‘Twas a comedy, drama, romance and suspense thriller rolled in one. And I’d like to think all of these were part of the recent May 10 polls, but not exactly. But some twists are parallel to our first computerized elections, which are now being thrown in a mayhem by, I believe, several fronts which want to discredit the success of the polls, if they were indeed successful; or may break further our trust in the Commission on Elections, which has yet to recover from the ugly taint of the fraudulent Virgilio Garcillano of 2004.
I love Robin Williams, his films being among the very few that I care to watch, this rubbernecker being a sucker for good comedy.
When I first saw Man of the Year, Williams’ 2006 movie about the possible imperfections of computerized elections, which we tried and are now debating its success—or failure, however we look at it, I grabbed a copy of it with nary a care from a street stall of pirated DVDs in Quiapo, ignoring the whispers of a heavily perspiring vagrant, who pestered me with “Manong, triple X!”
I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life when I curtly replied: “Hindi ako nanonood nyan, pari ako! (I don’t watch triple x films, I am a priest!).” To which he retorted: “Yung pari sa amin, apat asawa! (The priest in my town has four wives!).”
I made a hasty exit, not wanting to become a recipient of some rapid fires of bullets coming from the hobo and his associates’ hands.
Dissecting the movie was as quick as my flight. It dealt with a television comedian (we’re back to Robin Williams. And no, we’re not talking about Manny Pacquiao!) who made a daring joke about running for the US presidency and was egged on by numerous fans that his joke became real.
For a quicker overview, Williams’ character Tom Dobbs won the polls, surprising even himself. Until a woman named Eleanor Green came out to claim there had been a major glitch in the computer system, which its manufacturers did not want out to protect their fortune, thus leading to Green being hunted to be killed. And then the movie turned interestingly serious.
The malfunction centered on the possibility of a big anomaly in the computers. In the movie’s plot, Dobbs tallied more numbers than his actual votes when the computers counting the ballots diverted counts to his name, which bore double Bs, as against the incumbent President Kellogg (Double Ls, and Gs); and another candidate, a fictional Senator Mills (Double Ls). The B, being the second letter in the alphabet, intercepted the votes for the double Gs and Ls.
Although the movie was of creative imagination, it bore similarities with our recent polls.
The results of the elections, even with Sen. Noynoy Aquino receiving an overwhelming number of votes, are under question. They are also being muddled further by interest groups, some with legitimate concerns and causes for their protest, that put the Comelec in a bad light, weeks after receiving accolades for the quick counting of votes, which was initially thought as a gauge for the computerized polls’ success, only to wake us up on what appear now as possibilities of malfunctioning PCOS machines (at the least); and at worst fraud, that may lead to another failure to have clean and honest polls.
This new saga in the Philippine electoral system is equally interesting to watch. It seems complete and with various scripts that were recently adorned with foul words Al Pacino blushed at in his murderous Godfather movies.
And there was “Koala Boy” who calls himself Robin (not Williams, I suppose), the self-proclaimed whistle-blower whom many pray should not be Ador Mawanay. He does not look as convincing as the Eleanor Green character in the Robin Williams movie, but we have to wait for the final turnout of this new, very interesting script.
And who’s behind him? Could he be the losing presidential contender the Comelec wants us to suspect? Or is he part of another Malacanang ploy to serve its own end, as Cong. Teddyboy Locsin vowed to reveal soon?
A comedic blunder would soon unfold before us. And we’ll just accept this as another bump in our lives, which we cannot seem to perfect.
Life, like the movies, are alike.
It draws inspiration from each other, even in the high-tech world of computers, and fiction, and plots to destroy the world, or an election.
But this one is no laughing matter.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Of murders and chances
If Sen. Ping Lacson can no longer “sleep soundly,” as his former aide Cesar Mancao wanted to assure him when he revealed then Presidential Security Group chief Romeo Prestoza’s offer of freedom and support to his children if he would pin Lacson on the killings of publicist Bubby Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito, it is probably not because Mancao eventually turned his back against him but because of his losing flint to his political star that now begins to show a dying flicker.
