Why Mar Roxas would never get that rock star status

"Rock Star status"

The urban dictionary says this term means "just another way of saying awesome. or something insanely cool. impressive."

Just recently, thousands of Filipinos online lambasted Mar Roxas' ad once again, describing it as "trash" and even castigated the actors and actresses who lent their time just to show their support behind him.

One netizen even criticized what the hell ABS-CBN import stars Bill Crawford, JayR and another forgettable name were asked to endorse Roxas when these three are American citizens. Our laws forbade foreigners from commenting on our politics.

I pity Mar. I met the guy several years ago, and frankly, he means well. He's a nice guy.

I think he is just being poorly managed. Those Ayala advertising hotshots are really messing up things for him. They probably believed that someone like Roxas could actually be made a "rock star", just like how Chiz Escudero's publicists created Grace Poe, or how media now thinks Davao city mayor and now presidential candidate Rody Duterte is. Of course, not to mention Vice president Jejomar Binay whose campaign, while not as bombastic as that of Poe's or Duterte's is considered "effective" because if you ask ordinary people, they will tell you what surveys are trying to conceal from us. Anyway, that's another story.

Four things why Mar would never be rock star material.

First, those old enough to have encountered or met her forebears like Gerry Roxas would always compare him with his deceased father. Gerry was a charismatic individual, tough, intelligent and a darling of the press. Mar is even compared to the late Dinggoy Roxas, his brother who also died in 1993. Gerry and Dinggoy had impressive records as Congressmen and Senator. That leads us to the second reason..

The second reason is that Mar did not surpass or even equalled the performance of his father and brother, who were both seasoned politicians. Yes, he has been in public service since his brother died but lacks the charisma of the two. You cannot fault Mar that--he was not molded to become a politician. He was a banker. He is an investment guy and one main thing about these types of guy is that they are not born leaders--they are born to sell their principals, not themselves. They think before they act, and therefore, lack what many in business say, "gut feel". Mar is not a gut player.  And that, again, leads us to the third reason.

Politics is for the dim witted. Politics is for those who has the guts, the feel of the crowd, the ability to think fast and decide with firmness and with resolve. No such thing with Mar. For him, things should be studied carefully, something which weakens him and the public's perception of him, for he does not possess leadership qualities.

That explains why, at every post Mar occupied during his entire career, there is no singular thing which he did that etched in the minds of the public. Mar Roxas was never been as impressive as an Executive not like say Cesar Purisima, or when he was DILG, not even near greatness as that of his predecessors (Puno and Robredo) or when he was Congressman, nothing as impressive even compared with another reluctant politician, Quezon Congressman Erin Tanada. That leads us to the fourth and last reason why his handlers are getting the heat and obviously now scampering to find something that would make Mar "shine" and that is...

Mar Roxas does not have a narrative that would endear him to his publics. He wants the public to think that he is for them, when he surely is not. He was not born poor, and the public knows he's filthy rich.

There is no narrative about Roxas except his faults. Narratives are social currencies which people use to exchange ideas, thoughts and opinions, and in politics, that is most important.

It would have been nice if Roxas ran and won a local executive post and implemented his brilliant ideas there. That is a narrative.

It would have been even nicer had Roxas chose to fight his fellow Oligarchs in socio-economic issues such as telecomms, public services, etal. The thing is Roxas is perceived as one of the oligarchs that continually oppress the people. Worse, he really acts like that. Read his pronouncements. Even the way he speaks exude the brashness and the conoistic tone which people find offensive.

With this, Roxas is being blamed for every single fault there is because he is perceived to be deeply entrenched in the system, a system so rotten and a system which people want to change for so long.

Mar needs to break out of this mold. Mar needs to be a rebel. And probably, people would begin to listen once more and would start looking at him again, this time, without disdain.

Grace Poe and the "alleged top secret" document presented by Pnoy to Senator Grace Poe

Grace Poe is trying very hard to hide her ill-feelings against several members of the Liberal Party. In her emergency interview yesterday, Poe said President Pnoy presented to her a "top secret" document, which she did not specify for "security" reasons. Really now.

What was that document which Poe referred to? Sources say, that document contains Poe's immigration records which show her travelling still using her American passport even after claiming to have renounced her American citizenship in 2005.

Again, based on Poe's travel records, the "senator" still travelled to the United States using her American passport even in 2013. American records show that Poe only reportedly renounced her American citizenship last July 2013, which meant that Poe was still an American citizen when she accepted the MTRCB post in 2010. This is one violation of the law because only Filipino citizens are allowed to occupy government posts.

Which meant, Poe is only a Filipino citizen for only two years. Which also meant that Poe was not able to vote for the election of her father, Fernando Poe Jr. last 2004!

Anyway, let's talk about this document which Pnoy presented to Grace Poe. Sources say, the document contains her travel records. Why will the President share with her highly classified documents and what for? 

Those documents reportedly came from Nong Cruz, this lawyer connected with the camp of Liberal party presidential bet Mar Roxas. 

Atty. Nonong Cruz is behind the campaign camp of Roxas. He was last seen with Mar Roxas yesterday when the LP candidate went to Navotas fish port.

Cruz reportedly is in possession of travel records from 2010 up and which shows Poe still using her American passport even after 2013!

The issue is--did the President show these records to Poe to "force her" to coalesce with Roxas, the President's presidential bet?

Aquino-Cojuangco clan and Miners triumph in electing next President

President Aquino has just endorsed someone who he describes as the "tuwid na daan" candidate as his best possible successor. For course, this is somewhat a damper since Senate president Franklin Drilon has just revealed what Pnoy is expected to do after his last State of the Nation address--proclaims his anointed one, and surely, everyone expects him to anoint Mar Roxas.

Aquino's pronouncement yesterday is somewhat an anti-climax because every Juan already knows who he would anoint. Pnoy has no choice but to toe the party line because he risks isolation. The minute Pnoy announces his true preferred candidate, Pnoy loses his main support base. With a Grace Poe-Chiz Escudero tandem looms, Pnoy has no other option except to accept his party's decision to field an unpopular candidate. Pnoy's hands are tied. He risks creating another possible political "enemy" in the camp of Roxas.

With Poe running for the presidency, Aquino's future is already secured. That five-hour dinner aims to  assure the departing Chief Executive that no criminal case would be filed against him. A Mar victory is an icing in the cake. Poe is not expected to do the right thing and punish those responsible for the celebrated DAP/PDAF scandal. Why?

