While Noynoy Aquino and Manny Villar are engaged in frenzied mudslinging at each other, someone's reaping all the benefits.

While these two top contenders are busy trying to knock themselves out of the ring, someone just got in.

Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro didn't get to where he is now at such a young age by chance. He didn't become Defense chief by sheer luck. The man clearly is "all about winning". Teodoro is, by my modest estimates, highly-driven.

And if there's one thing I've learned over time, it is that "the world makes way for the driven". Always.

When a man of quick wit and charm opens his mouth, the world, as if compelled by the elements of the universe -- listens.

The guy seems to know exactly what to do and is actually doing it well. He attends just about any forum/debate there is and leave audiences enthralled, mouths agape.

For reasons unknown to me, he has reportedly reduced trimedia ads spending. He is now concentrating on that 'grassroots' buzzword sort of campaigning -- doing it the old-fashioned way yet disarmingly endearing. And the latest survey results seem to prove that he is on the right track.

Could Gibo (and not Erap) be in fact the real 'third wheel'?

Watch out hotshots. Someone forgot to lock the back door. And that someone will pay a dear, dear price for such negligence and complacency.

If you two allow yourselves to be entirely invested in your petty fights any longer, you might as well stand aside and make way for Gibo.

Because if we wanted a dose of highly-entertaining boxing, we would have all flown to Texas to watch Manny Pacquiao box his heart out against Clottey. Thank God for pay-per-view.

Your political bickerings were cute for a time but let's face it, you can only stretch a joke like this for so long.

Can't you guys see the writing on the wall yet? Or are you both in a state of comforting denial?

While Noynoy's survey ratings are steadily decreasing and Manny's seem to have reached its peak (now slowly decreasing as well), Gibo's rating is slowly but surely increasing!

Shape up. Shut up. Regroup and revisit your strategic plans. Now is the time to engage in tactical guerilla warfare.

Otherwise, you'll find yourselves against the ropes or worse, face flat on the floor, bloody and all.

*** Based on experience, my blog poll has reflected future survey results fairly well. It has predicted Noynoy's rise and fall and Villar's surprising rise from fall. This time, Gibo is fast catching up with Noynoy and has amazingly overtook Manny Villar in a matter of days.

Maybe we were all wrong after all. There must be something profoundly clever in Ronnie Puno's smug looks and reasurring statements that will eventually prove to us all that in reality, we know nothing and we were never in control.

Popularity: 1% [?]

I am so relieved that the highly-respected economist, professor, TV broadcaster and political commentator Winnie Monsod has categorically denied writing that "Why I Will Vote for Noynoy" campaign article that have been circulating in emails. I received that particular email yesterday and I just couldn't bring myself to believe that Winnie herself wrote it.

It was totally out of character (not to mention that the poor command of the language was so uncharacteristic of Winnie) and the outright attack on certain personalities to drive the point that voters should vote for Noynoy Aquino was so brazen and sweeping that I found myself extremely in shock and in denial. So much so that in the first instance, I didn't even finish reading through the whole thing.

Whoever wrote that article must own up to it and be held responsible for the damage it caused and may still be causing to unwitting people who may be trustingly forwarding the email to family and friends.

I am attaching the full text of that said "article" here to alert anyone who may receive it in the future.

If you receive the same email, please do not forward it. Instead, I urge you to act like the responsible citizen that you are by replying to the sender and informing him/her that that email is a hoax.

Whether or not the feisty Winnie Monsod supports Noynoy Aquino or not is out of the question. As someone technically associated with the government as a professor in the University of the Philippines and being a prominent public figure, she is barred from campaigning.

Also, whether the accusations against certain personalities mentioned (together with related details presented) are accurate or not is a different matter altogether -- which I'm in position to confirm nor deny.