The revived double murder case is now beginning to gain headway even if Lacson is no longer in the people’s political radar after hedging on the presidency, which he realized was again elusive. And it is possible Lacson would become the sole political figure to get into the cross of the Department of Justice (DoJ)’s sight but Erap Estrada as well.
The problem for GMA, for now however, is that Erap remains determined in regaining the presidency he lost in 2001. Any move to pin down Erap might awaken a sleeping giant among the large mass that supports the deposed leader. So, it is better to train one’s sight at Lacson first and deal with Erap later, when the conditions are ripe.
It also did not help Lacson that he burned his bridges with Estrada, although some sectors believe that decision would come in handy if and when GMA moves firmly to stop Erap from becoming president anew at all cost.
But not for now, as GMA continues to weigh things with just a little over five months before a change in country’s leadership takes place (if ever!), but it is yet unclear whether her candidate Gibo Teodoro, or her perceived alternate candidate, Manny Villar, would pull through against Noynoy Aquino, who remains on top of surveys but whose lead nevertheless remains precarious given the possibility of another massive cheating if media play and/or future messages and advertorials would not work in favor of his rivals in the crucial months.
Erap will remain off the hook, as he immediately claimed after the DoJ’s announcement of Lacson being the prime suspect in the case. But while Erap isn’t tagged along with Lacson, and as new surveys do not seem to point to him as the leading candidate, Lacson and the Dacer-Corbito case would remain hovering above his head like festering flies.
The Lacson drama, however, surprisingly unfolded as focus on the Maguindanao mass murder of 57 persons, including 30 media colleagues, had started to wane. Politics being an art, its masters have just changed the course of public interest from some gruesome murders back to a couple of gruesome murders.
And it may get the necks of two scathing figures, while the rest of the field would prove little concern.
Besides, Noynoy is now facing a revival of issues related to the “Kamag-anak Inc.,” expanding the issue to sports where his uncle, Peping Cojuangco, one of the more famous among his relatives, is holding sway.
And while Villar may think he is off the hook already in the C5 double budget insertion mess, his handlers remain prepared for any more negative publicities that would come their bet’s way.
It is Erap, through Lacson and the Dacer-Corbito double murder case, who would possibly face the most damaging issues besides the disqualification case recently hurled against him before the Comelec.
And the rest are expendable.
With May 10 just around the corner, nobody among the leading contenders can afford a sound sleep.
Even if it’s another person facing charges of killing people.
The revived double murder case is now beginning to gain headway even if Lacson is no longer in the people’s political radar after hedging on the presidency, which he realized was again elusive. And it is possible Lacson would become the sole political figure to get into the cross of the Department of Justice (DoJ)’s sight but Erap Estrada as well.
The problem for GMA, for now however, is that Erap remains determined in regaining the presidency he lost in 2001. Any move to pin down Erap might awaken a sleeping giant among the large mass that supports the deposed leader. So, it is better to train one’s sight at Lacson first and deal with Erap later, when the conditions are ripe.
It also did not help Lacson that he burned his bridges with Estrada, although some sectors believe that decision would come in handy if and when GMA moves firmly to stop Erap from becoming president anew at all cost.
But not for now, as GMA continues to weigh things with just a little over five months before a change in country’s leadership takes place (if ever!), but it is yet unclear whether her candidate Gibo Teodoro, or her perceived alternate candidate, Manny Villar, would pull through against Noynoy Aquino, who remains on top of surveys but whose lead nevertheless remains precarious given the possibility of another massive cheating if media play and/or future messages and advertorials would not work in favor of his rivals in the crucial months.
Erap will remain off the hook, as he immediately claimed after the DoJ’s announcement of Lacson being the prime suspect in the case. But while Erap isn’t tagged along with Lacson, and as new surveys do not seem to point to him as the leading candidate, Lacson and the Dacer-Corbito case would remain hovering above his head like festering flies.
The Lacson drama, however, surprisingly unfolded as focus on the Maguindanao mass murder of 57 persons, including 30 media colleagues, had started to wane. Politics being an art, its masters have just changed the course of public interest from some gruesome murders back to a couple of gruesome murders.
And it may get the necks of two scathing figures, while the rest of the field would prove little concern.
