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.
Now let me ask this question: Why is the government so obsessed with this charter change? Is it not that the present democratic system is already the best that would exemplify democracy? I think what’s only needed is to practice genuine public service to the people, and its priority is social services and not foreign debt nor military funding.
Now, here comes election time and the adminstration is calling for national unity and reconciliation. I believe that it is true in its very essence that we need unity and reconciliation, that we need to stop all this political bickering and all for our country to move on. However, I think it is ironic for a government to call for unity and reconciliation if its instruments for peace, i.e. the military and police, are primarily the cause of disunity. How many activists, students, priests, lawyers, women have been killed allegedly by the military?
It is also ironic that a government is clamoring for economic reforms that would lead to economic stability and development, but has failed to see who is directly affected by the expanded value-added tax or E-VAT and the oil deregulation law — none other than the masses.
It is also ironic for a president to call for sincere and honest public service if she has not answered yet the all-time box office hit “Hello Garci” scandal, which by the way the very institution that is supposed to be independent in the electoral process has even let Garcillano run for public office. I wonder how much it would cost to buy konsensya in the depratment store, because definitely I’ll save my entire allowance just to buy one and give it as a gift to Madame President and her little scalawag Garci.
Sometimes, I would think that the heroes of the past like Gat Bonifacio would most likely lead another revolution if he’s alive right now; heck, there is a revolution happening. Maybe, during the Marcos regime, the principles and ideas of the Communist Party were needed to have genuine political and economic reforms. That is why maybe, sometimes, I would think the New People’s Army is actually the real army of the people. If this government can’t do anything to stop its mediocre political and economic reforms, I think the Left is the only remaining answer to our problems.
Nonetheless, I still hope that the likes of Satur Ocampo and Liza Masa may change the system without violence and let democracy work at its best.
– Lean Porquia, University of the Philippines in the Visayas
July 7th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
To: MBM
Please stop your sacrilege against that reverred institution UP by citing your negative accomplishments. You said ‘From Metrocom days, to facing Gen. Tadiar, to seeing Erap off, up until today……’. From the frying pan straight into the fire, done in what you think is your love for your country. What do you think, Sir, have you got to show for it? You delivered your beloved country down, down, down, and deeper into the innermost labyrinth of the sink hole.
July 6th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
To: MBM
Please stop your sacrilege against that reverred institution UP by citing your accomplishments. You said, ‘….from Metrocom days, to facing Gen. Tadiar, to seeing off Erap–up until today……’. From the frying pan, straight to the fire, done in the name of what you thought is love of country. My goodness, Sir. You delivered your beloved country down, down, down, and deeper into the innermost sanctum of the sink hole.
May 31st, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Lean, keep up that fire my boy. If there is anything that UP taught me, it is seeing how important that fire is in me in all of the things that I do.
From the Metrocom days, to facing General Tadiar, to seeing Erap off, up until today - love for country still kindles.
My advise to you though is to keep up with the issues. Many of my peers still have that “makibaka” mentality. Leave that with the younger ones as you grow older because by then, you will be equipped with more substantial contributions to our society.
Your generation gives hope in breaking this cleptocracy and corruption as a way of life.
May 31st, 2007 at 12:11 pm
It saddens me to read about Philippine politics. It seems like our leaders are more focused on lengthening their stay and getting more out of the people rather than coming up with policies that would help improve our way of life. There is so much greed and corruption that the victims (we, the people) are led further into poverty and despair. The few officials that we have who started with a goal to improve our politics are now tainted with the same greed and corruption they so abhor. What’s gonna happen next? I kind of agree with bisayang tate’s comparison with saddam hussein. Our people are being abused and manipulated and whoever has the guts to stand up for his rights gets silenced. Where is freedom and democracy when the people we chose to protect and defend us are the ones guilty of violating our rights?
May 31st, 2007 at 7:32 am
Root causes of our Social and Political ills are our poor economy, corruption, and abuse of power.
May 31st, 2007 at 12:51 am
wanda
To Salina:
Can you please stick with the topic? Kung saan saan galing mga pinepaste mo eh or better gumawa ka ng sarili mong topic, i find you annoying sa tulad kong mambabasa. I know that you only voicing out your opinion like everybody does pero OA ka na…Kung ako sayo magtatagalog na lang ako.
Peace Out!This is only my observation, matalo pikon
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Salina
Wanda: What I paste here is none of your business if you don’t want to read it. Nobody forcing you. What I paste here is something I would like to make comment on it. Not atleast you don’t know how to read. Its and everyone of us have every right to post in this blog.
And its too bad you don’t like my english either. sorry! Wanda: I write whatever I feel to write. If you don’t like reading my posting please don’t read it. Go to the next post. As simple as that. Tuloy ang ligaya!