The main issue here which bothers me and should bother you as well is the use of someone's name to render credibility to the article. Anyone is allowed to voice his or her opinion in this country -- a luxury many of our forebears died for. But let's be decent and responsible enough to own up to what we say or write. Very few in this country have an untarnished credibility like that of Winnie Monsod's, and don't we all wish we commanded the same respect in our writings?

But I still believe nothing beats being yourself. I'd rather suck at being myself than appear magnificent pretending to be someone else. I'd rather have no one believe me by being me than have people flock to me by riding someone else's reputation.

Insist on decency in this coming elections. Expect a deluge of black propaganda and its variations in the coming days. Be very careful of what you believe and forward. Don't allow yourself to partake of such irresponsible acts.

Regardless of the intention, whether to besmirch the reputation of Winnie Monsod or to use her credibility to deceive voters, this act consists of the highest treason against God and country.

Again, DO NOT FORWARD THE EMAIL AND PASS IT OFF AS TRUTH, WARN OTHERS AND COUNTER ALL ATTEMPTS TO DELUDE VOTERS.

What follows is the exact FALSE ARTICLE email. Font formatting (bold/italics emphasis), mine. I also took the liberty of chopping the paragraphs for easy reading. Everything else remained in tact.

"Why I will vote for Noynoy - Winnie Monsod

Monsod's Musings (Winnie Monsod)

Villar still refuses to attend the Senate to face questions, and it only reminds me of how GMA used the privilege of her office to avoid questioning. What will happen if Villar wins and more corruption scandals surface? With Villar catching up to Noynoy in the polls, I am honestly quite terrified of the prospect of him winning. There is a clear case of graft in this instance, and instead of delving into the issues, his allies in the legislative are simply brushing off the allegations as "politically motivated". As a citizen, we should not accept this. If there is smoke, we must see if there is a fire that needs to be put out. Yes, the timing of the allegations seem a bit off. ( Joker Arroyo was pushing these issues as early as 1998).

A known crook and political opportunist, Juan Ponce Enrile, is the person leading the censure. However, when the facts are presented, it is clear as day that something is amiss. It just further builds on my strong suspicions that Villar is a businessman simply looking to control the political arena to make a boat load of money. I have never trusted Villar since day one. I never trust businessmen who enter politics, because in the end, their core value is and always will be profit maximization. It is well documented that Villar's real estate empire ran into some serious financial problems when his overexposure to the real estate market and the Asian Financial Crisis made him unable to pay debts he took out to expand his real estate business in the early 1990s.

After the Asian Crisis hit, Capitol Bank, owned by Villar and heavily exposed to his real estate investments was essentially ran to the ground and needed to be bailed out. In 2005, Villar tried to solve his debt problems by hiring a group of investment banks to advise him on how he can consolidate all his assets into one company ( Vista Land ). With the local and foreign investment bankers, Villar came up with a growth story for investors: "Invest in my company because we need it to fund all these wonderful project!" However, what was downplayed during the IPO roadshow was that instead of financing growth, resources from the offering would be used to finance his debt. To appease creditors, Villar even had his investment bankers pitch some form of a debt-to-equity conversion that raised skeptical eyebrows of many. In 2007, the IPO of Vista Land did not do as well as planned, in part because many investors and brokers were the same people who were burned by Villar's inability to pay back his loans.

Now, as part of a corporate growth (or should I say corporate restructuring) plan, Villar is lusting for the highest position in the land. This scares me because Villar already has a track record of using his political position to gain the upper hand for his businesses. To save his empire and increase shareholder value of his business, Villar used his influence as Senate Finance Chair to shrewdly derail a Cavite road project that was supposed to be BUILD, OPERATE, and TRANSFER. Villar built a longer and more expensive road, the C-5 extension, adjacent to it; subsequently forcing the private investor in the initial project to pull out.

The fishy thing is that this new road, longer and more expensive than the previously planned project, passed through all of Villar's land in Cavite . It is a clear case of graft, pointing to Villar use of influence and government funds to substantially improve the values of his real estate properties. To add insult to injury the right of way the government would have to pay in order to complete the project was substantially higher for the land that Villar owned. These funds could have easily been used to build needed schools.

