The country at campaign: Where are we?
Decision day 2010 [Photo credit: thehindu.com]
By Wilfredo G. Villanueva
If the real world mirrors general perception, if the elections were held a day before the start of the campaign for national positions, Binay captures the presidency, Escudero his VP.
We have three months to prove that people’s hearts and minds can be redirected to the truth that’s plain to see, that Binay is a crook to the highest degree, Duterte is a whacko, Poe inexperienced, and Mar, true and loyal servant of Daang Matuwid, is the one and only choice—a no-brainer of an election. Ma’am Leni, with love from Naga, is the one and only choice as spare tire, saying in effect that when she gets elected, she only starts real government work when she’s needed to fill the gap, as per job description. Unlike Binay who had to square off his territory, surround himself with finery living in a Palace of his own, and declare his passion as the next president, a breath or an election away, and don’t forget the tv crews, cameras, recorders, gaggle of reporters—presenting the Sultan of Sleaze.
Twenty-sixteen’s election copies 1986’s snap polls in drama and dichotomy, with not two but four (five if Miriam manifests herself) protagonists in an almost statistical tie at the starting line. How can the beloved country win with a minority president, cornering maybe 33 percent of the vote? With a citizenry who wears its political colors on its sleeve 24/7? With China breathing down our necks, a Muslim insurgency flushed out with the fire of Mamasapano and the BBL tossed to limbo? Yes, the republic, like in 1986, is in real danger of being torn apart, unable to find unity of vision.
We have several tools, weapons if you may, at our disposal:
One, media traditional and social. Print, radio and tv can get as near the center of the action as possible, offer opinion, but at the right moment can either deftly align itself with the perceived winner or stay at the safe zone at the most opportune time to survive as business enterprises. Traditional media, if used wisely by campaign can help propel a candidate, but only to a certain extent, knowing how some opinion can be managed. Social media, on the other hand, its reward being psychic and not financial, fights under the radar, mostly guided by principle and is therefore a rich resource for any campaign, again with healthy skepticism, knowing that paid trolls abound, diminishing instead of reinforcing messages. Media is like a bomb, properly handled it can create impact in favor of the handler, improperly, it blows up in the face of the one who wields it. In Facebook, I am surprised to get likes and shares of my political posts from people who I had thought were not with me at the start. Is it just my imagination that I am firing with small arms, but I’m picking off targets one by one, who will in turn infect their own circles of friends into their line of thinking? In stark contrast, trolls are laughable, with their askew one-liners, outrageous grammar and inability to engage in conversation. Guess what, their target audiences are even more incredulous. It’s the messenger not just the message. Character matters for the message to gain traction. In both media.
Two, the future. We may quarrel to our hearts’ content, but trot out the children, the next generation, and we sort of fall in line and be like sheep for once, so that the country will not fail—for the sake of the children. The people or a good chunk of them, will elect the one and only choice.
Three, the planet in flux. With the Fed raising interest rates and China in somewhat of a downturn—not to mention the effects of climate change—the world may be hostile to insulated mall-goers in the next six years. Who would they pick to be the next president if the other choices may not be up to it, weighed but found wanting by allegations of high crime or sheer and utter unpreparedness, hubris, deer-in-the-headlights in the face of an onrushing 18-wheeler of life-changing events?
Four, the President (belated happy birthday, Mr. President!) will be a factor in the election of his successor. He stood and delivered—gait, stutter, smoker’s cough and all. What a show, Mr. President. He is Exhibit A of Sun Tzu’s principle in The Art of War that deception is key to victory. I mean, who would have thought that a laid back son of two greats who hardly created a dent in his previous assignments—unlike the Davao mayor, unlike Binay who put on war paint at the get-go of his VP-ship to target unashamedly the highest post of the land, unlike Grace with her telegenic appearances and panache, unlike Miriam who enthralls like the Queen of England, who would have thought that he would bring the ship of state to journey through economic (GDP, investment-grade rating), military (new arms, equipment, ships, cutters, helicopters, planes), social seas and come out victorious, not your idea of crush ng bayan, yet fighting and smiling and, yes, relishing every moment of his presidency. Beware, enemies, Noynoy Aquino has got the groove. You have been warned. The guy got game.
Five, the millennials. Forty-three percent of total population, they will elect the next president. The Marcos Pa Rin fever has died down (for now), when social media was flooded a few months back with lines of undying love for the undeparted and unburied dictator. The young are extremely quiet, witness to the histrionics of the Left, witness to Binay’s sardonic smile, Duterte’s kissing spree and spitting on every value we hold dear, witness to Grace’s groundless chutzpah, witness to Miriam’s, Miriam’s, where is she? Can the young be counted on to separate chaff from grain, self-service from public service, downright evil and non sequitur from what’s obviously good—but borrring?
There you have it, ladies and gentlemen, in this corner stands Mar-Leni in yellow shorts, in four other corners fellow pugilists in varying colors with no identifiable principle or position.
Aah, thank you, Holy Spirit, you led me to the key phrase: “no identifiable principle or position.” Ro-Ro is identifiable enough. We all know where they live.
“Kung may kulang pa, pupunuin ko. Kung may mali pa, itatama ko,“ Mar. Leni (paraphrased): “I will refuse a cabinet position knowing that it will be a temptation to project myself. My position is with the poor, ang laylayan ng lipunan.” (Laylayan ng lipunan, equivalent to dregs of society.)
On the other hand:
Grace: “Ipagpapatuloy ko ang sinimulan ng tatay ko.”
Duterte: “I’ll endorse Binay if I’m DQ’d, I’ll set GMA free, I’ll give due process to Bong Revilla, but I’ll kill the vermin, the low-life, small-time criminals at arrest.”
Binay: “I’m doing this for the poor, because I am poor, or I came from the poor, see I eat with my hands (scorn, smirk, smile).”
Miriam: “I am so circumspect that I picked Bongbong Marcos to be my VP.”
There you have it. Let the contest begin. May the beloved country win. The future is in our hands. My own hand? It trembles. Why?
This year’s elections are uncannily Part II of the snap polls called by Marcos in 1986.
The protagonists are the same, although one side is Hydra-headed. Mar-Leni represents the moral force, the thing that makes parents stand up for their children, the color yellow. That’s one side. The other side is where you find Poe, reputed to have former Marcos advisers with her. Chiz, Balesin, Bobby Ongpin, get it? You have Duterte, who will not bat an eyelash to talk to Bongbong, who considers Apo Ferdie the smartest president ever. You have Binay who rubs elbows with Kilusan ng Bagong Lipunan people, BFF of Juan Ponce-Enrile who raised Bongbong’s hand in proclamation, Darth Vader himself. And of course, Miriam, who believes in the Marcos magic, having the son as her vice-president. Yes, make no mistake about it. It’s yellow versus red all over again, KBL red, reloaded.
I chanced upon a Binay organizational meeting in a restaurant in Quezon city. I thought it was a multi-level marketing push. It was instructional, like how do you answer this and that objective (“Show them this video.”). The ensuing video—I could only hear the audio—sent chills down my spine. It was a Binay meeting! They were professionals, no hesitation at all whether what they were doing is good or bad, just a job that had to be done, like putting up arko and banderitas for fiesta. The recruits or followers weren’t rambunctious, no wise cracks and silly laughter, college-level kids I think, they were all ears for the speaker who had the self-confidence of Seal Team Six. Can you imagine the cheek, dear reader? In a public place, on crystal-clear mic, the speaker saying: “O corruption ito, ha. Kausapin ninyo yung pook leader,” (“This is corruption. Talk to the pook leader,”) implying a pat in the back in light-hearted fashion. It’s as brazen as brazen gets. As if corruption is not the overarching issue against their candidate! Listen up, people. The Binay army is six years ahead of Mar-Leni’s. Money is flowing as in a pipeline and Binay soldiers are industrial-scale, pointed in one direction like German SS. All of them, Binay, Poe, Duterte, Miriam, are well-funded, well-coordinated, well-motivated. Not just one Marcos, but four of them. And I know some people who say they have no choice? That Mar is blah? Na pare-pareho lang ‘yan?
I just want to start hurling thunderbolts from my keyboard—zing! zing! zing!—anything, including boiling oil and kitchen sink.
The Society of Honor by Joe America 
“We are confident that Roxas will be elected president because we have the biggest machinery in the country and we have the most credible general campaign manager, and that is President Benigno Aquino III,” Drilon, vice chair of LP, said at a media forum in Malate, Manila.
I would not consider that an auspicious statement, considering the history of how often the “biggest machinery” actually wins.
Marcos,Mitra,DeVenecia,Teodoro….👍🏻
it is true that we can infer from the past as to what may happen in the future, we need to look at the differences as well. are LGU’s happy with tuwid na daan? that may be the driving force of the machimery they are confidently banking on. i have personal knowledge of one lgu who wants to continue down the same path. im hoping there are more.
Marcos Yes.
Ramos was the President’s candidate. He had a machinery.
Erap Puno was more able campaign operator than whoever was running De Venecia’s campaign. I remember hearing a mayoral candidate boasting that Erap was giving a couple of hundreds of thousands to a couple of million to Mayoral/Congressional/Gubernatorial candidates while De Venecia’s campaign was bogged down in red tape.
Teodoro. We or at least everyone saw that even though Gibo was a worthy candidate we never felt he had the full support of GMA. The real machinery here is that of Villar and yes in PNoy vs Erap vs Villar’s case Machinery did not win over raw popularity.
Off topic, but interesting article about Google Search. I occasionally run Google Trend to see if I can discern a major break regarding the elections, but have not been able to find much that is profound.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-11/how-google-searches-pretty-much-nailed-the-new-hampshire-primary?cmpid=google&google_editors_picks=true
I was doing some calculations and we have the same conclusions. I am working on the assumption that a specific segment of the population is the one that is weakly predicted by search correlations. Ill try the major surveys and groupings to find something to report to the society.
Look forward to it . . .
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Will, from your keyboard to everyone’s eyes!
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Thanks, Edgar! To the world and beyond!
Congrats, Will for another brilliant article.
I share your passion, and agree wholeheartedly on all points. Thank you for expressing what I am thinking all along, but could not express in such vivid and resonating words.
This must be shared to everyone of voting age. The time for decision making, for making a choice are long over, three or six months ago. The time has come to roll up our sleeves and help in the fight between the good and evil.
