Ratsada sa Inquirer featured Fred Mison and Erin Tanada,some of the best and most progressive leaders of our time

Yesterday's show, Ratsada sa Inquirer was fun and highly entertaining. We have as guest, Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Fred Mison and a representative from Megaworld. Our co-hosts Deputy speaker Erin Tanada and social media maven Noemi Dado were in their element yesterday, asking guests and putting relevant and highly important questions. 


Mison is one of the most promising public servants around. Having graduated at the top of his class at West Point, the US military academy and likewise, became a lawyer shortly after his graduation from the academy, Mison is one of the most principled men in government. 


We asked several questions to Mison, including one about uploading posted by our co-host Erin Tanada. By the way, Erin just came from a climate change summit in Rio de Janeiro. He also reported his accomplishments.


Like Mison, Erin Tanada is one of the most idealistic and most promising legislators of our generation. Tanada is the deputy speaker of the 15th Congress and by far, the most energetic and the most dynamic legislator in our history.


The show was exciting and fun because we had a dynamic group that discussed things in gusto. Social media advocates Juanxi and Tonyo Cruz took turns asking questions to Mison and Erin, and even convinced the Deputy Speaker to actively promote and advocate the passage of the Freedom of Information act.


Tonyo Cruz even pointed out that among countries in Asia, it is only in the Philippines where there is no FOI. Tanada said that he will continue advocating for its passage.


Next show we will be focusing our discussion on the Freedom of Information bill.

Ratsada Inquirer: Why Carlos Celdran militates against DMCI and Ayala Land Premier projects in Manila

Performance artist and social media practitioner Carlos Celdran just appeared before the City Government of Manila with one mission---prevent DMCI, a big real estate developer, from building a 42 storey condominium in one of the historical places in Manila. 


Celdran, a long-time resident of Manila, points three reasons why he, along with hundreds of netizens, oppose this "tower" project: first, the building would just appear like a sore thumb in the historic stretch of Taft avenue. The area where DMCI wants to build their "tower" is a historical landmark. If built, the tower would be the tallest structure along Taft avenue. And being the tallest, it would obstruct other views in the area. That's the second reason. Lastly, the area where DMCI will build its own, is a hazardous area. Several studies point that the ground there cannot support such a big structure.


Last Friday, Celdran along with hundreds of others, appeared before the City Council of Manila, to specifically discuss the DMCI issue. The group has submitted a position paper before the Council. This coming Friday, the City Council will invite DMCI for it to give its side of the story.


This demonstrates how powerful social media is becoming right now in the Philippines. Aside from this issue, there were three other issues which got flak from netizens: the Pasay ordinance asking for registration fees for bike and dog owners, the "God" bill filed by Mong Palatino and the Tricia Bonoan-David proposal to solicit $50 more from Overseas Filipino Workers. These obscene proposals were discarded shortly after netizens found them out and talked these proponents out of their irrelevance. 


Social media has become a force to reckon with in the Philippines. It is slowly developing its voice, and becoming more and more influential as more and more Filipinos engage themselves electronically. 


Social media maven Noemi Dado pointed this out during our Ratsada Inquirer show last Saturday. 


She gave as an example, the advocacy of Mindanaoan, a blogger based in Cagayan de Oro, who created a movement out of a single tweet. 


At the height of Typhoon Sendong, Mindanaoan was the first to gather people together to help. With just one Tweet, Mindanaoan was able to unite people of different persuasions to come together and help other Filipinos in need of assistance.


Such a feat is becoming more and more possible right now, what with the Internet becoming more and more user-friendly and turning to be a suitable platform for causes. With its speed, the internet is now becoming a repository of the collective consciousness, now being tapped and being used to empower movements and peoples.

Ding Gagelonia and Filipino Voices Friends: Bloggers and Nationalists all

Ding Gagelonia with fellow bloggers

When I met Ding Gagelonia after a decade or so of absence, we reunited through the Internet. I remember Nick Cugtas, founder of Filipino Voices making it happen.


He was surprised to find out that Patricio Mangubat happened to be this frail writer from U.P. Diliman who does not smoke and who always lug a napsack. That same PM was actually Richard Rivera, who left DZBB to teach and take his Masterals.


