The following has been sent to FV by Nicanor Perlas’ team, much thanks to Cecilla. Nicanor Perlas is a candidate for President in the 2010 Philippine Presidential Elections. We do not endorse any candidate, however our venue at FV is always open to any candidate.
NOYNOY: ENABLER OR SUPPRESSOR OF THE NEW POLITICS?
By Nicanor Perlas
05 September 2009
In the past few days, I have been bombarded with text messages from friends as well as interviews with the media on what I think of the Mar-Noynoy announcements. Will I, like Senator Mar Roxas, also renounce my intention to run as a presidential candidate in the 2010 national elections and support the presidential candidacy of Senator Noynoy Aquino?
The short answer is “No”. I will not renounce my intention to run as a presidential candidate. And “Yes”, I will encourage Noynoy to resign from the Liberal Party, run as an independent presidential candidate, and join the on-going conversation and unification efforts among non-traditional political parties and movements.
Noynoy can stifle the growth of new politics. Or he can enable the new politics that is emerging all throughout the country. Allow me to elaborate.
Introductory Remarks
My comments to follow will only make sense if people understand that 2010 is not an ordinary election. It will be the venue for an epochal battle between traditional politics and the new politics. What is branded often as “opposition” is not really opposition in the true sense. The current opposition is also part of traditional politics, albeit a different version of traditional politics. What I mean by traditional and new politics will become clear in the paragraphs to follow.
Noynoy Can Weaken New Politics
There are eight reasons why Noynoy can weaken new politics if he misunderstands the meaning of the “signs of the time”, succumbs to the “destiny” that others want to impose on him, and makes a wrong decision.
Reinforce short-lived, non-strategic unification
We successfully united against and toppled the Marcos dictatorship in 1986. But in a few years, the luster and the euphoria of People Power 1 dissipated. In 2001, we again united against and ousted the corrupt administration of Joseph Estrada. But this time, the unity of People Power II disappeared in only a few months and inaugurated the worst political regime in the past 50 years.
Why? We united against something (an “enemy”) instead of for something. With the “enemy” gone, our unity shattered. And we went our separate ways. Yes, we restored democracy. That is important. But we had no common vision of what we wanted to do with that democracy after Marcos or after Estrada. We just wanted to get Marcos and Estrada out of the way. That was the point of unity. And, by its very nature, unity against something cannot last after the common objective of rejecting something is achieved. The very specter of an Estrada presidency in 2010 is a powerful reminder of what uniting against something can ultimately lead to: more of the same, and the resurgence of the old, of traditional politics.
From this perspective, asking all non-traditional and even opposition forces from traditional politics to unite behind Noynoy is repeating the same historical mistake. We are again being asked to unite against the abuses of the Arroyo administration and remove it in 2010. But it is not clear what we will be installing after the Arroyo regime is gone. We are being rushed to unify without a clear idea of what vision and strategic agenda we will pursue together and what process we will undertake to arrive at that common vision and agenda.
We are driven by our hunger to “win” in 2010. But we must have a different notion of winnability. (See below.) For we may “win” the battle but lose the war, as has already happened twice. Instead of a new lease on life, we will plunge deeper into political oppression and chaos, led by our naïve notion of unity against something instead of for something.
Suppress the emergence of a people’s agenda and selection process
A powerful antidote against this one-sided form of unification is to engage the country in a participatory process of setting up a people’s vision and strategic agenda. We hear this longing from all over the country, not only as an answer to the corruption and decadence of the Arroyo administration. It is the peoples attempt to correct the historical shortcomings of People Power I and II.
Before the recent call for Senator Noynoy Aquino to take up the challenge to run for president in 2010, many concerned citizens were saying: “Bago sino, ano”? Before we decide on “who”, we must first answer “what” is our vision and agenda? Only after we determine our vision and strategic agenda do we then look for the leaders who will best embody our vision and agenda for a better Philippines.
This is a step in the right direction. But now the rush to have a bandwagon with Noynoy in front weakens this process. Instead of “ano” or “what”, “sino” takes prominence.
Even some proponents of peoples’ primaries (to flesh out a peoples agenda and a more participatory selection process) are blinded by the glare of a Noynoy presidency. Some have rallied behind Noynoy, betraying their own principles and aspirations.
Strengthen personality-based politics
The old traditional politics is a politics of personality. And the politics of personality is part of the larger traditional politics of “winnability”. The old politics believes that one of the key ingredients of winnability, is to have a personality with name recall and national exposure. That is why traditional politics is filled with candidates who have lots of money to spend on advertising in TV, radio, and newspapers. That is why, until recently, traditional politics was littered with show biz and media personalities.
In contrast, the new politics selects qualified and proven leadership willing to advance the vision and strategic agenda co-created together with the people. In this consideration, winnability is not the primary consideration in the beginning. Instead, once the proper platform is crafted and qualified leadership found that would advance that visionary platform, then proponents of the new politics organize to make sure that their candidates win. If the candidate does not have a strong national name recall, the new politics will find ways and means to ensure that their candidate gets the necessary national exposure, among others, to win in the national elections.
Asking people to rush behind Noynoy is asking Filipinos to enshrine the old politics of personality at the expense of the new politics of participation, vision and strategic agenda and a qualified proven leadership willing to advance that common vision. With Noynoy, are we asking the personality cult of traditional politics to rear its ugly head again?
Send mixed signals regarding political dynasties
We rail against political dynasties. We celebrate victories of candidates who triumph against political dynasties. What are we doing now with our clamor for Noynoy Aquino? Are we not advancing traditional politics of dynasties?
True, Noynoy does not come from a corrupt political dynasty. Nor is there any technical, legal violation of the anti-dynasty provisions of the Constitution. But are we not close to violating the spirit of that constitutional provision when we get excited about Noynoy simply because he carries the name of martial law hero, Ninoy Aquino, and the late former president of the Philippines, Corazon Aquino? Does Noynoy have the necessary track record, leadership qualities, vision, strategic agenda to renew this nation?
Break the Link Between Inner and Societal Change
The new politics requires inner change as the foundation for political and societal change. New politics rests on the hard work of enabling new mindsets and habits to emerge. Only with inner change will it be possible to co-create with others new ways of viewing and doing politics, governance, policies, platforms, processes, winnability, volunteerism, and other important matters.
Traditional politics does not expect inner change. In fact, it wants old mindsets and habits to prevail. Otherwise traditional politics will not be able to function. The appearance of a political leader who can win enough votes is all that is necessary for success as far as traditional politics is concerned.