I hope the youth realizes that the 2016 election will determine if we will go forward or slide backward and be the sick man of Asia, the laughing stock of the world, once again.
Thanks, MG! NH thinks I am you in pants. Hahaha!
Honored here, Will
Off-topic: Joe is not a fan of the Inquirer, but I will give them credit for this – since Tuesday they’ve been running a series on the positions of the candidates on various issues. Not sure if this is online-only or if it’s in the print version as well.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirer-and-inquirer-net
Yes, that is good. Now if they would just adopt the convention of calling candidates by their last names, or with titles. It is a horribly offensive familiarity for a journalist to call Senator Poe as “Grace”, or former Secretary Roxas as “Mar”. These are not our friends. They are candidates.
A nicely-crafted essay for the start of the 2016 Election Campaign period for National Office. The Society is uncannily lining up a series of articles serving as introduction or reminders on the crucial period in the country’s journey. Will we be able to tackle the next big hump, in the context of great challenges both national and global?
On Mary’s comment (February 11, 2016 at 3:44 pm), again about “uncanny,” : the piece does sound like Mary in the thoughts but using different style. The un-loud reasoning, passion and emotion shine through.
Thanks, NH! I do sound like MG, don’t I?
http://filipinogerman.blogsport.eu/comparing-three-programs/ – the programs of RoRo, Poe, Duterte compared in a short fashion.
http://filipinogerman.blogsport.eu/philippine-presidential-candidates/ – a quick look at the candidates from my point of view – overall qualification.
Now even if one sets the Marcos vs. Aquino thing aside, the facts speak for themselves and should be used in speaking with those who don’t like yellow colors.
The two links together is a very good read and timely. I read the latter before. But the two together is a great concert of ideas with which to view the coming election.
Thanks, Irineo!
The Millenials must realize that the reason why Ramos and Enrile withdrew support for Marcos was that he cheated in the counting of the votes cast in the snap elections. The turning point was the live tV coverage of the walk out of computer professionals and encoders who discovered that the total votes that they tallied in favor of Cory Aquino were being blatantly changed in favor of Marcos as seen on screen at national tabulating Center. The military under RAM and the PC under Fidel Ramos turned their backs on the de facto dictatorship. And the Yellow Army roused by a hero’s death on August 21, 1983 rallied against the cheats, abusive egotists, bullies and sefish opportunists and filled EDSA upon the call of Cardinal Sin. But the Revolutions for Freedom of EDSA 1986 and of Balintawak 1896 remain unfinished. We are not fully free from the violence of poverty, ignorance, corruption and the culture of impunity and distorted values. And where are the millenials who can finish it? Writers like you, Will, must write on. The lies and wrong ideas about the past must drown under the shouts and whispering voices of truth tellers.
I have written two articles about finishing the unfinished revolution: http://filipinogerman.blogsport.eu/filipino-virtual-bayanihan/ and http://filipinogerman.blogsport.eu/papel-ng-taongbayan/
One must not forget that Aquino and Roxas are members of the old “royalty” that “Napoleon” Marcos persecuted… now after Napoleon it was said of the Bourbons that they had learnt nothing and forgotten nothing which was what lead to Napoleon III being legitimately voted as French President on the basis of his uncle’s (?) reputation… now Mar Roxas has learned more than Noynoy in my opinion, Bam Aquino even more… and it is not Napoleon III but Ferdinand Jr. who is around the corner…history repeats in new variations.
@transitgroup
Precisely… we have an unfinished revolution. Could it be that the problem lies in our country not experiencing a civil war? Which resulted to non-cleansing of our society.
@Will
Thank you Will . May this reach the hearts of the true patriots. For we are a group longing for a new and progressive Philippines. Proud of our heritage despite the birth pains that we are experiencing at the moment.
Birth pains, precisely, stpaul. Sourness turns to sweetness, just give it time.
Thirty years have passed, transitgroup, and we are facing practically the same enemy. Let’s not tire. Eyes on the prize.
You just made Enrille into a hero. That’s not historically correct. He was already out of Marcos’ favour, no longer the inner circle. Enrille’s role in the EDSA 1 was just him trying to save his own arse from Marcos’ wrath.
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Second this.
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Agreed.
Hi Chempo! Please indicate who the pronoun “you” refers to in “You just made Enrile into a hero.” Thanks!
Lee Kuan You? Seriously I think he did not kuwan you, I mean that he did not mean you.
His posting was a direct answer to that of transitgroup, and he I think is the Yew.
Thanks Irineo u explained for me.
More specifically, I was referrining to Transitgroup’s comment “The Millenials must realize that the reason why Ramos and Enrile withdrew support for Marcos was that he cheated in the counting of the votes cast in the snap elections.”
transitgroup,
You’ve been taken in by the anti-Marcos propagandists. There was no truth to the rumor at that time that the tabulating results were being altered at the said tabulating center right in front of live televised broadcasts. Hindi naman ganun katanga ang mga tauahan ni Marcos na gagawin iyon sa harap ng live TV. Maybe Marcos cheated Cory but not on that occasion being broadcast live on TV at the PICC tabulating center.
The walkout was part of the conspiracy to depose Marcos and the walkout was led by a computer operator there, the wife of Col. Kapunan. As we all know, Col. Kapunan was one of the leaders of Gringo and Enrile’s Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM).
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Transitgroup’s account on the Comelec walkout — that massive fraud was being conducted live — seems to tally with the following news accounts:
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/123898/neverforget–we-didnt-do-it-to-become-heroes-or-start-a-revolution—comelec-35
http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections-2013/22582-1986-comelec-walkout-not-about-cory-or-marcos
The first item is from today’s edition of Interaksyon. The article has been on the site for the past 4 days. The second comes from Rappler from 3 years ago.
In the comments section of the second item, there are comments from two of the participants, Linda Angeles-Hill (nee Kapunan) and Myrna “Shiony” Asuncion-Binamira.
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Yes, Edgar, transitgroup’s account does indeed tallied with the two news account. It’s even possible that those were his sources.
However it’s worth mentioning here that those two news accounts derived their opinions about the incident at the PICC on the statements of a group called COMELEC 35, a group of computer operators led by Linda Kapuna, the wife of Col. Red Kapunan, a leader of RAM associated with the overthrow of Marcos.
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Got you. The conspiracy theory that there was fraud would rest on the eyewitness and material evidence between the results as seen on (a) the billboard and (b) the computer tabulation being handled by the Comelec 35.
The evidence in the news items only mention the eyewitness accounts of the Comelec 35. There is no reference to material evidence.
Linda has this to say: “That I was once married to a RAM officer, who let’s not forget protected us so that we’re still around today (except for Marissa Allarey who unfortunately passed away 2 years ago due to cancer), was if I may say so, a lucky turn; Providential, we like to believe. I have always stressed that we walked out for our own selves, because we refused to be party to the anomaly we saw.”
And from Myrna: “I confirm what Linda said. This was a spontaneous act of protest; we have no leader; we are not syndicated, nor do we wish to linked to any partisan motives. If RAM eventually got involved, it was just to provide us protection, which I am truly grateful for.”
Absent any evidence to the contrary, I would tend to give the Comelec 35 the benefit of the doubt. They put their lives — and their children’s lives — on the line. I would like to believe there are heroes and not just mere plotters who think they can get away with everything.
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Okay, Edgar, no argument with you on that. Everyone has his/her own version and theories re the so called EDSA Revolution. The COMELEC 35 was regarded as heroes by the anti-Marcos and so not expected to admit any conspiracy participation in the plan to oust Marcos. It’s for each of us to believe or not her assertion that her being husband to Col. Kapunan of RAM was just a coincidence, providential in her words, Cheers, Pare ko, :).
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Cheers, Bert. I would be interested if you have any contra sources?
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Sorry, Edgar, no contra sources, just pure personal opinions based on gut feel, hehehe. I would not bother looking anyway. Marcos is past tense and history will judge him favorably, or not.
“O corruption ito, ha. Kausapin ninyo yung pook leader,” reminds me of an incident I witnessed as a teen in front of the sari-sari store and drinking bench of a barangay captain… police telling a drunk to go, he not getting it and they telling him “gusto mo bang makatikim ng police brutality?”.
Morality has not yet truly taken root in the mindset of many Filipinos – in fact it is seen as a form of weakness by many… a strong man has mistresses of course, and is generous to those who are subservient to him, while he is never in any form fair to others who might cross his territory…
Noynoy, I see by now, does embody the phrase from Matthew’s Gospel: “I am sending you out as sheep among wolves, so be wise as snakes and innocent as doves”. Now what does the street mentality, the old mindset, think of men who pray instead of drinking and whoring? Bakla, sissies. The cultural fight is between the old mindset – lying, cheating, stealing, drinking, whoring, violence versus the new mindset – hard work, honesty, facts, figures, analysis – add resolve and you have Mar, but it isn’t what passes for resolve among Marcos fans… BTW Bongbong looks like a drinker.
May Diyos naman, Irineo. Matuto’t-matututo rin ang bayan. Di ba yung silver katakut-takut na init ang pinagdadaanan para mapurify? Basta, let’s do the right thing day after day, kita mo, gaganda’t-gaganda rin sa wakas ang bayang mahal ng Diyos.
I am no great fan of Mr. Olivar but I do agree with him that Willy’s piece while it may be great literature is too histrionic and biased for my taste. It would make for a very good speech at an LP campaign rally to fire up the troops but unfortunately it brings to my mind videos of Hitler inspiring huge masses of torch wielding glazed eyed followers with his flaming rhetoric. But then again maybe its probably just me and perhaps others who still remain to be converted.
Sorry, this was supposed to be a response to the article and not as a reply to the above post.
Dios lo se in Spanish means more or less sa pagputi ng uwak… maybe or maybe not within one’s own lifetime… I see the learning process but sometimes it is dismaying.
Furthering democratic culture and national development should be the priorities, not just making sure one’s own group wins… sorry but I often had the impression that many of those supporting Mar don’t know why which is why they can’t argue it, with Noynoy it was easy because he was as Joe said supported by the usual Filipino idolatry… pasiyensa ka lang pero para sa akin hindi tunay na Kristiyano ang karamihan ng Pilipino, mga anito pa rin ang isinasamba pero santo ang tawag, datu pa rin ang hanap kahit ibinoboto nila.. 😦
What a crock, willy! 1. The Holy Spirit inspired you? 2. You admit the nation hasn’t been this divided since 1986 yet Pnoy is still your hero? 3. All the candidates are well funded except for Mar with his multi billion peso admin resources? Yellow may be the color of something but it certainly ain’t right thinking.
