Has anyone done an extrapolation on how the youth vote in 2004 swung – in terms of who did it vote as president? What, for example, is the configuration reflective of those between the ages of 18 to 35 (by UN definition) from the 12.9 million that made GMA president?
US President Barack Obama, in particular, fully benefited from a youth vote because of charisma and ability to speak the language of this sector that for eloquent as well as clear messages of change. That has required immersion in networking sites of the internet to impress upon young people a new symbol of hope. Barack was to be that symbol.
Today, data have it that the youth vote alone accounts for 11 million, 2 million of which represents the first-timers. In other words, 11 million alone can in fact – make or unmake presidents. So how will the more ‘manipulative’ presidential wannabe be able to harness friendly if not patronizing collaboration if not by invasion in the www. Certainly, every well-meaning aspirant takes part of the action.
However, come to think of it, the youth vote is myth, a misnomer even. In the field of 250 or so members of the House of Representatives, to include the party-list, there seems to be no a single soul who, properly speaking, can represent the voice of the youth. For one, there is no party-list representative of youth. Is it because the youth, as a sector, cannot be classified as marginalized or underrepresented?
There is even more difficult way to know how the youth choose their leader. What is their voting habit? What are their set criteria? To begin with, couldn’t it be that they are, in fact, the less uninformed of what are going on in Philippine politics, in governance, in high places, in the bureaucracy? There had not been any survey done by SWS or Pulse Asia on the youth by way of a single collective when they constitute in fact the swing vote of 2010.
It is high time SWS or Pulse coordinate with student councils and for it to launch a survey to capture the voting habit of the youth in so far as this coming May 2010 election is concerned. Failing in this area, there will never be any available data on how such a critical bloc can be harnessed. It is not far removed that a good portion of the 11 million are not those who buy newspapers nor watch tv news.
The youth is best remembered when we see footages on TV of them being hit by anti-riot police when conducting street protest rallies in embassies or gates of government agencies. They are being arrested and detained in cells unfit for humans. They suffer bruises if not unseen deaths if intelligence operatives of either the military or the police have to go underhanded. The youth, in other words, is a favorite target.
With 11 million young people from about 40 million voting population, they ought to be a potent force in our state of affairs. Sadly, their sector is not represented – not in the Executive, neither in the Legislative, much less in the Judiciary. Put simply, the youth vote is perhaps simply being ‘prostituted’ by money politics. The votes go to who can give a young pair of hand a crispy P500 bill.
Paradox here is this. When they are in the streets as mouthpieces for desired change in body polity, they project themselves as true-blue militant radicals clamoring for change in the system. If by any streak of luck, they get themselves elected, it appears that they quickly metamorphose or get themselves totally transformed as just another tamed mind, patronizing even, to the powers that be. Can you see what this proverbial “Old Boys Club” can do? Enough – kaput.
End of ends, the government remains “state magnificus”.
Popularity: 3% [?]
how will it swing? — both ways!
boom! goes the dynamite! yeah!
(joke, joke)
Youth vote cannot swing it. yuna, does any bright inttelligent Flips has statistical data on voters’ age brackets? income bracket? How they vote? Whom they vote? Do they vote for comedians? Actors? Actresses? Intellectuals? Foreign-educated-vy-school graduates?
Do we hve this stats? Else, we are just groping in the darkness watching the swirl of light colors in our crystal balls ….
HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!
Renato,
Our youth is the future and they will instrumental in bringing forth the “responsible government” that Primer envisions. I strongly support this grand vision not because it is difficult but because it is right.
Why are you so negative?
You should give the power of positive thinking a try.
See you at Starbucks :)
Dear Conyo,
I TRIED THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING IT’S A FAILURE.
Watch those 92,000,000 Roman Catholic Filipino Christians. They are THINKING POSITIVELY THAT JESUS CHRIST WILL SAVE THEM FROM ETERNAL ECONOMIC DAMNATION! And, hell, for the past 480 years POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING FAILED!!! Well, FlipLand always has Power Failures!!!!
HA!HA!HA!HA!
POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING IS A FARCE. It’s one of those management buzzwords that fails on Filipinos!!!!
Dear Renato,
Masama bang mangarap? All big ideas start from a dream.
And Primer’s dream is noble one: Responsible Government.
What’s so wrong about that?
Imagine our government efficiently collecting taxes and utilizing all its resources to serve the people’s needs. Universal health care! Free education! Subsidized housing! Libreng bigas para sa lahat nang nangangailangan! Ano pa? Gas prices too high? The government can fix that too.
Imagine our government enforcing our laws so effectively that crime will become a thing of the past! Elections will be honest and efficient–results known at the end of the day. Our forests shall grow back once illegal logging is halted. Our coral reefs shall regenerate due to a yet to be named brilliant Pinoy invention.
Imagine our government shoving economic development up our lazy asses. Unemployment will drop to an amazing 0%. Filipinos shall no longer leave the country for employment. If fact, the trend will be reversed. Pinoy’s all over the globe (like you, BongV, and Benign0) shall return to reap the benefits on this economoic ka-boom. Philippine embassies will be swamped by foreigners applying for P-1 work visas while others will simply just go TNT in Mindanao.
