In mid February 2010, presidential candidate Noynoy Aquino, who has been consistently leading the race at least according to the surveys, challenged his closest rival Manny Villar to a one-on-one debate on any issue of Villar’s choice. The challenge was accepted by Villar although conditionally. Villar said he would back off from the proposed debate [...]
Yes, we can!
March 28, 2010 By 18 Comments
In Constitutional Law litigation, there’s such a thing as the dynamics of “political settlement.” This happens in most cases when any of the three branches of the government exercises what is called statesmanship, or at times, just simple pragmatism, to avert a constitutional crisis. During the 2000 US presidential elections, it was however Al Gore, [...]
Trust, more than platforms
December 30, 2009 By 26 Comments
Political platforms are supposed to be statements of an ideology, political or economic beliefs or general ideas that a candidate for public office (or a political party) makes available to get the public support the candidate’s election. The publication of a platform takes on many forms such as via a campaign speech, a billboard, a [...]
Noynoy’s politics is pro-poor and anti-elitist
September 15, 2009 By 88 Comments
Carl, a regular commenter at quezon.ph, rebukes Manolo Quezon (mlq3), the indispensable Pinoy blogger, quite harshly: That’s exactly the problem with Manolo. He is such an apologist for the elite. Manolo belongs to the more liberal and democratic section of the elite, which is more devious because this section of the elite hides behind moral [...]
Noynoy: Socratic, pacifist, egalitarian, Obamesque, economic empiricist, Ninoyish (even benignOist)
September 10, 2009 By 41 Comments
The bust of Socrates- bald head, fat face and boxer nose – is far from being charismatic the Athenians of his time would adore like a rock star. But he was beloved just the same, the youths of Athens especially, because Socrates was simple, kind and honest. The modesty of this dateless thinker despite the [...]
Jose Rizal for President of the Philippines?
August 29, 2009 By 17 Comments
I think it was Ambeth Ocampo that said in a Rizal Day speech many years ago at Rizal’s Fort Santiago cell, (right after a prominent politician crooned about Rizal as our ideal national leader) that Rizal would never be a good President since he was too brutally frank and had a star complex. In fact [...]
On the Road to 2010: This is Why Chiz Escudero Shouldn’t be the Next President
July 21, 2009 By 32 Comments
On February 2007, Atheista wrote a post on Chiz Escudero for a Dumber Philippines. I’m going to quote the same privilege speech because ironically the house server couldn’t open it out: So here goes the privilege speech: Mr. Speaker, ang isang dahilan kung bakit kada taon marami tayong classrooms na kinakailangan ay dahil napakaraming nasisira [...]
Erap, Loren, Jojo, And BF Minus Ping At ANC Leadership Forum
June 6, 2009 By 50 Comments
Episode Two of ABS-CBN News Channel’s Leadership Forum left me with more questions than answers about what he or she would do if either one of the guest wannabees succeed Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Among the points which left questions in my mind: 1. Sen. Loren Legarda insisting that “I am still consulting my (ward) leaders [...]
A shared sense of belonging
June 4, 2009 By 105 Comments
At the coffee shop where I routinely get my morning fix, customers mill around the counter in a way that often makes it difficult to distinguish those who are (a) in the process of ordering and paying, or (2) waiting for a concluded order to be served. So it is a normal and routine courtesy [...]
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