Who's Afraid Of Noynoy?

So now that it's clear that Noynoy Aquino is running, this certainly changes the whole political landscape and the dynamics of Philippine politics. Every presidential aspirant's back is against the wall. Regardless of whether Noynoy is ripe or not, or whether he has accomplished anyt>hing is now out of the question. The only ones crying are the traditional politicians whose parties lack the principles in stirring the sleeping giant called as the electorate.

So what does the other contenders have to offer? Let's try and dissect each one of the so-called oppositionists. Erap may have the charisma but has too many ghosts in the past that could easily take away the thunder of his candidacy. Filipinos do not have the taste for "reformed" individuals like Erap. It would be better for him to give way if only to prove that he is the man he claims to be.

Loren Legarda we are all aware that relies solely on her media accomplishments that really doesn't amount anything because we are all aware that she readily exploits situations to get what she wants. She's another trapo and nothing else. Even her performance in any investigation is dismal to my standards.

Excuse me to my friends who adore Chiz, but he is one calculating trapo as well. I wouldn't vote for anyone who lacks conviction. A wolf in sheep's clothing is how I'll describe him. Why you might ask? Because he just rode on what's popular and sat like a chicken in the background. He pretended to go for GMA's jugular and left everybody hanging. In the end, he had the temerity to invite the aggrieved parties to a cup of coffee and a smoking session.

Now for the mighty meaty named Manny Villar whose family treats Las Pinas as their own little kingdom. Embroiled in one of the biggest scandals our public works have ever had. He also has a bad habit of harassing a certain school because he thinks the students are too noisy. Eh kung hindi ka ba naman tanga, why live beside a school where you know hundreds of kids go to? The school has been there long before you decided you old house in your subdivision was too small for your stature. And how about your latest caper Mr. Senator? Another bridge so that your land would once again benefit from it?

Now for the administration's three stooges. Noli DeCastro is but a news reader with nothing to show for but his popularity. Remember Legacy? It's a legacy that would be felt by thousands of investors. How about Gibo Teodoro who unfortunately did not get any of his father's good traits. A bar topnotcher yes, but he doesn't match up to Nonong Cruz. And then there's Bayani Fernando who thinks he's loved by many. Thanks to his wild experiments and policies, had alienated himself from the realities on the ground. It's funny how he thinks there's nothing wrong with getting million-peso birthday gifts that were supposed to go to the struggling employees of the movie industry.

So who's afraid of Noynoy? I suppose only those who are eager beavers. Those who paint themselves as reformists who in the end will protect the status quo. Those who believe that the Philippines will never change. You know what? I don't care about qualifications anymore. I couldn't care less who is "HILAW" or "HINOG". The elections will not be about what you accomplished in your life. Less give it a religious color. You will not be judged by what you have but how you lived your life. I'd like to believe that at last, the Filipinos now know right from wrong. Where traditional politics takes a backseat and integrity is what we look for in the leaders we elect.

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Yellow Fever

Since Pres. Cory Aquino passed away, the people seemed to have been afflicted by the Yellow Fever. Is this an awakening or simply a passing fancy? I'm well aware of how we have very short attention spans. I'm surprised by how many fell by the wayside and have forgotten the true essence of People Power and how we should never forget it. I suppose those only used People Power to achieve their political goals and realized their personal ambitions.

So what have we done in the last two decades? We squandered our gains and allowed those with agendas to bastardize the essence of People Power. As my good friend Leah Navarro said, We are in search of a Camelot, in search of heroes that will fight the battles for us. If Ninoy and Cory were alive today, they'd be frustrated as I am. People Power is not about heroes, it's about empowering ourselves. People Power is about us.

So I see blogs and other social networks bearing yellow ribbons and bloating members reaching in the thousands. But when the time came to show the current dispensation our warm bodies, our numbers, these thousands are nowhere to be found. We have fence sitters watching in the sidelines while others fight the battles. When the smoke clears and the fighters are winning, these fence sitters suddenly appear out of nowhere and claim victory for themselves.

How I wish the this Yellow Fever sweeping our populace is real and true. I wish that those who seems to understand what Ninoy, Cory and those who unselfishly gave up their lives for freedom and democracy really take to heart what these heroes represented. Noynoy Aquino is right, we don't need an Aquino to lead us into battle. We are all heroes. It is all up to us to carry on the legacy of those who went before us. We should stop waiting for someone to come along tp inspire us. Ourselves and our future are enough to inspire us to commit ourselves in the fight for change, freedom and democracy.

Today is Ninoy's death anniversary. Let us not insult his memory with a passing fancy called as Yellow Fever. Let us show the world that we do not have short attention spans. I hope this fever is genuine this time around. There's still time to redeem ourselves. It's funny how death can start sparks and stir a people to its senses. I just hope that this time around, we truly understand the meaning of People Power.

