Duran never had a chance. Hearns dominated the first round, sending Duran to the canvas twice late in the round. And then Tommy the Hit Man delivered the coup de grace to Duran in the second, earning himself the accolade to be the first fighter to ever knock out the “Manos de piedra.”

Before facing Hearns, Duran already had lost to great fighters of relatively bigger size – Leonard (in the No mas fight) Benitez and Hagler- but none of them humiliated Duran the way Hearns did.

Duran’s loss to Hearns was obviously his own doing. Between his fight with Hagler and the preparation for the encounter with Hearns for the 154-pound title fight, the undisciplined Duran had bloated to 190 lbs.

From the first bell up to the fateful moment Hearns put the whammy on him, Duran showed nothing of the form that in 1980 gave the unbeaten Leonard his first defeat, or at least the flash of greatness that allowed him to be the first fighter ever to have gone the distance with the marvelous Marvin Hagler. (Duran had in fact been ahead of Hagler on points until he ran out of gas in the last two rounds of a very tactical fight).

Is there a chance that pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, 5.5 ft, in the well-anticipated November 13 battle at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium with former WBA world welterweight titleholder Antonio Margarito, 5 ft 11in, could do a Duran the Hearns’ way?

The title at stake in November 13 is the WBC version of the same weight division, super welterweight, in which Hearns and Duran contended.

Now, if weight, not the height, were the issue, the concern of Duran’s camp then was how to deflate 190-lb Duran to 154 lbs whereas the worry of Pacquiao’s camp today, or at least of the fighter’s conditioning coach Alex Ariza, is how to inflate Pacquiao’s146 lbs, the reported weight he has maintained until around 10 days before the showdown, to clash with the bigger, taller and longer-reached Margarito. (Margarito from the 151 lbs catch weight could in fact climb the ring at 160 lbs or more versus Pacquiao’s 150 lbs or lower.)

If Pacquiao only improved somewhat from his sluggish form in Baguio City (judging from the film clips we have seen), he would be in for a big surprise from the apparently better-conditioned and hungrier challenger, Margarito. Already, because of “distractions,” Pacquioa’s trainer Freddie Roach has reportedly cut down his boxer’s sparring sessions from 140 rounds to 110 rounds. And as earlier mentioned, Ariza has abandoned Pacquiao’s body build-up plan for lack of time.

Margarito, despite his image having been tarnished as a result of the tampered hand wraps controversy, is no pushover former world champion. His boxing skills may not be at the level of Hearns’ or Hagler’s, but Margarito has proven himself to be a world-class fighter: he throws volumes of punches from different directions (he holds the all-time Compubox record of having thrown 1675 total punches in a twelve round bout during his encounter with Joshua Clottey) and has a record of 27 KOs out of 37 wins. He also outclassed and delivered the first loss to Puerto Rican superstar Miguel Cotto.

Margarito’s game plan could be to exert unrelenting pressure to Pacquiao and overwhelm the little guy with punches to the rib cage, lots of hooks and occasional uppercuts. He doesn’t seem to have Hearn’s famous flicker jabs or vicious straight right (although he has an excellent jab), but Margarito certainly could deliver body-snatching shots to opponents he’s able to force into and trap against the ring.

Will Pacquiao be trapped? Unlikely, if Pacquioa has retained his speed of hand and footwork. If the pound-for-pound king lost the speed advantage because of diminished discipline during the training for the fight, and his offense (which, nothing like his rival Floyd Mayweather’s suave defensive techniques, is basically his defense) is neutralized by a brawling Margarito, then Pacquiao’s reign (or career) could be in jeopardy in Texas, and the potential debacle could be as humbling as Roberto Duran’s.

There is however a comforting saving grace for the still prohibitively indubitable Manny Pacquiao. Unlike the legendary Duran, he has been unstoppable in his upstream campaign against fighters who outsize him (De La Hoya, Hatton, Cotto and Clottey). On the other hand, the trashing Margarito received from Shane Mosley in 2009 somehow militates against an outcome ala hit man for him in the face of all-time great contender Pacman.

There have been other public appearances and debates in different formats in which Aquino and Villar as well as the other presidential candidates have participated. During such an important part of the electoral exercise, the candidates were subjected to tough questioning and scrutiny by each other, the program host, a panel of moderators or the public but none of them has conceivably exhibited any such irrationality that otherwise indicates any form of mental impairment as to put his or her presidential bid in peril by virtue of it.