Who supports Poe and Escudero but none other than the Nationalist People's Coalition or NPC which is controlled by Danding Cojuangco, uncle of the president. Aside from Cojuangco, the Zamora brothers and Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corporation. These people are MINERS.

Ang is interested in Tampakan gold mines in Cotabato, while the Zamoras maintain several mining concessions. Of course, the Cojuangcos are active as well in the extractive industry in cement.

Who triumphs if Poe succeeds in her candidacy? It would be the miners. These financiers expect their Return on Investments or ROI, and it will not just be political ROI.

And if Roxas succeeds, who wins? It would be Eric Gutierrez, the mining partner of Edgar Erice, the lapdog of Roxas in the Liberal party. Gutierrez is a protege of Zamora. So, even if Zamora is not physically there in support of Roxas, he has his proxy in the person of Gutierrez.

See those luscious forests in Mindanao? It would surely be gone the minute Poe or Roxas wins. Heard those deaths in Semirara? That would increase the minute either one of these candidates win.

Scoping these candidates for the presidency and surely almost everyone with the exception of Ping Lacson has backers connected with the mining sector.

If Poe or Roxas wins, their backers in the business community also wins. And we all know what happened during the Aquino administration, when no one among his erring Cabinet members got punished for their dastardly sins against the people because they were well protected by the political equity of the incumbent President. This should change with the next administration.

Now, before we even consider who to vote for, please for the sake of our country, our choice should never be an emotional one. The next president should be elected based on meritocracy.

Why? Because the next six years would see this country prosper beyond everyone's expectations. Our politics should mature. Our governance should improve to complement this growth in the economic sector.

Abaya is right---MRT problems, not political--its Liberal catatonia

DOTC secretary Emilio Abaya is right. MRT problems are definitely not political. It is administrative and inevitably linked with, governance.

When Abaya countered the Vice president's tirade against the MRT/LRT operational woes, the embattled DOTC secretary admonished the VP of connecting the issue with politics. There is no such thing in the DOTC, says Abaya. And I agree.

Had Abaya just lent a minute in listening to what the VP said, Binay did not link the MRT issue with politics, no. He linked it with inefficiency (kapalpakan). It is also wise to link it with the issue about "manhid" or transliterated into "paralysis" (to some, manhid means paralysis).

Abaya admitted that the problems persists and Abaya has been there for many years already and solutions remain undiscovered. Is the VP referring to operational catatonia when he accused the government of mismanaging the MRT issue? Yes. That's too obvious even for a West Pointer such as Abaya.

When you put "palpak" and "manhid" together, one term emerges---catatonic behaviour in governance. Another term is created--the inertia syndrome.

Don't worry, Mr. Abaya, this syndrome is evident in post-dictatorial administrations, something observed to really happen in countries which underwent strongman rule. Read SAŠA POLJANEC-BORIĆ paper, "Transfer of Governance Culture: A Case Study of Socio Cultural Barriers for Institutional Adaptation in Croatia." It's a deficiency.

That explains why persons such as Abaya is appointed to such positions in government to wrestle itself free from this deficiency. The problem really is when those in power do not recognise/admit or altogether gloss this deficiency over. The result is a self-destabilising catatonia (a state of immobility and stupor).

This catatonia proceeds from lack of empathy with the masses. Why is there apathy among government officials right now? It is because they belonged to the cono class, whose concern is economic meaning self-preservation.

Abaya, like his forebears, only want nothing more than preserve his family's wealth. This same goes with his principal, Mar Roxas, whose thirst for power is unquenchable because of his family's many economic interests proceeding from their businesses.

Abaya probably forgot the very reason why he is there at the DOTC. Or Abaya is right and I am wrong-- that Abaya is in there for the RIGHT REASONS, and that is, pursue the Liberal's interests.

All is not lost for Mar Roxas

I've been studying the communication being purveyed by Mar Roxas to his publics, and really, it does not help him improve. For one, he allows discredited third parties to speak for and on his behalf. One example is Caloocan Congressman Edgar Erice. The very fact that he is Roxas' lapdog totally disqualifies him from speaking for and on his behalf.

Erice should be the last person to speak about Mar. Every time he opens his mouth, Erice does harm rather than add goodwill for Mar. Everyone knows how corrupt Erice is, and he is the least person to talk about a replacement for Pnoy.

I've seen Mar up close and personal and if this is just a two-party fight, and the audience choose based on capability, integrity and character, Mar has a chance to beat others.

As a strategic communications professional, I have a very important tip for Mar--- present yourself to the masses/public without any pretensions and be ready to be accepted by them without any conditions.

Mar does not need fancy advertisement. Mar does not need any embellishment. Mar is okey the way he is. Got it?

For the last time, present yourself before the people--warts and all. You don't need a publicist to do that. Present yourself and ask for some forgiveness for the things you did in the past. Meaning, come clean.

Accept that you are a bureaucrat, that you are an amazement with small groups. You are not as handsome as the others, but you have the mind, the skills, and the experience that you feel are enough qualifications for the people to consider you as their leader.

Throw away all your traditional thoughts about politics. Present yourself without any makeup, without anything and the people will accept who you are. That's the secret of attraction.

I call this strategy---pagbabagong bihis. Mar, you need this, not just to win, but to be able to really connect with the people whom you love.

Official Tandems for 2016 Philippine presidential elections: BInay-Duterte, Poe-Francis, Mar-Bong

This came from various sources considered highly reliable.

The Grace Poe-Chiz Escudero is not anymore a shocker. You know that. It would only change if Mar's group led by Erice force the issue and present a Roxas-Poe tandem, which at this point, is welcomed weakly by people.

The rumour is that Poe-Escudero would be supported by the administration in a broad coalition led by Liberal party members, several members of the Kapatiran party, Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), and some members of the Nationalista party.

If this happens, Mar Roxas' group will gravitate towards the Nacionalista party. The Nationalista party, thru Senator Cynthia Villar, has intimated its desire to coalesce with a party. Villar mentioned that three of its senators, namely, Alan Peter Cayetano, Antonio Trillianes IV and Bongbong Marcos want to run for a higher position.

Cayetano announced that he will decide by June if he's gonna throw his hat unto the ring, while Trillions IV is all set to run for the second highest post since he believes he has a better chance of winning when he does that. Bongbong, by the way, is being torn by personal friends edging him to try and run for the presidency, yet, as surveys show, he has a very strong chance for the VP post if Poe runs for the presidency.

