Come to think of it, it is even far too hard to grab a seat in the Senate come 2010 given that the doors are practically close to new players.
Senators Enrile, Estrada, Cayetano (Pia), Lapid, Madrigal, Revilla, Roxas, Defensor, and Gordon may be seeking reelection. Only Senators Pimentel and Biazon would graduate for finishing two consecutive terms. That of Senator Lim’s became vacant when he won as city mayor of Manila.
No storm can stop old players who graduated in 2007 to bat for the Senate and these are – former Senators Drilon, Flavier, Magsaysay, Osmena (Sergio), Sotto, and Recto. Between this pack and the new entering senators, name recall might give an edge to the former.
All told, it really appears that only 3 doors are open for the aspiring newcomers – if luck be on their side. However way the others like Senators Villar, Legarda, Lacson, Escudero, and Pangilinan play in the field – say run for president or vice president – they can always go back to finish their remaining 3 more years in their respective current terms – by way of whom the law that invented this scheme will favor best. Such is the ‘rare privilege’ if they lose but are allowed to return to their Senate seats.
But there are those who think that some of the indicatively less serious presidential wannabes may in fact glide down and run for Senate instead. And this pack is presumably dominated by cabinet secretaries who wish to try their chances of winning in 2010. Ordinarily, we know them by their TV ads done under guise of promoting the programs that their line departments do.
Such names could be health secretary Duque, agriculture secretary Yap, public works secretary Ebdane, and so on. This is not to say that perhaps, some people from the House of Representatives will also gun for the Senate especially the more vocal ones who always see themselves in the limelight like Rep. Casino et al. Again, no bad political weather can stop similarly enthusiastic aspirants to run and the whole trouble that go with it.
In fact, even the jailed military officers make no pretention about their desires – Col. Querubin and Gen. Lim say they are joining the fray. Thus, there will be a little to almost no change in the membership configuration. Maybe the young Pimentel will give it another try.
So now, who would the next half be? Will they be entirely new or old returning? Will our brand of politics be able to open its doors to new names, new personalities? What exactly are the implications of a behavior typified by our voting population, to include the first-timers youth, of continuing to choose the old occupants and to renew their appointments?
In other words, do we expect a fresh blood – a new breed of men and women who will deliver?
In the end, maybe Pinoy politics is culture bound. The composition in the Lower Chamber tells us that the same political families are getting elected – fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, nieces, cousins. This kind of intellectual culture must find a space in our new lexicon as this characterizes what has become commonly called as – “kamag-anak, inc.” Fact is, even some members of the so-called party-list are traceable by bloodline.
It’s not a joke – this phenomenon is happening every election cycle. Philippine politics, against this backdrop, really makes for an interesting area of study. From where I stand, we thought that the so-called nuclear family is only found in the confines of our households. It seems that the institutions of the Upper or of the Lower Chamber are nothing more than reflective of them who belong to the “upper middleclass households”. Politics has just become a family affair, altogether, matter-of-factly.
Popularity: 1% [?]
All the senatoriables should be asked to clearly state their Mindanao-proposals, e.g. choices include SriLankan solution (see below) or European-solution (pay ransom, according to Anna-de-Brux), or things in between.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090518/ap_on_re_as/as_sri_lanka_civil_war
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka declared Monday it had crushed the Tamil Tiger rebels, killing their chief, Velupillai Prabhakaran, and ending his three-decade quest for an independent homeland for minority Tamils.
State television broke into its regular programming to announce Prabhakaran’s death, and the government information department sent a text message to cell phones across the country confirming he was killed along with top deputies, Soosai and Pottu Amman.
The announcement sparked mass celebrations around the country, and people poured into the streets of Colombo dancing and singing.
———–
2010-presidentiables should be asked for their Mindanao proposals, too.
If get elected in senate or congress, i will make a law that nobody could run or have a seat in the gov’t if you have a family up to 2nd degree and i will call it ” Anti-Political Dynasty Law “. Bwahahahaha
Such a law, allan (ano ka ba naman)need not be legislated if you simply want to make your family the model for self-restraint, honor, and integrity.
In short, while in office, don’t even attempt to appoint your wife, son, or daughter in your staff since this smacks of nepotism and does not make your office or agency an “equal opportunity employer”.
