Modes of transport have been used in the past as political communication tools. In 1998, former president Joseph Estrada rode a JEEP on the way to Malacanang. Former Speaker Joe de Venecia had his “jet” to spite Erap, but crashed with just 16% of the votes. He had his jet alright, but not enough gas to even land in NAIA.
And here comes Mar Roxas, seen pedalling a “padyak”, a local, all human powered tricycle in a television commercial. First scene shows Mar inside the padyak, talking with the young padyak driver. Young kid had forgettable dialogue. Kid had to sing a song to delight his esteemed passenger, a senator.Then scene cuts with Mar Roxas pedalling the padyak himself and saying ” let’s continue the fight.”
See the raison d’etre? I don’t.
Look, for all these years as a legislator, it was only now that Mar wants to assume the driver position. For years, he, together with a band of legislators, self-proclaimed saviors and elite landlords allowed that boy to work as a padyak driver in the dirty and dangerous streets of Manila. Mar, and those working for laws which we don’t use in that “hallowed” sanctuary called the Senate, even had the gumption to glorify that kid pedalling a padyak, when, in other countries, that’s plain and simple child labor. Is Mar aware that kids are not supposed to work until 18 years old? Is Mar saying that he knew this hard reality but it’ll be just now that he wants to act on it, a year before the elections?
The very fact that he rode that padyak shows you how insensitive Mar is when it comes to this socio-economic reality. By riding that padyak, he made himself a party into this tragic, despicable yet socially acceptable practice of child labor. Why only now Mr. Senator that you want to replace that young driver?
It would have been better if Mar’s commercial started with him pedalling the padyak, with those kids inside the trike. That would show that he has only the welfare for the masses. That would show that his heart belongs in the right place.
But, no. Mar began his crusade on the wrong side of the padyak. Imagine, after all these years of serving as our Senator, he was not able to provide a law that would help impoverished padyak kids go to school and off the streets?
Another thing—yes, a padyak is a symbol of Filipino ingenuity. Yet, it is also a stark symbolism of backwardness. It’s slow, cumbersome and plain and simple, stupid to run.
Is Mar now saying that he’ll use the padyak to symbolize his administration? That, it’ll be backward, slow to act, cumbersome to many and simply stupid to run? Yes, many would argue that a padyak is the Pinoy’s answer to global warming but if we are to use this as a symbol for our growth and development, then, we need to analyze our heads.
It could have been better if we saw Mar riding a solar or water powered car invented by a Filipino. Imagine Mar driving a mini-bus with a water-powered engine invented by a Pinoy, with a throng of Filipinos, representative of our society behind him. Or Mar wearing a racer’s suit with the country’s tricolors, behind the wheel of a Pinoy invention of a solar powered race car? That would have rocked our world.
But, no. Mar had to settle for a padyak to peddle his way to Malacanang. What if Mar wins? Would he use a padyak instead of the Lincoln continental in going to his meetings?
I remember Mrs. Arroyo’s bangkang papel. If Erap has his JEEP, JDV his jet and Mar has his padyak, Mrs. Arroyo, well, has only a bangkang papel for herself. After 2010, will she ride a bangkang papel to Portugal?
Popularity: 1% [?]
Are you at liberty to say who made that infomercial and how much was paid for this 'masterpiece'?
There seems to be a bit of a language barrier here. We don't actually call it padyak. I know we call it 'tri-sikad'. Neither do we call it tricycle since it normally refers to the three-wheeled motorcycle. Thus the mental images created can seem to travel in different lanes unless the terms are suitably referable to the objects they refer to.
The texts spoken by Mar are likewise incomplete. I know he said or words to that effect – itabi mo. tutulungan ko kayo. lalaban tayo. Nothing about the dream of the boy to be a seaman nor of the girl to be an actress.
The boy touched about two social realities – walang gamot sa maysakit, walang trabajo or pagkain – something to this effect. And there should have been an inspiring reply from Mar but there was none. All he keeps on saying is "lalaban tayo". Who will Mar have to fight with?
Mr. Palengke did the trick. Maybe, this Mr. Padyak is expected to trick us again. For me, forget it Mar, forget it.
honestly, i don't know primer. Just ask Mar's media group.
Primer,
Yes, language barrier indeed. In Bicol we call it sikad-sikad, translated to Tagalog street lingo would mean 'padyak-padyak'. If you live in a metro-manila depressed areas side-streets like I do, you will find that the term used to call these vehicle is really 'padyak-padyak', and Senator Roxas, having, I believe, researched on this, knows whereof he speaks in the commercial.
In the visayan region, they call that vehicle as trisikad, in manila it is called as pedicab. Others may call it as padyak, sikad, bisikleta, etc.
Anyways, ang problem ko sa ad niya ay siya yung pumalit sa batang driver. Ano maitutulong nuon sa mga bata. 100 thousand pesos plus sponsorship for their education is way better than his padyak-padyak stupidity.
Politicians do everything to get and to pander for votes. They may even stand on their heads, if you ask them to
do it. After the election, when they are voted in offices. You cannot even see their shadows.
We need leaders who truly cares for us. Not clown performers or actors who want to become leaders.
yep, spot on, tasio!
Mar Roxas is again taking the populist stance to win the masa votes. Plus his engagement with Ms. Corina Sanchez, ayos. Remember his Mister Palengke positioning which made him numero uno in the senatorial election in 2004 even besting Mr. Panday Bong Revilla?
Padyakin mo baby!
If not Mar Roxas, WHO THEN?
Celso de los Angeles, Romeo Jalosjos
Tasio:
That's so WICKED! You can't be serious dude!
