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.
We were once on top — a country that was taking pleasure in its riches until we felt the dictator’s arm clutching our freedom. The state loves freedom, no doubt — proven by the rally scenes that take over the news everyday. The state’s excellent economy was forfeited to reclaim the free will that was taken from us.
Now that we have salvaged what was left of us, we are given much power to make a change — a good one, to retrieve what was once ours.
Pinoys should establish standards. We should vote for someone able — someone who has the capabilities, a person with knowledge and understanding to construct laws not for himself but for the majority of the people. He should be an individual who has the guts to stand on his principles, not changing sides — favor to the appealing and someone who has the record.
Last May 14, the Filipino people were doctors of the ailing land and jurors of the historical reality contest. We may not have unexplained powers to change the present, but we have supremacy to direct the future.
Stated in every Filipino’s hope is someone who will lead the nation to its prosperous condition.
14 Feedbacks on "Philippines’ historical reality show"
Diego K.Guerrero
Historical Reality: Political Dynasty
Political dynasties are well-entrenched in the Philippines since colonial times. Even anti-dynasty law is enacted, political clans can always circumvent the law. Proxy candidates have been fielded to hold the seat until the incumbent can run again. Political clans continue to dominate electoral contests in the provinces by alliances thru convenience and coalition with dominant political party or ruling party. Political parties are like chop suey or pancit log-log. A genuine national democratic revolution may change the course of Philippine politics.
Political fiefdoms dig in
PART I
By the Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG)
One of the biggest gainers in the May 14 mid-term elections is the Macapagal-Arroyo political clan, now headed by incumbent President Gloria M. Arroyo. With two sons of Mrs. Arroyo winning House seats – Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo (1st District, Camarines Sur) and reelectionist Rep. Mikey Arroyo (2nd District, Pampanga) – and reelectionist Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo, a brother-in-law, regaining his seat (5th District, Negros Occidental), the Macapagal-Arroyo clan expands the political dynasty began by patriarch Diosdado Macapagal who was elected to Congress in 1949. Diosdado eventually became the country’s fifth President in 1961. Ignacio Arroyo is reportedly being groomed to succeed House Speaker Jose de Venecia who has also clinched his reelection bid (4th District, Pangasinan).
The clan of Macapagal-Arroyo has been in power for 58 years, broken only by the Marcos dictatorship. Even if the clan has spun out its political presence in Camarines Sur and Negros, it has a lot of damage control coming up what with the province of Pampanga - considered Mrs. Arroyo’s bailiwick and father Diosdado’s birthplace - going to a new governor, Fr. Ed Panlilio. “Among Ed” Panlilio, the first Catholic priest elected in government, won by a small margin over Lilia Pineda and incumbent Gov. Mark Lapid, both Arroyo allies. Pineda is married to Rodolfo “Bong” Pineda, alleged to be a top jueteng (illegal numbers game) lord.
Votes in nearly 50 of the country’s 80 provincial posts have been counted along with those cast in many House district races. Many of the winners, including mayoralty candidates, have been proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Partial results of the elections show reigning political dynasties still well-entrenched, a few of them trounced but only to be replaced by new political clans while others have kept their fiefdoms with even more elective posts taken.
Except for new political figures such as Fr. Panlilio and Grace Padaca, who has regained her governorship of Isabela but whose proclamation has been stalled, the fraud-ridden mid-term elections saw no qualitative change in the structure of political dynasties that have dominated Philippine politics for over a century. In fact fraud and violence, in many cases, according to poll watch groups, backed by military and police forces, proved to be decisive in enabling political clans including many administration candidates to dig in.
Diego K.Guerrero
Who’s in, who’s out Part II
A look at the election outcome in some of the political turfs would show whether the geopolitical balance of power has changed even without necessarily shaking the infrastructures of political dynasties in those areas:
Tarlac: Victor Yap, who also belongs to a political clan, beats former Rep. Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, Jr., brother of former President Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino. Not to worry, Cojuangco, Jr.’s setback will not affect the political hold of the Aquino-Cojuangco dynasty, with Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III expected to win in the Senate. Moreover, Jeci Lapus, is elected congressman (3rd District, Tarlac). He is a cousin of the late Sen. Benigno Aquino, Jr., and brother of former representative and now Education Secretary Jesli Lapus. Monica Louise Teodoro, wife of Gilberto Teodoro, Jr., also wins a seat (1st District, Tarlac). Teodoro, Jr., is a nephew of former Marcos crony Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, Jr., said to be the country’s top political kingpin. “Danding” Cojuangco’s son, Marcos Jr., is reelected congressman (4th District, Pangasinan).