With this economic might, we can finally upgrade our military so that we may defend OUR Spratleys and liberate OUR SABAH brothers from Malaysian tyranny. Imagine our nuclear Aircraft Carrier, the RPS Manuel L. Quezon, escorted by the AEGIS cruisers RPS Tikbalang and the RPS Aswang, shadowed by the three stealth destroyers Tito, Vic, and Joey, enforcing DJB-style justice in the high seas. The Chinese, shaking in fear, will plead for United Nations arbitration. As for Malaysia … well, sorry na lang sila :)
Kaya Renato, kapatid. Makisama ka na sa amin.
See you at Starbucks :)
Yup – how you gonna make your dream happen – have Somalians vote in the elections?
it all starts with people being responsible for their choices. irresponsible choices breeds irresponsible governance.
address the inefficiencies in the decision-making process of selecting public stewards and i’ll wager your dream takes place.
absolutely, i’m with the dream all the way.
you have a dream, i have the solution to make your dream happen.
it is a solution that involves people. people like you and I – we, the people can make that dream happen – don’t let others tell you otherwise.
but, before we can make that happen, we have to know ourselves, our strengths, our weaknesses, the threats to our security, the opportunities that lie before us
dreaming is not enough, we need challenge ourselves and ask what are we willing to do to achieve this dream.
are we willing to make the right choice, and even then question the very premise upon which we make our decisions – in the end – it is a very personal choice – and I will not have it any other way – and I am sure, so do you.
BongV,
I disagree. To insinuate that the Filipino people’s irresponsibility is the heart of the matter is inherently racist, in my humble opinion.
In fact, we can strongly argue that a Filipino person, if transplanted to a different location where responsible government exists, actually thrives. This means that the problem is not the Filipino person but the government that inhibits his potential instead.
So again, let me repeat. I agree with Primer: Responsible Government is the answer. Responsible government will unlock the Filipino Potential that will catapult us to first world status.
I cannot wait for the day when I can walk the clean streets of Manila, ride a Mag-Lev train to Pasig so I can take my Yamaha JetSki and cruise along the pristine waters of this once polluted river. And if I feel like it, I might even go for a swim :)
BongV, stop hating yourself. Embrace your Filipino greatness or else…. mababa ka lang pare.
See you at Starbucks :)
Conyo:
To assert that people step up to responsibility does not mean that people are irresponsible. Nonsequitur.
People could be responsible in their own “small” way, but shaping a government takes more than wishing and dreaming.
This coming election, will you keep on dreaming, or will you make the right choice of electing leaders who can actively take part in making the dream happen.
BongV,
Let me re-iterate: there is nothing wrong with the Filipino psyche. My statement that the Filipino, if transplanted within the infrastructure of responsible government, will thrive. In fact, according to the latest US census, Asians are the highest income earners (well surpassing whites), Filpinos ranking 2nd to Indians in America. Imagine that. As a group Filipinos have the 2nd highest household income!
Why is that? Because the Filipino possesses superior values resulting from a superior culture.
We only have government to blame to our collective failure in the Philippines. And so Primer’s statement still holds true: Responsible Government is the answer to our problems.
By the way, you should really stop hating yourself. Its okay to be brown, really :)
See you at Starbucks :)
BongV,
Here’s more…
If you accept the assumption that Primer’s statement is true: Responsible Government is the answer to our problems.
How do we apply this to religion?
Is it the governments fault that people go to church while not practicing what is being preached? Can we blame Corrupt Government for the suffocating Catholic hypocrisy that ails our nation?
The answer is yes!
Let me explain: The Vatican is actually a government. It even was an empire called the Papal States many years ago (that’s a long discussion, lets not go there for now). So you see, the problem is not religion but the corruption of religion by the government known as the Vatican.
Ah, now you see? Responsible Vatican = Good Religion.
Again, Primer’s statement holds true: Responsible Government is the answer to our problems.
See you at Starbucks :)
BongV,
Are you a good example of what is typified as the ideal ‘Filipino people’? Aren’t you? Why are you vent on defending bad government? Some may call that racist, isn’t that masochism as well?
Stop blaming yourself for the failures of the government!
Why is that? Because the Filipino possesses superior values resulting from a superior culture</i?
Really – if you have superior values – why do you keep on voting for corrupt people ? :D
Are you a good example of what is typified as the ideal ‘Filipino people’? Aren’t you? Why are you vent on defending bad government? Some may call that racist, isn’t that masochism as well?
Stop blaming yourself for the failures of the government!
Bert:
Blaming and taking personal responsibility to elect good leaders are APPLES and ORANGES. And is fuly covered in another “blog”
–Really – if you have superior values – why do you keep on voting for corrupt people ? :D
BongV,
That’s like asking me why a chick with a dick keeps on winning Miss Gay Philippines.
Corrupt Government = corrupt people. Change the government to responsible government and the people will be responsible. Just like changing the Miss Gay Philippines into Miss Philippines so you got chicks without dicks.
Primer’s thesis that Responsible Government is the answer to our problems merits serious thought and contemplation. Meditate on this, my friend, and the anger you feel for yourself shall vanish.
But then again, if we had Responsible Government years ago, you wouldn’t have this problem of self hatred. You would be one happy camper singing Francis Magalona songs.
See you at Starbucks :)
Change the government to responsible government
As primer says that’s MOTHERHOOD. :lol:
how do you change it?
ask the irresponsible government to suddenly become responsible and presto – it suddenly becomes responsible?
how how how the carabao :D
careful with the word “brown” – DrPacMan loves brown ;)
Responsible Vatican = Good Religion
really.. the Vatican is responsible :lol:
Catholicism is good religion? :lol:
this is gonna be fun :D
Starbucks? by your statements above – I don’t think you go to Starbucks – no self-respecting Starbucker patron would consider the Vatican as … good religion :lol:
I stated that the religion is being corrupted by the Vatican. The Vatican and the Papal States has a long history of corruption–bad government. Only by being responsible–good government–will the Vatican fix religion … this too shall happen.
