Juan Country » Loren Legarda

The ABS-CBN HARAPAN Vice-Presidential Forum

Carlo Ople — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:02:18 +0000

As I’m typing this blog post, I’m currently watching the ABS-CBN Harapan Vice-Presidential Forum. Let me just say that I’m very impressed with what ABS-CBN did in terms of the format. It wasn’t your typical debate like the previous forums hosted by the major television networks. It was amazing how they were able to integrate all the various platforms available to make the forum a completely multi-media realtime experience. Other than the live broadcast on ANC, channel 2, and Studio 23, they also had live chat online and they also had people tweeting away and updating via Facebook. The term “#Harapan” even became a top trending topic on Twitter!

Exciting Debate Format
The format was very intense at the start. I loved how they had the candidates do mini-debates. My only problem here is that there wasn’t really enough substance in the discussion. It was mostly mudslinging, counter-mudslinging, and more, hahaha. They tried to redeem the debate in the end by having more sensible questions (via the fishbowl) but it became a bit boring. I guess ultimately it’s a lose-lose situation. They make it exciting, the debate loses substance. They make it meaty, the debate becomes boring.

Personally I found the exchanges between Loren Legarda and Mar Roxas to be the most exciting parts of the debate. Closely following that would be the heated and almost hostile spats of Jojo Binay and Bayani Fernando. Yasay and Sonza definitely had brilliant moments. Yasay’s answer on tripling the education budget because it’s the global standard is one of the more sensible statements in the entire debate.

Where’s Edu?
I was able to contact LAKAS-KAMPI VP bet Edu Manzano about his absence via SMS. He replied saying “Am in Pangasinan campaigning with Raul Lambino.” Edu, whoever is handling your over-all strategy should get a dress down. The Harapan forum would have been a great opportunity for you to present what you’re about to the Filipino people. That’s just my honest opnion.

Where’s the Chipeco?
Now this is weird. There was no mention whatsoever of the Vice-President candidate of KAPATIRAN, Dominador Chipeco. Oh well.

Bayani’s Yellow Engineer Hat
Truly epic. Must post picture.

TANDEM PRESIDENT-VP DEBATE COMING SOON
According to ABS-CBN News Gathering Head Maria Ressa (via Tweeter), there will be a tandem version of this debate next Sunday, same time (10:15PM). If ever that pushes through, I’m definitely canceling all my evening plans and make sure I’m glued to the TV at that time.

Let me just congratulate ABS-CBN for a job well done. My only complaint is that the debate was aired late night. This should be put on prime time.

REPLAY ON ANC
To those who didn’t catch the action, HARAPAN: The ABS-CBN Vice Presidential Debate will be replayed on ANC on March 22, Monday, 10:30 pm.

Jamby ripping Loren apart

Carlo Ople — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:40:56 +0000

I never thought that I’d see the day where Senator Jamby Madrigal would rip apart Senator Loren Legarda on various media channels (with basis). In several interviews about her reaction to the recent announcement of the Villar-Legarda tandem, Madrigal has been vicious with her offensive. Other than being aggressive, she was also very creative with her choice of words in describing what happened. Initially she said in an interview that she was congratulating Senator Villar for turning on his enemies into his new girl Friday. To top that off, she recently said that Legarda changes like the climate.

Here are some excerpts from her interview posted on ABS CBN Online:

“Well, she has a history. She used to be with Lakas, which is how she became senator. Then, when she thought that [actor] Fernando Poe Jr. would win [in the 2004 elections], she abandoned Lakas and joined FPJ. But then she and FPJ lost. She became an oppositionist because being pro-Gloria wasn’t very popular. She was given an opportunity but now she’s siding with Villar,” she said.

“So mahal mo ba sarili mo o mahal mo ba ang taong bayan? Siya ang chairman ng oversight committee ng climate change. I know now why she loves climate change. She will always change to the climate that is favorable to her,” Madrigal said.

“Ako’y naaawa sa bayan. Sabi niya she will pray for me. I am also praying for her because I pity her na bawat ihip ng hangin tatalon na lang siya o sasampa siya,” she said.

Madrigal goes on to reveal that Loren has been calling Villar names during the height of the investigation.

“[Legarda] hasn’t been very visible lately maybe because she’s busy negotiating or campaigning. But we in the majority know na talagang galit na galit siya kay Villar. Marami pa siyang unsavory names na sinasabi sa kanya,” Madrigal said.

She said Legarda even chided her and Sen. Panfilo Lacson that they might switch sides and not push through with the ethics investigation.