Let's imagine, Celso de los Angeles' mode of transportation. Probably a cop car? <img src="http://www.foundshit.com/pictures/cars/police-carpool.jpg">
The other would be a pink beetle to attract teenie boppers <img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-5/729624/barbie_bug.JPG">
don't know BongV. Maybe we ought to disabuse our minds and think that the problems of this country would only be solved not thru one person, but a group of reform-minded individuals.
Pat:
Mar's handlers are catering to the demographics from which Mar can get the largest number of votes.
There is a likelihood that this is just his opening salvo and there will be more ads targeting other demographics?
pandering, you mean? are all C-D class people padyak people? is a kid a registered voter?
Pat:
The kid's parents (and his parents family and friends) are registered voters I presume.
And a large number of C-D drive and ride "trisikads".
A soft melodramatic entry to establish an emotional connection with the viewer helps.
Mar is a mama's boy! He doesn't have a stand on vital issues! He is always on the 'safe' side, now that he has presidential ambition, he is trying to make noise on popular issues. A little too late perhaps? Were was he from 2004 to 2007? Why was he so quiet when the Filipino people are outraged by Gloria Arroyo's scandals?
Mar is a mediocre leader, he cannot win in a one on one match!
andres:
This is not the first time i have heard this chatter.
A friend of mine had a view that Mar is the least evil of all the other evils because Mar is a "typo" not a "trapo". He reasons out that since Mar does not have "guns, goons, gold, and girls" therefore Mar is not a "trapo". And that as a "typo" Mar will be "safe" compared to the less desirable candidates who are presumably "trapo".
What is a "typo"?
well, i don't exactly agree that Mar is a non-trapo.first, he belongs to the Araneta-Roxas clan, one of the richest in the Philippines. Of course, he'll use his money, billions of it, to secure his electoral victory. He does have a girl (Korina), and the guns (his volunteers). Mar is a pragmatist, so expect him and his minions to play the game come crunch time.
yep, i remember vividly. i also remember how palengke prices shot up after that.
well, that remains to be seen. being a senator is different from being a president.
And Roxas wants us to know that he represents the future leadership of this country, by driving the padyak/sikad himself – “Ako na. Sama-sama tayo. Hindi ko kayo pababayaan. Lalaban tayo!” (Translation: Let me do it. We’re all in this together. I will not abandon you. We will fight!)
It seems that MAR is efficiently pacing his presidential campaign. His hard work on the Legacy Group issue has already earned him points in the last SWS and Pulse Asia surveys. According to the same surveys, he was the biggest gainer in popularity from October 2008 up to February 2009. With this ad, it is likely that he will gain more. </div>
I thought Mar Roxas had your vote?
http://filipinovoices.com/searching-for-our-voice...
"And I tell you–and this is my personal take–Mar Roxas got my vote."
You've changed your mind?
Mike, who would not, seeing a presidentiable riding on a cheap 'gimik', heheh.
hi bert,
that's it bert…..i'm quite disappointed with that ad….it's false advertisement, plain and simple. did you see Mar riding a padyak before? obviously, even if it's a literary or artistic rendition, still, an ad requires even a modicum of truth in it. unfortunately, this ad is plain and simple political stunt.
that's what I am driving at here Neil. Driving a padyak or sikad is not the way to do it because it symbolizes something else—underdevelopment. yes, it could be a good vehicle to gain sympathy votes from the C-D class, but would it? I really doubt it simply because Mar does not ride the padyak himself everyday. Malayo sa realidad yung ad.
hi mike,
well….i've been reviewing each and every ad and political statements these presidentiables are spewing and believe me, i'm not impressed. those were initial views that i wrote before and i continue to review others. Mar, yes, got my vote before but I'm slowly distancing myself from the political side of things and having a position of neutrality. The more i analyze and write about these presidentiables, the more convinced I am of the necessity of having a Council of State instead of pushing these trapos or typos to an election.
The clincher for Mar Roxas would be a commercial…he driving a 'padyak', Korina Sanchez the passenger, distributing sipit rubber slippers to potential voters.
Pat:
Within the context of a political exercise, "a group of reform-minded individuals" would be a political party.
The only party I know of that has a program of government, a vision, and a detailed program for achieving the mission is the CPP.
All the other parties are just civic associations masquerading as "political parties" that butterflies can alight on and leave at will, on demand.
magpa ka totoo ka Mar coz that would lead to your victory come 2010
OT: mar roxas proposing to korina is cheesy- pang third world country style. if one is serious of becoming a president, he should focus on the peole first not his lifetime partner… i don't find his decision appealing. as i said, it's cheesy. the people of this country deserve a sincere representative not CHEESY.
That is right, Leyte taga Hilongos. It's so friggin' cheesy. Why do they have to scream to the whole dowdy Flipside that they are getting married. DUH! Cheesy talaga ang mga Flips including Korina and Mar. Well, whatever … I hope they do it in front of us all …
But we *are* a third world country. A huge percentage of the population is hooked to Wowowee and Eat Bulaga and the tele-seryes; and a majority of our kababayans abroad are hooked to these shows also.
hUH? Even Flip-Ams watch WowiWeeee and Eat Bulaga and TFC and tele-seryes? Gademn these Flip-Ams and when they balikyabang they speaknegese goot country club englixchtzes ….. Gademn you FlipAzzes
Yes its a gimmick, but aren't presidentiables in the US use the train or the bus during the campaign period, but they don't ride this in their daily lives as well.
When in a third world country – be like the third world residents – CHEESY.
However, romance is an equal opportunity situation and will make no distinctions between first or third world.
For instance, proposing on a football field, prior to a football game. [youtube EDcg4RgVxDo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDcg4RgVxDo youtube]
This blogpost was quoted here:
Tatler spotlights three presidentiables
I admit that I voted for Mar Roxas when he ran for the senate. But after all the ridiculous stunts, I won’t be wasting my vote this clown. It’s just unbelievable on what he’s been doing lately.