Of late, while the Villar presidential campaign has been seen as losing some steam, a dubious “psychological” report involving Noynoy Aquino as the patient has surfaced out of the blue. The suspicion is strong that the Villar camp is the original source of the report which has every indices of being a hoax. For one, the spurious character of the report is discernible on its face. A “psychiatric” evaluation prepared by a clergy coming from an academic department (the Psychology Department) of a university instead of a professional medical clinic or a hospital?

Fr. Tito Caluag who is supposed to have signed the report has publicly denounced the hoax by stating to the effect that the document is forged and that he is not even competent to make the evaluation since he is neither a psychologist (nor a psychiatrist).

It was then a perfect opportunity for Villar to be a gentleman politician by condemning the ludicrous fabrication and thereby allowing to mitigate the tone of animosity in the campaign (that is, if the source of the report is not his party or a cabal of rabid partisans). Very unfortunately, Villar did just the exact opposite.

One may recall that during the last US presidential election, a woman from the audience in a town hall meeting stood up and took the microphone to confirm from John McCain if Barack Obama is an Arab (implying maliciously that being an Arab, Obama is either uncivil or a terrorist). McCain defended his rival without any hesitation. “No ma’am,” McCain said to the woman after retaking the microphone from her. “He is a decent family man . . . citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that’s what this campaign is all about,” he further stressed earnestly.

Unlike McCain who had had the basic decency to cut off the woman wanting to stoke bigotry, Villar reacted in the other extreme by issuing a statement challenging Aquino to submit to a psychiatric test to determine his rival’s fitness to be a president. In a pretense to appear fair, Villar said he is willing to take the same test or a “comprehensive physical and mental examination in order to ascertain [our] fitness to occupy the highest office of the land.”

In the same town hall meeting where another instigator had claimed to fear the prospect of an Obama presidency, McCain responded emphatically in this fashion: “I have to tell you. Sen. Obama is a decent person and a person you don’t have to be scared of as president of the United States.”

Manny Villar has chosen to be cut-throat but, doesn’t this kind of political stunt remind us too of boxer Floyd Mayweather’s own silly antics? Mayweather, apparently avoiding an early encounter with Manny Pacquiao, has demanded a pre-fight Olympic-style blood testing. There is no testing policy of sorts required by any boxing commission in the US but Floyd’s excuse in insisting on it is that, like Villar, he’s willing to take the test himself.

Boxing fans all over the world consider Floyd’s demand baloney, many of them convinced that Floyd is either ducking a confrontation with Manny Paquiao or otherwise out to mudsling the Filipino boxer’s reputation.

Is it too hard for millions of Filipinos who since the Pacman phenomenon have turned boxing aficionados in droves to imagine that Manny Villar is simply doing a Floyd screwy spoof?

(Updated 12:51am, Saturday November 28)

The Maguindanao Massacre, with a death toll of 64 at the time of this writing, has once again put Mindanao on the national spotlight, and even in the international spotlight.  With the death of members of a political family, including lawyers, and members of media, this tragedy has not only brought about indignation in Philippine society, but has once again brought upon itself the collective focus from different sectors of society towards the entrenched political violence that has come to define certain parts of Mindanao during elections.

About a hundred armed men reportedly held and later killed the members of the Mangudadatu family and the two women lawyers and journalists who accompanied the Mangudadatus on the way to the Commission on Elections provincial office in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao to file the certificate of candidacy for Maguindanao governor of Buluan Vice Mayor Ismael Mangudadatu.

The suspects, who were tagged as hired guns of the Ampatuan family, initially stopped the convoy in Barangay Saniag at around 9:00 am and brought them at gunpoint to the vicinity of barangays Salman and Malating, which is about 10 kilometers from the national highway.

A back hoe allegedly owned by the provincial government of Maguindanao was reportedly used in burying some of the victims.

Dangane said they found the abandoned heavy equipment Tuesday morning positioned near the scattered remains of some of the victims and a cliff that appeared to be freshly filled with soil at the vicinity of Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman in Ampatuan town.

The back hoe reportedly carried the name of the provincial government of Maguindanao and Gov. Andal Ampatuan.

“They could have used (the back hoe) in dumping and burying the bodies of the victims,” said Dangane, who joined the ongoing joint police and military retrieval operations in the area. (source: MindaNews)

The convoy included lawyers, Mangudadatu family members, supporters, as well as media members.

Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr. is the prime suspect as the mastermind of the massacre. Reports have already surfaced that Ampatuan hired guns, military and police officials, including part of their very own private armies were allegedly part of the massacre.

Mayor Ampatuan is the son of the Maguindanao governor, a Muslim clan chief of the same name who during his rule gave Ms Arroyo and her allies victories in the presidential election of 2004 and the senatorial contest in 2007.