Mr. Olivar?
I’ll keep my dignity, you can keep your reasoning, Gary. Olivar?
Yep it’s me. Unreasoned dignity? I like that!
Walk away, Gary, there’s nothing for you here.
Invoking various saints to beatify Pnoy while calling for a civil war bloodbath? You guys need to get a life. Good luck with that. Over n out.
Go away… Spongebob needs you!
Go away Gary Olivar. Please do not misdirect the aim of Wilfredo Villanueva’s post with your mean spirited comments.
NOTES FROM THE EDITOR: “Internet service in Biliran (Globe) has deteriorated significantly during recent days. It is difficult to even connect to do research or track comments. Basically, working hours are midnight to 8:00 am and then forget it. One has to sit at the keyboard and try try try to connect.
So if this continues, the blog will go into slo-mo, or suspension.”
Joe, you are influential. Those toes you stepped on want to take your blog down. The deterioration is suspicious.
Filipinos love colorful people. They believe in forgiveness as God forgive them.
MAR ROXAS has no color at all. Squeaky clean. Banal and boring. Mar is quiet. He doesn’t throw mud. Cool and silent. Filipinos believe in “silent water runs deep”. A person of no color hardly sells newspapers. So, therefore, the media does not waste time on him, moreso, because according to polls, the blip is barely perceptible.
HERE ARE THE COLORFUL CANDIDATES AND MEDIA DARLING THAT SELLS NEWSPAPERS that Filipinos can RELATE TO THEM:
1. THE THIEVING BINAYS – they helped the bottom line of the media. Corrupt. Crooks. Thieves. Not only colorful but vividly psychedelic
2. THE MURDEROUS DUTERTE – making Davao City the safest city in the world is like a wonderland in the world. If Duterte can do it, why not? Filipinos are tired of justice system. Crooks slips thru not a crack but a wide deep abyss
3. THE MARCOSES – What? Bongbong is not running for presidency! WRONG! Meriam Santiago is running to place Bongbong as President. HOW? Meriam is dying. When she is picked as president, There will be Marcos Part II-A ReRun. The Marcoses will be forgiven and vindicated. The Philippines have a law for that that has not been struck down. Former serial failed coup-d’tater, Trillanes, was forgiven. So were Ramos, Honasan and … there were three … Aaaah, now, I remember, Enrile who is in the lam right in front of the Filipinos hiding in the Senate.
4. GRACE POE – Well, she is skinny. White. Flounder. Non-Filipino. Non-American. Non-born. No parents. Adopted. No parent have come out to claim her. Very colorful.
BENIGNO AQUINO – He was unknown. He was a nobody except he was the son of a political dynasty. He was seen bawling over his mother, former accidental President of the Philippines. He was kinda cute. Filipinos never seen a grown man cry in public. HE RAN. HE WAS ELECTED. HE BECAME A PRESIDENT!
So, if Mar Roxas needs color, I can show him the way to Malacanang. I know how.
You raise a fascinating point there at the end. President Aquino had color by being the son of a beloved, recently passed former president who is considered to have courage in ways that Filipinos respect it. Mar Roxas has none of that. Yet, the competencies of the two men are probably pretty much the same, and the platforms and values of the two are pretty much the same. The difference is the color, the superficial flair, that voters demand.
Hahaha, so you are right. The issue is not the candidates themselves, but the values of the voters. When you dine on tabloidian trash your whole life, you become fond of the stuff. You need it. You demand it. That’s the only way to explain the affection for some of the characters actually, seriously being considered as President. I mean, it’s like people are judging Korina harshly but find some philanderer’s mistress more suitable to greet the wife of the Emperor of Japan or the Pope.
By way of footnote, I explain that this is a comment on Filipino social character, not politics. I don’t care who y’all (registered voters) elect . . . by order of the Department of Immigration.
You raise a fascinating point there at the end. President Aquino had color by being the son of a beloved, recently passed former president who is considered to have courage in ways that Filipinos respect it. Mar Roxas has none of that. Yet, the competencies of the two men are probably pretty much the same, and the platforms and values of the two are pretty much the same. The difference is the color, the superficial flair, that voters demand.
Hahaha, so you are right. The issue is not the candidates themselves, but the values of the voters. When you dine on tabloidian trash your whole life, you become fond of the stuff. You need it. You demand it. That’s the only way to explain the affection for some of the characters actually, seriously being considered as President. I mean, it’s like people are judging Korina harshly but find some philanderer’s mistress more suitable to greet the wife of the Emporer of Japan or the Pope.
By way of footnote, I explain that this is a comment on Filipino social character, not politics. I don’t care who y’all (registered voters) elect . . . by order of the Department of Immigration.
MRP, Does’nt Korina add some colour to Mar?
Since campaign started or even before it even began, Mar & Korina wears the same color: Yellow T-Shirts.
I tell you, when Korina hang out to dry Mar’s tattered T-shirt it was not yellow at all. It was in the papers. She just wanted to snare some sympathy from Filipinos.
This is one thing about Mar that I like. He wears tttered T-shirts and ride MRT because it is convenient.
I’m lovin’ it.
I cannot understand your dislike for Korina. You seem so obsessed with her that practically all of your posts on anything and everything, mention her in a negative way. Is there a personal hurt you are nursing that can be expressed only by bashing her on this site? Just curious.
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Could be the opposite: unrequited love? 😉
*****
Unrequited lust is more likely. Or as the old folks say in Pinas: libog lang iyan.
Geographical tidbit: the old name of Sto. Domingo, Albay is Libog.
There is also a place in Pampanga which used to be spelled Sexmoan.
Back to my self-imposed break and silent reading of this blog.
YY is right we smart people talk and talk too much.
The Colors of the Windy
He thinks he owns whatever blog he lands on
The world wide web’s a dead thing he can claim
But I know every writer’s free to picture
His take on life, with his spirit, on his name
He thinks the only people who are readable
Are the people who write and think like him
But if he walks the footsteps of free rangers
He’ll learn things he never knew he never knew
Have you ever heard this wolf cry red, white and blue
Or asked this grinning fat cat why he grinned?
Cause he sings with all the voices of his mounters
Made to paint their own colors, full of wind
How high will the sycophant grow?
If we cut it down, it’s coz we already know
That we’ll still hear his cry till he’s black and blue
For whether we are white, yellow, red and green
We all sing with the voices of our own mountains
We can paint with any color, it’s not up to one
whose full of wind
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I notice a distinct predilection for “air” and “wind”. In a word, flatus. 🙂
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That’s her elephant’s specialty, too.
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The now extending metaphor is certainly appropriate for what comes out of some commenters’ and politicians mouths. Perhaps we should devise a metric?
OMG! I can’t believe we are… er, I am making fart jokes like the Dalai Lama. I shall suspend myself for a day tomorrow.
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Ha, you were probably going to the beach anyway, or wherever Brisbaners go to sip beer and watch . . . er, the waves or clouds.
By gum. It’s so obvious – what you just presented. I and those close to me believe it. But why are there still do blind and deaf to reason?
How do we change the tide?
Hmm, how do we change the tide?
One, whether or not Mar-Leni wins, we can all be models of good citizenship. No wang-wang in the physical and metaphysical sense. Do everything out of love of God, country, family, neighbor. The color yellow sucks (@Irineo @caliphman) bcz of abuses committed by the very winners of EDSA One. Win or lose, we must make a difference. Changes happen in a six-year cycle, so winners and losers get to trade places. We must think long-term.
Two, we must do everything to help Mar-Leni win this year. Volunteer, give more Time, Talent and Treasure if you have more. Don’t look back but run scared. Adrenalin is contagious. It’s not over until Comelec counts the last ballot.
Three, invoke the Holy Spirit, join prayer brigades, daily Holy Rosaries, pray without ceasing. EDSA One was EDSA One because the nation knelt down in prayer. Don’t count God out of this one. And,
Four, smile. Act like winners. Surly and pikon is out. The world loves a winner, especially someone who is actually down but still fighting, hopeful to the end.
I have a new article on http://filipinogerman.blogsport.eu/philippine-political-maturity/
That has to be still developed, and the country is struggling for it but not yet fully there.
Re 1) good. Cory for example was too good – she tolerated abuses by her immediate circle. Her son is a bit further in being “wise as a snake and innocent as a dove”, but at times his favoritism – a Filipino weakness because the society is familistic/clannish/tribal turned off others, but these others are hardly better when in power themselves, in fact much worse – one must say to his credit that he may have overprotected some of his own inner circle, but many others have been brought to justice – which is still way too slow…
Re 2) I have given a lot of inputs. What somewhat disappoints me in the RoRo program is that I see too little of Leni in it, but that could be just me. Many suspect that Leni is just being used by the LP to gain popular support, and that she will not count at all in the end.
Re 3) I would rather trust in Malunggay Pandesal, the strength of community and self.
And I have also mentioned that it makes sense to look exactly at who will be the next senators and congressmen. Do not campaign only for President and VP – remember that what annoys many, that Congress and Senate can block things, can be helpful as well.
Re 4) my latest article is a bit “blue” or sad… but acknowledging sadness opens up the door to new energy and drive. Blues have been the black people’s way of finding peace with a lot of suffering as former slaves like us. It is better than anger, it frees the soul.
Finally, it might make sense to find the strength to forgive – not those who continue to do bad things, but those who were on the wrong side but have learned from their mistakes. Self-righteously pointing at countrymen will only increase the divisions within the nation. “The Hateful 8” is about eight people after the American Civil War – spoiler: they all die in the end. Roxas is much further than his friend and President – he had the guts to ask for the pardon of President Estrada. This is a proof that he cares for the nation – sell that! Roxas is not “yellow” as in arrogantly self-righteous, something that sometimes has been true of the Aquino family. Those who are still doing wrong must be punished as well as those who have done wrong – Bongbong Marcos included because he helped his father.
Those who just happen to be the descended from the “wrong person” you cannot just exclude, because then one could go back to President Aquino’s grandfather who was a Japanese collaborator. Exclude Chiz because he is an asshole, not because of his dad.
