It’s a Saturday morning, and politics should be the last thing on my mind, especially as I see sunlight filtering in through my sliding door, beckoning me to come out and take a walk already. But I will postpone my grocery trip for at least another hour because the first thing on my mind when I woke up this morning was Barack Obama’s relatively successful first 100 days, and an article that my favorite editor, Fareed Zakaria, wrote about it on Newsweek (May 4, 2009 issue).
“No other American president in modern memory has faced a learning curve as steep as the one Barack Obama has encountered,” Zakaria begins. “When he began his quest for Democratic nomination three years ago, the Dow Jones industrial average was 14.000, and the world was in the midst of a great economic boom. By the time he took office, America’s financial industry was in chaos, credit markets were frozen, housing values were plummeting and the economy was in its worst contraction since the Great Depression. Add to that Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, and North Korea, and you get an extraordinary set of challenges.”
“And yet, by most measures, President Obama’s first 100 days have been successful… So far, any president would be envious of Obama’s accomplishments.”
Zakaria rightly points out that all these policy changes and acts of reaching out are merely overtures, whose effects and endings have yet to be determined. Still, America, who has lost and suffered much since September 11, 2001, is feeling hopeful again. In spite of the continuing spate of bankruptcies and job cuts, Americans are talking about “green shoots”—bright spots that denote recovery in the US economy. Thanks to President Obama, Cuban Americans can now visit the land of their roots. There is optimism in the air, because of a calm and collected leader who knows how to steer a panicked crew through tumultuous waters.
We can’t say the same for the Philippines. In contrast to the United States, we have not encountered major upheavals similar to 9/11 and the 2008 financial crash since the 1997 Asian financial crisis—two presidents ago. We are not engaged in any external war that threatens the lives of millions of our citizens—and the insurgency in the South has been going on for decades. (It’s hardly a crisis; sadly, it’s already practically a state of being for that region.) Our biggest problems now are the same problems we’ve been facing since 30 years ago. Sen. Kiko Pangilinan pointed out in a news release just yesterday that the Philippine economy hasn’t moved in decades, and he’s right. Except for a couple of sunshine industries, the poor 30 years ago are still poor now—if not poorer.
We are the laughingstock of Asia, people. Wake up.
So unlike the 50 or so congressmen who have Pacquiao on their minds this weekend, I am wondering about the state of things and whether or not they will ever change. I am wondering about whether or not our presidentiables really have a clear program of action to steer our country out of the mess we’re in. I am bombarded with political ads every time I tune in to the local channels, and I wonder if their soundbites and their advertising messages will really be backed up by clear policy measures.
More specifically, here are some questions I’d like to ask the presidentiables:
1. How will you create more quality jobs in the Philippines ? (And this means not hiring thousands of street sweepers that wear shirts with your name, and say that you’ve just created thousands of jobs.) What industries will you support? How will you ensure global competitiveness among our students and workers? What is your take on serial contractualization?
2. How will you protect overseas Filipinos and the families from the rising social costs of migration? Will you introduce more safety nets for the families left behind? Will you eventually curb overseas deployment in favor of job creation and investment in the Philippines?
3. How will you make the economy less reliant on overseas remittances?
4. HOW WILL YOU ELIMINATE CORRUPTION?
5. Will you elevate graft and corruption to heinous crimes? (After all, when you rob your citizens of millions or billions of pesos that should be going to basic services and it results in more people starving, I think that’s heinous enough.)
6. How will you ensure that big-time, high-profile tax evaders (some of whom might be your funders) are caught and punished?
7. Will you be willing to declare the full extent of your campaign fund sources and expenditures?
8. How will you stop smuggling, drug trafficking, people trafficking, and prostitution?
9. What is your take on nuclear energy, and what are we to do about the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant?
10. What is your take on the reproductive health bill?
11. What is your plan to move the Philippines towards eco- and energy-sustainability by 2020?
12. How will you balance food security and self-sufficiency while promoting the production of biofuels?
13. How will you lower our power rates to be at par with those of our Asian neighbours?
14. What is your stand on decriminalizing marijuana, to be in the same classification as tobacco and alcohol?
15. What is your stand on divorce? (And I don’t mean, “Let’s follow Church doctrine.” Even Italy has divorce laws.)
16. What is your stand on the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with Extension and Reforms?
17. What will be your plan to boost tourism to overtake Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia?
18. Will you go after Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, her husband, their cronies, and all those who ought to be punished post-2010 (e.g., Virgilio Garcillano, Benjamin Abalos, Romulo Neri, etc.)?
