It was with great pride in seeing our very own Flowell Galindez represent Filipino Voices as part of ABS-CBN’s special coverage on their AKO ang SIMULA campaign. As far as I see it, it doesn’t really matter who gets the vote out, who gets the youth involved, or who provides information on the important issues of the day, as long as it gets done, that alone should be our main focus. Being a collaboration, Filipino Voices must support any initiative that has the goal of enlightening the masses and which spurs on engagement The Filipino Citizenry.
Flowell, one of our most important core members of FV is helping out on a new initiative for FV, and we are hopefully launching this new initiative in the coming weeks to come. The activity of so many Filipinos such as Flowell should be commended, not only because it shows the capacity that each and every one of us have to be a positive change for society, but it also builds upon a collective and provides momentum. Not just our own collective, but the collective of Filipino Society itself.
We have seen advocacy campaigns in the recent months, the two most high profile being The AKO MISMO campaign, and AKO ang SIMULA campaign. Both have a strong message that change must come with self, that we can all contribute to a positive change. No matter, how we see these campaigns, we should all agree that the message rings loud and clear, and it is this message most importantly that we should support. By all means, let us be stewards of our own nation. If not us, then who will take on the cross and burden for our own nation?
What I love about how Flowell explained things is that it was complete, about our role in society. About how FV will be advocating the registrations of voters, about opening our eyes to the issues, and also watching the vote. And the most important part in Flowell’s explanation is that our responsibility does not end at the ballot box, but is only a start. We have the responsibility to be engaged and aware of what is going on in our nation even after the votes have been counted.
According to Flowell,
Aanhin mo ang puro pagbloblog ng nakakabuti kung mayroong masamang nangyayari magbubulagbulagan ka ba? Isa sa isyung haharapin natin ngayon sa 2010 ang apathy ng taong bayan ang hindi pagpapahalaga sa importansya ng pagboto, isa man ang boto mo pero ang isa mong boto ay maaaring makapagbago ng isang pamahalaan. Magparehistro, mamulat, bumoto at magbantay dahil ang bawat isa ay may responsibilidad sa bayan na dapat gawin.
Indeed, we are the change, and the writers and commenters here at Filipino Voices have taken the responsibility to be aware, to engage in the discussions, and hopefully will also take concrete steps in registering as well as voting, and then getting out the vote. Whatever our differences in views, I know we share one great overarching goal — Contributing to Filipino Society and to a greater Philippine Nation.
As Flowell urges us to do:
. . . maging parte ka rin ng kampanya para sa maayos na pamamahala at gobyerno. Tulad ng sinabi ko magiging parte ka ng kampanyang ito sa pamamagitan ng pagrehistro para sa election, ang mamulat sa issue ng lipunan, bumoto ng tama at magbantay sa bilangan hanggang may mahalal at patuloy tayong magbantay.
Popularity: 2% [?]
I can’t vote. But I got my wife to register for the first time. She tends to respect my interesst in the well-being of the Philippines, so “we” will vote thoughtfully.
Joe
Well done, Flow.
Good job, Flow, you rock! Your parents must be so proud of you. Bet the GF has something special waiting when you come home (wink, wink).
I appreciate those who still believe the sacntity of election of this country.
But I am sorry. I am on the opposite tract. I did not vote during the 2007 elections and continue to do so in 2010.
Whay? Because I value the ‘elctions” as sacred and the linchpin of every democratic society. No wonder that even the Politbuor of olf USSR and China and North Korea held elections to give them semblance of democracy.
But now, I will not vote and after explaining to members of my family, friends and anyone willing to lend an ear, some will now go with me.
For I value the elections but I will not vote in2010.
Why? For I heard the tapes.
The tapes which clearly showed how the sanctity of the election was grossly violated.
And when others stomped their feet and and roared in disgust, THE MIDDLE CLASS refused to heed to the noble call to defent the sanctity of the ballot for the beneficiary was not one of their one.
NOW. Will I still vote? Pwe.
punona,
That’s sad to hear. A lot of people around the world have died so that others could have the ability to vote. Pinoys have sacrificed their lives for this right. It seems a waste that you will disregard those efforts and flush away the power given to you.
And all because you were fooled to believe in some doctored tapes…and in some devious politicians.
You have been duped, and you should be angry about the lies.
It’s not really your fault, but you also could have kept your cool and looked a little harder at what was being said and at what was being presented as evidence. You could have demanded that everyone act along the lines of common decency and the rule of law.
You were fooled, but you let yourself be fooled.
That’s the lesson for all of us — we won’t be fooled BY ANY POLITICIAN. We demand that their words be measured by tangible yardsticks…or we will be led down the wrong roads.
RealityCheck,
From what vantage you are standing to say that I was fooled?
By the so-called doctored tapes.
I disagree with people who professed that GMA, regardless of how she was “elected”, deserved to be our leader because she is the more qualifed.
For that point, I respect them.
For though they knew the truth, they are convinced that she must lead and not deluding themselves that GMA went through a clean process.
But I reserved by utmost abhorrence to those who engaged in intellectual dishonesty.
No Garci tapes ha.
