Two Years of President Aquino: A Quick Look

Today marks the second year of President Noynoy Aquino in office.

Looking back on the last two years is a mixed grab bag of accomplishments. The President's early months were marred by the Manila Hostage Tragedy, where a disgruntled policeman's holding hostage of a busload of Hong Kong tourists ended with the policeman and several of the hostages dead. The tragedy  exposed the ineptitude of our local officials and the police in handling a deadly situation. Despite recommendations from the commission formed to investigate the debacle, the President refused to fire people pinpointed by the commission as the ones to blame.

Moving forward to this year, the President's second year was marked by the impeachment trial of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. While the perception was that the articles of impeachment were railroaded by the House, the former Chief Justice basically convicted himself when he testified that his bank accounts were not included in his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN). The President and his supporters may be crowing over the conviction, but the truth of the matter is that, if it weren't for Corona's testimony, the ineptitude of the prosecution panel would probably have resulted in an acquittal. 


The other major issue that confronted the President this year was the issue over the Scarborough Shoal, and our conflict with China. Admittedly, there probably were more diplomatic means to deal with the situation, but, given the fact that the Chinese appear to be dead-set in claiming the shoal as their own, even though it is clearly in our area of responsibility, the President may have had no choice but to meet the Chinese head-on. The situation is still ongoing, and I can't really say I'm expert enough to comment on the issue, so we'll just have to see how it all turns out.


Based on Social Weather Station (SWS) surveys, unfortunately, little has changed for majority of Filipinos, who still claim to be poor and hungry despite the fact that our country has received status upgrades by international bodies such as Moody's. The surveys show that the President has a way to go for his programs to actually reach the poor.

One of the problems is that President Aquino, in his exuberance or hubris, made a number of promises during the election campaign, but these promises remain unfulfilled. While it's probably true that alleviating poverty is going to take more than two years, and will probably require a massive cultural change from us, the President and his Cabinet can continue to try to make headway into uplifting the masses.

Another problem is that the President appears to be too influenced by the people around his. He has also shown partiality to people close to him, a trait which he appears to have inherited from his mother, the late President Cory Aquino. This goes against his so-called "Tuwid na Daan", his metaphor for how he and other government officials must comport themselves. If he continues to favor his friends, such as appointing one to the Supreme Court as Chief Justice, it will be ruinous for him, and show Filipinos that he is no better than his predecessors, former Presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (currently Pampanga Rep.) and Joseph "Erap" Estrada (a convicted plunderer).

Two years down, four more to go. The President has to show that he is actively working on fulfilling his promises, or else his huge emotional win in 2010 will be so much hot air by the time he's done in 2016.

Requiem, Sir Charlie

When I was a grade school student, I was a member of the grade school rondalla from Grades 4 to 7. One of the key benefits I remember was that it got me out of music and work education classes, at least until Grade 6. The main key benefit was that I developed a love for music, particularly performing with a group.

The rondalla's teacher for the time that I was there was Mr. Charlie Valencia. He was, for me, the grade school version of the high school's Mr. Pagsanghan, in the sense that both were (and in Mr. Pagsi's case, is) passionate about teaching valuable skills and life lessons to their students. It was through Mr. Valencia that I learned to work together with a group, by playing my assigned instrument (first, the banduria, then the bells, sort of like a more intricate xylophone) alongside a host of other performers, creating harmonious melodies.

Mr. Valencia also expanded the rondalla beyond the string ensemble concept, adding various  instruments, such as the jew's (?)  harp, bamboo sticks, and the notched gourd (I'm not sure what this was actually called, though. Running a stick over it produced a squeaky, duck-like sound).

I remember playing such tunes as the theme from "Star Wars" to Filipino folk melodies such as "Pamulinawen". I remember how Mr. Valencia would painstakingly tune each member's instrument. I also remember how Mr. Valencia would emphatically conduct us through each performance. When I was in Grade 6, I remember performing in the Maryknoll (now Miriam) College auditorium, and I remember how Mr. Valencia's long tassel of hair came down as we got to the climax of the "Star Wars" theme.

I also remember how he always exhorted us to perform to our very best, and always expected us to do our best.

By the time Mr. Valencia retired, the rondalla had already folded, and all that remains of that era in the grade school are several pictures and the remains of the marimba, which can be found the grade school's heritage room.

I last saw Mr. Valencia when I was on exchange, teaching at the grade school four years ago. There was an event for retirees, and he was there. I managed to greet him, and thank him for having trained me.

It was a bit of a shock to open my Facebook page, and see pictures of him in an album entitled "In memoriam". Mr. Charlie Valencia had passed away.

Requiem, Sir Charlie. It was an honor having performed under your expert care.