The 57 dead included 27 journalists and up to 15 motorists who, like the reporters, had no known quarrels with the Ampatuans, said Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce, a military spokesperson.

The 15 motorists unrelated to the Mangudadatus were aboard at least two vehicles that happened to drive past as the convoy was stopped by the gunmen, Ponce added.

Police and troops deployed in Maguindanao have disarmed 347 members of the Special Active Auxiliary (SCAA) of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) employed by the provincial government.

“All security people are also possible suspects,” said Director Andres Caro of the Philippine National Police. “We are investigating them. More or less it will total about 400, including cops and families.”

TIMELINE ON THE MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE

Monday, November 23

- The Convoy that includes Genalyn Manudadatu wife of Buluan town Vice Mayor Ishmael Toto Mangudadatu, two of his sisters, lawyers, as well as members of media were blocked by around 100 armed men, were herded and killed, while they were on their way to file his certificate of candidacy for governor of Maguindanao on Monday morning.

- Reports come in early in the afternoon that individuals in that convoy have been kidnapped, although early reports will not include reports of mass murder and liquidation.

- Early reports say that around 21 individuals have been killed, and that military is in pursuit of the perpetrators. The fate of 15 others in the convoy is still unknown.

- Presidential Adviser Jesus Dureza indicates that he wants a state of emergency declared in the region of Maguindanao and that is advising that everyone be disarmed.

Tuesday, November 24

- President Gloria Arroyo declares State of Emergency in Maguindanao, Cotabato City, as well as Sultan Kudarat.

- 22 individuals are confirmed to have been killed.

- Chief Superintendent Sukarno Dicay, the deputy police chief of Maguindanao province, is fired and detained as witnesses put him and two others at the scene of the crime where they were allegedly part of the group that ambushed, kidnapped, and killed the convoy of the Mangudadatus.

- More bodies found, the death toll is up to 35.

- Death toll again rises to 39

- Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on Mindanao affairs, is tasked to head a crisis management committee that will oversee military and police operations in the areas.

- Department of Justice (DOJ) creates panel that includes 8 prosecutors to investigate the killings

- There is reports that there are four survivors in the killings, and that they are in the care of Vice Mayor Ampatuan. DILG secretary Ronaldo Puno indicates that some of the perpetrators have been identified and will be arrested soon

- EU Commissioner for external relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner condemns the massacre

- Death toll rises once more as more bodies are unearthed, it is now at 46 confirmed to have been killed

- Boxing Champ, Manny Pacquiao, joins in the call for sobriety in Maguindanao

- UNITED NATIONS Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemns the brutal killings: “condemns this heinous crime committed in the context of a local election campaign.” “extends heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and hopes that no effort will be spared to bring justice and to hold the perpetrators accountable.”

- Journalists, among others, hold an indignation rally in Manila

Wednesday, November 25

- Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) requests that media practitioners wear black armbands or ribbons as a symbol of protest

- 6 more bodies found, death toll rises to 52

- “France condemns in the strongest terms the appalling massacre yesterday in the Philippines,” a foreign ministry statement said, adding that it was “essential” that next year’s national elections be held peacefully.

- DOJ issues Department Order 935 which formally forms the team to handle massacre, the team is divided into two groups: one will handle the inquest and the preliminary investigation, while the other group will deal with any and all cases that will be filed in relation to the case. [source]

- DOJ officials led by acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, goes to Maguindanao to facilitate the assistance, case build-up and coordination with authorities

- Reports come in that Ombudsman in Mindanao is interested to find out why a government owned backhoe was present at the scene of the crime.

Thursday, November 26

- Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr. is turned over to presidential aide Jesus Dureza in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao

- Vice Mayor Mangudadatu buries his wife, then proceeds to General Santos City to file a complaint of multiple murder, robbery, and theft against Ampatuan with justice department officials.

- Mangudadatu has confrontation with Ampatuan Jr. at General Santos airport, but the confrontation is broken up.

- 25,000 join peace parade in Zamboanga City [source]

- Andal Ampatuan Jr. claims that MILF was behind the massacre, The DOJ refutes this statement

- Official Death toll is at 57

Friday, November 27

- Vice Mayor Mangudadatu files his Certificate of Candidacy for Governor of Maguindanao

- Official Death toll is now at 64

A MORE IN-DEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNDERLYING FACTORS IN THIS MASSACRE

The political nature of the massacre brings us to a seeming need to understand just why such an atrocity was able to happen in the first place, what are the underlying circumstances that have brought about the need for the possibility of a political clan to wreak such havoc and barbarism in an area that they are governing.