May 30th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Lean
Don’t be misled with some historians making past heroes to be ideal. Although most of them had sacrificed themselves and their families for the sake of the country, many also had motives that were self-serving. Read as many history books as you can. Don’t be biased in making past Filipinos to be righteous. Many of the ills at present are similar with the past ills of their time. Filipino attitude in the past persists until today, only sublimated.
Neither a change to Communism will solve the problem. You just don’t know what’s happening within the ranks of CPP-NPA. Why do they many factions right now?
Reforms start with the individual, not with the government. Study hard, finish college, post-graduate if possible. Think outside the “box�. Start helping yourself before helping others otherwise, you can’t be a help either.
May 30th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
The political atmosphere right now is created by none less than the 1987 Philippine Constitution. The majority is “politicized� in a sense that everyone is bragging to express his opinion here as “righteous opinion� and should be followed as a law (although I’m a little bit exaggerating here). Nevertheless, what young opinion bloggers and voters had not realized is the fact that we are the only country in Southeast Asia that has a Presidential form of government in a multi-party system. That’s why we cannot elect a majority President, many like to be President (including some of the bloggers here), and many are party hoppers, like Lacson, just to be President.
If we want reforms, start with the fundamental law of the land. If Presidential form then two-party system, but if Parliamentary, multi-party. Not half-way. Gugulo talaga.
May 30th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
The root cause of most of our political and social ills is the ECONOMY!!!
Name me one problem that you all have been whining about which a $20,000 GNP can not solve or minimize.
When we had the strongest economy in Asia (ex Japan), a golden arinola was already a big scandal.
When the economy is strong, wages are high and people have so alled “principles.” When majority are employed and compensated justly, crime rate and corruption naturally go down. People can afford to pay higher transport fees so we get mass transit alternatives, well maintained and disciplined public transport system, etc, etc….
Ordinary people could then afford to donate money to principled and competent statesmen and principled political parties. Government could also afford to reimburse qualified candidates/parties for election expenses so our politicians do not have to dip into pork barrels and suck up to business and vested interest groups.
So please:
1. Do not tell me the Filipino character is flawed.
2. Quit whining and wasting your energies barking at wrong trees.
A SUSTAINED ECONOMIC GROWTH is the only way out of our current woes.
May 30th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
To Salina:
Can you please stick with the topic? Kung saan saan galing mga pinepaste mo eh or better gumawa ka ng sarili mong topic, i find you annoying sa tulad kong mambabasa. I know that you only voicing out your opinion like everybody does pero OA ka na…Kung ako sayo magtatagalog na lang ako.
Peace Out!This is only my observation, matalo pikon
May 30th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Walang mangyayari sa politika sa Pilipinas hanggat meron tayon COMELEC na hindi lumalagay sa Nuetral.Katulad ni Abalos, yung nakaraang special election sa Mindanao, kitang kita na niya sa GMA 7 TV ang mga violations na nangyayari, ang sasabihin niya sa iyo, Eh Wala Namang Nagrereklamo. Kapag ganyan ang katwiran niya, ang mga Pilipino hindi makapaghahalal ng tamang lider.Kaya wala tayong kapupuntahan, papalubog tayo ng papalubog, iwang iwan na tayo ng Vietnam.
May 30th, 2007 at 11:05 am
SANA GANITO DIN SA ELEKSYON…… RESULTS ARE RELEASED IN ONE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION…..
Exam Results
Certified Public Accountant Licensure Examination Results
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Page: 1
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 1,406 out of 4,654 passed the Certified Public Accountant Licensure Examination given by the Board of Accountancy in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Legazpi this May 2007.
The results were released in one (1) day after the last day of examination.
SANA GANITO DIN SA ELEKSYON…… RESULTS ARE RELEASED IN ONE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION…..
May 30th, 2007 at 8:49 am
Now, here comes election time and the adminstration is calling for national unity and reconciliation. I believe that it is true in its very essence that we need unity and reconciliation, that we need to stop all this political bickering and all for our country to move on. However, I think it is ironic for a government to call for unity and reconciliation if its instruments for peace, i.e. the military and police, are primarily the cause of disunity. How many activists, students, priests, lawyers, women have been killed allegedly by the military?
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Salina
How can they even ask for the people to unite behind them when they’re the one breaking the law; As you say, The people who suppose to protect and serve the filipino people the one killing the filipino people.
May 30th, 2007 at 2:41 am
Oposisyon kinantiyawan sa impeach 3
(Rose Miranda)
——————————————————————————–
Maagang nangantiyaw kahapon ang Malacañang sa political opposition dahil sa napipinto umanong pagkatalo ng mga ito na maisulong ang ikatlong impeachment complaint laban kay Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo bunsod ng pagkopo ng administrasyon sa mayorya sa Kamara.