Besides, Noynoy is now facing a revival of issues related to the “Kamag-anak Inc.,” expanding the issue to sports where his uncle, Peping Cojuangco, one of the more famous among his relatives, is holding sway.
And while Villar may think he is off the hook already in the C5 double budget insertion mess, his handlers remain prepared for any more negative publicities that would come their bet’s way.
It is Erap, through Lacson and the Dacer-Corbito double murder case, who would possibly face the most damaging issues besides the disqualification case recently hurled against him before the Comelec.
And the rest are expendable.
With May 10 just around the corner, nobody among the leading contenders can afford a sound sleep.
Even if it’s another person facing charges of killing people.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Exchange deal
Crises spawn opportunities, and Gloria Arroyo will grab whatever comes her way in her attempt to perpetuate her claim to power, at whatever cost, even at the expense of 57 innocent lives, including many journalists, who, as it turned out, only became pawns in a local turf war at which Gloria’s interest was long hinged.
The Ampatuan massacre in Maguindanao, the second poorest province in the country where guns, goons and gold worked wonders, not only for a cheating presidential candidate but also for her senators and local leaders as well, to the detriment of a country long lost in the darkest chapter of its history since Marcos’ martial rule, not only gave us our ugliest blot but a chance for Gloria to create an advantageous scenario for her to complete her own Marcosian cycle.
Gloria has placed Maguindanao and its environs under martial law, but not publicly declaring it like Marcos did, perhaps learning from the mistake of the vilified late dictator, whose old school, black and white television image became a direct illustration of evil even long after his death as his footage gets shown every year when the nation is reminded of his rule, or things similar to it, just as what we have now under Gloria, and against which we say, never again!
But it was martial law still she has just declared.
Ugly pasts have their way of resurrecting ghosts, and Gloria must have found out about this when what was only expected as an arms cache, found buried like valuable treasures in Ampatuan properties, also revealed remnants of Hello Garci’s past, in all its glorious glory, confirming the wide-spread electoral fraud that sent Gloria to Malacañang and denied some opposition sena-tors victory.
The Ampatuans, once a very powerful family in the region, however, have threatened to “talk,” if talking means confirming what Gloria and Garci have discussed in the country’s most interesting telephone conversation. But not even this threat would have sent chills down Gloria’s spine. It might have opened another opportunity to strike a deal with the Ampatuans, whom the nation wants nailed for the mass murder of people, which a foreign observer likened to what has transpired in Rwanda.
Under martial law, there is a likelihood the Ampatuans would escape the more serious offense of mass murder, as government is now focused on what it termed as a “looming rebellion,” one that has yet to transpire but for which the Ampatuans would likely be nailed, and given lighter penalties compared to what Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. faces for 25 counts of murder.
It has also to be said a number of times, by various legal experts, opposition groups and those in the know about martial law, that the one recently declared in Mindanao would likely creep into several other politically important areas as the 2010 elections near, while government is being accused of building up a no-elections scenario, if it would help Gloria stay put and longer at the throne, there is now very little doubt she had stolen from the people.
The Ampatuans, their backs against the wall as Gloria and Gibo Teodoro make their rivals — the Mangudadatus — the next big warlords of Maguindanao, would accept whatever deals that would be offered their way, if only to end this family crisis that started when GMA had condoned their earlier acts of violence in return for political favors in their region, even giving them money and supply of arms, which of late, are being dug up in Maguindanao.
But the Maguindanao crises seem only the beginning.
The nation must be on guard against the many plans of Gloria Arroyo as her end-time nears.
Only our vigilance would ensure she steps out of Malacañang very soon, if not now.
The Ampatuan massacre in Maguindanao, the second poorest province in the country where guns, goons and gold worked wonders, not only for a cheating presidential candidate but also for her senators and local leaders as well, to the detriment of a country long lost in the darkest chapter of its history since Marcos’ martial rule, not only gave us our ugliest blot but a chance for Gloria to create an advantageous scenario for her to complete her own Marcosian cycle.