The unthinking acceptance of a Noynoy “bandwagon” destroys the important link between inner change and political/societal change. We can all remain who we are. There is no need for us to change to create a new country. Noynoy will do it all for us. We will be spared from all the hard inner and outer work necessary to renew the country. This is an illusion, one destined to break into pieces in the hard rock of political reality.
Remove the Necessity of a Cultural Revolution
Change of hearts, will, and minds are the foundations of authentic democracy and the new politics. People run institutions. If people are corrupt, institutions will be corrupt. If citizens remain the same, they will continue to vote and empower corrupt traditional politicians and, in the process, victimize themselves.
To change the inner disposition of the voting public, a cultural revolution is essential. Widespread consultations and education are necessary. Citizens need access to information of all kinds, especially detailed background information on the track record, capabilities, integrity, and agenda of candidates for political office. They need to be able to have the chance to work through difficult questions of distinguishing between old and new approaches to winnability, assessing proposed platforms, and other areas of discernment and reflection.
A Noynoy bandwagon marginalizes the importance of an educated citizenry and a cultural revolution in the mainstreaming of the new politics. A Noynoy bandwagon, in effect, sends the message that Noynoy is good enough because he is the son of two well-known and well-respected parents. There is no need to examine his background and his qualifications for the Office of the President.
The unquestioning wholesale acceptance of Noynoy on the basis of nothing else except his biological relationship with Ninoy and Cory Aquino is tantamount to strengthening traditional politics. It cheapens the notion that new politics can only arise because a new and very different generation of citizens are prepared for it and demand it. The old politics views the national education of the citizenry as unnecessary for wining the 2010 elections. A Noynoy bandwagon that is not based on a simultaneous cultural revolution will prevent the inauguration of a new, principled, honest and service-oriented politics. It will be a recipe for disillusionment in and after 2010.
Favor winnability over character, track record, and vision
What is driving the old politics of unity against something not for something, top-down agenda setting, personalities, political dynasties, neglect of inner change, and dismissal of a necessity of a cultural revolution? The answer is as simple as it is profoundly pervasive. The driving force is the imperative to win at all costs.
Traditional notions of winnability is the political virus that infects political parties, personalities, media, Church leaders, businessmen, and many others, including, yes, even advocates of the new politics. It is a virus so deep in all of us that we cannot even recognize it when we are totally under its control.
Traditional politics is littered with the spoils of political marriage built on the manipulative foundations of “winnability”. Even reform parties and change movements cannot resist the lure and siren call of winnability. By going for a coalition with traditional parties to increase their chances of winnability, reform political movements and parties endanger and ultimately sacrifice their principles. By putting a strong emphasis on traditional notions of winnability above character, tract record, integrity, and strategic agenda, change movements unwittingly infect their followers with the trapo winnability virus and undermine their pursuit of change.
I have written two long articles on traditional notions of winnability versus the new politics approach to winnability. I will not repeat the arguments here. I encourage friends and readers to take a look at these articles in www.nicanorperlas.com.
Misinterpret the Meaning of the Ninoy/Cory Heritage
Connected with all the above dangers is the deeper question of how we should understand the national events following the death of former President Corazon Aquino.
We are dealing with a spiritual legacy. We are dealing with a longing for a form of governance that is honest and clean. We are dealing with a search for a new politics where politicians are statesmen and women who, when the time for service is finished, are ready to let go of political power. At this point, we will not discuss whether honesty and integrity are sufficient to transform the institutions of government, not to speak of the institutions of society.
A spiritual legacy is not the same as a hereditary legacy. History is full of examples of how successor generations squandered the gains of the previous generations. The outpouring in Cory’s funeral meant the expression of longing for honesty, decency, and democracy. It does not mean that this automatically transfers to a son or a daughter by means of heredity.
What it does mean is that the nation is longing for a leader that had the traits of Cory PLUS the capacity to transform institutions and systems. The “PLUS” comes from the historical experience that good will and honesty are not enough to change a country. Therefore additional societal capacities are needed to supplement moral qualities. And these spiritual/moral and societal capacities cannot be transferred by simply having the same bloodline. These capacities are gained instead by means of hard work and a life-long experience of transforming challenges into initiatives that benefit the country as a whole.
Noynoy Can Enable the New Politics
Noynoy can do one thing that will dramatically reduce the dangers enumerated above. Noynoy can refuse the temptation of accepting his “destiny” of being the presidential candidate of the Liberal Party and, by wishful thinking, the candidate of all opposition to the current administration in an epochal battle of good and evil in 2010.
For one thing, the Liberal Party of Noynoy is NOT the only opposition party. Second, the Liberal Party, with its mixed track record, cannot re-brand itself, even with Noynoy’s blessing, as a non-traditional party. Thus the Liberal Party is a part of the spectrum of traditional parties even if there are individuals within the party who are non-traditional. The party as a whole is not the bearer of new politics. Will Noynoy survive the intramurals within the Liberal Party and present a vision and strategic agenda that transcends the Liberal Party?
And third, will Noynoy be able to unify the dozens of non-traditional movements and parties when, by a wrong decision, Noynoy will destroy the very foundation upon which these movements and parties of new politics are built?
Prominent members of the Liberal Party share some of these thoughts. Senator Francis Pangilinan recently begged to differ that the Liberal Party is the opposition party. He said that the opposition is more than the Liberal Party, more than other traditional parties opposed to Arroyo, and includes non-traditional parties and movements.
In addition, Senator Franklin Drilon, said that Noynoy “is not prepared for it” (the presidency). And Noynoy himself is not clear whether he himself is qualified or not. He is also not clear on how he would go about systemically changing the landscape of traditional politics and transforming Philippine society. Can his lack of clarity be the beacon for the new Philippines around which all kinds of forces arrayed against the Arroyo regime will unite?
There is one thing, though, that Noynoy can do to help enhance the longing and hunger of the majority of Filipinos for a new kind of politics. He can announce that he will resign from the Liberal Party and participate in a unification process with non-traditional political and social movements for new politics. He can lend his newly minted national stature to advance the cause of the new politics, both in terms of substance and process.
Concretely, this would mean that Noynoy will announce that he is willing to be part of an open process of determining who would be the best new politics candidate for president in the national 2010 elections. It is open in the sense that, at the end of the day, Noynoy himself may or may not be that presidential candidate. Yet he would still be able to bring energy to the pursuit of the new politics by supporting whoever will emerge as the presidential candidate of a unified movement for a new politics.
This is the real challenge facing Noynoy Aquino. Will he be an enhancer of the new politics? Or will he be the instrument for marginalizing the new politics?