For in-depth understanding, we suggest you look into how local politics in areas such as Maguindanao serve a greater national political role. The GMA News network does a great service in explaining that indeed winning elections in areas such as Maguindanao is a winner-takes-all “game” and that it is not only a gain in the part of the local officials that win, such as what we have in the Ampatuans, but the vicious cycle may be condoned because of, for example, the wins it gave The Arroyo Administration both in 2004 and 2007. In short, the numbers.

And as usual, much of what we gathered for a basic primer in terms of the root causes of all this mayhem has been explained thoroughly by The Explainer himself, Manolo Quezon, and we suggest you read his primer, and his assertion that the veil of protection from such barbarism, namely that of women, lawyers, and media, have been lifted, and it may spell doom for the rest of the nation, especially in regions where warlords exact total control, if the current administration cannot or may not be willing to exact the proper justice against the perpetrators of the Maguindanao Massacre.

Manolo Quezon points to a key observation by Mon Casiple and the possible national restlessness that may come,

The key elements to watch out for in the next days to come are: 1) if the AFP and the police disarm the armed Ampatuan clan and arrest, charge, and actually convict the perpetrators of the massacre; and 2) if more incidents happen that would portray a nationwide breakdown in peace and order.

It is no secret that the ascension of Mr. Norberto Gonzalez to the Defense portfolio, if only as an acting secretary, has caused apprehension because of his penchant for unconstitutional suggestions on how Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her Malacañang gang can remain in power. The recent sporadic bombings in Metro Manila and this Maguindanao incident are not related, or are they?

Among the many articles that is so important in our understanding of this situation, is a most telling piece by The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), where they take a careful look at the specific case of Maguindanao and why The Ampatuans have gained the unrestricted control over that area,

Andal Ampatuan has four wives and over 30 children, and intermarriages with other political clans have made his political stock stronger. But political analysts trace the clan’s formidable clout to two main factors: guns and the blessings of Malacanang. They even note that no less than the Palace made it legal for the Ampatuans to have hundreds of armed men and women under their employ.

The 1987 Constitution bans private armed groups. In July 2006, however, the Arroyo administration issued Executive Order 546, allowing local officials and the PNP to deputize barangay tanods as “force multipliers” in the fight against insurgents. In practice, the EO allows local officials to convert their private armed groups into legal entities with a fancy name: civilian volunteer organizations (CVO).

The main takeaway from all of this material is the strong conclusion that the stronghold enjoyed by The Ampatuans is very much a result of the political dynamics of local and national politics in which there is a greater sense of the power that these local leaders can deliver a win for those in the national arena. And the stronghold is also enjoyed because it is backed by the current administration, and lastly the violence that we see is part of the fact that their militias have been legally armed by the national government, thus contributing to an environment guns and political warfare.

Resources for greater understanding:

- Understanding Rido
- Young Guns, Young Terror
- The Maguindanao Murders (two perspectives): Part 1
- The Maguindanao Murders (two perspectives): Part 2

Bloggers’ Reactions:

Lawyering’s Ins and Outs: Maguindanao Massacre
Jane Umaytiao: Maguindanao Massacre, Life Gone Cheap
Bandera Blogs: Duwag ang Mga Ampatuan
Sanctum of Memories: Maguindanao Massacre Insights
Carlos Conde: Ampatuans ‘Rule Absolutely’
RJ Marmol: Justice for Maguindanao Massacre Victims
Melancholic Dysphoria: My one cent’s worth

With reports from: ABS-CBN News, Inquirer.net, MindaNews, GMANews.tv

What are the chances the Puerto Rican superstar will spoil what appears to be inevitable? Slim.

Here’s why. It would be an accolade for Cotto to be considered as good a fighter as Oscar “The Golden Boy” De La Hoya or the erstwhile 140-pound king Ricky Hatton, Manny’s victims in his last two famous encounters. Without more but his size, Cotto is similarly bound for destruction by the most talented student of boxing today.

One critical key to easy victory for Pacquiao is his punching accuracy honed of late to near perfection by the “master” himself, Freddie Roach, something that was not consistent or absent from Zab Judah, Ricardo Torres and Shane Mosely, elite world champions whose boxing styles are being compared to Manny Pacquiao’s but who all succumbed to Cotto’s vaunted true grit. The comparison is farfetched.

Cotto is obviously the bigger guy but he is not necessarily the stronger fighter and so if he plans to slug it out early with Manny, he will go down as loudly and early as Hatton.

While many expect the hand and foot speed of the Filipino boxer to neutralize Cotto’s (planned) strategic attack to the rib cage (or perhaps the groin), it is Manny’s precise delivery of his punches and counterpunches and superb ring intelligence which will earn him a secure place in sports history in just another memorably stunning fashion.