I would use two words to explain why. Keep in mind that these are my observations of the Metro Manila voter, so they may not apply to provincial voters.
Word #1 is cynicism. The Filipino voter has been very, very, badly, led. Many false promises of leadership, prosperity, you name it. There is a very jaundiced view of promises. So the promises of politicians matter little, if at all. This is what leads to “pare-pareho lang silang lahat!”, because… for years, decades even, Six years by itself is not going to change that view easily.
Note that this is all about perception. Mar Roxas does not deserve to be lumped into this category. I don’t quite have the overwhelmingly positive view of him that others here do, but it’s a bit unfair to equate Mar’s promises to the numerically incoherent promises of a thief and a bloodthirsty opportunist. Still, there is that perception in a lot of minds.
Word #2 is… fragility. Life in Metro Manila does not feel very secure, if anything it is very fragile. Traffic blows up your schedule. Crime is still a problem. (Lambat-sibat may be doing a good job heinous, recidivist criminals. Quality-of-life crimes – small-time robberies, vandalism, etcetera – are still perceived as a problem.)
Let me illustrate what I mean. This was posted on the Top Gear Philippines page overnight.
The incident itself is serious, but not a “big” one in the whole scheme of things. The reaction, though… it’s illustrative of a Metro Manila that feels under siege. (And before you say: move out, then! That’s not realistic. For a lot of middle-class jobs with MNCs that are not call centers/BPOs, Metro Manila is where the jobs are.)
So you have a voting base whose life feels fragile, threatened, and under siege. This makes them more receptive to messianic candidates because they perceive they need a solution now, not years later. Duterte, in particular, is a reflection of the state of siege that a lot of voters in Metro Manila feel. Mar Roxas supporters like to say, “we must think long term.” But to the voter who feels under siege on a daily basis, that’s not helpful.
This really is the weak point of the Mar Roxas campaign. There is a sense of urgency to the other candidates (especially Duterte). Leni Robredo, I think, understands better than Mar how urgent the situation is. I don’t know even know if Mar Roxas the candidate understands what he’s up against.
If you want to “change the tide”, you have to alleviate that mentality that’s hit Manila. How? I’m not sure there is a good way. At the individual level, maybe – one voter at a time. Because trying to be the therapist for an entire urban area that’s in a state of PTSD is… difficult.
“Leni Robredo, I think, understands better than Mar how urgent the situation is.” Yes.
“I don’t know even know if Mar Roxas the candidate understands what he’s up against.” Don’t think he does… this is worse than Yolanda.
http://filipinogerman.blogsport.eu/the-road-ahead/ mentions the Maslow hierarchy of needs… and the basic need for a sense of safety is very high in Manila you are right… now there is a saying in German “were nicht hören will muss fühlen” – those who refuse to listen must feel the consequences… and if Roxas and his supporters do not listen they will have to feel when they lose, and if they win but still don’t listen reap the whirlwind later. 😦
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Very good first-level analysis.
In part, the fragility is caused by the cynicism.
Now, what is the cause of the cynicism?
The answer, as pointed out, is the undelivered promises of politicians. This is still first-level analysis.
Start of second-level analysis. Who are these politicians? You have dynasts, entertainment and media personalities, clowns, etc. In a word, phonies.
Who voted in these politicians? You, me, everyone.
Why did we vote in these politicians? Because they promised to be messiahs and we were on the lookout for our self-interest.
So it’s a circular problem: cynicism -> fragility -> undelivered promises -> political messiahs -> you, me, everyone (engaged in self-interest) -> phonies -> no satisfaction -> and back to cynicism.
Start of third-level analysis: How do we break the cycle?
Your answer, if I get you right, is for an earnest politician to behave like a messiah!
I believe Mar is saying he does not want to be part of the circus. He is trying to break out of the circle.
I am not sure that he is aware of it, but he is placing the onus on me, you and everyone. He is saying, “It’s your choice, it’s your life. You are responsible, and if you vote me in I will be responsible to you to the best of my ability.”
I concede Mar’s take-it-or-leave-it answer may NOT be the proper answer.
There must be a better answer.
Will’s answer is fourfold: (1) Be excellent to everyone and yourself; (2) Contribute; (3) Pray; and (4) be optimistic. All are positive solutions: the first two are pro-active and the last two are attitudinal.
As usual, I go back to the root before any solution can be proposed or implemented: Be mindful that we — you, I, and everyone including the politicians — are part of the problem. This is education and self-education.
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Sorry, Jonathan, on re-read I note that you do speak of an individual level solution.
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Essentially, Will’s third sectarian solution of prayer is equivalent to my secular solution of mindfulness. He looks outward to an external agency; I look inward.
Each dynamic, if properly followed, should lead to a better place.
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I would not quite say it that an “earnest politician to behave like a messiah”. However, there needs to be some sort of short-term aid. The take-it-or-leave-it approach is a difficult (at best) politically. There needs to be a balance.
My comparison is this… say we have to help a starving, homeless person move himself up in life. We can give him all the job training we want, if we don’t alleviate his immediate needs (shelter, food) nothing will come out of our efforts. The other campaigns are promising short-term solutions that are completely infeasible, which is wrong. But politically, the take-it-or-leave-it approach isn’t correct either. Both things have to be done.
I think your characterization of the state of mind of the Metro Manila voter is spot on. I read and see what people post in social media and I can feel the level of frustration has reached to even beyond exasperation already. People see no end in sight, no relief from the chaos and confusion, from the continuing and rising levels of criminality for those who live in Metro Manila. They are angry, seething and nearing if not already at breaking point. And you’re right, if you are this angry, any attempt to justify, blame it on someone else is not gonna help. Empty promises are not good but ignoring or refusing to acknowledge that the problem even exists is just as bad.
I agree that the take it or leave it approach to selling oneself as a candidate is not going to work when you have a voter this angry. Under different circumstances, when the candidate is in good stead and have clear demonstrable accomplishments that the voter clearly associates with him and has actually directly benefitted from, it could work. But this is not that situation, at least not to many of those from Metro Manila. We can go on and on about how the economy is in such good shape and how the Philippines is now reaping so many accolades from the international community. The guy who spends 3 hours in traffic everyday to get to work in Makati from his house in Pasig and another three to get back will just tell you to f… off. Even more so the guy who queues for just as long to ride the MRT. And the guy whose house has been robbed. Three times.
So if saying take it or leave is not gonna work and empty promises are not being bought, then what will? You really just got to do something. And quickly. Give it all that you’ve got. Use everything you can find in your artillery to bring some form of relief that those people will actually feel. Use all the resources that you can muster. Show some sign that you actually are trying. I think that’s the only approach that can work. For Metro Manila.
“Give it all that you’ve got. Use everything you can find in your artillery to bring some form of relief that those people will actually feel. Use all the resources that you can muster. Show some sign that you actually are trying.”
Especially communicate, communicate, communicate what you are doing… why did chempo have to be the one to explain in clear terms what went wrong with the MRT? Why couldn’t they do it for themselves? My brother is in the PR business and I know how true professional PR works – he does the really big stuff. My feeling is: the palace PR people would not last a week in a German city hall for being such “Gaukler” = amateurs/jesters.
Now when I read that Del Rosario resigned – a true pro as DFA head – and that they may put in Lacierda as replacement, maybe not now, but when Roxas comes in, I think of Heneral Mascardo saying “I can also be Supreme Commander instead of Heneral Luna”.
A crystal-clear example of “bad PR” was tanim-bala. Whoever thought it was a good idea to say in a press conference that only a tiny percentage of passengers was affected – that person should have just quit. Anyone could have predicted how that would backfire – and it did, badly.
It is an enduring mystery why this administration’s ability to communicate has been so bad.
It was a very sensitive issue among OFWs and migrants, because many of us have learned how the fresh air of freedom as opposed to impunity feels good, and THAT coming to a home which one dreads instead of loving reminds many of things before.
I can tell you a tale of how migrants in Germany made the Embassy become more responsive to their needs over 30 years – I was partly a witness to it. One Ambassador said what do these ordinary people know anyway – I have forgotten the exact wording but it was something I overheard because I worked there, it was after a meeting with the community. People who have smelled freedom and used to be the “Indios” will do all they can not to become the Indios again – maybe some Filipinos should stop being “Kastila”.
“Especially communicate, communicate, communicate what you are doing… why did chempo have to be the one to explain in clear terms what went wrong with the MRT? Why couldn’t they do it for themselves?”—Irineo
Because any explanation from Mar Roxas will only bring about a short and quick rebuttal from the opposition as did Robert John Sobrepena did. He said that the MRT3 mess is the fault of Mar Roxas..
Here I am quoting Sobrepena (I’m quoting from memory):
“Under Roxas stint as DOTC Secretary, the Sumitumo maintenance contract was not renewed. That was the first mistake. Under Roxas, a new contract was negotiated with an under-capitalized and inexperienced PHTrams…that was the second mistake. Abaya signed the new contract with PHTrams two days into his tenure as the new DOTC Secretary. That was the third mistake.”
And so, it took chempo writing that long explanation that can be rebutted with one paragraph from Sobrepena, one reason why “they could not do it for themselves”., I think.
Bert, I know of IT projects that are like that… a succession of contractors and a totally messed-up solution… then management tries to look for someone who does a quick fix, but those who are supposed to do it disappoint, and the bosses put them in boiling water.
Reputable companies usually avoid such messed-up projects, so you have adventurers who take over and either get things running, or are replaced by the next set of “heros”.
Managers who are put in charge of such projects from the company side are usually those who don’t have much political pull, because those good at the political game avoid all projects were you can get burned and manage to cherry-pick the easy, succesful projects.
Karl has been in IT, he might understand what exactly I am talking about here, I think.
Chempo is a manager and Joe was one, they might know what kind of vicious games I am referring to, they happen in both governments and companies. Bert you were a salesman you might know what it means if you had to sell crap and the customer throws it at you…
Irineo, I don’t know about you, or chempo, or Joe. I’m no manager, just a salesman, former salesman, and, aside from the good/best stuffs I was selling, I did indeed also sold crap during those days, to the manufacturing plant engineers, you know, for added sales volume plus more income, and never have I experienced the customers throwing them back to me. Why? Because my customers has 10% of the invoice amount as commission (we called it rebates during those days), It’s mutual benefits for both the salesman and the customer, but the company suffers.