Gloria has placed Maguindanao and its environs under martial law, but not publicly declaring it like Marcos did, perhaps learning from the mistake of the vilified late dictator, whose old school, black and white television image became a direct illustration of evil even long after his death as his footage gets shown every year when the nation is reminded of his rule, or things similar to it, just as what we have now under Gloria, and against which we say, never again!
But it was martial law still she has just declared.
Ugly pasts have their way of resurrecting ghosts, and Gloria must have found out about this when what was only expected as an arms cache, found buried like valuable treasures in Ampatuan properties, also revealed remnants of Hello Garci’s past, in all its glorious glory, confirming the wide-spread electoral fraud that sent Gloria to Malacañang and denied some opposition sena-tors victory.
The Ampatuans, once a very powerful family in the region, however, have threatened to “talk,” if talking means confirming what Gloria and Garci have discussed in the country’s most interesting telephone conversation. But not even this threat would have sent chills down Gloria’s spine. It might have opened another opportunity to strike a deal with the Ampatuans, whom the nation wants nailed for the mass murder of people, which a foreign observer likened to what has transpired in Rwanda.
Under martial law, there is a likelihood the Ampatuans would escape the more serious offense of mass murder, as government is now focused on what it termed as a “looming rebellion,” one that has yet to transpire but for which the Ampatuans would likely be nailed, and given lighter penalties compared to what Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. faces for 25 counts of murder.
It has also to be said a number of times, by various legal experts, opposition groups and those in the know about martial law, that the one recently declared in Mindanao would likely creep into several other politically important areas as the 2010 elections near, while government is being accused of building up a no-elections scenario, if it would help Gloria stay put and longer at the throne, there is now very little doubt she had stolen from the people.
The Ampatuans, their backs against the wall as Gloria and Gibo Teodoro make their rivals — the Mangudadatus — the next big warlords of Maguindanao, would accept whatever deals that would be offered their way, if only to end this family crisis that started when GMA had condoned their earlier acts of violence in return for political favors in their region, even giving them money and supply of arms, which of late, are being dug up in Maguindanao.
But the Maguindanao crises seem only the beginning.
The nation must be on guard against the many plans of Gloria Arroyo as her end-time nears.
Only our vigilance would ensure she steps out of Malacañang very soon, if not now.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Use your illusion
I remember half of the boys in my class standing up to declare their dream of becoming a president of the Republic of the Philippines someday. That was in 1976, during my first taste of public school as saling-pusa, being too young to be formally included in the grade one class.
Most of the girls wanted to become artistas, and I remember only some of them claimed dreaming of becoming nurses, doctors and lawyers.
My answer elicited laughter. I told the class I wanted to become an astronaut, the only one to do so in a class of Philippine presidents and artistas.
It was my childhood dream. My name was patented after Buzz Aldrin, who along with Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins, became the first men to set foot on the moon.
I remember the class bully howled: “Go to the States,” obviously referring to the US, where not even 10 percent of that public school class may have set foot in their adult lives, although I believe most of them are still entertaining thoughts of settling there someday — courtesy of their children, perhaps — who may or may not become astronauts as I once dreamed of becoming when I was really young.
Perhaps, my classmates thought I was not only dreaming but having an illusion, as if becoming president of a republic then very much under martial rule was not.
The late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was the star of every show then, with only a handful willing and daring to challenge him, and all them were detained, tortured and one was killed while returning home.
Maybe that explains why we do not run out of people, mostly being tagged as loonies, who file certificates of candidacy for the most coveted positions whenever the Commission on Elections starts to accept them.
Yesterday, I even got a ribbing from Ferdinand Agena, a college colleague who more than qualifies for the mayoralty of his town in Batangas, who asked if I managed to beat the Comelec deadline, the last days “reserved” for the “more serious” candidates.
He may have expected my simple reply: “I do not entertain such an illusion,” that my friend’s curt self no longer bothered to add to the jibe.
A television crew panned at the white board listing “applicants” for the presidency numbered a little over 50, if my aging eyes did not deceive me. It is expected to be trimmed down to just a few when the final reckoning comes, with those expected to survive the final “massacre” bearing names too familiar for many of us to ignore, while the rest will be sidelined in history alongside Eddie Gil and Elly “Spike Boy” Pamatong.