Read my post again dude.
See you at Starbucks :)
DrConyo:
being responsible–good government–will the Vatican fix religion
The Vatican is a nameless institution, it took a personally responsible Pope John Paul II to make the Vatican more relevant. A person, an individual, exercised personal responsibility so that government/Vatican is reformed.
However, before Pope John Paul II took on the papacy, cardinals, personally, had to responsibly cast their votes.
It takes people, performing their job responsibly, to make government responsible.
In like manner, it takes people who neglect their duties that gives the perception of bad government. One or two lousy cashiers (cashier who neglected their duties) in a government office can give the office a bad reputation.
Did Primer say that? Please send me the link so I can fairly reflect on this wise man’s argument.
As for how exactly Responsible Government will materialize, Primer has yet to give details on this grand vision. But be patient, that great blog post shall come and it shall alter the course of Philippine history. Kahit ikaw BongV, matauhan, you will be a Born-Again Pinoy. Halleluiah!
Pareng Primer, matagal pa ba? Show us the pardz para matulugan natin itong kapatid nating galit na galit sa sarili.
See you at Starbucks :)
grand vision nga, how do you get there
you have all been visions for decades – you are still Asia’s most corrupt country – how visionary :lol:
may bagong mascot ang starbucks :lol:
Like I said, Primer, who started this amazing train of thought, will take us to the promised land.
Sinumulan niya, tapapusin niya.
Responsible Government is the answer to our problems. Please seriously contemplate this Zen-like statement, it is truly transcendental.
See you at Starbucks BongV :)
It was the Catholic faith, the faith being practiced by most pinoys that I was referring to
Eh di say it straight, ang haba ng prosesyon, para ka namang nag BABALAGTASAN :lol:
Responsible Government is the answer to our problems. Please seriously contemplate this Zen-like statement, it is truly transcendental.
Responsible Government is a desired result.
What do you do to achieve it? :D
Ano ba yan conyo, umninom ka pa ng kape… damihan mo pa
great blog primer
It’s a good start to raise awareness of the youth’s voting rights. We need to blog about this issue more often, hoping the current administration can implement a strategy to make the youth an integral and visible part of our democracy. The youth should have an equal say in how this country is run. At legal age, they are all subject to the laws of the land. It is a violation of their constitutional rights if such rights are continuously discriminated from lack of governance, enforcement of the rule of law and education.
The solution to this issue requires political will. The youth can easily be reached thru churches, schools, organizations, malls, sports events, internet sites and even at the barangay level.
What should the current administration do in preparing the youth for 2010? What should the adult political candidates do to engage the youth to an honest election? what strategies do they have and how it is going to be implemented.
500 pesos and accepting non transparent gifts are negative models for democracy.
500 pesos and accepting non transparent gifts are negative models for democracy
that is CONYO’s SUPERIOR CULTURE – selling votes – can’t blame people because someone’s offering to buy … :lol:
if that’s SUPERIOR… dang… ano na lang inferior :lol:
BongV,
Just like Primer said: Responsible Government will solve our problems. Under responsible government this will not happen.
Our superior culture is being hindered by bad government. This is proven by bringing our superior culture into a responsible government structure, the individual pinoy starts to kick ass.
Yes, the Filipino can!
See you at Starbucks :)
Religion is being corrupted by the Vatican
Buddhism is a religion. Buddhism is being corrupted by the Vatican?
Islam is a religion. Islam is being corrupted by the Vatican?
Hinduism is a religion. Buddhism is a religion. Hinduism is being corrupted by the Vatican?
:D
Our superior culture is being hindered by bad government.
So, how can you call your culture SUPERIOR when your culture can’t find a solution to the hindrance? :lol:
a superior culture kicking ass means electing Erap Estrada and Gloria Arroyo into office – wow, is that a SUPERIOR choice from a SUPERIOR culture :lol:
irresponsible government will vote itself into power – presto it becomes responsible… :lol: :lol: :lol:
Buddhism actually aint that bad.
It was the Catholic faith, the faith being practiced by most pinoys that I was referring to.
It is a well known fact that we go to church and yet we do not practice what is being preached.
Yes, this too is the fault of bad government–the Vatican.
Only by having responsible government–good Vatican through reforms like a Vatican 3 council–can our religion (Catholicism not Buddhism) be fixed.
See you at Starbucks :)
P.S.
Buddhism and the Vatican? You are being intellectually dishonest pardz, please keep the discussion honest. Everyone knows I was referring to OUR religion, which is Catholicism.
bong,
Buying votes is a crime of bribery. Accepting gifts beyond the required amount from private entities as campaign money is also a crime of bribery. Where’s the rule of LAW and who is in charge of implementing and enforcing such law.
We have government officials and employees in our Judiciary branch that accept monthly salary from people tax. They are hired to perform their legal duties to implement and enforce the rule of law. We also have an investigative entity such as the Ombudsman office and the Comelec for voting fraud.
You mean to say, that they are less accountable to the people? you are wrong. when you accept an employment contract, you are expected to provide your service according to the job description. It can be called personal responsibility , professional responsibility and in the bigger context- ACCOUNTABILITY in governance.