In the case of government transactions, as in the MRT3, the people suffers.
Bert,
Dealing with and planning for the inevitable counterpunch is part of the job of a good communications team. It’s not like Sobrepena is this infallible figure – he has severe credibility problems of his own. A good team would have taken that into consideration and modified the initial messaging accordingly.
Jonathan,
I agree with you. But the LP’s defense of Roxas in my mind does not deflect the impact of Sobrepena’s accusation of Roxas’ complicity in the MRT3 mess. I think that the proper and more credible defense would be for the LP to debunk Sobrepena’s accusations instead of just attacking Sobrepena’s credibility.
That is why there are cct,rh bill,iskolar ng bayan.
The thing you raised about mrt before,i do not think there are short term solutions,unless you can give me one.
http://filipinogerman.blogsport.eu/task-force-mrt-3/ – the holiday busses from SM North did work well and this would be just a somewhat more sophisticated variant I think.
http://filipinogerman.blogsport.eu/comparing-three-programs/ – now about this stuff: Mar is ahead of Poe but he was in the government for very long, how come a school teacher from the USA is very close to his programs, not as sophisticated but that close? Could it be that the late Ambassador Seneres was very right: that there is not true government in the Philippines, only a student council kind of government? Amateur hour everywhere? Iskul Bukol management was what a Pinoy friend of mine called it many years ago.
Easy for us to say.
That is true. I know it isn’t that simple. That entrenched forces can make an obstacle course for you if you try to change too much too quickly. Sevilla quit Customs. I know stories elsewhere worse than laglag-bala which were treacherous crab on steroids.
Treacherous crab on steroids was the entire story of Ibarra in the Noli of Rizal, so I can imagine what a true reformer has to face. One can of course go the Simoun/Fili way, or the mad way of Duterte whom I sometimes understand – or go crazy like Santiago?
Whoa. Wait. Not all problems should be solved by government, especially given that the Metro Manila population bomb may have actually exploded.
(A pond starts with two frogs in it, a male and a female. That’s Day One. Frog population doubles every day. On the 30th day the pond is at full capacity. That’s when the population bomb explodes in the pond. Question: At what day is the pond half full? Answer: The 29th day.)
The bomb caught everyone by surprise in these parts. I agree that government should have projected Metro Manila breaking apart at the seams, but just because it didn’t doesn’t make it a student council. Winnie Monsod doesn’t think so.
My daughters and their office mates are renting condominium units near their work places, lessening travel time, increasing sleep time. Some are on flexitime, scheduling meetings and appointments to make sure they start and finish clear of the rush hours. Telecommuting is the name of the game, thanks to technology. Personally, life is normal for me, as well as for those who have made adjustments on their own.
Here’s the deal: media and drama are twins. Without crises, they would have to plant camote. Not only media, but Filipinos themselves like to project poverty and misery as they quaff cold beer and munch on chicharon and crispy pata in light banter. It’s a matter of nuance, perspective.
Humans are amazingly resilient and ready to adapt. Just give them some promise of relief, like the coming 47 new trains of MRT in March, being broken in as we speak. Like Mar’s “kung may kulang, pupunuin ko, kung may mali, itatama ko.”
Are we to say, that EDSA is the Philippines? That Liberal Party will be trounced in May because Metro Manilans commute to work for six hours both ways? Mar-Leni has got their work cut out for them, and 51 per cent of it is communication, eye-to-eye, heartfelt.
“No, we’re not dying,” they will say, “the pain you feel is modern Philippines being born.”
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Thanks, Will, for a view of the other side of the coin.
This does not invalidate the other perspective. The two sides of the coin exist.
So we have to make the coin stand on its edge, spin it around with all our might, as Cha says, and hope the right side comes up.
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Hi Will,
It’s good that your daughter and her friends had worked out a solution for themselves. But not everyone can afford to rent a unit closer to where they work. Certainly not one who patiently waits for hours at the MRT station to get to work (ok not everyone is too patient perhaps).
I am not saying that EDSA is the Philippines. But it IS part of the Philippines. Those who trudge along and endure the daily commute through it will all have a say in who gets to be the next leader of the country. Is the Liberal Party not even going to try at all to get their vote? We are not trying to criticise Mar, we are simply saying that the LP needs to see the situation from where the Metro Manilan stands at the MRT queue or the traffic standstill. Put themselves in those people’s shoes and think up solutions that will address the cause of the anger instead of provoking them even more.
“Kung may kulang, pupunuin ko. Kung may mali, itatama ko.” Eh kulang nga ng sasakyan. Mali ang pagpapatakbo sa traffic, ano ba! That’s what the Manileño is probably thinking when he hears Mar’s words. Of course it’s not Mar’s fault, all these Metro Manila issues, we all know that. But we are saying that it’s a problem that’s affecting the success of his campaign. And the LP needs to find a way to help him address this if they want to get some much needed votes. That’s all. It’s constructive feedback. The LP can take it or leave it.
Mar-Leni has got their work cut out for them, and 51 per cent of it is communication, eye-to-eye, heartfelt.
“No, we’re not dying,” they will say, “the pain you feel is modern Philippines being born.”
Will, that is an example of truly good communication – and I hope more RoRo supporters will go that way. You at that moment reached Kasamang Ryan – my old Kabataang Makabayan name – and convinced him that not all Aquino/Roxas supporters are just mindless mental sakadas of feudal dynasties, just like many Marcos loyalists are simply berdugos of a Mafia warlord clan. You are one of the free men of the new Philippines. 🙂
This notion that solving the MRT’s issues would solve the public transport problem in Manila is one that I think has perpetuated itself, but is inaccurate. It’s a good symbol of what’s happened, but even a “working” MRT3 could only go so far.
What really needs to happen is for the rest of the vehicle-based public transport system – i.e., the buses, jeeps, and tricycles – to improve their standards. As it is, given their irregularity, discomfort, and lack of safety you’re never going to lure private car owners from their vehicles with what we have right now.
I would have liked to see a microcredit/cooperative program to allow existing owners to gradually phase out jeeps and replace them with either minibuses or larger buses, depending on the routes. Work within the legal context of the franchise system (initially, anyway; the grander ideas of a more unified system can be discussed later) to improve standards there. Replace the hodgepodge of jeeps, AUVs, and vans with vehicles designed for public transport to at least give the poor Filipino commuter some improvement. The P2P bus is a step in the right direction, but I think overall it’s still overly focused on trunk routes within Manila as opposed to the routes leading into the city itself.
I’m sure that some transportation expert could poke holes in this idea, but this is what I mean. Long term programs are fine, but you’ll never be able to get support from voters for those programs if you leave them with a system that is completely unservicable.
Thanks Jonathan.But,as an aside, try to click on irineo’s link on mrt3,we brained storm a bit.
To cut the guys in government some slack – I was a bit harsh and a bit angry I admit – there is such a thing as “operational blindness”. When you are caught in the maze of day-to-day work you don’t see certain things anymore, like a frog in water getting hotter.
That is why consultants are hired, but there are consultants who are total sharks that smell if the customer is prey and increase the confusion instead of truly helping – just like there are doctors who give you medicine you don’t need because they have percentages with pharmaceutical firms but this is just a rumor I heard – this can happen to governments and corporations alike. Of course it does not help if you have a clamoring public like in the Philippines which is not constructive, so I also understand some people just shutting down or going defensive. I had that experience yesterday with some folks in a Facebook forum – my analysis of programs is very objective, but I was called yellow and biased, reasoned arguments were answered with allegations, and I just deleted my posting, shut down too.
That one from TGP? Dunno why that mayor of Taguig allowed those incidents to continue, since the troublemakers came from her side of the C5… Perhaps for agitprop purposes? Perhaps soon to look into if they win, grab the rock-droppers, and make them “fine examples”?
http://www.philstar.com/business/2015/12/28/1536768/philippines-become-major-car-market-2020
Sounds like good news,but actually it is not,unless we solve the mass transport problem,so we can get rid of old vehicles.
di pa pala tayo major car market.
good luck next dotc sec!
Many seem to think Mar is losing on the polls because he won’t stoop to the level of the “less-than-savory” folk and that he is the underdog because he is restricted by playing it by the book. A lot would say “what does it say about us when here we have an upstanding, well-educated, well accomplished, able and willing presidentiable and yet we place our favor on those of less repute?”
Me, I think a better question is what is it about Mar? Despite all his accolades, he isn’t all that good in winning people over, is he? Its difficult for him to even get grudging respect.
This article is so like Mar’s current campaign. To bolster his efforts, instead of focusing on his accomplishments and platforms and to trust that it is enough to see him through, he spends a great deal more time trying to take the others down. He doesn’t say as much on why he should be president as when he is (directly or indirectly) saying why the others shouldn’t be. Mar isn’t very subtle.
He is doing himself more harm than good. Ever since his commercials have saturated the tv air waves, the people are getting sick of his ministrations
Well maybe its not his fault entirely, perhaps not at all. Perhaps he should just shoot his campaign manager cause they are doing a terrible job with regards to strategy.
Mar isn’t my bet, still because I respect the sentiments of almost all of the regular contributors here, I shall wish him luck cause he is going to need it. I’ll pray you guys are right because you paint a nice picture of what you think he might do if he wins.
Alas, I ain’t holding my breath
I don’t agree that Mar spends more time trying to take the others down. On the contrary I think the other candidates spend too much effort belittling his every move considering he is not supposedly even a strong contender.
Neither do I see that he has difficulty getting even grudging respect because I know people who do. And I think he’s been able to articulate in so many words already why people should consider him for the Presidency. He has laid out his plans and programs which someone already posted here. Sometimes it’s just a matter of people hearing only what they choose to hear.
“Mar isn’t my bet” who is your bet and why?
“you paint a nice picture of what you think he might do if he wins.” and what do you think he will do if he wins? Please be specific.
I for my part am not unfavorable to Mar, but am still trying to see all pros and cons, and especially understand why certain people in the strange country I grew up in think the way they do. Jonathan has given reasons for certain sentiments against Mar, that I respect.
Will, cha, Jonathan, Bert and even Bart Simpson hehe have shown political maturity today. I mean this: http://filipinogerman.blogsport.eu/philippine-political-maturity/
You Jean are just stating things without any substantiation with some condescension. That kind of attitude from any camp is what is destroying the country. Mature political discussions state facts, propose solutions and respect even political rivals.
