The Unheard

When I came home after school, I tuned in to TV Patrol World. The news was about the latest survey about the Presidential Race by the Social Weather Station (SWS) in which three names emerged as the favorites. First is Senator Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III who got a whopping 60%. Next is the former leader of the latest surveys, Senator Manny Villar. Last is the ousted president, Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

Upon seeing the results, there was a name missing; and that is the administration's bet, Gilberto Teodoro. Among these four names, I can really say that 'Gibo', as what they usually call him, has the best credentials and arguably one of the most decorated presidential candidates. He was a Law graduate at the University of the Philippines and was awarded with the Dean's Medal for Academic Excellence. He topped the Philippine Bar Exams and later on went to Harvard Law School in Massachusetts for his masters. He then got admitted to the State Bar of New York. Gilberto was also Tarlac representative for 9 years and is currently secretary for the Department of Civil Defense.

Frankly speaking, he lacks in popularity and his name will always be tainted by anyone, and everyone, because he is running for the administration headed by the widely unpopular GMA. He is going against the influential ads of "Ang galing sa hirap, tumutulong sa mahirap" and of course, the magic of the Aquino name who seemingly has unlimited access to ABS-CBN.

But hey, wake up call everyone! The elections should not be another popularity contest. If so, then expect another tumulutuos six years for this country.

BY: Rondell Chaz Mabunga
PHOTO CREDIT: http://dearbloggery.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Gilbert-Teodoro.jpg

Finding common ground : politics vis-à-vis theater

My classmates and I have been busy rehearsing and performing our theater play for the past weeks (which, I suppose, is the reason for this late blog entry). I’ve been missing the action in the political arena all those days I had my attention transfixed on our play. I missed the 2010 presidential race, the latest bombshell of the administration and opposition, the political skepticism and the maneuvers of that 4’11 lady standing tall at the Malacañang.

Surprisingly, I found common ground between politics and our play; and it sure did compensate for what I missed. Big time.


Our play, entitled Anatomiya sa Korapsyon, is a three-act satyr that exposed the wrong doings and ills of a public office. The story revolved around an honest woman’s ordeal in standing up for her ideology amidst blatant corruption in her newfound working environment. She found herself surrounded by the key players of corruption where she contends to curb the system. Towards the end, she realized she cannot do it all alone and corruption is indeed a force to reckon with.


Corruption is what we depicted in our play. Corruption is what happens in real life, in politics.


Although the play ended tragically and was somehow pessimistic, the most important thing it did was to expose and make known the evil things that happen inside a government office. I just hope that with our play, we were able to get our message across: that corruption is here to say not unless we break free from its pangs and circumvent it as one, solid community.

BY: RYAN LOUIE G. MADRID

Thanks to surveys, now we're really confused

Recently, 153 members of the House of Representatives (HoR)- which is more than half of the entire group - participated in a mock presidential elections conducted by Commission on Election (Comelec) staff.

Here are the results:

Sec.Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) - 90 /153 votes
Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. (Nacionalista Party) - 25/153 votes
Sen.Francis Escudero (Nationalist People's Coalition) - 20/ 153 votes
Sen. Benigno Aquino III (Liberal Party) - 7 / 153 votes
Sen. Richard Gordon - 4 / 153 votes
Former President Joseph Estrada - 2/153 votes
Vice President Noli De Castro - 1 / 153 votes
Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane - 1 / 153 votes
MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando - 1 / 153 votes
Evangelist Eddie Villanueva - 1 / 153 votes

On another survey conducted by the Social Weathers Station (SWS) to 1, 600 respondents, however, the results are way different.

#1 Senator Benigno Aquino III (Liberal Party)
#2 Senator Manuel Villar Jr. (Nacionalista Party)
#3 Former President Joseph Estrada
#8 Sec. Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (Lakas-Kampi-CMD)

It appears that the people and those who are supposed to represent these people are polarizing. They do not have the same impulses and preference for their leaders. The people, as far as the SWS survey is concerned, prefers the suddenly popular Aquino. However, the Comelec-run HoR survey reveals that the less popular Teodoro is topping the list.

People are getting more and more confused as the election day is drawing near. And one major contributor for this confusion are the surveys.

