‘Change Can Come Only from the People’—Kiko
Senator Pangilinan, courtesy of his office
By Wilfredo G. Villanueva
Throw a pebble into a pond, creating ripples to the outer edges—turbulence—but the center is stilled as the water accepts the pebble’s intrusion earlier than the rest of the body of water.
That is how it is from where sits the president of the Liberal Party of the Philippines, Senator Francis Pancratius Nepomuceno Pangilinan, plain Kiko without the garnishings.
Son of Donato Tongol Pangilinan, Jr., former Corps Commander of UP ROTC, engineer and entrepreneur, and Emma Monasterial Nepomuceno, public school teacher, Kiko inherited his father’s leadership skills and drive, and his mother’s family values; the 54-year-old legislator is in his elements.
I met him for breakfast on the ground floor of one of the country’s tallest buildings, a structure carrying more than a hundred rooms with tony amenities, a great burden carried with aplomb, an engineering marvel in and of itself. The same way with Kiko, president of the demonized Liberal Party, carrying the burden of almost unbearable defeat in the last elections, yet by virtue of values instilled in him by his parents, his college days in UP Diliman, his public administration masteral course in Harvard, and by his indefatigable involvement in UP campus politics with NatDem, then city council in Quezon city as left of center, onto Congress, then finally as we speak, a position which could land him on the highest pedestal available to any Filipino—the presidency of the republic.
“How much of you is Sharon, how much is Kiko?”
I asked the question that can’t be avoided, Sharon Cuneta Pangilinan his wife of almost a quarter of a century being the megastar that she is. Without blinking an eye for the effrontery, he said, “Oh, I accept that. When I was first elected in 2001, it was definitely a major factor in my electoral victory and Sharon’s magic worked for me, being a relative unknown. It was also a factor in my reelection in 2007 and again in 2016 but I would like to think that even with Sharon’s popularity, if I performed poorly or got myself involved in corruption scandals or controversies, then reelection would not have been possible.”
“And would you support any move to oust the President?”
I asked, going down to business.
Without as much as a buntong hininga, he replied, “No. We’ve kicked out presidents twice in recent history, and if kicking out a president is the solution then we should be First World by now having done it twice, but we’re still stuck in the same quagmire of internecine politics. No, I will not venture into the Oust Duterte realm, and so with the Liberal Party chair, Vice President Leni Robredo, who will always find ways to work within the parameters set for her from on high, constricting as it is. We will push for change within the parameters of the constitution and the rule of law.”
“So what do we do now?
Isn’t the President the pits already,” I asked. “The shabu smuggling through Customs, Polong’s (Davao vice mayor Paolo Duterte, the President’s eldest son) tattoo, the 14,000 plus killed in the drug war riddled with collateral damage as dramatized by the killing of Kian de los Santos, the West Philippine Sea imbroglio?”
This time he took a few seconds to arrange his thoughts.
“As I said we’ve deposed presidents twice in a row, and where did it get us? Was it Albert Einstein who said that insanity is defined as doing the same thing over again and expecting different results?”
He continued: “Change or the tide of history can only come from the people themselves. The Liberal Party will help lead from behind, respecting the people’s will, but at the same time, we will not just sit around and watch things happen.”
“How so?”
“We are embarking on a massive recruitment program that will attract non-politicians to its base of active members. Recently, we inducted 100 of these people and we feel right by this.”
”We have lost many of our members to the administration. Of the 115 LP members elected in Congress we are now down to 25. The reality of course is quite disheartening but we need to stay strong. During LP’s National Executive Council meeting last August, I likened the party to a camp being bombarded left and right and having many of our troops leaving or surrendering to the other side. While I was stepping up to lead the remaining troops on a suicide mission, I said then and it continues to remain true today that we take on the leadership of the party not because of the certainty of victory but because of the certainty of our convictions.”
“And those who surrendered to the other side?”
“My position is that we ought not to accept them back,” he said matter-of-factly. “It was good the turnover happened because we spared ourselves of cleansing from the top which would have been messy. They left of their own volition. Good for them, good for us, good for the country.”
I look at the 54 year-old man in front of me across the breakfast table and I wondered what makes him tick. He’s kinda a passive oppositionist, in my opinion, not doing enough to rally support for the anti-Duterte movement abuilding.
He read my thoughts. “I have been consistent. It’s the way I am. I deliver policy statements, such as when I categorically asked former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resign after the exposition of the Hello Garci tape, and after making a stand, I let history take its course. Mind, I was a GMA ally, but I had to take the bitter pill and ask her to resign, having betrayed the people’s trust.”
I look at him and his lower eyelids have the beginning of wrinkles already, no longer young, this Jack Kennedy of the Philippines, once the youngest Senate Majority Leader, visibly tired carrying the stigma of a roundly-defeated political party that used to hold sway for six years under the administration of former President Benigno S. Aquino III, simply PNoy.
“In 2013, after 12 years in the Senate, I was happy being a full-time organic romaine farmer in Alfonso, Cavite, happy with my family life, but I turned down the president twice, who asked me to rejoin government. When he asked a third time in early 2014, who was I to refuse?”
He’s a dad.
Dad to KC, to Frankie who is in 11th grade, Miel who is in 7th grade and Miguel, 3rd grade. I did not delve, respecting the senator’s privacy and security concerns. Sharon, too. I just let it lie there, but I had to insert a question, as to what their plans are for their 25th wedding anniversary, having consulted Wiki. He lit up, saying, “Actually 22nd,” a rare instance when a smile escaped his lips as he downed fried daing na bangus, scrambled eggs, and dipped into the fruit tray with grapes, slices of mangoes, oranges, pineapple, melon.
“Exercises?”
I asked knowing that the good senator has a sterling record in track and field and volleyball, with awards in competitions in his younger days.
“Oh, just stationary biking and stretching exercises for half an hour three or four times weekly. That’s it for me.”
Remembering to say, “And I swallow green siling labuyo after every meal to manage my triglicerides.”
“Why not the red ones?”
“Red ones are for vitamins, the green ones are for omega 3, antioxidants and for cholesterol management.”
He had to go,
he said, not ever glancing at his watch throughout the interview, but his body clock said he had spent about two hours with The Society of Honor and had to rush to the next meeting.
Verily, a firm handshake, using our secret handshake for
Upsilon Sigma Phi,
for we are fraternity brothers 11 years apart, but bonded with common vision by way of our beliefs which place the betterment of the many and the sacrifice of self.
“Presidency?”
A parting shot.
“Oh, I used to be attracted to that idea, but now no more. The presidency is a matter of destiny.”
He walked away, saying goodbye to a lady and gentleman in the next table.
Those are some shoulders, I thought, solidly built like the tall building we’re in, on the ground floor of which we spent the last two hours in honest conversation, no-holds-barred. Shoulders and building were unshaken, rocked sometimes with questions that could upset balance but didn’t. He carries defeat or the pull of gravity well.
