Juan Country » Gibo Teodoro

Villar and Gibo Flash Mobs meet in Greenbelt

Carlo Ople — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:21:48 +0000

I was on my way to a Tweet Up event in Greenbelt when I saw hundreds of people wearing orange shirts in the Cafe Havana area. I saw a couple of friends from Havoc Digital and some bloggers so I dropped by and said hello. Apparently this was a Manny Villar flash mob! However, that’s not the big news that I want to share. A few minutes later, a sea of people wearing green also came by. I was expecting a clash between the Gibo and Villar supporters but what I saw almost brought me to tears.

I believe I should say this in Tagalog because it has more meaning if I do so.

Walang gulo nangyari. Yung iba nagakapan, nag-bigayan ng mga campaign materials, at nag-kamayan. Sa panahon na ito na puro siraan na lang at batuhan ng dumi, nakakatuwa na makakita ng mga tao na gusto lang talaga gumanda ang bansa natin.

Sa mga sumali dun, kahit supporter ka ni Villar o Gibo, isang malaking saludo para sa inyo.

Power of Mass Media in the Philippines

Carlo Ople — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 05:51:21 +0000

A few days ago the Inquirer broke a story about why Gilbert Teodoro resigned as party chairman from LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD. The story said that first gentleman Mike Arroyo reportedly called up Gwen Garcia in Cebu so that her family and group would support Nacionalista standard bearer Senator Manny Villar. This news story can drastically affect the outcome of the upcoming 2010 elections. We all know that the Arroyo’s endorsement is a “Kiss of Death”. What bothers me though is that the politicians and the voting populace is at the mercy of media. There is no way for LAKAS, Nacionalista, or even the people can verify the veracity of this story. We just have to believe that there were sources from inside LAKAS itself. The published article said that the writer had undisclosed sources from LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD.

If I wanted to destroy Villar’s ratings, all I have to do is to keep on bombarding him with the Villarroyo allegations. What’s stopping someone from posing as a LAKAS member or paying someone within LAKAS to say the lines above to create this story? Note that I am not defending Villar in this article. I’m just alarmed at how we can be held hostage and beholden by “undisclosed sources”. Isn’t that the practice of show biz columns? Blind items?

Some Traditional Media pundits score bloggers for not being professional and ethical in their work. However this recent article is a prime example of how irresponsible journalism can adversely shape the future of the country.

I am all for press freedom but I am totally against irresponsible reportage.

Zubiri throws in the towel for Gibo?

Carlo Ople — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:24:09 +0000

LAKAS-KAMPI Senator Miguel Zubiri shares in a recent radio interview that there’s a big chance that the winner in the 2010 Presidential elections will come from the opposition. He goes on to admit that their party’s standard bearer, Gilbert Teodoro, has yet to take off and capture the imagination of the voters. Zubiri hits on the campaign strategy of Gibo and hopes that the people behind the campaign would re-think the way they are packaging the former Defense Secretary.

Here are some snippets of the interview:

“There is really a big possibility that the winner will come from the opposition. I just don’t know if it will come from the Liberal Party (LP) or from the Nacionalista Party (NP),”

“Our candidate (Teodoro) has yet to take off,”

“People want change. That is the effect of nine years (in power). That is understandable,”

Source

This is definitely a big deal. Zubiri is a longstanding member of the administration party. He’s even the Senate Majority Floor Leader. His statements send out a signal that LAKAS-KAMPI members might have lost confidence already for Gibo.

To turn this thing around, Gibo needs to come up with something big. He has to change campaign strategy because the plane thing just won’t cut it. At this point in time if he can market himself phenomenally he’ll have no chance of catching up to Villar and Noynoy. Same advice for the rest of the Presidentiables. Stop doing business-as-usual. You have to do something that will set the hearts and minds of the nation on fire so that they will stop thinking that it’s just a choice between Villar and Noynoy.

2010 Presidentiables – Box Office Hits?

Carlo Ople — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:39:09 +0000

This album was posted on Facebook by Gerald Magno. It basically has several movie posters but instead of the Hollywood stars an artist edited in and put in the pictures of the candidates in 2010. Really interesting and funny stuff! Hopefully these pictures will put a smile on your face. We definitely need light moments now more than ever.

Here’s my personal favorite. First poster shows Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas in the Martin-Gary poster. Second is the Twilight poster but it now has Chiz and Loren.

Next up we have former President Estrada being “dragged back to jail” by Senator Lacson:

But wait, there’s more! Here’s Vice President Noli De Castro:

And last, but not least, we have the administration slate.

O diba, panalo? Hahaha! I personally loved the Twilight poster the best. How about you guys?

Why not Puno?

Carlo Ople — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:00:52 +0000

I’ve been reading the latest articles on Inquirer.Net and I was really amused with how some administration veterans are reacting to Puno’s bid for the Vice Presidency. Two high ranking officials have already publicly stated that they would prefer it if Batangas Governor Vilma Santos was to become Sec. Gilbert Teodoro’s running mate. This makes perfect sense since I find both Puno and Teodoro to be insanely boring at times. They lack charisma, passion, and life. I’d love to see them become more “human”. With Santos as Teodoro’s running mate, she’ll be able to put some kick into the campaign.