Only about 10 would make it in the final list, majority of them political scions successfully riding their elders’ greatness, or representatives of the moneyed class who would soon forget their promises to the masses and the poor.
There would be the so-called “alternative candidates” whose chances depend only on the little money they have to be able to send their message across and be rightfully heard, that is if voters are willing and able to discern what are being promised them and not be swayed by what are being given them.
In the end, however, it is still money which will speak loudly and clearly.
While politics is admittedly local, local government leaders would act correspondingly with the largess they receive, both from the national coffers and from other candidates with more money to spend.
It is a circuitous journey that would take us back again to where we’ve been since democracy was said to have been re-introduced in 1986, when all these started but had failed to take Philippine politics to maturity.
It remains an illusion to see a perfect president soon. But one that is good enough will never be enough.
Some say they will vote for the so-called “lesser evil,” which, if we follow their analogy, is still evil. Or maybe because we cannot find the perfect choice, even from this 2010 set whose campaign slogans and promises seem fake and illusory.
But here in our country, it seems easier to become a president than an astronaut.
We’ve had more than our share of presidents, really.
Finding the right one, however, is like finding a tiny gem in the murky Pasig river.
Most of the girls wanted to become artistas, and I remember only some of them claimed dreaming of becoming nurses, doctors and lawyers.
My answer elicited laughter. I told the class I wanted to become an astronaut, the only one to do so in a class of Philippine presidents and artistas.
It was my childhood dream. My name was patented after Buzz Aldrin, who along with Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins, became the first men to set foot on the moon.
I remember the class bully howled: “Go to the States,” obviously referring to the US, where not even 10 percent of that public school class may have set foot in their adult lives, although I believe most of them are still entertaining thoughts of settling there someday — courtesy of their children, perhaps — who may or may not become astronauts as I once dreamed of becoming when I was really young.
Perhaps, my classmates thought I was not only dreaming but having an illusion, as if becoming president of a republic then very much under martial rule was not.
The late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was the star of every show then, with only a handful willing and daring to challenge him, and all them were detained, tortured and one was killed while returning home.
Maybe that explains why we do not run out of people, mostly being tagged as loonies, who file certificates of candidacy for the most coveted positions whenever the Commission on Elections starts to accept them.
Yesterday, I even got a ribbing from Ferdinand Agena, a college colleague who more than qualifies for the mayoralty of his town in Batangas, who asked if I managed to beat the Comelec deadline, the last days “reserved” for the “more serious” candidates.
He may have expected my simple reply: “I do not entertain such an illusion,” that my friend’s curt self no longer bothered to add to the jibe.
A television crew panned at the white board listing “applicants” for the presidency numbered a little over 50, if my aging eyes did not deceive me. It is expected to be trimmed down to just a few when the final reckoning comes, with those expected to survive the final “massacre” bearing names too familiar for many of us to ignore, while the rest will be sidelined in history alongside Eddie Gil and Elly “Spike Boy” Pamatong.
Only about 10 would make it in the final list, majority of them political scions successfully riding their elders’ greatness, or representatives of the moneyed class who would soon forget their promises to the masses and the poor.
There would be the so-called “alternative candidates” whose chances depend only on the little money they have to be able to send their message across and be rightfully heard, that is if voters are willing and able to discern what are being promised them and not be swayed by what are being given them.
In the end, however, it is still money which will speak loudly and clearly.
While politics is admittedly local, local government leaders would act correspondingly with the largess they receive, both from the national coffers and from other candidates with more money to spend.
It is a circuitous journey that would take us back again to where we’ve been since democracy was said to have been re-introduced in 1986, when all these started but had failed to take Philippine politics to maturity.
It remains an illusion to see a perfect president soon. But one that is good enough will never be enough.
Some say they will vote for the so-called “lesser evil,” which, if we follow their analogy, is still evil. Or maybe because we cannot find the perfect choice, even from this 2010 set whose campaign slogans and promises seem fake and illusory.
But here in our country, it seems easier to become a president than an astronaut.
We’ve had more than our share of presidents, really.
Finding the right one, however, is like finding a tiny gem in the murky Pasig river.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Heroes?
