Filipino Voices is the new media. It has its own share of fault like the mainstream media (MSM), it likes to believe that it is being partisan to what it perceives to be what is right. Participants at FV are of diverse background, education, age and gender, and most have no known political affiliation and everyone is allowed to post an article or comment of varying color, political creed or belief unbridled by a consideration of monetary reward or a loss of a paycheck, something most MSM regulars will not do.
The new media is a wilderness, it is untamed and the ideas brought forth are not products of mass-hypnosis and disguised sentiments to serve any particular political or commercial interest, something the MSM is not all about.
That FV appears to be pro-Nonoy is but a reflection of the SW survey that about 59 per cent favors Aquino against his closest rival, Villar at 45 per cent. And why is the result from about 2,000 respondents polled on the streets unabashedly saying they favor more Aquino than Villar acceptable but it is not when such sentiment is being echoed here at FV by its writers and contributors? Do we lose our capacity to choose a likely candidate because we happened to write or contribute to FV?
*****
I did not live during Rizal, Bonifacio, Diego Silang and Gregorio del Pilar’s time. I lived during Ninoy’s time where in the face of Pinoy cowardice and their tails wrapped around their balls, I only saw Ninoy, Tanada, Rodrigo, Gerry Roxas, Jovito Salonga, JW Diokno and few others waging an almost futile opposition against Mr. Marcos. The Church under Cardinal Sin was also complicit with the Marcos couple during most martial law years because he was a regular adornment at Malacanang parties. Detainees like Roxas, Diokno, Salonga, Rodrigo and Tanada were later allowed to go free but Marcos got hold on Ninoy because he was afraid of Ninoy.
He was charismatic just like Mr. Marcos but he was more eloquent than Mr. Marcos. He could not allow Ninoy going around the countryside with a microphone talking to every Filipino because his oratorical gift, can arouse the most coward Pinoy in our midst. So he allowed his military tribunal to issue a death sentence against Ninoy and the corrupt and spineless Supreme Court, despite appeal from Ninoy sided with Mr. Marcos that the tribunal notwithstanding the civil court being open and functional, has jurisdiction over a civilian indictee like, Ninoy Aquino.
It was the pressure from the US State Department that dissuaded Mr. Marcos from carrying out the death sentence of Ninoy. Mr. Marcos could not quite comprehend why despite his effort to portray Ninoy as an ally of the communists, the more that Ninoy became popular. His fasting in his cell created a hysteria, his noise barrage, a political crisis in Manila, but his subsequent heart ailment provided a sensible escape for Mr. Marcos to de-glorify Ninoy by allowing him a medical furlough to the US after putting manacles on him for 7 years and 7 months.
Ordinary mortals, after being in jailed for those long period of time, would welcome a new fresh breath of freedom and spend the rest of their lives with their families rather than go back to jail or to face death and be a symbol of the most coward race on this earth, the Filipino people. It was simply not Ninoy. He went back oblivious of the danger against his life and the rest is history.
Why would I vote for Noynoy on the strength of the credentials of his father or his mother? I would not answer that for a moment, but I would like to reframe the question. Why would you vote for Villar and others who had waltzed with Marcos and GMA and made inordinate gain in the process while most of us suffer?
The least of the evils?
I don’t think so.
Popularity: 1% [?]
fast track to may 10, 2010: “billionaire wins presidency…”
oops, that’s in Chile.
fast track to billions: daang hari?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ5icSM70CU
“That FV appears to be pro-Nonoy is but a reflection of the SW survey that about 59 per cent favors Aquino against his closest rival, Villar at 45 per cent…”
Hhhmm, I’m not sure if this would hold water. Logical untruth? FV appears to be pro-Noynoy because the ‘antis’ like benign0, BongV, etc. are populating a place called Anti Pinoy.
I dunno if they were kicked out for that matter, huh, Boss Nick?
There are a few of us non-yellow patriots remaining out here, a la Last Hero Standing, hoping that people see the light in Flash Gordon :)
That’s the spirit, Phil, my friend!
What if Philippine citizens in the Philippines come up with a lampoon of “Anti Pinoy”? The Anti Hyphenated-Pinoy!
