A Presidential Primer

With November rapidly bearing down on us, and, with it, the time for filing one's certificate of candidacy, politicians are scrambling to strengthen their positions for the upcoming elections. Already, a number of known aspirants to the Presidency have already officially declared their candidacy, while others are still studying their options. In the background, the minor players are positioning themselves behind the candidate they believe will win, and, thus, reward their support once in power.

Let’s take a quick look at the various pairings, and take a stab at their respective chances.

Declared

Loren Legarda

The Senator has just formally declared her candidacy for the Vice-President’s spot, but it’s still unclear as to whom she will be pairing off with, as Senator Chiz Escudero, her partymate in the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), has yet to declare his presidential bid. While she’s definitely popular due to her media exposure and her green advocacy, I’m wary of her because of her constantly shifting loyalties. At this point, it’s clear that Loren is only loyal to Loren, and any candidate taking her aboard as a running mate should do well to remember that.

Gilbert Teodoro

The Defense Secretary has been burned by his apparent lack of early response to the onslaught of typhoon Ondoy, but I think that, with his unceasing and untiring resolve to deal with Ondoy’s and Pepeng’s aftermath, he’s recovered sufficiently to project himself as a credible candidate. Still, the big monkey on his back, being the Arroyo government’s candidate, is going to be his cross to bear, and, unfortunately, despite a strong personal profile, he will be made to pay for the administration’s many sins.

Joseph Estrada and Jejomar Binay

I am most definitely moving out of the country if Estrada somehow manages to win again. If he wins, it shows that we Filipinos are incapable of learning from our mistakes. Already, he’s shown that he has not changed, by calling for the legalizing of jueteng, as well as declaring all-out war on all rebels. It’s the same old, tired tune, and I hope our voting public has matured enough to recognize that. His running mate, Makati City mayor Binay is about as bad, carving out Makati into his own personal fiefdom. This is basically a pair of used trapos, and our country has had enough of that.

Manny Villar

The popular Senator probably would’ve had a clear run at the Presidency if it weren’t for the fact that his fellow Senators Aquino and Roxas also decided to declare their intentions to run. If it weren’t for Aquino and Roxas, I probably would’ve voted for Villar, but only because he would be the choice of a lesser evil. There are enough question marks about his real estate dealings, as well as his accumulation of wealth, which make me, as well as other observers, think very carefully about voting for him.

Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas

In this pairing of two prominent scions, a lot of hope is being placed that they will not commit the mistakes of the past. With Noynoy Aquino, it is hoped that he will not commit the mistake of his late mother, and, should he win, appoint the right people in the various government positions. With Roxas, who graciously slid down to the vice-presidential slot to give way to Noynoy, it is hoped that he too will be able to help uplift the Filipinos’ plight. It is clear that, based on the survey results, this sentiment is shared by many who are tired of the poisonous and corrupt political atmosphere that currently exists, and hopes that, in Aquino and Roxas, our country can be firmly placed on the road to recovery.

Unsure

Hermogenes Ebdane

The former Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Ebdane recently resigned to pursue his own political plans. A number of newspaper ads have attempted to extol his virtues, claiming that he is a hard worker, and someone we need in these troubled times. Still, it must be noted that, even during his tenure, the DPWH was unable to shake off its corrupt image, and questions must be asked as to what Ebdane did to try to lessen his department’s corruption.

Richard Gordon

It’s clear that the Senator and Red Cross chair is harboring presidential dreams, although Gordon has been very quiet about those plans as of late. It’s likely that he will probably not throw his hat into the ring; his survey ratings have not improved, and it doesn’t look like he has a possible party to support his bid. He’s probably better off staying in the Senate, or, if his term is up, seeking another elective post.

Bayani Fernando

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair was rebuffed by his party when the organizing committee chose Teodoro as the official running mate. It seems though that Fernando has tempered his political plans, and is now willing to settle for a lower position, such as the vice-presidency. With Local Government Secretary Ronnie Puno dropping out of the race, it’s possible that he may team up with Teodoro. However, I can’t see any possibility of him winning the vice-presidency either, for, despite a strong work ethic, Fernando has made himself thoroughly disliked while in charge of the MMDA, whether rightly or wrongly. I’m not sure if pairing him off with Teodoro will help either of the two win.