On youths Voting rights, who’s job fits the description of enforcement, education and implementation?
leytenian:
Buying votes is a crime of bribery. Accepting gifts beyond the required amount from private entities as campaign money is also a crime of bribery. Where’s the rule of LAW and who is in charge of implementing and enforcing such law.
There are two parties to the crime – the one who paid the bribe, and the one who received the bribe. However, I am not aware if there is any law which penalizes vote selling nor am I aware of the penalties for vote buying.
We have government officials and employees in our Judiciary branch that accept monthly salary from people tax. They are hired to perform their legal duties to implement and enforce the rule of law. We also have an investigative entity such as the Ombudsman office and the Comelec for voting fraud.
I agree. Moreover, the government per se is an abstract entity. Remember that government is made up of people. When you go to city hall – you don’t face a wall that says government – you actually face a person – who happens to be employed by government.
Persons have responsibilities. And when they have responsibilities – they can be in any of the three categories (feel free to disagree, modify, revise) :
A – unable to meet expectations
B – barely meets expectations
C – take the extra mile of and exceeds expectations
You mean to say, that they are less accountable to the people? you are wrong. when you accept an employment contract, you are expected to provide your service according to the job description. It can be called personal responsibility , professional responsibility and in the bigger context- ACCOUNTABILITY in governance.
Where did I say they are less accountable to people? They ARE accountable to people. I agree.
The question is what is the mechanism for allowing people to hold them ACCOUNTABLE – particularly when Government personalities elected (in contrast to appointed by someone who is elected) to perform are unable to meet expectations. What are your options?
A – Retain the non-performing resource?
B – Terminate the non-performing resource?
C – Retrain the non-peforming resource?
D – Reassign the non-performing resource?
E – Hire an assistant to clean up after the non-performing resource?
What do you think?
On youths Voting rights, who’s job fits the description of enforcement, education and implementation?
I don’t know, but whoever is given the responsibility of doing the job – should make a personal commitment to deliver what is required, given available resources, with minimal cost, in the least amount of time.
A good majority of the 11 million registered youths is enough to elect a president. GMA has just over 13 million in 2004 (Garcified votes included).
We have a kabataan party list, which, I think is the one represented by Mong Palatino, the first blogger to sit in Congress.
“However, come to think of it, the youth vote is myth, a misnomer even. In the field of 250 or so members of the House of Representatives, to include the party-list, there seems to be no a single soul who, properly speaking, can represent the voice of the youth. For one, there is no party-list representative of youth. Is it because the youth, as a sector, cannot be classified as marginalized or underrepresented?”
There’s KABATAAN party-list representative and blogger Raymond “Mong” Palatino who is now serving in the Lower House representing the youth sector.
The 1987 Consitution itself has designated the youth as a sector to be represented in the Lower House through the party-list system. (Paragraph 2, Section 5, Article VI of 1987 Philippine Constitution)
The youth vote is not a myth, you yourself said that since there’s no statistics on how the youth votes, it doesn’t necessarily mean that youth vote is a myth nor is it a big factor to consider in our elections.
However, I agree that number crunchers should start looking into how the youth votes so that everyone would a clearer picture.
I was just about to make this same sentiment known.. I am very much proud of Mong Palatino, and we should be more conscious of this party-list.. thanks for the reminder Jhay..
To have a youth vote, you have to get the youth to vote.
As of the Comelec’s last count, of the 2 million youth that reached voting age, only 200,000 registered to vote.
Ask any voting age kid who the presidential candidates are and only a few of them will probably be able to name one or two.
Ask them if they’ll vote for them and the answer may be yes.
Ask why, and they’ll probably scratch their heads.
If by any streak of luck, they get themselves elected, it appears that they quickly metamorphose or get themselves totally transformed as just another tamed mind, patronizing even, to the powers that be.
Can you see what this proverbial “Old Boys Club” can do?
Clarifications:
#1 – Were they that slick so as to go unnoticed, so much so to get elected? What was the platform the candidate ran for? No different from the other candidates? Was the difference due to having more mullah to dispense than the other candidates? Did the money translate to votes?
#2 – Were there other candidates who were more transparent, didn’t have money to buy votes, was competent and experienced? Why were they not elected? Was it about the money and not about his qualifications?
I’m sure that if YOU, the venerable and righteous, Primer Panuguran, becomes elected, we will be sure that you will NOT join this proverbial Old Boys Club! Of course not, it’s IMPOSSIBLE!
‘they project themselves as true-blue militant radicals clamoring for change in the system. If by any streak of luck, they get themselves elected, it appears that they quickly metamorphose or get themselves totally transformed’
Well, that’s reality for you. Who was it that said: if you have not been a radical at age twenty, you have no heart. But if you’re still a radical at age forty, you have no brain.
We want leaders who have both heart and brains. I’m pretty sure Blackshama will trumpet his co-alumnus. Chiz Escudero, anyone?
You actually mean leaders not yet 40?
Give me a break. Who did not admire A. Cayetano? Just who did not? Who did not admire Chiz? Just who did not? These and more young, eloquent,glib intellectuals just know how to ‘manipulate’ the medium for their own good.
There is more than meets the eyes in governance. Besides, why don’t you tell us what they had accomplished for this country, for the Filipino people so far?