This scandal should be a red flag for all voters. However, the scary part is that Villar is spending billions to keep this out of the picture as he continues his attempt to brainwash our masses that he is their saviour. He convinces the masses that he is one of them. A poor boy from the slums of Tondo. In actuality, he is more like the 5-6 and syndicates, slum dwellers themselves who make a profit out of their poor brethren.

Villar's ad agencies are doing an excellent job of maintaining this image as well as doing damage control. TV and radio continues to churn out Parokya Ni Edgaresque jingles that compete with "Nobody, Nobody." Dolphy is Villar's new spokesperson and Wowowee is one giant ad for him. In this process of brainwashing, the masses are not cognizant of how Villar conducts business as a politician.

What they do not see is a man hell bent on turning our archipelago into his own personal piece of real estate. It is sad that the efforts of Juan Ponce Enrile, who is leading the censure for Villar, is actually giving Villar more sympathy votes. People do no trust Enrile, and when Enrile pounces on someone, it is usually met with a high degree of skepticism. I do not blame people for feeling this way.

I also think Enrile is a crook who should be jailed for conspiring to implement Martial Law, for coup attempts, and for the human rights abuses during the Marcos regime. If someone with a more respectable reputation were to level these charges on Villar, I am sure the surveys would tell a different story.

I also fear from some credible reports that Malacanang has actually made a deal with Villar (under the table). Essentially, GMA's goons said, "We will help you, in return, leave us alone when you win". Villar's behaviour in recent forums further adds credence to these reports as Villar has been very tame and quiet when it comes to how he will treat GMA after the elections.

Appealing to common sense, it makes ALL THE SENSE for GMA to support someone who has a chance of winning, not a person rating at 4% in the surveys. GMA tried to reach out to Noynoy after Tita Cory died. All she got was rejection.

Who can stop Villar in his quest for the presidency? I am known to be a Noynoy supporter, but to those skeptics and to those who are still undecided, I do concede that he is not perfect. His record as a politician is average and unspectacular at best. He does not have the charisma of his father.

Before the death of his mother, he did not get much mileage. But I am going all out in support for Noynoy in 2010 because he stands for clean governance and appear willing to accomplish this. In addition, he has the best chance of preventing a opportunistic businessman, the assured next President of our country before Cory died, from using the Office of the President as a personal growth asset to his business empire.

Noynoy's clean record is a big plus for me. It is a trait that I think should be the most important quality that we should look for in our next president. His appeal is that his track record is not tarnished by corruption scandals and his political debts are minimal. I know that many critics are trying to make an issue over his involvement in Hacienda Luisita, but Noynoy is not even heavily involved in the company.

As a shareholder, Noynoy only owns .04% of Hacienda Luisita, a drop in the ocean and hardly in any position to do something about it. The case of the Hacienda does not have the substance that the C-5 extension controversy has a lot of. In addition, Nonoy also has an incredible legacy to live up to. All the pressure is on him to be clean and stay clean. He can't afford to tarnish the Aquino name and the immense legacy that his parents left behind. Cory and Ninoy practically sacrificed their family for their dream of a better Philippines .

For Noynoy, to know that your father and mother went through so much hardship to improve our country is a heavy burden to think about if you do decide to become a crook and destroy everything that they fought for. We all have to make a choice. In my opinion, it has to go to the presidentiable who has an independent mind, stands up for what he believes in, is clean, and has the legacy his parents to live up to and maintain.

For me, Nonoy, with all his flaws, is that candidate. For what this country needs is a clean president who can set an example top-down for the entire state; it needs a president with the will to change things and stamp out corruption; it needs a President who can set an example and is willing to perfect our dysfunctional democracy.