So, what is shaping up is that, if the main Nationalistas aligned themselves with the Liberals, it would be a Mar Roxas-Cayetano or Mar-Trillianes or Roxas-Marcos or to some, Mar-BongBong.

The Vice president's political party is also taking shape and in the Philippine political environment, these two forces are trying to snatch one group from the other. Visualise them as two whirlpools. UNA is more organised now than before, because of the entry of several Lakas-NUCD heavyweights and former UNO aligned politicians. There are likewise, strong Estrada allies coming into the fore.

What would "shock" the public is the imminent announcement of a Binay-Duterte tandem which is entirely possible and feasible, if you ask me. Aside from the skin color, both offers two unique items in the table: they are all experienced local chief executives and they are all lawyers. The public perceives the two as tough, strong-willed and with a vision for the country. If this happens, this is, by far, the best tandem.

How about Panfilo Lacson, what about him? Will he throw his hat unto the ring?

Lacson will up the ante just so to push his re-election bid to a much higher level of awareness. But, insofar as really and seriously pushing for his presidential bid to its logical conclusion, Ping knows he does not have a chance with Binay and Poe as opponents.

So, 2016 is shaping up to be a titanic fight between "experience" and "youthful idealism." Who will snatch the public's attention more? Who between them would successfully prove that one is better than the other?

On Mar Roxas and why we haven't elected a Technocrat as President

From 1986, the Filipino electorate has elected a former housewife, a former general, a former actor-mayor and a former college professor as Chief Executives. What we haven't tried to elecThe housewife, Cory Aquino won in an election reportedly against a strongman. Her choice was more of the need of the moment thing instead of a rational and collective decision.

That former general's election came at a time of great destabilisation caused by the militant and armed component of the revolution which brought a former housewife to the palace. There was general agreement that the country needed someone who has the experience not just in war, but in peace.

When peace has been restored, we elected a former mayor-actor, the very first "democratic elections" since 1986. Estrada won due to his large network and his great appeal to the masa. Estrada's administration would have been great had it been stopped in its tracks at mid-stream. Self-moralising segments of the elite and middle forces converged and ganged up on Erap who left the palace, like his former precious idol, with his tail between his legs.    

He was replaced by a more favourable personality, whose bloodline came from the hacienda class. She nearly resigned yet was prevailed upon by several of her allies who were caught in their respective scams as well.

After her, we elected the son of the former housewife. The son will cap the 30 years since this country expunged dictatorship from its memory.

Thirty years and look at the persons we elected into the Office of the President. We elected an inexperienced housewife and the four critical years under her rule were met by deafening shouts for change. Many of us regretted electing her as a counterpose against a strongman.

The six years under Ramos was also met with controversies, as the country reeled from a very debilitating power crisis only to find itself missing several millions of pesos due to graft and corruption.

The Estrada administration was billed as the "most chaotic" yet if you look closely, the administration fared far better than Arroyo's and even of Ramos' despite the 2-year administration.

The secret is simple--during Estrada's time he recruited the best people in government and put them to manage bureaucratic posts. Mar Roxas was one.

It is time for us, ordinary folks, to take a very serious look at the Office of the President. This office is not for jokers, although we may have erred in a major way before, electing who we think fits into it but turned out to be jokers eventually, now is the time to change all that.

In an interview, Mar Roxas said he might be the best there is in a pool of Presidential aspirants, and in a way, I agree (in a belated way anyway).

Roxas is a highly educated man, an Ivy leaguer. He is experienced and I think his heart is in the right place.

The problem is Roxas is more of an analyser rather than a do-er. He ponders about the problem longer than others because his mind is wired to think that way.

In our criterion of who fits into this post, we always say that it must be a guy who thinks in a strategic manner yet has the heart to consider the welfare of the poor.

Roxas could be our perfect president but he simply cannot and will not be precisely because his brain was not wired to accept the job and show the skills necessary for a person to do things we consider presidential.

We must treat 2016 differently as we cannot afford to elect another lemon into office.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Poe-Chiz Trial Balloon?

After hearing about a possible Roxas-Poe tandem, here comes another--a Grace Poe-Chiz Escudero or being popularised as "Poe-Francis." Many media friends attest that this is the tandem being formed by most trusted and closest allies of President Aquino. Of course, this will not sit well with the Binay group which continues to support Aquino.

Seems like these people are positioning Poe as a political prostitute. Is she?

Like any other, this so-called "tandem" is just a trial balloon, something being tested by several people. The only question really is, will this tandem be "acceptable" to critical sectors of society, particularly of business? For some members of the business community, yes.

Others say, the Poe-Francis tandem is being floated about to discourage Roxas from running. Roxas knows that he does not have any chance against Vice president Jejomar Binay, who continues to be the frontrunner in any presidential survey.

Is a Poe Francis tandem a direct threat against Binay? At the surface, it seems so, but in reality, it does not.

Popularity does not win elections. Every veteran of political wars out there knows that. You're popular now, but months from now, that's a different case altogether. You could lose your popularity overnight.

Network and a supportive constituency win elections.

Several political analysts think that Poe shares the same constituency as those of Binay and she is the perfect counterpoise against the veteran political campaigner. Well, they can always hope that she does but Poe does not. How about Escudero? Is he enough to trounce Binay in a one-on-one? No.

Escudero may have the best and the brightest political operators but as things stand right now, his network pales in comparison with Binay's.

Now, this analysis would change if Estrada's network is involved. Estrada's political power still exists and packs enormous strength.

If Estrada lends his support behind Poe, that's a different case altogether because that would surely create cracks in Binay's own network.

Admit it---Binay is really the man to beat this coming 2016 elections. Poe is still politically immature. She might be popular in urban cities but I don't believe the bulk of the voting population would rally behind her come election time. For one, Poe does not have anything to prove in the "help department" something very important in any election.

The Political Game in the Philippines--what's in store in the next few months

The political scene is starting to heat up, with different groups talking with each other, ostensibly about alliances, mostly temporary, yet with the end view of arriving at win-win solutions.

Obviously these political meetings will not be about discussing China's intrusions into Philippine territory, or how to improve the lives of the poor, no, far from it. The staple talk would simply be how best these personalities would protect their individual interests or what administration would be able to protect the wealth of the already wealthy. Even after 2016 or whoever emerges as the winner out of that intramural, the situation  of the Filipino would remain dismal, even worse than before.