I intentionally did not go into specifics. I do not care to go into a “debate”. I have raised my issues about Mar before in other articles and my position was questioned, analyzed and broken down. Not that I minded much. It’s just that at the end of the day, they did not win me over.
My position and arguments have not changed since. Thus I thought it moot to bring it up again. But since you asked I’ll share what my primary basis is at this point. He does not feel right. My gut says no, my compass says that ain’t due north, my spider senses are tingling. While this may not be the most rational or scientific method, it none the less has proven in my best interest to trust my instincts. It hasn’t let me down yet.
Mar does not come across to me as sincere. I don’t see the integrity you guys talk about. What I see is he, on several occasions, saying one thing and acting else wise. I don’t think his primary motivation for running is for the good of the country. What do I think his motivations are? Any answer I give will be speculation on my part and thus unwelcome since the common trend here is that people want things substantiated with tangibles. Thus I will, with consideration, keep it to myself.
Hmm.The picture I am referring too is the picture which Mar inherited. Daang Matuwid. His platform looks good on paper, how able and committed is he on making that happened I wonder?
Now, as for my bet. I am inclined but not sold on the idea of going with Duterte. He is rough, he is crude, he is gritty. Basically he is sandpaper, which seems perfect for a country whose edges needs refining. He is not a student of the traditional political system, which works for me since I think the system does not work (or at the very least is inefficient) The only clear agenda he has on his platform is his war on crime. Which tells me that’s what he is focused on. If he wins and is only able to accomplish one thing his entire term and that would be a strong policing system and a healthy fear of the law. I’ll take it. He wears his heart on his sleeve, he says what he thinks. That’s not very diplomatic, true but I would rather have a president that is transparent over diplomatic.
Anyway, you mentioned condescension, I apologize you see it that way as that was not my intention. You and the other writers well versed in using references and facts to strengthen your position. Me, I am limited to word play.
Thanks for your answer… “I have raised my issues about Mar before in other articles and my position was questioned, analyzed and broken down.” well, that is the way things are here – people have their reasons for their positions, caliphman for example is pro-Poe.
“He does not feel right.. Mar does not come across to me as sincere.”. Well, I say in my article: http://filipinogerman.blogsport.eu/desisyon-ng-sambayanan/ Mahirap kilatisin si Roxas para sa akin. Mas buo ang tiwala ko kay Leni Robredo. “I don’t think his primary motivation for running is for the good of the country. What do I think his motivations are?” well, some think it is to keep Aquino out of jail because of DAP, some think it is to secure BBL which some suspect is connected with business ventures of the two as sugar is not earning that well anymore due to ASEAN. “Thus I will, with consideration, keep it to myself.” It is your right to do so, but thanks anyway.
“I think the system does not work (or at the very least is inefficient)” http://filipinogerman.blogsport.eu/comparing-three-programs/ shows the programs of Mar, Poe and Duterte. Mar I think is trying to fix the system, Poe as well. My take on the three is: “Roxas is systematic and thorough, Poe is compassionate and visionary, Duterte is pragmatic and grounded”. Let’s say if the Senate (I think voting the right Senators is crucial) is good, then it can counterbalance the weaknesses of Roxas, Poe or Duterte, whoever wins. Duterte can’t declare Martial Law alone like in the 1935 Constitution.
*******
Jean,
Shucks. I thought I had convinced you to go for Binay!
*****
My price is higher. Since I am also by some definitions a datu and Binay wants to become Rajah or Hari, he would have to give me Nancy in order to gain my full support hehe. 🙂
And a 10% cut of all government IT projects.
15% of all public transport projects like MRT.
Shot of the week…!!!
https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlp1/v/t1.0-9/10416619_1665366500383323_7633677603608556004_n.jpg?oh=7ba40890b612233ceab0debc6fa0e8eb&oe=572DEBE2
Huwag sanang ganyan. I don’t like Binay for the blackness of his deeds but the blackness of his face and his shortness should not be a reason to ridicule him. Talo KAYO diyan.
My grandfather Atty. Irineo Salazar was short and dark. He usually wore an American-style crew cut, maybe to hide the strong curls a lot of us have – anything remiscent of Agta or Negrito was looked down upon in Bikol before so who knows, our ancestry is NOT fully traceable. He married a Spanish mestiza from Sorsogon, and preached to my father the “improvement of the race” – my father told him (allegedly ewan ko kung yabang lang hehe) when he came home with my German mother to the Philippines that he is improving the German race… I am very white but my features are such that I have been compared to Germaine Jackson in younger years, especially after going into the sun. AND my grandfather was pretty high up in the BIR in his older days – I don’t know his record if any.
Now let me be a real Christian, after all I have full Catholic upbringing I still remember.
Let us forgive Jesus Jose Maria Binay for his wrongdoings and may God forgive him – but let the law take care of justice on earth, hopefully before he goes to God or the Devil. There is a joke about a politician who dies, and arrives before the Gates of St. Peter.
St. Peter tells Jejomar Binay: you have the choice, have a look at heaven and hell. Heaven is full of angels in white dresses singing hymns, somehow boring including Cory. Hell is funky and full of sexy girls and you get everything for free. Jojo decides to go to Hell. It is hot, he has to work hard in a piggery, and he feels his weak heart at times, all the chicks are with Satan. He goes to the devil and asks him subserviently: Satan, this was not what you promised! The Devil answers: “Jojo, that was before the election”.
I think the shot is more about the black sheep of the family….but then again the whole family are black sheeps….?
hehehehhehehe
It is good to be able to have a good laugh Irineo ! Thanks for this !!
Related topic: You have heard of Ethan Couch, the Texas teenager whose lawyer argued that he should not be punished for a crime because of affluenza, defined as a sense of entitlement which made him incapable of distinguishing right from wrong. In the Philippines, most of us may be suffering from the same definition, but with a different name, the other extreme, povertisis. The poor have a sense of entitlement that also leads to lack of judgment and creates a feeling of impunity. Binay may profit from povertisis, making the poor to hang on to his promises on the premise that he has lots of money to spare for them. How does Mar-Leni relate to povertisis, in an environment where it’s not Matuwid na Daan but Limang Daan (P500.00) that matters?
There is affluenza and povertitis. I have seen people with both. Among the friends of my English brother-in-law, there is a total jerk who is from a rich family. BUT we also know true gentlemen. As for povertitis, my brother-in-laws grandfather grew up in a Northern London slum. My brother-in-law told me that those who have known hunger will have a scar for life, and sometimes act hungry even if they are not. His late grandfather was isolated from even his own family because of his “crookery” (c) MRP but they forgave him later in life a few years before he died. I met him – he was nice Binay-style.
Will marunong ka sa tao – at sa aso. People who adopt dogs from animal shelters have had mixed experiences, depending on what the dog experienced and shaped it. You will probably know that dogs who have been in savage environments can bite you out of fear. Romanian stray dogs I have experienced – they survive winters, so they wolf comes out. There was a mayor of Bucharest who became popular by having them shot, and was elected for President – Traian Baiescu. A kind of K9 Duterte.
As for P500 – lahat tayo sumusugal kapag meron tayong ibinoboto, kahit saan sa mundo. We all gamble when we put our vote on someone. I have been a gambler, I know how it feels to put money on the odds, the evens, the black, the red or the zero in roulette. I know how one has watchful eyes when playing pusoy, making sure the others don’t have “tanda” (markings) on their cards. But I have been nearly broke, and gambling 10€ is nothing if you have a few thousand but a lot if it is the last money you have left after paying the rent.
The poor do not understand the difference between the politicians, because nobody explained to them and it has NOT made a difference to them for most of their lives – unless they are getting Pantawid Pamilya, their kids are getting better jobs, ibang usapan iyan.
But if for them the gamble of voting is such that they do not see more of a chance of winning than in the lotto, they will go for the sure money. For food if they are rational – or maybe some vices to forget that they feel like nothing for a while. There will of course always be those who are never-do-wells, but the only way to end that “intergenerational cycle of poverty” – mentioned in Mar’s program as one of the rationales for Pantawid Pamilya – is to give people opportunities and a chance to feel “YES WE CAN”… in fact adding help in finding jobs to 4Ps is one major enhancement of Mar’s program that I see. What I have seen of poor people is that they don’t learn discipline because their parents don’t have it, there are exceptions, but the vicious cycle of low self-esteem is hard to leave.
Putting some relevant numbers into the conversation for some more context. Again,
ABC — 10% (with only 1% in A and 9% in BC)
D — 60%
E — 30%
The P500 to the E, even the thinking E is something not difficult to understand. A thinking E can stretch this P500 to 3-5 days of food.
What is not easily understood is the behavior of the ABCD class comprising 70% of the whole. We are not even talking of education with this class. Clearly the daily deluge of negatives from the politicians of the kind we don’t need elaborating and the media lapping it up for profit, in competition with each other. This, in the guise of freedom of speech; and reporting such with little or no balance. The cynicism thus engendered. This must explain part of the problem.
There is the strong possibility that those among the “educated” who earned their money in a non-competitive, rent-seeking manner are afraid of a truly competitive country that would sooner or later happen. Because they would have competition and less comfort.
This is of course based on the premise that Daang Matuwid is really creating some opportunities which I think it has based on some things I have seen – new jobs etc.
Part of the problem I think is that Mar Roxas is focusing too much on things not of his own making or accomplishment but of President Noynoy. “Itutuloy ko ang daang matuwid”, “…kung may kulang dadagdagan….”, etc. Shallow promises and motherhood statements that will not reverberate into the emotions of both thinking and unthinking electorates. I think that if these kind of campaign gimmick goes on, Mar Roxas will sink lower in the surveys.
500 pesos is a tremendous amount of money to E segment whose income is barely above the poverty line. If I remember our past SSS discussions here, the World Bank has that poverty line at around 75 pesos per day, based on survival levels food, clothing, and shelter.
Very funny this paragraph:
“Twenty-sixteen’s election copies 1986’s snap polls in drama and dichotomy, with not two but four (five if Miriam manifests herself) protagonists in an almost statistical tie at the starting line. How can the beloved country win with a minority president, cornering maybe 33 percent of the vote? With a citizenry who wears its political colors on its sleeve 24/7? With China breathing down our necks, a Muslim insurgency flushed out with the fire of Mamasapano and the BBL tossed to limbo? Yes, the republic, like in 1986, is in real danger of being torn apart, unable to find unity of vision.”