Choosing the Next Chief Justice

Quite a bit of ink has been spent on speculations surrounding the President’s possible choices to replace Renato Corona as the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Some have argued that the President now has the chance to implement needed reforms in the judiciary, and that someone from outside the Supreme Court should be appointed to the position. Others have argued that the President has to reestablish the credibility and independence of the judiciary, and therefore must appoint one of the senior Justices to the position.

For me, while reforming the judiciary is a noble goal, there is a pressing need for the President to demonstrate that he is not after the entire judiciary; after all, he and his spokespersons emphasized that stand.

 As columnist Jarius Bondoc has argued in a recent column, any outside appointee will be politically colored. People will see the President as no better than his predecessor, Gloria Arroyo, who depended on her appointees to allow her to appoint her faithful servant Corona to the top post, in what many still see as a midnight appointment. Such an appointment will make any reforms impossible, as the outsider Chief Justice will have to fend off accusations of furthering the President’s political agenda.

As Bondoc correctly notes, 

"Picking an outsider can be and has been done, to be sure. But it would be chancy at this point in history. Suspicion would hobble an outsider CJ that Aquino indeed took out Corona in order to control the Judiciary. More so, if that CJ comes from his Cabinet or party or financiers. Even the most brilliant would be branded a partisan. The outsider CJ would have lost even before the fight began."

Furthermore, Marites Vitug, author of the controversial book Shadow of Doubt, which casts a critical light on the Supreme Court, noted on ANC’s “Top Story” yesterday that any possible outside appointee should be “iconic”, which I took to mean “above reproach”. Unfortunately, some of the strong contenders from the outside are anything but iconic, and are seen to be heavily influenced by the President’s wishes.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares are seen to be two of the top contenders up for consideration by the Judiciary and Bar Council (JBC), the body which vets the possible nominees for judiciary posts, including that of the Chief Justice. Unfortunately, both de Lima and Henares are tainted by the fact that they testified against Corona in the impeachment trial, which raises the question of vested interests.

Moreover, Commissioner Henares showed a lack of delicadeza when she said in an interview that she had an advantage over the other candidates. Such brazen arrogance is unbecoming of one who would be Chief Justice.

No, if the President wants to show that he did not have Corona ousted to further his own agenda, he must appoint someone from the judiciary, and that someone is Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, the most senior justice among the nominees. In many of his decisions involving former President Arroyo, who appointed him, Justice Carpio has shown that he is independent-minded, and has the authority and gravitas to be Chief Justice. By appointing Justice Carpio, President Aquino can show that he is hewing to his "matuwid na daan". Any other selection at this point in time will simply be politically motivated.

Columns of note on the subject:

• Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban lists down the qualities he thinks a Chief Justice should possess. 
• Noted constitutional law expert Fr. Joaquin Bernas, S.J., explains the process by which the Chief Justice is appointed, and observes some of the problems in the process.
• Former Senator and Information Minister Francisco Tatad argues that the Constitution says nothing about the President should appoint the Chief Justice, and shares a novel proposal. 

Quick Independence Day Musing

It's Independence Day today, and it was greeted by a rousing rain to start off the day.

114 years of Philippine Independence, and we still have a long way to go in our growth as a country. While positive steps are being taken, it will take a massive effort and a great amount of political will to help our countrymen learn to stand on their own two feet, and realize that, in order to help our country, we have to love it wholeheartedly and be willing to sacrifice so that our country can be truly great.

There's a lot to love about the Philippines. Let's not waste the effort and sacrifice our forefathers made so that we may be free.

Sunday Shocker

Yesterday, I went out with my family to Antipolo to enjoy one last outing. In doing so, I missed watching two highly regarded match-ups: the championship fight between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley, and Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics.

Given the results of both, I think I got the better deal.

Boston fell to Miami, setting up an NBA Finals between the Heat and the Western champion Oklahoma Thunder. I guess I wasn't too surprised by this, since the Celtics were aging and the Heat hungry, and Boston could have avoided this crucial game if they had won Game 2, which they lost in overtime.

The big surprise of Sunday was Bradley's split decision win over Pacquiao, which drew international condemnation. Both Filipinos and boxing fans worldwide were aghast at the decision, since, apparently, Pacquiao had the advantage throughout much of the match. While he didn't knock out the still-unbeaten Bradley, and people will be wondering as to why he didn't, Pacquiao managed to connect with more punches and with a higher percentage rate than Bradley. Statistically, it appears as if Pacquiao was the more dominant fighter, and one can only scratch his head over the two judges who scored the match for Bradley.

Maybe C.J. Ross and Duane Ford, who scored the match for Bradley, felt that Pacquiao should have knocked out his younger opponent, in the manner by which he had won over such opponents as Rickey Hatton, Erik Morales, and David Diaz. Maybe the two judges felt that Pacquiao should have put Bradley away more easily. Whatever the reason, the decision stands, and set the stage for a rematch that might be bigger in scope and in payoff. 