Talks about the possible Mar Roxas-Grace Poe tandem has been waifing in the air since last year. That thing about a possible adoption of Rudy Duterte as an LP candidate is just something thrown to confuse the public about what Lakas really intended to do.

Notice that the political landscape has changed drastically during the past six years. Honestly, there is no more dominant party. Of course, the LP can claim to be the biggest, yet, its influence is in question. You may have the largest number of Congressmen at your stable, but how many of them are strong enough, and influential enough to turn the tide over and help the sagging popularity of the LP administration candidate?

That Mar Roxas-Grace Poe tandem is intended to help Roxas more than Poe. Roxas' numbers are going the abysmal route and his political backers are hoping that Poe's strong "goodwill" with the people would be sufficient to lift Roxas up the ladder more.

The LP's game plan is simply create an acceptable public perception of Roxas' winnability and their operators would take care of the rest. Between the two, this election is crucial for Roxas because this is his last try and failure will simply end his political career.

If Mar-Poe does come on board, the priority will be Mar's campaign more than Poe's because even if she loses the vice presidential run, she still has that at least three more years as a Senator.

The problem with that thinking is the fact that it is highly uncertain if Poe has the "pulling power", strong enough to create a scenario which puts Roxas at level footing with frontrunner Vice president Jejomar Binay. The only political phenom that has the pulling power is former president Joseph Estrada. He has this ability that convinces people to support his endorsement.

Poe doesn't have that. What she enjoys right now is a good perception as a Senator, and a possible leader, but this can change drastically as election nears.

Now, would the blessing and endorsement of Pnoy matter to push Mar up and away from possible defeat? A survey shows that Pnoy's endorsement will not change the political fate of Mar. However, that would be a sign to several people occupying sensitive posts in the bureaucracy to begin "producing" for Mar. What this means is what resigned Customs chief John Sevilla said during his press con---that the Customs would be used by several political forces for fund-raising purposes.

This means simply that the next remaining months would surely rev the throttle for more corruption in government just to shore up finances to support and force a Mar presidency.

Mar Roxas statement re SAF Massacre---I did not know (WTF)

On massacre of SAF in Maguindanao: wala po akong
kinalaman dito/ Para que ka pang naging DILG
secretary, nalulusutan ka pala ng mga tao mo?

DILG secretary Mar Roxas yesterday feigned innocence on the mission of the SAF in Maguindanao which resulted to 49 deaths and scores injured.

His PR handlers are trying to isolate him from blame by effecting a story in a newspaper blaming PNP chief Alan Purisima for the botched operation. 

Hay naku! These PR guys just don't know what they're doing. They just pictured their principal in a very bad light.

Imagine, a person aspiring for the top post in 2016 just clueless on what's happening below him? The contingent sent pala by the SAF composed of more than 400 troops and here is your DILG secretary in the dark as to the deployment of such a huge number of assets and men?

He says he does not know such a huge operation against two known international terrorists? 

That shows you what will happen to us, ordinary people, if we allow such an incompetent person to occupy the highest executive post of the land---he will just allow his men to just do their own thing with him always exercising deniability.

Had it succeeded, I'm sure Mar will try to get all the credit. Of course, now that it failed disastrously and the people are delirious, even at a lynching mode, trying to find out the truth who are responsible for deploying those men to the slaughterhouse, Mar is distancing himself and projecting that he is essentially a buffoon, the head of the DILG, nalusutan ng mga sailing tauhan?

It would have been very patriotic and even inspiring for Mar to just assume responsibility and call for an independent probe on what happened. 

Just think---this early, Mar has shown such incompetency and he still wants to become president? My gulai, sobrang pangarap!

Ayokong maging presidente ang isang taong manlalaglag ng sariling mga tao para lamang mapanatili ang kanyang reputasyon.

Hey Mar, be man enough! This early, you are still managing a department, and you cannot handle it? Pano pa if you're the head of the entire bureaucracy?

Mar Roxas, official LP bet as Prexy: 2016 elections and possible new alliances and breaking up of traditional political parties

" O, pag presidente ka na ah, kalimutan mong
nagkaroon ng DAP, okey? DAPat makalimutan
para di ako malagay sa kangkungan, gets mo?
Ayokong maging "like teacher, like student"

Several sources revealed what has been expected a very long time ago---the possible anointment of DILG secretary Mar Roxas as the administration's candidate. Roxas is a member of the Liberal party and obviously, the party's "sentimental" choice, according to Senate president Franklin Drilon. This was confirmed by House speaker Sonny Belmonte who says that, as of the moment, Roxas is the party's "best bet." Belmonte, however, defers to the President who remains the party's chairman emeritus.

Roxas is expected to be proclaimed as the top choice come March which obviously, is again expected since it will give him sufficient time to campaign. As I said a very long time ago, election year starts this month and ends on the last week of April 2016. Fact is, voters traditionally make their final choice of their candidates come February and there is a very small number of voters who change their choices during the formal campaign period (February-April).

What became of Grace Poe, who was said to be one of the choices of the administration? Seems like negotiations fell thru and Poe remains with her "sentimental choice" as a party, which is, the opposition.

How about this purported plan of using her as a Binay counterfoil, positioning her as a presidential bet first, to break the opposition ranks, and eventually, plan for her alliance with the Liberal party as vice presidential?

It seems that this will not happen. These insidious brains behind the LP and the administration implemented a strategy called "using one's enemy as an enemy of my main enemy."

Poe's handlers know that she is just being used by the administration to destroy the traditional mass base of Binay. Poe and Binay share the same constituency. However, what they failed to realise is that Poe's constituency is literally only on paper, not as real as that of Binay's.

Binay has the machinery--Poe does not. In the 2010 elections, Poe relied on the machinery of Escudero and of UNA. She was actually a choice of Team Pnoy, of Estrada's UNA, even of the NP.

Besides, let me refresh your memories and remind everyone that the Comelec initially pronounced her getting 20 million votes (which is more than the expected figure of votes cast) which eventually whittled down to 16 million in the final tally.

How about the view that the LP will use former president Joseph Estrada as another casa for opposition disunity?

Estrada is being urged not by well-meaning friends, but by forces close to the administration to be the cause of opposition disunity. Unknown to these people, Estrada is a very astute and very intelligent politician. He knows the character of people. He knows the game very well.