Chiz Escudero

Escudero may still be examining his options, given his low survey ranking, and the fact that his party’s patriarch, NPC head Eduardo ‘Danding’ Cojuangco has not stated his personal preference for a candidate; in fact, there are rumors swirling that Cojuangco may be inclined to support his nephew Noynoy. In addition, despite a fairly erudite talent for speech, Escudero hasn’t really shown us anything substantial. In fact, it should be remembered that he was one of Estrada’s staunch defenders during Estrada’s presidency, and that should be a warning flag to any who are taken in by Escudero’s smooth speech.

No chance

Nicanor Perlas

JC de los Reyes

The environmentalist and the Ang Kapatiran party member are small fish swimming in a very large ocean. While I cannot fault their idealism, at this point, they have more sentiment than sense, as they have virtually no chance of either winning, or even putting a dent in any of the other candidates’ vote totals.

Game Three Musings

Both the junior and the men’s team had their backs against the wall. It was time for them to show the world what they were made of, and both of them delivered big time.
I don’t think there’s been a time in Ateneo history wherein both basketball squads played a rubber match on the same day, and win back-to-back championships, but, it’s happened, and the celebration is sweet.

The juniors went up first, and it was a pity that the game wasn’t televised, and that only the senior batch was allowed to go and watch it. But, such are the breaks, and so the rest of us waited with bated breath for the results. In my case, I was waiting at home, as the stress of the school year finally caught up with me, and I had to call in sick and rest.

My friend texted me as soon as the game was over. The juniors had successfully defended their crown, winning over a higher-seeded, and slightly more talented, De La Salle-Zobel team. The final score was 61-56, so I suspect that it was a tightly-fought battle. One leg was over, and it was time for the men’s team to step up.

There was a lot of heartbreak after game two of the men’s championship, considering that the UE Red Warriors had walloped the Blue Eagles, and handed them one of their worst losses in recent history. However, I was fairly confident that the team would rise up to the challenge of redeeming themselves in Game Three. At the same time, there was a fair amount of fear that Ateneo would fall prey once more to the Warriors’ free-flowing offense.

The Blue Eagles appeared to be of the mood to stamp their control over the game as early as possible, racing to an 8-point lead early in the game. In the second quarter, they continued their offensive barrage, and, simultaneously applied a smothering defense that held the Warriors to only eight points in the quarter.
In the second half, the Eagles were in defense mode, and, while they continued to score, they seemed more concentrated on making sure that the Warriors would not threaten. At the same time, the Warriors looked as if they had lost their fire from the game before. This time, it was their shots that would not go in; they were the ones who looked half-asleep on defense.

I had to leave to drive my mom to the MRT station with about five minutes remaining, and Ateneo was still up by double digits. I got the text from my sister on the way back: the Ateneo men’s team had successfully defended their championship, winning 71-58.

There were a number of heroes in the game, particularly Eric Salamat, who had finally broke out of his Finals scoring slump, and scored about 7 points, which was more than his output of the last two games. Last night MVP Rabeh al-Hussaini, despite some whining about foul calls, still managed to score 21 points and grab 14 rebounds. Throw in the regular cast: Jai Reyes, Nonoy Baclao, Kirk Long, Nico Salva, Bacon Austria, and Emman Monfort, and you have a team that showed that it is capable of demonstrating tremendous will and heart in order to win.

For the high school, it’s the third team to win UAAP honors, as the judo team and the swim team had previously won in the week before; the judo team, in fact, is now on a four-year winning streak, something that neither the junior or the men’s basketball team have achieved. The swimming team is even more impressive, with a five-year streak.

It’s a wonderful way to celebrate Ateneo’s sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary, but we must always remember to thank the Lord for blessing our school in its achievements, because without Him, none of them would have been possible.