Overcoming the Deadly Virus of Traditional Notions of Winnability
While Noynoy Aquino undergoes a spiritual retreat to finalize his decision, we should all reflect on the ultimate meaning on the current events surrounding Noynoy. It is difficult to discern what wants to come from the future. And it would even be more difficult to discern if we are infected with the virus of traditional notions of winnability.
The Noynoy event provides us with one of the most potent challenge to discern what real new politics really means in theory and practice. We can only hope that Noynoy becomes an enabler of the new politics. And I hope that all those truly seeking a better country, are able to truly discern the profound conceptual and behavioral requirements of the new politics, one that we are all hoping to begin today and realize in 2010 and beyond. Our future as a nation will depend on it.
Popularity: 2% [?]
So who is Carlos Perlas and what is his blueprint for the country?
His desire to run for the 2010 presidential election is threatened by Noynoy’s eventual decision to run and much of his ideals for “new politics” lose traction; it is traditional politics to say that one is not ready while he is ready. If Mr. Perlas has all the brilliance on how to make the country safe from rapacious politicians, of what good is that brilliance if he cannot even win a barangay election. Put that “winnability” card aside, you’ve got all those bright ideas sputtering.
As I said in a related article, Noynoy can be a unifying force. If he can unify his party and enlist the support of the populace to rally behind him, he could use that vast reservoir of goodwill to keep us back on track in terms of job-creation, economic development, transparency and and good governance.
It is traditional politics to say that he is not up to the job desription of the office. The Office of the President has a retinue of cabinet officials and technocrats who help the President with the complex day-to-day operations of the country. But if you reduce the complexity of the office of the President, it all boils down to a choice between what is right or wrong and between what is moral or immoral. I bet that you and me knows the difference, and so thus, Noynoy.
BTW I see no problem revitalizing the Liberal Party and the Nacionalista party as the two dominant political parties in the country and all other smaller parties to coalesce within these parties. It is the effective way of strenghtening democracy and prevent a minority president from getting elected to the office. Several Presidentials vying for election results to a divided country.
I mean, Nicanor Perlas not Carlos!!
what is your basis for the statement “the worst political regime in 50 years” obviously referring to the arroyo presidency? do you really think GMA is worst than marcos politically, worst than cory economically, and than estrada morally? your answers to these questions will enable me to determine whether or not you represent a “new politics”, whatever the heck that means.
gma = fm politically; gma < cory < fvr economically; gma < erap, morally. surveys show gma is the least liked ever.
new politics is noynoy, perlas, padaca, robredo, panlilio, kiko.
villar, chiz, loren, erap, noli, binay, by virtue of their past records and those of their backers, are not new politics.
i need intelligent articulation, not childish formulations.
What a pedantic bunch of language wrapped around self-justification. Do Filipinos like words by the ton, or what? Does this kind of “analysis” mean you can get population growth slowed, or more jobs in the Philippines, or the debt reduced, or deal with rising seas, or make the justice system efficient and fair and open to all?
Intelligence does not mean words. It means discerning need, and getting results.
Joe
tama ka joe am. napupuna ko this group blog sounds anti-gma, but veers towards villar.
You can say that if Nick Perlas has not proven anything. He has 40 years of public service and a Global 500 Award to back it up. He is also the co-author of Philippine Agenda 21 which is dubbed as the best and most collaborative pro-environment, pro-business and pro-society development agenda.
Joe, the write-up isn’t about debt reduction or rising seas or population increase or justice system, etc. The write-up is ABOUT NOYNOY RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, in case you didn’t notice. If you want Nick’s proposed policies and programs on the environment, the justice system, or how to make Philippines prosperous and globally competitive, please go to http://www.nickperlas.com, see PLATFORM or DOWNLOAD (to download the complete document). While there, you might want to listen to his take on many issues at the VIDEO section. Thanks. :)
Geejay Arriola,
Thanks for the reference to the web site of Mr. Perlas. I’ll definitely check it out.
I know the subject of the blog was Mr. Aquino running for president. My problem, consistent with other comments I have made here on FV, is twofold: (1) the overabundance of words is typical of the current government’s penchant for flowering us with words disassociated from any real action or, on occasion, truth; it would be refreshing to find someone who can cut to the action and lose the pretty but mind-numbing word-smoke; (2) it is partisan sharp-shooting, the judging of one candidate by another, and is not really helpful or dignified; Mr. Perlas has no reason to tell Mr. Aquino to drop out other than self-interest; I’d rather they debate the issues, not conjure up supposed motives or speculative outcomes about one another.
I want to know, crystal clear, how your favored candidate will make a difference and bring real progressive CHANGE to the Philippines. The issues are so huge, to see a piece like this rising first and foremost to the candidate’s agenda is irritating (to me, personally). Have him blog corruption. Or equal employment practices, abridged now by hiring of friends and family. Or poverty. Or birth rate. Or foreign investment. Or shooting of journalists. Or the national debt.
I hope his web site is clear on action. No one else is, for sure . . .
Joe
1. Ninoy
2. Cory
3. Noynoy
4. Kris
5. Balsy
6.
7.
and so on and so forth
We are not about to call that ‘political dynasty’, do we?
Whatever…
Either which way, Tessie Aquino-Oreta would be around there somewhere. Wahoo!
On the one hand of the scale, this Nicanor Perlas is virtually ‘running amuck’ – calling attention to himself although in the end, no votes will even deliver to this name.
For who is he anyway? For a virtual unknown, Perlas would only be like a little rock in a vast wasteland of politics where only the towering ‘rocks’ are worth our intellectual gaze.
This Perlas is out of his mind.
Virtual unknown? Am guessing you have never been interested in, invited to, nor sneaked in to a single environmental fora all these time, sir?
Ah yes, I keep on forgetting this is strictly politics. What business can anyone have to even mention the environment. So kindly, pretty please, refrain from using the phrase “little rock in a vast wasteland” lest you want an environmental disaster whacked on your head.
Dear Primer,
On what basis are you saying that Nick Perlas is “out of his mind” or “running amuck”? If thinking out of the box is “running amuck” or “out of his mind,” then I would take that as a compliment for Nick Perlas. He is, perhaps, just too ahead of his time. Most profound ideas start out as implausible, impossible, ridiculous, outrageous. Thus many of the world’s inventors were accused of being insane. But I do agree with your description though, of politics as a vast wasteland, and so new ideas, new reflections such as those of Nick are like flowers of hope in your wasteland. :)
I am glad that Nick Perlas’s Reflections on NoyNoy is being discussed openly. I hope that more intelligent discussions will follow after emotional responses are filtered out. This is the kind of dialogue that we need in this country. Keep them coming. Thanks.