Sa panayam ng himpilang dzMM, sinabi ni Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita na base sa tantiya umano nila ay 20 lamang ang mga miyembro ng oposisyon sa Kamara kung kaya hindi na umano sila magtataka kung muling maibasura ang third impeachment try laban sa chief executive dahil tiyak aniya na hindi na naman makakakalap ang mga ito nang kinakailangang 2/3 o 73 boto upang umakyat ang reklamo sa Senado.
“I think, sorry guys, stare with us on the eyes. Kitang-kita na kakaunti ang numero o ang bilang ng kung anoman ang maghahain ng impeachment case. Nobody can stop them from doing that but still as of now makikita natin ang bilang. This is a numbers’ game. Again, it’s just being realistic,” ani Ermita.
Ito aniya ang dahilan kung bakit hindi sila masyadong dismayado kahit na posibleng kakaunti lamang ang mga senatorial bets ng Team Unity (TU) na makapasok sa top 12 dahil batid umano nila na nakuha na nila ang suporta ng buong Kamara.
Itinanggi naman kahapon ng Palasyo ang insinuwasyong gimik lamang ang pag-aagawan nina House Speaker Jose De Venecia ng Lakas party at Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia ng Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) upang matiyak na hindi makakapuwesto ang sinumang taga-oposisyon sa liderato ng Kamara.
Ayon kay Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio, hahayaan nila na maresolba ng Kampi ang problema sa pamamagitan ng caucus.
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Salina
This is not the kind of people we need in the office. Just read what this idiots Ermita was saying. About the 3rd impeachment. That they have number’s.
Oh, Yeah! can you beat the number’s of filipino people who voted for the opposition? We may not have gun’s, Tanks, But we can always use something else. Walanghiya! Mayabang. This is one of the reason why the Philippines could never move forward because of this idiot like him. The filipino people deserve better. uverhaul the entire corrupt gov’t.
So that the Philippines can move forward.
May 30th, 2007 at 2:28 am
GMA kinalampag sa 34 bibitaying OFW’s
(Michelle Arroyo)
Kasama ang nagdadalamhating mga kaanak ng mga Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) na nasa death row ngayon sa iba’t ibang bansa, kinalampag kahapon ng grupong Migrante ang Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) at ang pamahalaang Arroyo para sa kagyat na pagpapalaya sa 34 OFWs na pawang mga nahaharap sa parusang kamatayan.
“For innocent OFWs unjustly imprisoned abroad, each minute spent in jail is one too many. For those already sentenced to death, the days in prison are particularly harrowing. It’s imperative that the DFA, particularly Secretary (Alberto) Romulo and President Arroyo prioritize their immediate release and repatriation,” giit ni Connie Bragas-Regalado, chairperson ng Migrante International.
Tiyempo rin ang pagtapik sa gobyerno ng grupo at ng mga kaanak hinggil dito upang maisip din umano kahit paano ni Arroyo sa kanyang mga state visits ngayon sa iba’t ibang bansa ang pagtutok sa distressed OFWs hindi lamang sa paglagda sa kaliwa’t-kanang kasunduan o treaties.
Partikular na umapela kahapon ang pamilya ng mga nasa death row na sina Marilou Ranario at Don Don Lanuza.
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Salina
what make you think Gloria Arroyo, Care if they’re going to hang these OFW. wala na kayong silbi sa kanya kasi hindi na kayo naka padala ng pera sa philippines.
May 29th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
[...] Eleksyon 2007 Blog: Politics, now and then… [...]
May 29th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
Amen, Lean! And let me add…
More than 24 years ago when I left UP Diliman, politics was indeed the “life” of student gatherings on Campus and somehwere else around Metro Manila (and should still be the same). But with today’s Philippine political climate, I kind of compare it to Sadam Hussien’s regime, where those who disagree with him and his policies, disappears, and critics silenced for good. GMA’s access to military and police prove that she’s the “Commander-in-Chief” and manipulate them to her advantage- and not to serve the people.
None of these politicians, current and soon-to-be proclaimed, run on specific platform/s. They invested their millions knowing that their self-interests will be served once they’re in office. Only REAL CHANGE has to happen in people’s heart and determination to get rid of these so-called “public servants”. Forcing them to step down- yes, all three branches, including the military and local government- and hold them accountable for their immoral activities so we, the people, can steer the country for a better future.
May 29th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
‘Garci’ men take custody of ERs from 13 Lanao Sur towns
By Aries Rufo
05/29/2007 | 11:56 AM
Email this | Email the Editor | Print | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us Newsbreak: Deviating from standard procedure, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) over the weekend took in its custody the election returns from the 13 towns in Lanao del Sur that held special elections last May 26. This was meant to secure the documents from partisan activity.
But there’s a hitch: some members of the task force who were assigned to retrieve the documents were said to be the same election officials involved in the alleged tampering of votes in the 2004 presidential polls.