No HOLOCAUST, too. Abdeljaminad
punona,
Firstly, I re-read what I wrote and it came off wrong. I was a bit frustrated/angry/hurt that you had decided not to vote in 2010. I’m angry at those who misled you; I’m not angry with you. Meanwhile, my sentiments are like those presented downthread — i.e. We all hope voters will be much more careful from now on, demanding more facts and rejecting ALL politicians BS which can’t be supported with facts.
Sorry about that.
——————-
Ok, but on to 2004/Garci…
Here are the reasons I don’t think I am delusional about the votes:
A — The Polling vs The Results
1. Both SWS and Pulse showed a 2~2.5 million lead (~37%-30%) for GMA a week before the elections.
2, All the media-performed exit polls showed GMA winning.
3. The Congressional tally showed a 40%-36.5% win. Namfrel had it 39.4%-36.8%.
4. The K4 coalition won the vast majority of the House, Governor and Mayoral races. They even won in the Senate.
————–
B. — The Results From 3rd Party Perspectives
1. The CBCP had diocese-by-diocese reports and almost unanimously agreed that the few small, isolated incidents did not affect the overall tallies. The elections were deemed accurate/”reflecting the People’s Will.”.
2. Namfrel (Bill Luz himself) said there was no evidence of any big anomalies.
—————-
C. — PET’s Recount of VP votes (Legarda vs De Castro).
The SCORP actually opened boxes and re-counted and found no meaningful anomalies. “To say that the protestant had shown enough evidence to prove that the whole or even half (440,862) of the lead of the protestee over the protestant is spurious, would go against the grain of the evidence on hand.”
2. These recounts were down in plain sight of lawyers and representatives from all sides. Since the paperwork for VP (ballots, COCs, etc) are the same, everybody could see the Prez votes/tabulations as well.
————–
D. — The Garci Tapes
The reason the law won’t accept edited tapes with no original copy or the confessed original wiretapper is because it is so easy to doctor the recordings.
In this case, there is ample evidence of tampering. It gets technical, and variuos interpretations are possible, but then again that’s why copies of copies of wiretaps are unacceptable to any court anywhere in the world.
——————-
In summary, all the tangible, credible evidence points one way. Meanwhile, the opposition claimed they had “boxes of evidence”…but to date, we have never seen any. Peter Catetano later tried claiming having evidence (in a seperate accusation vs the FG) which was proven to be false beyond a shadow of doubt.
Flying in the face of the Garci Tapes are all the hard facts, INCLUDING THE ACTUAL RE-COUNTING THE VOTES BY THE SUPREME COURT!!!
As people are reminded 2010-elections, do not forget this time last year was one of Loren Legarda’s high moment of accomplishment. Loren Legarda :roll: role in Ces Drilon ransom payments.
The reason we are electing Lousy Politicians and Leaders is: we simply dont care who we vote for in elections. GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE
OUT. Politicians come to us, offering us promises that is even
beyond human ability to fulfill. Their Media Machines comes in the
form of “pekeng peryodistas and pekeng blogistas”. We believe. We
vote for them in office. Then they give us problems like we are
facing now.
An informed Filipino voter is a wise voter. Nadala na tayo sa mga
taong ito. Hindi ba tayo namulat sa ginagawa nila sa atin?
We congratulate AKO ANG SIMULA for their patriotic work. You are now
Filipino Cyber Warriors. Shot down those pekeng blogista that infiltrated the Web Blog Sites. They are there to promote the will
of a would be Dictator.
“Ako ang Simula”
Hhhhmmm. It’s good Maria Ressa and the rest of ABS-CBN planners thought of putting the words Boto Mo, Ipatrol Mo as prequel. Otherwise much too Divine for the 2010 worldly pursuit. To remind :)
‘I am Alpha and …, the beginning and …, the first and the last.’
well, It’s about time…
enough with the
“I AM THE VICTIM OF BIG BAD GOVERNMENT”
and in with the
“I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT”.
thank goodness.
***
http://filipinovoices.com/personal-responsibility-and-government-responsibility
amen, i say to you, bongv. and i wish the new blood will be a little more inquisitive and discerning about the words and actions of their elders, the media, the church, and the ideologues of both sides of the political spectrum. beware of demagogic slogans and inflammatory generalizations sans real foundation. learn to examine the bait before swallowing it, hook, line and sinker.
It was encouraging to see the long line-ups for volunteers for AKO ANG SIMULA and to see that our youth is starting to show political awareness and engagement. Since they are mostly of voting age, I wish they would extend it further by evaluating the candidates based on platform, past performances, character, issues etc so that they will be able to discern who is the best candidate for the job. Mga kabataan, ang Pilipinas ay nalugmok na at ito na lang ang pagkakataon na bangonin ito kundi tuluyan nang tatapaktapakan na lang ng buong mundo at ng makasarili at masasamang tinatawag nating kapwa Pilipino. Kinakatay na ang Pilipinas.
Well said Nick and Flowell!
Great job, I guess.
Great job, too, Primer. Keep up your reading and writing. Bravo!
honestly, i was surprised there was an advocacy. this is the first time i’d heard of it.
so whats the advocacy really? how is it gonna play out? good luck!
stay tuned GabbyD, a few announcements in the weeks to come..