Personally, I have nothing against Nicanor Perlas, I think he’s as an outstanding a citizen as we can have. A patriot by any sense of the word.
As for being presidential, that’s another question. But I am all for the new politics that he is promoting, and I have the same concerns as him with regards to TraPos.. which is why, I encourage Noynoy to not only look towards the established politicos for support, but towards new politicos and invite them into his campaign..
Which is also why, seeing the support that is already being garnered, I am still hopeful that Noynoy may just be able to galvanize the opposition, bring in the new blood that is needed for the good of our political system.
But as I have said… Noynoy must not be beholden to anyone except the people he will eventually serve.
He must lead with strength of conviction, not for his party, but for his nation..
Who defines winnability? It is the people that choose their leaders and leaders should be chosen wisely. Think… it is about time that we move to a real change.
New politics, this Noynoy? It takes tons of faith I am not willing to invest. Isn’t it funny ironic, every time the tenor of elections or regime change is about moral regeneration, we degenerate instead. After EDSA 1, we had Kamag-anak Inc. elevating kleptocracy to new heights. After EDSA 2, what did we get for a hoped for improvement? Today, it’s about moral regeneration all over again. I could imagine the Arroyo’s saying later “wala naman pala tayong masyadong pinag-iba, eh!”
Like I already said: Either which way, Tessie Aquino-Oreta would be around there somewhere. Wahoo again!
The intention of Mr. Perlas may be interesting. The Article is long
on Rhetorics, but short on Details.
The interesting question of every candidate running is:
1. What can you do for us (the voters)?
2. What are the present problems ? 1. unemployment 2. OFWs, we are losing people with brains to develop the country. 3. Useless Ombudsman Court. Justices sold their souls, self respects and positions.
Too much problems to enumerate. Too many things to straighten…
It is not just your desire to better things. You must present to us solutions. Where we can measure up your perfrmance, once you are
voted in office. Present to us, how you can better our situations.
Hello Hyden, you might want to look up http://www.nickperlas.com. Click PLATFORM, or you can download the complete document at the DOWNLOAD section. You will see Nicanor Perlas’ solutions (in the form of proposed programs and policies) to the perceived problems of our country. Not a single Presidentiable has ever presented us with a detailed platform for governance except Nick.
He must put it simply in public viewing, in the most
understable way. No time to look at his website. Sorry…
Hyden,
You have plenty of time to come to this forum to make your opinions known candidates but you don’t have time to check out websites to find out what they’re really made of? With due respect, I’m sure you know how INFORMATION and KNOWLEDGE are important in making intelligent decisions, and in being able to participate intelligently in discussions. You have made many sweeping and general statements about the candidates in this forum, and I respect where you’re coming from, but in any situation, there is hope. Habang may buhay, may pag-asa. :)
Mahina talaga ang mga ulo dito..
All this Perlas guy is suggesting is, will Noynoy be the guy to change the conduct of partisan politics in this country from personalities to more real democratic choices wherein different sectors can participate.
Will he (Noynoy) use this new found interest in principles based politics to effect transformation of the political system?
The history of the New Deal in the 1930′s did not come from politicians. It came from the high percentage then of private sector unions. And to to farmer families..
Will Noynoy have the wherewithall to organize the different sectors of society to effect meaningful
change? We need a shift to a more issue based partisan politics. That can only be accomplished by citizens movements that engage the process. Those who do not participate but simply prognosticate are useless anyway.
Obama was able to get many young people to engage in the selection process. His so called platform was meant to unite the dormant portion of Democrats that had voted Republican since Reagan.
But that would entail a more enlightened citizenry. The question remains is simple. Is the country ready for this type of change?
Or will Noynoy simply be the new face of the old Kamaganak Inc.?
His actions in the next few weeks will tell the tale…
“Mahina talaga ang mga ulo dito..”
Hehehehehehe…
Tragic. Tsk tsk tsk.
How about some real critical thinking hmmm?
The thing with letting actions tell the tale, especially with Presidential Candidates, is that once they get into office — it becomes very hard to take them out of it.
They have no idea of our problems. How can they formulate solutions ? Once they are there in office.
They are like blind men finding their way out in the
darkeness.
“mahina talaga mga ulo. YABANG.
The Flesh is willing. Mind is willing. However, the
means to comprehend our present situation is lacking.
We are in need of REAL leaders who can understand
our situation. Have the vision to take us where we
want to be.
spot on bencard!
“Will I, like Senator Mar Roxas, also renounce my intention to run as a presidential candidate in the 2010 national elections and support the presidential candidacy of Senator Noynoy Aquino?”
Ever notice that after Mar Roxas said he was backing out and supporting Ninoy, other ‘presidential candidates’ backed out too? I even heard that Chiz Escudero said that he was willing to back out too, if a worthy candidate will be found.
However, I wonder why Perlas decided to compare himself to Mar Roxas and not people like Among Ed — who also did the same thing?
Is it because, in his mind, he is like Mar Roxas?
Right now, I think, Noynoy is still praying for discernment at a retreat of sorts. Lo and behold, Kabayan Noli de Castro is said to be thinking of doing the same thing. I wonder who else will follow.
Even a call for the formulation of a national vision or agenda is gimmickry perhaps in the same way that most political summits are.
I have not seen any comprehensive solutions to our present
problems, from Mar Roxas and others. Have not seen how they
identified and analysed our problems. Liking a candidate is
very different from electing an ABLE CANDIDATE.
We like Gloria Arroyo; when the Jueteng Lord President Erap Estrada was exposed. Now we got what we like…
Hello Hyden,
That is because we always voted AGAINST. We never voted FOR. Meaning, we voted without thinking about the agenda of the person we voted for. We were focused on voting against—ERAP, for example. This time, we could be repeating the mistake if we don’t check outselves. We should focus on WHAT WE’RE VOTING FOR (platform, principles, programs, policies), not AGAINST (this time, GMA). Meaning, do we even know, as voters, what our own solutions, alternatives and principles are? See http://www.nickperlas.com PLATFORM and DOWNLOAD the complete document.
Hello Pinoybuzz,
In response to your question:
>>>However, I wonder why Perlas decided to compare himself to Mar Roxas and not people like Among Ed — who also did the same thing?
It’s because Mar and Noynoy are from the same party, and towards the end, the challenge that Nick posed to Noynoy is to leave the Liberal Party and join the New Politics (where Among Ed belongs) for an open discussion about who to support in the 2010 election.
DISCERNMENT is the KEY at this point in time. At kung mapapansin mo, ilan lang sa mga Pilipino ang may kapasidad na makita ang TUNAY sa PEKE.
Ano ang dahilan bakit si Noynoy ang iboboto ko?