“In the final analysis, as a political leader, despite the reversals, I continue to believe in the collective capacity of our people to choose the truth over falsehoods, to choose understanding and compassion over anger, violence and hatred, to choose open dialogue and free and healthy debate over the stifling of dissent and the muzzling of the press and to choose freedom and democracy over tyranny and oppression. We must learn to trust in our people and in doing so inspire them to purposeful action,” he said.
It’s up to the people, that’s what he said. It rang in my ears, that it’s up to the people.
The Society of Honor by Joe America 
Thanks Wil, please do continue with your interview series.
Nasa tao nga nakasalalay ang pagbabago.
Yes, Karl, on continuing the series. It has created its own momentum. Mabuti andyan ka.
A strong second from me and gratitude for doing this, Wil. FWIW.
Karl, talagang ginahol sa oras. Am now at sea between Thailand and Malaysia, en route to Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Regards to everyone at TSoH.
Safe travels uncle Sonny.
*******
1. I count this as the 10th interview-profile published in TSH by prolific Will. Here is the series in backward date order:
1.1. Kiko Pangilinan (Senator) – English
1.2. Jover Laurio (Blogger) – Pilipino
1.3. Joe America (Blogger) – English
1.4. Dick Malay (Rebel) – English
1.5. Chito Gascon (Commissioner) – Pilipino
1.6. Antonio Trillanes (Senator) – English
1.7. Leila de Lima (Senator) – English
1.8. Korina Sanchez (Journalist) – English
1.9. Leni Robredo (Vice President) – English
1.10. Jim Paredes (Musician) – English
2. The range of subjects is quite broad, from the Vice President to a renegade communist rebel. I count:
o One Vice-President
o Three senators
o One commissioner
o One journalist
o One musician
o Two bloggers
o One rebel
3. Of the 5 people who are part of the political establishment, three are moderates (Robredo, Pangilinan, and Gascon) and two are – for want of a better term — more “anti-establishment” (De Lima and Trillanes).
4. Of the 5 people who are not part of the political establishment, two are moderates (Sanchez and Malay) and three are – again, for want of a better term — “anti-establishment” (the two bloggers and the musician).
5. All in all, 5 moderates and 5 anti-establishmentarians. How’s that for balance?
6. I was of the impression that most of the pieces were in Pilipino.
7. This article is a milestone. It deserves the bringing out of the usual celebration fare of old fogeys – beer and popcorn. You young’uns may pop the champagne. Hip! Hip! Hooray!
Thanks, Will.
*****
Thanks, I want to make a special tab for these and you just saved me a lot of work. I am sure the Librarian is also impressed.
Yes, I am very impressed.😊
Thanks, Karl.
Thanks, Joe.
Thanks, Prof. Wifey asked if I’m writing a book. Not a bad idea, with JoeAm’s imprimatur. Working title: Love in the Time of Duterte.
Thank you Will for the current article on Sen. Pangilinan. Thank you edgar; I saved the list in a notepad and will add to the list — for surely, more will come. Yes, out with the beer and popcorn!
You’re welcome, NH! More will come, by God’s grace.
Wow, I love this. chanced upon the senator once at Megamall when he was a guest speaker at a farmer’s festival there.
Wow. Thanks, Arlene. Yes, the farmer-senator.
Brilliant idea of a title.!!
Cannot wait to read the “ book “.
This last year or so of Duterte can only be a dose of rampaging “ cholera “, literally.
Thanks for thought provoking interviews & analysis.
Thanks, Ven, for the encouragement. One big push.
Thanks for the encouragement, Arlene.
Will, thanks. One can see he has faith in the people, not an easy thing these days. But encouraging to hear in gloomy times.
You’re welcome, Irineo! To have faith in people, aah, it could be an Olympic event, to keep on believing especially in dark times. Herculean.
Thanks for this interview..
My opinion.
Kiko is to soft, to polite..like most” yellow”…..
They remember him as Mr. ”noted”
If you look at Duterte when he makes a speech as long as he is serious the people are serious listening (Say boring)…once he let go of his prepared speech and start making dirty jokes and start using foul language the people cheer up, start smiling, laughing, cheering…they want to be entertained.
Like tv…when it is a serious program they swap channel to something lighter….
People want entertainment…When LP can find a person with humor, quick responding to questions, situations with a smile, some jokes etc they will fall in love with him/ her….
Why Trump? Why Macron? Why Trudeau? Why Jacinda Ardern?
They smile, are lighthearted….different from the ”old generation politicians”
Now with the new media people want entertainment, they want to join conversations from their seat in the living room..
Look at PAB, Nieto, Mocha (and some more)….They connect with their people..You love them or hate them…….
By the way about Duterte losing to many followers…not sure, i hear more and more calling him tatay Digong and not only from ”tricycle drivers”….
So Kiko is deadly wrong in his trust in the people!
Maybe….
364,119 Kiko facebook
Sonny trillanes 786,679
Kiko is doing good by taking in non politicians, i like that….
Actually……i don’t know what to think anymore nowadays……Was thinking that good was good and wrong was wrong but if i look at the people it seem they don’t care what is happening to the country….I am confused…Already removed my Discuss account because the sale of Inquirer to a Duterte friend….I don’t know if the owner of the newspaper can trace you by your discuss account? Trying times…..not like before po….
Kapit lang, Sup. Let’s leave no one behind. Knowledge is power, hence, Jover Laurio, JoeAm, Winnie Monsod, John Nery, and the rest of us guys who have drawn a line in Daang Matuwid that says: Enough. Good shall overcome bad.
Sonny Trillanes got more facebook friends than Kiko? HERE IS THE ANSWER:
Sonny Trillanes is a colorful person. PMAyer … Failed coup to his name … attacked Binay with full circus … Attacked Dick … Sonny is a hitman …
When ex-president Aquino told him to stop drib-a-drab against his ex-BBF Binay …. Sonny stopped. If Sonny really got a case against Binay WHY STOP ? When Sonny stopped it is a tell-tale sign he got no balls and no brains between his ears. This Sonny is very colorful. And Filipinos listen to colorful people. That is why Filipinos listen to Duterte.
Duterte connects to the people …
Duterte speaks like most Filipino people …
When Duterte speaks he is understood … by majority of Filipino people …
When Yellows speak … they speak softly, politely courteously … because they are educated …
When Yellows speak they can barely be understood … they speak educationalese (language of the educated like fake-journalism graduates that reports on business which only Harvard educated graduate understand and not meant for common tao) that majority of uneducated Filipino people cannot understand …
If Liberal Party wanted to win … they should learn from Democratic national Party after their loss.
THEY FOUND OUT THEIR MESSAGE IS NOT HEARD FAR AND WIDE. Today DNC is re-engineering their strategy. Talk like people do.
Thank you Will. I envy you the interview with Kiko. Kiko, the man with the body language one can trust. With the appropriate support I think he would make a fine president.