The senator said she does not see Legarda’s decision as a personal affront but a betrayal of her fellow senators. “She betrayed the institution of the Senate at nataksil din niya mga taong bayan na umaasa sa kanya na isang taong me prinsipyo,” Madrigal said.

Will Loren fight back? Abangan, hehe.

Loren Legarda’s previous statement against Manny Villar

Carlo Ople — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:28:51 +0000

I recently posted an article questioning the recent announced tandem of Senator Manny Villar and Senator Loren Legarda. It looks like there’s still more to be said. A few months back, Senator Villar released a statement saying that if you don’t have P1 billion, then don’t bother running for President. Senator Legarda fired back by saying “Pera-pera na lang ba ang Eleksyon?” These two make for really strange bedfellows indeed. I’ve been trying to get a copy of her previous statements on Villar but I’ve only been able to find a few excerpts here and there. Here are other excerpts from Senator Legarda’s press release as reported by Lito Banayo from Abante Online:

Nakakalungkot ung nabasa ko sa dyaryo noong Martes. Sabi ni Sen. Manny Villar na kung wala ka raw P1 billion, huwag mo ng ituloy ang balak mo bilang Pangulo.”

“Ibig ba n’yang sabihin, kung wala kang pera ay huwag ka ng mangarap na makapaglingkod bilang Pangulo sa ating bansa? Nakalulungkot pong isipin na paliliitin natin ang usapin ng paglilingkod sa bayan sa isyu ng pera.

Pera-pera na lang ba ang eleksyon? Talaga bang ang tingin nya sa taong bayan ay mukhang pera? Pwera na ba ang pagmamahal sa bayan? Pwera na ba yung uri ng leadership na ibibigay mo? Pwera na ba yung vision para sa kinabukasan ng ating bansa? Basta may pera, pwera na ba ang lahat?” dagdag ni Loren.

This is really disappointing since I was a big supporter of Loren before this happened. She’s a brilliant and hard-working senator and it’s frustrating to see her go on this path. I hope that there will be an occasion that she will be able to explain everything clearly to her supporters (existing and former).

Senator Loren Legarda needs to explain

Carlo Ople — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:07:09 +0000

Senator Loren Legarda recently agreed to become Senator Manny Villar’s running mate in the upcoming 2010 elections. A lot of people have actually seen this coming for a while now and it was only a matter of time before she announced this publicly. In fact, Manny Villar has been giving a lot of teasers leading up to the announcement, calling his running mate a “green advocate”. Anyway, there’s nothing really wrong with political alliances but I do have one question that I hope Senator Legarda can shed light on.

When Senator Jamby Madrigal filed the case against Villar, he was later ousted from the Senate Presidency. What’s interesting is that Senator Loren Legarda was actually one of the Senators who signed the resolution ousting Villar. According to reports on Inquirer, she was also a supporter of the investigation. But now that she’s the running mate, she was one of the 12 senators who voted to dismiss the case.

Here are some excerpts of the article on Legarda accepting Villar’s invitation.

“He told me, ‘I believe in your platform on environment, agriculture and climate change,’ and I said, ‘I believe in your platform on helping migrant workers and pushing for their rights.’ In that respect, we clicked right away,” Legarda told this reporter.

She said she made it clear to Villar that the next administration should focus on the environment as the cornerstone of the overarching goal to defeat poverty in the land.

“I want the country to be great again, green again, and what I bring to the vice presidency is a green economy, investments and jobs, and green sustainable development,” said Legarda, who has championed environmental causes for over two decades.

Here’s a puzzling answer of hers on why she picked Villar:

Asked why she chose Villar over other presidential aspirants, Legarda said: “I woke up one day realizing that our platform and aspirations for this country, especially uplifting the poor’s lot in life, converged.”

And here’s what I think she needs to explain further:

Told that she once criticized Villar’s decision not to participate in the Senate probe of accusations that his real estate empire had benefited from the C-5 Road project, Legarda said: “I don’t even call that criticism. In a democracy, you allow all views to come out. I wanted it to come out so that we can listen to all views.”

She said she would not prejudge the results of the investigation.

“A committee report is coming out. All I can say is let the people decide in next year’s elections. I will not prejudge him and the issue,” Legarda said.

In a separate talk with Senate reporters Monday, Legarda said she would attend on Tuesday the announcement by Villar of his choice for running mate.

Asked about the prospects of an NP-NPC coalition, she said the colors orange (NP) and green (her campaign color) were a good combination.

I don’t know if her office will answer this post but I hope that she really does explain more, especially on her flip-flopping stance on the investigation against her new running mate.

Is it Villar-Legarda for 2010?