My prediction: the Pacman will heartily consume Miguel Cotto within four to five rounds to take home not only Cotto’s WBO welterweight title but Mohammad Ali’s, “The Greatest.”

But the Union Jack is by convention the national flag of the UK. The most recent controversy involving the flag was during Princess Di’s funeral in 1997. The Queen broke centuries of tradition by allowing the jack to be raised on Buckingham Palace’s flagstaff. Today the jack is hoisted when the Queen is not in residence. The Royal Standard is the Sovereign’s flag and legally represents her Kingdom.

Brit and Pinoy attitudes to the flag are much different. The Union Jack is made into underwear and knickers (see Austin Powers in the movie!) but is unacceptable to do the same to the Pinoy flag. Burning the American flag can be considered protected speech, but burning the Pinoy flag is an offence and the lynch mob may get you.

Ambeth asks

“Is the flag still representative of the Philippines in 2009 as it was when the nation was born in 1898? What happens when the symbolism of the present Philippine flag, the symbol of the country, is challenged?”

Well the answer is a resounding yes. The fact that many in the masa found Martin Nievera’s artistic interpretation of the national anthem sacrilageous is evidence that the national symbols mean a lot to the people. The fisherman in Guimaras and the balot vendor in Quezon City I spoke to found the Nievera interpretation offensive. However for the conyo and the educated elite in Manila and the blogosphere find the whole controversy a non-issue. This may be a reflection of the ties of Filipinos with their land.  The educated elite can easily get a US or anyother visa compared to the mambabalut!

So the market vendors I spoke with say that if Pacquiao had lost they would lay the blame on the “malas” on Martin Nievera! This wasn’t a joke, BTW. That’s why I commented before that if Pacquiao had lost, the results would have been catastrophic. Perhaps Gloria would not be able to survive the deluge.

Ryan Cayabyab probably sensed this when he warned Martin Nievera about his interpretation. Cayabyab is to have warned Martin “na papatayin ka ng mga tao!”.

Some academic here at UP likened Pacquiao to Ridley Scott’s  Maximus (played by Russel Crowe) in “Gladiator”. Well he did defy the WHO and DOH and the Palace on the H1N1 viral scare. So Maximus Lucius Decimus Pacquiao is indeed back in the capital of the Empire, hale and strong. He stopped to pray to the Gods at the Quiapo Church.

Pacquiao I think has the smarts to know that he can make or break his politician handlers. While our Glorious Queen could be a Commodus, I strongly disagree with the academic. Pacquiao is no Maximus yet! Is Pacquiao a ‘servant of the True Emperor?”

His own answer: “The poor who vote for movie actors are not lost in adulation; their eyes are as open as those of the educated. They invest trust, and they expect to be able to collect on their investment. It is futile to remind them that the work of a senator is to craft laws and to debate national policies, rather than to serve as a funnel for doles. For the fact is, the great majority of our legislators today measure their usefulness by the amount of projects they bring to their constituents rather than by the quality of their interventions on the congressional floor.”

David goes on to argue: In such a political system, “intelligence and experience or competence in statecraft (is) of little value” as the “virtues that matter are generosity, approachability, and a strong sense of empathy.”

I have grappled with a similar question before. With somewhat different take, in a commentary of mine published by Inq7.net on December 3, 2003 as the “King of the Philippine Movies,” Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ) was making a run for the presidency, I wrote:

. . . the movie in the making [Da King who would be the man] is having a bad review before the plot line is even finished. “How can a high-school dropout tackle international trade, the budget deficit, or the aberration of the currency, for instance?” the tabloid Philippine media asks, as if suggesting, quite unwittingly, the incumbent as well as her predecessors has done a stellar job on these charges. . . .

. . . who among the other presidential aspirants has ever captured or reduced the intricate issues of presidential politics into a mass appeal in the pre-campaign trail? If at all, it is the patriarchs of Philippine society that put the political and economic issues in esoteric terms as part of their mechanism of control over the political life of the nation. With the looming FPJ presidency, some feathers are certainly being ruffled, those of the economic elites in particular. FPJ as president has the potential of producing a people power narrative that promises to return a larger measure of that control to the ordinary citizens. That’s where the epicenter of the “jitters” is coming from . . .

. . . FPJ in effect said, the real issues are “sincerity,” “dedication” and “love of country.” And also, if successful, the governance style he has indicated to adopt will be pretty straightforward. He will serve only as acting president and a team of experts will run the Office of the Presidency. That’s enough safety net.