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Fine Dining 101

Gloria's recent exploits has left a sour taste in the palate of Filipinos worldwide. As more reports of her extravagant trips abroad comes flowing in, I hope the cynics and fence-sitters would now realize how insincere and callous she and her rabid allies are. While millions go hungry everyday and several millions more tighten their belts to survive, these so-called representatives of the people wine and dine to their heart's content. Regardless of where their money came from, this lavish exhibition rubs salt to the Filipinos' already gaping wound.

Her spokespersons in defending the indefensible try to redirect the issue somewhere else to appease the enraged populace. While some would say that it's but proper to shower Gloria with such expensive dinners, they have totally disregarded the prevailing poverty the Filipino people live in. Her personal lawyer even had the gall to throw in morality in the issue. It is wise to remind Mr. Makalintal that media is not all about news, it's a business that relies on advertisements to survive. The government however is not a business. It's sole responsibility is to address the people's needs.

Perhaps it would be wise for her defenders to simply shut up. The more they open their mouths, the more Gloria becomes the villain. Maybe even those who try to take the blame should also shut up. The more they try to suck up to Gloria, the more their constituents are outraged. It would be wiser for these congressmen to feed those who are hungry than feed those who can buy whatever they wish to eat. Perhaps they are trying to show us that we do not deserve their attention. Perhaps they are trying to tell us that they couldn't care less how hungry we are. Perhaps it is time for the people to end their political ambitions.

So we must bear in mind that we hold our elected leaders fate in our hands. Without us and even with their money, they are worthless unless we give them worth. As elections draw near, let the lessons of their fine dining and luxurious lifestyles be the reason not to elect them into office. When fine dining to some is a bowl of rice with seasoned with fish sauce, engorging one's self with caviar and slabs of stake or even lobster especially on foreign trips is simply criminal. The likes of these junkets at the expense of an impoverished nation is downright criminal. A $15,000 or $20,000 dinner is a perfect example of what fine dining is not.

So to those who were insensitive enough to feed those who can feed themselves, we thank you. We thank you because of your fine dining, you nor your families will ever enter the halls of congress. If you think that Filipinos are dumb, think again. You just taught us a lesson in fine ass-kicking.

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Rude Awakening Of An Orphaned Nation

Memories of '83 and '86 came flooding back to me as Pres. Corazon Aquino was laid to rest yesterday. The outpouring of support since the news broke out of her passing signaled the awakening of a nation in darkness and confusion. Cory has united the nation once again which also sparked the sleeping interest of a generation clueless of what we experienced more than two decades ago. Cory left a legacy which now inspires those too young to understand.

The reluctant president who stepped up to plate because the country needed a leader will be sorely missed by those whose lives she touched but most especially those who will have to now carry the baton she passed. Maybe now the Filipinos will cherish and protect the liberty Cory helped us regain. Maybe now the apathy will cease and empathy will set in. Maybe now the youth will understand why my generation fought long and hard side by side with Ninoy and Cory. Maybe now. the people will finally use their heads in electing the people we put in office.

Some had tossed Cory aside in the last few years of her life. Some even mocked her and said she had lost her magic touch. The people who came out during her wake and funeral showed that even in death, she is a force to reckon with. As the nation celebrates her life, pretenders will now be wary of an intelligent and vigilant electorate. The current dispensation cannot be too rash nor brazen this time around for fear of ouster. The moral leadership Cory exhibited will be a tough act to follow. No one in the current crop of aspirants comes near to her exploits.

I'm in a state of Zen now. Her death has made me less angry. It has ignited in me a certain spark that patience really works wonders. But of course she also taught us that we should empower ourselves. If we need to get things done, we should do the hard work ourselves. The icon may have gone but the flames remain lit and we should see to it that it stays lit. It's the least we can do to show our gratitude to a martyr and his selfless wife. It's now up to you, the youth who should protect the gains of EDSA 1. Death does have its rewards. For Cory, she is now at peace with her martyred husband while we, the orphaned nation is awakened.

At least now the people know how proud we can be and how powerful we are. Those who have evil thoughts of destroying the democracy we enjoy can no longer go on with their shenanigans with impunity. Now the people are watching and listening. Cory's death is truely a rude awakening on an orphaned nation.

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The Lame Duck Toughie

What we saw yesterday was the unmasking of the nation's toughie. Gloria showed how feisty she can be and tried to persuade the people that she's no lame duck. While she took jabs at her critics, the more her showed what a big bully she really is. I remember a frat mate who was a little taller than Gloria. He acted tough and bullied almost everyone. That's because he was surrounded by big brods. Gloria is no different, she bullies the weak and defenseless. But to her allies, she's soft and even goes as far as taking extrajudicial actions just to cover their asses.