Game Two Musings

It’s difficult to write about a loss, but it’s something that needs to be done, like taking out a thorn that’s imbedded in one’s foot, or having an impacted molar extracted.

The University of the East Red Warriors, with their backs against the proverbial wall, had nothing to lose, came out with guns a-blazing, and manhandled the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 88-68, to tie the UAAP men’s basketball best-of-three championship. In winning, the Red Warriors ended the Blue Eagles’ 12-game winning streak, and handed Ateneo coach Norman Black his worst loss since he took over the reins for Ateneo in 2005.

At first, it seemed that the game would go the Ateneans’ way once more, with Ateneo leading by 2, 40-38, at the end of the first half. However, given the fact that, with one more loss, the UE Warriors would be going home without the championship, during the second half, they treated this game as if it were their last, and they came out shooting.

Elmer Espiritu, who only scored 8 points in the first game, led the way, with 22 points, with four three-point shots. Pari Llagas ably supported him with 19 points, with a lone triple. The rest of the Warrior crew, particularly Paul Lee, Val Acuna and Rudy Lingganay, provided much needed scoring support and a tenacious defense that shocked the Blue Eagles.

As for the Blue Eagles, it seemed apparent that something was missing during the second half, as they seemed rudderless and played lackluster defense. Ateneo’s Rabeh al-Hussaini, who was finally shackled by the UE defense, even got the ball stripped right in front of him. Perhaps the Ateneans got too complacent, and thought that they could win it handily. Obviously, they didn’t learn their lesson from Game One, when the Warriors came storming back from a 17-point deficit to lead by one point at the end of the first half, courtesy of a 19-1 run.

With the win, UE forges the rubber match for this coming Thursday. Hopefully, Ateneo will be able to lick its wounds and recover to be able to avoid a repeat of 2006, when the UST Growling Tigers won the championship after losing the first game. The Eagles had better be ready, as UE has not won a basketball championship in 24 years, and, with their win yesterday, the Warriors have shown that they are very eager to end that drought.

Game One Musings

In the face of the tragedy that the Philippines faced in the wake of typhoon Ondoy’s wrath, it took a spirited game to lift people’s spirits, albeit momentarily before they went back to the task of rebuilding their lives.

When Ateneo started Game One of the UAAP Season 72 men’s basketball championship by leading the UE Warriors by as many as 17 points in the first quarter, though, it seemed certain that Ateneo would romp off into an easy win.

Then, the Warriors showed what they were made of in the second quarter. With Raffy Reyes and Rudy Lingganay leading the way, UE fought its way back from the brink with a blistering 19-1 run to take the lead at the half, 35-34.

The second half was a frenzied give-and-take battle, with both teams striving to assert their dominance. Ateneo got started early with a Jai Reyes 3-pointer to retake the lead, and while the Warriors would manage to tie the score again and again, momentum was once more with the Blue Eagles, under the able play of reigning MVP Rabeh al-Hussaini and Reyes, who was one of the many stranded in their homes by the fury of typhoon Ondoy.

Shaking off the effects of the ordeal, Reyes would drain 5 treys in keeping the Warriors at bay, and Kirk Long hit a long (pun intended) one to push the lead once more to a comfortable margin. However, the Warriors, led by Paul Lee and Pari Llagas, continued to threaten and keep within striking distance.

In the end, it was al-Hussaini putting the finishing touches on the win, capitalizing on a UE defense unable to shackle him. When the buzzer sounded, Ateneo had taken Game One, 78-71.

With the second game coming up this Sunday, it’s clear that both coaches need to adjust their game plans. UE must find a way to defend al-Hussaini, who, in three games, has managed to tear the Warriors’ defense into shreds. Ateneo’s other players must step up, especially spitfire guard Eric Salamat who was MIA most of the game. Whatever changes the coaches and players make, it’s clear that we’re in for another exciting game on Sunday.

Business as Usual

In the aftermath of typhoon Ondoy, the regular soap opera that is Philippine politics at work continues.