He will probably play along, yet, at the end game, will follow what his heart desires.

Estrada's SC decision is a political game changer, simply because it revives sectoral interest in support of the opposition ranks. With the declining public approbation of the administration, there is now a slowly developing force or movement, you may call it, leading towards a unified front against the administration.

Analysing this, this is all because of the un-doing of this administration. Because of the ambition of certain people who think it is their destiny of assuming power post-Aquino, their selfish interests have contributed toward the erosion of the people's positive views of this regime.

PANSININ--there is no more mention of "tuwid na daan" in some of the President's speeches, leading us to think that this early, "tuwid" is no more as adherence to the "straight path" but being interpreted now as "tumid" belly. And you know why.

Presidential elections in 2016: Roxas-Poe tandem for administration

This early, many sees a four man fight for the top executive post come 2016.

DILG secretary Mar Roxas is sure to throw his hat unto the ring. Aside from being the sentimental choice of Liberal party members according to Senate president Franklin Drilon, Roxas believes that it is his "destiny". Several people reportedly overheard Roxas telling people that it is his destiny because his family suffered and sacrificed so much for the country.

Who does not know Mar's grandfather, Manuel Roxas who's term as president was cut short due to a heart attack. His father, Gerry Roxas, an esteemed and well-loved Senator, and his brother, Gerry "Dinggoy" Roxas Jr both died unexpectedly. That leaves him, Mar, the only heir to the illustrious political heritage of the Roxas family.

Among those who want the presidency, Mar Roxas is the most trained, having served in various capacities under several administrations. Mar knows how the bureaucracy works. Yet, ask him what monumental changes he effected during those times he served that benefitted his countrymen? Anyway, that's a different matter altogether.

Yes, his father, the late senator wrote important pieces of legislation that redounded to the benefit of the masses. Now, as regards Mar, what piece of legislation does we remember that he wrote? Anyway..

Of course, the main "thorn" of Mar is former Makati mayor and now Vice president Jejomar Binay. Binay is the first generation of his own political dynasty, a poor fella who, thru sheer hard work, climbed himself to fame and fortune. Binay belonged to a poor family and like Bonifacio, was orphaned in an early age. Nonetheless, Binay struggled and had himself educated thru his own efforts. He graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Law. Instead of practising law and getting rich quick through corporate law practice, Binay elected to become a human rights lawyer instead. He fought against the Marcos regime. He was incarcerated and even then, joined other human rights lawyers in fighting for the rights of those tagged as enemies of the state.

After EDSA revolution in 1986, Binay was appointed by Cory to administer Makati. After this, Binay ran and won as mayor. From that time on, Binay led Makati and transformed it from a tiny city into the country's richest city. He ran in 2010 and won the vice presidency.

Many sees Senator Grace Poe, a freshman senator, to also throw her hat unto the ring. Poe is an American citizen who is the adopted daughter of former actor and recognised winner of the 2004 presidential elections, Fernando Poe Jr. Poe grew in the states and frankly, no one knows what she did there and what her husband, a Llamanzares do for a living.

Anyway, Poe is running. Her campaign, which Senator Serge Osmena is backing, aims not for the top post, but comfortably, the second highest. She will proclaim her running first, just to destroy the base of Binay, and afterwards, will partner with Roxas for a Roxas-Poe tandem.

Many analysts see the Roxas-Poe tandem as the most logical team-up to preserve the alliances created among various groups during the Aquino administration. Of course, those who will back Roxas-Poe are different from the group who will back Binay.

The expected political configuration come 2016 will be:

1. The Balai group (Hyatt 10, Black and White Movement, Akbayan and LP) will team up with Osmena Group to support a Roxas-Poe tandem.

2. The Samar group (Peping Cojuangco, and close Aquino associates) will probably back Binay, along with a faction of Estrada group, a faction of the Liberals and a faction of the Nacionalista Party and Nationalist People's Coalition.

That leaves us with the Nacionalista Party---who then will they field?

Because of the foolish antics of Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV, there is not much happening within their own party. They destroyed whatever credibility and chances these two have in 2016. Among the NP, only two are viable--Marcos and Villar.

Marcos is a first-time senator and may elect not to run for the presidency. Villar, on the other hand, says his wife, Senator Cynthia Villar is busy with their real estate business, which is truly and wonderfully, being managed by the former senate president.

If we are, however, re-visit the surveys, Villar is not figuring well, unfortunately. Other Nacionalista party members such as Bongbong Marcos Jr are scoring better than Villar. The thing about Marcos is that, he is the most logical and probably, a most sentimental choice among young voters yet, several analysts believe that his time is not yet up.

The most logical for the Nacionalista is to cause a coalition of forces with either the LP or Binay's UNA. Who will they pick?

Senator Chiz Escudero, who is a party less politician, figures well in the surveys. He is being backed before by Danding Cojuangco of the NPC, but they had a widely published break-up.

Should Escudero break from the mild so to speak, and chose to ally with the LP, he will not get what he wants which is an endorsement as vice president.

If Escudero elects to ally with the Binay group, he stands to alienate himself and break with the group of Poe, whom he is very close. This is an open option.

If Escudero chooses to do it alone, the most viable partnership is really with Trillanes. However, sources say if Poe runs for the vice presidency, Trillanes will surely give way. The chances of winning however is slim because they don't have a major or big financier.

So, then, if we are to look at the political landscape, it seems that the only concrete tandem now being pursued vigorously by certain members of the administration is the Roxas-Poe tandem or RP Team for short.

This is worrisome because this tandem represents the various interests of Big business dominating the country.

The Year of the Goat--what to expect in politics in 2015

The cuffs are off come this year

Okey, so this year is the Year of the Goat, according to the Chinese calendar. Based on Raymond Lo's estimation (Lo is a popular and most sought-after Feng Shui master), this year is generally described as violent, because wood which is yin sits upon yang/earth. Meaning, there is conflict between these two elements. When there is conflict, there is disharmony.

These two elements cause friction, which is in essence, impacts on the political life of the nation. Conflicting parties will go at it--and with severe conviction and consequence to socio-economic and political life.

2015 is an election year. It is where political personalities finally decide to try their political lucks. Of course, formal campaigning begins in February and ends in the first week of May. However, we all know that the selection period starts as early as August 2015 and ends by January or February 2016, when most voters already chose whom to vote come May 2016. If a candidate manages to establish a strong connection with voters from January 2015 up to November 2015, he has a stronger than even chance of getting the post he wants come May 2016.