1. Dahil anak siya ni Cory at Ninoy, dalawang respetadong tao sa kasaysayan ng ating bansa?
2. Dahil, napilit na siya ng taumbayan para tumakbo?
3. Dahil sa isang ma-dramang eksena ay nag-backout si Mar Roxas na Milyones na ang ibinuhos para sa sariling kampanya?
Ano ako SIRAULO???
Kapag naging presidente yan, PUPPET na naman ng ibang mga tao yan. At nasira pa tuloy ang pangalan ng kanyang mga magulang.
Kapag naging presidente yan, may magbabago ba sa Pilipinas? Lumang tugtugin pa rin ang sinasakyan niyan. Popularity contest pa rin! TRAPONG-TRAPO. If it looks like, feels like, smells like, tastes like trapo –IT MUST BE TRAPO!!
Sa dinami-dami ng intellectual ponderings ng mga tao dito, simple lang ang ibig sabihin ng article ni NIcanor Perlas — matuto tayong mag-isip at kumilatis. Kung hindi, balik tayo sa dati, sa pagpili ng lider na dinadala lang tayo sa LUSAK. Ayoko na ng ganoon!
Bagong Pilipinas na ang pipiliin ko! At si Nicanor Perlas lang ang lider na pipiliin ko dahil siya ay:
1. May Paninindigan at Kayang GAWIN ang sinasabi niya — mag-research kayo para malaman nyo na hindi siya “puro rhetorics”
2. May People’s Agenda na magmumula sa Consultation sa mga tao mula sa lahat ng sektor ng lipunan, simple pero klaro ang SIX PILLARS niya
3. Tunay na isinusulong ang NEW POLITICS. Yung ibang inihanay nyo na “for new politics” kung kikilatisin nyong mabuti, naglalaro pa rin sa TRAPO. Bakit? Lahat naman ng PARTY ngayon na kinabibilangan nila TRAPO, matagal nang nandiyan at naglalaro sa DIRTY POLITICS. Kaya, kahit sabihin nilang for new politics sila kung ang partido nila trapo –may bahid pa rin sila ng Trapo.
AT kung gusto natin ng totoong pagbabago, simulan sa sarili natin! Dahil kahit sino pa ang iluklok diyan sa malacanang, kung ang mga Pilipino hindi magbabago, wala tayong mararating. Hindi uusad at aasenso ang bayan natin.
At kapag nagbago ka na, at gusto mo na ng bagong Pilipinas, tingnan mo kung sino sa mga kandidato ang magre-represent sa’yo.
Ako, si Nicanor Perlas lang!
http://www.nicanor-perlas.com
“Right now, I think, Noynoy is still praying for discernment at a retreat of sorts. Lo and behold, Kabayan Noli de Castro is said to be thinking of doing the same thing. I wonder who else will follow.”-Pinoy Buzz
Considering the power of blackshama’s Fortuna, I’m sure all of them will follow. Assuming, of course, that SWS and Pulse Asia’s power are inferior to that of Fortuna’s.
Point is, we don’t even need to compare apples from oranges.
Virtual unknown, the as the words themselves imply, do not have to mean absolute unknown although expertise in ‘organic farming’ is deemed ‘marketplace’.
There is nothing new to it. Nor is there anything new to a Nassam Nicholas Taleb which your Nicanor Perlas puts in a kind of intellectual pedestal.
It will be a political disaster for one Nicanor Perlas to win the presidency given the nature of this exposition of his which is nothing but the kind of empty rhetorics that old politics has always introduced.
Go numbers for a change.
Going by the numbers is not a change. It’s the usual. Haven’t we learned from experience yet? Don’t you even realize that all this is being orchestrated by heaven-bless-us, and that we’re all being taken for a ride? That’s why it’s called a political bandwagon. You go were the loudest sound is, which is pretty easy to create if you have all the financial backup. I’d call whoever planned this whole Noynoy thing the Pied Piper of the Philipines. :)
The song Pagbabago by Asin tells a lot about the situation we are in. Our situation is like EDSA 1 and EDSA 2 we are once again uniting to our GMA but have we asked what do we want? For what are we uniting for? What will we build?
Kalaban natin ang ating mga sarili at ang pagkakataon. Isang hamon sa atin ang lubos na maunawaan ang mga senyales at magdesisyon ng naaayon sa desisyon na makakapagpagabago sa ating bansa.
Anuman ang ating maging desisyon alam ko na sa huli ay ngingiti na rin ako at sasabihing tama ang aking naging desisyon. Hindi lamang pagpapalit ng tao ang kailangan ng ating lipunan. Hindi lamang kung sino ang dapat itanong kundi kung paano at ano.
Ang ating kultura ay dinaig na ng kultura ng katiwalian, kamangmangan at kawalan ng pag-asa at kailangan na itong palitan ng kultura ng tunay na Maharlika… kailangan na nating ilabas ang ating dakilang lahi.
Tahasan kong sasabihin ngayon na hindi lamang si Noynoy ang sagot! Hindi lamang si Manny Villar ang sagot! Hindi lamang si Nicky Perlas ang sagot! Hindi TAO ANG SAGOT!
TAYONG LAHAT ANG SAGOT! ANG ATING SAMA-SAMANG PAGKILOS AT PAGBABAGO ANG TANGING SASALBA SA ATING BANSA!
Narito ang kantang PAGBABAGO… sana magising tayong lahat mga kababatan… http://pagodkanaba.blogspot.com/2009/09/musikahan-sa-lunes-tunay-na-pagbabago.html
one thing i dont get:
why does he have to quit LP? according to perlas, he has to coz aquino, while being in LP, cannot unite the opposition under new politics.
why not? perlas identifies the problem facing noynoy, but doesnt explain his negative conclusion. perlas writes:
“Will Noynoy survive the intramurals within the Liberal Party and present a vision and strategic agenda that transcends the Liberal Party?”
indeed that is the key question, and obviously noy noy will have to answer that in the positive to unite the opposition.
but its not clear that, from the outset, this is impossible.
The vast majority of the voters are the working poor. Is there a political party that can propose a vision that will resonate with the cross section of the country that are more involved in putting three square meals a day and are not vested with any property interest?
All political power is derived from economic power. Unless and until you have a diffusion of economic power you will never have a diffusion of political power.
This is where we need the right kind of wickedness to create the wealth that can be spread around later.
Exploitation and oppression are vital tools in wealth creation. The U.S. is celebrating their Labor day which came about as a result of workers actual battles to get better working conditions from a 7 day (12 hour/day) work week that included children. Chinas rise in the wealth creation process also is utilizing cheap labor using the same formula.
