THE RESULTS of the recent elections showed that Filipinos are not yet mature, although growing. Many based their analysis and decisions on what they hear and see, less on what they read, because many are tired of reading. There is more analysis actually when reading.

This resulted in education through media. It is now a powerful tool to build up one’s image, as what actors and actresses do to build up their careers. People now cannot differentiate fiction from half-truths or from truths. Political events are watched like soap operas on prime time. And media would take advantage of political gossip and scoops to make stories more valuable for money. Errors in reporting are justified by icing them with more controversial ones.

This is the “education” that Filipinos have had after Marcos. Democracy was abused like the phenomenon of “people power.” “Will of the majority” is falsely equated with what is “right.”

[Read the rest of this entry »]

I AM writing in response to Mr. Escano’s letter to the editor dated May 25, 2007.

I recommend that Mr. Escano visit Among Ed’s website to get to know the character behind the person. He is likewise welcome to read and participate in our forum to get to know the people supporting Among Ed.

In response to your questions and concerns:

[Read the rest of this entry »]

FROM TIME to time I would usually hear either from the administration or the opposition about their political bickering and how one is better than the other. However, I’ve been observing lately how politics is actually practiced in our country, and let me emphasize that this is from a college student point-of-view.

I am studying at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas taking up Political Science and I believe one of the precursors for you to be a student of politics is for you to love politics. That is why, let me share my opinion about Philippine politics.

When the Arroyo administration previously called for a change in the Constitution through constitutional assembly, it eventually failed. Next here came Lambino et al who started this people’s initiative; eventually it failed also. Later on, the administration then called for a constitutional convention but eventually election time came.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

ALL right. The Comelec has yet to proclaim the winners yet — largely due to the interference of TEAM Unity — but I think it’s safe to say that Genuine Opposition candidates are going to get most of the 12 seats up for grabs in the Senate. 7-3-2 (GO-TU-independent) the last time I checked.

Now what?

I don’t know.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

IF we look at the results of the recent elections, both at the local and national level, I can’t help but see a tiny glimpse of hope budding up.

That is if we have to believe the analysis of the press of the circumstances surrounding these results. We are witnessing an upsurge trend of protest votes not only against GMA, but also against the system as a whole.

If for that alone, there is reason to begin investing our hopes on better politics ahead…

I VOTED for GO (Genuine Opposition) candidates not because of Erap. I think GO candidates are brilliant people and have their own minds. If anything (and this may sound brutal) they might just be riding on Erap’s popularity among the masses. That’s how things are in politics.

Let’s not box Erap with all these corrupt and negative things. Let the one without sin, cast the first stone, as the Bible says. Erap has long vacated the president’s post but graft and corruption still runs rampant in the government. The Cebu lamp posts, the Garci tape, the Macapagal highway… I mean everyone is at it. I believe at some level we all are corrupt. And it goes the same with lies.

Lies are lies regardless of color.

CHECK out Philippine Daily Inquirer editor John Nery’s latest post in Current, the joint blog he maintains with Inquirer columnist Manuel Quezon III.

Here’s an excerpt:

Sometimes we can read too much into the “meaning” of a particular vote.

I found Raul Pangalangan’s last column, on the meaning of the Honasan-Trillanes vote, a provocative read. I especially thought this particular passage was right on the money.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

TO THOSE who sold their votes for P20, P50, P100, P500, P1, 000, P2, 000 — let this article be a reminder that this will be the last amount of money that you will see from your chosen candidate until the next election. Let this article be a reminder to you that for that amount of money, your chosen candidate will be taking 10 times as much money from you.

To the vote selling public, you are what is wrong with the Philippines; because of your weakness of conviction, you have let another election pass you by.

When I hear Filipino citizens criticize candidates because of the lack of money they gave, I wonder just how much they understand or comprehend what they are saying. Do they not know that the money that is being given to them for their vote is probably coming from the Filipino public as well?

[Read the rest of this entry »]

“IT’S probably the first time in his life that Pacquiao has lost this publicly,” said a friend of mine.

“Don’t tell me you’re feeling sorry for him,” said someone else.

“I am. Pacquiao’s always been the hero, the winner, the idolized. Losing to a girl whom almost no one out of Gen San knew, until she became the person running against him, must hurt,” said my friend.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

STATED in the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, Article VI, Section 3: No person shall be a Senator unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines and, on the day of the election, is at least thirty-five years of age, able to read and write, a registered voter, and a resident of the Philippines for not less than two years immediately preceding the day of the election.

Wanted by the masang Pilipino is someone who could raise their status quo, maybe someone who could flood their drained bank accounts. Required by the entrepreneurs who subsist in the fluctuating world of stocks and business is a big name that could grant incentives and hoist their eminence in the market. In the sagacity of idealism, others may seek articulation to be the voice and image of what was once a reverie. In the world of ignorance, others may yearn for the face — the one whose posters they once thought were endorsements of a new beauty clinic.

How many times have the Filipinos been fooled? They were but images that portray good actors or actresses — so good that they made us believe that their role is their real personality. Just like how Eula Valdez and Jean Garcia played their role as Amor Powers and Claudia Buenavista that struck the country.

[Read the rest of this entry »]