Not just because she’s a celebrity
One thing going for Ate Vi is that other than being popular she also has a credible background in governance. I don’t live in Batangas but from what I hear she’s been doing a good job. I’m sure she’s a sure win if she decides against running for VP and sticks to her original intention of just seeking reelection. Puno, on the other hand, is painted as a very traditional and old-fashioned politician. Ever since he declared his bid, he’s been getting a lot of criticism from various sides of the political arena – both administration and opposition.

What’s interesting to note is that people are desperate for someone else to the point that Sec. Ebdane’s name is being floated as a possible running mate for Teodoro instead of Puno. Is he really that bad? Hahaha!

Here’s the article on Inquirer for everyone’s reading pleasure:

MANILA — Who’s afraid of a Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino-Manuel “Mar” Roxas tandem?

Not the administration’s Lakas-Kampi-CMD party, especially if it could convince Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos to be the running-mate of its standard-bearer, Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, interim party president, said on Wednesday that a Teodoro-Santos ticket would be a good match to the Aquino-Roxas tandem of the Liberal Party.

He said Santos could complement Teodoro’s improving popularity — as purportedly shown in a recent unofficial survey — with her own, considering that she is a veteran actress with years of experience in local government.

“Why not?” he told reporters, reacting to the possibility of fielding Teodoro and Santos against Aquino and Roxas.

“It is one thing to have charisma and to be in tandem with someone who can push you up. So the benefit is mutual,” he said in Filipino.

Santos has indicated that she preferred to seek reelection in Batangas. But Prospero Pichay, a Lakas-Kampi vice president, has said the party was still “courting” her.

So far, Ermita said the party was supporting the “endorsement” of Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno as Teodoro’s running mate. But he left the door open for Santos, with the choice of Puno yet to be ratified in a party convention.

“Between now and that period of ratification by the national convention, we could expect that things can happen,” he said.

Ermita, however, all but ruled out the possibility of the party dropping Teodoro as its standard-bearer.

The name of Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane was floated on Wednesday as a possible presidential bet, courtesy of a paid newspaper advertisement portraying him as an unassuming “action man.”

In the ad, Mayor Juanito Alipao of Alimodian, Iloilo, thanked Ebdane for visiting his far-flung town and ordering the construction of a bridge as part of Edbane’s countryside development program.

The ad screamed in bold letters: “Di kaya si Jun Ebdane ang Tamang Daan sa 2010?”

Ermita slammed the door on a possible Ebdane presidential run under Lakas-Kampi. At most, he said the Cabinet official was free to join the party.

“As far as the party is concerned, we have already chosen our candidate,” he said. “He should understand that there was already a selection process.”

A giddy Ermita reported the preliminary results of a nationwide survey among presidential contenders, supposedly showing a vast improvement in Teodoro’s rating.

He said Teodoro was now near the top in the survey that also included former President Estrada, Vice President Noli De Castro, and Senators Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda and Richard Gordon.

Ermita said the unofficial results were given to Malacañang last Sunday and were yet to include the ratings of Senators Manuel Villar and Aquino.

“Can you imagine that among the frontrunners, Secretary Teodoro is already next to Senator Escudero and even higher than the others who used to rate high?” he said. “The figures are not yet in but he is already very near to President Erap (Estrada).”

“You’ll be amazed how fast (his rating) has improved,” he added.

Ermita said Teodoro’s rating was likely buoyed by his televised responses to queries on national issues during the Lakas-Kampi executive committee meeting last week.

Ermita called for regular debates among presidential aspirants, confident that Teodoro would perform well.

“Intelligent voters can see through (the candidates),” he said. “I know this call will not fall on deaf ears because we need to know who is most deserving to run our country.”

Puno said in a recent press release that the party should have a national convention to decide who should be the VP for Teodoro.

Sounds like MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando.

Gibo Teodoro as LAKAS Standard Bearer

Carlo Ople — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 07:09:42 +0000

National Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro is almost assured of the support of the entire administration party for his candidacy in the upcoming 2010 Presidential elections. The LAKAS national committee made a vote today after both Gibo and MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando were interviewed about their platforms and plans. According to the article on Inquirer.Net, Gibo came out strong with 42 votes (out of 47). Fernando only got 5 votes. However this isn’t final yet since they may have to get the consensus of the entire party before they decide for good.

Just some thoughts to ponder on given this latest development:

- In the latest SWS survey, Liberal Party standard bearer Senator Noynoy Aquino topped the charts at 50%. Gibo wasn’t even on the list. Does he have enough time and charisma to win over the appeal of his cousin and against Cory magic?

- Based on his interviews, Gibo is fiercely loyal to GMA and her administration. Will he turn a blind eye to GMA’s alleged crimes when he gets elected? Will he support prosecution of GMA and her allies?

- Mindanao is a treasure chest of mineral resources that the Philippines can use to spur growth. As the Defense Chief, what measures will he implement when he becomes President on how we can finally stamp out terrorism in the south and make full use of our resources?

- If ever anyone from his family, staff, or friends reads this post, please do extend my offer to Gibo to organize a blogger event for him for free. He will just have to provide the venue and the food. You can contact me directly by e-mailing me at oplecarlo@gmail.com.

Another thought that comes to my mind is what will MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando do? Will he bolt the party and run a campaign on his own? Or will he slide down and become the VP candidate for Gibo? If that’s the case, then how will DILG Secretary Ronnie Puno react? Interesting developments.