I thought this is the yellow site for the society of sycophants. Why are you now trashing your very idol, PNoy. 1986? Really??? So, PNoy, the one in power, is now the most hated dictator as FM was???? Really funny. Thanks for the entertainment, anyway.
(Moderate this comment please, Joe. No need to publish. I am yellow and I am a coward.)
You have just confirmed nothing has changed since the Yellows put their principles in practice starting 86. Really, 1986?? Hahaha. Article is comedy with passion.
Tanga ka talaga.
Kung masakit ang maging tanga, the whole day ka siguro sisigaw.
very funny the man… nakakatawa iyong mama, literally translated, was how my yaya from Cagayan sometimes spoke English… pero sa kanya at sa iba pa ako natuto magpilipino kaya diretsohin na natin kababayan, para maliwanag at walang liku-liko ang usapan.
Akala ko rin noong una na mga tuta lamang ang naandito. Nasanay ang Pilipino sa payuko-yuko dahil sa pagkabihag ng sambayanan. Pero hinarap ko sila at nalaman ko na hindi totoo ang akala ko. Paminsan-minsan napapasubok pa rin ako sa kanila, pagka’t kung tutuusin wala akong tiwala sa kahit sinong namumuno sa Pilipinas. Aba pati iyong sinalihan kong kaliwa, natuklasan kong makasarili at ipokrito, lalo na si Joma na patago-tago sa Holland habang iyong mga NPA namamatay sa bundok para OK siya.
Samakatwid, nakita ko na lahat dito may kanya-kanyang isip. Si Edgar Lores, kinikilala niya halimbawa ang pagmamalasakit ni Digong sa mga biktima ng Yolanda. Nakita ko iyan. Si josephivo nagsulat tungkol sa pagkahati ng lipunang Pilipino, at na hanggang ngayon may mga “Kastila” at “Indio” pa rin. Si Joe America noong una hindi rin bilib kay Noynoy, at nakumbinse lang siya sa tagal-tagal ng panahon – sa sarili niyang pag-iisip at pagsusuri. Si Manong sonny dating loyalist, Ilokano. Si caliphman – iyong may maskara – maka-Grace.
Sige, puwede nating ipagpalagay na pakitang-tao lang lahat ito. Sanay na tayong lahat sa ganyan, dahil puro na lang pakitang-tao ang naging ugali ng maraming Pilipino. Panahon ni Marcos puro pakitang-tao rin, kunyari progresibo, pero ang tunay na anyo napakabulok.
Saan isinulat ni Will na masamang Pangulo si Aquino? Isinulat lang niya ang tunay na kalagayan ng bansa. Mabuti pa iyan kaysa panahon ni Marcos, kunyari perpekto lahat, pero baon na pala sa utang. Pero kung hindi ka itinuruan ng magbasa at umintindi ng mabuti sa ibinabasa mo (reading comprehension) wala akong magagawa. Hindi oobra iyang pagbabaligtad ng salita at katotohanan na ginagawa mo. Kulang ka nga siguro sa “political maturity” na itinukoy ko sa isa kong artikulo. Pero sa isang bagay ka nagsabi ng totoo – duwag ka. Pumasok ka sa panahon na natutulog pangkaraniwan ang karamihan at pati na rin si Jose Amerikano. Siguro dilaw ang brief mo gawa ng nakaihi ka na sa takot. Kahit may kritika ako sa gobyerno, ipagtatanggol ko itong blog kung kaya sa mga tulad mo.
Ah so, after the Cory Constitution and several elections, we have come to this. We are fighting for a democracy that is buy the people, poor the people, and off the people. Hahaha.
Nababasa ko mga article at posting mo, Irineo. You are a good person at intelligent pa. Pero bulag Ka. Hindi mo alam ang hirap ng mga pumipila sa MRT. Anong laki ng mga binabawas nila sa CCT, o 4P. 3500 daw, pero ang natatanggap lang actual, 1,500. Wala yan fantastic credit rating ni PNoy, hirap ang Tao. Tapos ang lumalabas ngayon, Isa sa contributor ni Mar ay si Gutierrez pala, yun big time miner na pumapatay ng mga Lumads. Etc marami pa. Saan pupulutin ang Pinas, matapos plunder ng dilaw mula 86. Hinigitan na nila lahat bago 86.
Iyong hirap ng mga pumipila sa MRT may nagsabi na sa akin – parang sardinas pa ang mga tao doon. Sa simula pa lang kulang ang designed capacity ng sistemang iyan, pati interfaces sa ibang public transport napakahina – hobby kong tumingin sa public transport.
Iyong mga sinasabi mong kabalastugan sa CCT, siyempre hindi ko nakikita mula sa Alemanya iyan. Ano ang ginagawa ng mga journalist, pintas ng pintas pero iyong talagang mahalagang kapintasan hindi nila tinitignan. Ngayon kung tapat talaga ang mga narito, sasabihin nila kung totoo iyang sinasabi mo o hindi – baka naman may kalokohan din sa iilang lugar at may bumubulsa ng dapat ibigay sa tao, pagbigyan ko munang hindi lahat.
Iyon namang si Gutierrez, may nabasa na ako na LP contributor daw iyong may mining interests sa Mindanao. Bakit sa dami ng dyaryo na galit sa LP, walang nagbibigay ng katunayan sa ganyan? Or lahat sila may vested interests, wala na talagang pinagkaiba?
Benefit of the doubt muna ako sa gobyerno. Dahil mahirap kung wala talagang pag-asa.
At isa pa, dilaw ba si FVR? Si Erap? Si Arroyo? Sa totoo lang, medyo nagsasawa na ako. Kung ganyang katanga ang mga supporter ng LP – o kaya kapit dahil doon masarap ang hangin para sa kanila, ang sasabihin ko siguro sa Pilipinas: bahala kayo sa buhay ninyo. Sayang lang ang pagod ko kung puro mga manloloko, mga sipsip at tanga ang nandoon. Pero habang may nakikita akong pag-asa, huwag muna. Tignan ko muna mula sa malayo. Pero ikaw naman ang tanungin ko ngayon: sino ang nakikita mong pag-asa? Tignan natin.
Dilaw si FVR, Erap, at si Arroyo dahil ang sinunod nila ay Cory Constitution.
Si Poe ang napipisil ko, yun secretong kandidato daw ng mga Aquino Sisters. Ang takot ko sa kaniya ay baka puros taga Eat Bulaga na lang ang cabinete at kung Cory Constitution din, puros magnanakaw lang ang nasa paligid nya. Maaring hindi na ako bumoto sa dulo. Pero makikinig lang muna ngayon. Pero hindi ko boto Mar dahil magulo na MRT, lalo pa nila ginulo ni Abaya. Pero yan lang ako. Sabi mo nga tanga.
Yan Gutierrez, kakilala yan sa Mindanao. Mabait, wag mo lang babaggain at pumapatay. Kuminsan kasama ng mga NPA. Kuminsan ng Army. Galante. Yan lang ang may party na pareho NPA at Army lumilitaw sa dami ng pagkain.
Yun CCT, alam ko, kasi yun dalawang tryke driver na kilala ko, yan ang daing. May bawas sa DSWD, may bawas sa munisipyo. May bawas sa baranggay. Dami deductible fee. Walang reklamo, dahil Sayang din yun 1500. Baka lalo tanggalin pag may nagreklamo.
Dear co-commenters, this is your call. In fact in my estimation this is just the beginning.
You will know better than I do if this is common and/or probable, being back home.
Yaki yelo is a chinese troll….
If I look at his Tagalog exactly, he probably is.
Still I shall take a break to gain perspective. 🙂
Maybe not Chinese, but I agree he/she has a peculiar style. Peddling a line of goods.
Ireneo, natawa ako ng basahin ko ang tugon mo kay YY. Marunong ka rin palang bumigkas ng mga salitang patapos – gaya ng “tanga ka”. Sa totoo, parang ganon din ang gusto kong bigkasin pag nakabasa ako ng mga walang katuturang pagtuligsa sa kasalukuyang pamahalaan ng mga naiinggit sa napakaraming kabutihang nagawa para sa bansa ng mahal kong pinuno ng bayan na si Pres. Benigno Aquino.
tanga is not the same as bobo… tanga can be smart but not using one’s coconut.
actually YY is using his coconut but possibly some conclusions are jumped to.
No, I’ll let the conversation stand on its merits. But do please let us know your nationality, location and interest in the Philippines. I ask because it is unusual in this discussion blog to have a new visitor who does not appear interested in discussion, but in selling a point of view. That’s not really the goal of the blog which does not even accept commercial advertising. It is a discussion forum for the earnest.
Also, to try to step away from the rant about yellows, kindly let us know who you favor for the 2016 presidential election.
Thanks.
I am not new visitor. I read many times here. Sometimes, I am Manila, Makati or Quezon City. Sometimes, Sn Fernando or Lipa. Also, Tacloban or Bacolod. Last year, Butuan, Surigao or Cagayan de Oro. Depends on Sargeant. He tells me where to stay. I am stupid, I did not finish college. Maybe, one day not stupid, I know now internet. I read many times and look dictionary many times.
All Presidents are good. Only people around them are bad. Best President is FVR. He has heart for people. Almonte is very intelligent, his adviser. I like Duterte because he is FVR man. But, problem, he is too many women. I don’t like he is proud of that. Other women should be secret, so children do not cry.
Erap also good. He did not steal money of government. Yes, steal money of gambling lords, not money of people. He wanted gambling money become big so he can build house for poor. Congress does not want to give him money. My friends have houses because of Erap. But rich get angry him, so out. Poe is candidate of Erap. So maybe I vote Poe. But, people around Poe, many showbiz people. No good government that way. Erap hired intelligent people. Not sure, if Poe will. Also, she always drink alcohol with Chiz and Ochoa. Sometimes with PNoy, but PNoy no alcohol, just laugh and laugh. Chiz and Ochoa dangerous, two control toll gates of smugglers, but you never see toll gate. Smuggling is illegal.
Gloria also good, but Mike and Gloria always fighting even in front of PSG. Mike the FG is very greedy. Rich always wants more money more money more money. They maybe are one that is stupid. Person can only wear one shirt, one pant, one shoes one day.
