Dissecting the SONA

With the conclusion of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s hopefully final State of the Nation Address (SONA), there will be an inevitable flood of analyses, dissecting the President’s speech for various talking points. What I’d like to do here is to add my initial thoughts before reading any other analyses, before I get influenced by others’ thoughts.

As expected, the President started by enumerating the various accomplishments of the past year, focusing particularly on gains made in the economy and education. To put a personal touch, she made sure to include various individuals who had benefited from the various government programs.

In the second half of the speech, the President turned combative, and hit back at her critics without mentioning them by name, although one aware of issues would know that she referred to, among others, Senator Mar Roxas (“using bad language in public”), former House Speaker Jose de Venecia (pushing Charter Change when they could benefit, and opposing it when they couldn’t), the Makati Business Club (“corporate privilege”), and former President Joseph Estrada (“those who should be in jail”).

Of course, she brushed aside any accusations of impropriety, stating that she and her family had not benefitted from her being in power, and adding that there wasn’t any proof presented by her accusers. Of course, she forgets about ‘Garci’ and the ZTE Broadband deal, but, of course, she managed to shut one of the principal witnesses up.

What she didn’t address in her SONA was the message that critics, and possibly the Filipino people, were waiting for: that she would step down from power next year. She even made a not-so-subtle jab when she stated that she would step down from the podium, but not from the Presidency, qualifying that her term didn’t end until next year. However, it’s a statement that will probably be revisited over and over again by her critics.

While she also stated that she had not expressed any desire to stay in power beyond 2010, as Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago cheekily pointed out, it doesn’t stop her from expressing it in the future. In other words, it looks like she’s keeping her options open.

What she also ignored is the horrendous human rights record of her government, from the Davao Death Squad, to the extrajudicial killings of journalists and activists. No less than a representative from the United Nations had expressed the complicity of the government and the military in the killings, but, of course, this has been long brushed aside by a government that chooses to act with impunity.

The combativeness expressed in her SONA could be interpreted in a number of ways. It’s possible that, being a lame duck President, she’s going out with guns blazing, mindless of how she will be judged, to give the impression that she is in firm control of her sycophants and followers. However, it’s also possible that her show of bravado is a clear message that she has no intention of leaving power. That is the troubling thought, and, most likely could be a focal point for protests against her.

At any rate, it’s going to be an interesting year, as President Arroyo enters what is hoped to be her final year. The Filipino people will be watching her every move, her every statement to be able to glean what her future intentions are. And God help us if she does decide to express in the future that she desires to stay in power beyond 2010.

UAAP Update: UP Wins Over Ateneo!

I guess it was an upset waiting to happen.

In the so-called Battle of Katipunan yesterday, the previously winless University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons upended the defending champions and previously unbeaten Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles, 68-58, in University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball action.

Given the fact that Ateneo had beaten its first three opponents, two of them contenders for the UAAP crown, rather handily, it was expected that the Blue Eagles would run roughshod over the hapless Maroons. Instead, the Maroons came back from a 9-point deficit, and ran the Eagles ragged.

Down by 6 after the first half, the Maroons, sparked by Alvin Padilla, Mark Lopez, Woody Co and Carl Gomez, went on a 14-0 run to begin the second, and the Eagles found themselves falling behind. UP remained hot until the very end, keeping the Eagles at bay through tenacious defense and some key perimeter shooting.

It’s clear that Ateneo underestimated UP, and, by the time the Eagles tried to regroup, it was way too late. While last year’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Rabeh al-Hussaini tried to rally his team by scoring 17 points, the rest of the team failed to respond, as Ateneo lost to UP for the first time since September 2, 2004, ending an 8-game winning streak against their Katipunan counterparts.

Next up for Ateneo is their fellow raptor school, the Adamson Blue Falcons, and, while the Falcons are tied with UP for the cellar with a 1-3 record, their losses have been close ones, the last being the 64-overtime heartbreaker against La Salle. I’m not sure which team UP will face next, but since it’s either going to be UST, UE or FEU, the Maroons are going up against another likely contender for the crown. Hopefully, this win against Ateneo will bolster their spirits, and help them keep a winning form.