Based on studies, voters chose based on personal character, platform of governance and previous record of service, in this order. On personal character, voters prefer those who are easy to approach, intelligent, amiable, and not corrupt. Platforms are normally judged based on political party affiliation while in terms of record of service, the things which he did for the community he once served.

Obviously, the first half of this year will centre on attacks against Vice president Jejomar Binay which began very early in 2014. Those attacks already got their marks and reflected on Binay's survey ratings.

Binay is still the top man to beat, yet it seems that those attacks are tapering off, meaning, losing their stings. That explains why Trillianes in an interview says they, meaning his colleagues over at the senate who hate Binay, are coming up with another witness, a new one, to further bolster their case against the former Makati mayor.

Senator Antonio Trillianes IV in a December interview by the Philippine Daily Inquirer reveals that anti-Binay attacks will still continue from January up to April or May. Meaning, expect fireworks from the Binay and anti-Binay camps, probably again dealing with the Vice president's alleged corruption during his time as mayor of Makati. This attacks will have major impact on the chances of the vice president come 2016. Obviously, the aim of these attacks is to isolate Binay from big-time political financiers and contributors to dilute his chances of electoral victory in the presidential elections. Obviously, money is a key factor in any campaign, and even if you are a popular one and you have a network, but you don't have enough logistics to fund the network activities, then, you're dead.

Those in opposition to Binay are betting their chances of further dragging the vice president further down the ratings game, because everyone knows that financiers hinge their decision to support based on the candidate's winnability. And knowing any better, they base their decisions on surveys.

Without any major counter-offensive, the vice president is an open target.

Attackers of the vice president likewise expects him to spend time putting out fires affecting his time doing his rounds.

While Binay faces his accusers, anti-Binay elements expect their "favoured" candidates to benefit from the fall-out. However, if we base our observations on previous surveys, the gain is non-substantial. If one spreads the survey and include other personalities in the equation, those intended to benefit namely Grace Poe and Mar Roxas barely get the chunk of voter supporters of Binay.

The reason is simply, Poe's and Roxas' constituencies are different from Binay's.

Before, Poe's constituency reflects those of Binay's. However, it now appears that Poe's constituency is changing. It is actually attracting supporters from Roxas' which means that the more Poe's numbers increase, the lesser voters support Roxas.

The general observation is that, when Binay's numbers fall, the fall is not benefiting one or two persons--it is being spread throughout the list of possible candidates.

Meaning, if Miriam Santiago and Ping Lacson's names are included, they benefit from Binay's ratings slides, not necessarily Poe or Roxas. Hence, if this is only a two-man fight, there is that possibility even that Binay stays with minimal change.

This means that whatever the opposition to Binay does, it will not lead to Poe finally eclipsing Binay to the top spot. Poe's numbers are expected to plateau very soon because let's face it, Poe is not the best candidate in the minds of the informed and uninformed publics. There are still facets of her personality that are, at best, hidden from view, so to speak. This is her weakness.

What does this means? Let's see if Poe's numbers still hold when attacks against her reputation are launched. Poe's handlers know that she has various skeletons in her closet, waiting to be exposed before the public.

If Poe is adopted by the administration as its candidate, this will benefit Binay, because her previous constituency base will again change. Will an Aquino blessing help Poe win 2016? No. Aquino obviously does not have the powers an Estrada holds. Estrada's endorsement is more potent than Aquino's.

However, it will be a different ballgame altogether if Estrada bets in Poe than Binay's. An Estrada endorsement of Poe will even the odds, so to speak, both in terms of popular support and financier backing.

The downfall of RP's Three Kings and the Effects of a Grace Poe candidacy in Mar Roxas' destiny of being King

The downfall of the Three Kings, the Possible Candidacy of Grace Poe and its effects in Mar Roxas’ destiny of being King himself
By Ricky Rivera

In the summer of 2013, three public personalities came out and announced the possible victory in the political arena of their new alliance. Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile, former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada and Makati mayor Jejomar Binay went out and declared themselves the “Three Kings”.

A year later, this new group of so-called political royalties was practically wiped out in the political scene. Enrile is now in jail, Binay is facing numerous accusations of graft and corruption while Erap now faces possible ouster from his post as Manila mayor. Binay has since declared himself independent of his former political party, the PDP-Laban while Enrile has since left the United Nationalist Alliance which he joined alongside his good friend, Erap Estrada.

Rumors are swirling that Erap may be ousted from his post this January the minute a Supreme Court decision comes out which disqualifies him from the post. Sources say, the decision came from the case filed by defeated mayoral candidate Alfredo Lim, a former Erap political ally. Lim argued that Erap’s “pardon” attaches a caveat of not participating in any electoral exercise.

If this happens, then its 2001 again for Erap, who was ousted in a January mutiny, 13 years ago. 13, according to close friends of Erap, is really a bad number for the former president who is also reputed to be a strong believer of numerology.

What happens to the “opposition” if Erap loses his post and the only “king” left is Vice president Jejomar Binay?

Speculations are rife that the “Powers-that-be” are likewise planning, nay already salivating, of seeing Binay behind bars prior to 2016. The anti-Binay camp is silent, probably creating and calculating their next moves. What is most certain is that this group will try and get Binay come February, shortly after the Papal visit and maneuver to cause the filing of a criminal case against the vice president come April. A criminal case will surely prevent Binay from running in 2016. Failure to do this means Binay running for the presidential post and possibly snatching the top post if he runs against Poe.

Poe, according to several sources, is being courted actively by the President himself. There is a possibility that Pnoy will repeat what his mother did in 1992---announce his support for Mar Roxas and then shifting it to Poe, if the senator throws her hat unto the political ring.

The problem with a Poe candidacy is her lack of grassroots machinery. Remember that in 2010, Poe ran using Chiz Escudero’s network. If Poe runs, surely Escudero will definitely be not far behind. Is the administration pushing for a Poe-Escudero tandem? The possibility is not impossible. With Escudero’s vaulted grassroots machinery paired with the administration’s and financed by fat bonuses from the 2015 national budget, the win is as sure as day.

What then happens to Mar, whom sources say, considers the 2016 as his key ticket towards his supposed “destiny”—that of the presidency?