PNoy your favorite also good. But people around him very bad. Dinky very good talk PNoy, but very greedy. Mar is mayabang. When I am in Cubao, he always shouting at us. No good President, he always angry. People around him also very greedy.
Maybe, no need vote, just revolution. Sometimes I cry, because many greedy people in government. Sorry English, Joe. After you read, please erase. Here with you all intelligent people, all talk talk talk. No need talk, do something for country. Intelligent people want talk talk talk to show people they intelligent. Better humble people so we can do something for country. Today no humble people so you see many many poor people in country Joe. Promise you erase this, I don’t know debate – only tell you something. I think you also good person, also good heart.
Well, YY, I see no need to delete your posting, as it is one of the most interesting and thought provoking in the whole discussion. Your English is excellent, with a style that makes it readable and interesting. I appreciate the kind words at the end.
If any President (with Duterte I would make him deposit money for my folks so in case he decides to kill me they at least benefit hehe) gives me a task force to lead, I would:
1) create a teaching team composed of Manong Sonny, NHerrera and Edgar Lores to teach moral theology, mathematics and epistemological thinking to all barangays, 6 years.
2) send Karl and Bert to inspect all LGUs and report on what they see via digital camera.
3) summarize the reports of Karl and Bert and send them to the respective departments. Collate feedback from the teaching team and give it back to DepEd for K-12 kaizen.
YY says we only talk and talk. This made me think of what I would do if I had the freedom.
Ah, very good. I think Karl and Bert would need a security team to go along with them. Maybe 50 or 60 guys. The teaching team would be exhausted as there are a lot of barangays and popcorn does not provide the required energy. Still, there is an elegance to the idea.
If Duterte becomes President, I would request a DDS escort for Karl and Bert.
If Binay becomes President, I would request free cake and medical care for the teachers.
Irineo, a Dead Data System escort is fine. But, with Duterte the President, we can never tell. karl and Bert and the whole DDS escort team could end up first on the list in the data system and I will not be comfortable with that thought.
No, no, no, I reject the appointment. With a Duterte presidency, I will live in a cave in a remote island somewhere in Camarines Sur, always dreading for the the sight of his Bicol death squad roaming the countryside looking for the next victim. No, no, no, no, no.
Dead Data System?.Don’t wanna be in that database yet.
Habang papalapit ang eleksiyon maraming katulad mo ang lilitaw sa blog na ito, hindi para makipagdiskusyon ng matino kundi mang-asar.
Taking a break from all this for some time. See you at my blog, I do get mails if people comment.
I do still hope that things are not what detractors say they are – I see a lot of progress in my home province of Albay and have real ground sources there – good luck and as Will said it will be hard.
*******
THE ASSOCIATIVE FALLACY
1. In countering the 1986-2016 analogy, Yucky Yellow made use of the associative fallacy.
1.1. His reasoning is as follows:
o Major premise: The 1986 election was a battle between an incumbent (FM) and a challenger.
o Minor premise: In 1986, the incumbent was a dictator.
o Conclusion: Therefore, in 2016 the incumbent (PNoy) is as despicable as FM.
1.2. The error in the reasoning is obvious once one realizes that in the 2016 Elections… the incumbent is NOT running for office.
1.3. The fallacy is in the conclusion, in the association of 1986 incumbent to the 2016 incumbent.
2. Does this make the Will’s 1986-2016 analogy invalid? NO.
2.1. The analogy is valid if one considers the parallel of the existence of a monumental crisis and the important decision the voters have to make.
2.2. The analogy is also valid if one does not consider the element of Incumbency as the similarity. I take the relevant element to be Prospect.
2.2. The Prospects in the 2016 Elections are:
o There is a candidate who, like Marcos, is a would-be dictator. This is Duterte.
o There is another candidate who, like Marcos, is a would-be plunderer of billions. This is Binay.
o There are candidates who, unlike Marcos, are NOT a would-be dictator nor a would-be plunderer. These are Grace, Mar and Miriam.
***
3. Yucky Yellow also makes use of the associative fallacy in the matter of the 1987 Constitution.
3.1. His reasoning goes like this:
o Major premise: Cory is Yellow.
o Minor premise: The 1987 Constitution is Cory.
o Conclusion: The 1987 Constitution is Yellow.
o Corollary: All presidents who rule under the 1987 Constitution are Yellow.
3.2. The associate fallacy lies in the second premise, in the association of the 1987 Constitution, the Cory Constitution, to Cory herself.
3.3. The error in the reasoning is obvious when one realizes that the 1987 Constitution is the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. It is NOT Cory’s.
***
4. Yucky Yellow has made errors in reasoning that become obvious upon examination.
4.1. Like Yucky Yellow, we all make errors in reasoning.
4.2. It does not help to use ad hominems… unless one can be as witty as Cha.
5. I shall take a day-off on another day… maybe tomorrow.
*****
The Society is a college or a masteral course. Thanks, y’all for the lessons in deduction, research (Chempo), literature, grammar (come to think of it, grammar in these parts is impeccable). I kinda like Yucky Yellow’s honesty & simplicity at one glance. I hope he’s at least sincere.
I think he is sincere. My take on Edgar’s posting and those of YY:
1. Sun Tzu says one must have both “kilatis at pakiramdam” (discernment and empathy) to deal with sources – in this case he speaks of spies. http://filipinogerman.blogsport.eu/sun-tzu-in-filipino-chapter-13/
1a. Joe’s listening post’s are elite sources. They will usually be very smart, some will be honest but some will be self-serving. Their perspective is top-down usually.
1b. Parekoy’s unreliable sources are masa sources. They will usually have good powers of observation, but their conclusions may not always be correct. So one has to try to see what they saw from what they concluded about people.
1c. You need both. If you want to understand a territory properly, you need both satellite pictures and surveyors on the ground. http://filipinogerman.blogsport.eu/revolution-in-mind/
2. As for YYs observations, I have the following short comments:
2a. Grace and alcohol is very likely. I have been around women who drink in my life. And men. Both Grace and Bongbong show the typical facial signs of alcohol use or overuse. Could be wrong but it is what I see looking at some pictures. What is possible is that Grace is nice and well-meaning, but returned to the shark tank of Philippine politics and is overwhelmed by it – her dependency on her “friend” Chiz is the biggest mistake of all.
2b. Chiz and smuggling is likely as well. Chiz is worse than a shark. A shark has a small heart and a small brain. Chiz has no soul, a heart beside him and a powerful brain. Something about him says Mafia type, Don Escudero.
2c. Mar being impatient at times is likely. Joe noted that Mar is a fast thinker like me. Sometimes fast thinkers get impatient and in some situations they are not nice to people. What I can “pay forward” (c) Oprah to Mar Roxas from what Karl once told me is this: wait until people catch up with you, slow down from time to time – there are old colleagues who I know will never work with me again, I have been harsh at times.
3. YY says he is stupid. I said it also. But he isn’t. Many simple people in the Philippines are like unpolished diamonds. The educational system does not polish them properly.
3a. The old educational system did. Edgar and sonny are products of this.
3b. At some point the educational system lost its grip on the road, meaning theory and practice do not meet anymore – this is what my revolution in mind article is about.
3c. The surveyors are good observers but only partly literate and probably innumerate, while the supervisors have too little ground experience, hopefully the satellite that is going up will have good cameras. My satellite is the Internet, so I can zoom in on some things.
Dinky being greedy is something I have read elsewhere. Now is she really greedy, or is it some people around her? DSWD is a place with major money flows because of 4Ps. What I hope is being done properly is to monitor things. What I read somewhere is that 4Ps beneficiaries get an ATM card. It is usually Land Bank that takes care of the cash. One cash shipment to Land Bank in Albay was robbed on an island recently, but since it is Land Bank’s fault there is no loss to beneficiaries only a delay in payment for the first time.
BTW thanks to Efren Nolasco (I mentioned his practical blog) I now know that there is a “Postal ID” which is being used for all sorts of things that one can apply for. In the absence of a real national ID I think it is a good workaround. I also have seen that a lot of services of the government are not available online – even applying for NCSO birth certificate, CENOMAR etc., and that there are sophisticated means of electronic payment available. Meaning that if Bank Secrecy is amended somewhat, money is traceable just in case.
I find it great funny irony that BBM is concerned about the fairness of the upcoming elections and the machinery to process the ballots… His old man is, um, “by the law”.
As for Cayetano, if he proclaims that Digong’s Davao is “safe”, why not his wife try to clean up Taguig, especially as Top Gear reports the rising number of rock-throwers on C5 is disturbing?
You ask me, the louder the candidates, the more likely some people will be turned off by such bombastic displays because of past regrets with previous candidates and their hijinks, and would vote for the least noisy.
This is how you make a campaign ad:
http://usuncut.com/news/erica-garner-featured-in-bernie-sanders-new-ad/
My first comment in here been following this blog for quite sometime now, amazing brain in here if only 40% of the Filipinos living in the Philippines have the mentality like this Philippines is one of the greatest country on earth but sadly the brilliant Filipinos are all outside their country. That’s what travelling does for you make you aware of what is wrong with your home by comparing it to other country you been too.
I myself travelled & work in the ME, Indian Ocean & now living in Europe, if you ask me of whom I will vote it has to be Mar & Leni, saying that I really admire Cayetano Allan during Binay investigation I thought he’s amazing but then later he supported Duterte (What an idiot decision)
For me “Integrity” is the highest character the politician should have, Mar is a politician for so long now but to keep his integrity intact is not easy specially in the Philippines where bribing politician is a part of the culture.
There’s no one in all aspirants that are Honest as Mar & have strong moral principles like him, I understand he had flaws in managing her job but who doesn’t.
I really want to see a better Philippines before I die but to be realistic that’s will take very long, evolution in the mind set of it’s citizen will ultimately lead the country to it’s success but evolution takes a lot of time. As long as the improper politician is still elected in the Philippines that means evolution doesn’t takes place yet.
I tell you one thing if Mar Roxas is running for President in the country where I am living now he had no problem winning this election, it could be a walk in the park victory.
Thank you Joe for letting me in, & by the way sorry for my English grammar.
Welcome to the discussion, James. Good to have your perspective. Your English is superb and your observations are as well. Feel free to join in any time.