You’re welcome, Ancient Mariner! Come to think of it, we need low-key optimists with academic credentials and moral backbone. Repeat.
He is low key but he is not low key. He stands out in a crowd because of what he is and he does not have to be pursued. His time will come. Am I wrong?
I also had my doubts, but listening to him unflinchingly answering my questions, he earns respect. You are correct, Ancient Mariner.
My grandfather’s middle name is Monasterial! That put smile/happy grin to my face. I would like to think na baka magkamag-anak sila/kami. 😊 😊 😊. Before the 2010 election was ongoing, I was already commenting in RaissaRobles’s that Sen. Kiko could run either for P or VP and he will have my vote. I can just feel it in my guts he’s a good guy. He’ll do good for the country and the people just like Mar and of course PNoy. There are so many of them actually. So he could be right in saying that the highest position in the land is destiny. But that destiny needs your name in the ballot first. I mean who could have thought that what we got now is the opposite of GMRC, it still boggles my mind and will probably continue up to his end of his term. And past his term due to the havoc it caused. People, you say? Up to the common people, you say?
Up to you and me and all of us common folks, rOsario. I hope he reads your comment, for family reunion.
Anti-establishment populism took root, was animated and exploited by Duterte because of huge systemic failure in the capitalist neoliberal order.
Unless and until we address that fundamental problem or offer an alternative, those so-called centrist – decent honorable men and women like Kiko Pangilinan – are hoping in the wind that people will, on their own, wake up and oppose the savages of an authoritarian fascist.
If this is the best that Kiko Pangilinan can offer we might as well accept as a given that Duterte will be with us 5 more years, until the next election where Marcos Junior will be the top contender.
Hi Micha! I cannot speak for Sen. Kiko aside from the impression he gave me in the interview, which is this:
Capitalist neoliberal order? He was NatDem in UP, short of being a Communist in the likes of Dick Malay. He was at the brink of it but he backed off I think because he wanted to be as near to the people’s pulse points as possible, running for city council in QC with left of center leanings, but definitely no longer NatDem.
Remember when he said we’ve done People Power twice but we are still in the same hole? That’s where the people come in, if I read him right. He wants the present system to succeed—he hasn’t given up on it—but the people have their work cut out for them.
Democracy with a capitalist backbone is the track he runs on, but the citizenry must not be passive to the point that the nation is easy pickings for oppressors and plunderers who believe na may forever.
He didn’t open a discussion on changing systems of government, perhaps knowing as we know now that (as gleaned from the interview with Dick Malay) socialism is the right form of government for us where cradle to grave services are free, but citizens are heavily taxed.
Sen. Kiko wants a strong economy. Surveys, he said, indicate that peace and order is number five in the people’s wish list, but amelioration of poverty is number one. In short, if we get our house in order, when impunity is a thing of the past, when plunderers finally get what they deserve, then we can be First World. The jump-off point is still the economy, specifically the eradication of poverty, the perfect condition on which ill-intentioned candidates thrive and build dynasties.
I hope I provided light.
“Democracy with a capitalist backbone is the track he runs on…”
Well, that’s the thing. Democracy and capitalism do not square. By its very nature, capitalism breds extreme inequality, concentrating wealth and power in the hands of the very few. That’s the reason why some western European democracies had to tweak their capitalist economic system with some socialist flavor. Ditto in the US with the introduction of Roosevelt’s New Deal, but even that is under assault as their billionaire overlords lobby for its scrapping and privatize everything instead. That assault goes into overdrive under a Wall Street friendly fascist Trump admin severely undermining democratic principles.
The failure of post-Marcos presidents to somehow mitigate the adverse conditions of inequality under a GATT enabled IMF dictated neoliberal capitalist economy led to a more pronounced alienation and wretchedness of a large segment of our population which in turn led most of them to choose Duterte as a protest vote to the existing status quo.
If Sen. Pangilinan is hoping to reform the economic system from within, I wish him well but I do not share his hope. Our capitalist guardians, such as they are currently constituted, will see to it that he too will fail.
Will there be awakening and enlightenment from the bottom? I won’t bet my last centavo on that either.
Micha
I appreciate your empathy for the down-trodden and your views on the ills of capitalism.
Perhaps you can share some of your understandings of what may form a better socio-economic platform to build a nation. Travelling leftwards I don’t seen any socialist or communist systems that have been or are successful.
The Nordic system seems to be standing up pretty well comparatively. However, they too are free market systems. What sets them apart is their good state welfarism and very good collective barganing mechanisms.
“We are embarking on a massive recruitment program that will attract non-politicians to its base of active members. Recently, we inducted 100 of these people and we feel right by this.”
To be honestly frank—I am actually not optimistic about this. While it is good that the LP is turning towards non-politicians (read: not trapos) in this time of twilight—I just can’t help but have suspicions that this sounds too familiar. I fear that we are playing from the same playbook again—and commiting the same mistakes in the process.
EDSA was defined by the participation of an extremely diverse range of Filipino society: traditional politicians, businessmen, the church, the military, civil society, etc. Against Marcos, reformist forces (i.e. non-trapo activists from civil society) were able to carve a respectable niche: they helped provide the organizational pressure (via rallies, etc.) against the dictatorship. This didn’t just make reformists useful—it also gave them leverage vis-à-vis the establishment, like the traditional politicians. After Marcos however—the reformists painfully discovered that they no longer had leverage: there was no more dictatorship to topple, so they were not as useful to the trapos as they used to, especially if the advocacies of said reformists affected the vested interests of said trapos.
Hence—the Post-EDSA Era was marked by reform that was often piecemeal and lackluster. You had no implementing law for the anti-dynasty provision in the constitution. You had a party-list system that was quite flawed—the three-seat maximum peventing the rise of any alternative.
Reform in the Post-EDSA Era is somewhat akin to snatching crumbs from the dinner table: the people (via civil society) have the parliament of the streets—they can rally to pressure politicians to do something, heck they can occasionally get a good guy (from civil society or the academe) to serve in the Cabinet—but so long as they have no voice in parliament itself, so long as the people cannot speak for themselves and can only rely on the benevolence of those speaking for them, so long as the people have no leverage vis-à-vis the traditional forces of power…there little hope of anything substantive.
To repeat something I said in a comment in an earlier article on the blog:
“What the ‘Yellows’ offer is technocracy, rule of experts by the experts—with a thin veneer of ‘grassroots participation’ by inviting the occasional citizen (a leader in civil society like an up-and-coming NGO leader) into the charmed circle of well-intentioned reformists.”
It’s not enough to get nice guys in office. That’s easy. Making them stay there—and stay nice—that’s the hard part.