The election returns (ERs) from the 13 municipalities that held special elections last May 26 are now in the custody of the Comelec’s Special Action Group (SAG) that was formed to oversee the conduct of last Saturday’s polls.
This came as a result of a directive from Rene Sarmiento, the Comelec commissioner in charge of the special elections in the province. Saying that the move was meant to protect the documents from manipulation, Sarmiento ordered Rosalinda Baliquig, acting provincial treasurer, to surrender the ERs to the SAG.
Sarmiento issued the directive Sunday but Newsbreak gathered that Jubiel Surmieda, a division chief at the Comelec’s law department in Manila and member of the SAG, attempted to secure the accountable forms as early as Saturday night.
This created “a little controversy,” Baliquig told Newsbreak, as Surmieda moved without written authorization from Sarmiento. Senior Comelec officials describe Surmieda as part of the “inner circle” of disgraced former Commissioner Virgilio “Garci” Garcillano.
Based on standard procedure, the provincial treasurer is the appointed custodian of the ballots, ERs and certificate of canvass (COC). From the provincial treasurer, the ballots and ERs are given to the municipal treasurers, who then distribute these to the Board of Election Inspectors an hour before voting.
The COCs, on the other hand, are turned over to the board of canvassers before the canvass begins.
Not the First Time
On Sunday, without written authorization, SAG member Renault Macarambon was able to gather some ERs from the provincial capitol by having the municipal treasurers sign a document stating that the accountable forms had been turned over to him. Macarambon is also a known associate of Garcillano.
It was only around 1 p.m of Sunday, May 27, that Teofisto Elnas Jr., a member of SAG, was able to present to Balaquig the directive signed by Sarmiento, which ordered the acting provincial treasurer to surrender the remaining ERs to the SAG. Elnas told Newsbreak that they wanted to secure the ERs to prevent any possible manipulation by unscrupulous people.
A Comelec senior official said it was not the first time that the poll body deviated from a standard election procedure. To preserve the integrity of poll documents, the poll body used to do this in previous elections in the troubled Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Sought for comment, Sarmiento confirmed that he issued the directive on the ERs as advised by the SAG, which is headed by deputy executive for operations Jose Tolentino Jr.
The Comelec commissioner said that the SAG recommended that they secure the ERs considering the “special” situation in Lanao del Sur. (SAG head Tolentino was the Comelec’s technical adviser in the botched poll modernization program. He was among those investigated–but not charged–in the multibillion-peso MegaPacific deal which has been dismissed by the Ombudsman.)
Sarmiento acknowledged that he was not aware that some of the SAG members are close associates of Garcillano, tagged as the mastermind in the alleged manipulation of votes in the 2004 elections to favor President Arroyo.
Hello, Garci
Renault Macarambon, one of the SAG members, was among the Comelec officials whose name was mentioned in the “Hello, Garci” tape. The wiretapped conversations showed Garcillano coordinating moves with his trusted men to fabricate election results in Mindanao provinces.
In his conversation with a certain “Danny” on May 25, 2004, Garcillano named one “Lou Macarambon” as the one who would take care of the remaining election results in Lanao del Sur purportedly to ensure the victory of then senatorial candidate Robert Barbers. “Mananalo siya talaga. Nandun si Lou Macarambon eh. Pababantayan ko (He will really win there. Lou Macarambon is there. I will make him ensure it).
Comelec sources identified this “Lou Macarambon” as Renault Macarambon, who was then the vice-chair of the Lanao del Sur board of canvassers. (Although considered an opposition country, President Arroyo got 128,301 votes versus Fernando Poe’s measly 43,302 in Lanao del Sur during the 2004 polls. Incidentally, the chair of the Lanao del Sur provincial board of canvassers at that time was Rey Sumalipao, who is now on “floating status” as regional elections director in ARMM.)
After the 2004 elections, Macarambon was promoted as chief of the Comelec’s Elections and Barangay Affairs Department.
Dispelling suggestions that the integrity of the documents now with SAG has been compromised, Sarmiento said he gave a verbal order to secure the ERs as early as last Saturday, which could explain the eagerness of some SAG members to get the ERs that night.
He said the SAG members may have acted with dispatch that day even before he could write down his directive.
Sarmiento said the ERs are properly accounted for and are being kept at the Comelec’s monitoring office inside the Marawi Resort Hotel.
Told that the integrity of some of the SAG members is being doubted because of their alleged involvement in cheating in the 2004 elections, Sarmiento said he was not aware of this. He said the SAG members have been helpful in helping him supervise the special elections in Lanao del Sur.
And even if some Comelec officials were involved in past irregularities, Sarmiento said, “There is always redemption.” - Newsbreak
Next: Lacson: Bets asked to pay P4M *********
Fr: Salina
This is how the cheat works!!!