But that is possible only when food is made plentiful and inexpensive.. Hence the exploitation of the peasant classes here did not result in wealth creation here since we used it to supply cheap cash crops for export. We did not make sure that we achieved surplus food production to maintain a cheap labor force..
Here everyone wants a first world wage without the underlying necessity of building a first world economy. It cannot be done…
Savings can only be generated by sacrificing disposable income for generations to catch up.
As many experts have concluded that a country with a serious lack of domestic savings must only smoke in foreign investments but must not inhale. It will eventually kill you if you inhale.
J_ag,
By inhale, you mean suck the resources dry and send the profits “home”? Then leave?
The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company does this now, sucking out prior capital investments and profits, cashing them in as dividends and sending billions to the UK and US.
I offer in my Joe America Presidential Platform:
“6) Laws will be promulgated to encourage foreign investment in the Philippines and to bar export of resources and wealth when such export would deprive Filipinos of the benefit of their land, resources, investment and production. Markets within the Philippine will be free, competitive and open, but trade and financial linkages with other national economies will be managed to the best interest of the Philippines.”
Would you support this platform statement? If not, keeping it brief, how would you recast it?
Joe
Joe you have a contradiction in your number 6.
Foreign investments come in in two forms.. Loans and equity investments. Loans have a fixed rate of repatriation and is generally at a lower rate of repatriation. (principal and interest)
Equity investments are deadlier. Repatriation is larger. (Cost of capital and profits).
Plus the government guarantees all foreign investments as far as access to foreign exchange.
Right now the Philippines practices an open capital account. There are only a few sectors left that are restricted to 40% foreign participation.
Right now foreign investors as proper businessman will always leverage their capital position with domestic loans. It is an unfair fight as their mother companies simply supplies bank guarantees for their subsidiaries and they get loans at prime rates from local banks.
Only two choices left for the country…
Make the peso fully convertible and tradable in the world. Remove all nationality restrictions on any type of business including land.
Or close the capital account and only the government will hold dollars. Restrict access for foreign companies to domestic savings. They have to bring in their own working capital. Their equity to loan ratio must be at the 70-80% range.
Repatriation of profits must be over at least 25 – 50 years. They must give up their patent rights after 10 years.
Dollar Joe please remember that the advanced Western economies climbed the ladder of societal development through the industrialization process. They innovated and invented their way up. It was not a pretty climb. Blood, toil and tears blazed the West’s developmental process.
The countries near to the bottom rung of that ladder are seeing that climb no longer possible. The West is controlling the climb up that ladder. Something has got to give.
Otherwise there will be a more serious blood, toil and tears for so many more people on this planet than there was in the 20th century.
We know we are a primitive society still in the accumulation of wealth. We can see the differences in many other societies.
What is amazing in the annals of history is the fact that the Mongols had conquered parts of Europe in the past. The Romans were knocking on the doors of Persia.
But the Romans take the cake. They had a water system and a sewage system 2,000 years ago. The Philippines is still learning that you need one to channel human waste properly. Amazing simply amazing.
So let it slide, because the Filipinos of 2009 are more primitive than the Romans of 20BC :)
The apologies and the apologists make an introduction to a land of endless wonder :)
Joe:
I dunno if am reading you right – are you saying you can create a Hong Kong or Singapore using North Korean economic prescriptions?
J_ag,
Let me reflect on that. Thanks.
BongV,
Maybe closer to China than North Korea.
Geejay Arriola,
The platform of Mr. Perlas is indeed impressive. It is nice to see bold action and “due by” dates. He has moved way up on my list.
Joe
Joe:
1 – Who is doing the “managing to the best interest of the Philippines?
2 – Who decides “best interest of the Philippines”? Philippine government? :)
Joe,
>>>> The platform of Mr. Perlas is indeed impressive. It is nice to see bold action and “due by” dates. He has moved way up on my list.
Thank you for taking the time to read his platform. :)
BongV,
As President, I determine what is best for the Philippines, but of course I have to get that loopy legislature whipped into shape to cooperate, and I have to sell the program to those media buzzards, and of course, the People, whose trust I know I must maintain.
Perception, arm-wrestling, transparency, and honor are key attributes of a president.
Joe
at the rate china, vietnam, singapore, hongkong, taiwan, south korea, malaysia, and indonesia has been opening up their economy and inhaling foreign investments i would bet their economies have already been killed by now.
and of course, as of 2009 the triumphant philippines has a first world economy by virtue of its rip van winkle economic prescriptions.
It says something about the mindset of government (and the people who control it) in the Philippines where the most successful GOCC operates the casinos.
The Get Rich Quick economic model permeates the cultural base.. Every new government comes in promising a utopia after six years.
Who would be better to lead than someone who leads and innovates through micro finance and had already helped farmers. Who would be better to lead than someone who had already helped author a blue print for the Philippines sustainable development.
We should transcend from the politics stated by J_ag to a politics which greatly emphasize on participation and equal sharing of responsibility. Ask the people what they want and how this can be resolved together. Remember that the burden is not government alone but it is out burden together.
Tayong lahat ang solusyon… we are all the solutions and us working together is what will make the difference in the end.
What difference does N.P.’s articulation make? After all it only boils down to his improvised campaign strategy of attacking a probable candidate in the hope of promoting his own candidacy:
“I will not renounce my intention to run as a presidential candidate in 2010.”
It is more effective for him to rather articulate more about the details of his platform (like he did in the TV forum) than to resort and engage in the traditional politician’s tactic of putting other candidates down to elevate one’s self.
I do not see the articulation of Nick Perlas as the Trapo way of doing politics and engagement. This articulation is based on concrete view and ideals. It is not based on who Noynoy is personally but based on the question at hand. It is but natural for a presidential candidate to promote himself and it is also natural for someone concerned with the country to really share his reflections about events.
Nick Perlas has a complete platform but it is a platform not only by himself but a platform of the Partido Marangal na Sambayanan. Tayong lahat ang magbabago ng ating bansa at hindi lamang ang kahit sinong kandidato.
Kaya po magkaisa at magsama-sama tayo.
“Nick Perlas has a complete platform…”
Then, let N.P. articulate his platform here at FV.
Or you can go to his site where he has already articulated his platform.
Very few people visit N.P.’s site. But if N.P. interacts with the people at FV, then he has a chance of demonstrating his thinking ability with a group of people not so familiar with him yet.
At ANC’s Strictly Politics, he boasted of at least a 5-Million strong grassroots support for his candidacy all over the country. How would we verify his claim?
All candidates must put a concised version of their Platforms. We have no time visiting Websites. We are working people. Is this hard for them ?
