HISTORY repeats itself like a broken record.
Before, it was conjugal dictatorship and cronies. Then, it was Kamag-anak, Inc. Now, we call it political dynasty. Really, there’s nothing new under the sun.
The Estradas had set a bad precedent when mother and son won simultaneous seats in the Senate. In the recent election, we saw senatoriables with kin already sitting in the Senate. That’s one the reasons why I did not vote for Alan Cayetano, Vic Magsaysay and Koko Pimentel (See my previous blog entry: http://inquirerbloggers.net/eleksyon2007/2007/05/16/why-i-did-not-vote-for-pichay-cayetano-et-al/).
In our country, we see fathers sitting as mayors with their children sitting as congressmen. In one city, four brothers ran for mayor, congressmen for both of its districts, and party-list representative. When the local official finishes his third term, he makes his wife run for the position. Then we also discover that some of the nominees of the party-lists are children of congressmen.
Why do we tolerate this? Before the election I went to Bicol. I asked a pedicab driver why he would vote for Dato Arroyo. He answered, “Siyempre anak siya ng pangulo. Eh di mas malakas sa taas.” (Of course, he is the son of the president. So he must be well-connected up there.) What if Dato loses this election? Does that mean the President will neglect that district in Bicol? That is why political dynasty is so unfair.
Now, these politicians claim that there’s no law against it. Granted, it may not be illegal. But it is immoral. Democracy is about equality. Where is equality in political dynasty? Is there equality when power is concentrated on just a few influential families? I heard Alan Cayetano say that kings pass on power to their sons. Mr. Cayetano, we are not under a monarchy. Well, at least in a monarchy, the king dies first before the prince takes over. Why not wait for your sister to step down before you run for senator? How can siblings (or father and son as in the case of the Pimentels) be a fair representative of the entire country? Where’s equality in that?
They claim that they are qualified. Fine. “Sila lang ba ang mga anak ng Diyos?” (Are they the only children of God?) Are they the only ones qualified? Plus, they are not just banking on their qualifications. They are taking advantage of name recall. That’s undue advantage. Did they focus solely on their qualifications in their campaign? Really now? Did the voters vote for them solely because they are qualified?
Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. claimed that political dynasty is not prohibited by the ten commandments. Well, Mr. Senator, it is. God said, “Thou shalt not steal.” Isn’t political dynasty stealing the opportunity to serve from others?
At least, Senator Panfilo Lacson had the moral courage not to allow one of his sons to run for a local elective position. He told his son not to run while he is a senator.
It seems to me that it’s all about power. I believe they just could not let go of power, that they just want to perpetuate themselves in power, that they lust for power so much that they want more of it. That’s why any anti-dynasty bill is doomed to failure even before it is put on paper.
May 28th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Virginia
It is about time our country needs new leaders….we had great hope when Gloria became president as she claimed to be educated and an economist at that but she proved otherwise……..�
Yes, we had leaders that made MONEY/ POWER run their lives and we just changed our leaders faces but they were all the same……
PGMA, Listen to your heart……..Be still……..God will always be in control. nobody else…
Overseas worker like me depends in good and compassionate leader. I have been separated from my husband and children as long as I can remember. My husband had serve the Philippine goverment for 38 years but what did he got? Reprimanded, because he fought corruption within the service.
My only prayer is for God to FORGIVE US ALL and LET HIS MERCY BE UPON THE FILIPINO PEOPLE.
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Fr: Salina.
Ha, Ha, Ha,….The jokes is on you all, Who kick the duly elected President Joseph Estrada, For the accusation that up to date they still don’t have any solid evidence against him. In fact as the record show he’s not guilty of any wrong doing.
You kick Erap and replace him with the economy daw! But you end up with a lemon Gloria Arroyo. The joke is on you!
Whatever you are getting you all deserve it. So, Don’t complaint. You ask for it.
May 28th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
pidro
Bakit sa America okay lang? Si President George Bush Sr. at Goerge W. Bush, Jr. tapos kapatid nila si Jeb na Governor ng Florida.
Si President Clinton at asawang si Senator Hillary na tumatakbong Presidente rin.
Syempre ang Royalty ng American Politics na mga Kennedy. Isang Presidente, mga Senador, etc. at ang asawa ng California Governor Swarzenager na si Pam Shriver.
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Fr: Salina.
Pedro: Don’t compare america to philippines, Filipino people have a square head. If they don’t like what the see, They always complaint about it. There is nothing wrong with dynasty! For as long as they’re going to do their the suppose too.
May 28th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
pidro
Bakit sa America okay lang? Si President George Bush Sr. at Goerge W. Bush, Jr. tapos kapatid nila si Jeb na Governor ng Florida.
Si President Clinton at asawang si Senator Hillary na tumatakbong Presidente rin.
Syempre ang Royalty ng American Politics na mga Kennedy. Isang Presidente, mga Senador, etc. at ang asawa ng California Governor Swarzenager na si Pam Shriver.
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Fr: Salina.
Pedro: Don’t compare america to philippines. Filipino people have square head thats why every little bet of things if they don’t like it they always complaint about it. There is nothing wrong with dynasty!
May 28th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
The Estradas had set a bad precedent when mother and son won simultaneous seats in the Senate. In the recent election, we saw senatoriables with kin already sitting in the Senate. That’s one the reasons why I did not vote for Alan Cayetano, Vic Magsaysay and Koko Pimentel (See my previous blog entry: http://inquirerbloggers.net/eleksyon2007/
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Fr: Salina.
I don’t have anything against dynasty for as long as they’re going to do their job they suppose too. But, Most these politician only inrich themselves when the win in office.
The Estrada’s is not the only dynasty’s setting in the senate. Is not fair for you to single them out. Be fair! You sounded just like Gloria Arroyo.
May 26th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Ang kapal talaga ng mukha nitong si Alan Peter. Kahit na nga sa Survey eh 6-4-2 ang lumabas, gusto niya pa rin 8-2-2. Conditioning of mind na naman yan. Kung sakali nga naman maging 6-4-4, dinaya na naman. Ang kapal talaga, bagay mukhang monay naman ang mukha mo eh kaya siguro kumakapal.
Kung naniniwala ka sa survey Cayetano, makikita mo na 6-4-2 at hindi 8-2-2 na ngayon ay idinadakdak mo. Puro kasi daldal eh.