenda to disturb the peace? Disturbance is part of change, and if Roxas is uncomfortable with that, there is something seriously wrong with him.

If I were Roxas, I would just consider Bolante as a field rat. By the way, wait for my ZTE-NBN revelation coming very, very soon.

Ate Vi to frustrate ambitions of Puno and Roxas?

Certain sectors want Batangas Governor Vilma ” Ate Vi” Santos to run as vice president of PALAKA presidential bet Gilbert Gibo Teodoro, leaving Ronnie Puno, who was proclaimed veepee bet , in a quandary.

With a very shallow bench, it's natural for Lakas-KAMPI CMD to think or choose other people to prop up the sagging popularity of the administration party. This party would even dare field a Willie Revillame just to improve their numbers.

The question is---what is happening within PALAKA? Who is fuelling these talks of ousting Puno from the scene? Where is this thing called party loyalty?

That’s why Ronnie Puno called for a hasty press con late afternoon yesterday at Annabel's restaurant. That press con was a defensive gesture on the part of Puno, fueling even more speculations that there are, indeed, Lakas-Kampi partymembers critical of his political ambitions.

Ate Vi has said time and again, that she is not running. However, the political situation is still very fluid. Anything can happen. If Vilma throws her hat unto the political ring, that would surely muddle the political pond.

Was it just coincidental that Gibo and FVR were seen together in one sortie in Southern Luzon, without Puno? Vilma is very strong in that corner of the Philippines. A Vilma Santos run would cut short the political ambitions not just of Puno but more so, of Mar Roxas.

Liberal Party (LP) Vice presidential bet Mar Roxas, is, by far, the strongest VP candidate. A Vilma Santos run could wreck the Roxas train. And most probably, that is what Lakas-KAMPI CMD members are thinking—throw Vilma Santos unto the game and let Roxas scrump the scraps.

Sources say, Ronnie is also thinking of his political options, possibly going to the camp of former president Joseph Estrada. Puno’s statement yesterday saying that Erap is eligible to run ran counter to official Palace statements.

Is Puno thinking of deserting the very party he founded? Abangan!

Mar Roxas acceptance speech in Club Filipino

This is the complete speech of Mar Roxas, sent to me by friend Rose Romero of Repormar. I took the liberty of publishing this in full.

Maraming maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat. Magandang tanghali po. Happy Holidays to our Muslim brothers.

Salamat, Noynoy, sa tiwalang ipinagkaloob mo sa akin. Salamat sa karangalang maging kasama mo sa paglilingkod sa bayan. Thank you for this opportunity to work with you as we raise the banner of reform. Thank you for the privilege of joining you and all our kababayans in the fight for decency and integrity in public service, and for a government that puts the people’s interest first.

Taos-puso ko pong tinatanggap ang hamon na isulong ang tunay na reporma sa ating bansa.

Taos-puso ko pong tinatanggap ang responsibilidad na maging kabalikat ni Noynoy sa kanyang laban para sa pagbabago.

Taos-puso ko pong tinatanggap ang maging katambal ni Noynoy Aquino.

But this fight is not just about Noynoy and me. It’s bigger than the two of us, it is bigger than the Liberal Party. It is about our collective thirst for change.

It is about our thirst for change finally overcoming those who want to continue the tayu-tayo system, the horse-trading, the greed, the self-interest, the transactional politics that has been the biggest roadblock to progress and prosperity for all.

Tungkol ito sa matuwid laban sa baluktot. Tungkol ito sa tapat laban sa tiwali. Tungkol ito sa tama laban sa mali.

Noy, you have raised the banner. Ito ang bandila ng reporma at pag-asa. Ito ang maglalagay ng pagkain sa mesa, dahil hindi na nanakawin ang pondo ng mga magsasaka. Ito ang magbibigay ng trabaho sa taumbayan, dahil hindi na kokotangan ang mga namumuhunan. Ito ang magpapaabot-kaya sa presyo ng gamot, dahil hindi na makikipagsabwatan sa mga abusadong pharmaceutical companies.

My friends, this is going to be a tough battle. We should not be lulled into complacency. We are up against forces who will fight tooth and nail, fair and unfair, legal and illegal, against us. Sa kanila yata, tuloy ang ligaya; sa atin naman, tuloy ang laban.

Kailangan nating isulong ang bandila ni Noy at ng reporma. Mahirap ang laban na ito, pero nasa kamay natin ang ating kapalaran.

Kung bawat araw, ang bawat isa sa atin ay makahimok ng isa pang kasangga natin, tiyak ang ating tagumpay.