Put them on Filipino Voices for us to see in Clear, Concise and
Understandable way. We dont want long articles. We can understand
concised articles. They are the Sellers. We are the Buyers.
eh kasi… except for one, walang credible platform ang ibang kandidato.. ROTFLMAO!
I understand your concern but the thing is our problem in this country cannot just be elaborated in general terms. The way Nick Perlas and PANGMASA sees it is not only doing band aid solutions but also attacking the problem at its core. Systemic problems needs systemic solutions which needs not only the government but also you.
Here is his 6 pillars which is also posted in his website at http://www.nicanor-perlas.com/Nicanor/platform.html
My platform has six pillars. The first deals with eradicating the massive poverty, inequitable growth, lawlessness, and conflicts that plague our country. Our first pillar aims to Eradicate Poverty and Enhance Quality of Life for all, through, among others, a vibrant broad-based economy, social justice and peace.
The second addresses the pervasive corruption that is tearing the social fabric of the nation and rupturing the hearts and minds of Filipinos. Our second pillar therefore seeks to Advance Moral and Effective Governance in all institutions of society and all situations in life.
The third concerns itself with stopping the massive destruction of our ecology and our environment. Our third pillar seeks to Uphold the Integrity of Creation and respectfully partner with it as our source of life.
Our fourth pillar seeks to Build Partnerships for Social Justice. We want to introduce a new approach to real participatory governance and authentic democracy. No one can solve the problems of the country alone… tayong lahat ang kailangan upang mabago ang ating bansa. This means government working together with civil society and business in the pursuit of social justice and creating a better country.
The fifth pillar strives to Promote Creative Education and Inner Change. Better schools, colleges and universities, drawing out the many talents, intelligences, and potentials of students, are crucial. Equally as important is self-directed education and transformation. At the end of the day, it’s important to also address the factor of inner change—taking responsibility for changing our hearts and minds. No one can do our inner work for us. And there can be no genuine change in a system or institution if the people who work there do not change. Depressed, apathetic, and poorly trained people cannot create visionary and high-performance organizations, much less a world-inspiring country. Individual and cultural transformation are the foundations of the other pillars.
And then finally, the sixth pillar of the platform aims to Mainstream Visionary Initiatives. There are thousands of promising initiatives throughout the country in a wide variety of fields that already point the way forward to another, much better Philippines. We will reward innovation. We will systematically discover, magnify and multiply these existing success stories.
This platform with its six pillars recognizes that everything is interconnected and requires a multidisciplinary approach. Ang lahat ng bagay ay magkaugnay. Reducing poverty, for example, is not simply about appropriate government policies that strengthen the economy, creates jobs and minimizes the adverse aspects of globalization. Poverty reduction also requires significant advances in peace, culture, including education, health care, sanitation, clean water, housing, micro-finance, nutrition and of course, agriculture and asset reform among others.
We are talking about a practical platform of sustainability that recognizes all of these connections. We cannot transform the system if the system is plagued with corruption. But you cannot get rid of corruption if you don’t involve the citizenry in changing behavior. And you cannot change if there’s no inner change. Everything is interrelated and systemic.
I sure agree with u Geejay on this bandwagon thing or Pied Piper effect.
You are not trying to play one, either, do you?
Primer,
Hahaha! Cute. If I were, I wouldn’t waste my time at FV explaining stuff to you guys. The concept of bandwagons and Pied Pipers is that you “go for the numbers”–go where, everyone is going–there is no need for platforms and debates and additional wrinkles from what you guys spew here at FV. Haha!
We are probably the tiniest, but bravest voice out there. FOR NOW. :)
Geejay Arriola,
“..from what you guys spew here at FV”
Well, Geejay, if you hung around FV for some time, rather than pop in with your advocacy slant, you might find that there is a broad range of views offered here. Primer is one, Bencard is another, I’m one, Benign0, Cocoy, jcc, BongV, Rosa, Sparks, manualbuencamino and many many more. There is no one slant, the arguments range from intense to inane . . .
I have yet to see anyone “spewing” anything . . . but am inclined to put your comment in the spew category because you have no equity here . . .
Or, another view is, if you or your idol Mr. Perlas can’t take the heat, maybe a different kitchen works better, you know, the KA kind . . .
Joe
Joe,
I apologize if you find the word “spew” disagreeable. I do not mean to offend anyone by that word. I came here to provide some information and my opinion on what’s going on in our beloved country, not to have more enemies.
As to this comment: >> Or, another view is, if you or your idol Mr. Perlas can’t take the heat, maybe a different kitchen works better, you know, the KA kind…>>
I do not speak the language of idolatry. If I do, I only have two gods I absolutely worship–J.S. Bach and Bobby McFerrin. Everyone else are mortals like me. :)
And it’s unnecessary to even mention Nick in that manner because he’s not here at FV so how can he take or not take “the heat?” If you have a thing against me, take it against me, not against other people.
But again, I didn’t come here to gain enemies. So let’s drink to a healthy debate, and stick to issues—walang personalan. And let’s drink to our country’s bright future.
If there is anything we all have in common, I am presuming it is our love for our country. And that is why we are very critical, sometimes to the point of cynicism, which is understandable. So there. :)
Geejay Arriola,
Thanks for the note. We are aligned again. A drink to a bright future for the country we both love (the Philippines) is a fine idea. The USA is pretty fine, too, but I’ll stick to the subject this time . . .
Joe
The platform of Mr. Perlas is really impressive. But how can we know if it’s not made in Recto or Morayta?
You can be sure about it because he had already received many awards for it including the Globe 500 Award and the Alternative Noble Peace Prize. He was globally recognized as a visionary transformation leader, peace maker, environmentalist and micro finance expert.
He dedicated already 40 years of his life in public service helping famers, lumads and ordinary people.
Another story about Nick Perlas….
A Muslim Sultan invited him just recently to meet their leaders and without hesitation Nick agreed. He went there without body guard and even a security detail because he show trust in people. The Muslim Sultan even said that if ever there is a debate he will side with his people. Nicky knowing well he would be left alone with no one to defend him still went on.
I went to Nick’s website, it is full of ideas and ideals, but sorely lacking in realism. Looks like a high school thesis, full of enthusiasm and and bright ideas but like any high school thesis it does not address realities of the times.
One of such ideal highlight:
“One can argue about the motives of Mae Paner, whether she enjoys all the attention she is getting or whether she has truly found a creative way to rouse Filipinos, especially the young from their apathy. But no one can deny the obvious: that proper and strategic use of the Internet can easily and rapidly create a national presence for even the ordinary citizen. The Internet levels the playing field as far a national stature, reputation and projection are concerned. Big expensive media is no longer the sole channel for large numbers of citizens to know about issues, individuals, and leaders.”