I want someone who stands for being clean. He does not need a degree from Harvard. He does not need to have a multi-million peso business to show me he can make us all rich. He does not have to speak well. He just has to be clean. Nothing else should matter.

He has to prioritize a platform of clean and effective governance and make sure that it delivers on that promise. Policies on the economy, education, energy, environment and health can all follow after the fundamentals are taken cared of.

So far, the only candidate who promotes my vision with a clean record to back it up is Noynoy. Our urban landscape is replete with political slogans that attempt to convince people of certain candidate's ability to lead our nation Galing at Talino?

Sorry Gibo, those were the supposed qualities of GMA, rubber stamped with a Phd in Economics. And what happened? She only worsened our economy. To GMA's credit she did balance our budget at one point, but it has again ballooned to the level where the next president will have to deal with the same economic issues she faced in 2005.

During GMA's watch investment in infrastructure was insufficient, poverty incidence worsened, public education deteriorated, our nautical highway is still incomplete, goons like the Ampatuan's flourished in the south, and a culture of corruption flourished in our institutions. Instead of creating jobs, GMA focused on a policy of exporting labor without measuring the social costs of such a policy- thousands of broken OFW families and children of OFW's who do not have the proper parental supervision to teach them the differences between right and wrong.

In effect, our next generation is left on their own to figure out how to become empowered patriots who love their country and will fight to defend it. In effect, whatever statistics in GDP growth GMA and her allies love to advertise, non of it trickled down and benefitted the poor..and none of it accounts for the social costs to her policies. Good speaker? Sorry Gibo, Marcos had that quality and he did nothing good for our contry. In fact, Marcos squandered the opportunity to be our Lee Kuan Yew and Dr. Mahatir.

If I want a good, charismatic, and eloquent speaker, let's just run down the list of effective public speakers and vote them in. Para sa mahirap? Sorry Erap, you had your chance and failed miserably. Your only accomplishment is in convincing our masses that movie roles do not carry over into the political area.

My only concern with Noynoy is how deep he might be in the Liberal Party and whether he has accumulate political debts to Liberal trapos. The Liberal PArty, like any party, has its own share of crooks (including those bandwagon trapos who jumped off GMA"s boat to ride on Aquino's popularity). How much will Nonoy have to give back to the Liberal trapos (and bandwagon Liberals who jumped GMA's ship) if elected? We will never know. However, I am willing to live with that unanswered question if it means preventing someone like Villar from turning the Philippines into Vista Land 's next subdivision development. I am also reassured by the fact that he has that "Aquino" name and the ghosts of his parents to answer to if does decide to go down the immoral path. Nonoy will not solve all our problems. One person can't. But we need a start somewhere and it should be with someone who pushes honesty, reform, and good governance. It will be a tough battle, but I want to give Noynoy the chance to build on what his mother tried to accomplish.

And I hope that if Noynoy wins, he will have the courage to make tough decisions and go after crooks, even if it means hurting a lot of friends and colleagues in government. To give you a better sense on how Villar conducts business, here is also a link to Joker Arroyo's 1998 privilege speech: http://www.malayanghalalan.com/2010/01/26/joker-arroyo-raises-issue-of-accountability-of-public-officers-against-manny-villar/ Actual notes scanned: http://www.scribd.com/doc/22789941/Joker-Arroyo-Privilege-Speech I guess "if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck.."

Well, as the saying goes...... Vote wisely Philippines . And continue to work towards uplifting the masses and freeing them from their state of hopelessness. Defend them from opportunists. DEVELOP THEM (FIRST) SPIRITUALLY AND BEHAVIORALLY; THEN ECONOMICALLY! When we lift up the poor and ween them off the mentality of hopelessness, our country will become first world. Only then will we have the powerful middle class that our young democracy is screaming for.