I’m so sad for you, Phil, trying so desperately to rekindle the light in the flash of Flash Gordon. No more flash there but a flicker.
Hi Phil, we appreciate all views here on FV, and will always appreciate your contribution towards the discussions.
In any case, we won’t, at anytime ever, as a whole, endorse any one presidential candidate, however I do encourage each writer to do so on his or her own basis.
“The awaiting moderation really sucks”. Censorship in disguise.
If you dont agree with them. They will moderate your views.
Or kick you out of the Blog Site.
FYI, I was moderated again today (which makes it the 5th time). I notice it tends to happen when my posts r long.
Phil:
The moderation sucks.
How can one heartily partake in the discussion when you are being moderated.
Noynoy can be more famous than Willie Revillame for all I care, it still does not make him competent at all.
I echo the same sentiment BongV. But in hindsight I found that the moderation made some sense. I made some nasty comment in the past when we were not in our best selves and I would not made the same comment had I been sober. The moderation keep us right on track on issues and not personalities. But sometimes there is a gray area between issues and personalities. Overall, I would like Nick to let those issues and non-issues compete in the market-place and let the rubbish and the non-rubbish seek their own level in the marketplace. By now we should know the people here at FV who desire to talk on issues and those who would delve on personalities.
I totally agree with Manoy Jose, though I’m not innocent.
Hey. It is the reader who determines what opinion he/she
believes. That is why we have brains and the Power to choose.
If the moderator will choose it for you.On the Blog Post
to read. THEN THAT REALLY SUCK TO HIGH HEAVEN!
I hate “awaiting moderation” myself Mariano. My position is that no one should, in his individual wisdom be allowed to determine that a particular comment goes beyond normal standard of civility and decency, and therefore that comment must be deleted.
FV readers, contributors and writers must collectively moderate the post/articles by simply ignoring those that are unethical and nasty and patronizing those comments that are evidently. Allow the principle of “seeking its own weight in the market place” operate.
Yes “moderating the comment” can lead to censorship.
I have on some occasion made some nasty remarks which Nick had moderated, but later I realized that Nick was right in doing so, but soon Nick can use the same prerogative to “moderate” ideas that are basically non-licentious but for his individual point of view. So far I have not seen Nick to be intolerant of adversarial views and I would assume that what he had deleted were, in his honest perception went beyond the norm of civilized discussion.
But the fact that he alone can “moderate” is a concern for discomfort. In the affairs of men, someone said, we need rules to guide our action unless we are all angels. “Moderating comment” is a prerogative only Nick discharges, he needs a rule on how to discharge it unless we are told that Nick is an Angel himself.
patronizing those comments that are evidently civilized… my bad.
Well if you think about if blogwatch is pro gibo (ask noemi dado) and better philippines is anti Noynoy. To each his own yeah?
Blogwatch and FV is non partisan. Blogwatch more specifically is aimed to inform. No need to get personal here.
how can blogwatch be pro-gibo. if you will notice most entries were not too positive for Gibo except for one.
Oh thank for teh info rabout BongV and Benginos where abouts. I ve been missing their posts here in FV
SOMEWHAT, I THINK!
Actually we should deal with the possible Greater Evil called a failure of elections.
I second the motion.
If there is one thing that we can agree on, even if we do have different candidates, that the elections push through cleanly and in an honest fashion.
Hey, BlackShama. Be a positive thinker. Hope for the best.
Keep that light flashing, Phil.
Surveys are similar to a billboard chart. It may indicate which music sells, but it doesn’t mean that it’s the best music available. The music that sells these days is mostly crap anyway.
to jcc: Villar is 33%, not 45%, right?
And the Villar-33% is what triggered NoyNoy to say something like surveys are flaky and ‘..can be bought at Quiapo”. It is obvious to me that NoyNoy is telling voters to use other criteria (not just choosing based on survey-number-ranking) when they vote come May-2010.
up n,
44 per cent against 33 per cent… its all but numbers.. the point is Noynoy is still ahead in the survey and he enjoyed also some lead here at FV if you take the various comments as indicators of that lead.