You will be surprised to know that in the Lower Chamber alone, there are those 3 magkakapatid, 2 magasawa, 2 to 3 magpinsan – in short, ginawang “hanapbuhay” or what they call “cottage industry” ang politika.
UP N,
I guess a thorough study should be undertaken on the Mindanao problem and from this, effect a creative solution to the problems that confronted its geography and people for several years.
In the meantime, the government must better pay attention to all its needs in terms of goods and services, opportunities and all. In short, do a serious work in “pump priming” the local economy and assign the whole Philippine Marine contingent over the entire of Mindanao as peace keeper.
I think the MoA-AD needs to be revisited.
There are mechanisms there are which are products of long drawn negotiations that address demands central to the Bangsa Moro issue.
Otherwise, treating the symptoms without addressing the root causes will be more of the same.
E hindi nga ba nag thorough study na, at kumuha pa sila ng NGO’ng consultant?! Saan mo ba akala na nakuha nila iyong MOA-BJE/Ad kung hindi sa miting ng mga committee?
MOA-Ad, isang solusyon. Sri Lanka, isa ding solusyon. Bayad ng ransom tuwing may nakikidnap na pare o evangelist o Italyano, isa ding solusyon.
Kaya nga, kailang pag-usapang muli.
Breaking up Czechoslovakia to form CZECH Republic and Republic is a solution.
US convincing Israel to let Palestine become an independent state is a solution.
Breaking up Malayan Federation to form Malaysia and Singapore is a solution.
Native American reservations is a Solution.
Sending more soldiers to Mindanao – is a an old solution where people keep expecting different results.
Kaya nga, kailang pag-usapang muli.
Breaking up Czechoslovakia to form CZECH Republic and Slovak Republic is a solution.
Break up of USSR to give way to CIS is a solution.
US convincing Israel to let Palestine become an independent state is a solution.
Breaking up Malayan Federation to form Malaysia and Singapore is a solution.
Native American reservations is a solution.
Sending more soldiers to Mindanao – is a an old solution where people keep expecting different results.
no baldwin post yet?
2 senators cried foul already…
Is Bong Revilla serious? I’d love to see it. He should go to Cali, thought coz pinoys might just do a Lapu Lapu on Baldwin. I want a fair fight. East vs West II.
Nicole much more rational and sober :mrgreen: would probably be joining a list of Pinas kolehiyala’s applying for Baldwin’s mail-order-bride position. :wink:
Why do we elect these kinds of people? Some seems to be incompetent
and just have a good name attached to them…
Tasio:
imho, When it comes to voting – there is no homogenous creature called “Filipino”.
Please refer to the charts collected in the mlq3′s site (save us the trouble of gathering the info ourselves) – http://www.quezon.ph/2009/05/15/we-the-people-how-candidates-view-the-people-as-electors/
There is a group of people, mostly AB socio economic category – who will not elect these kinds of people.
There is a group of people, mostly CD socio economic category – who seem to be a captive audience – a group that keeps on voting for trapos, the incompetent, and the corrupt.
There are Filipinos who will vote for the corrupt and the incompetent.
There are Filipinos who will NOT vote for the corrupt and the incompetent.
Unfortunately, the C&D group have greater numbers than A&B (80% vs 20%) – leading to a massacre of the choices made by A&B.
In general, most would refer to Filipinos in the C&D group when they use the word “Filipino” – something that the A&B groups resent because they are Filipinos, too.
The thing is when someone from the A&B Group says “these Filipinos are ” he is usually referring to the Filipinos of the C&D subgroup instead of the Filipinos within the A&B subgroup.
Tasio:
Repace AB with BC; CD with DE to be consistent with the charts in said site.
Forget the charts. We are just a Nation of Suckers…no more , no less.
We are just a Nation of Suckers…no more , no less.
Tasio:
Within the context of the statemet – That’s the point where lots would say – it is so embarrassing to be associated with anything “Filipino”
Iskuzimoi Primer. BLOGGERS, let’s forget out the BOOK Blockade, let’s do Candy Pangilinan (blogging wise, I mean)…
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20090516-205411/Bloggers-wont-forgive-Candy
Pangilinan was quoted in the resolution as saying:
“Akala niyo Igorot ako, hindi ako Igorot, tao po ako”.