Winnie Monsod"

You have been warned. What you do with that information is totally up to you. But I trust that you will do what's right. If you are swift to forward emails, be swift to inform others that you have made a mistake. It's the least we can do for ourselves and our country.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Last updated: March 4, 2010 @ 2100H

First there was Erap Estrada (although he didn't blurt out a name, he dropped very obvious hints). Now there's Senator Dick Gordon. Them and a few more less publicized tidbits of "political bribery" stories fuel today's hot election headlines. And we thought El Niño is hot, no?

Is there any truth to this? Well there's no sure way to tell right now. We are left to choose between taking the accuser's word at face value or dismissing it altogether as another attempted black propaganda.

Sen. Manny Villar is eternally rain-drenched in his elections summer parade.

Sen. Gordon has an untainted reputation and is yet to disappoint us. With that in mind, his claim that an 'emissary' of Sen. Manny Villar attempted to 'buy' him out and talk him into withdrawing from his presidential bid for the coming May 20'10 elections by offering to 'reimburse' him of his previous expenses and projected expenses is not an accusation that Villar should take lightly.

So far, we've only been treated to a bland response via an interview where Villar denies such an 'indecent proposal' to Sen. Gordon, adding that he no longer has money to spend for such things because whatever campaign money he has left is allocated to campaign-related expenses. Is 'buying out opponents to withdraw' part of that 'campaign-related' expenses? Villar doesn't say.

Although not really improbable, it's a no-brainer that such a move would only backfire at Villar. Given all the propaganda and mudslinging going around against him, trying to 'reimburse' opponents and buy out their dreams of becoming president would be like fanning dying embers to a flame. That's plain stupid, I think. But as always, this is the Philippines. This is Philippine politics. No move is so stupid for politicians. However, I'd like to give Villar the benefit of the doubt -- in the same way I'd like to give Sen. Gordon the chance to prove his accusation for all the world to see.

The trouble with sifting truth from a heap of lies is that there's so much 'hybrids' going around. There's black prop, there's counter prop, there's counter-counter prop and there's modified version of all those. So unless someone can come up with irrefutable evidence that could hold water in court, all these can be ruled out as 'modified truths', 'half truths' or 'true lies'. Confused already? You should be.

Besides, anyone can claim to be someone's emissary. So I'd echo Villar's challenge to Gordon: name that emissary. (Update as of March 4, 2010 @ 2100H: Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile wrote in his Facebook fan page note entitled "JPE to Villar: GORDON IS NOT FOR SALE" named the so-called Villar emissary as none other than his friend and colleague Senator Edgardo Angara, Gordon however denied this and said the emissary was a businessman who used to work for the government.)

This is elections period. Everything is meant to shock and deceive the bewildered electorate. So hit us with your best, you guys.

It's bound to get hotter leading up to May. Let's see who can stand the heat that is to come. Let's wait for more scalding accusations and knee-jerk reactions. Sit back. Relax. Enjoy the show.

Popularity: 1% [?]

I have this ultimate and rather obscene fantasy. In this fantasy, there's this one person who digs like mad through my blog archives in the dead of the night-- every night, finding pleasure in reading all the words I've written before and always in eager anticipation of what I will write about next. Always wondering about what I have to say and clinging to my words and opinions as if her very life depended on it -- as if there is no better opinion on earth but mine.

Photo by Laughing Squid

To this person, whatever I write about is worth gold. It doesn't matter if I fail horribly with my grammar or if what I write about doesn't even make sense. Because to this nocturnal being, my blog and words are as alive as I am -- and that is all that matters. It may not be the most rewarding of human relationships but it's the next best thing, she thinks.

If I told her 'so and so' is the best, she would believe. If I told her 'this and that' is a lie, she'd take my word for it. Yes, she's completely capable of thinking for herself but she chooses to believe me just because she wants to.

I could sell her anything I want to, even the very soul she already has -- and she will buy in a heartbeat. With such conviction. Without the slightest reservation. Without questions.

She is that ultimate blog reader. One who sees your blog as no separate entity from you, the blogger. One whose respect for you is intertwined with eternal fascination.