Last Tuesday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) upheld the merger of the two administration political parties, Lakas-NUCD, and Kampi, paving the way for a more solid cooperation between the two parties. The Comelec dismissed the complaint of disgruntled Lakas members, including former Speaker Jose de Venecia, who said that the merger was illegally conceived. The Comelec pointed out that de Venecia’s protest was too late, considering that he had said nothing when the merger was initially conceived.

This should clear the way for the administration presidential bet for next year, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, to organize the administration machine, and improve his chances of winning next year. That is, of course, if he can hurdle his perceived lack of response to the challenge of Ondoy (a topic for another post).

However, a number of administration personalities have already jumped ship, and have transferred their allegiances to other presidential bets. One of these is Quezon City’s 2^nd district representative Annie Susano, who moved to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) headed by Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco to shore up her chances of running for mayor of Quezon City. It was clear that vice-mayor Herbert Bautista, another Lakas member, would get the nod from the Lakas higher-ups, leaving Susano no choice but to move out.

Also, last Tuesday, the House panel working on the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez predictably voted overwhelmingly to throw out the complaint, citing insufficient evidence. It is clear that the anti-impeachment wall set up by the President also covers her valuable assets; Gutierrez, who is supposed to be the top graftbuster, is a classmate of controversial First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, so it’s unlikely that any impeachment complaint against her will prosper.

The administration representatives may pontificate about the rule of law, and about the need to provide sufficient evidence to support the complaint, but it’s really just the tyranny of numbers. It doesn’t matter how much evidence is presented; what is important is that the administration lackeys know their master, and, as long as their pockets are kept full, they will be willing lapdogs in doing whatever they are told to do.

In addition: Che Tiongson, the former live-in partner of Deputy National Security Adviser Luis "Chavit" Singson, has withdrawn her complaint against Singson's allegedly beating her and her companion up. I can only shake my head in wonder, and wonder how much it took for Singson to get Tiongson off his back.

The Best and the Worst of Ondoy

Typhoon Ondoy certainly brought out the best and, sadly, the worst in the Filipino.

The best includes the many Filipinos who have reached out to those in need of help in this crisis, such as the brave souls who risked their lives, and, in some cases, lost them at the height of the storm in rescuing their fellow countrymen. There was even a judge who used his jetski to rescue around a hundred people.

It doesn’t include a certain actor who did rescue his movie partner actress via speedboat. Unfortunately, she was all he rescued, as they left even if there were others who could’ve fit in the boat, making the whole thing look like one big publicity stunt. A day or two after, the two were reported by their parent network as helping out in handing out relief goods, a way perhaps of glossing over some of the messy rescue details?

The best includes the Cavite congressman who filed a resolution for him and his fellow House representatives to donate P1 million from their respective pork barrels to relief work.

It doesn’t include House Speaker Prospero Nograles, who, in a representative show of House leadership, said congressmen should only donate P20,000. That’s generosity for you.

It also doesn’t include Pampanga Representative and Presidential son Mikey Arroyo, who was allegedly photographed a day after, buying liquor from a supermarket. The photo was then widely disseminated on the social network Facebook, eliciting howls of rage from people still angry over Arroyo’s apparent lies about his statement of assets and liabilities. Arroyo, in turn, angrily retorted that such networks should be tightly regulated, making some of us believe that he would be one of those who would welcome the return of martial law to our country. It’s also an ironic statement, considering that networks like Facebook have been instrumental in getting news about those in need out.

The best includes the many Filipinos who have donated their time, money and relief goods to succor those who have been rendered homeless due to the fury of Ondoy. Our youth, once thought to be apathetic, came out in droves to help pack bags of relief goods, bringing a light of hope to our country’s future.

It doesn’t include the ghouls who exploited the situation and engaged in all sorts of activities, ranging from the raising of prices of basic goods to looting the evacuated houses of those fleeing the flood. There is a special level of hell waiting for these, or so I hope.

With another storm coming in, it is hoped that we can manage to focus on giving our best, and not our worst, in facing the challenges that this storm may bring.