Whether or not the people and the HoR choose Teodoro or Aquino, the surveys were nothing but, well, surveys - an attempt to imitate reality; not absolutely true.

Surveys, to me, are unhelpful methods that different parties and organizations employ - they all add up to the confusion that is already present during elections. I think that's one of the reasons why most people refuse to be politically engaged: because politics - especially during elections - is making a lot of mess.


BY: RYAN LOUIE MADRID
Photo credit: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2486/3905110833_24718a2160.jpg

DECENCY FOR THE CITIZENRY

Yesterday I read an article which showed the sense of decency and civility practices of our Secretary of National Defense in the person of Sec. Gilberto Teodoro. Even though he is being prodded to relinquish his post for he is the likely presidential candidate of the administration in 2010 election, he still works his mandated duty which shows his discernment to first prioritize the people amid the harshest criticism of his critics and detractors. With his gesture of availing the smearing attacks of his political opponents to give way for the availability of help and refuge to those who are victimized as head of the National Disaster Coordinating Council is an astute and ought responsibility of any elected servant politician. They should be preoccupied with the thoughts on how to better serve their constituents rather than continuing their political bickering and grandstanding.

The onslaught of typhoon Ondoy in Metro Manila were ideal scenarios of those typical or traditional politician and those deviant of the tradition who seized the opportunity to show their plans either on how to advance their political interest or uphold the people’s interest and basic needs respectively. What seems to be the problem that is confronting on our serving politicians s that they are scrutinized and criticized by their fellow politicians instead of doing their individual functions.

In fairness to Sec. Teodoro, he has what it takes to lead the country in the right path towards economic prosperity and peace and order stability. So I think the issue of early politicking must be first put aside. The real issue that deems to be a debacle and thorns to our people are given little attention or not given any at all. A secretary can only do so much.

So in this coming 2010 elections, we must be vigilant and inquisitive to our vote. We must not entrust our vote to somebody who would only use us for their personal glory and ambition.

BY LOUIE JAY BAN V. JARALES
PHOTO CREDIT:Google.com

Laxatives Anyone?

Unusual title right? Well, this drug is made to induce bowel movements and loosen the stool. Maybe this type of medicine would let Senator Panfilo Lacson speak of everything that the investigators and the entire country need to know about the slaying of publicist Bubby Dacer and the disappearance of Edgar Bentain out of his gut.

For the past 2 or 3 weeks, Lacson has spoken to clear his name and to expose the other names that are behind the much concealed activities of former president Joseph Estrada. The senator’s statements rocked the media and much of the country. These things led to a number of charges against the ousted president and, of course, counter suing of his own. These details, by the way, were considered the first part of Lacson’s statements and that he promised to give part two last Monday.

Though he was truthful to his word, he left me, the media and, perhaps, the entire nation hanging and frustrated. His speech several days ago failed to mention the names behind the disappearance of Edgar Bentain, the person who allegedly videotaped then Vice-President Joseph Estrada gambling in a casino back in 1995. Up unto this moment, Bentain is still missing and is now considered dead.

Ping may have stated that there were people that he knows well who are behind the vanishing of Bentain but he was not able to mention them. That could have been the time that the family members of the missing person breathe with a little bit of relief after almost a decade because they could have known the people that disposed Edgar. But they didn’t quite get it.

What’s Lacson trying to do? He could have cleaned his name if he mentioned the people but he chose to keep them hidden. Are these names that powerful that made the former PNP Chief stay silent or Lacson is just afraid that if he spoke of names, it would just backfire on him for they can uncover his secrets as well? Let us remember that he also had more than a decade old issues. For now, we will never know. So we are left with no choice but to wait and fantasize that laxatives will let him unravel more.