19. Who will your cabinet members be?
20. What role will you give your Vice President?
21. How will you trim down the government bureaucracy to make it more streamlined and efficient?
22. How will you ensure sufficient healthcare services especially for indigents?
23. What is your plan for upgrading our state colleges and universities? How will you ensure global competitiveness among our students?
24. How would you amend the Constitution, if you were to do so? (This is not a “yes” or “no” answer.)
25. What is your stand on the VFA? On the Spratlys? What will be the bases of your foreign policy?
26. How will you end extra-judicial killings and ensure the end of human rights violations in government?
And here are some questions for specific presidentiables:
For Chiz Escudero: Aside from producing great soundbites, what have you really DONE throughout your entire political career? Why should we trust you?
For Loren Legarda: You wept when the second envelope was not opened in 2001, and then you joined the opposition’s camp in 2004? Why should we trust you?
For Jejomar Binay (“Dito sa Makati…”): How do you plan to produce “the Makati effect” in provinces and regions that have a very low revenue base? How will you encourage investment and tourism and enable tax collection in fifth- and sixth-class provinces? How will you ensure equitable distribution of resources across the country? And you are going around the country with a former president who was a womanizer, a gambler, and a plunderer. Why should we trust you?
For Mar Roxas (“Padyak”): If you weren’t seeking higher office in 2010, would you be proposing to Korina Sanchez at all?
Pardon the Saturday-morning operation of this brain, but I think these questions will be more than enough to keep some people busy for the next couple of months.
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What are YOUR questions?
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Out of the Universe 
teLai
May 2, 2009
For Mar Roxas (“Padyak”): If you weren’t seeking higher office in 2010, would you be proposing to Korina Sanchez at all?
HEAR HEAR!.
Oh how envious I am of the US for having Barack Obama. In truth, I am slowly losing hope in the political and economic future of this country because of our supposed “leaders.” Yes indeed, the Philippines has not moved in decades. Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand… everybody else is improving but us.
And while the rest of the world are in recession, Filipinos barely notice it in our day-to-day lives because our government and political leaders have prepared us for “crises” for a long long time now. It has always been like this in the Philippines no matter what our government says.
For the Presidentiables of 2010, how would you want Filipinos to see you after your term? (ehem ehem, GMA. ehem ehem)
Amadeo A. Abania
May 2, 2009
Dearly Nina,
Nice to read your column especially the pointers you would ask by the presidentiables. Hoping that our next leaders will take your guidelines for a better government. Here in Holland a senator fined thousands of EURO’S when he was trapped by the custom in the airport. Nice example to prevent graft & corruption. Wish you a great success.
towr
May 4, 2009
OMG! None of them is suitable to lead our country. They are all traditional politicians and for sure they are running for their own self-interest.
Chiz Escudero –
Pros: young
Cons: grew up from a corrupt family, have many corrupt friends and allies, will have a tendency to do mass scale corruption in the future, have nothing done so far for the country except making publicity in questioning the administration corruptions
Loren Legarda –
Pros: can properly deliver a good speech, could possible handle international relations
Cons: can be link into corrupt personalities, cannot manage herself or her family, want to run for the sake of fame and then fortune
Jejomar Binay –
Pros: have experience in running a first class city
Cons: so corrupt!, many businesses already want to move outside Makati, his fortune heavily relies on politics
Mar Roxas –
Pros: have proper education, knew how to handle the economy
Cons: will run for fame and for assurance of the future of Araneta, etc. businesses
So, none of them are ok. Mar Roxas like Gloria seems to be the lesser evil.
Lon
June 15, 2009
If none of the candidates are even qualified why vote. So, sad.
Laya
May 21, 2009
Hi. This blogpost got quoted here: Tatler spotlights three presidentiables
broker
June 3, 2009
OHH This is good for me. Thank ^_^ I really do appreciate your time on putting this up
nasdaq
June 3, 2009
Great, thanks! ^_^
Kroi Vallejos
July 9, 2009
Nina, my following two proposals are answers to your question No. 4 to the presidentiables. If the proposals make sense to you, please comment, spread and use it for the good of our People.
This is a personal effort to help curb governmental corruption. Please comment and help disseminate with the view of creating a groundswell of consensus to take collective action for the good of our People.