Ilocos Sur: Despite doubts Ilocos political lord and outgoing Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson will make it in the Senate under the Team Unity (TU) ticket, son Ronald is elected representative (2nd District, Ilocos Norte), brother Jeremias is elected vice governor, and cousin Eric retains his House post (2nd District, same province). A sister, “Honey Girl” Singson-de Leon, sits in the Arroyo government as chair of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). Another Singson, Allen, wins as mayor of Candon City. The Singsons trace their ancestral roots to Joaquin Ayco, a 17th century merchant from China. Their forefathers have ruled the capital city, Vigan, as far back as the 1800s.
Nueva Ecija: Rep. Aurelio Umali wins as governor at the expense of a member of the Joson clan, Vice Gov. Mariano Cristino Joson. Another Joson, Tomas III, also loses his bid for governor of the province. But it’s not all lost to the Joson dynasty that has lorded over Nueva Ecija for 47 years: Eduardo Nonato Joson (Tomas III’s brother) is elected to the House (1st District, Nueva Ecija) while Eduardo Basilio Manuel is reelected mayor of Quezon town.
Bicol Region. There are both upsets and setbacks among political clans in this region. Clobbered are the Espinosas of Masbate with Rep. Emilio Espinosa, House deputy speaker for Luzon, beaten by Dr. Elisa Olga Kho, wife of outgoing Gov. Antonio Kho. Maloli Espinosa-Manalastas, eldest daughter of slain Rep. Moises Espinosa, loses to the new governor’s husband, in the congressional race (2nd District, Masbate).The Espinosas were in power since the 1930s with family patriarch, Emilio Espinosa, Sr., elected to the 10th Philippine legislature. The Khos are also a long-time political clan. Rep. Luis Villafuerte is reportedly headed for a landslide (2nd District, Camarines Sur); Rep. Arnulfo Fuentebella and Rep. Felix Alferol, Jr. (3rd District and 4th District, Camarines Sur) also regain their seats. Villafuerte, a former Marcos crony, is at odds with his son, Luis Raymundo, Jr., who has won as governor. Meanwhile, Jesse Robredo is reelected mayor of Naga City against Jojo Villafuerte. The Fuentebellas and Robredos are now political rivals, despite their being relatives with a common Chinese ancestry dating back to the 19th century. The Fuentebella patriarch, Jose, won as assemblyman in 1909.
La Union: La Union in northern Philippines has been the fiefdom of the Ortegas since 1934 when Francisco Ortega first won as congressman. Son Rep. Manuel Ortega wins as governor while Pablo Ortega, brother of Francisco Ortega, Jr., is elected mayor of San Fernando, the capital city. Fifteen members of the Ortega clan ran for various elective positions and party-list (Abono) in La Union, Baguio City and Manila in the May 14 elections.
Cebu: Gwendolyn Garcia, who belongs to the pro-Arroyo Garcia clan, is reelected governor. Gwendolyn’s father, Pablo Garcia, served as governor (1995-2004) and is running for Congress (2nd District) in the May 14 elections while brother Pablo John is vying for a House seat (3rd District). Political rivals in Cebu are the extended clan of the Osmeñas, Del Mars and Dela Ramas; the Cuencos; and Gullases. All of them have also fielded several candidates in the mid-term polls.
Others from political families who have won or been reelected are: Rodolfo Plaza and Democrito Plaza, won as congressman and mayor of Butuan City, respectively, Agusan del Sur; Jose Ma. Zubiri, Jr., Jose Ma. Zubiri III, and Ignacio Zubiri, governor, congressman (3rd District) and Malaybalay City vice mayor, respectively, Bukidnon; Ramon Durano III and Ramon Durano, Jr., mayor and vice mayor of Danao City, Cebu; Rogelio Espina, governor of Biliran; Julio Ledesma IV, congressman (3rd District, Negros Occidental); Raul Gonzales, Jr., congressman (Iloilo); Carmencita Reyes, congressman (Marinduque); and Vilma Santos, governor of Batangas, and wife of reelectionist Sen. Ralph Recto, a member of the Rectos whose political life dates back to Claro M. Recto (assemblyman, 1918).