But the bad news is she doesn't exist.

When I started out with blogging, I started fairly the same way and for fairly the same reasons as others before me did and had. All I wanted was to chronicle my life experiences one day at a time so that one day, I or someone I cared about can recreate that one specific day like a photograph -- like a picture, yes, but this time, with words.

I know 'a picture paints a thousand words'. My blog hopes to do the reverse -- to recreate the picture in your mind through a 'thousand words'. Little did I know that it would require much more effort than I prepared for or that I would end up writing about politics (as if my life as it is isn't boring enough).

Eventually, as with many things in my life, the blog took a life of its own and chose to go out into the words, unescorted, deep into the night. You can say that it had its expected encounters with wolves, monsters and aliens. While every step was fraught with danger, it's not without its occasional meetings with friendly animals and there were countless times when it was awakened by serenades from nightingales.

It's easy for a blog to get lost in the woods. But the problem doesn't end there.

Most times, the blog takes a reader with it and both of them get lost. That's where 'responsible blogging' comes in, as if on cue, reminding the blogger to look before he leaps because most times, he doesn't leap alone.

You the blogger reading this, have you ever realized how influential a blogger you've become? Yeah sure, you may not be such a hot shot yet but has it ever occurred to you that it's possible someone from somewhere follows you blindly into the woods every night?

Have you ever thought that each time you come home after an evening of dalliance with your charming post, someone is stuck somewhere deep into the woods? Lost. Or worse, never to be seen again?

It's really great that you give readers these wonderful distractions otherwise known as insightful articles. Go right ahead and woo them effortlessly like you always do. Take them every night into the woods with you. But when you've made your point and before the night is through, please be kind enough to take them back with you. It's the least you could do in exchange for what they've given you -- their trust.

Because, remember that ultimate blog reader I told you about?

What if she does exist?

What if she's GMA? :)

Be careful how you wield that sword. We don't want anybody to get hurt. Responsible blogging is not just a choice. It should be the only choice.

*** Blog responsibly. Nothing could be easier. ***

Popularity: 1% [?]

It was unfortunate that I missed that Mike Defensor blogger event at his La Vista home in Quezon City last night. I'm not from Quezon City and I hardly visit the place (and the few times I did was just to attend blogger events and family socials) and so I probably shouldn't be writing this in the first place.

Mike Defensor is running for Quezon City mayor in May (photo credits: commons.wikimedia.org)

As it turns out, I couldn't leave my son to my mom's because she's not in the best condition to mind him and it's not like I can take my son with me, all the way from Calamba. For the unaware, we do not have a househelp, so I'm writing this while doing the laundry, watering the plants and prepping my son for school. Now you know why I love technology -- it gives me the illusion that I'm always in control. Darna has a magic pebble, I have an iPhone. Now if only this gadget can make me look like Marianne Rivera and make me fly, then I'd be all set to save the world.

Before I lose your interest in all these ramblings, I would like to thank Ms. Jane Uymatiao and Philippinebeat for the live streaming on Qik -- it's the next best thing to being there. You can watch the recorded videos of that event here.

When I first heard of the event through Facebook friend and fellow blogger Paul Farol (Thanks for the heads up Paul.), I found it rather surprising that Mr. Defensor would call for a blogger session knowing that he was eyeing for a local post which, to my mind, didn't really require such coverage from non-QC residents. But since Mike Defensor has become somewhat of a household name -- thanks to lingering memories of his mostly embattled tri-media interviews (always in GMA's defense), I figured it would be lovely to ask him questions specially about his rift with the Liberal Party and how his running against Herbert "Bistek" Bautista is being rumored as some sort of vengeance/redemption for him and dad Mat on that LP vs. Lito Atienza issue. That seems an interesting topic. After all, it's easy to fantasize about political vendetta in this country. And of course, a mayoralty win for Defensor should be enough statement that their political clout endures.