She claims that she works hard and does her job well. It all depends I suppose if the price is right. She put the blame on her predecessors for the rut we're in, she's been in office for almost a decade and all her hard work(?) had made a living hell out of the lives of the marginalized. She's claims to be a strong leader yet she cannot even kick Angelo Reyes out of his job. She surrounds herself with her generals both active and retired. This toughie is a fluke. She can't even face her detractors even in the proper forums. She hides behind her immunity and her position.

Want to know how tough this Gloria is? Just ask the pharmaceutical companies. Instead of signing the Cheaper Medicines Act, she seeks the advice of these companies. That's how tough she really is. She's fact to use her emergency powers yet order the BOC or the BIR to clean their acts. Afraid she might step on the toes of her supporters? So what makes Gloria tough? She's not in Pres. Cory's league. How many coups has Gloria faced? She thrives on transactional politics and has too many political debts to pay. The price to pay for her stay in power.

The toughie can't even explicitly say that she will step down. She can't even tell her two idiotic sons to stop fooling around with the constitution. As she leaves to meet Pres. Obama of the US, I wonder what Obama will say to her. How I wish he'll tell her to stand in a corner. She's no toughie, she's a lame duck.

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True Lies: The SONA

No its not a fantasy game though I wished it was, but Gloria outdid herself again. She portrayed herself the leader she never was and never will be. The way she boasted about her achievements almost made my ears and eyes bleed in utter disbelief. I'm a bit exaggerating but I was cursing all the way. After two terms, she could have done a perf3ect job. But no, not Gloria. She ran again in 2004 to escape the allegations she and her husband were involved in corruption.

Getting back to the SONA, as expected, she gave herself a perfect score. She went on citing programs and data that did not match the realities on the ground. Her redefinition of employed allowed her administration to boast the unemployment is low and that she created 8 million jobs. Her frequent junkets bore only promises that have yet to materialize as another company is set to close shop.

She also boasted of the CARP despite the throngs of farmers hiking their way to Manila for the agrarian reforms they have long fought for. Despite her promise to modernize the agriculture sector, you will still see palay being dried on the streets of Central Luzon. She may have irrigated thousands of hectares but a price that added to the woes of our farmers. She also boasted about how thousands of new classrooms were built and how many new teachers were hired. Yet the ratio of student to classroom and teacher is 70:1. Shifts had to be made to accomodate the thousands of students in public schools. Tjhe kids of our househelp were asked to choke up P100 each to cover the cost of new faucets installed in their school. This is Gloria's claim that public schooling is free.

The Cheaper Medicines Act was not implemented the way it should be. Gloria made concessions with pharmaceutical companies and only selected medicines were dropped by 50%. The economy did not grow, it shrunk in the last two years. The proof is how small businesses lsot from 50% to 80% in their gross sales. This is the reason why the BIR failed to reach its collection quota. Inflation is really high despite her claims. The cost of living shot up and more and more families are feeling the pinch. I wouldn't rely on surveys, what I rely on are what I see on the streets and my personal experience. Only a fool would say that their life improved.

The true state of the nation is far from the lies she peddled. Without the OFWs, our country would have sank. This is the problem with Gloria, the lies have become truth. Instead of being sincere and transparent, she threw the blame at her critics. I dare her and her henchmen to live in my neighborhood even just for a day, then say that everything in her SONA is true. If there's anyone who is afraid, it's Gloria and not her critics. She and her family has a lot of answering to do. The numerous unanswered scandals will surely haunt her long after 2010.

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Dimwit

Rallyists are getting to be more innovative in showing their disgust with those who voted for HR 1109. They now bring the forum to the very doorstep of these congressmen. The dimwit who wants to protect these hoodlums is none other than Dato Arroyo. He's proposing that these indignation rallies be banned. Under Gloria's administration, even rallies in freedom parks are most often than not, not allowed. With all the laws governing rallies in place, Dato wants to add another one. With important bills waiting on the floor of the lower house, this dimwit would rather prioritize something that only hooligans like him would benefit from.

I don't know how his constituents voted this dimwit into office. I tend to believe that he got elected through goons, guns and gold. So far, the Arroyos have nothing to show for during their tenure in the house. All I've seen them accomplish is to corner the power sector and of course the Con-Ass. Maybe Dato thinks that just because he is a lawmaker, he can formulate just about any law he wants. Well, think again Mr. Dimwit, even Matt Defensor thinks your proposal is just too much.

So if were to give Dato an advice, I'd tell him to just stick to his seat and keep his mouth shut. The more he opens it, the more he exposes his stupidity. Public interest is still higher than a public servant's right to privacy. I suppose he doesn't know that because he doesn't serve the public, he serves the interest of his dynasty.

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