Hard core Liberals will surely push Mar to declare his candidacy. He will run with a candidate from the Nacionalista Party, possibly either Alan Peter Cayetano or Antonio Trillianes IV. Or if Mar’s ratings continue its slide, the NP may even consider fielding their own candidate, which, most likely, would be their president, former senator Manny Villar. More on this later.

What is most certain is that a Poe candidacy is like a monkey wrench thrown at the administration party. Many Liberals are thinking of pairing Mar with Poe (Roxas-Poe tandem or RP Team), which some of Poe’s close advisers would probably agree. Running for the vice-presidential post is Poe’s safest bet. For one, Poe is a sure winner, a vice presidential run is not as costly as a presidential and this is a possible “win-win” solution.

Why is it that the administration is betting for a Poe? One, many members of the Aquino administration are banking on her support post-Aquino. Surely the president does not want to suffer the same fate as that of Gloria’s.

Aquino and his cabinet members feel safe with Poe which they feel will not fight their interests post-Noynoy. They don’t feel the same way with Binay. The on-going power struggle between the Binay faction which is composed of several groups closely allied with the Aquino family and those of the Hyatt 10 or Balai group has already turned personal and surely, the Balai group will definitely not allow themselves to be tagged or persecuted after Noynoy.

Poe is a logical choice because she appears to be not a real political threat, much the same way, political bigwigs perceived Noli de Castro, who won the vice presidential post inspite of being connected with former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Yes, Poe is popular but she does not have real power or real weight as a political player. Anytime, Poe can be demolished by her enemies through accusations of corruption. Poe knows that the formula that worked to demolish Loren Legarda applies even to her. She cannot forever hide behind the contrived belief that she is a Poe—a daughter of former presidentiable Fernando Poe Jr. There will be a time when her name will be disassociated with the good name of her surrogate father and eventually cause her downfall in the political arena.

With Poe as a potential administration candidate paired with Roxas, there is a strong chance of winning the presidency once more for the true beneficiaries of the Tuwid na daan—the political families which back this administration and have consolidated their political and economic bases to perpetuate their hold unto the economy and the political state.

What that Esquire cover of Mar Roxas wants to hide

For my take on that Esquire cover of Mar Roxas, see previous blog entry and there is another take at http://www.theilustrado.com.

There is now a conscious effort by this administration to brush off the stains of neglect and mismanagement which attended the post-tragedy relief and rehab work. What happened to the 73 billion pesos pledged by foreign donors? Where did they spend the initial 17 billion pesos of donations?

Mar--we do not forget what you told Tacloban mayor Alfred Romualdez at the height of this tragedy. Let us watch this. This is what Mar and his handlers want us to forget.

What Mar said in his meeting with Romualdez encapsulated or punctuated the very nature of government rehab efforts--that, even in tragedies, politics exists.

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.

Threats against the Aquino administration much bigger today than 4 years ago

The possibility of President Benigno S. Aquino III getting his first taste of a coup looms much bigger today than in the first four years of his administration, a source told this writer yesterday.

In a private huddle this weekend, a source says that if Aquino falls due to a coup, it is because of his own doing. He says Aquino has distanced himself from various groups which have worked hard for his election in 2010.

These groups, most of them composed of well-meaning individuals who did not seek any appointive posts from Aquino, enjoy a high reputation among middle forces.

Since the DAP issue broke out, many of the conscience block of the Aquino administration asked for the president's explanation but was repulsed, allegedly by the President himself. Another group, those close to the family especially to the Presidential sisters and some members of the partylist group Akbayan were likewise given the bum steer reportedly by the President.

According to some people, people behind Hyatt 10 and those close to LP Mar Roxas were responsible for the indignant stance of the President. One of the Hyatt 10 members, reportedly Butch Abad was the one who reportedly told the President to "stick to the group" for fears of getting a backlash reportedly from the stated enemies of the administration (read: " pro-Arroyo" group).

Now, it seems that the President has been "besieged" by LP and other people closely allied with Mar Roxas (read: LP). Presidential adviser Ronald Llamas, a member of Akbayan, and Vicente Emano, a member of the Black and White Movement are reportedly already working for the Mar Roxas group.

A source says the President is now "with blinders". She did not elaborate.

With the conscience block already neutralized, the Hyatt 10 and the Mar Roxas group are now struggling very hard to neutralize officials close to the Vice President. However, one of them, Executive secretary Paquito Ochoa continues to enjoy tremendous trust of the President inspite of his being a member of the Panay block. (Remember that there are four blocks in the palace surrounding the President: Balai of Mar Roxas composed of LP, Black and White Movement, Akbayan and Hyatt 10 members, Panay composed of close associates of the Aquino family who supported Binay as vice presidential candidate, Panfilo Lacson block and Chiz Escudero/Sergio Osmena block. Osmena has since distanced himself from the palace, leaving Escudero's group behind.

Many of those within the conscience block are close to idealistic soldiers and former officials of the AFP. It is said that some of them are moving against the administration.

Another group, composed of retired and junior officers who oppose the Bangsamoro Basic Law, is likewise a serious threat to the survival of the Aquino administration.

A father's take on the Senate hearings on Binay--please talk about other things and reject Grupo Cono (Cayetano-Trillanes-Pimentel-Roxas)

What more?

I just got my payslip and noticed how huge my tax deductions are. This tops those taxes being taken from me every time I eat out or buy something in the grocery or shopping mall.

Everytime I use the roads, I remember the road tax also taken from me every year. When I use my laptop or watch TV, I remember the taxes taken from me every single time I receive my Meralco billing. Each time I call or text, taxes are being taken away from me. And it irritates me whenever I see an erroneous entry in my Globe bill. You know why? Because it adds to the tax passed to me by this telco.

Even the money I keep in the bank are being taxed.

Me, my kids, their future

Every single centavo that I get from my employer, represents every single second I spent using my skills, my brain, and every single part of my body ache every week because of the strains and pressure of my work. And I'm not getting any younger. As I age, I lose opportunities. Yes, none of my skills are lost but time slowly eats me, sometimes, it eats me whole.

And then I see my kids--six of them--and I begin to worry.

With rising prices of foodstuffs, clothes, tuition fees, transportation--almost everything--how much more work do I need to do just to give them the life that I never had? What life will they have years from now? Would it be the life that I want for them?

will we sustain these gains when
dirty politics are being practised by our
so-called "leaders"

I remember how my grandparents, my mother, and my titos and titas tried very hard to raise me and provide me with the sustenance and the things I needed just to be able to finish college.