Carlo Ople — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:42:20 +0000

Ding Gagelonia reports in his blog, At Midfield, that the Villar-Legarda tandem for 2010 is already a done deal. According to his article, both parties will field a full slate from President to all 12 slots of the Senate. Ding goes on to explain that his sources say that this wasn’t something that they planned on. This was really something brought about by Senator Chiz Escudero leaving the NPC.

If I may quote:

My sources said “the event planners of NP standard bearer Villar wants to properly project the ticket as the alternative choice of voters against the perceived front-running tandem of SENATORS Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas.”

“NPC’s decision to finally link up with the NP was forced upon it by the surprise break-away last week of Sen. Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero that left the NPC without a viable presidential standard bearer,” my sources explained.

Another source meanwhile said it had long been known that Sen. Legarda “was actively exploring talks to team up with either Sen. Villar and even Lakas-KAMPI-CMD standard bearer Gilbert Teodoro while insisting she was committed to pair with Sen. Escudero.”

“Her machinations have now borne fruit with Ms. Legarda fully shedding her posturing as being part of the political opposition against the highly unpopular Arroyo regime,” my sources told me.

“The Villar-Legarda ticket also shows Legarda’s party, the NPC of tycoon Eduardo ‘Danding’ Cojuangco revealing its true stripes as a traditional political party imbued not with a reformist agenda but one of ready accommodation with whomsoever protects its politically-sensitive business concerns.”

In terms of money, this has got to be the most well-funded ticket if ever this pushes through. Imagine the war chest of Villar combined with that of Danding’s? Scary thought.

Vice Presidential Derby Heats Up

Carlo Ople — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:25:22 +0000

Today was a milestone moment in Philippine politics with regards to the upcoming 2010 elections. First, DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno released a statement saying that he’s withdrawing from the VP run in 2010. Shortly after that, Senator Loren Legarda announced her bid for VP in Luneta under NPC which is reportedly fielding Senator Chiz Escudero for the Presidency. It looks like we will be having a Chiz-Loren tandem for the NPC in 2010. They’ll be facing off with Aquino-Roxas (LP), Teodoro-??? (Admin), and Villar-??? (Nacionalista).

Other than announcing her candidacy, she also shared her platform of government. Below are her major initiatives should she get elected:

• Gear public resources towards providing social services that all Filipinos can afford.
• Ensure the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
• Crack down on corruption.
• Protect the environment and address the problems relating to climate change.
• Forge genuine peace, especially in Mindanao, by addressing the root causes of the conflict and seeking dialogue with armed groups.
• Rejuvenate Filipino culture.

Puno’s withdrawal from the race and Loren’s VP NPC declaration makes you wonder who the admin and Villar will get as their running mates. Here’s my guess:

For the admin, it will be Teodoro and Vilma Santos. For Nacionalista, it will be Manny Villar and Noli De Castro.

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?

Latest SWS Surveys says it’s Villar, Estrada, and Chiz

Carlo Ople — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:54:30 +0000

The latest SWS Survey commissioned by Senator and Presidential aspirant Manny Villar shows that the top three front runners are: Senator Manny Villar (22%), Former President Joseph Estrada (19%), and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero (18%). It’s not surprising to see this because Senator Villar has really been pouring out massive amounts of resources in trying to build his name for the upcoming 2010 elections. He’s been doing television, radio, print, and online for almost 6 months straight now and I can only assume that his spending will intensify even more when the real campaign season kicks in. By the way, I had coffee with Senator Villar a few weeks ago. You might want to read about it in my previous post.

Erap Estrada – Icon of the Masses
Former President Estrada, who has been reported to be going all over the Philippines in political sorties also put up good numbers. I can understand perfectly why he can get jailed for plunder and still enjoy the support from the masses. I’ve seen him on television and I’ve seen his Arthro commercial and there’s one thing that I can say confidently – this guy has the most charm and appeal for the average normal Filipino. The way he moves and speaks has been refined by years in the movie industry. He knows how to tickle the funny bone of the masses. What he lacks in actual political savvy, he makes up for it with wit, humor, and the ability to inspire.

Chiz – Constant Performer
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has been a constant solid performer in surveys since last year. This is interesting since he really hasn’t gotten out of his way to promote himself yet through television or radio. The most he’s done is to appear during Presidential forum events which are usually organized by TV stations or non-government agencies. His ability to easily connect with the youth is one of his strongest traits. Other than that, I believe that his hard line opposition to the Arroyo administration has sky rocketed his political capital in the past few years. Not once have I seen him stand down in favor of the administration. You can expect his ratings to soar even higher if and when he finally decides to announce his candidacy for President in 2010.