Give me a break. Who did not admire A. Cayetano? Just who did not? Who did not admire Chiz? Just who did not? These and more young, eloquent,glib intellectuals just know how to ‘manipulate’ the medium for their own good.
What exactly were they admired for?
Actually a lot of students in DSLUD, who are all youth by the way, did not admire Cayetano, because they think he’s just another trapo, and Chiz because they think he’s just all smart talk.
Apparently, you generalize things, the youth in particular too much.
You failed to be clear how indeed you have debunked the statement from me that you quoted.
You just might be wasting other people’s time peeping their eyes on an empty void.
Tama na tong ‘tradition’ ng pangkokontra. DJB has already become its first victim. We all did come from PhilippinePolitics.net – so what?
Primer:
No one’s debunking you. Your observations are valid. What’s being asked are questions that seek out the root cause of what has been observed.
We might be addressing a symptom instead of what’s causing the symptom?
Is that not a valid question to raise?
You can choose any tool you prefer – Ishikawa, Kepner-Tregoe, Pareto – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_cause_analysis
So what’s with the boorish attitude, dude? I know you’re hurting with somebody’s departure from Filipino Voices, but deal with it.
We’re here to debate: so many issues, so little time, and there’s but a few of us. :)
Let’s MoveOn.org
Dude:
I inherited the boorish attitude from my gramps :D
Sure thing, we are debating issues – still depends on how “issues” is defined.
issues about the anonymity of a commentator – right you are, lead the way :D
Jhay,
You may wish to introduce us to that certain Mong Palatino and his being a blogger you put emphasis on.
Are we here to say that the Kabataan Party List represents the youth sector as such marginalized or underepresented or on some other ground?
Roughly, his blog is, sorry to state, ‘bankcrupt’. The winds do not seem to carry me where the youth are – their aspirations, their frustrations, their dreams.
Chances are, he will just be a mathematical addition in Muga’s theory.
I’d be glad to do just that. I’d invite you once the Bloggers’ Kapihan organises another activity so that you’d get the opportunity to meet Mong Palatino in person. Surely, this would change your, if not all, views about him.
The KABATAAN party-list represents the youth, particularly the marginalized which are under represented in Congress. I highly recommend that you take more time in getting to know KABATAAN Party-list before you dismiss us outright. The mere fact that we were able to get a seat in Congress proves another fact that there is a youth vote.
There’s no need to categorize the youth squarely in any particular category you fancy. For the youth is dynamic, vigorous, energetic, hopeful and bearing of so much potential, yet they are under represented in Congress, which the Constitution itself has granted importance when it has designated the youth as a sector to be represented in the Lower House through the party-list system. (Paragraph 2, Section 5, Article VI of 1987 Philippine Constitution)
Lastly, you should get to spend more time with the youth so that you would get to know our aspirations, our frustrations, our dreams, our plans and many more before you cast as another myth or misnomer.
Unless old age has already turned you into an immovable mountain refusing to give way to the winds of change.
Dear Olie,
I think your inclusion of Bayani Fernando as one your probable choices reflects a seemingly “bandwagon” phenomenon on Bayani Fernando for the last few months.
Dati, maraming nagagalit sa kanya nung may ginawa sya sa ruta ng Katipunan. Ngayon, ang daming natutuwa sa ganda ng flow ng traffic. Dati di pinapansin yung sidewalk beautifications nya, ngayon ang daming humahanga sa mga red sidewalks.
Dahil dito, maraming nagsasabi na sya na ang iboboto nila sa 2010.
Regards …..
Bayani Fernando has an explaining to do with the raiding of funds
in the Metro Manila Film Festivals. Jinggoy Estrada showed some
documented evidence of his anomaly issues.
Jon,
I would be careful to follow your drift as any word you said can carry double meanings.
Yes, it is impossible for me to join the Old Boys Club. I am no rich man who can spend P10 million to be a party list and P20 million to be a district representative. Definitely, I don’t have a P100 million to run for Senate, either. But what the heck?
But just for purposes of argument, if I get elected, you can always hold me accountable. You might not believe this but how I wish to launch an experiment. It runs something like this:
Think of Senate as College A.
Senators as Students 1, 2,3, 4 up to 24.
Think of pork barrel as Government Stipends I to L.
Take for granted that each student is given a stipend of P200 million a year for all their ‘academic’ as well as ‘extra-curricular’ activities – to be spent free from rigid accounting or auditing procedures.
Take for granted that to liquidate these subsidies, a student simply has to submit an acknowledgement and certification that the stipends have been spent.
Grant, that in the course of student life where they have to do ‘legislation’, each of them can actually sell their ‘proposals’ in exchange of trade-off, horsetrading, backdoor negotiations (ask jcc about that), toilet transactions (if that spice things up). In other words, we have a situation of “Senators for sale” in the best tradition of Bob Dole.
We all can go through the motion of so much subsidies flowing in to finish our 4 year or 6 year course in Philippine Politics, a mere baccalaureate degree.
In the end, the government has spent so much so much in billions of pesos for the College A. The government has definitely suffered from financial hemorrhage.
If you call me Student 1, you can say I will just get my P35 salary as senator and you please make me accountable for the larger P200 million chunk or I waive my right to use it. If you think I get lobby monies, I will be glad to sign a document you can use against me in a court of law.