(Proposal 1)
SO ALL MAY KNOW:
CALL TO COMMIT
1. WHEREAS, the election of the President of the Philippines is forthcoming;
2. WHEREAS, there has been overwhelming clamor to minimize or eradicate governmental corruption;
3. WHEREAS, it is the President who should be answerable for corruption in government;
4. WHEREAS, the extra-appointing power of the President is a corruption of the doctrine of Separation of Powers and the principle of check and balance.[See Sec. 8 (1) & (2) and 9, Art. VIII, Sec. 2 of B., C., D. of Art. IX and Sec. 9 of Art. XI of the 1987 Constitution);
5. WHEREAS, it is this extra-appointing power of the President, together with the culture of patronage and “pakikisama”, that provide legal imprimatur to governmental corruption
NOW THEREFORE, WE, the SOVEREIGN PEOPLE, call on each honest, well-meaning and God-loving presidential candidate TO COMMIT IN WRITING TO THE FOLLOWING, should he/she win the election:
a. That he/she will voluntarily give up the extra-appointing power of the President;
b. That he/she will work for the holding of a constitutional convention to amend the provisions granting the President such extra-appointing power and put in place such other anti-corruption provisions
REFERENCES:
Art. VIII, Judicial Department, 1987 Constitution
Section 8. (1) & (2) & Section 9.
Art. IX, B., (2), Civil Service Commission, 1987 Constitution
Art. IX, C. (2), Commission on Elections, 1987 Constitution
Art. IX, D., (2), Commission on Audit, 1987 Constitution
Art. XI, Section 9. Accountability of Public Officers, 1987 Constitution
PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION: THE WRIT OF CORRUPTION
Most of us know already that there are two kinds of corruption: personal and institutional.
Personal corruption is as old as man. It is a matter of conscience and basically a life-long struggle between good and evil within each human being. Much has been written and said about this matter. This is a realm dominated by our religious and moral leaders. Let us leave them to the perpetual confusion.
Institutional corruption is as old as the institution that is corrupted or being corrupted. My disquisition shall rivet only on the much-corrupted Philippine government.
Going against the grain, I hold the position that the Philippine government is corrupt fundamentally because of the Constitution, not mainly because of its leaders and constituents. I hold too that human beings, though basically good, become corrupt when they are allowed to be greedy specially if given legal imprimatur.
What I am about to say of our Constitution is nothing original. I do not pretend to have seen it first. Our political leaders and constitutionalists have long been aware of it but would not articulate it because they have presidential ambitions or they are sympathetic to friends who seek to become President of the Republic.
The Philippine Constitution is the main institutional source of corruption.
The Philippine Constitution, in apportioning governmental powers to the different departments, is intended to be guided by the doctrine of Separation of Powers and the principle of Check and Balance.
The Legislative, Executive and Judicial departments, the Constitutional Commissions and the Ombudsman are intended to be separate and independent of each other with co-equal powers to check each other and balance the coordinative and cooperative exercise of governmental power.
However, the appointing power of the President, the Chief Executive, encroaches upon the independence of the other departments, the constitutional commissions and the Ombudsman.
Given the Philippine culture of patronage and “pakikisama”, government is imperiled and independence compromised by the extra-appointing power of the President.
Inquiry into appointments by the President as authorized by the Constitution shows how the doctrine of Separation of Powers and the principle of Check and Balance have long been corrupted.
Who appoints all judges and Justices of the Judiciary?
Who appoints the members of the Judicial and Bar Council?
Who appoints the Chairman and commissioners of the COA which checks government expenditure of public funds?
Who appoints the Chairman and commissioners of the COMELEC which ensures the conduct of peaceful, clean and honest elections?
Who appoints the Chairman and commissioners of the CSC which selects and supervises civil servants?
Who appoints the Ombudsman which prosecutes erring government officials and employees?
Who is the head of the political party that dominates the Senate and the House of Representatives?
Certainly, with this extra-appointing power, the independence of the other Departments, the Constitutional Commissions and the Ombudsman are easily corrupted. With such immense and pervading power, the President can impose his/her will upon all other sectors of government.
I call the Constitution as the Bill Of Wrongs (BOW) because many of its corrupting provisions make all others in government BOW to the President.
Aside from the BOW provisions allowing the President immense extra-appointing powers, the provision on the qualification of elective officials is a portent of corruption.
Take for example the qualification for the Congressman, the Senator, the Vice President and the President which require them only to be “able to read and write”. The Constitution does not even require the candidates for said positions to be able to UNDERSTAND what they are “able to read and write”. Hooooh! What a sure path to corruption and perdition! Kaawa-awang Pinoy.
I am particularly disappointed and frustrated by the demands of well-meaning citizens and Bishops of the CBCP for GMA to resign. It’s like giving GMA a reward for doing bad.