We were able to survive and get a good life because of government.

Every single centavo is precious to me. I am raising six highly active kids, my contribution to the Motherland.

That's why it irritates me, no it ANGERS me, to see my precious taxes being spent on useless hearings being conducted by three underperformers namely Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Antonio Trillanes and Koko Pimentel.

Instead of finding solutions to the pressing port congestion, rising prices of foodstuffs, MRT long lines, MRT operational problems, environmental destruction, peace and order and so many other things which make life so unbearable here, these stooges use these hearings just for their own selfish political reasons.

Check the websites of these gentlemen and ask them--what laws have they passed that benefitted me and my family? None! Trillanes put in his website that he was instrumental in the passage of the Freedom of Information Act. Where is it? It is still being debated!!

How about this Cayetano, what good did he do for the country? He just yacks, yacks, yacks. He wants us to forget that he, along with his forebears, were traitors of the Revolution. His father was also involved in an anomaly right? Cayetano and his wife were also charged with corruption and even election rigging. Instead of facing these issues like a man, Cayetano hides in the sanctity of the Senate. He is becoming so abusive.

I expect Koko Pimentel to allow the immediate passage of the Divorce Law since he himself has a very tragic personal experience about marriage but what is he doing? He is cavorting with the two other gentlemen just to exact his revenge when Binay accepted his main political nemesis as a member of the opposition.

These senators have an axe to grind against Binay, not to mention, their own personal ambitions or delusions you might say, of power and grandeur. Cayetano wants nothing more than the presidency, which, already the people are telling him not to aspire anymore since he's not capable. He cannot even solve his hair problems.

Trillanes has proven to be just a lapdog of the rich and famous, something which is expected of him. Remember those stupid outings he did in the past? Where did he allegedly fought the government of former president Gloria Arroyo? Hindi ba sa mga hotels? What will he do when he becomes vice president? Hold office too in hotels, I guess.

Worse, aside from wasting our precious taxes, these three wittingly or unwittingly allow themselves to play in the hands of the Cono group of Mar Roxas. Or maybe, these three already made a pack with the devil, pardon the pun.

If these three think that a Roxas presidency is better than Binay's or Grace Poe's or whoever, think again. The people know better. Roxas is a representative of the rich, those who own 90% of the country.

Under a Roxas presidency, expect further price hikes and expect the traditional rich, those high brow and with aquiline noses to amass more wealth.

Roxas represents neo-liberalism which means " selling every single government property to the private sector". This guy does not have a vision for this country. He is a salesman, yes. He will sell every single government agency and service to the highest and his most preferred bidder, which, incidentally, is the Ayala group.

This early, Roxas and his gang of misfits in government already revealed their true colors--they are partial with the Ayalas. The Ayalas want to own everything so that they will be able to charge exorbitant fees, the very same tactic they do with Globe and with their other "services".

The very reason why Roxas gets a very low trust rating is because the people know better. For the years that Roxas has spent in government, name just one thing that made our lives better? None! Fact is, prices of commodities and goods even went up, thanks to the neo-liberal policies of this man who is too thick-skinned, he even claims he's "Mr. Palengke."

Yes, Mar Roxas, indeed is "Mr Palengke" for Big Business--he promotes the sale of government services instead of the other way around. What we need is a builder for a future president. We don't need a salesman.

Mar Roxas and his clique: Roxas-Ayala-Zamora

Why is it that Mar Roxas and his bunch of rich kids all belonging to traditional rich families want the presidency come 2016?

Is it because Roxas is the next best thing to happen in Philippine politics? Is it because Roxas is the one expected to follow the "tuwid na daan."? Probably.

If you're one of those who think that the meaning of "tuwid na daan" means doing everything you can so that all efforts lead to the strengthening of one's political affiliation even to the detriment of the people and everybody, and you"ll be protected because of your rabid-ness, then, definitely Roxas would continue it.

Tuwid na daan means for Roxas and his group as "Thievery, Unlimited Way Into our Doors".

Roxas, as you know, represents business interests, BIG BUSINESS. Do you know that the Ayalas support him and for obvious reasons? Aside from being Roxas' relatives, the Ayalas want to control major governmental utilities. They are now into LRT-MRT, water and infrastructure development.

Ayala is moving with Roxas men behind them. For one, their main man, Cesar Purisima, backs their every move. They are now targetting Private-Public Partnerships. Nothing wrong except that they intend to influence every bidding to favor the Ayalas.

DOTC secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya is an Ayala man. Certain officials of DOTC, particularly those involved in the bidding of projects, are linked with the Ayala Group.

Roxas is also being financially backed by the Zamoras. The Zamoras are responsible for large-scale destructive mining practices. Since the time of the dictatorship, the Zamoras have been at it, exploiting and destroying virgin forests for nickel, copper, gold and others.

The Zamoras are banking on Roxas to frustrate the idea of the Bangsamoro republic. Yes, the Roxas-Ayala-Zamora clique wants nothing more than cause the defeat of this concept so that their other rich amigas in Mindanao, particularly the Lobregats, would continue their economic and political domination of the region.

These high-brow scions of traditional traitors of the Philippine republic are salivating on the rich resources of this country. They want to control it precisely because they are losing money on their lands, their haciendas.

Since these scumbags are being edged out in business by the hard-working Taipans, they want to regain dominance thru the election of Mar Roxas. They want to resume their power tripping using the backdoor. And who to help them but one of their own?

If Roxas wins, so much for democracy here in the Philippines.

Mar Roxas behind Purisima ouster moves?

Some people are saying that ouster moves against PNP Director General Alan Purisima are being implemented by several people connected with DILG secretary Mar Roxas. Is this true?

Many of us thought that Purisima is a lapdog of Roxas. According to sources, Purisima is a direct hire of President Benigno Aquino III and does not belong to the Hyatt 10 group of Roxas.

Fact is, Purisima reports directly to the President, and seldom seen in the company of Roxas.

Reports say, Roxas wants another PNP official to replace Purisima. Why?

Purisima will retire from the service on November 2015, a few months before the 2016 Presidential elections. Sources say, Roxas and some Liberal Party stalwarts want a more subservient PNP head by that time.

Sources also say that Purisima knows a lot about Roxas and by resigning, the risk of "leaks" is high. That explains why the Palace is defending Purisima up to the very end.