I thought of Sybil when Palace deputy spokesperson Charito Planas scared the pants off Malacanang journalists with her dooms-day scenario. Planas said that the “plan ass” that seemed plausible if a failure of elections happens is a military take-over. Planas told journalists that there is still no plan to prop up Mrs. Arroyo as the take-over president, but what is more important, says Planas is for everybody to ensure that the coming elections will be peaceful, orderly and credible.
Clearly, our local Sybil made a big faux pas when she gave an utterly irresponsible statement before the Philippine media. Irresponsible because it was said at a time when everybody is scared shitless with all these events happening (Bangit appointment and SC decision) that suggest a sinister plot. Planas probably forgot that she’s now an official spokesperson of the highest Executive body, and that every word she utters becomes official policy.
Or, probably Planas just communicated what she heard within the confines and halls of the palace. Anyway, that Plan Ass was a disaster.
What will foreign investors think? What will the US government think? That Arroyo’s actions are justified due to the possibility of a military take-over? That that Arroyo-instigated Supreme Court decision was something pro-active to deter military rule? Or, that this administration is really incapable of ensuring the integrity of the forthcoming elections?
This could have been avoided if only Planas knew that there is such a thing as avoid answering speculative questions.
More than this though, I really think that it is the palace itself that wants a heightening of tensions and is doing things to destabilize itself and for what reason? To justify an extension of Arroyo’s administration? I think not.
I think that the palace really wants to destabilize things in the name of 10 billion pesos. Yes, 10 billion sparkling tin coins.
As we speak, energy officials are colluding with Mindanao-based local government officials for one reason–take part in the 5 billion peso spending spree brought by a PR-instigated energy crisis. While civil society members are in an uproar over what they perceived to be a lopsided SC decision, greedy members of Arroyo’s gang are smiling and probably even laughing themselves all the way to the bank. This happened in 2004 and it is happening again.
This just shows how callous this administration is, unmindful of the effects of their scare tactics just to mis-direct the attention of the public and hide the monumental looting in Mindanao.
Popularity: 1% [?]
What else can a parrot utter except what it repeatedly heard (or better yet, thinks it heard)?
I’m sorry for my attitude towards her, but she talks too much — too much irrelevant information overload from her foaming mouth.
In press conferences in Malacañang aired live nationwide, the way of her thinking when answering the questions from the press and the quality of her messages delivered to nation in general made her comparable of sort to the level of Lola Basyang. (What does that make us look like?)
In short, she employs a time-tested counter productive scare tactic spiced with a little bit of fake concern and jellyfish optimism. Even before this administration ends, if she continues with her way, she would only be adding more damage to the already battered image of her boss instead of uplifting it.
What happened to the new press secretary?
Who is “Lola Basyang”?
“Lola Basyang” is the very famous pen name of a writer of fairy tale stories. Lola Basyang’s stories which appeared first in pinoy komiks in 1925 became popularly known as “Mga Kuwento Ni Lola Basyang” and there are about 500 of them. Though these tales of fantasy and adventure are spiced with moral lesson for its readers, some of them are scary and have the side effect of scaring children. Later on parents learned to use them to scare their kids to psychologically manipulate and control them to some sort of forced false obedience, and thus Lola Basyang’s name evovled into something negative and is now associated with scary stories to frighten kids.
We are scared people; being scared of election failures. What are we?
TSOPES! BAHAG ANG MGA BUNTOT!
The thing that bothers me about Planas are the saliva bubbles that form on the corners of her mouth when she speaks.
Balik na naman tayo sa dating laro – noon: pili kayo, Da king o ekonomista? ngayon: ekonomista(?) o junta?
oh my.. is it a pattern or I may be mistaken? I am noticing that GMA prefers to appoint an oldie. I’m not being discriminatory. Seniors have rights for equal employment. This planass was born in 1931. I need to look for an analysis that will illustrate clearly how an 80 year old be capable to prepare a clever and skilled decision or to speak coherently to the best interest of the people… :D
Down with old people
who defend the turf
up with young
who reseed the plantation
Joe
nice one Joe but some young ones who reseed the plantation can be worst than the old in Philippines…:D
Dear PM,
The problem with this last-minute looting is that it may not be the last minute for the looters.
Dean