Nick believes that the internet can level the playing field. Fact is, only insignificant numbers of Pinoy have internet access. Most Pinoys would rather have their 20 pesos spent on a half-kilo or rice or 1/4 kilo of galunggong than spend it on internet cafe to read Nick Perlas website.
jcc,
ahh, good to argue with you again. heh
The Perlas action plan may be idealistic and simplistic to a complex legal mind, but it has the right idea in setting measurable benchmarks, and it drills right to the point of what needs to be done. For example, he does not hide from the population growth issue, as everyone else does. It is not mom and apple pie and flowers that smell sweet. The other platforms are thick with words that mean absolutely anything you (or they) want them to mean.
As for the internet, it may only reach a few Filipinos, but those it reaches are generally of means, and many opinion leaders, media and politicians are getting plugged in. That is why the candidates are working hard to develop good web sites. It isn’t the breadth of the reach that counts, it is being able to get the Inquirer’s attention, and from there, a broader reach is obtained.
Finally, you expect the Perlas rah rah boys to stand back and let their guy get slimed? I’m glad to see them here. Now it would be nice to get Teodoro’s boys here. And Estrada’s, for sure.
Joe
I agree with you here. It kinda looks a bit overly optimistic and sometimes a bit naive
It is very intellectually stimulating by the way he describes the process but I just don’t know how he can implement it.
If he had already done things that were previously thought as impossible no wonder he can do it again this time… we just need to believe and support him.
“Nick believes that the internet can level the playing field. Fact is, only insignificant numbers of Pinoy have internet access. Most Pinoys would rather have their 20 pesos spent on a half-kilo or rice or 1/4 kilo of galunggong than spend it on internet cafe to read Nick Perlas website.”
This is a wrong interpretation of the article written by Nick. It only says that the internet levels the playing field as far as media is concerned and it is true. Because of the internet ordinary people can voice their opinion and citizens can have access to varying opinions. It is also through this that we can now engage in a very democratic discussion like this. There are more than 12 Million Filipinos who have access to the internet various statistics shows. Among this 3.7 million active Internet users are participating in social networking sites, have started a blog or engage in social media (http://philippineinternetreview.blogspot.com/2008/05/23-million-active-filipino-internet.html)
What is reality? Reality are ideas which had become generally accepted by everyone and in time had been part of the culture of people.
Would you say that it is possible to have a Black American President in 2001 or even just a year ago? No one envisioned that and many think that those where only ideas and idealism.
Before Bush attached Iraq he says that Saddam Hussein has weapons of Mass Destruction and anybody who thinks otherwise is branded as having just plain ideas… but the truth after all this years is that Saddam has no weapons of mass destruction and the truth is oil is the real issue.
Way back 2007 anybody who would think that the Lapids and Pinedas of Pampanga will be branded as having the same high school thesis and running wild on their idealism but what happened? In 2007 Among Ed Panlilio was elected as Governor… this goes the same way for Gov. Grace Padaca.
The reality … IDEAS CAN BECOME REALITY IF WE PUT EFFORT IN MAKING IT A REALITY…
All started from ideas.. the telephone, the light bulb, the computer, space shuttles, cars and almost every innovation and invention… not a single one started as a reality.
What an overstreched imagination and comparison. Obama was a candidate of a major political party in the U.S. His being black was not a handicap because he has party and cash. Mr. Perlas does not have both. If he has a dream of becoming a President, he sure must go the Obama route, become a congressman first, then Senator and then vie in the primaries to be chosen as the Presidential timber of a main political party. These are the realities.
Lito Lapid is a movie star. Has a name-recall advantage. The Pinedas are “jueteng lord”, and therefore are awash with cash.
Padaca has grassroots support. The Dys were involved in scandals and were reported to be protectors of the illegal loggers. Is Nick Padaca and Noynoy Gov. Dy?
And where does the “weapon of mass destruction” fit into the argument that Nick’s thesis does not sound and look like a high school thesis on how to make Pinas Great?
Obama did not start as the candidate of a major political party. He was an underdog when the primaries started. Obama has no cash compared to all the candidates but what fueled his campaign was the support of his supporters. His being black had been a handicap specially among whites and conservatives. I follow the Obama campaign closely although I am not in the United States. I am not sure if Obama had been a Congressman.
“Lito Lapid is a movie star. Has a name-recall advantage. The Pinedas are “jueteng lord”, and therefore are awash with cash.” but despite of that Among Ed defeated them.
All of what I said whether you admit to it or not only means that reality is not fix. What is however fix and constant is change therefore we can change reality.
shen, stop dreaming. if nick has no money all these years to mount a credible campaign what is the assurance that if elected he can make money for the country and money for every Juan de la Cruz?
Obama is graduate of Harvard, has been the darling of the liberal Hollywod where every dinner costs a fortune. He was the underdog at the start but he belongs to a major political party. Obama has a party and money when he ran for President. These factors do not obtain in Nick Perlas. So wake up and realize the pragmatic aspect of politics.
Panlilio is a priest and he has appeal to the CDE crowd. Stop comparing apple and oranges.
But don’t get me wrong. I admire his tenancity and ambition to serve but what good is that bright ideas and ambition if he can not even win a barangay election.
Nick has proven that he can transform vision into realities time and time again. He had faced insurmountable odds during his 40 years in public service but in the end they win the battle.
If we want change then we must unite to build our future together… we must unite to build something and not only to bring down something.
I am not comparing apple and oranges, they are just signs of the times. If you would not be convinced to vote for him that would not be my problem. Everyone has our own biases toward a person and an ideology. What I am asking is to try to discern beyond that and see the bigger picture.
I hope you could meet Nicky Perlas personally and then perhaps speak out your mind to him :)
A bit too realistic perhaps?
Obama obtained those money through donations with the help of the net and that was one method that couldn’t be thought of if one was stuck to the conventional means of obtaining money. Yet they were successful.
I think you’re almost pushed into supporting evil means of supporting a campaign instead of platform and ideology because of the philosophy of “what works”. Its scary!
Just the word “platform” has already burned countless many pages here at FV and more fuel are added to the fire.
Let us bottomline once and for all how such a creature really look like – irrespective of individual invention.
Benchmark if you will. What are the identified ingredients, pray tell?
Being also a blogger and writer for the blog “Pagod Ka Na Bang Maging si Juan?” I have respect for the writers at FV. Some of them I have already met at the Philippine Blog Awards last year.
I also believe that discussions like this is what our country needed in order to discern what really needs to be done.