That PM was both a teacher (teaching History to a bunch of kids at UP-Manila) and a student of journalism. I was very young then, barely out of University and making sense of the real world. I took a real fancy of journalism because that was my job. Eventually, that job became a profession and an obsession.


Now, I'm several pounds heavier and Ding several pounds less.In his prime, Ding was more than 200 pounds I think. After his stroke, Ding lost several pounds. That's why when I met him again, he was probably a little off my own weight.


This is our picture, together with fellow political bloggers. Now that the Filipino Voices site is gone, the connection slowly diminished. That site became our Plaza Miranda. For reasons only a few people know and I dein say here, the voices just suddenly became quiet. 


I was planning to revive a site like Filipino Voices. I was actually thinking of calling Ding and Dean dela Paz. This never materialized. I was so busy. 


This, for me, is a real tragedy. I lost Filipino Voices and I lost the only rationale voice there, Ding Gagelonia. Filipino blogging will never be the same again. 

Gilbert Teodoro: A meeting with the would-be president of the Republic?

I highly respect Carlos Celdran, one of the country's foremost promoters of historical places in Manila and one of the online people whom I feel very credible. He's a Facebook friend of mine and he's an ardent supporter of Gilbert Teodoro, the palace bet. And I highly respect his views. (By the way, his cousin, David Celdran is a very good friend too).

I was fortunate to be invited by Noemi Dado, another good friend and highly respected blogger. She formed Blogwatch (http://blogwatch.ph/), which I was very fortunate to be a guest blogger. I commend Noemi for forming this group.

Anyway, Noemi told me that there is a Blogwatch event featuring presidential bet Gilbert Teodoro. Unknown to her, I was once invited to join the Green Team of Michael Ong, a group connected with Teodoro's closest associate and supporter, Raul Lambino. I attended the first meeting and never went there again.

Gilbert Teodoro---a leader, reformer and visionary

He sat at the head of a long table, an imposing figure with an authoritative air in him. Am I meeting a president? No. I am attending a Blogwatch. ph meeting with administration candidate Gilbert Teodoro.

Teodoro is an ideal leader. He's charming. He's warm. He's a critical thinker and what I discerned, he has a deep understanding of the political system.

Gilbert Teodoro has what other presidentiables lack---he's intelligent and he's definitely a technocrat par excellence.

His prescriptions are fresh, original and utterly doable. He's a quick thinker, a lover of people, and definitely a great listener. When I looked into his eyes, I feel that Teodoro believes in what he says. He is definitely a reformer.

1. Teodoro wants to prioritize education. He wants to implement what Ateneo educator Fr. Bienvenido Nebres prescribes--one year added to the primary and secondary grades. This is in conformity with international standards.

2. Teodoro wants to fast-track modernization through increasing food security. He wants to modernize agriculture, without affecting the environment.

3. Teodoro will definitely solve the worsening urban housing problems by prioritizing giving low-cost housing to the poor.

4. Teodoro wants to bring peace to Mindanao by allowing all stakeholders all "Mindanaoans" to resolve the issues among themselves.

5. Teodoro will definitely pursue peace with all secessionist and insurgency groups. He is quite confident he has the wherewithal to do this because he's friends with all political groups.

6. Teodoro wants to continue infrastructure projects started by his supporter, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

7. Teodoro will definitely reach out to other political parties and form a consensus with them.

8. Teodoro wants to solve the problem of poverty by boosting the economy. He will definitely implement a fair investment climate, with both local and foreign investors enjoying the support of government.

9. Teodoro wants to strengthen the stability of this country by implementing a no-nonsense peace and order policy.

One heavy weight that he bears on his shoulders is his close association with the devil enfant--Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, an association which affects his relationship with the ones he want to serve as president.

Teodoro is now at the bottom rung of the surveys--only 5 percent trust and approval ratings from both the Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia. The People have spoken---they don't want Arroyo anymore and being the "anointed one", the People feel that they ought to reject Teodoro's bid for the presidency.

What is admirable about him is his realistic assessment of things---he knows how the system works and definitely knows how to speed up its modernization.