It takes more than the courage of a hero to forgo an ambition — achievable as it was when the opportunities were clear — and tell the world about it like it is an admission of defeat, even before the real fight is on.
Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero just proved that, further peeling himself off the traditional set of politicians now banging each other off their heads — and pockets, and showing maturity that would be helpful if and when he decides to take a real shot at the presidency in 2016, when conditions are ripe and the voters hopefully mature enough to understand the issues Chiz had tried to raise when his eyes were still moist looking at the Palace seat and behind, where he left long-time friends and allies whom he felt would only work to keep the order and not institute the changes he has in mind.
Chiz took the populist stands erstwhile heard only from the militant set of society, like saying no to forced contractualization of workers, which is not popular with big business. And yet, he was silently hailed a hero of the poor and the oppressed, until he announced yesterday his decision to no longer seek higher office.
And with it went their hopes, which they will now cling to just any candidate who will get their fancy, and worse, believe in just any hype thrown in a certain candidate’s way that would make the 2010 polls more like classroom elections where the prettiest and most popular get to hold positions which look great on bold colors posted on the classroom wall.
If Chiz were true to his word, he would have made a great president. But that his supporters can only wait for now, until yet another term is over for yet another president, would mean another long wait before real changes could be introduced and achieved, if no one among the present bidders would take a bolder stance against debt servicing, health and education, the environment, graft and corruption, and the like.
Or we’ll be back to our present wall, one that is so big, we can see slums and pushcarts serving as classrooms without leaders, while somebody, like Efren Peñaflorida, newly-named CNN Hero, try to make them as our future leaders, through free education our government can’t really afford to give ALL its people.
Efren huffed more air than any hero did before he embarked on his kariton journey to Kodak Theatre, whose tuxedoed guests, were really never aware of the hardships which are actually the daily grind for the families of Efren’s students, except for the appeal it gives in honoring such heroes, which Efren is one, a shining one amid the litter and garbage and waste of the more affluent.
And then there was Manny Pacquiao, who, despite his excesses, still inspires the nation with his victories, the shining one who rose from the ashes of poverty and unforced hunger, or was it forced by circumstances, until the opportunity to box came?
And then there are our movies, which make it to Cannes and other venues that recognize great works. And yes, some of these movies win, giving our actors and filmmakers the recognition they deserve, yet their subjects mirror the true image of the nation, which, despite the promises of its present and past leaders, is still mired in poverty and seem never would rise, like Pacquiao, from its ashes, unless somebody takes a bold, heroic step to really LEAD the people into taking more drastic steps in shaking the status quo to effect change.
For how can we really treat our overseas Filipino w orkers like heroes when their only purpose is to serve as government’s perennial cash cows, whose rainfall of dollars would never stop unless the rich countries wake up without a need for bellboys and helpers?
But are we really a nation of heroes?
How long will Efren Peñaflorida hog the limelight being given to him, now that he has a chance to build his own learning center using the millions of pesos he won from the CNN tilt?
How long will Manny Pacquiao’s star rise, when soon after his victory over Cotto, his last punch gave way to more intrigues that was aimed solely for his next movie and the millions more he would earn from it?
How long will we wait before another filmmaker shows another ugly side of the Filipino yet remain truthful to his storyline, which the affluent film critics would hail, the more gross the better?
How long will we wait before any of our leaders would take a bolder stance than Chiz did and mean it?
Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero just proved that, further peeling himself off the traditional set of politicians now banging each other off their heads — and pockets, and showing maturity that would be helpful if and when he decides to take a real shot at the presidency in 2016, when conditions are ripe and the voters hopefully mature enough to understand the issues Chiz had tried to raise when his eyes were still moist looking at the Palace seat and behind, where he left long-time friends and allies whom he felt would only work to keep the order and not institute the changes he has in mind.
Chiz took the populist stands erstwhile heard only from the militant set of society, like saying no to forced contractualization of workers, which is not popular with big business. And yet, he was silently hailed a hero of the poor and the oppressed, until he announced yesterday his decision to no longer seek higher office.
And with it went their hopes, which they will now cling to just any candidate who will get their fancy, and worse, believe in just any hype thrown in a certain candidate’s way that would make the 2010 polls more like classroom elections where the prettiest and most popular get to hold positions which look great on bold colors posted on the classroom wall.