The bright optimist in me—he sincerely hopes that this won’t be the case for much longer. That this won’t just end at recruiting a hundred notables from civil society and the like—because if the LP’s “transformation” ends at this point, then I am reminded of the many, many notables from civil society who—without substantial institutional links to the people they were supposed to represent—were eaten up by the very system they had hoped to reform: I think of one Mr. Binay as a prominent example. I am also reminded of what happens when reformists have no leverage to wield against trapos in a party: the sorry tale of PDP-Laban comes to mind—once upon a time, that party had an ideology and was the closest one got to a mass party in Filipino history.
“He continued: ‘Change or the tide of history can only come from the people themselves. The Liberal Party will help lead from behind, respecting the people’s will, but at the same time, we will not just sit around and watch things happen.’”
I hope that this won’t just be words. I hope that this will result in serious institutional reform within the party itself—away from the standard model of Filipino parties where the focus is on convincing trapos (however reformist) to join the bandwagon, and towards a modern party of the rank-and-file that can organize and is organized from the bottom-up. In my opinion, this is not just “a priority” but the priority. I do not value political parties just because they allow reformists to win more—I value political parties because they are schools of democracy or (in the language of this blog) schools of decency. They are central to teaching people what it means to be a citizen in a democratic society—especially since we have lacked in the past and still lack many of the mass institutions that helped teach the West those lessons: i.e. trade unions.
“My position is that we ought not to accept them back,” he said matter-of-factly. “It was good the turnover happened because we spared ourselves of cleansing from the top which would have been messy. They left of their own volition. Good for them, good for us, good for the country.”
That being said—I am very happy that this was said. I hope this bodes well for the future.
Thank you for expressing my own reservations about the LP strategy. Hopes and dreams and even good values, detached from what people NEED, are likely to be futile. People need to feel empowered. That’s what President Duterte does for them.
*******
Francis, thanks for the critique of your tokayo’s political philosophy.
1. If I were to give a name to it, it would be “evolution from the center” based on faith in the people’s judgment and will.
2. The first argument against the evolution from the center is the failure of EDSA. I agree EDSA was a failure. The main reason was that people power was, in the first place, ad hoc and, in the second place, was not organized post-EDSA. Being so, it could not be sustained. A third reason was the decision to allow the Marcoses to return. This supreme act of mercy was the seed of historical revisionism that has transformed heel to hero, and that has bedeviled Philippine politics for 30 years.
2.1. In contrast, the evolution from the center is not ad hoc. It is planned to attract grass-roots adherents to form people power, not necessarily beforehand in anticipation of crises, but as a prerequisite for stable evolution.
3. The second argument is that, while the people have the power of “parliament of the streets,” they have “no voice in parliament itself.” Accordingly, there is “little hope of anything substantive.”
3.1. I find this argument a bit tenuous. The people have a voice in parliament through their representative. This is the nature of republican democracy. And the continuous leverage people have is the mechanism of elections. Filipinos just don’t realize this awesome leverage. And, until they do, the country will continue to be a victim of the victim mentality.
3.2. In my view, there is no need to empower people. Democracy, by its nature, does it for them and offers many avenues for increased empowerment. All that is necessary is for the people to become aware of their power and to seize it. (In Oz, the campaign for same-sex marriage, was vociferous on both sides of the parliament of the streets.)
4. I agree with the analysis of Binay and his failed attempt to ensure electoral victory by enticing the local elite with expensive perks and the grassroots with cheap sardines. As I have noted, the Filipino sense of loyalty is thin and will shift at the slightest whiff of a spicier aroma.
5. I also agree that we lack the force of mass interest groups united by a common cause (trade unions, tree huggers, jeepney drivers, commuters associations, gun clubs, business councils, social services councils, farmers’ and fishermen’s federations, etc.) Perhaps it is not that the causes are not there, it is the absence of the will and the ability to organize.
5.1. If at all, this is where my pessimism – and that of JoeAm — lies for the “evolution from the center” philosophy. Kiko cites “the certainty of our convictions” as the honey (to attract adherents) and the glue (to keep them). What are those convictions? What is the common cause?
5.2. I rack my brain for an answer and come out… with almost nothing. The answer that stands out from the last presidential election is “disente.” Decency. This is not enough.
5.3. But while principles or convictions are essential, the force of personal character is crucial in winning elections. The two ideological forces in Oz are business interests for the Liberal Party and labor interests for the Labor Party. In the past 50 years, the power of government has alternated between the two parties, with the Liberal Party (serving 23 years) edging out the Labor Party (serving 27 years) by a mere 4 years.
5.4. Even with convictions and character, there comes a time when people simply feel the need for change.
6. I think the evolution from the center is a viable long-term solution. After all, what is the alternative? The hope for a messiah, much less for a series of messiahs, is a mirage.
6.1. The prerequisite is to define the convictions, and the convictions must resonate with the public.
6.2. Institutional safeguards are required such as government financing of political parties, the grassroots formation of political parties, and anti-dynasty and anti-turncoatism laws.
6.3. And there must be a revolution in the people’s thinking about the real meaning of democracy.
*****
I think popular allegiances are indeed thin, and like a rubber band. I suspect it could be could be yanked in a different direction by a popular rebel, say Senator Trillanes, if he finds a way to shift his righteousness to be, not right for right’s sake, but right because he is sick of the way populists are playing people for fools. The irony is that the strategy would have to have popular appeal, too. I noodle on ideas from time to time, and clearly think it is possible to manufacture popular appeal, and it helps to have a villain or two to beat up on. But I don’t write about it because I have to know my place as a non-Filipino, and respect that it is up to Filipinos to solve this problem. I get uplifted when I see ideas from Francis, who is obviously smart and sees the picture in layers (as do you). I wonder if he or others can articulate and put in place ways to succeed, beyond chatting about what is going on.
Trillanes was called evil by Duterte recently… Good and evil can be a matter of perspective… or of how far you drink from the bottle…
There is of course a very Spanish Catholic layer in Philippine culture, the idea of fighting evil – and this is where Aquino and Duterte are partly mirror images, Trillanes and Duterte even more… what did Nietzsche say about fighting dragons?
LCPL_X called Dutertism “Daang Matuwid on steroids”… there is some truth to that.
The Philippines used to be a morally indifferent society – amoral, not immoral.
It is now finding its morality, similar to the West in its period of Crusades and witch-hunts.
If there is real evidence for the Duterte bank accounts and/or shabu/ Paolo Duterte deal there is …….Trillanes…..
(and de Lima.)
Ombudsman is gonna be a deal crucial person soon….
Duterte mixes metaphors, as usual..
http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/07/17/duterte-trillanes-like-judas-iscariot-has-a-face-of-evil
In his speech, Duterte recalled the story behind how Renaissance artist Leonardo Da Vinci found his model for Judas in his famous painting, The Last Supper. The tale is disputed online.
“Ang ika-13th (apostle), si Hudas. Hinanap niya sa lahat. Punta siya ng ganun, ganun, ganun but pag-uwi niya sa Florence, naghanap siya ng mukha talagang evil, pareho kay Trillanes,” Duterte said, drawing laughter from the audience.