This appears to call on the same logic :
– to vote for Noynoy on the strength of the credentials of his father;
– to refuse to hire the daughter of a person who received a court-suspension for misconduct
up n,
i would not vote for noynoy on the credential of his father. i would vote for him because i see other candidates less agreeable.
process of elimination (just as “last man standing”) is logical (for me).
Hmm, good, but you said above:
“Why would I vote for Noynoy on the strength of the credentials of his father or his mother? I would not answer that for a moment…”
You ask further: “Why would you vote for Villar and others who had waltzed with Marcos and GMA and made inordinate gain in the process while most of us suffer?” Well, I take this to mean that those who did not waltz with Marcos and GMA deserve better consideration, in your estimation.
Well, let’s see. After Marcos, there was someone like… drum rolls please… Joker Arroyo, hero of the anti-Marcos movement, champion of human rights victims, anti-corruption crusader, executive secretary of Cory. What is he now? Defender of GMA and Jose Pidal, close friend of Villar, hahaha!
The list is long if you dig history enough but heck my memory is bad. But let me list a few who got the accolades because they fought Marcos: Benjamin Abalos, former Justice Sec. Raul Gonzales, Norberto Gonzalez, Gary Olivar, Toting Bunye, Felimon Lagman, a host of others who think the nation owe it to them because they fought Marcos. Will you even vote for them if they ran for mayor in your town?
On the other hand, many a competent people who worked for Marcos had to be replaced because when asked: “why did you work for Marcos when the rest of us were suffering?!” they could not answer. And replaced they were by people who did not waltz with Marcos because it was the biggest measure of their competence.
Heroes then, heels now; heroes today, heels tomorrow, huh?
Nah, I won’t for Villar not because he waltzed with Gloria. On Noynoy, I have an open mind; it’s that family legacy ekek that’s turning me off.
we are really a divided nation. my hero is your villain and your villain my hero.
Cardinal Sin, FVR, Enrile, Honasan also fought Mr. Marcos but they hardly represent my kind of heroes. Joker, Abalos, et. al. may have fought Marcos and later turned corrupt per your observation, yet they could be the Cardinal Sin, FVR, Honasan, Enrile type.
Persons change overtime. Or as someone said, “today’s revolutionaries will be tomorrow’s reactionaries”. (your joker-abalos argument).
If I would vote for Noynoy I do not have to explain my decision to you because I am not even campaigning for him. Yes I found the legacy ekek important why you were being turned off of it. Different folks different stroke argument. But as the local wag would put it more succintly: “Kung anong puno, siyang bunga”.
How easily we go down to the issue of who’s my hero or who’s your villain here. This is not soap opera we see on tv. It’s about real life and real people, where one could be hero once, heel thrice over, vice versa and so on. If we ever hope to understand our history, let us transcend the labels, see the entire picture as it is.
Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga? If we take that to be absolute, it should also follow, kung ano ang bunga, siya ang puno.
“Kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga” is in the philosophy of:
This corporation does not hire applicants whose parents have received a court-suspension for misconduct.
This corporation does not hire applicants whose parents are or have been illegal immigrants.
This corporation does not hire applicants whose parents are convicted felons.
This corporation does not applicants whose parents are politicians.
ricelander,
Our teacher, one day allowed a stranger in class, pull out a knife, push a classmate and kick some chairs. He pacified this stranger and escorted him outside. Unknown to us, this was staged.
Later he asked the class to write what we have observed inside the class. None of us have written the same exact thing that happened. This illustrate the point that your perception is colored by your bias. Those who have prior near-death experience of being stabbed would see the pulling out of the knife as the most terrifying part of the incident, those who had been fistly manhandled, the push on someone is the most terrifying part and those who had been beaten with bricks and mortals the kick on the chairs, but for someone who grew-up in a rough neighborhood and had seen this kind of situation on a daily basis, that day inside the class was uneventful and would not even register in his mind.
So, Ricelander, if you think you have your heroes right, congratulations!
UPn, okay then. Tell me about the parents of Cory Aquino and the parents of Ninoy.
JCC, congratulations too. We all have our biases, don’t we?