Like Senator Villar, I’ve had the honor of having coffee with this guy. You can read about the “Chiz” experience in my previous article.

Following the top 3 are VP Noli De Castro (14%), Senator Mar Roxas (10%), Senator Loren Legarda (6%), Senator Lacson (3%), Mayor Binay (3%), MMDA Chairman Fernando (1%), and Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro (0.3%).

Just some random thoughts on the other placers:

- Despite all the ad spending and his highly publicized engagement with Korina, Senator Roxas is still at 5th place. Awareness for Senator Roxas is there… but why aren’t the people picking him over the other candidates? Some people say that the SWS survey is biased since Senator Villar commissioned it. I would love to validate this survey through the next Pulse Asia report which should come out soon.

- Another puzzling trend is the decline of Senator Loren Legarda. She used to place fairly well in surveys but she’s been constantly going down in the past few months. I wonder what’s going on here. Maybe it’s the lack of media exposure?

- If Gibo’s performance doesn’t improve in the next Pulse Asia survey, I highly doubt he’ll be picked by the administration party to be the standard bearer.

- All three religious leaders: Among Ed, Bro. Eddie, and Bro. Mike are not even on the list. This maybe because they only declared recently. Would love to see the next survey to see if they can actually make an impact on the list.

- Also noticed that Senator Jamby Madrigal isn’t on the list as well. Let’s see next time if she’ll show up given her recent announcement. Since she’s insanely wealthy, I wouldn’t be surprised to see her match the intensity of the ads of Senators Villar and Roxas.

- Lastly, would love to see Senator Noynoy Aquino’s impact in the next survey.

Your thoughts on this guys? Feel free to leave a comment.

Senator Loren Legarda & Darna

Carlo Ople — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 06:42:23 +0000

In the Usapang OFW Leaders Forum, Senator Loren Legarda was asked this very interesting question – “Which superhero do you think you can liken OFWs to?” She answers “Darna”, one of the most well-known characters in Filipino fiction lore. However, you can hear from the reactions of some of the Kapamilya audience that they were a bit affected since Darna is a show that’s being heavily promoted by rival station GMA 7. I was able to record her answer in it’s entirety in this video clip.

Senator Loren Legarda & Darna

Personally I believe that Senator Legarda scored really good points during the forum. If I’m not mistaken, Loren got the most number of applause for the entire 2 hours of the event. I’ll be posting a summary of the discussion points of the Presidential aspirants in a separate entry.

She has this tendency though to keep on referring to her previous bills in the Senate. It’s as if she has a bill for each major issue that was raised in the forum. You can say that she came to the event really prepared. In fact, I saw some members of her staff with several folders with documents on her work with OFW’s in the past. Talk about organized.

Usapang OFW Leaders Forum Photo Essay

Carlo Ople — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:15:05 +0000

The Blas F. Ople Policy Center and DZMM presented the USAPANG OFW LEADERS FORUM last August 15, 2009. It was aired live on radio, TV (Teleradyo & TFC), and online. According to one of the ABS CBN Executives, this was one of their first efforts in doing a multimedia broadcast across different channels simultaneously. In the forum we had Senators Chiz Escudero, Mar Roxas, Loren Legarda, and Jamby Madrigal. Makati Mayor Binay, who confirmed, had to cancel due to the death of his daughter-in-law. Pampanga Governor Panlilio also backed out in the last minute to attend to urgent matters in his province. I’ll be writing more about the discussions that happened in a separate post. For now, let me share some pictures that I was able to take during the forum.

ABS-CBN Studio 4 was packed! Here’s a picture of the set with all the candidates.

Our hosts, Blas F. Ople Center President Susan “Toots” Ople and Henry Umaga Diaz

Senator Chiz Escudero sharing a light moment with Senator Legarda

Senator Chiz Escudero with my younger cousin, Estelle

Senator Mar Roxas with BFO Center’s Emil Samaniego and my cousin Estelle

With blogger Rochelle Chua and Senator Jamby Madrigal. Didn’t get to ask her about the bracelets.

Henry Umaga Diaz with his GQ pose

Senator Mar Roxas flashing a killer smile when someone mentions his fiancee, Korina Sanchez

Student leader Maalab, Henry Umaga Diaz, Estelle, me, and Susan “Toots” Ople

Susan “Toots” Ople mobbed after the event by her OFW supporters and friends

It was a really great event. I got good feedback from a lot of friends and family who were able to watch the program. ABS-CBN Executives were also talking about broadcasting replays and some of them even asked when we’re going to do part 2.

To all those who supported by watching, thank you very much!