“Naghanap siya ng mukha ni Trillanes. Wala man siya… wala pa man PMA (Philippine Military Academy) noon. Doon nakita niya ‘yung fiesta, nakita niya ‘yung isang tao sa karaming pagkain, gaiety and everything, he saw this man nag-i-scavenge, scavenging the basura, naghanap ng pagkain. So pagdaan niya nakita niya, nakita niya, “P***** i**, Trillanes nga ito.”
Da Vinci, according to Duterte, even tried to pacify the man he wanted to pose as a model for Judas, telling him not to be “insulted.”
“So he talked to him and said, ‘Do not be insulted, but you know, I’m trying to complete my painting, the only person missing there, the face is Judas,’” Duterte said. “Sabi niya, ‘You are not Judas.’”
Duterte said this is also what he would tell Trillanes.
“Sabihin ko kay Trillanes ganun, ‘You are not the Judas.’ But sabi ni Da Vinci, “You are a model for a face of evil.” Sabihin ko na rin… “You are a model… a face of evil,’” the President said of the minority senator, who has tagged him in murders and unexplained wealth.
*******
In this case, the observer is truly the observed.
*****
or did Duterte just mean that Trillanes is someone he fears.. well that would be good.
“LCPL_X called Dutertism “Daang Matuwid on steroids”… there is some truth to that.”
The “steroids” stuff just means that something’s grander in scope ,
the “Daang Matuwid” part is really easy to test, start contacting or writing letters to your elected officials, if there’s more “customer service” in gov’t, then “Daang Matuwid” is true (give or take some issues of course),
but my point is does your gov’t system still dilly-dally, waiting for someone to slip a note or two (whether cash or name dropping) , or does it now react, as true public servants, and not fly-by-night shysters (the whole lot of them).
I remember sitting right behind the driver of a jeepney in Manila, the front seating area directly to the driver’s right was empty, at some corner a cop in uniform sits , takes off his police hat, plops it next to the driver, bottom side up and then driver places some cash inside (like he’s done it many time before), then at the other side of the intersection, the cop gets off his hat now on his head.
There’s too much focus on EJKs, where I’m more interested if the little rackets are still going, continuing. Because like my “BPOs vs. tambays” theory, “Jeepney drivers vs. cops” here, i’m sure if you saw a lowering of those types of small rackets (nuisance really) you’d also
see DU30 support. My point, yeah, there’s the whole forest, but don’t miss the trees too.
“5. I also agree that we lack the force of mass interest groups united by a common cause (trade unions, tree huggers, jeepney drivers, commuters associations, gun clubs, business councils, social services councils, farmers’ and fishermen’s federations, etc.) Perhaps it is not that the causes are not there, it is the absence of the will and the ability to organize.”
edgar,
I’d focus on martial arts clubs too, gun clubs (they tend to be for the rich in the Philippines), martial arts clubs though (to include boxing, East Asian stuff, now MMA, etc.) , especially Filipino martial arts which is widely respected across the world, those are the clubs you’d want to cultivate.
Ireneo can verify this, but in Europe, neo-fascists are recruiting now using martial arts clubs, and if you remember Hitler with his brown shirts got what they wanted via sticks and batons, in the Philippines its fire hardened wood and blades (which they actually know how to wield).
It is because he is ‘evil’, he automatically has reporters trailing after every word. He can be heard, vs. Aquino. He can also turn the tables and become the compatriot of the disenfranchised who get that they have been taken for a ride.
” we lack the force of mass interest groups united by a common cause (trade unions, tree huggers, jeepney drivers, commuters associations, gun clubs, business councils, social services councils, farmers’ and fishermen’s federations, etc.) Perhaps it is not that the causes are not there, it is the absence of the will and the ability to organize.”
I have given examples of how Filipino overseas organizations fall asunder after some time. Does anyone really expect it to be otherwise with local cause-oriented groups of any kind?
https://www.facebook.com/vicente.rafael1/posts/10159587954150328?pnref=story – Prof. Vicente Rafael notes this…
Borges on the Argentines’ (or at least some of them) relationship to the state in the mid-1950s. Try substituting “Argentine” for “Filipino” and “gaucho” and “hoodlum” with “warlord” and “gangster.”
“Though Argentines consider themselves brave, they do not identify with that past [of military battles] but rather with the vast generic figures of the Gaucho and the Hoodlum…The gaucho and the hoodlum are seen as rebels; Argentines, unlike North Americans and most Europeans, do no identify with the state. This can be attributed to the fact that the state is an inconceivable abstraction. [The state is impersonal; the Argentine thinks only in terms of personal relationships. For him, therefore, stealing public monies is not a crime.] The Argentine is an individual, not a citizen; to him, aphorisms such as Hegel’s “The State is the reality of the moral idea” are sinister jokes….Argentines [consider] friendship as a passion and the police a mafia…” (“A History of Tango,” 1955)
*******
Gadzooks! That’s Marcos and every politico after him: the state is a construct, an entity, from which to steal.
*****
*******
Vicara called it “splinterism.” But even before that, we lack cohesiveness.
*****
That’s why I consider EDSA One a success. Years and years of fighting dictatorship by way of splintered anti-Marcos groups finally bore fruit when Ninoy sacrificed his life to awaken us from our state of the lemminghood. Even if we went our jolly, separate ways after that brief stellar burst of nationhood, EDSA One will remain in my heart (at least) as our Camelot. So far, as I interview people who carry Filipino zeal, I understand that no two Filipinos will have the same opinion on anything except when we talk of that event. A fiesta? An anomaly? An apparition of Our Lady of EDSA? A Godly event that defies explanation? As days drag on to our Promised Land, walking and walking in deserts of doubt, grumbling as we go, we will always carry a memory of EDSA One. No matter how dismal our condition, we have a crown jewel hidden in our rags. We were one (repeat). A diamond that cannot be crushed by chariots of pharaohish tinpot dictators.
Edgar
The OZ pendulum swings from Labour to Liberal is so typical Westminster model.
On “lack the force of mass interest groups united by a common cause” such as labour unions, given the lessons learnt from Filipino culture, mass interest groups will turn out to be genies in bottles. They will in no time be hijacked by another cankerous personality and get proselytised. No labour union is better than having militancy prone labour unions the likes of Jimmy Hofa’s Teamster Union (US) or Arthus Scargill’s Union of Mine Workers (UK).
Yet, I concede a Labour Union is badly required to mobilise the masses into the political spectrum for their voices not only to be heard, but to play a major role in the running of the country. Sadly, the Philippines is too immature for this at the moment.
Imagine a socio-politcal-economic landscape where there is a Tripartite Arrangement of Workers-Business-Government without industrial strife, politcal gimmickies minimised in deference to the powerful voice of the workers’ needs, unionists regulated by strict non-confrontational actions but pursuing reasonable demands (taking into consideration national interests first) via arbitrational approaches, businesses chasing profits but recognising national interests and working with labour. This model has been done elsewhere and is a proven win win win arrangement.
chemp,
What do you know about the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxer_Rebellion#Origins_of_the_Boxers , is it set-up like Tongs, or is it more similar to the Philippines penchant for millenarian movements? Tongs , I understand are more like Kiwanis, Lions or Masons.