Teodoro is definitely better than other presidentiables. It's just that.....he is still directly connected with Arroyo.

However, come to think of it, that's actually an advantage instead of a disadvantage because it shows the character of the candidate.

I remember one interview with Teodoro. A journalist asked him why is he not disassociating himself with Arroyo? Teodoro answered curtly: he will definitely not do that because that would not reflect well of him. He was raised as a child with traditional values, especially on "utang na loob". Why would you bite the hand that feeds you? It would not look good if he does that.

What is certain is this---Teodoro will not prevent nor influence or use the Office of the President in pressuring anybody who wants to file a case against Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Carlos Celdran heaved a sigh of relief. Carlos is a supporter of Teodoro but hates the guts of Gloria. At least, after June 2010, even if Gilbert wins, surely, those who want to prosecute Arroyo will have a free hand expressing themselves against the former president.

If God wills, Teodoro will win this elections. Like what a Prophet said, miracles do happen.

Pontificating Dick Gordon

Much fuzz have been generated by Senator Mar Roxas' outburst during the interfaith rally. A colleague, Senator Richard Gordon, was one of the first one who "castigated" Mar when the Iloilo solon uttered such "bad words". After Gordon's self-moralizing tirade, Malacanang followed suit.

I don't know about you but I remember that incident before the establishment of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Area (SBMA). Gordon was then mayor of, I think, Olongapo Zambales. He was campaigning for the retention of the military bases since, he said, his entire province of Zambales and possibly, of Bataan, would not be able to cope with the withdrawal of US troops.

When Gordon was lambasted publicly by anti-bases groups, he cussed and threatened everyone. His cursing was worst than Mar Roxas. He even accused those who oppose the extension of the military bases as "ingrates", "fools" and "Communists". Had I decided to write in Tagalog, these words would definitely offend the sensibilities of many.

Yet, unlike Mar, Gordon cursed the people, not the people's oppressor, as what the good senator from Iloilo did.

I hope Mr. Gordon would not be that too a moralist and a pseudo good doer. Like Mar, Gordon is just human.

What would Gordon say if PGMA declares, say, Mr. Manny Villar as the administration's standard bearer and colleague Cheez Escudero as the administration's vice presidential timber, leaving him, Bayani Fernando and Noli de Castro in the lurch?Will he blurt the classic Tagalog cuss word against Gloria?

I would advise those who dreams to become president to just shut up, just do your own thing and not pontificate like they're saints when obviously, they're not.

And since I was one of those who suffered the brute force of state security forces during the struggle against the military bases agreement in the 1990's, I still remember that angry face of Mr. Dick Gordon and how he fought for the "right" of foreigners, especially foreign troops with the same color of his skin, to occupy a piece of his own country.

On a similar vein....

I came across a blog maintained by a supposed "queen". My blogger colleague is right. You'll just land there and will not dare come back.

She's one of the worst writers I have ever seen, a prostitute of the English language and of the most brutal kind. She cusses. She curses. And she even sells her mother online.

It's a shame. She speaks like a jolog, yet pretends to be a member of the elite. Shame. And, as I look at her face, her face is as crispy as lechon. Ah, now I understand.

She has flaws and flabs to hide that's why she cusses so that people will look the other way.

IN DEFENSE OF FELLOW BLOGGERS.

I vehemently condemn those who castigated some of the personalities I mentioned in my earlier blog entry. If you're a blogger, you need to respect my views on Noemi Dado and all the rest of the guys I met as I respect your views.

Dado and her husband are right. They are not after cleaning the blogosphere. However, I perceive them to be good people and I really think that they are really doing a great job as bloggers. And it is a shame for those people who hit them just because some blogger who happens to be me, perceive them as good folks. What's wrong with saying that Noemi is a great person? Or that Butch Dado, a great guy? I just met Noemi I think twice and I just like her tenacity. I just saw Butch once during the PhilippineBlogawards and I think that he's also a nice guy. Same as with what I know about Jayvee Fernandez and Juned Sunido. Totoong tao sila and I admire them for the sacrifices they are making for fellow bloggers who want the world to know that, the Pinoy blogosphere exists and it is making huge waves.