It’s an impressive showing for a UP team struggling for wins, and, for the Blue Eagles, it’s a wake-up call for them not to be complacent and take their opponents for granted. For both teams, there are lessons to be learned, and, if they do learn the lessons, both will be more dangerous in the coming games.

GMA's Last SONA - Or Is It?

On Monday will be what is hoped to be the President’s final State of the Nation Address (SONA). While the official mouthpieces are gushing about the allegedly beautiful speech, replete with the President’s supposed accomplishments, anti-GMA forces will be mobilizing in protest, denouncing the President for the various crimes she’s allegedly committed against the Filipino people.

At the top of the list is the concern that the President will take steps in order to prolong her grip on power. Whether it will be through the imposition of martial law, which is unlikely given her tenuous grip on the military, or through Charter Change, which is more likely given her firm grip on the lower House of Congress, is anybody’s guess.

Looking at the list of the President’s accomplishments, though, it cannot be denied that there are some pieces of hard evidence of positive results, although these need to be taken with a grain of salt. While the economy has grown, and the peso has strengthened during GMA’s term, in real results, on whether these have actually benefitted the Filipino people, is debatable. In battling poverty, it’s unclear whether these accomplishments have actually trickled down to the masses. An Ibon Foundation report in today's Philippine Daily Inquirer bolsters this, as it counters promises made by the President in her first SONA, point by point, and shows the President's failings in many points. For a table-friendly summary of Ibon's findings, go here.

Overshadowing the President’s economic accomplishments are the various unresolved cases of corruption involving the President, her husband, and her followers. Key among these are the “Hello Garci” scandal during the 2004 presidential elections, wherein the President was caught talking to one of the election commissioners, allegedly about cheating in the elections, and the ZTE broadband deal, wherein former Commission on Elections (Comelec) head Ben Abalos allegedly received a large bribe in order to facilitate the deal. Neither case was resolved, and no one involved in either case was charged with any crime. But the cases highlight the spectacular level of corruption present in the GM administration, possibly even eclipsing the record of the previous President Joseph Estrada, who was kicked out of office in 2001, and convicted of plunder last year.

The President didn’t help things by lying about her plans for the Presidency in 2004. In 2003, she gave a speech wherein she categorically stated that she wouldn’t run, only to make a complete about-face. That lie poisoned her Presidency, and stripped her of any credibility. This is what brings us to the present situation: no matter how many times the President and her mouthpieces state that she will not run, nor will she do anything to prolong her grip on power, no one really believes her, and it is very possible that this Monday won’t be the last SONA GMA will give.

Priestly Run - An Exercise in Futility?

With Pampanga Governor ”Among Ed” Panlilio confirming his presidential ambition, the field is starting to look more and more crowded, although I find myself overly skeptical about Panlilio’s candidacy, and wonder whether he’s getting good advice from his supporters.

When Panlilio won the governorship, there was wild jubilation from those hoping for reform in politics, considering that he had beaten two powerful candidates, one with the backing of the President. It was hoped that, with Panlilio in charge, things would improve in terms of the battle against corruption.

However, the jubilation proved to be short-lived, as it appears that Panlilio was hamstrung time and time again. Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that there was no obstacle to a recount called by Panlilio’s closest opponent, Lilia Pineda, the wife of alleged illegal gambling lord, Bong Pineda. Pineda, who had the President's backing, claims that massive cheating occurred on the side of Panlilio, which, by any stretch, is one of the claims that is hard to swallow.

This close to the next elections, though, it’s likely that this recount will have no real effect on Panlilio’s governorship, but, even without this obstacle, it looks like he has nothing to show after more than two years in the office. If this is the case, what evidence can he boast of to bolster his presidential candidacy? A candidate has to be able to show concrete results in order to be elected. I’m not sure what Panlilio has accomplished during his term.

The other problem, of course, is the fact that Panlilio is a priest, albeit suspended from his duties. To run for the presidency would mean that he would have to request that he be released from his priestly vows, since the canon law apparently forbids priests from engaging in politics.

At the same time, I share the same concern as Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz, and wonder at the apparent lack of lay people of virtue who can make a run at the presidency, such that a priest like Panlilio has to present himself to the voters for consideration. There must be someone to whom we can look up, aside from the religious. Moreover, if we consider that we have a lack of priests as it is, should Panlilio add to the lack?