Moreover, have we not learned our lesson? Changing horses does not solve the problem. It’s a vicious circle. W e must change the cart.
Instead of asking GMA to resign, let us force her to call a constitutional convention already and dictate on her what to change in the constitution or impose on the constitutional convention what changes to make. Changes that will effectively lessen corruption in government.
I have clearly stated that the provision granting the President extra-appointing power is the license for people in government to be corrupt and be corrupted. I also stated that the “able to read and write” qualification for candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives, Vice President and President is the germ of corrupt officials.
Is it still not clear what should be changed in our Constitution? Do we still need to wait for unborn Filipinos to change the Constitution for us? What about our intergenerational responsibility to provide future generations a real good government?
Oh, I forgot two institutions that must be freed from the clutches of the President. Let us convert the DepEd and the AFP into constitutional commissions also so that the President can no longer use them for election (DepEd) and for propping up a corrupt administration (AFP).
I taught Constitutional Law for four years in a law school and the foregoing are the aberrations I learned from teaching the Bill of Wrongs. They put me to shame.
KROI VALLEJOS, March 2003
(Proposal 2)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
METRO MANILA ) S. S
SO ALL MAY KNOW:
PRE-ELECTION
DEED OF COMMITMENT
I, (full name of presidential candidate), of legal age, married/single, a Filipino citizen, residing at (full address), after having sworn according to law, hereby depose and state that:
1. I, as presidential candidate, solemnly offer to undertake and guarantee to the sovereign Filipino People that the commitments hereunder shall be implemented in the first 100 days of my term should I prevail as the elected President in the May 2010 elections;
2. I made this solemn offer of commitment to induce and convince the sovereign Filipino People to TRUST ME, consider me as presidential candidate and vote for me;
3. I am making the commitments hereunder to convince the Filipino People that I shall not exercise the extra-appointing power of the Presidency and shall not practice patronage to curb the proliferation of governmental corruption;
4. I fully understand and admit that if and when I am elected President of the Republic and I am unable to fulfill my commitments hereunder for any reason whatsoever within the first 100 days of my term, the latter shall be used against me as evidence of BETRAYAL OF PUBLIC TRUST;
5. I guarantee that the period of the first 100 days of my term within which to fulfill my commitments SHALL NOT BE EXTENDED for any reason whatsoever except by reason of any act of God.
NOW THEREFORE, I SOLEMNLY COMMIT
TO THE FILIPINO PEOPLE THAT:
6. I SHALL APPOINT DIRECTLY THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OUTSIDE OF THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT ONLY AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN ELECTED BY THEIR PROPER CONSTITUENTS;
7. THE NOMINEES OF THE JUDICIAL AND BAR COUNCIL SHALL AUTOMATICALLY BE THE CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITIONS FOR WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN NOMINATED AND TO BE ELECTED BY ALL LAWYERS IN GOOD STANDING AND REGISTERED IN APPLICABLE IBP CHAPTERS;
8. I SHALL ESTABLISH A NOMINATING BODY FOR CANDIDATES TO THE POSITION OF THE OMBUDSMAN AND HIS DEPUTIES;
9. I SHALL REQUEST THE COMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS FOR A SHORT-LIST OF 5 CANDIDATES FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL VACANT POSITIONS IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSIONS WHICH SHALL CONSTITUTE THE LIST OF CANDIDATES TO BE VOTED ON BY THE PROPER CONSTITUENTS OF THE CONCERNED CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSIONS;
10. I SHALL IMMEDIATELY AND WITHIN THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF MY TERM PETITION CONGRESS TO CALL A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION;
11. ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, I SHALL PETITION THE CONVENTION TO GIVE PRIORITY TO THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS:
(A) TO AMEND THE PROVISIONS AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT TO APPOINT OFFICIALS OF THE JUDICIARY AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSIONS AND THE OMBUDSMAN AND HIS DEPUTIES AND TO ESTABLISH INSTEAD PROVISIONS FOR ELECTION OF SAID OFFICIALS BY THEIR PROPER CONSTITUTENTS;
(B) TO AMEND THE LITERACY QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATES FOR THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE-PRESIDENT, THE SENATORS AND THE REPRESENTATIVES AND ESTABLISH INSTEAD A COLLEGE DEGREE AS LITERACY QUALIFICATION;
(C) TO AMEND THE PROVISIONS ON THE AFP AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TO ESTABLISH INSTEAD PROVISIONS CONVERTING THE AFP AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION INTO CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSIONS.