So this is just it.
if I get elected, you can always hold me accountable. You might not believe this but how I wish to launch an experiment
Primer:
You got to where you are based on your own merit. You studied, you worked hard, you did your job to the best of your abilities, and now you are head of a business and permits licensure office in a medium sized city. As head of this agency, you have shown the ability to increase revenues substantially, and consistently – you exercised your job RESPONSIBLY. My gut instinct tells me that you will do a great job at running the government. And you have my vote. That’s one vote.
Let’s say there There are 2 million votes out there.
You will be running against a Trapo who everybody knows is a drunkard, a womanizer, has connections with gambling lords, has no program of government, a member of a political family that has consistently won elections, and they have landholdings where squatters live.
He won last election.
Let’s say it’s just between you and him.
How will you get to become elected by a majority of voters so that I can get to see your vision?
I dont believe in surveys. Especially, if it comes from the Philippines. The unthinkable happens always in the Philippines.
The youth vote is there. It may be a big factor in the next election
or not. We have yet to see. If there will be really an election. The
COMELEC is now bungling in its job. Some people inside the COMELEC
are caught in the camera starting to sell the 2010 election.
“How will you get to become elected by a majority of voters so that I can get to see your vision?”-BongV to Primer
BongV, being a dude who spouses “Personal Responsibility” will do his assignment, research for Primer’s biodata, found what he’s looking for, then vote for Primer during the election. Primer wins.
Trouble begins when Primer started sitting on the throne in the Palace by the Pasig River, tadaaa…Primer transformed himself into a Gloria!
BongV can only scratch his head.
Bert,
I will not only research Primer’s biodata, I will research his family, friends, his work, his colleagues at work, his performance in his previous work, his consistency.
When he gets to the Palace, he becomes something else. Then there are constitutional measures – recall and impeachment.
Which means, I also have the responsibility of voting for a congressman and a senator who has integrity and sound judgment. I will not only campaign for Primer but I will also campaign for a Congressman and Senator that puts the interest of the Republic first. And that would mean either supporting or recalling Primer depending on how he stays on course with the vision that made people vote for him.
And if the Congressmen, President, Senators are not working for the interest of the Republic, then I move on and ask more questions –
Is there anything different that can be done? What approach have I not tried? Is this approach realistic? Is it viable? Is it doable? Can I try a modular or phased implementation approach? What other options are out there? There are many ideas that are worth trying. Who else has other ideas? Are those ideas in tune with my values? Or should I re-assess my criteria?
I don’t know the answers, yet – but those are the questions I will ask and find out more about. Then, I’ll try again.
But, that’s just me.
Too much work for the same result, BongV. Primer can still transform himself into a Gloria.
You can never tell what a politician will do after winning the election. Unless you are God. And we both don’t believe in God, heheh.
Gutfeel, BongV, gutfeel.
Too much work for the same result,
I disagree on having the same results.
Let’s take a real-world event:
Given FPJ, Gloria, and Roco – people choose Gloria, followed by FPJ – there was another alternative – who had integrity and can deliver.
People don’t do the work, then they get the leaders they deserve.
Real world event, BongV? That’s speculation, perhaps Personal Responsibility to you?
As real as it gets Bert – it’s the result of the 2004 elections.
NCSO and COMELEC don’t have stats on voters age. Based on my observation says it’s the mid-lifers to alzheimers who are the likely voters.
To involve the youths have a cool, young and hip run for public office followed by Hip-rap, alternative music in trendy outfit who has agenda that hits right in the gut of the young.
Hip Obama gathered more votes from the youngs in America than older McCain.
Sax-playing Bill donning wayfarer got the clincher from the cools, too.
dude – check out francis m – kaleidoscope world – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L53zLf2yWqY
Another one with Parokya and Francis M – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bwJ6TeyXsQ
Renato Pacifico Star Rating
BongV
TASTE: ***********
Extra-ordinary. Link you up with social message.
Another one…
JOEY AYALA – AGILA (HARING IBON) -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDu10Az1L5s
Walang Hanggang Paalam – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nRU5ORqev4
Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq1bcrYnJaE
Cotabato/Ang Bayan Kong Sinilangan – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9LgjvbfDkc
The Black Eyed Peas “The APL Song” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cis6n4JkkHs
Black Eyed Peas – Where Is The Love? – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJpyskHMwRs
The College A scenario (however rough it may have been theoretically formulated) is a doable experiment.
It may hold the key to the problems that confront us.
Readily, if we just have even half of the studentry (or 12 out of 24) hold themselves accountable, or half of the field of 255 in a similar ‘political household’, and down the bureaucracy, then we don’t have to speak of Bad Big People, Bad Big Government or have to put in opposite side of the weighing scales – personal responsibility and government responsibily.
I don’t wish to carry any mental baggage of any kind. What was cited is a mere idea. Not that I am apprehensive how good indeed can Bong touch his hands on my resume since I have nothing to hide. At the very least, I was never in politics, never.
Primer:
I was stating a hypothetical question. You have good ideas on what can be done when you are in a position of authority. And I will take your word for it.
There might be other kababayan’s out there who are contemplating to engage in the political arena, but they are weighing what their chances are – and if their chances are slim given the playing field – how can they tilt the odds in their favor given impeccable credentials – the entire bundle – heart, brain, charisma ?
How did a Grace Padaca or Fr Ed get to where they are right now and bring about change in their respective provinces?
Did they:
1 – Have a good campaign machinery
2 – Have a good message
3 – Had credentials
4 – Had integrity
They were pitted against political titans in their provinces.
This same scenario plays itself all over the Philippines every election cycle.