Of course, with his recent statements, Panlilio is sounding more like a politician and less like a priest. I’m always wary of persons who claim that God has called him or her to do something, especially in the realm of politics, when such statements ring false when held up against the politician’s accomplishments, or lack thereof. With Panlilio, I want to believe that he’s honest about running, but, with the realpolitik of the Philippines, it’s unlikely that he’s going to win.

Alleged Abduction-Rape: True or False?

It all turned out to be a false alarm.

Or is it?

After capturing the nation’s attention and filling the general populace with outrage, the alleged abduction and rape of the 13-year old daughter of an agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Baguio City seems to be a case of a father’s worry over his daughter’s not coming home on time.

It apparently turns out that the girl went out drinking with friends, and, since she didn’t come home on time, the father, given his line of work, understandably thought that the worst had happened. However, the girl’s companions have come out and have ‘fessed up, giving closure to the case.

However, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, which headlined the story last weekend, appears skeptical, and has hinted, in its story today, of a possible cover-up, considering the abrupt about-face of the government in its statements about the case. At first, the government spokespersons expressed the outrage that the public felt, and declared war on drugs; this, of course, prompted columnist Ramon Tulfo to question what the government was doing about the problem before the alleged abduction. With the announcement by PDEA chief Dionisio Santiago that the alleged abuction didn't happen, the spokespersons began backtracking and saying that the abduction news was "unverified". If this is the case, what happens to the war on drugs now?

I remember reading about the case last weekend, and I remember the revulsion and rage that I felt. I found myself agreeing with politicians calling for the re-imposition of the death penalty for these monsters who would stoop so low as to attack the dependents of agents working against them. Such beasts, I thought, have lost any right to life. Now, however, I find the rage dissipating and wonder at how the whole situation will affect the war against illegal drugs, which, despite the false alarm with the agent’s daughter, is a very real problem.

The fact that the case unleashed a wave of public indignation and outrage is an indicator of how widespread the problem is. It is unsettling to learn that the Philippines is one of the top movers of illegal drugs in the world, and one has to question what our government has been doing to stop this heinous trade.

One of the problems is that the drug syndicates are likely backed by powerful individuals, among our politicians, local officials and our military, making it difficult to impossible for any real progress to be made in rooting out the criminals. There is big money to be made in illegal drugs, and, with next year’s elections coming up, potential candidates need sizeable war chests in order to be able to run a credible campaign, and aren’t picky about where the funds come from.

I’m not sure how the problem can be solved, but it’s important that the government doesn’t let the false alarm over the agent’s daughter deter them from continuing to go after the syndicates. The only way, it seems, is to go after the ringleaders, and make sure that any charges against them stick. Of course, given the fact that a number of our officials are likely involved in the trade, it’s going to be a Herculean task.

This post also appears in Philippine Commentary.

UAAP Basketball: Ateneo Beats UST

Exhibiting deadly form, a veteran Ateneo de Manila squad took out erstwhile co-leader University of Santo Tomas (UST) in a game which made a statement to the rest of the league: Ateneo is poised to defend its men’s basketball crown.

While the Growling Tigers led very early in the first quarter, they would not hold on to that lead, as the Blue Eagles, with an organized attack, grabbed the lead late in the quarter, and did not relinquish the lead for the rest of the game.

While UST stalwarts Dylan Ababou and Khasim Mirza, along with Tiger top-scorer Allen Malixi, valiantly attempted to rally the Tigers, the Eagles’ attack, buoyed by a strong performance from the bench, notably guard Emman Monfort, who led the Eagles coming off the bench with 20 points, was just too much for UST.

With the win, Ateneo is off and running with a 3-0 card, and, with only NU, UP, and Adamson in the way to their showdown with archrival La Salle, the Blue Eagles just have to avoid getting overconfident in order to end the first round of eliminations with a perfect record. If they can manage to defend their crown, it'll be a nice gift for the school's 150th founding anniversary celebration.

Pedrosa's Plagiarism and the President's Trips

Two weeks after I wrote the editors of the Philippine Star about columnist Carmen Pedrosa’ plagiarism, and still, there is no sign of acknowledging the dishonesty committed by Pedrosa. I am now more inclined to believe that the Star has decided to ignore the issue, which might say something about Pedrosa’s “pull” in the newspaper, but is a sad revelation.