Meantime, may I post this here?: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/181877/hacienda-luisitas-past-haunts-noynoys-future
Noynoy is not my ideal president, but I really cannot explain why I trust him more than any of the other candidates.
to macapili: let me help you out. You believe that NoyNoy is trustworthy. You believe that in his years as congressman and senator, his name has not been tarnished. You believe Cory is e a better leader, near-sainthood even. You believe Cory is a better leader than GMA, Erap, other Pinas presidents and you trust those who had worked for Cory better than those who had worked for GMA and the other president who are less trustworthy to you.
Maybe. Frankly, the other names give me bad vibration. Sabi nga, hindi maganda ang feeling.
Maybe it is because NoyNoy is the name you heard of the least last year and the year before? Can it be the attractiveness of an inocente?
You are okay now since you are content with your choice. However, if you want to change the mind of a pro-Jamby or a pro-Perlas or even an undecided, you have to add to your list of reasons. Good luck!
How about this:
The difference between Noynoy, Villar, and Perlas is that the former two have better chances of winning the election, while the latter none.
Now, the Senate says Villar is not a good senator so might not be a good president.
That leaves Noynoy and Perlas as the contenders for being clean presidential candidates. But we still don’t know who between the two of them will change or not change his mind and attitude after sitting on the throne in the palace by the Pasig River.
So, who do we think is the most logical choice?
I think we all have that inkling to trust Noynoy. It is because the Aquinos lead a public life. They grew up in the eyes of the nation. We know his family, we know the values in which he was raised, we know what he and his family stood for throughout the years. There is a feeling of familiarity, of solidarity that comes with his family and the name he carries. He is the third generation to carry the name Benigno Aquino, all three served in the Senate and kept the name untarnished. Faced with that, it his hard not to muster even a tiny bit of trust.
Thanks for articulating it.
Nice piece JCC.
Diokno, Tanada, Salonga, Aquino, et.al. Rare bred of honorable men we sorely need in the age of Gloriatic perversion.
Frankly, I think the question of who Noynoy’s parents were is non-sequitur, at least to me. Personally, that has nothing to do with my tentative decision to support him, which is why I don’t relate to the many who do simply because they idolize his parents. Both Ninoy and Cory had their faults, but they were remarkable individuals in their own right nonetheless, and they were certainly patriots of the highest order.
But that is neither here nor there. I happen to respect Noynoy because I know from very reliable sources that he didn’t take any kickbacks in the Senate. That, more than anything else, speaks volumes about his character. Fighting corruption and impunity can only happen if the country’s leader sets the moral tone, in my view, and he has demonstrated that he is the least corruptible of all the (viable) candidates.
For that matter, whether or not he is a technocrat with extensive experience or a brilliant legislative career behind him also strikes me as being non-sequitur. Marcos and GMA had decent minds and professional histories, but clearly there was something lacking in both in terms of moral fibre. At least Noynoy’s not a consummate thief like some of the others, and at least he believes in upholding the rule of law. He can always surround himself with capable people later.
Thanks for a provocative piece.
Lila,
I have not read you at FV until now. If you have been here before and I had not noticed it, my bad. Your site is heavy stuff and your credentials, impeccable and you are beautiful too. I can say FV is honored by your presence. Pardon my disrespect to your uncle, FVR. Someone else’s hero could be another person’s villain, that’s how divided we are as a people.
There’s so much going on in this site it’s hard to keep up with everything, Jcc! Thanks so much for your kind words. No worries about being critical — in my view, nothing is above scrutiny, even family. As a matter of fact, I welcome analysis. You might be interested in my first blog about FVR:
http://lilashahani.blogspot.com/2009/10/open-letter-to-fvr.html
L ;-)
It was Philippine politics as usual. I lost confidence on all Filipino
politicians a long time ago. Most are self serving, no matter what you
call them. Oritorical genius, charismatic personalities, fighter, etc…
History of our politics showed politicians want only one. To be elected.
Once elected. They serve their own interest, not the peoples’.