It was David also who called our attention in 2004 to a controversial speech by Washington Sycip, a well-known Filipino business leader. Sycip, by implication, spoke about governance in the Philippines supposedly by those with superior “intelligence and experience or competence in statecraft” before a forum of corporate leaders where he unabashedly broached the desirability of an authoritarian rule in lieu of the present Western-based democratic institutions.

Now, a couple of weeks ago, Sycip replicated himself before the Management Association of the Philippines:

Economic freedom with effective enforcement of laws and long term planning for needed infrastructure has been the success story of East Asia. Political freedom gradually increased as income levels rose. The widely praised four “tiger economies” of Asia all had authoritarian governments that were able to eliminate hunger and increased spending on education. Elements of democracy came naturally with a growing middle-class.

Taiwan’s growth was under martial law and South Korea developed under a military dictatorship. Prosperous Hong Kong and Singapore do not seem to be suffering from a lack of democracy. In fact both westerners and Asians admire the discipline of Singapore! (Emphasis mine)

Upon suggesting that one root cause of the problem could be “an overdose of democracy, Western style,” Sycip, lest he be misunderstood, is prompt to clarify: “I want to make it clear that I am for democracy but food, education, housing and health care for the poor should have first priority.”

How is Sycip’s democratic posturing different from FPJ’s dream of providing three square meals a day to every Filipino family based upon the principle of “sincerity,” “dedication” and “love of country”? I guess the difference is not so much as to the end – the attainment of the common good – as the means to achieve it.

Isn’t Sycip as well as those who support his ideological frame basically saying: We agree on the common good but since we have the intelligence, experience, competence in statecraft, we are better qualified than the average Filipino to achieve it; so, why don’t you allow us the exclusive right of governance? This may not be democracy in the Western traditions, it may be added, but in the end even that conception of democracy would follow suit as matter of natural course.

In FPJ’s plan, the way I perceive it then, the peoples’ representatives would still retain control of the “final say” and the delegation to “experts” was only as to certain secondary decisions, somewhat similar to a company president saying “Our goal is a productivity rate that is double or better than last year’s – you have my ok to use every reasonable means within the company rules to achieve it.” On the other hand, what Sycip seems to espouse is ceding the final decisions on a process oriented towards the common good to a select group of individuals, the “guardians,” if you will, in Platonic discourse, or the “moral and intellectual aristocracy” according to Filipino politician and jurist Jose P. Laurel.

In a large-scale democracy of 85 million people like the Philippines democratic governance can only happen through representation. And government by representation or republicanism, as now called, is deemed to exist if at a minimum the average citizens retain a firm measure of control over their elected representatives. This control process is made possible through free, honest and frequent elections.

It is therefore of the essence of democracy that adult citizens – whether they are movie actors, basketball stars, news anchorpersons, world champion boxers or fledgling politicos and lawyers, economists, political scientists, industrialists or trapos – should be presumed as sufficiently well capable to vie for public office or participate in the democratic process of governing the state. A political governance system that holds or practices a contrary ideal is non-democratic.

Let’s take the case of Hong Kong, an autonomous territory, so they say, of China. On March 25 this year the city-state will hold an election for its chief executive. Of the seven million Hong Kong inhabitants, a group of only 796 voters – in turn selected by the tycoons of industry, commerce and the professions – is enfranchised for the electoral exercise. Balloting will be secret, but the winner, Donald Tsang, is already known. Beijing and the tycoons are widely expected to engineer the elections in Tsang’s favor and versus Alan Leong, who is being endorsed by the Island’s pro-democracy activists. But then again, since opposition or dissent is somehow permitted within the framework of Hong Kong’s Basic Law, some “elements of democracy,” to borrow Sycip’s phrase, are passed around to be at work, not to mention the appearance of “rule of law.”

What of Singapore? The People’s Action Party (PAP) has been the ruling political party in Singapore since 1959 having won all parliamentary seats in at least five elections or at certain times allowing only a token participation by the opposition (one or two opposition seats in the parliament) and has thus dominated Singapore’s “democracy.” Over the years, Singapore has been criticized by reputable international organizations and individuals, and by the US State Department for suppressing dissent and free speech. Reporteurs Sans Frontières ranks Singapore 147th out of 167 countries on press freedom in its 2005 report, citing as ground the complete absence of independent newspapers, radio and television stations. Only recently, blogger Li Xueling has run a piece claiming that PAP is “mounting a quiet counter-insurgency against its online critics.” Like Sycip, former prime minister and now senior statesman Lee Kuan Yew was once quoted as saying that Singapore is better off sans “liberal democracy.”

According to democracy scholar Robert Dahl, the historical evidence is overwhelming attesting to the fact that the interests of those who are denied to participate in governance will not be advanced by those who govern. Who will speak up for you or your group, Dahl asks, if you are denied your voice or excluded from participation?