12. I SHALL DO ALL IN MY POWER BUT WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF LAW TO SUPPORT THE SUCCESFUL APPROVAL OF THE FOREGOING AMENDMENTS IN THE SUBSEQUENT PLEBISCITE.
DONE THIS ___ day of __________, 2010, in Manila, Philippines.
_______________________ Presidential Candidate
WITNESSED BY:
MR. REYNATO PUNO, SR. JUAN P. ENRILE PROSPERO NOGRALES
Chief Justice President Speaker
Supreme Court Senate House of Reps.
CERTIFICATION
I solemnly certify that Presidential Candidate _______________________ appeared before me this ____ day of ___________, 2010 in the City of Manila, Philippines and he acknowledged to me that the foregoing Deed of Commitment is his free and voluntary act and deed and that he has read and understood the contents thereof and he thereby waives his constitutional right against self-incrimination.
________________________________
Chairman, COMELEC
Jay M
January 16, 2010
I reside outside the Philippines, In Washington, DC to be more precise, but make it a point — or a daily routine — to follow up-to-date events in the Philippines, from Politics, Sports and all other topics which are either “Most read” or “most popular” through the Philippine Daily Inquirer online.
I tend to remain reticent about what I read, regardless of how compelling an issue may be, such as the “Ampatuan’s Massacre” event. However, I feel that it’s time for me, an International Public Relations expert with over 20 years of Executive PR experience, to express my personal and professional opinion regarding the upcoming May 2010 elections.
Nonoy Aquino is not even remotely qualified to become the next President of the Philippines. From what I have read — to date — most of his actions, per his own words, contain the phrase “tried.” Such as he “tried to persuade the Senate to vote on [this] or [that], or he TRIED to pass legislation concerning [this] or [that]. In all his attempts, its always been “I TRIED,” but he never succeeded.
Much to my chagrin, Nonoy, along with his youngest sister Kris, has capitalized on their departed father and mother’s reputation to capture the hearts and ill-informed public of their true characters and reputations as LOSERS! Nonoy, Jr. “TRIED” and “TRIED” but always failed, both in the Senate and Congress altogether. There remains the unresolved matter of the AQUINO’s “Hacienda controversy” in which they have suppressed — and usurped — the already oppressed under privileged workers at their Hacienda. Then there’s the issue about the moral reputation of Kris Aquino who, during her earlier years had several despicable and morally wrong relationships with several celebrities, with Philip Salvador being the most controversial of them all. During my last trip to Manila a year ago, I saw a billboard along EDSA with a photo of Kris and PACMAN, and I asked my driver who the female domestic-looking (Atsay-looking) person was, and I was informed that it was Kris Aquino, who — per my driver — supposedly is the “most popular female actress in the Philippines. That’s a shame and a big blow to the pride of true Filipinos who are either in the Philippines or abroad.
I have traveled the world over and I can honestly say, from meeting and being with some of the most beautiful, talented, educated, and richest and MORALLY dignified females in the world that Kris Aquino is being heralded as the “most popular female actress” in the Philippines. That’s just not correct. My impression of her looks as being an “ATSAY” shall remain intact. She, along with her brother Nonoy, Jr., should be ashamed for capitalizing on their parents’ reputation to propel them to stardom. One is a LOSER who continues to make public his “I TRIED” statements, and the sister — the ATSAY-looking actress, who tries to keep her popularity intact with the MASA who should know better …..
I have not read any news lately about their Luisita Hacienda issues, and perhaps they have media folks on their camp that have been bought to keep mum about that unresolved and most disturbing issue. Nonoy is a neophyte in politics and, along with his sister Kris, along with several members of their immediate family, are guilty of HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS and, prior to the May 2010 elections, should be held accountable for their actions and usurpation of their hired labor workers at their Hacienda.
Dick Gordon was correct in questioning Nonoy. Jr. about “what has be done for his own province,” and that’s a question that Nonoy continues to evade to date. Come clean Nonoy and answer that question in front of all the Philippine voters prior to May 2010!
The latest saga and controversy about Kris’ domestic drama in her own neighborhood — supposedly involving a fan of her husband — is just manifest to what I have stated above as well as my professional opinion that these Aquino offspring have no moral integrity whatsoever compared to their parents. Shame of them for capitalizing on their parents’ popularity to propel their popularity to unjustified levels.
I proposed to the Philippine public to “BOYCOTT” anything either of them — Nonoy, Jr. or Kris — promotes to elevate their status to what their true worth or value is. They are NOTHING compared to individuals like GIBO, Villar or other noteworthy individuals in the Philippines, whether in politics or in the cinema.