BY RONDELL CHAZ C. MABUNGA

CHANGE of MIND

It is really annoying to the extent of being abhorrent to hear the complaints of our voted politicians, our representing party list, and from our fellow expressive electorates, who sometimes try to exaggerate simple matters, that the idea of holding the poll automated 2010 election is already judged of another fraud-tainted election. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) envisions facilitating the 2010 election through utilizing the service of counting machines, which can be compared to USA’s system of election, for a speedy and a credible election as compared to the manually counted election. Another reason for the emergence of this idea is to try to eradicate and avoid of what had happened to the controversial 2004 national election and to the previously held national elections. Also with the help of these machines they can help in lessening the tedious work of election working officers. In addition, they can save much of our time for the part of those election working officers whom without them election will never take place; and secondly, we can avail the result of the election soon as the casting of votes in all voting precincts are counted.
What seems to be the problem?

Our politicians’ unfavorable reaction for the automated election is deemed to be the major predicament to make this pioneering election system come into reality. They are always complaining and airing their suspicions, mostly in front of the media, for the use of the counting machines without considering the repercussions of their statements towards the receiving end, the vast majority of uninformed masses. I can still remember the statement of this young senator before he ran for his present position that he wished for a computerized system of election. And now that his wish is near to be realized which is timely for his presidential post aspiration, he now seems to be airing his suspicions for an automation which is so in opposition to his previous stand. With this scenario, I am given the idea that we, people, do not need politicians for politicians are not true to their words and promises. Instead, we need for service men that are willing to give their time and service for the goodness of the people.
People’s perception
Because of our politicians’ political grandstanding in front of swarming media people, the populace especially to those who do not have that concrete grasp of the reality and complexities of present life seem to be overridden and influenced. The politicians’ statement is responsible for feeding wrong information shown by the media. Infecting the minds of the people faster than bacteria precisely because they are given deceiving fact which is tailored fit to advance somebody’s interest. Those are the reason why sometimes I am feeling under, those are the reason why sometimes I am feeling down. Sounds familiar, right? This may inappropriate to incorporate in my article but I just see the grinding fact that is incorporated in the song. Politicians must change their minds to better serve the people. People as electorates must work hard to guard our votes to put a halt to then chronic problem of corruptions which hinder our economic and psychology development .

BY LOUIE JAY BAN V. JARALES

Photo credit: google pictures

Emulating great world leaders

Our instructor said that for this week, our blog has to be developmental. So, I’m going to cease talking about the 2010 elections and how your vote can change the political milieu of this country.


Since we’re all geared up for the 2010 presidential elections, I thought of talking about two of the greatest world leaders and presidents of all time who I so deeply admire. A little recap on what they did, how they changed their countries (and eventually the world) and what their stances were just might help us, voters, get some sort of idea what an ideal president is.


Abraham Lincoln is the 16th president of the United States of America who successfully appeased a nation divided by internal crisis and racism. The American Civil War in the 1860’s was USA’s greatest debacle within itself – a war between the Northern and Southern States. Born very poor to two uneducated parents who lived only in a log cabin, Lincoln catapulted himself to the presidency and successfully ended the Civil War and black slavery – a legacy that has changed the world forever.


Nelson Mandela, more than his fame as a great leader, is also the most famous prisoner of all time. Having been imprisoned for 27 years because of his opposition to the racial segregation policy of the dominating party, Mandela led several anti-apartheid activities to overthrow the ruling Afrikaner-dominated National Party. With his skillful leadership and promising vision for equality and peace, he was elected South African president on 1994 and transformed the country’s government system to fully representative and democratic. He is a proven world leader, with more than 100 leadership awards including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.


Lincoln and Mandela are two great presidents who have done tangible and beneficial changes to their countries. We Filipinos, too, have our own Lincoln or Mandela. And that has to be Jose Rizal.


Even though Rizal never lived to become a president, there has to be a reason why he is our national hero. And true enough, there are plenty of them. He has fueled patriotism to a nation severely oppressed and devoid of freedom. He has mobilized a long-standing struggle for liberty. He has awakened the Filipino spirit. He is a martyr of Philippine revolution that paved the way for our independence.


It’s always inspirational how some people gain power and truly become catalysts for change. But these kind of people are rare nowadays. The chances of finding one are even slimmer here in the Philippines where corruption is really a culture. But who knows, a new Rizal might just emerge from this new breed of 2010 presidential aspirants we have been hearing about. Who knows, he might just be among them. It’s your duty to pick him out.

BY: RYAN LOUIE MADRID
Photo credit: http://googleimages.com