Political contests in the Philippines have yet to be severed from the same old squabbles of competing warlords. But the political success of some entertainment and sports celebrities not rooted in the political dynasties of the old gentry are signs of shifting allegiances of the masses from traditional power and wealth to their newly found champions like Erap (screen idol and former president Joseph Estrada) and Manny Paquiao(top-rated world boxing titleholder). At the very least, this phenomenon is also an expression of the masses’ rejection of elite ideology despite its intense promotion with all the wherewithal at the elites’ disposal.

The masses believe they are allowed participation in the political process when they succeed in enthroning their heroes whom they expect to look at issues not through the prism of some highfalutin party ideology but through their (the masses) own. This is how republicanism is understood by the people. The majoritarian principle based on this self-interest of the masses is somehow the antidote to the pursuit of the so-called rational self-interest of the dominant group in the context of liberal democracy. When freedom of expression and access to alternative or other sources of information than those plied by the government or the dominant group, particularly on political matters, hold full sway, there’s greater opportunity to gain civic competence on the part of all participants. Compromises or consensus among competing interests based on the enlightened understanding of critical issues may then take place in the quest for the common good, or at least, as hoped for by Sycip, “a common program to reduce poverty and develop a larger middle class.”

On the other hand, whether or not the majority has in fact voted a true champion is another story. Today, average Latin Americans are increasingly having good fortune in putting their bets in, say, Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales who are seen to be stepping up to the plate to challenge the prevailing socioeconomic order and orthodoxy. If the final say remains with the people, does it even matter should Chavez or Morales ultimately turn out to be poor choices? As long as the elections of representatives are fair, honest and frequent, chances are the principals will learn their lessons in democratic governance.

WTF.

Reading online newspapers today, we have the following good side of the news, if I may:

One, TF is cleared. Assistant City Prosecutor Mary Pamittan dismissed the charge against TF, et al for violations of pertinent sections of PD 1829. Apparently, the argument flows from the observation that the authorities must first determine if a crime was committed before anyone could be charged of obstruction of justice. This must be answered prayers from Korina Sanchez for one, and for many other TF listeners.

Two. GT runs dark-horse. The defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro is set to run for 2010 with at least a TV ad already hitting the screen. It is hoped that it will soon be formally announced that GT will be the anointed one of Malacanang. Columnist Julius Fortuna thinks “Teodoro has conveyed the image of a daring upstart” in the fashion of Baruch Obama. It bears watching how he would weather low ratings for now and the unifying factor of a yet uncoalescing coalition of Lakas and Kampi.

Three. MP bats for Congress yet again. Manny Pacquiao’s party-list, People’s Champ Movement is set to be accredited by the COMELEC unless it yet finds any ground for it to be disapproved. Barring none, a two-prong approach hits the ground running: Pacman bats for congressional seat in Sarangani than in General Santos as his brainchild party-list likewise rides the crest. This might mean a single investment for two-dimensional rates of return.

But just to spice things up a bit, can we please just browse over what part of Amb. Ernesto Maceda has spelled out in his today’s column to wit?

Four. “No wonder political appointments are not usually announced.” The good columnist made mention of the appointment of a certain appointee as epitomizing the poor quality of presidential appointees in that there seems to be no more background checking or vetting prior to appointment by GMA. Certainly, Maceda has likewise decried that epidemic of more and more military and PNP generals being appointed to career civilian positions thus probably ‘bastardizing’ the civil service career system.

All told, this has been such a lazy day with only about a half attending session in the House of Representatives since some of them are in an extended vacation of sort. We heard that they likewise went through the ‘thermal scanner’ as they exit NAIA. True enough, it is better to be safe than sorry.

We hope things become better before they become worse especially in the political landscape. We sure hate to see more of the same with the entry of new congressional leaders, some 32 of them added to the already overcrowded chamber – an ‘echo chamber’, no less. We sure hate to realize that at the Senate front, they are busy debating which Rules of the Chamber to adopt – the US-copied Rules of Senate, the Old Rules of the Senate, or the New Rules of the Senate – as if no permissible debate can yet start until after the Rules are well agreed.

The menu at the Senate table that they themselves will feast on is, we are told, on how to approach the controversy over Villar with such contemplation as to the possibility of inflicting expulsion of a Senate member, if determination warrants. From where I stand, the snafu will drag a little bit longer than the matter can be neatly presented for deliberations.

Point is, trust the new Senate President that something good comes out from this ‘feud’.