If Chiz were true to his word, he would have made a great president. But that his supporters can only wait for now, until yet another term is over for yet another president, would mean another long wait before real changes could be introduced and achieved, if no one among the present bidders would take a bolder stance against debt servicing, health and education, the environment, graft and corruption, and the like.
Or we’ll be back to our present wall, one that is so big, we can see slums and pushcarts serving as classrooms without leaders, while somebody, like Efren Peñaflorida, newly-named CNN Hero, try to make them as our future leaders, through free education our government can’t really afford to give ALL its people.
Efren huffed more air than any hero did before he embarked on his kariton journey to Kodak Theatre, whose tuxedoed guests, were really never aware of the hardships which are actually the daily grind for the families of Efren’s students, except for the appeal it gives in honoring such heroes, which Efren is one, a shining one amid the litter and garbage and waste of the more affluent.
And then there was Manny Pacquiao, who, despite his excesses, still inspires the nation with his victories, the shining one who rose from the ashes of poverty and unforced hunger, or was it forced by circumstances, until the opportunity to box came?
And then there are our movies, which make it to Cannes and other venues that recognize great works. And yes, some of these movies win, giving our actors and filmmakers the recognition they deserve, yet their subjects mirror the true image of the nation, which, despite the promises of its present and past leaders, is still mired in poverty and seem never would rise, like Pacquiao, from its ashes, unless somebody takes a bold, heroic step to really LEAD the people into taking more drastic steps in shaking the status quo to effect change.
For how can we really treat our overseas Filipino w orkers like heroes when their only purpose is to serve as government’s perennial cash cows, whose rainfall of dollars would never stop unless the rich countries wake up without a need for bellboys and helpers?
But are we really a nation of heroes?
How long will Efren Peñaflorida hog the limelight being given to him, now that he has a chance to build his own learning center using the millions of pesos he won from the CNN tilt?
How long will Manny Pacquiao’s star rise, when soon after his victory over Cotto, his last punch gave way to more intrigues that was aimed solely for his next movie and the millions more he would earn from it?
How long will we wait before another filmmaker shows another ugly side of the Filipino yet remain truthful to his storyline, which the affluent film critics would hail, the more gross the better?
How long will we wait before any of our leaders would take a bolder stance than Chiz did and mean it?
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Gloria Part III
Noynoy Aquino gave a scathing review of Gloria Arroyo’s presidency when, in accepting the challenge to seek the top Malacañang post for the Liberal Party, he claimed to expect nothing much to be left by GMA so much so that anybody who emerges victorious in the coming May 2010 polls would face the tough task of rebuilding the nation almost from scratch.
In fact, Noynoy said being successor to Gloria would be a tougher task than Cory had, as a successor to Marcos, as she would leave the country in shambles in only nine years since she took power via Edsa II than Marcos did in more than 20 years since he beat Gloria’s father, Diosdado, in 1965.
Before Noynoy, former President Erap Estrada had given the same prognosis and after Erap, Chiz Escudero shared the same view with the other opposition presidential contenders.
They vowed to take the challenge of the great task that lies ahead if only to pursue the change a great majority of the Filipinos are seeking, calling and wanting, if we are to believe their campaign lines, which until battle time, are pure rhetoric.
Half-a-year is a long wait for a people wanting true change, and while waiting, we should not peel our eyes from Gloria Arroyo and have our thoughts deflected by the entertainment the many presidentiables are giving us.
Arroyo critics are on guard in anticipation of forging midnight deals for her friends, allies and members of her clique.
Already in a panic mode, it is not impossible for Gloria to strike sweetheart deals even with the devil if it would help save her ass when decision times comes.
With six months left in her term, Gloria was said to have hung a Wanted: Lawyer sign at the gates of Malacañang in anticipation of a deluge of criminal cases that would be thrown her way once she steps out of office.
But the top lawyers she has moist eyes on are not biting, even with all the money she can promise. And so she would take a different approach in seeking a congressional seat for her province of Pampanga in hopes her allies now would be her allies still when she seeks the speakership of the Lower House, and hopefully introduce amendments to the Constitution that would make her queen again.