Philippine politics has long been dominated by political dynasties numbering about 250 – or 0.00001667 percent of the country’s 15 million families - with each of the country’s 80 provinces kept under the thumbs of at least one dynasty. In turn, these political dynasties run a patronage system of local political families and networks of supporters bound together by interlocking political and commercial interests. ABCS-CBN News
Marites
Pakisalin sa english na lang po kung maaari ang aking komento. Ito po ay tungkol kay Abalos ng comelec at sa iba pang govt official at pulitiko na kapangyarihan lamang ang motibo sa pagsisilbi. Hindi ba sila natatakot na mangyari sa kanila ang pagsubok na ibinigay ng Diyos sa pharaoh? Hindi ba nila naiisip na galing sa Diyos ang kanilang posisyon? Kung patuloy sila sa pagtampalasan sa posisyong ito, tiyak na ito ay babawiin ng Diyos na may kasamang parusa. Masaya at kampante lang sila dahil nasa posisyon pa sila. Minsan mahaba ang pagsubok pero darating at darating din ang paghuhukom. Sana makinig sila sa Diyos habang hindi pa huli.
Juan Dela Cruz
What will make me leave the Philippines (Part 2)… An Open Letter to Every Filipino
Dear Fellow Filipinos
You must leave the Philippines if you are:
1. If you are a professional not earning 50k minimum, there are many opportunities waiting for you outside the country. Earned a lot of money then go back home and put up a business help others to have a job. (Highly Technical Business not livelyhood business, transfer of technologies)
2. If you have no job and you are not productive, you are a negative asset of the country. Find your luck abroad and do not be a burden to our country.
3. If you are still renting a house , no car, no savings and with family already. Please give your children a very good future. Do not let your children experience what you are experiencing right now.
4. If you are a corrupt government officials/employess, we do not need you. You must commit suicide to repay what you did to our country or get out of our country.No Joke..
5. If you are still young and full of dreams. You can never be a millionaire if just an ordinary employee. Instead of working here why not work abroad? If you prefer to be an employee for life then work abroad. Triple the earnings + you will experience the easy way of life especially to the industrialized countries.
6. If you do not want the no good quality of life in the Philippines, As others said “If you came from industrialized countries and going back home ,from exiting the airplane everything is out of order already “. Traffic, Garbage everywhere, Noisy Street, the roads, the beggars, politics ,etc.
7. If you are outcast of the society, better conduct lethal injection voluntarily. “Wala ka na nga pakinabang pabigat at perhuwisyo ka pa sa lipunan”. So get out of our country.
If you are one of the above, mag-isip isip ka na. Also, as an additional to Mr. Harvey’s letter. Not only those personalities he mentioned but almost all the
politicians in the Philippines. Never ever trust your fate with those politicians. They are all the same, self interest and greed of power. You are spending 130 millions for campaign to have a monthly income of Php 35k (Bullshit!). Our politicians are “confuse and without directions” they do not know the priorities. They are low level individuals
you can notice in their activities(Awayan, sagutan sa TV, ADS sa TV). If you know a politician who love our country and willing to die for our country tell me , i will kneel down in front of him. This is the true picture of Philippine Politics that is why maski sino nakaupo dyan same pa rin. Believe me. Unless a true leader than can turn the Philippines 360 degress. Strong Leadership, High Capability and Love for Country. Sino nga ba? wala pa…These are the traits of of former prime minister such as Gen. Park (South Korea), PM of Singapore, PM of Malaysia, PM of Japan. Much better the Phillipines must hire former leader of other countries as consultant.