What made Pampanga and Isabela voters differently from provinces having a similar line up of candidates?
Did the voters of Pampanga and Isabela change their criteria in contrast to the traditional criteria in other provinces? If yes, what caused them to make the change? What criteria did they use?
In your assessment, could the youth vote have anything to do with the Pampanga and Isabela turnout? Could these be an indicator of things to come? That there will be more provinces changing criteria? If yes, it’s a wonderful thing. If no, can we do anything about it? If yes, what can we do? If no, how can we enable ourselves to be able to do so?
McLuhan is always an aid.
Let us just explain by way of an example in a local politics, say a city.
Politician X is a newcomer. Politician Y is an incumbent congressman who already finished that one cycle as mayor (3 full terms = 9 years)and Politician Z is an incumbent department secretary who already was a former congressman in the same city.
Politician X is your ordinary chief of staff in Congress, who when invited to work in that city, succeeded to boost business tax revenues to more than double the rate of previous years in previous administration (that extends back to Politician Y’s term as then city mayor). In short, when the mayor died, and the vice m took over, Pol X was one of those city officials who were appointed no more.
How will Pol X, against Pols Y & Z, win as mayor or as congressman, as the case may be? Resource wise, Pol X lags behind, machinery wise, their engines are ‘oiled’ to the brim, popularity chart a statistical disparity.
In other words, Pol X cannot be picked up in the political radar screen. Well, God has to work wonders.
Lesson is, it is pretty hard but even “fools have dreams” if I may quote the late Commodore Calajate, the late-bloomer in the right wing extremist ideology, my former boss.
In other words, Pol X cannot be picked up in the political radar screen. Well, God has to work wonders.
Lesson is, it is pretty hard but even “fools have dreams” if I may quote the late Commodore Calajate, the late-bloomer in the right wing extremist ideology, my former boss.
Maybe, Pol X is not in the radar screen of the trapos, but he is in the radar screen of the business community, the civic clubs, the student associations, the merchants. His positive message can create Pol X Mania, you’ll never know.
Or at the very least, Pol X will start getting attention, generate name recall, establish his campaign organization and be more prepared for the next election cycle.
Maybe Pol X can engage the youth in a grassroots .
Maybe he can exchange notes with Grace Padaca and Fr Amang Ed – on how they were able to convince voters to choose them instead of candidates who are like Pls Y&Z?
I really have no problem with ‘techniques’, if that be the name of the game.
How I wished I was permitted to hold a city-wide “Business Summit” then primarily to explain to the owners or proprietors of businesses the entire gamut of business licensing – even possibly win them over to the goals of government. This humble suggestion was not given due course.
It was already satisfied being able to collect from big time businesses when nothing was collected many years before. I don’t know bong, but for us not to be ‘eaten’ by the system, we simply have to turn down invitations to the party.
Primer:
Right now, you are one person. There are people who will support your vision – count me in. That makes two. Remember this song from black eyed peas – “Union” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT_-Ln7eWpw
As to the “Business Summit” – you can sell the idea to your local chamber of commerce – don’t go through government channels.
Or, how about test a “barangay business summit” – ople in the barangay knowing the businesses in their barangay – the barangay captains have a budget as well. Knowing each barangay captain aspires to be councilor, you and him can cooperate and make things happen. if the model works, replicate it in all barangays. Then by the time you are done with all the barangays, have a grand barangay business summit. All those people in the summit are potential voters – by now, you already have a network of names, contacts in each barangay.
Let them have their own party, you can have your own – after all you’ve done there will be people who will definitely be with your party.
then, maybe you can promote an initiative to have online permitting and licensing – saves time and effort – a smaller version of this – http://www.sunbiz.org/ – you will brand yourself as a category creator – you made it happen, first – talk about name recall among the business community – “Primer is all about Serbisyo Publiko Primero Uno ” – online, or in the office.
You can also decongest traffic by in the City Hall area by having satellite offices.
Bong,
what’s the difference between ISEC Philippines and Sunbiz.org. On Sec Philippines, Click on online transaction. What is lacking in SEC Philippines?
it’s out of topic but you did make a good point on sunbiz.org. But my question is why do we wait for Primer to get elected in office when the positive issue you have raised can be implemented sooner? Did you see the lack of IT management strategy with ISEC online to form a corporation?
On the business licensing and permitting at the municipal level , majority of the cities in our country have no websites. Philippines IT management in public service is lacking. With implementation, the department can set up a great website template that can be modified at the back-end according to the mission and vision of a city, provincial government and so on. Or each city can create its own website style but it should be in accordance to the overall mission to place TRANSPARENCY as its focus. This can easily be formulated and implemented thru legislation by enforcing everyone at city and provincial level to have a uniform standard acceptable to the business community.
leytenia:
you have a point. why not now? i don’t know. i can only speculate.
with sunbiz.org – you can pay online. incorporation takes place in 30 minutes. for an extra fee, the state will mail your incorporation papers – instead of you mailing the incorporation papers.
i fill up the info, i provide either my SSN or TIN, my address, company information, manager/owner, contact info, and purpose of business.
i verify the information i provided, pay the fee with my credit card – get the receipt emailed to me, i check my checking account – the disbursement is already posted. all that without having to leave my residence.
At the end of the year, I get a renewal notice, I go online, I pay the $125 fee, the receipt is emailed to me, that’s it.
Also, here’s a website of a town of 1,913 residents – Dunnellon
The procedures are so streamlined and transparent.