For me, not having watched the match, I look at the stats and wonder what Ross and Ford were thinking. What I do like is that Pacquiao took his loss in stride, and shrugged off whatever disappointment he may have felt. Perhaps, as Yahoo! boxing analyst Kevin Iole opined, "Controversy sells. The bigger the controversy, the bigger the rematch." So, boxing fans will be waiting for November, when the rematch is rumored to be scheduled, and see whether Pacquiao can take back what many feel was rightfully his, or whether Bradley will be able to stem the anticipated Pacman onslaught.

Requiem, Dandelion Wine

Dandelion Wine.


The Illustrated Man.


Fahrenheit 451.


The Martian Chronicles.


The October Country.


Whether it be complete novels or short stories, author Ray Bradbury was one of the masters. I remember first reading the stories found in The October Country, and feeling shivers down my spine as I read through "The Skeleton" and "The Small Assassin". I remember the thrill of wonder felt by Douglas Spaulding in Dandelion Wine, the agony of rebellion in Fahrenheit 451, and the mixed feelings of horror and wonder in The Martian Chronicles.

I marveled at the way Bradbury had with words; he would weave them together into a scintillating pattern of prose and poetry, and, in doing so, creating word pictures of great depth and imagery.

In his many stories, Bradbury taught me the value of wonder, to be able to look at things as if they were brand new, and, thus, be seen in a different light. His insightful book, Zen in the Art of Writing, has helped me become a better writer, as well.

It saddened me to hear of his death last Wednesday, at the age of 91, but I also think that his was a life that was fully lived.

With Bradbury's passing last Wednesday, the world is a little poorer and a little brighter.

Requiem, Ray Bradbury.

Corona Impeachment Trial: Media Spin/Post-Mortem

It's interesting to note how some columnists, particularly those critical of the Aquino administration, view the recently concluded impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Rigoberto Tiglao, of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, calls the Corona conviction a "Pyrrhic victory" for President Aquino, since Corona's removal from the Supreme Court doesn't change the Court's final decision on Hacienda Luisita, which Tiglao opines is ruinous to Aquino and his relatives. He also insinuates that Corona's removal was largely in part due to the law firm of Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who was Corona's rival for the top position. Justice Carpio, Tiglao writes, "is therefore absolutely certain that Mr. Aquino will appoint him chief justice".

It should be noted that Tiglao is often fond of making accusations of which he gives no proof. He accused the government, particularly Press Secretary Ricky Carandang, of masterminding a black propaganda campaign against Corona, without providing concrete proof. He's even tried to pin some blame for the Maguindanao Massacre on the President, all the while conveniently glossing over the fact that the tragedy, the worst case of poll violence in our history, happened, and was abetted by his patron, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

On the other hand, Carmen Pedrosa, of the Philippine Star, writes in her column today that the Senator-judges who voted overwhelmingly for Corona's conviction, did so because "we may not have the evidence but we will convict him anyway," (side note: Pedrosa put these words in quotes, although she didn't note where she got the quote. Weird.) which is a slur on the Senator-judges most of whom actually convicted the Chief Justice on his own admission regarding his dollar and peso accounts. So does Pedrosa imply that Corona perjured himself in court?

Admittedly, the prosecution and the Aquino administration didn't do themselves any favors in the process of the trial. The prosecution dealt with a rushed set of articles of impeachment, and committed blunder after blunder during the trial, only to be saved by the Chief Justice's own blunder of attempting a walk-out and admitting that he did not include his dollar and peso accounts in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN). On the other hand, the Aquino administration, led by the President himself and his spokespersons, could not stop talking about the trial, and bolstered the belief that the President was taking this impeachment personally and was actively working to remove the Chief Justice.

In the end, the Senate managed to take the impeachment trial and make it as objective as possible. When it came time for the vote, each Senator stood up and clearly explained his or her vote, and was able to do so with a modicum of logic and facts. A number of Senator-judges castigated the prosecution for their ineptitude, and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile did a masterful summation of the case before casting his vote.

With the trial over, as I mentioned in my previous post, it's time to move on and go forward with more open eyes regarding our public officials. Tiglao may be dubious when he questions in his column whether public officials will be more transparent, but, really, it's not just up to the public officials to be transparent. We, the Filipino people, have to be vigilant and continue to act as watchdogs to make sure that our elected and public officials will be honest/

Daily Musings is 8!

And it's a quiet 8th birthday for my blog, as I'm still in the process of getting back up to speed.

The past year has been one wherein I had to dial down my writing activities due to work and family concerns. It became difficult as finding time for writing became more and more problematic. However, things appear to be settling down, and I think I'll be able to find the time to go back to a more regular schedule of posting. Here's hoping that I'll be able to do so.

For the year ahead, it'll be more of the same: commenting on current events, posts about books, comics and movies that I've read and watched, and random thoughts about the world in general.

To my readers, thanks for continuing to follow me, and here's to my ninth year as a blogger. Cheers.