Anyway, as what i have said do not ever trust your fate to these politicians. In real life ba do you feel the presence of this politicians/government? The answer is NO!!!!as in NO!!…I am already 36 years old. Actually, the infrastructure lang such as roads and nafeel ko sa government(Sira sira pa) other than that wala na. Minsan imbes na makatulong pa sa business ko (Pag-angat ng Pilipino) hindrance pa sila. If you have urgent application sa isang sangay ng government kung absent ang pipirma maghihintay ka pa ng ilang araw. They will not treat you as customer. To all government employees naman especially working at LTO, NSO etc. We are your customers so treat us in a nice way. Also every government employee is a negative asset of the country because ang salary nyo galing sa kaban ng bayan. Please perform your job very well.
So maski sino mahalal sa May election i do not care, as long as my business prosper. I do not feel the presence of the government and those politicians.
I do not expect anything from these politicians. Kung iintindihin nyo ang politics natin you will be frustrated lang. Do you see those prominent business man such as Gokongwei, Henry Sy etc mingle with politicians or media? NO because they knew that by doing so they will regret for the rest of their life. Noong si Erap ba nahalal marami bang umalis ng bansa? Wala d ba? Because the future of our country lies within every Filipino. Iangat mo ang kabuhayan mo without the help of the government (Huwag umasa sa gobyerno) . That is the secret. You can see poor Filipinos because they choose to become poor then aasa sa government . Our government is poor also so please do not be a burden to our country. Every Filipino must “ break the chain of poverty” by themselves.
Sabi nga ” Politicians Salot ng Lipunan, Businessman Bayani ng Bayan”
Build the nation with highly technical business———–> Be an Industrialize Country
YOUNG BUSINESSMAN
PS: Patama ito sa mga tiwaling opisyal, huwag ka magalit kung good ka. You know yourself better than me.
linda
Yes,Philippines is the only country allowing so much nepotism to run for politics so as to the extent of allowing rebel soldiers who are imprisoned for charges they have committed. There’s so much freedom, freedom that is being abused by many or few. So many political parties are allowed and so many what nots that leads to confusion in peoples mind.To the less fortunate with simple minds to comprehend are the prey to the votebuying bonanza…WHAT A PITY
MBM
I agree that we should vote for the right people. Someone, somewhere will come out in the open to lead us all. Perhaps he/she is already one among the senators or congressmen.
Unfortunately, these idiots in Senate and in Congress should lay the groundwork for when our leader comes. They should study the dynamics of our changing society and amend laws that will bring us to a better situation. They should create laws to protect the people from all harm - including their own corruption. Instead, they break the laws and perpetuate their corruption. They bicker all day and enjoy the people’s money that is entrusted with them. It’s but logical - they have to have their Return On Investment of their campaign cost.
Our legislators are caught up in a system that will never work because they protect each other. Aside from the love among peers, their money pots are further sweetened by the Executive to get their sympathy. Investigations can get very costly to the investigated. Bring in the business and criminal lobbyists and the accounting ledgers will be complete for their income statement. Of course, the committee heads get more perks.
If a President can be impeached, so should Senate and Congress be dissolved due to failure in its functions. Eh sa ngayon, palpak lahat!
Tell me, given the right material in leadership - how can a good director lead fat mules and donkeys in a Soap Opera?
It will take a long time for the electorate to wake up and learn how to choose new blood to replace the clowns. If the electorate will never learn, Thailand nga yata dapat ang tularan natin.
Pinoy_na_Pinoy
Tama ka Juan De la Cruz sa mga sinabi mo.
There is a reason to leave our country because of the government system and the recent condition of our economy. Hindi na nga talaga usong sabihin na “Mahalin ang bansa natin….Tangkilikin ang sariling atin…whatever”
Napakasakit isipin na tayo’y nandito sa Pilipinas pero hindi natin mapaunlad ang bansa. May mga ibinotong lider pero ano ang nagagawa? Walang pagbabago…
***Mabuti pang magkagulo sa bansa kung patuloy na ganito tayo. I learned it in school that leaders are elected to lead,guide,direct the people in a country. E,ang mga liders natin sila ang nagpapagulo sa bansa. Bakit kelangan pa ng election na hindi naman pala maganda ang resulta? Kung pwede lang magmura dito, I could write the WORST words. Because I don’t like our country anymore. We have a set of friends who did not VOTE, did not renew drivers licenses, professional licenses,etc… this is to show that we don’t like the government system anymore.
