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% [?]

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% [?]

Photo by Stitch

"Who among the presidentiables will be bad for the economy?"

This is an interesting query I got through a random "googler" today.

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Now, I don't know if it's some random thought or an actual question posed by God knows who but it sounds interesting enough that I wanted to write about it.

Unfortunately, this "googler" wasn't clear about this question. What does he/she mean by "bad"? And is she referring to pre-elections or post-elections economy? If he/she is referring to pre-elections economic effect, technically, whoever spends more would be good for the economy because it would generate jobs and faster movement of resources through rapid and frantic "purchases" of products and services.

Alternatively, if the "googler"  meant "bad" for the economy post-elections, then I would assume he/she would be referring to a sitting/winning president because losing presidentiables can only make so insignificant a dent in the economy (if ever).

As much as I wanted to discuss this further, I realized that considering I'm not an expert on economics and "market forces", I ultimately decided to turn this into a poll instead.

So, go ahead. Vote! :) And yes, for the purpose of this poll, let us stick to a post-elections scenario. Theoretically, we are looking for that president-to-be who will likely make "unsound" economic decisions and send us back to the Stone Age.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Click here if you're looking for lyrics and video of the new "Lipad" commercial performed by Rivermaya.

Surprised that since its Youtube upload yesterday, January 7, 2010, this "Sulong" infomercial/commercial/TVC/campaign ad barely had 500 views. Pretty much shows how "unpopular" he is compared to cousin Noynoy Aquino.

Looks like the coming election is becoming more and more a "battle of the bands" than a "battle of brands". Don't be surprised. The electorate is mainly "young" with over 70% of voters aged below 39. This my friend, is how you connect to the young and hip crowd.

This one's from Rico Blanco's "Posible" song and apparently, Gibo failed to ask permission from Blanco that this original composition of his will be used for Gibo's infomercial. While Gibo's camp insists that there was no violation of intellectual property rights the issue just  refuses to die.

As another public service of this blog, I'm publishing the words (narration/lyrics) here and of course, the video.

"Sulong"

Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro's latest infomercial

Gibo:

"Mura at masaganang pagkain para tuluyang mapawi ang gutom..

College graduate sa bawat pamilya...

Libreng gamot para sa mahihirap...

Sulong Gibo
Wag uurong

Pakinggan sa yong puso

Ang sigaw na dati'y bulong...

Narrator: Ang mabilis na pag-ahon, posible lang kay Gilbert Teodoro

Posible!

Disclaimer: This is not an endorsement.

Popularity: 10% [?]

All I can say is that if you've never "used" Calculus in your daily life, you are not making full use of the knowledge you have been introduced to. Beyond the figures or the nauseating equations, the study of Mathematics is a study of "possibilities", of "origins" and of "derivations".

It is, as aptly put by many of those who understand its significance, essential to critical thinking. Mathematics urges us to "think" and build on ideas through a sequence of procedures so as to arrive at a certain "solution". It creates order out of chaos -- in a sea of random ideas and figures. It is no different to real-life situations. That's the very reason why in Math, we are introduced to "Word Problems".

I do not understand why there are people who until now seem to think that what we learn in Calculus doesn't apply to real life when in fact, it is "real life" situations that prompted the critical thinkers and mathematicians of old to formulate the theories and equations we currently live by.

I wouldn't go as far as to conclude that those who elude Math are dumb -- I think it's too harsh a statement, but I can say that it is a terribly wrong assumption, most likely caused by inadequate critical thinking -- a direct effect of Math-aversion.

Quoting from the Anti Pinoy blog:

Here’s Chiz asking us to allow the retrogression of our youth – to lessen their ability to “formulate, critically analyze, and solve a variety of problems”. Seriously, do you really want this? Do you really want more dumb Filipinos? Then by all means, vote for Chiz Escudero.HusengBatute, The Anti Pinoy :), Oct 2009

Chiz Escudero is entitled to his own opinion, in the same way each and every one of us are. But it's one opinion I prefer that he keeps to himself. To go as far as appeal to "Mr. Speaker" that higher Mathematics be prescribed as an "elective" in high school is nothing but a poor attempt at pleasing his "crowd" of young voters. Someone missed the whole point of solving equations.

Our children deserve the best education that the times can provide. Sure, it may be back-breaking, nerve-racking or totally mind-boggling, but let's face it, they don't have a choice. In the fast lane of the internet age, you either "evolve or become extinct".

Tough love, it is, but love all the same. And when the time comes that they'd need to do some "critical thinking", I'm sure they'd thank us for it.

So, "Mr. Speaker", by all means, bombard us with more Math. Let my children live in a future where politicians "think more than they blab".

Related articles:

• Undermining Math Education in our State (cliffmass.blogspot.com)

Popularity: 1% [?]

There is no greater honor for a blogger like me than be dedicated an entire post as response to one article I've written, specially if it's from no less than one of those bloggers I have great respect for. It doesn't even matter if that blogger disagrees with me or not.

True to his blog's tagline, @cocoy is indeed "conservative in what he says, liberal in what he accepts". If you are a reader who disagrees with most of what I write, please do yourself a favor by reading his response -- he will give you a crash course in  "Disagreeing with Grace 101" and "The Art of Subtle Yet Effective Persuasion". Very nice article, @cocoy. I enjoyed reading it.

And now, to return the favor... :)

I actually wanted to leave a comment there but it turned out longer than his post so in the interest of unwritten net propriety I had to do it here. I apologize in advance for this lengthy post. I do not have the time to edit and make it shorter.

The question, I think is not whether Noynoy is too good to be true but rather more on whether he can deliver results as he promises. It is not whether his character is "without reproach" but more on whether his character is strong enough to weather the storms (political and natural) that is sure to continually hit us. It is not whether he is experienced or not. The question is whether experience will "make him" or "break him".

@Cocoy writes:

Perhaps, more than the assertion that Noynoy Aquino is inexperienced, this is something he must overcome. RJ has a point. And she isn't alone. It isn't merely, Noynoy Aquino but more than twenty years of failure by our leaders to lift our people out of poverty. It is like a woman breaking your heart, over and over again. How then do you trust?

Popularity: 1% [?]