In no particular order, the names – Noli de Castro, Loren Legarda, Manny Villar, Chiz Escudero, Ping Lacson, Joseph Estrada, Mar Roxas, Jojemar Binay, Bayani Fernando, Ephraim Genuino, Gilbert Teodoro, Mike Velarde – might crop up in the list of possible presidential wannabes come May 2010. This is much unlike our US counterpart with its rigid two-party system that pitted McCain against Obama in a phenomenal win delivered by the Web 2.0 or the new digital technology. The configuration is likely to be reduced on the final day for filing certificate of candidacy but the opposition must rally behind a standard flag bearer – in the person of one candidate – to improve its chances of winning.
Surveys by polling circuits appear almost ready to predict who will become the next president or who would rank in the first three just as any ordinary man on the street can do likewise. Imagine a dog whose mouth is in the tip most part of Luzon and whose tail is in the tip most part of Mindanao. If you pinch the dog’s tail, it will be heard in Luzon and reversely, it can be heard in Mindanao. No material time is enough to sustain a rather vain attempt to cover as much ground with almost 90 provinces, how many more towns and cities in each province, and how many more barangays and sitios in every city or town. There seems to be no other option but to tap Web 2.0 and as election nears – creative packages are at the disposal of the more serious presidentiable – if he or she is willing to pay good enough sum of money – P3 to P5 billion in advertising.
In fact, this early, not few of these aspirants have already paid on TV info-commercials to make head way in the process of memory recall – which is prime determinant on anyone’s would-be-success. Topping these political ads are Manny Villar, Mar Roxas, the other Cayetano not to mention Noli de Castro’s PAG-IBIG ads and BF’s own creative way of getting known beyond Metro Manila. The New Media will inevitably take a key role in making sure New Media is employed as a tool. Access to information via digital technology readily satisfied the requirements of the “here” and “now” – at the speed of light. And presidentiables are well-advised to have a strong sense of honesty in themselves if they really intend to make their voters within their reach at the press of the keyboard. In the end, the presidency is in everyone else’s fingertips.
Where will such a candidate source that P5 billion to fund a more likely successful political campaign? Few observers of trends even theorize that bank robberies are virtual forms of fund-raising projects. Even drugs proliferating in the market are again the works of these candidates, true or false? Public works projects are likewise seen as a good source of campaign funds through kickbacks and commissions. If it were not that the World Bank has blacklisted some giant construction firms belong to some members of Congress, some monies could have been siphoned off just as well. It seems difficult to believe that campaign funds come from so-called “Friends of Mr. So and So” – chances not.
This is probably the good thing about PGMA’s, timely or untimely, stimulus plan earmarking some P50 billion from the Social Security System, the Government Service Insurance System, the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines. This is probably why there is a move to raise something like a P100 billion to bail out ‘pre-need companies’ that went bankrupt? Come to think of it, this came after the World Bank controversy involving giant construction companies owned by some politicians that have been blacklisted in WB-funded public works projects.
Why this stimulus plan if its purpose be not to literally enough, get from the hard-earned money of the members of SSS as it is with members of the GSIS – which should never have to happen since these involve pension benefits for employees in the private sector and the government? In the end, this whole thing is like baiting other banks or corporate entities to parcel out significant sums of money for the stimulus plan in exchange of certain concessions as may thereafter be granted to them. If this is not extortion, I sure don’t know what is?
This P330 billion stimulus plan is a whole gobble-dy-gook – making people believe that government will go into massive infrastructure projects in order to open wide doors for many people to get employed when in truth, they might just provide milking cows for unabashed corruption activities by those who have any hand in bids, awards, and contracts. To think that all these will be implemented few days or weeks or months before election day, it is not far removed that certain unlawful activities might happen along the way. And just where is the list of infrastructure projects that will be funded from this stimulus plan? At the very least, they should be subject to public scrutiny to make sure no P70 million will drop from the staircase.
If elections were held today, who will you vote for? Will I vote for CJ Puno, in case his Council of Advisers change their minds? I would have wanted Sen. Miriam Santiago to try her luck again for the last time but then again – she can lie – not once, but twice as she did lie in the past. How about a Fortunato Abat – if he comes? Again, how can he get that P5 billion from Bogart or Noah in Money War to sustain an excellent campaign? Will anyone tell me who should lead this country next so that any form of corruption can – no longer rear its ugly head?
Contributing Writer: PRIMER C. PAGUNURAN
UP Diliman, Quezon City Email: nielsky_2003@yahoo.com
Popularity: 1% [?]
We have to evaluate the records of the candidates
aspirants. What their agendas, what they stand
for. They must posses good academic background,
good work experience background, competence, good moral character and integrity. We dont look for any Celebrity status. Celebrities are for entertainment. Not to lead a nation, with serious
problems.
The aspirant must present workable and comprehensive programs to solve the present
problems. A good realizable Vision to where
He or She may lead us in His or Her term.
The Point of contention now is: to fix the ailing
economy.
“The Point of contention now is: to fix the ailing economy.”
I think that frame of mind is very colonial.As if we are a developed country like the US that economy is our main problem.
I think leadership, vision, integrity and inspiration are the key words.
What fixing economy we are talking about. Ala Obama?
Our economic platform is yet to be built. So there is none to fix.In the first place.
The economy has been in trouble, ever since. OFWs
are going home in droves. Your monthly pay can
not give you enough to live on.
You dont have to be a good economist to know
that the economy needs fixing. It is translated
in your daily expenses and needs.