As a Filipino living abroad who is consistent with the up-to-date news in the Philippines, these two — Kris and Nonoy — are not worthy of the attention they are receiving from the less-educated populous in the Philippines.
Kris Aquino’s sexual escapades when her mother was President, and after her mother’s passing away, remains a true concern for me as far as her dignity and her morality. The latest saga of her unsavory and questionable morality has been resurrected by the latest controversy over her confrontation with her neighbor.
Nonoy’s inability to bring closure to the “Luisita Hacienda” controversy and reach a fair and amicable resolution with those in dispute with him and his family members also brings to question his ability to lead over 70+ million Filipinos as “President” of the Philippines.
It’s time that we — Filipinos abroad and within RP soil — use our best judgment and, without prejudice, our intellect to confront them with aforementioned issues, until such time as they are able to provide any intelligent answers to aforementioned questions and issues, which should be way before the May 2010 elections.
Bottom line; BOYCOTT anything having anything to do with the Aquino offspring, period! They are not worth the popularity temporarily and arbitrarily bestowed upon them by the under-informed Filipino masses.
In my personal and professional opinion, GIBO is the best qualified to become the next President of the Philippines.
I thank you for taking the time to read my opinion and, without any intention of offending any of Kris or Nonoy’s ardent supporters and fans, they simply are not AT PAR to be where they purport themselves to be. Respect is earned, not demanded nor unjustifiably paraded.
GIBO for President May 2010.
Remember my name,
Jay Moran
abraham ortiz
January 19, 2010
The greatest moved which should have been done by our congress and senate is to have our children have an allowance from the goverment like that of japan and other nations who have this program.It should be of filipino parentage.I think we missed on this subject because we don’t know it from other countries like japan who has it!If this will be make into law in our country,no one will be callled a poor filipino.We have the money!We just have to cut back on unnecessary budget and make this allowance into a law.We just have to start from scracth here because it is new to the people but will be gradually ascending untill the age of 25.
GIBO IS NOT A GOOD PRESIDENT TO BE BECAUSE HE IS A DECENDANT OF COJUANGCO.I’m sorry to say this but is true.I remember a boat owner last undoy who buy the boat.When it arrived GIBO said that this is the boat that he ordered when in fact it belongs to somebody who buy that boat not him and he classified the boat that as goverment aid! What a bullest and you said GIBO for PRESIDENT!WHAT A SHAME!PLEASE CHANGE YOUR THINKING!
Going back to the proposed allowance for our children and death penalty to currupt government officials,I think this ia a good proposal and will by-pass everything and any other laws!
Curruption should be punishable by death.So no one will be playing on this subject .
Tom Clyde
January 25, 2010
the president of the Philippines can join Obama’s war against iraq?
ed max
March 3, 2010
To all those running for re-elections and running for higher positions, you all have been in he government “servicing’ the Filipino people. I am just wondering why you did not do what you are promising now. Senators Enrile, Jinggoy, Bong, Lapid, Legarda, Villar, Gordon, Noynoy, Jamby and many more are saying that the “government should do this and that to improve the lives of our Filipino brothers.” You and I are part of this government and worst, you were all in the government as elected officials. Now you are all promising to do the right things when elected. Will we believe?
nestordamus
April 6, 2010
Tough questions, eh! I really would like those presidentiables to answer them.
Nice blog. I’ll follow this.
jibseyer
May 12, 2010
A most relevant political blog—just so unfortunate that it comes to me a couple of days after the elections.
But this goes beyond the last elections—-would be happy to be a part of this.
joey
May 31, 2010
bottom line is corruption is very much omnipotent in the country in every level of government. That is also accomplished hand in hand with drama as every filipino birthright. The new incoming president instead of dealing with the magnitude of the country’s problems want a bloody fight of semantics with the new appointed supreme court chief justice appointed by the current administration , people grow up and deal with it as mature people and govermment officials enought bloody drama do what is right be civil and deal with it
joey
May 31, 2010
this must not be a relevant site since the last posting of discussion was on may 12 jesus are u flips just so lame n this demontrates clearly the problem of the countru —-alwalys late pathetic is it not
ninaterol
May 31, 2010
Sir, while I appreciate you coming to my blog to post a comment, I do not appreciate you coming to my personal space to diss this blog. Please note that this is an old blog, and I had posted these questions LONG BEFORE the elections–LONG BEFORE people here, maybe even you, started talking about elections. Please do not go to someone else’s space only to start name-calling. THAT is what may be called pathetic. Let’s all be constructive here, and if you can’t be diplomatic please just do not come back here. This is an old blog anyway.