Our opponents will exhaust all avenues in order to win. They have been robbing us for so long, and they want to continue robbing us. Pero hindi tayo papayag na manakaw din nila ang ating pag-asa.

Taglay ni Noynoy ang susi ng pagbabago: matapat na puso, malasakit sa kapwa, at pinakamahalaga, pagmamahal sa bayan. Buong-loob kong isinusulong si Noynoy Aquino. I am honored to join him in this field of battle.

To all of us here in this hall and all across this great nation, who are fighting alongside him, make no mistake about it: We will not back down from this fight, not now, not ever.

The fog of cynicism has already lifted from our hearts. Ngayon, puwede na muling mangarap.
Sama-sama tayo. Hindi namin kayo pababayaan. Lalaban tayo!

Nang Bumaliktad ang mundo

Kagabi, kausap ko si Carlos Martel. Pilit niyang pinatataas ang pag-asa ko. Kahapon, sa unang araw ng Septiembre, nagkatotoo agad ang isinulat ko---na magsisimula sa pagluha ang Sambayanang Pilipino pagdating ng Septembre. (September Mourn).

Nasimulan ang araw ko sa pagdalo sa ZTE-NBN hearing ng kaibigan kong si Joey de Venecia III. Sa kabila ng pag-urong ng karamihan sa kanyang mga taga-suporta at kaibigan, nananatili akong kaibigan niya. Hindi ko siya iiwanan. Hindi ako tulad ng iba na parang pulubing naka-umang ang kamay dahil siya'y isang De Venecia.

Kaibigan ko si Joey dahil nasasa panig siya ng katotohanan. Naniniwala ako sa kanya, dahil sa isang panahon, naranasan ko ang naranasan niya na maakusahan ng isang bagay na hindi ko ginawa.

Sa unang pagkakataon, nakita ko ang isang kaibigang nabaliktad ang mundo. Imbes na purihin dahil sa kanyang expose, si Joey pa at si Jun ngayon ang gigisahin ng pamahalaan. Kung sino pa ang naglantad ng katotohanan, sila pa ngayon ang inakusahan.

Ito talagang si Senator Richard Gordon, nagpapagamit kay Mike Arroyo. Magkano kaya ang magiging kapalit ng pagtataksil na ito ni Gordon? Kitang kita ko ang mukha ni Gordon matapos ang hearing. Halatang pilit niyang ginagawan ng rason kung bakit kailangang sampahan ng kaso sina Joey.

Pagkatapos ng hearing, agad naman akong nagpunta sa Club Filipino. Alas-kuwatro pa lang, alam na ng ilan kung ano ang idedeklara ni Mar. Pero, half-believing pa ako.

Pero, nang ideklara na ni Mar ang kanyang pagsuporta kay Noynoy, naawa ako sa kanya. Hindi ko maintindihan bakit naman ke aga-aga niyang bumigay samantalang hindi pa naman talaga siguradong may puwersa o lakas nga si Noynoy para bakahin ang mga higanteng sina Erap at Villar.

Ramdam ko ang sakripisyo ni Mar at tiyak kong nabaliktad din ang kanyang mundo. Naalala ko, naroroon pa ako sa kanyang piging sa Balai noong isang taon at lahat ay suportado ang kanyang kandidatura. Naroroon pa nga si Noynoy. Naka ututang dila ko pa siya habang nagyoyosi ako. Hindi ko akalaing siya pala ang papalit kay Mar bilang standard bearer ng partido.

Sana hindi pa muna bumigay si Mar....Sana naghintay pa siya ng kaunting panahon.

Wala na rin si Ka Erdy Manalo, siyang ilaw at tagapagtaguyod ng nasimulan ng kanyang ama dito sa Pilipinas. Masaya ako at kasama na niya ang AMA, inaalagaan siya at tiyak ko sa araw ng paghuhukom, makakamtan niya ang korona ng tagumpay. Na sa kabila ng kanyang pagpapagal bilang tagapagpalaganap ng tunay na aral mula sa Dios AMA, mayroong ligayang naghihintay sa kanya.

Paalam ka Erdy. At naniniwala akong malapit na nga ang paghuhukom, nasasa trankahan na ng ating mga pintuan. Sabi nga ng mga Aztecs, sasapit ang huling araw sa sandaling bumaliktad na ang mundo.

Kahapon, nagsimula na yun.

Noynoy Aquino-Mar Roxas tandem--90% possible?