When the national anthem or Philippine Hymn was sung on the occasion of the fight of Pacman vs. Hitman by a famous singer, the section chief of Heraldry Office of the National Historical Institute was saying something to the effect that its legal department is studying the possibility of perhaps sanctioning Martin Nievera for violation of Republic Act 8492, otherwise known as the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.

Apparently, this stems from the rather intentional change Martin Nievera did in the rendition of the “Lupang Hinirang” which departs from the requisite of Section 37 of such law which stipulates that its rendition ought to be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe. Still, however, it seems always violated in that other earlier artists such as Sarah Geronimo, Kyla, Lani Misalucha and Bituin Escalante have likewise sang the hymn rather incorrectly.

Thus, Martin appears to come 5th in the violator’s chart.

Clearly, from the point of view of the National Historical Institute, since the law was kind of intentionally violated in the case of Martin Nievera according to NHI’s section chief, then it is possible that fines, penalties or sanctions maybe imposed, perhaps a little more serious than a mere reprimand given that Martin sang in quite away from its time signature and its prescribed key.

But the point at bottom is on whether NHI should even undertake to sort of “punish” a famous singer who, by his presence alone, lent pride and prestige to the sporting event that resulted in giving even greater glory to RP when Manny Pacquiao were announced as the winner in this much-awaited boxing bout.

It bears watching how singer Martin will be held to account on an act that may not have been intentionally committed by the singer himself.

From where I stand, maybe culture cannot evolve with a law that is built like an un-crushable mountain that will not drift to the sea.

Besides, are we not to suppose that there must have been an earlier approval of NHI for anyone from the Philippines who will sing the national anthem in an international sporting event and with such approval, nothing ought to be the matter on how nicely or un-nicely it may turn out to have been sung?

Indeed, the law stands even beyond its borders. This means that anywhere the Philippine Hymn is being sang, it must be sung in a prescribed tune and is not at all subject to any creative or artist’s interpretation. But what really happens if one has tended to have violated the prescribed time signature and key?

It is hard enough to just assign anybody of lesser stature to sing the national anthem however much correctly it may be done. We have observed that on the part of Hatton, it was Tom Jones who sang their own national hymn and another possibly famous singer for the US National Anthem. I thought we played a good part of the role with Martin Nievera doing the honors.

How then will this little glitch come to pass?

Will the National Historical Institute not fail to similarly sanction the individual who hoisted the Philippine flag upside down? Will it strongly sanction the one with the Philippine flag with texts over it? Will it sanction those in the Philippine crowd who did not place their right palm over their left chest while the hymn is being sung?

There might just be much ado about nothing at all – just maybe. On hindsight, it might be more rational to spare Martin the whip.

I watched the fight at a Filipino friend’s place and brought a buddy along. Indeed in a fight like this, it seems almost like a fiesta when Filipinos gather. And they gather because for one man only. If only the pope had a better right hook, maybe he could get such a huge gathering on a Saturday evening.

This was a much needed respite for Filipinos, from the realities that they face on a daily basis. Manny has indeed proven himself the best pound for pound fighter as he twice knocked down Hatton in the first round, and then scored probably one of the greatest knockout punches for quite some time now to close out the second round and probably Ricky Hatton’s career in the ring.

Freddie Roach was right, the fight would not go past the third round, and not only was he right, but he was emphatically correct on the claim of knockout.

As I awoke around two hours ago, and as I usually do, I turned the radio on, I heard our very own Howie Severino of GMA 7 on The BBC Network News on radio, where he was introduced as a boxing enthusiast as well as a reporter from The Philippines. He was of course elated by the win, and how he had been following the fight online and through twitter since our local stations kept plugging away at the commercials and thus the fight could not be seen live.

He was then asked about the political career of Manny Pacquiao, for which Howie reminded the BBC broadcaster about the loss that Manny took against Custodio, and emphasized the maturing of The Philippine electorate. Well, the growing up of The Philippine electorate may be subjective and is an issue that we should tackle too.

While Politicos are going to be milking this victory for all its worth, as indeed The President is already doing by declaring this a national day of celebration, I’d still like to take this on a more personal basis, and congratulate a group of individuals who deserve the accolades and no one else.. To team Pacquiao, great job, a well thought out game plan, a Pacquiao right hook, who knew right? We need not congratulate anyone else, we’d like to ride on the success of Manny, but in truth we can be proud of him, but let’s remember the nation does not rise of fall with him. Let him enjoy this, and let us enjoy it too. And tomorrow, let’s get back to more pressing matters, if there is one lesson to be learned by this victory, it is that preparation is key, and so is implementation of strategies. As a nation, let’s ponder the preparation, planning, and implementation a bit more.