Since Filipinos, especially C-D-E folk are susceptible to magical thinking and superstition, maybe a Boxer type rebellion is more fitting for the Philippines? Ireneo’s talked about the Pulahanes movement which spanned Luzon to the Visayas over there , I remember reading how much a pain they were to occupying American forces in the early 1900s, while pacifying the Philippines.
It was the Moros and the Pulahanes who prolonged American colonization. The Moros were eventually “educated”; the Pulahanes I think were just killed off (can’t educate magic/superstition).
I agree w/ you, Labor Unions are prone to infiltration, and denial and deception ops, now groups based on beliefs and testing of said beliefs , that’s harder to infiltrate— look at ISIS and Al-Qaeda.
Contrary to what most people think, the Boxer Rebellion was’nt an organised anti-colonialism movement, or at least it did’nt start off that way.
In the late 1800s, on the heels of the foreign occupation, came hordes of Christian missionaries. Various martial arts groups religious societies were deeply concerned with what they witnessed were threats to traditional Chinese social and moral values. It was missionary activities, rather than any notion of nationalism, that stirred the social unrest. The conflicts arising from this clash of civilisation initially were restricted to reprisals against the Church. Foreign missionaries, and new Chinese converts, seek refuge with foreign forces which of course led to direct confrontation between the Boxers and foreign troops. The weak Ching Dynasty took the opportunity to side with the Boxers in mistaken belief their combined forces can drive the foreign devils out.
So it was no true millenarism movement. But it took a course of its own and developed into a full blown nationalist movement.
The spiritualism associated with the movement, the bullet proof or bayonet proof bodies, these were not the beliefs in magic associated with millenarism movements. It’s part and parcel of the medicine salesmen’s in the kungfu world through time immemorial. My kungfu school is better than your kungfu school because your arrows can’t hurt me. No, my is better, your blade will bounce off my tummy!
I’m not so sure about Filipinos. I don’t think you can create a millenarism movement and inject their aswangs into a hotch potch ideology. Some peso notes may do the work I think.
Actually Lance, there is a millienarianism movement going on in the Philippines, it is called “Shaiming”. The good folks strongly belief in a transformation of society — after all the poor drug addicts are killed off, and the corrupt crooks of previous admins get their booties back, Philippines will be a bright shining star in Asean, with spanking new fast trains to boot, and super highways. (Never mind about the loan repayment – it’s next generations’ problem).
The ideology of this movement is strongly ensonced in fake news, great returns from utang na loob policies of the new establishment, and ah the wonderful great feelings as the star dust from the rich and powerful rubs on them when they can get close enough — I’m sure you have seen the wonderful estatic dreamy unabashed looks on the faces of their leaders like Nieto, Mocha, Sass, Gadon etc in their selfies with the high and almighty semi-Gods. What kind of spiritualism drives them? I dont know man. But for sure it is inner motivation. Are they driven by the need to kill, to give away our islands, to allow the corrupt to return and prosper? Do they believe in that so passionately in the same way as what drives ISIS fighters and communists gun carrying cadres? Except that “Shaiming” cadres never had to suffer and bear the terrible physical hardships that ISIS and communists counterparts do. “Shaiming” cadres probably suffer from some finger numbness which is the keyboards’ revenge.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1271349.Pasyon_and_Revolution
“Paramount among the conclusions of the book is that the pasyon, or native account of Christ’s life, death and resurrection, provided the cultural framework of movements for change. The book places the Philippine revolution in the context of native traditions, and explains the persistence of radial peasant brotherhoods in this century. Seen as continuous attempts by the masses to transform the world in their terms are the various movements that the book analyzes – Apolinario de la Cruz’s Cofradia de San Jose, Andres Bonifacio’s Katipunan, Macario Sakay’s Katipunan, Felipe Salvador’s Santa Iglesia, the Colorum Society, and other popular movements during the Spanish, revolutionary, and American colonial periods.” (LCPL_X, the Pulahanes were more often called Colorums… there was recently also a movie about “Hermano Pule”, brother Pule, a lay preacher from Quezon, of course EDSA I has Marian overtones (Cory = St. Mary) and Dutertism Black Nazarene overtones (the ones closest to the statue are allegedly known local toughs, the statue is originally Aztec)
http://filipinogerman.blogsport.eu/quo-vadis-mindanao/
..In the Visayas, not only Lapu-Lapu resisted colonization. The Boholanos Tamblot and Dagohoy come to mind – the first was a native priest who rejected Christianity in 1621, the second was a rebellion that started in 1744 and held out until 1828 in resistance to forced labor, but sparked by the refusal of a priest to give a Christian burial to the brother of its original leader, a barangay captain. In the Dagohoy uprising, folk beliefs in magical powers of the leader played a role in holding out.
The likes of Duterte now find themselves in a strange role. He and his followers act a bit like Dagohoy and his followers – towards certain groups in Manila. The personalism of the leader, the belief of people in his capabilities and collective resentments play a similar role..
“plain Kiko without the garnishings” without PhDs … Honorable, Sir … Masters … “KIKO” really? Plain “KIKO”? Why do Filipino journalists do this:
Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino
Jejomar “Jejo” Binay
Corazon “Cory” Aquino
WHY, OH, WHY? We never do that in the U.S. nor in Canada, Australia, China, Vietnam, Thailand, France, Germany …. WHY, OH, WHY?
I do not get the logic at all … What are they trying to make Filipinos believe?
I only see those( Name with nick name) in sample ballots or campaign posters.
What are you talking about?
Bill Clinton, Dick Nixon,JFK,GW Bush,Jimmy Carter.
I ask again, what are you talking about?
This is uniquely Filipino – everyone has a nickname. I see nothing wrong with this. I think it is cute.
Would you ask why native American Red Indians name themselves Sitting Bulls, Wild Eagles.
Or the African who named his son Uvuvwevwevwe Onyetenyevwe Ugwemuhwem Osas.
Out-of-Topic
TRAIN Duterte Tax Reform. News as of November 29. Today is December 9th. TRAIN was approved last night. Hontiveros did not. Duterte still has to sign off on it. No public hearing. No news reporting. Only Philippine Star reported. Because the rest are busy with politics. See, in the Philippines politics is SCIENCE and the only science they know except those U.P. students who claimed to have sent satellite to space, of course, with Japanese scientists breathing on their neck 24/7/365. We do not know the whole story of that satellite who really sent it to the sky: Was it the Japanese or Was it U.P. students?
If Japanese was taken out of the equation would it have gone to space? Your answer is good than mine.