By the way, Mike Defensor is running under the PRP (People's Reform Party) of re-electionist senator-relative Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. Defensor's running mate is Aiko Melendez under Erap's PMP (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino) but says he has been endorsed by presidentiable-senator Manny Villar's Nacionalista Party as their mayoralty candidate in Quezon City and Defensor also endorses Villar for president.

You might assume that you and I probably share the same indifference to Defensor on account of his very strong ties with now outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (to the frustration of many, I reckon). But to dispel all doubts and set the record straight, I must admit to the fact that I was once (and to a certain extent, still is) enamoured with his glorious stint at the House. Man, did the "Spice Boys" rock that time!

It was within that period in his political career (and shortly after that) that I saw him as a potential leader and one worthy of trust and support. And I'm not using the words 'trust' and 'support' here lightly. Too bad that being handpicked by GMA would prove detrimental to his career later on. That's from an outsider's perspective, of course. Only Mike knows what it's like to be 'inside looking out'. For all we know, and by all indications apparent to me, all things considered, his close association with GMA worked well for him.

His accomplishments (feel free to dig through archives online and offline yourself) presents us with some proof to his efficiency as a public servant.

What better results to demonstrate such than those programs and policy changes he implemented in Pag-ibig and DENR during his stay at these
agencies. Try going over some publicly available stats and compare.

Claim to efficiency

We took a housing loan years back and the process surprisingly didn't take long, 3 months at most. Also, the reduced interest rates from 12/13% to 6/7% plus extended loan period from 20 to 30 years (which sadly we weren't able to take advantage of because it was implemented a month after ours was approved) is now benefiting many average income earners who under the old rules and long & winding process would have found getting a house through Pagibig nearly impossible.

If I were to assess his performance, disposition and policy-making, I'd say I would have wanted to see him become senator one day or be reinstated in DENR or Pagibig. And may I add that I was a bit disappointed that he didn't pursue his senatorial plans (not that I know of any to begin with anyway). It is natural to assume he'd run for senator but given the circumstances he got himself into, it's understandable that he may have veered away from any national post. Still, if he did, I think he would have easily won and deservedly so. But I guess losing the 2007 senatorial elections made him rethink his goals, after all, he's still young. Time is on his side.

Efficiency as a talent

The wonderful thing about an efficient public official is that you can put him anywhere in the bureaucracy and he will still somehow pull through and get things done. Talent is one thing. Character (and efficiency) is another. It goes with you wherever you go. That's why even if Sec. Esperanza Cabral was already doing well with the DSWD (save for that 'relief goods rotting in warehouse' blog issue), I had no misgivings whatsoever when she was fielded to occupy the post vacated by Sec. Duque of DOH (who is, by the way, another poster boy for efficiency) when he was transferred to CSC -- although why him and why in that department eludes me to this day. But well, all cabinet secretaries serve at the pleasure of the President so no argument there.

Business-style management in governance

I know you Gloria-haters and Bistek fans are probably sneering in disgust right now. I don't mind. I know a results-oriented man when I see one (or in this case, hear one). See, this is why we should give businessmen a chance in governance. We've seen lawyers and how they toyed with our laws and made it work against us. We've seen economists and how they wowed us with empty "figures" that were devoid of tangible results. You know very well what I'm talking about it and I will say this, at the risk of being partisan and elitist -- that we need to allow ourselves to rub on that "rich-guy, businessman thinking". We can no longer afford to limit ourselves with outdated rules and archaic thinking which has done nothing but to enslave us into this "small-mindedness" that has crept into the very foundation of our society -- the home.

How many times have we seen movies and teleseryes awash with tales of the rich oppressing the poor and the poor wallowing in small-mindedness that that's what's "in the cards" for them? How many times have we taught our children, directly or implied that the neighbor's kids have flashy toys because their parents were just plain rich? And that conversely, they should not aspire for anything more because they should "know their place" in the world? Countless times, I bet. It would have done a world of difference if instead of sourgraping on somebody else's fortune, we chose to see it as a challenge and consequently prompted us to re-educate our children and taught them of the many perks of hardwork and persistence.