Thank you.
nestordfermin
June 1, 2010
ì like this blog. it’s professionally presented. and the arguments, too. count me in.
RAY CIOCON
June 6, 2010
Thought-provoking. Go Nina, go! Having more like you gives us hope for the fatherland.
Gwen
July 3, 2010
Flow has been cancelled due to the usual too centralized ways of running Philippine government departments. The chairman responsible for Flow was asked to resign as his appointing administration is the lame duck, President Arroyo. Enter President B. Aquino’s reign, no sooner is the inaugural ink dry that an ironic stir of events rears its ugly head again in that a “new” administration bent on providing jobs was responsible for appointing a former Aquino classmate as PAGCOR Chairman, who acting as Finance employee for Pagcor in a previous reign, along with his wife who was from PAGCOR’s pool of secretaries, decided to unceremoniously sack the show Flow and all 400 of its dancers, musicians and singers, including the PAGCOR Staff as if letting go “the help.” Now all these families are jobless and the Chinese acrobats will need plane tickets to go home, the Cubans whose Visa’s have expired are most likely not very anxious to be going home. Cubans who in a First World are one of, if not the only Nationals who are welcome to stay in the USA, no questions asked as long as they can get there juxtaposed to Mexicans and other races who must cross wet back over the Rio Grande, or to Filipinos who must resort to TNT, long immigration waiting lists and process or face deportation if they get there illegally. If this is a democracy, then when does the word “Citizen” become a logical word to Filipino politicians who continue, no matter their platforms, to look upon the Filipino as “subjects?” What are to become of the loyal Flow employees and their families? Is the Philippine government erudite enough to know that a thinking civilization takes care and values their artists rather than treat them as hired help throwing them out in the street as it were? In this day and age, that’s basically where they will end up. If the idea is to allow PAGCOR’s continuing programs to “continue” what “continued” the flow of the show FLOW which provided entertainment to the country and jobs to its artists nd production team, or the ebb snd flow of “power?” Is this another “too bad it’s not our problem” steeped in an “it’s our turn at bat” syndrome? Is corruption to be waylaid, as the Aquino platform touted throughout its campaign? Is this a gathering of logical humans who have been charged with running the country or just another day on the farm where the farm animals push each other out of the way for their carte blanche at the feeding trough? As politicians beg and crawl for “SUBJECTS VOTES,” it becomes too obvious that the name of the game is PAG-COR, ergo, Pag-Corruption. Meet the new boss…
Gwen
July 3, 2010
It is uncanny that along with learning to fly as a sovereign nation, politicians play chess with the lives of people while trying to prove only the rule of law, that doing things “under the wire” saves the next administration from having to dance and share booty with the previous. If Filipinos were to look in the mirror and realize that graft is part of the Filipino psyche, then perhaps they would like to consider that there are people’s livelihoods at stake as well, people, who will not partake of the booty of running a large government gaming corporation. It is so easy to look at the “rule of law” but be blind to the disenfranchisement of 400 people and their families. After all if the saying is don’t crap where you eat, I think ordinary Filipinos have had their fill of a steady diet of political crap for too long and that politicians are too used to “going” anywhere they want. When a politician gets into power, his/her brain shrinks to the size of a peanut. He/she then takes matters into his/her own hands and decides largely for themselves what is good… for them.. Why couldn’t the show FLOW have continued without being subject to bureaucracy and red tape protocol? Why can’t a government department exist isolated from the trappings of appointments and who the next jockey is to ride the winning horse? What does 400 artists and production people have to do with political one-ups-man-ship and jockeying for position? Sometimes a man “in power” is only there for “the power” and not to serve his constituents. Is summarily cancelling 400 jobs a smart thing just to provide one man and his wife a new one? Where was the consideration for the show FLOW and its performers in all of these government reappointments? Evidently, the Filipino has a LONG WAY to go to benevolently wield power. You pat yourselves on the back for attaining high positions in government but you are blind to the needs of those that put you there and whose lives you were entrusted to improve. When Filipino politics stops being a goon arena, then maybe Filipinos will have a better self image. One goon goes out and makes way for the next set of kapal muks power junkies. For now, it’s just who’s the next power monger in control. It’s not all about the clothes, you know. And definitely NOT about keeping hundreds of people employed who were already working there before you and your brood stepped in. Wake up! Your political position does not make who you are; your actions will define that for you in due time and so far you’re off to a bad start. The former PAGCOR Chairman provided jobs for artists and producers, what will the next chairman do? And about the jobs he crudely and ignorantly took away? So in order to make things “look right” everyone and everything that had to do with the previous administration has to suffer the meat cleaver? Even the innocent performers who have nothing to do with the politics involved who perhaps cheered the inauguration of the new President elect? If this is a sign of things to come and with an outcry by others against recycling old personnel, then be prepared for a turbulent circus ride run by politicians who don’t know what they are doing. This is not a good beginning by any stretch
KEITH V. LORENZO
August 5, 2010
All what the author writer stated are well-founded. I don’t think we find one desrving. What we need is a leader with integrity.