Do you have brains ?
this post is really like a dog whose mouth is on the tip of luzon, the belly is on the visayas, and the tail is on the tip of mindanao. it starts with a name-dropping of “presidentiables”, then a quantum leap to a critique of the “stimulus plan”, and ends on the writer’s hamlet-like musings about who he should vote for.
sorry, but i missed the point.
Si Erap ay para sa mahirap!!
Bencard,
Your comment isn’t like a dog that barks but does not bite, it is the other way around.
More to the point. If you are that naive as not to see the direct and clear connection between presidentiables and that rather controversial ‘stimulus plan’, then it is your problem.
On both hindsight and simple intuition, it cannot be said that such stimulus plan will not be anything connected to 2010 – fact is, it will stimulate voters to side with their bets.
It is really a very simple prognosis that any ordinary man on the street ought be able to understand – even signs alone state them clear – in the realm of the senses.
What quantum leap are you talking about? Can you not see the connection? What hamlet-like-musings as to who to vote for did I end up with? I never did really endorse any presidentiable for none that I can.
I know your comment. You are asking me to read your blogs – and maybe comment or critique it too. I shall find the time, don’t worry.
“Do you have brains ?” KA FLOR
He he he.
YABANG MO
You all talk too much…..name names……..sino nga ba?………..and why?……………I’ll take Chiz Escudero……his youth will be his strength…………..some say it is his weakness………but i heard Fr. Ed ‘Among’Panlillo will run…….I will vote for him if he runs…….Do you have brains?
sino nga ba siya???
can you tell me who he really is?
yan nga sabi nila, pro pangalan lang niya alam ko “Ed Panlillo”…
pasensiya kana…
I need an answer.., pero di pa naman ako nakakaboto hah…
kailangan ko lang information…
thank you in advance…
If you have brains…….use it come 2010……………
would it matter?
kung ihahambing sa pamamalengke…namalengke ka ng tanghali..lahat ng nakalatag na isda ay puro bulok na…kahit anong klaseng isda pa..lapu-lapu, tuna, blue marlin o galunggong..pare pareho lang ang lasa..lasang bulok!!!!
so..kailganan pa bang itanong kung sino ang iboboto?
bwahahahaha
How about vote the best President you like.
Then, be more critical in voting people that directly affect you (brgy level, district, city, province, etc.)
Our problem it seems cannot be solved by the President alone. If corruption is already part of our culture, and everybody in government serve himself than others, no program could serve teh people well.
I hope the crisis gets worse which might force the people to take 2010 more seriously than before.
Take a guess mister survey. Could it be Wowowee, could it be Mr. Ugboc? Hmmm.. this week only 2 answers for a dollar ninety nine. Gawin mo nang isang daang piso peste… tag hirap. BDO account # 25988213 (BDO Taft Ave. Patay tity) Account name Joseph Resado.
As for that infernal plan to steal some more money! They can shove it up their ..pubis maximus and set it on fire!
Vote Resado for President. He is a good financial
wizard. He can do five-six to other countries and
boast our economy.
Bayani Fernando is the man to beat. He’s got what it takes to be a very effective leader. The evidence is loud and clear that he is the man of action which is what we need for a progressive Philippines!
Yeah right! with NO PLATFORM ready during Lakas-Kampi-CMD selection of the party’s the standard bearer! sorry but i got pissed off with bayani fernando’s answers…if he has the ambition to be president then he should take things seriously! Hindi lahat ng bagay idadaan nalang sa joke?!
May ginawa din akong site na mag bibigay guide sa lahat kung sinong bobotohin ninyo as president.
Sa pamamagitan ng mga comments ng ibang tao sa mga presidentiables, makikita ninyo ang Positive at negative side sa mga mahahalal.
Mag bigay comment din upang ipa kita sa lahat ang iyong side kung dapat bang botohin ang pangulong iyon o hindi.
Ito ang Site: http://patunayanmo.ukay2x.com
Mag bigay ng positive at negative comments sa mga natala at tingnan sa ‘View Rank’ na link kung sino ang may pinaka mataas na Positive COmments.
Ang mga comments ay maaari mo ring ipublish sa facebook at iba pa! =)
Does all these candidates have the capacity to change the PHILIPPINES? or should I say, is there any candidate who has the capacity for that task? Does being a son of former president and a hero makes you capable to make a change in this country? or does being a “poor boy” before makes you worthy to be place in malacanang? Or does being a former president makes you better than anybody else? or having many project on your previous position makes you more capable than any other candidate?
These are the questions that we need to ask ourselves before choosing the right candidate for this upcoming election. There’s a lot of leaders that have tried to make a better change for this country but have they really done something to make that change? or they have made things worst?
Some say that a candidate who grew up in poverty has the capability to make that change. Would that mean that all people who grew up in poverty can make that change? Even though they are not candidates?
Some say that a candidate who have done so many things on thier previous position makes them more capable of the position. Isn’t it thier job to make projects? They don’t have to mention what they have done. Believe me or not, they benefited on it as well. If you know what i’m saying.
Now, how about carrying the legacy of thier family? Does that makes them a better candidate? What do you think? It doesn’t mean that if you are carrying a legacy it makes you a better person to be in the position, right?
How about being intelligent and hardworker? Can they make the change that this country needs?
NO ONE CAN BRING CHANGE!!!
If you know what I mean, you also must know who HE is and who believes in HIM. And that answers all the questions above.