TRAIN update: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/11/29/1763533/senate-rushes-approve-tax-reform-bill
On Train a google search resulted to Rappler and CNN also reporting TRAIN’s approval on third reading.
https://www.google.com.ph/search?client=safari&hl=en-ph&ei=OWgsWpq0HIGy0gSS8pioBQ&sjs=15359&q=train+approved+final+reading&oq=train+approved+final+reading&gs_l=mobile-gws-serp.3..33i160.3057.16750..17701…….257.8393.0j29j16…………mobile-gws-wiz-serp…..3..0j41j0i71j0i67j0i131j0i131i67j0i22i30j33i21.03TJUGCWzJE%3D
The DiWATA satellite was built and designed by Filipinos, they built the satellite not the rocket, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure that out
Maybe Kiko can ”hire” Mike de Jesus for getting more attention but than he has to throw his honesty overboard…..
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/investigative/189639-mocha-uson-trending-news-portal
Is there a way to jail that de Jesus?
*******
1. One of Kiko’s glaring statements is: “We have lost many of our members to the administration. Of the 115 LP members elected in Congress we are now down to 25.”
2. The issue is about shifting alliances for benefit of personal gain. Philippine politicos will change parties at the drop of a hat and will flock to the latest center of power.
3. It is about loyalty, the base of the Three Primary Virtues, which includes honor and duty.
4. The crux of the issue is, “On what construct should one’s primary loyalty rest?”
5. In “The Moral Landscape,” I said: “As a norm, when there are conflicting priorities, I would suggest the construct with the highest priority would be that farthest from Self, all things being equal.”
5.1. Going by this norm, politicos should be loyal to the Party above Self.
6. For the 90 turncoats, because there is no loyalty, there is no honor and duty is duly misconstrued.
sakto…..
Forget about the moral arguments. Let’s just look at the legalities. If one buys a box of chocolate in SM Mall and finds out that there were only peanuts inside, it’s back to the shop to give them hell. If a voter votes an LP candidate only to find the latter materialise into a PDP Laban sucker, then he has been sold a misrepresentation. It’s absolutely bewildering that the country with one of the most legistations in the world never see turncoatism as trickeries.
You have better luck on that box of chocolate than getting back your vote. 🙂
Francis and Micha detail two reasons why EDSA is considered failed after 31 years:
1) the economic gulf that started to form during Marcos days (see my blog article “Out of Whack”) continued to widen. Subdivisions on one side, slums on the other is the visible manifestation of this.
2) real empowerment for the middle class remained elusive. There is this thing about Aquino seeming to act pissed off every time people questioned him. Came across to some in my generation (50s) as arrogant and entitled – like “how dare you question me, don’t you remember what we did for you”?
– that Duterte acts arrogant when questioned doesn’t really make it better… BUT for some it may be “at least he sees US as worthwhile enough to talk to” and does not DEADMA the people like Aquino. Most of “yellow” acted that way as well before, started explaining things only now in the defensive.
Health Secretary Duque for example is saying that Aquino should just explain his side when it comes to Dengvaxia, he is sure he meant well… well I see this as a hint not to “deadma” the people again.
In a democracy people DESERVE answers, deserve to be spoken to. Let us see how this plays out.
Those who feel they aren’t getting heard enough… sometimes start shouting.
This is the lesson of Dutertism. I hope it is truly learned, and not forgotten.
Hmm. If I were to retrace the steps, the Aquino magic began to wane when talk was rife of PNoy playing video games—noynoying—while in office. I think that happened a year or two into his term. As a dyed-in-the-wool yellow, I was hurt that my president would be gallivanting, but taken in the context of his fight against corruption, I figured his enemies were spreading canard upon canard to stop him even if the country burns. Which is exactly what happened when people elected the Marcos-Arroyo-Duterte-China cabal by plurality. Thirty-nine per cent of voters elected them, while 61 per cent did not. Deal with that. Storm-tossed, the country does not know what moorings mean, taking as bittersweet reality that everything is subject to winds of change. And so, as theories fly, I take shelter in the following facts:
One, PNoy neither stole money nor clothed himself in urban legend;
Two, his family including himself did not breed scandal and acted with propriety;
Three, his admin may have been inefficient and insensitive, but to justify its shortcomings in strict moral code, I go back to items one and two.
About PNoy, I feel good about what you wrote, Will: the positive in PNoy and his negative. In the end your One and Two about him means a lot to me.
One and Two would not have mattered if we did not have a monster in Malacañang. Turns out the first two points matter a lot. I knew it from the start, but our suffering people could not see it then, that’s why they had an appetite for fake news. I think they see it now, and fake news has proven to be poison, especially to class D and E who bear the brunt of bloodlust.
By way of analogy, an associated thought: I enjoy family-oriented Disney-like movies, but I also like action movies like the early episodes starring Clint Eastwood, Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis. To quite a few, Disney type movies are just so nicey-nicey and thus prefer the latter movies for their ticket’s worth — although I suspect, deep in their hearts, especially when they come home, they prefer the thought of movies peopled by those in Disney movies.
(And Filipinos so love movies and the noon-time TV shows along with the vulgarities.)
True,especially No. 1 is important – in fact it should be the minimum requirement but it isn’t for so many Filipinos. Mila Aguilar (another ex-Communist like Dick Malay, now a churchmate and steadfast supporter of CJ Sereno – imagine a high-level communist finding back to God) once wrote that corruption was bred by the colonial system – the Spanish government stole money and labor from the natives, and some corrupt local officials in Bikol and Pampanga made good names for themselves by stealing from the colonial government and giving back to everybody.
Even if the late 19th century Spanish colonial government went through liberal reforms and the Americans and Quezon created a modern government (for those times) the attitude toward government remained the same among money – a parasite that should be stolen from, used.
The development that many Filipinos think of government money as “pera natin” (our money) is very recent I think. Cavalier attitude to paying taxes is still prevalent, as public facilities are usually awful, anything good (subdivision, mall, school) is usually private, so why pay to BIR?
Where Aquino should however I think speak up, because it affects Nr. 1, is re Dengvaxia. Because the insinuation going around – and maybe many think it possible even if they do not speak it out – is that of possible bribery. This would permanently damage his reputation.
This is not about an MRT. This is about the insinuation that the lives and health of Filipino children were placed in danger because of money. There are already articles equating vaccines and drugs. The moral code of many Filipinos is a bit different. It is about the family. One’s own family which is by definition good. Steal from the government, who cares. Kill drug dealers and NPAs, who cares, my family is not involved in that. Endanger my children, you are a bad person. They can’t paint him as a drug lord, so vaccine lord is the next best thing. Like I joked on Twitter, they are painting yellows as aliens who came from outer space to conduct a vaccine experiment on poor Filipino children. The alien leader is half-bald and smiles strangely. That is the extent of meanness used to try to destroy Aquino. Which is I think their final goal.
There is a way to communicate with the public without facing an unfair Senate… Aquino could for example let himself be interviewed by Winnie Monsod in “Bawal ang Pasaway”.. I think he can win if he is not perceived as hiding… it could stop further attacks… but it is his choice.