One of the reasons why I read the Star is that I’d always considered its reporting to be more balanced than that of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, which often resorts to editorializing in its news reporting. But, with this development, or lack of it, I find myself disappointed in the Star, and wonder whether it’s still worth getting it, knowing that it continues to abet an intellectual crime.

* * *

I will withhold judgment on the merits of our President’s upcoming trip to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama, and, instead, concentrate on the concerns about the size of her delegation.

A report came out a few days ago that over a hundred congressmen are falling over each other to have themselves included in this trip. Once again, our political leaders have shown appalling insensitivity by clamoring to be included in this delegation. Never mind the fact that majority of Filipinos are wallowing in poverty, while the leaders travel at the people’s expense. While the politicians will always claim that they use their own funds in order to travel, with the number of trips that some of them have made, it’s an excuse that is becoming more and more unbelievable.

In this case, as House Speaker Prospero Nograles pointed out, should all of these congressmen go, it’s not like a lot of them will get to meet face to face with President Obama; more likely, only a select few will get to accompany the President to this meeting. This means that, if the rest of the congressmen get their way and insert themselves into this trip, it will probably be just an excuse to go shopping or sight-seeing.

It would be interesting to note which members of the House will be going on what is looking to be another junket, so that their constituents may see how their so-called representatives look after their constituents’ needs. It's wishful thinking, though, that through these wasteful acts, these politicians would be voted out of office, as the voters don't seem to really care about whom they elect into office.

Pedrosa Plagiarism Update

Reading the papers last weekend, I see it appears that Philippine Star columnist and Charter Change advocate Carmen Pedrosa has either chosen not to respond to my letter to the editor regarding her two counts of plagiarism in her column (one in 2006, and the other last June), or is still deciding on what course of action to take. I hope it’s the latter, because I don’t think she, or the reading public, should ignore the fact that she has been less than honest about what she writes, considering that she has continued to question the credibility of those who protest or oppose Charter Change. Until she owns up to her dishonesty, she has no right to question others’ credibility, when her own credibility is in itself in question.

Of course, that doesn’t stop her from continuing to do so. In her column yesterday, she castigates U.S. Ambassador Kirstie Kenney for having stated that “the US would be concerned if the election were postponed,” and then categorizes the statement as a threat. Be that as it may, Charter Change isn’t the only possible reason why the elections would be postponed, considering the current situation in the country today. It is a continuing perception that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has intentions of prolonging her stay in power. So Ambassador Kenney’s statement could also be a warning to the President and her lapdogs against taking illegal measures to prolong that stay.

Pedrosa seems to think that Kenney is speaking her own mind on the 2010 elections, but it should be noted that the US Ambassador is an emissary of the American President, so it is unlikely that Kenney issued that statement independent of US intentions. Kenney’s statements on the 2010 most likely echo the will of the powers-that-be in Washington.

Pedrosa also continues to label those against Charter Change as oligarchic and foreign-sponsored. Of course, the House of Representatives, which is pushing for Charter Change, only has the country’s best interests at heart when they voted for HR 1109, which calls for the House to convene itself as a constituent assembly. If you’re willing to believe that, there’s a get-rich scheme that I’d like you to try out.

The main reason why Charter Change cannot be pursued at this time is that the President, being distrusted and unpopular, does not have the necessary public approval to push this agenda. The House, which Pedrosa supports, is every bit as elitist and oligarchic as the anti-Charter Change movement supposedly is, if not even more so. A number of our Congressmen are in power because they have manipulated the electoral system to install themselves in Congress, using the time-honored method of guns, goons, and gold. And this is the august body which will initiate changes in the Constitution? Please.

Unless our countrymen are properly educated about the Constitution and their social and political rights, it really doesn’t matter what system of government we have, because the ruling elite will make sure that the playing field is uneven enough to maintain their stranglehold on the nation. If it’s going to be the same bunch of elitists, scions of political dynasties, and general idiots which will make up whatever new legislative body will be formed under Charter Change, then there will be no lasting change, only the same old song with new packaging.

As for Pedrosa and her plagiarism, I'm unsure as to how to deal with this issue. I'm welcome to suggestions.

As for the articles themselves, here are the links: "Let us move on, but where?", and "Gridlock rears its ugly head".