Last night, the second meeting between Senator Mar Roxas and Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III was held in Makati. Liberal Party stalwarts were tight-lipped on what transpired. However, one source said that the possibility of a Noynoy Aquino-Mar Roxas seems plausible as each day passes.





Just recently, the Aksyon Demokratiko already invited Noynoy to be their standard bearer. There are indications that Ed Panlilio already threw his support behind Noynoy while Harvey Keh's Kaya Natin! and the Black and White Movement are already moving to fortify the Noynoy for President Movement (NAPM).





The only citizen's organization behind Mar Roxas is Akbayan, since its representative, Risa Hontiveros will be running as senator in the Liberal Party slate. Some youth organizers of Akbayan, however, said that should Mar Roxas slide down, then, the entire machinery will shift to Noynoy.

Another citizen's group, this time led by Lawyer Alex Lacson spearheaded another campaign in support of Noynoy. Read the next entry and I'll tell you why Mar Roxas is now on the verge of losing the Liberal Party nomination. And mind you, it's not just because there's a clamor for Noynoy to run.

The Yellow Umbrella

I saw a nice yellow umbrella in one dingky corner of the Redemptorist church in Baclaran. I saw people milling around the yellow umbrella, some signing a document with their names and signatures. There was a noticeable line of people, from all walks of life, patiently waiting for their turn to sign. And I saw a familiar face. It was Ed Roces, a friend and a colleague.

Like his patriot father before him, Ed is spearheading the call for Senator Benigno "NoyNoy" Aquino III to heed the call of the times and lead the nation as its president. In 1985, his father, the late Alejandro Roces, went all around town to gather signatures for Cory. Now, twenty four years later, Ed is doing what his martyred father did. As what Salonga says, like father, like son.

Curiously, what motivated Ed and his group to launch a signature campaign for Noynoy? Hindi pa ba sapat sa kanila na may isang Mar Roxas na tatakbo sa ilalim ng Liberal Party? Obviously not.

Why? Why is it that Mar Roxas does not satisfy the ideals of some people and supporters of the Liberal Party? Let's be frank.

1. People are saying that Mar Roxas belongs to an aristocratic family and that family allegedly robbed some people of their properties. Yet, for me, Mar is somewhat like his father, the late Gerry Roxas, who once dominated the Philippine political scene. What Mar lacks however, is the same tenacity, the same leadership prowess and the same inspiring aura that Gerry had when he was still alive.

Is NoyNoy different? No.

Noynoy is a Cojuangco, the family who used the treasures of the Katipunan to expand their estate and establish businesses that makes them one of the richest families in the Philippines. Yes, he is an Aquino, but that bloodline includes a Benigno Aquino who conspired with the Japanese during the occupation. The Aquino bloodline is politics at its best, and the Cojuangco bloodline links him to the best cacique class.

2. People are saying that Mar lacks the leadership abilities unlike his father who commands respect from his partymates. Many see the same thing in Noynoy. Noynoy is different from his father, Ninoy, since Ninoy commands utter respect from his partymates. Noynoy is more of a Butch Aquino rather than a Ninoy.

3. People are saying that Mar does not inspire allegiance. Ah, that's the difference between Mar and Noynoy. Noynoy inspires not just respect but allegiance simply because he does not show desire for the post, unlike Mar, who is perceived to be like Villar, who will do everything and spend every penny, just to get that desired post.

Yes, both belong to the same landed class that for millennia, has been enslaving the Filipino farmers. Yes, both belong to the same big bourgeouis class which has been enslaving the toiling worker class for centuries. And yes, both are unlike their fathers who carved their names in the annals of History by being different, by not being blue-blooded members of their class.

Noynoy, honestly, is still not the best leader to lead us away from the immorality of this regime. Neither is Mar.

Yet, if we compare him with Mar Roxas, Noynoy stands out because he does not desire for the post and he's not salivating to sit in that wicked chair in Malacanang. People say that Noynoy does not represent his landlord class, but in some instances, he did. For the record, Noynoy did not sign the Genuine Land Reform law, an obvious act which shows that he's more of a Cojuangco than an Aquino. Or, like I said, he is more of a Butch rather than a Ninoy.

But, I understand my friend, Ed Roces. Like the rest of us, Ed is looking for someone who'll inspire us, who'll lead us to the right path and who'll represent not the interest of their class but the interests of the toiling masses.

Better a Noynoy than a Mar. At least that would awaken those in the middle forces who are leaderless now. Better a Noynoy who can probably stand out against an Erap. And better a Noynoy who might just prevent a restoration of immorality in a Villar administration or illegal activities under an Erap.