Irineo,
Your suggestion about Pnoy coming out to put his thoughts across: it may be a debatable item. For one like Pnoy who does not relish the limelight — he was relatively quite while in the Senate and came across, quite a change really, to fulfill his duties as a President — he and his sisters and other advisers must have discussed the pros and cons of the matter. The trolls will feast on him and stopping after a few interviews or so may end up the worse for him. President Ramos has an advantage: he somehow craves the limelight, beside having important matters to say, and his being a respected elder in the Military is relatively untouchable by the trolls who must know the sentiment of the Boss to tread lightly on him. But I am most probably getting ahead; in good time he may just come towards your way of seeing things.
*******
My reply to Francis has been spammed. Thank you.
*****
Welcome to spammelot ☺
*******
🙂 It’s strange. Madlanglupa has this theory that spammelot has to do with a broken submarine cable in the Philippines. I thought for a while it was the amount of traffic at the time of day. But I believe it has to do with the broken cable and the length of the post. My short comments go through and the long ones don’t. Through the scientific method of experimentation, I have established that the maximum acceptable length is 170 words (or ~900 characters including spaces). Beyond that, I have to send an SOS.
*****
Hooray for the scientific method!
mercedes’ unseen comments went beyond 170 words? 😱
Haha!
There can be more than one reason. If the system believes mercedes has spammed some other site, or has characteristics related to a spammer, it will flag her. She is not on the list here, so I am helpless to do anything about it. All her comments are sent to moderation.
Kinda make karl and I jealous for not being spammed. What do you say, karl?
Me ??? A spammer !!!! Come on peeps, get a life. I have a turtle and a husband to support ☺☺☺☺☺☺
speak for your self. 😉😂 joke lang.
I was not allowed to register in Irineo’s blogsport site using my yahoo mail. I had to use my gmail. I do not know the reason and Irineo just suggested use another email.
It was solved then,but since one can comment without having to log in, iI just go ahead and comment, but it goes to mederation fifty percent of the time
At Raissa’s too, I get moderated, so I conclude, it was past online behavior.
There was a time in Raissa’s place when all of all of my posts — and a I believe a lot of others — were moderated. That coincided when her Blog was in extreme harassment. This means that being moderated may be due to a lot of reasons. (You said it is a joke, but sorry for including you in my spam statement, nevertheless, Karl.)
@mercedes, for the sake of your hobby and your turtle I never meant you and hereby corfirm that you never were a spammer! 🙂
mercedes, NH
tama na nga itong SPam mag Maling na lang tayo.
Peace be with you.
Which is more acceptable, to be a spammer or malingerer? A choice between the devil and the deep blue sea.
Jeez, louise, my husband is NOT my hobby. Line dancing, on the other hand, is MY hobby ☺☺☺
hubby?
Seems the politicians don’t listen to Kiko et all anymore…
PDP-Laban ‘overwhelmed’ by applicants
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/951054/pdp-laban-aquilino-pimentel-iii-koko-pimentel
Which begs the question — when, not if, the next big party membership will come. In the US, I understand this: displease someone, and a new Filipino Association is born, and we are not talking about a PH politican’s “life and death” aspiration to win the next election. It seems there is something in the wiring of the Filipino DNA?
If PDP and LP will not allow former members, it may be good and bad.
Good is there might be less turn coats, and bad if it will just result to additional splinter parties.
DNA?
Do not ask?
Do not allow?
Do not answer?
Do not anderstand………………….
🙂
Definition lang yan:
Drug addicts = not human, i.e. they are animals.
Ergo, no fuss, no human rights violation. Problem solved. Which means the Administration and Supporters are really believers in Human Rights of the living. In fact, they are more than simple believers in HR — as shown by the human rights treatment of the police involved in the nanlaban Abuera Mayor, and the Immigration Commissioners involved in the P50m less P1000 Casino bribery.
My take from reading today’s article by Randy David,
http://opinion.inquirer.net/109361/president-duterte-believe-human-rights
What if we just define Harry Roque as a pig, may we then roast him?
By definition!
You are tempting me on a Sunday. Kunting balat lang. Where is the salsa? And the SanMig.
baka magalit si Digong.. next year na lang http://filipinogerman.blogsport.eu/speaker-barry-roque/ was served as lechon in Balintawak by the KFF on Human Rights Day 2018. “He was a pig, not human”, said the Punong Tagpaghusga of the Kalookan Freedom Fighters in Filipino. “sabi niya tutulungan niya kaming mga mahihirap samantalang ang dami sa aming mga pinapatay nila.”..
..“Putang ina kayo” sabi ng Pangulong Duterte sa isang talumpati sa Federal Palace na nasa Mactan. “pati Speaker ko kinain na ninyo”. “Bakit hindi kasi si Franklin Drilon ang patulan ninyo, iyong dilawan dapat ang parosahan huwag kami rito” itinuloy niya “iyang mga naglalason ng kabataan, kaibigan ng mga drug lord na ilegal pati na iyong mga drug lord na ligal kuno na galing sa pisteng EU na iyan, mga Sanopi.” Pinahid ng Pangulo ang pisngi niya..
..“and that crazy EU really removed our GSP+ privileges and are asking for us to pay duties, sons of BITCHES, what business do they have teaching us about human rights if they poison Filipino children? Tell me!”. Duterte looked at the audience. “Now they should not complain if our customs asks extra money”..
Interesting read……from Noemi And Alvin Nieto,.
View at Medium.com
Tuesday senate hearing with Jover etc..
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/951175/senate-grace-poe-fake-news-hearing
Thanks for the heads up, Sup. Great drama, I’m sure.
After watching his flag pole Gordon see conspiracy everywhere but not in the Davao group?
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/636009/gordon-sees-conspiracy-in-p3-5-b-dengvaxia-deal/story/?just_in
Seems like Gordon is crafting a pharma conspiracy story ala John le Carre’s The Constant Gardener. He is probably angling for a home run hit this time around, seeing that Trillanes continues to be a fly in his ointment in past BRC Hearings.
Keep this up sir. Your series of interviews inspires me and I believe the other readers as well.
I can’t wait for the next one. 🤤
I used to dislike Kiko in the past as he used Sharon for his political gain and yet on his years in the service he proved himself true to his conviction.
After your interview with him, I started to admire him to the likes of Trillanes.
The more people who are in the side of democracy, the better. 👍
Thank you, Kamote Procopio! We have many, many good men and women. Just need some polish. Our democracy was attacked, we were hit hard, but not down and out; tired, but not sick and tired. We will win this one.
society of TRAPOS
Having an emotional moment, Gov?
Must be a Duterte fan..ok…give you news about those in power now…
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/951123/jeane-napoles-daughter-tax-evasion-case-pork-barrel-scam-dismissed
Reaction please Gov.CongressmanKawatan?