Now, what has that got to do with Defensor, or all the other rich businessmen running for public office? Two words -- inspiration and replication.

To inspire and replicate

Successful business people inspire us to do better and not settle for second best. Two things, hopefully, should happen after that, we copy (or devise one customized to our own current circumstances) the formula that worked for them and repeat the same, pass it on to our children, relatives, friends and colleagues. It's that idyllic revolution of paying it forward.

Objectivity vs. Fanaticism

Again, I never lived in Quezon City so I can't really compare or assess the current political and socio-economic conditions there and it's not that I know how residents feel about their candidates. I can only see as far as what I've heard, read and seen about Mike Defensor which is mostly, on a national scale. I can't tell whether QC residents are better off now and are contented with the services they're getting from the local government or if they want to change how things currently are. But I hope they see past political affiliations and get through the heart of effective and progressive leadership
and to consciously make an effort to know their candidates.

We need leaders like Mike Defensor who are testaments to the truth that it is neither brilliance nor charm that makes a successful public official but efficiency. Those who can deliver results are the ones who deserve to serve. Because at the end of the day, your low inflation rate and GDP growth figures mean nothing to a working class family who can't even afford to buy a house because of overly restrictive rules and agonizing wait.

Let's see what happens when official campaigning for local elections kicks off this March. I've heard that Bistek is the runaway favorite. He has endeared himself to QC people which is not surprising since he served QC for a long time. The entry of Mike Defensor will make the coming QC mayoralty race extremely intense. It would be interesting to see how the electorate will decide. But whatever happens, I have a strong feeling that we'll be seeing more of Mike. In the Senate, perhaps? Maybe.

Calculate the risk

Are you ready to try something different? Would you like to take a chance in Defensor? It's up to you. I'm in no position to proclaim that he won't disappoint you. And I'm not saying he might either. But I suggest you keep your options open and unlimited. Who knows, you might just like Mike.

Note: This is not a paid post and I am not a paid hack. Vote objectively.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Last updated: January 5, 2010

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reports in today's Sunday paper of the existence and proliferation of a so-called "Maguindanao (Massacre) 11/23/2009" video footage done in the semblance of a documentary which sells from around 70 to 120 pesos each. The video, it was said, is about four hours (2 days) worth of taped footage of the retrieval operations (at the crime scene where the back hoe was found beside the shallow grave hurriedly dug up by the perpetrators to bury the victims, some of them still alive).

There is no script, no background music, no sound but that of the back hoe as it digs for victims. There were vendors of these dvds claiming the ones they're selling are clear copies since they were taken by
Photo by chefrandenSOCO (scene of the crime operatives) themselves.

I don't know about you but I think it is very insensitive to sell, buy and watch these DVDs.  Considering that the people being unearthed in all their stripped glory and humanity are real victims and not actors -- the red stains on their violated bodies are of real blood -- whoever sold these taped videos to be reproduced and peddled in the very streets and public markets of Maguindanao spits on the memory of these poor souls whose lives were taken mercilessly on that fateful Monday.

If it weren't even considered okay to publish gory still photos online or offline, why would anyone think that it's okay to watch the retrieval operations over and over again at home?

The mourning families of these victims have suffered enough. The memory of that gruesome event is hard enough to erase. Let us be sensitive enough to spare them of the endless grief of reliving the Maguindanao massacre over and over again.

Please do not buy, sell or watch these "Maguindanao 11/23/09" DVDs.

Update:

I've recently read this heartening report that as of Monday, January 4,2010 some 600 "Maguindanao 11/23/09" DVDs have been 'surrendered' by Quiapo vendors to Optical Media Board Chair Ronnie Ricketts. This is a wonderful development. Let's hope more vendors follow suit.

Popularity: 2% [?]