I lost confidence on most Filipino Politicians a long time ago. Most
oare crooks and self serving.
i choose NoyNoy not because of his parents, but because of what he is. he never use his mother’s power to enter in politics when his mother still a president. he never enter in any political affinities when his mother still president although he was hit by bullet 5 times during 1st coup d’etat and at that moment he never tell to his mother that he was hit by bullet if ever that Pres Cory new that noynoy was hurt do u think what will Pres Cory will ask to his Generals.
being a good president is not a battle of how many people u help, how many awards u get, how many legislation u make or pass it’s about how will u served ur people without asking for anything.
this is my question to all of u.
DID NOYNOY AND AQUINO FAMILY ASK U TO VOTE FOR HIM OR FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY RISK THEIR LIVES FOR THE SAKE OF FILIPINO PEOPLE??
The Aquinos risk their lives because they are Politicians. They
have to protect Hacienda Luisita. Ninoy Aquino wanted also Power.
The sacrifice was only the by product. Victim of circumstances
beyond his control. He accidentally became a HERO.
Testing, testing.
I tried commenting here twice in the last week and have been moderated. I just want to know if they have lifted the ban already :)
I have never used profanity or bad language so I don’t know why I was banned. I just know I made a few not so pro-Noynoy remarks.
What do you know, it worked. I won’t publish my article about being banned from FV anymore I guess :)
“Awaiting moderation.” Is just plain censorship. If you dont agree
with them. They will moderate (kick you out) of the Blogsite.
I just want to share my inner opinion to all my dear fellow filipino people. I am so tired and felt ashame everytime we had voted a wrong leader. And now it is the perfect time to choose the right one. I strongly believe that MR. NOYNOY AQUINO is the best candidate that can lead us to the bright future for my dear brothers and sisters. Lets us together help hand in hand and be vigilant to stop the evil persons trying to do everything to own a power. In God we trust and be watchfull…
That is what you think. Watch when Noynoy is elected. The squatters will still be there. Mindanao will still be a problem. We will still be in neck deep debts. We will be importing more rice and sugar. More of the same. IT WILL TAKE A SUPERHUMAN BEING to solve our problems.
DONT PUT TOO MUCH HOPE ON WHOEVER IS ELECTED. YOU WILL BE SURELY
DISAPPOINTED!
Mariano,
Thanks for echoing my own concern… Let us not elevate the people’s expectation on Noynoy unless we want to be disappointed. One small steps and one at a time.
The AQUINO Magic and Myth were built by U.S. Public Relation firms.
It is like the “Battle of Manila Bay”. Which in truth was just a ploy
to shock and awe the Filipinos. We were already sold in the Treaty of Paris between Spain and the U.S. When the so called Battle took place.
It was like the “Thousand Ship Supply to Bataan”. During the World
War II. To make Filipinos fight to the death against the Japanese in the Fox holes of Bataan.
Now we are hooked on this Aquino Myth, Sacrifice and Magic. Unseen hands are responsible for this idiocy.
Agree.
Welcome to the world of U.S. “democracy”. Capitalism and democracy are partners in the way to power that’s why the U.S. hype it so much. If you have lots of money, you can buy democracy through deception. U.S. has always involved themselves in Philippine politics for the benefit of their Empire of Evil.
http://www.pcij.org/imag/2004Elections/Campaign/consultants2.html
Aquino Magic only happened in 1986. After that, there was no such thing.
I agree with Mariano, public relations firms are among the greatest deceivers of the world. Read up on Edward Bernays.
Least of the Evils? Why not choose the good? (Read the illusion of the lesser vil) or if there’s none, then don’t vote at all. There is freedom in not choosing also.
Noynoy Aquino may not be tainted with graft and corruption but I don’t trust his party. From what I’m seeing so far, he is vulnerable in being manipulated. If he cannot be left to decide things for himself or make a name for himself, I have no confidence in him whatsoever. I am 90% sure that he will become a puppet for the extreme right in LP. He was pushed into candidacy by his party with no confidence of his own. Just as Edu Manzano is a tool for Gibo’s campaign, so is Noynoy.
I would do what Nicanor Perlas said and get out of the LP if he truly wants to change the Philippines and doing it HIS way rather than his party’s way.
Something about our crippling ‘underdog mentality’ must be doing the bandwagon effect in favor of a Noynoy. But it challenges reflection to more deeply examine if it would be an intelligent vote to elect him president.
From where I stand, no way.