This post also appears in Philippine Commentary.

The Secrets of the President's Health

As far as I know, the only reason for getting breast implants is for cosmetic purposes. So, when Presidential mouthpiece Lorelei Fajardo says that it was necessary for the President to get breast implants in the 80s, without giving the reasons why, I can’t help but scratch my head at this new idiocy of the Arroyo administration.

The issue of the President’s health, and how it is being handled by her spin doctors, has effectively captured the spotlight, and has once more given focus to the inadequacies of this administration.

It apparently all started last week, when the President supposedly submitted herself to self-quarantine after arriving from one of her numerous foreign trips (at our expense, but that’s fodder for another post), only for the public to learn that her hospitalization was for other reasons aside from the possibility of having contracted the dreaded A(H1N1) virus.

At first, Presidential spokespersons said that biopsies were done on lumps taken from the President’s breast and groin. Then the rumor of the President’s breast implants surfaced, and the whole issue took a left turn to the realm of fantasy.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde initially denied the rumor, only to later appear before the media and confirm the existence of the implants. Then, yesterday, Fajardo came out about the supposed necessity of the implants. Of course, since the main purpose of breast implants is cosmetic in nature, one can only wonder at what sort of necessity this might be, although I’m certain that the Presidential mouthpieces will probably try to spin it in some way that they think the public can swallow.

While this seems a rather absurd issue for the media to be covering, the less-than-forthcoming stance of the Palace is disturbing, to say the least. How can we trust the government to tell us the truth when a more serious issue crops up? It brings back memories of the time of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, when his underlings covered up the fact that the dictator was suffering from lupus, in order to avoid any sign of weakness. However, much like the situation today, the cover up didn’t work.

This administration seems to have gotten so used to lying that, even with issues such as this, its first response is to lie first, and then scramble madly to do damage control when it gets found out. It’s not reassuring that our government appears to think that the Filipino people are so gullible that anything the government says will be readily believed. As it is, with each new revelation, it buries its credibility even deeper into the mud.

Originally posted in Philippine Commentary.

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"

I finally managed to watch “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”, and instead of the usual review, I thought I’d take a stab at doing a “25 Things” for the movie, as a sort-of tribute to the Facebook note craze that went on a few months ago. Here we go.

(SPOILER ALERT)

1. While the movie was awash with special effects galore, it was a little difficult getting into the story, but, then again, that’s not why we watch this sort of movie.

2. One of the difficulties in watching this movie is keeping track of the various new Autobots and Decepticons. There is little attempt at introduction of the new robots, unlike in the first movie, where there was a nominal go at identifying the various characters.

3. For me, one of the best scenes was Optimus’ death scene, which is right up there with his fall in the animated movie.

4. Another good scene was the pitched battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons, although it was hard to keep track of who was getting hit after a while.

5. For example, what was the large wheeled Decepticon they took out in the opening scene?

6. There was a Yahoo article about some of the flubs in the movie. One of them, which I noted, was the fact that five blips were recorded heading towards Megatron’s resting place. Since one of them was apparently torn apart to repair Megatron, why were six blips recorded surfacing? (UPDATE: According to the IMDB site, Ravage spits out the doctor, who then becomes the 6^th blip.)

7. Still based on the Yahoo article, considering the amount of damage and the high (probably) cost of life, how would it be possible for the U.S. government to cover up the battle in the first movie?

8. Why did the Decepticon doctor have spectacles?

9. How did Mikaela’s pants remain clean throughout all the running and exploring?

10. Of the new characters introduced, I liked the introduction of Jetfire and Wheelie, who had entertaining characters.

11. I liked Mudflats and Skids (the two Autobot hip-hop wannabes) the least, and hoped that they would get scrunched in the course of the movie. No such luck.

12. Devastator was a thing of beauty.

13. Soundwave’s introduction was likewise interesting, but I will always miss the synthesized voice of the original from the cartoons; it’s nice to know, though, that it’s still the same voice playing the character (Frank Welker).

14. As for the human counterparts, why is it that high-level government officials, with few execptions, are portrayed as overbearing morons who blunder their way into things?

15. Shia LaBeouf is great as Sam Witwicky, and his dealing with having absorbed information from the All Spark shard probably took some practice.