DENNIS
April 6, 2011
Dear Nina,
Your topic caught my attention and it gave me great interest.Although it was too long,but don´t make me tired reading about it.The only question that caught my attention is…
HOW WILL YOU ELIMINATE CORRUPTION?
Let me start it this way.We all knew that Corruption and “Palakasan” system is an epidemic desease of the world of politics and it is not easy to eradicate such desease.The more it stays longer in the masses,the more it will hurt in every ideology of a true filipino.When we let it spread freely like a termites,it will slowly eaten us one by one.From generation to generation,until we fully accept it that it is right because it is where and how we live.
There is a solution about on how we can end up this corruption or “palakasan” system.My suggestion sounds silly or funny to other people,or maybe a non sense to implement but for my entitle to share this things,i think this is the RIGHT ANSWER in my opinion.
We all knew that the term of every President elect will stay for six(6) years.And we knew it that our Election are devided into National(President going down to Governor) And Local(Mayoral position going down to Barangay).Now,let me explain it to you my concept in particular to Mayor and Vice Mayor position.
For example,All the winners of the election for the position of the Mayor,after they declared winner in their position MUST report to the Governor for oath taking.Now,the members of the Senate will gather all the names of newly elected Mayor from which Regions each Senate are assigned.
For example,Senator Recto of Region 4A has all the names of Elected Mayor,Senator Escudero has it´s Region 3 list and so on.Now,there must be a “Close Door Meeting” of all Senates to discuss about who´s Mayor will handle a certain town?Big Cities like Baguio City,Batangas City,Lipa City,Lucena City etc with big revenues must be handle only by a Mayor who also came from an urban places.In short,If you are an official winner of the election from Lipa City,you will serve as a Mayor in Dagupan City or any big cities from which you recieve your assignment approved by the Head of Senate and President as well!Same as in smaller towns,you will serve only the same small towns from other provinces.In Short,they are there to WORK!
In addition to this, i suggest that Luzon Mayors will ONLY serve within Luzon only.Same as in Visayas and Mindanao.WHY? Because of it´s language barrier being a part of a system´s handicap.
What is the advantage of this Random Assignments of Mayor?
1)As a Mayor assign in other places,This will prove to everyone,specially for the masses that there will be no “PALAKASAN SYSTEM” and will reduce Corruption coz the Mayor are there to WORK and perform his/her duties during his six(6) years of term.
2) Mayors will just implement projects and perform his duties and responsibilities.
3) Mayors MUST be aware about the present revenues or budget from which he was assign.Can use budget like constructions of government properties like roads,schools,health programs etc.
4) Approval of budget for it´s purposes MUST have a countersign and approval from the National Officers of that province like the Governor.Definitely,City Treasurer,Auditor and Vice Mayor will be aware from where the money goes? Di ba?
5) Proper Auditing MUST be done three(3) months before the term ends so that there will be a proper endorsement for the next incoming Mayor.
During the Election,Chief Superintendent of PNP,including some Military must take over in the absence of the position for not more than 60 days!They will recieve notice from their higher officers when will be the arrival of the newly elected Mayor.Mayor must first report to Chief Superintendent in order for him to be accompany to the Municipal Hall.
Why should the Vice Mayor must stay in his OWN town?
His duty as a Vice Mayor must be an Adviser to the Mayor since he knows the place and the people as well.Secondly,in case of absence,disability of Mayor,He is the next into the office of Mayor to perform duties.
There will be no extension of the position as a Mayor or Vice Mayor even the performance proven by the masses are positive!
You know,the advantage of this system is that you remove “Palakasan” system and Corruption coz the Mayor didn´t knew his people and vice versa.
I hope that with this ideas,you will know kung “Sino talaga ang magta-trabaho para sa Bayan” Thanks!