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WHY should you let the candidates do all the talking?
Make your voice heard. With the launch of the Eleksyon 2007 Philippine Elections Blog, we are reserving virtual space for you to tell the whole world what you think are the important issues that should decide the outcome of the Philippine elections in May 2010.
What do you think of the candidates? Which issues should be tackled? How can we improve our ongoing coverage of Eleksyon 2007? Listen to our Eleksyon 2007 podcasts, and tell us which questions we should ask candidates in future sessions, or what points you would like them to expound on in future articles. We don’t want to just read your feedback. We want to give you the opportunity to keep the conversation going, not just by posting comments but also by writing your own entries on this blog.
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Now tell us what you think.
June 30th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Very correct KAICEE! It is easy to criticize. We never stopped criticizing when marcos was in power. When cory came and the kamaganak came to power we couldnt do anything but complain. When ramos came and his own crownies took over it was the same, and then Erap and GMA. When will it ever end? From one Barangay of Thieves to another Barangay of Thieves. More Jose Velarde’s, Jose Pidal’s. Same scenario over and over and over again. And the complaints will never stop like the thievery. Your right, we can start with ourselves, our families and then our neighbors. We need to begin somwhere. One small step. But above all lets all campaign for ACCOUNTABILITY for all govt officials and lets set up courts to persecute them. And when found guilty, lets just exterminate them and use the waste from the decaying bodies to fertilize our land.
June 26th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
hi gerry:
honestly, i don’t want to be included with those who suddenly disappeared and days later,found their bodies littering the vacant lots. so whoever have the guts to confront a corrupt goverment face to face,come out then!
do you honestly believe that if you confront the corrupt,the goverment could protect you? at least in the form gripe,you vent out your frustrations but if you know you could do something about the corruption, start with yourself…live a clean life! don’t accept simple form of blackmails …we got a lot of it which seems like innoccent acts.
June 26th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
thanks GOD,Trillanes issue is already settled.Zubiri or Pimentel? well,let us wait and see.Both gentleman are in trouble with regards to the votes from Maguindanao region. I really sympathize with our Muslim brothers.The questioning of the legality of their votes is so shameful;same as questioning the dignity of those who voted.If I put myself in their shoes, I will be angry because it seems we the people of Maguindanao were made “dummies” for a mock election. Well,for now it seems a mock election.
For one,I’d rather blame the lack of education for our Muslim brothers that they became puppets of some people who are so greedy with power and money.
I wish that whoever sits as the next president will give the people of Mindanao the same benefits the people of Luzon and Visayas are receiving like educations,housing,road widenings etc…
Our system needs a thorough polishing and hope the newly elected senators will concentrate on improving our bylaws for the benefit of all Filipinos and not so because of personal agendas.Some changes might not be easily acceptable to the Filipinos especially those crowds with personal interests’ at stake but if thoroughly explained and just black and white which a simple “juan dela cruz” can understand,it will be accepted and will be effective.Somehow,a good senator might not have an easy disposition with his comrades but surely will have the support of the people.Our true heroes did not have an easy life either.
Mahirap din na magbulagbulagan sa mga kabuktutan ng mga nakaupong mambabatas. Kahit ayaw natin ng gulo at divisiveness ng mga Pilipino, kailangan nating ipaglaban ang katotohanan.
Kung sama-sama,nagkakaisa at nagtatagumpay!
June 24th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Then suddenly the guns have gone quiet…Where are your opinions guys? Agreeing to disagree is healthy. Lets get it on!
June 16th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
As I predicted many, many times in the blogs. IN the end it will boil down to PERSONAL INTEREST! Kawawa naman ang Pinoy!
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‘Presidential ambitions splitting opposition’
BY CHRISTINA MENDEZ
The Philippine Star
Two newly elected Genuine Opposition (GO) senators have blamed the “political ambitions� of some opposition senators for the opposition’s failure to come up with one candidate for the Senate presidency.
Senators-elect Loren Legarda and Francis Escudero said on Friday that the emergence of two or three aspirants is making it difficult for the opposition to vote as one.
So far, the opposition has not decided whether Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. should be replaced when the 14th Congress opens next month.
“The members of the opposition have been meeting on this issue,� Escudero told the Manila Overseas Press Club Thursday night in Makati.
“We are battling for a consolidated vote. We will vote as a group and as a bloc. It does not matter who will be the candidate at this point. We want to vote as a bloc,� he said.
Escudero said opposition senators have been conducting dialogues to determine who should be the opposition candidate for the Senate presidency on July 23.
During the same forum, Legarda said opposition senators have been working hard to “gather a consensus� to put up one strong contender for the top Senate post.
“I guess that it would be pathetic if after having won overwhelmingly, we would lose,� she said. “As Chiz mentioned, we have endeavored to meet regularly without the possible contenders and we try to get a consensus.�
It would be “pathetic� if the opposition “loses in the vote and committee chairmanships� because they are divided, she added.
Legarda said while the opposition has a majority of 13 in the Senate, they could not reach a consensus because there is more than one contender for the top Senate post. “It (contenders) could be two or three,� she said.
Escudero said the performance of the senators in the next three years would determine front-runners in the 2010 presidential elections.
“If the next three years will be a referendum, so be it,� he said.
“Let every person vying, aspiring, wanting to become president or vice-president show our people in the next three years why they should vote for him or her. I don’t see anything wrong with that.�
Escudero said he does not see anything wrong if some senators would be seen as politicking rather than introducing reforms in Congress.
Politics defines the art of convincing other people through one’s performance in the service, he added.
“I do not believe that we the newly elected senators in Congress will simply do our own campaigning,� Legarda said. “That is merely speculation. It is up to our people to decide who among us perform, it is our responsibility to help the people.�
“If we do not do this, we are in for something unexpected. I assure you we will not busy ourselves simply with politicking or investigations.�
Legarda said she believes that the best politics is performance.
“If we speak of 2010 now, I believe that is a great disservice to our people,� she said.
“As I mentioned there are 20 million Filipinos – almost 10 percent – (who are) unemployed… I think that it is incumbent upon us as new senators and those who remain at the Senate to make sure to pass laws that would address the basic needs of our people – health, education, agriculture and other basic needs.�
She will not be joining the fray for the Senate presidency to avoid complicating the issue further, Legarda said.
Escudero said the situation remains uncertain because the list of those interested in running for the Senate presidency keeps changing.
“Two or three, more can be emerging in the next few days,� he said, without admitting whether he would go for Villar or Pimentel.
He would rather wait for those seeking the Senate presidency to show their intention, Escudero said.
Reports said Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, perceived to be pro-administration, has expressed support for Villar.
Senator-elect Gregorio Honasan is also reportedly placing his bet on Villar, reports added.
Senators Edgardo Angara, Juan Ponce Enrile, Joker Arroyo, Pia Cayetano, Richard Gordon, Lito Lapid, Bong Revilla and Santiago are counted as pro-administration.
Honasan has vowed to remain independent, but he is considered by some to be also pro-administration ally.
Opposition senators Villar, Aquilino Pimentel Jr, Manuel Roxas II, Jinggoy Estrada, Jamby Madrigal, Panfilo Lacson, Rodolfo Biazon, and Senators-elect Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV belong to the new Senate majority.