16. Ramon Rodriguez, who plays Sam’s roommate, was an entertaining, if stereotypical, sidekick. I think I liked the black guy from the first movie better, although it was hard to tell which of them was more over the top.

17. John Turturro was also very entertaining as ex-Agent Simmons, and provided a needed comic relief from the robotic seriousness.

18. However, will we have to see him strip to his skivvies every movie? If there’s a third movie, and there probably will, will he do the full monty?

19. While she is undeniably sexy, Megan Fox really needs to take some acting lessons, instead of spending each scene with her mouth hanging open. Her apparent tantrum about Michael Bay’s directing puts her right up there with LeBron James’ unsportsmanlike behavior after his team lost to the Orlando Magic.

20. Kevin Dunn and Julie White, who play the Witwickys, also provide some measure of comedy relief, and, of course, the indicators of Sam’s maturing in the course of the movie.

21. While Optimus Prime extols the greatness of the humans, director Michael Bay does seem to devote a lot of time slaughtering them without any hesitation.

22. Normally, the U.S. President in fictitious movies is likewise fictitious. I wonder if President Obama allowed the use of his name in this movie, as he is apparently whisked to a safe location in the wake of the Decepticon attacks.

23. It clear from Megatron’s statements near the end of the movie that there will likely be a third installment, but I wonder what’s next. The Dinobots?

24. From the viewer’s side – Reminder: don’t have lunch at a restaurant that offers bottomless drinks before you watch this movie.

25. While there are inconsistencies and flubs in this second movie, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” was still a great popcorn movie, as long as I didn’t have to think much while viewing it.

Quick Bites

The grind of daily work finally caught up with me, making it impossible to write anything over the past week. What makes it more difficult is that, since I normally write about current events, if I don’t write about the issue as soon as it crops up, the moment will have passed, and it’s no longer sensible to write about the issue. Besides, by the time I get around to writing something, someone else will have written something along the lines of thought that I would have followed.

At the same time, none of the issues that cropped up have been interesting enough for me to formulate a post. Still, here’s a quick look at some of the issues headlining the news these days.

* * *

Much concern is being made about the state of former President Cory Aquino’s health, and rightly so. The former President is an icon of Philippine democracy, having been instrumental in ousting the repressive martial law regime of President Ferdinand Marcos. Cory was the focal point of the opposition against Marcos, and, without her, it was unlikely that the opposition would have fielded a more credible bet against the tyrant. And when it was clear that Marcos was going to cheat the elections for all he was worth, Cory helped rally the people to protest the results. For a brief shining moment, the Filipino nation was the apple of the world’s eye, as we showed that it was possible to peacefully remove an overstaying President. That things didn’t work out the way we wanted them to go is beside the point; if ever, the fault is our own since we weren’t vigilant enough to protect our fledgling democracy.

I add my own prayers for the speedy recovery of our former President.

* * *

Shifting gears, and glancing at today’s paper, it appears that both the Philippine Star and its columnist Carmen Pedrosa are unaware of the fact that Pedrosa hasn’t been quite honest in her writing, considering that she’s committed plagiarism in at least two instances: one in her column dated November 5, 2006, and the other being her more recent column last June.

Plagiarism is intellectual dishonesty, because the plagiarizing writer simply takes someone else’s work, and incorporates it into his or her work without citation, effectively claiming credit for someone else’s work. Whether she knows it or not, since she is writing for a national paper, Pedrosa should be more conscientious about citing work in her column. Otherwise, how can she be considered a credible advocate of Charter Change if she herself is not honest in her writing?

I should remember to write the Star about the issue if there is no mention of it in tomorrow’s paper.

* * *

It appears that the two partners Smartmatic and Total information Management Corp (TIM) in the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) poll automation project have kissed, made up, and settled their differences, meaning that it’s once more all systems go for the automation of the 2010 elections.

However, I can’t help but be a little suspicious about the partnership. Last week, when the partnership was declared dissolved, all sorts of brickbats and accusations were hurled against both groups, as well as the trading of finger pointing between the administration and the opposition. Can the partnership still be considered credible to handle the automation of the elections?

* * *

Well, that’s all that I have for now. With the school year in full swing, I’m not sure how regular my writing will be, but I will try to be as regular as time permits.