Bong,
You are correct. With our discussion, any smart pinoy will get an idea of what business to start.
Hint: Contractor in website development, IT Management and Consulting for Philippine government.
I am very sure that personalities in public office should swallow the pills prescribed or else the consequence will go to the people.
I forgot to add – you can have a program targeted to young entrepreneurs, provide a forum for getting ideas on how to improve service, their concerns, how they can work with government.
Or make a round of the schools – and be one of the presentors on a program that promotes entrepreneurship among the youth – and include in your panel – successful youth entrepreneurs – who knows your activity might create a future Google competitor
Bong,
In “all my insecurity” however well they say “God has created man equal”, given the reality that confronts me to the face, it is even harder to deal with this thing called – “all for one” – unless anything like it is written in the stars.
Your comments are really ‘disgustingly’ (but please don’t twist me) inspiring and might have to share a guilt if I don’t do so. Point is, bong,if you care to listen, if the work is not going to be done in the proper domain of control, not much can be achieved to strike below. The City Council will not do the trick – I have seen how it (un)worked.
One has got to be the boss like BF. As they say, the best government is a ‘monarchy’.
Primer,
I know from whence you speak, totally.
Where then is the domain of control? What are the chances of introducing an innovation that can be a game changer?
Until then, I only have an ideal vision of its future. Meantime, I will just be one of its victims – a BIG BAD GOVERNMENT – and the short-cut routes the manipulative ‘ruling elites’ pass through.
Did you ever hear a thing like this – one runs as mayor with a vice mayor running mate with the end in view of resigning his (the mayor, if elected)post only to make legitimate the ascent to the mayoralty of his vice (the vice, if elected)?
Sure they will be elected, all things being (un)equal.
And people still vote for them? Why?
Jhay,
You can be sure that all your ‘accusations’ in all its weight, stand on an ice floe – soon you will fall to the pit, as soon as the ice melts.
I didn’t say anything of the nature of generalizing the youth – too much – as to dismiss the youth as a sector, not necessarily the Kabataan Party List outright, myth, misnomer, or what.
First, I am glad to hear from you that in so far as DLSU is concerned, young Allan and Chiz don’t amount to any, in terms maybe of social relevance, youth-cause related.
Second, there isn’t really much of personal views on the KPL (sounds not too nice, obliquely)any more than say that a cursory look at history tells us that the would-be participation of the youth (assuming that is equivocal to the party)strikes the minimal since the KPL’s coming into being is one of recent origin. Kanina lang pinanganak yan and lo and behold, some sort of ‘legal fiction’ – dati wala, ngayon meron na. Judicial feat – call it that.
Even Congress has yet to have a budget for all the new PLs. Well, no debate Jhays, I think you should find time to blog along and I have no misgivings on my youth if we I have to bring you back to the squares.
What you should offhand tell me is this, the rules of the game have been changed, reason for the exodus.
The ball is in your court, bong, the geek that you are with fabulous computer program savvy.
Some prophets say, it is written in my stars but more cynics and heretics say otherwise.
Bong, I am afraid you are taking me seriously. If you can invent a platform, a Great Digital Divide, then, I wish to find time in an open forum – online.
I think I heard this phrase from a TV series – “Fate is determined by the choices we make”.
Or as William Henley would have it:
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.
There will always be cynics and heretics, but do it anyway. If Edison, Bell, Gates, Ford and all the great innovators listened to the cynics and heretics we will not have the Internet as we know it today.
We were just discussing a hypothetical question, so it’s all good homey.
They still vote for them as money floods the streets during their crowded miting de atras.
And do they have any complaints about the people they voted into office? Was it worth selling their votes?
Bong,
Truth to tell, I am in the middle of a business meeting where I am also invited to just listen to the proposal of IT companies who will automate the city’s information system on the side of the finance cluster, those offices responsible for revenue generation, my office that I head being one of them.
I am equipped with all the ideas I want to get drawn into the plan of automation by way of a cognitive map but you see, the unceremonious invitation from my cluster head is awfully disturbing. That moment I stand up on my toes was the last time I ever have to get back to my job.
I have already some hinted on my plan of a paperless renewal of business permits but who listens? I say that because that runs exactly in the direction of online licensing, a new field yet to be opened. One of those things bong that will otherwise crush a plan.
Who has the final authority to approve or disapprove? Who has the authority to sign the check? In certain B2B sales engineering approaches – said person is the Economic Buyer.
The users evaluating the proposals for suitability are the Technical Buyers.
The consultants who can sway a choice are Influencers.
Each of these players have their own personal “wins” – anything which makes the Buyer feel good about himself is a win aka what’s in it for them.
For the Economic Buyer it could be increasing efficiency.
For the Technical Buyer it could be scaleability and ease of use.
The process of identifying who the Economic Buyers, Technical Buyers, Influencers and what their respective wins is called covering your bases.
Note also that you have Internal and External customers. In this case, you have external customers. your PBAC colleagues are technical buyers, and the head of office is the Economic Buyer.
Identify their wins and sell your idea as something that helps them win.
That approach allows a lot of Global Fortune 500 companies generate billions of revenue.
If they run a P1 billion peso operation and yet what people see are only a number of large garbage receptacles in some randomly selected highways or roads and hanged tarpaulins like clouds above your heads, then we know that people have been shortchanged.
One year and more in a billion peso funded activity, your imagination can run wild.