That would be a long shot, as long as the shot Gibo Teodoro wants to make if only to protect his benefactor, who was said to have promised everything to make his campaign roll, even if it means drying up the country’s coffers further.
The House speakership would not give Arroyo immunity from suits, it can only give her a leverage at the most, if she prays none of the genuine opposition groups would emerge winner in the next polls.
Her frequent visits to Pampanga may help her bid, also. But academician Randy David would be a worthy challenger as he vowed to explain to their fellow Pampangos who Gloria Arroyo is.
Gloria’s next Pampanga tryst would also validate people’s suspicion something was in the works while Gloria made frequent returns to Pampanga, whose people now feel so blessed they have found an angel in her, while victims of “Ondoy,” “Pepeng” and “Santi” are still waiting for a miracle to come from elsewhere.
And while her top tax man had quit while admitting government could not meet its budget, there she was spending for all those travels — both overseas and in Pampanga — while she remains insensitive to the plight of many other sectors.
Many others have claimed Gloria could not be sensitive enough to feel her people’s plight, except for those in the radar of her interests, and she had proven this when she spent millions of pesos for expensive dinners and partying while an icon of democracy was being mourned at home.
And yet there beckons a GMA Part III to continue what she had started since Edsa II and the fraudulent 2004 elections.
In fact, Noynoy said being successor to Gloria would be a tougher task than Cory had, as a successor to Marcos, as she would leave the country in shambles in only nine years since she took power via Edsa II than Marcos did in more than 20 years since he beat Gloria’s father, Diosdado, in 1965.
Before Noynoy, former President Erap Estrada had given the same prognosis and after Erap, Chiz Escudero shared the same view with the other opposition presidential contenders.
They vowed to take the challenge of the great task that lies ahead if only to pursue the change a great majority of the Filipinos are seeking, calling and wanting, if we are to believe their campaign lines, which until battle time, are pure rhetoric.
Half-a-year is a long wait for a people wanting true change, and while waiting, we should not peel our eyes from Gloria Arroyo and have our thoughts deflected by the entertainment the many presidentiables are giving us.
Arroyo critics are on guard in anticipation of forging midnight deals for her friends, allies and members of her clique.
Already in a panic mode, it is not impossible for Gloria to strike sweetheart deals even with the devil if it would help save her ass when decision times comes.
With six months left in her term, Gloria was said to have hung a Wanted: Lawyer sign at the gates of Malacañang in anticipation of a deluge of criminal cases that would be thrown her way once she steps out of office.
But the top lawyers she has moist eyes on are not biting, even with all the money she can promise. And so she would take a different approach in seeking a congressional seat for her province of Pampanga in hopes her allies now would be her allies still when she seeks the speakership of the Lower House, and hopefully introduce amendments to the Constitution that would make her queen again.
That would be a long shot, as long as the shot Gibo Teodoro wants to make if only to protect his benefactor, who was said to have promised everything to make his campaign roll, even if it means drying up the country’s coffers further.
The House speakership would not give Arroyo immunity from suits, it can only give her a leverage at the most, if she prays none of the genuine opposition groups would emerge winner in the next polls.
Her frequent visits to Pampanga may help her bid, also. But academician Randy David would be a worthy challenger as he vowed to explain to their fellow Pampangos who Gloria Arroyo is.
Gloria’s next Pampanga tryst would also validate people’s suspicion something was in the works while Gloria made frequent returns to Pampanga, whose people now feel so blessed they have found an angel in her, while victims of “Ondoy,” “Pepeng” and “Santi” are still waiting for a miracle to come from elsewhere.
And while her top tax man had quit while admitting government could not meet its budget, there she was spending for all those travels — both overseas and in Pampanga — while she remains insensitive to the plight of many other sectors.
Many others have claimed Gloria could not be sensitive enough to feel her people’s plight, except for those in the radar of her interests, and she had proven this when she spent millions of pesos for expensive dinners and partying while an icon of democracy was being mourned at home.
And yet there beckons a GMA Part III to continue what she had started since Edsa II and the fraudulent 2004 elections.
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