Kaya nga. What do I always say about racism? It’s not colonial mentality, stupid. Colonial Mentality, what’s that?
Eto dapat pinaguusapan:
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/may/18/yehey/opinion/20090518opi2.html
Hoy Nashman, umimik ka.
Namundok na yata si Nash. Nash, baba na, may mga titirisin tayo rito.
Very intriguing points from the collective.
Brian,
Gusto mong pagusapan ang point ni Dan Mariano (a friend of past), by all means, i blog mo so at least, we know where you’re coming from.
Even that of Candy seems to have so historical roots. I remember when I was a child, I kept hearing from my father that ordinarily, people should not trust the Igorot, quite the same thing you hear of a Muslim to the point it was said you can’t trust a Muslim (unless of course, he is dead). In both, this is of course a racist slur but a behavioral phobia of sort nonetheless.
Tasio,
To tell it like it is, we are not a nation of suckers but rather we are suckers of a nation, suckers of a people.
You know what, those who compose Big Bad Government make us a nation of people sucked. And who sucks? Maybe your father did?
baycas,
As to your concern, how indeed can a situation build that people from across social classes, not largely just the c and d, do actually vote for non-college degree holders for senators. Call that a lot of undereducation, call it that. It’s amazing story.
maria luisa,
If you wish to refer to the MOA, acceptedly, you must remember that it is grossly flawed precisely because the motive is to carve some pads of billion pesos from it to get it signed.
We need a MOA that is based on history. Let the UP people do that as soon as a small bureau serving as a think tank can be funded with generous support. If you wish, I can head that department. By the way, that is only a suggestion long been aired in my graduate class.
you heading a think tank for a MOA? Ang hula ko, primer, kapag nag-head ka ng department, nangungupit ang tauhan mo dahil mukhang sablay ang intindi mo sa batas at sa Konstitusyon.
see you at the cafeteria!
Suppose we consider ourselves as the Class of 2010 filling the void of the 15th Senate and we are the new players who will interact with 12 other senators who are largely trapos (basahan, sa isang interpretasyon).
How do we figure? What can each one of us do as a senator, if any, to create the sea change Nick has been dreaming about?
Primer:
Let’s get real. Let’s look at who are the senatoriables and what they can bring to the table.
The main drawback of all this exercise is that we don’t know who the candidates are. By the time the candidates are known, there is not enough time to do a background check – which I suppose is intentional.
By having a shorter preparation period – money will substitute for discussion. Cans of sardines, variety shows, vote buying will substitute for a deliberate and rational discussion and review of what each candidate can bring on the table – and thoroughly discuss the merits and demerits of choosing a candidate.
Maybe there will be new faces or it will be the same o same faces, still, there is no assurance that there will be new ways of thinking, new outlooks, not the same tired old obsolete antiquated same o same o trapo way of doing things – which pretty much leads to nothing done nothing gained for the country.
what? alec only…why not candy?
give the senators a chance…ricky lo already has the news.
maybe bongR and migZ will pick from there…
at least may isang slot na bakante- bomalabs nang manalo si leon guerrero.
joy, kapag ako nanalong senador, walang sinabi ang mga ibang senador na iyan. maski siguro ikaw man ang mananalo, mas magaling ka. lahat naman tayo, mas magaling, hehehe.
Any law or policy ought to be analyzed from a multi-disciplinary perspective. This requires having to look at a certain societal concern from all possible points of view.
A purely legal interpretation is certainly an entirely different thing. But even among the supposed to be experts of law supply us with two clearly conflicting points of view.
For instance, Lawyer X will say, Erap can run, Lawyer Y will say, Erap cannot run, still a more stupid Lawyer Z, Erap can walk. And so on.
The SC itself has concurring and dissenting opinions.
At the end of the day, it boils down to numbers – as the ayes and the nayes would have it.
As Erap has not run yet, the SC or the COMELEC will not prejudge the case.
It will be interesting to hear what both constitutional bodies have to say.
The cruel weight of ‘personality cult’ makes it difficult for the Supreme Court to offer a rational justification of its supposed-to-be wisdom of the ‘magistracy’.
If interpretations of law revolves around the ‘whim’ of the Palace occupant, then legal scholars will find it hard to embrace legal knowledge except by simple ‘adoption’. This means, the best argument is to cite the decision at face value.