*******Ang sarap pakinggan na may election tayo para ihalal yong mga lider na siyang gagabay sa kaunlaran ng bansa…Pero my mga problema….may nagagawa ba ang COMELEC?
******* Lahat umambisyon para maging lider ng bansa pero wala namang nagawa. Ang mayaman lalong naging mayaman, ang mahirap walang chance na yumaman. Discrimination sa bansa nandito rin.
******* Dapat nang palitan ang pambansang awit kasi hindi na akma sa mga nangyayari sa Pilipinas ngayon.
******** Senatorial candidates ngayon, parang the same apelyido parin ang nakikita ko simula ng naging grade 5 ako. Namatay na lang yong mga dating lider at ito naman ang nagsulputan. Please, if you have good plans for our country, don’t dare to run for any political positions.. Or should I say, dapat wala ng election para lahat ng tao masaya…
*********Mas maganda pa nga siguro sakupin tayo ng ibang bansa para maranasan din namin ang dating nangyari sa ating kasaysayan.kasi kung tayo parin ang mamahala sa bansa na ganito ang kinahinatnan, I’m sorry huwag nalang.
********* My COMELEC naman na siyang nagbibilang ng mga boto, bakit meron ibang grupo na nagbibilang din?Don’t they trust COMELEC?sana totoo kasi wala naman itong magandang dulot during elections? Why are they spending time, effort and money to count votes na wala naman silang mapapala kasi ang official na count ay galing sa COMELEC….Whew!!!So impractical! uso pa ba ang volunteer? Nalilito lang ang tao sa resulta ng napakaruming election…
********
My chance pa ba na mabago ang kalagayan ng Pilipinas? Sana wala na…
********
Kung magbago man, sana magulo at lahat magpatayan, matira ang matibay!!!
********
Umuunlad na daw ang Pilipinas?Sino nagsabi? Mga sinungaling!!!
********
Kaya kung sino man ang mga kandidato na uupo dahil MANANALO sa ngayong election…well, GOOD LUCK! or you lack of being good!
********* Isa-isahin nyo sila kung kaya nilang maging lawmakers and great leaders sa bansa. Wish ko lang ! I’m sure mga buwan ng July simula na naman ng debate ng bawat isa.NAKAKASAWA! NAKAKAASAR!
Adrian
One common mistake we as a people keep on doing, is always pinning our hopes on the goverment.
Name one progressive country that ever relied on Government support to prosper. NADA!
In fact, it was always the other way around, its the private sector (the citizens) who have pushed for changes and for success.
We have a tremendous amount of investment-pool via our OFWs (modern-day slaves) and people back home should know better on how to tap on that pool rather than moan and groan about how ineffective the goverment has become. Tama na ang comparison, tama na ang analysis, let’s do the do!
Juan Dela Cruz
One solution to graft and corruption is public firing squad or bitay sa mga convicted government officials. No joke. Tingnan natin at titino ang Pinas.
Pian
TO PINOY NA PINOY
Napaka-negative naman ng feedback mo. On a positive note, tumataas ang exchange rate natin and stock market.
MADZIE
Juan Dela Cruz
One solution to graft and corruption is public firing squad or bitay sa mga convicted government officials. No joke. Tingnan natin at titino ang Pinas
Bro mas maganda di firing squad.mahal masyado kasi marami sila.MAs maganda gas poisoning at least makakatipid tayo.
ESR
Our country needs an authoritarian rule like Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore who could push the country towards development without the hazard of being blocked by highly politicized Congress, although we fear another Marcos, but a strong leader who had greatness of his country in mind seems the only solution to steer the nation from further sinking.
The Philippines is a great country with great people and rich resources, only the matter of governance and overflowing democracy had stalled its development.We are the only third country in the world with an area smaller than California but with 70provinces..Its unimaginable that politicians who are hungry for power wants more provinces and districts with our present bloated bureaucracy..Why not divide the country into just 13 federal regions wach w/ governor? and just 13 senators and 26 congressmen??so we can save more money for housing for the poor?
Pian
TO ESR
Kaya nga sinayang ni Marcos yung opportunity. He could’ve made this country great.
Kabayan
Marcos conveniently forgot the adage:
Power corrupts, Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.
Please Leave a Comment!