Susan “Toots” Ople declares Senate bid in 2010

Posted on November 12, 2009 by Carlo Ople

Endorsed by more than twenty labor and OFW groups, Susan “Toots” Ople, the youngest daughter of the late Senator and Statesman Blas F. Ople, declared her bid for a seat in the Senate in the upcoming 2010 elections. It wasn’t your usual declaration press conference because it actually looked more like a labor forum. Prior to her declaration, various figures in the local and migrant worker industries took to the stage and gave speeches on the current situation of the Philippine labor force.

This is personal for me since she’s actually my auntie and we’ve worked together on several projects before. If there’s one thing I can say about my Tita, it’s that she’s one of the most passionate, hard-working, and progressive individuals I’ve ever met. Her heart is really in the right place and I’ve seen her work at the sidelines for too long already. It’s truly her time to finally come out and serve the entire country as a Senator.

Here’s a video which was shown prior to her taking to the stage to announce her candidacy.

I’ll try to get a copy of the list of labor and political groups that endorsed her bid earlier and post them in a separate entry. I’ll also get a copy of her 5-point agenda which I’ll publish in this blog when I get it from her office. Note that she hasn’t stated yet under what party she’ll be running under.

Here are some pictures as well of the event. Sorry for the bad quality, I was just using my camera phone for this one.

Posted in Susan Toots Ople | Tagged | 1 Comment

Why Gloria will run in 2010

Posted on November 10, 2009 by Carlo Ople

I enjoyed the recent blogger session with Congressman TG Guingona (will post about that within the day). One of the topics that cropped up was how the current administration has literally bastardized our institutions and the budget system. Apparently if congress passes the budget and it’s approved, it’s considered law. PGMA has went overboard with the budget and therefore has broken the law. However she can’t be criminally prosecuted because she’s enjoying immunity being a national official. That’s the reason why she will run in 2010 – either for Vice President or Congress. The moment she steps down and becomes a normal citizen, charges left and right will be piled up against her and she’s spend the rest of her remaining years in this planet fending off corruption allegations in court.

How Impeachment and the Ombudsman Failed Us
Since national officials enjoy immunity, the only thing that we have that will allow us to “punish” an erring official is through either the Ombudsman or through Impeachment. However, both have failed miserably. PGMA has held congress hostage by refusing to give Pork Barrel funds to opposition congressmen and senators. The Ombudsman, on the other hand, hasn’t really done anything that will signal her independence from the Arroyo administration.

VP, Senate, or Congress?
This leaves PGMA with the option of just running for national office. She can run for VP, Senate, or Congress. I don’t think she’ll dare set foot in the Senate since she’s made so many enemies there. That and I personally don’t think she’ll be able to get enough votes to get into the top 12 since it is a national consensus. She has a chance of making it in Congress though since she’s done nothing lately but visit her home province again and again for the past year.

If PGMA wins a seat in Congress, she will be immune again from prosecution. That’s why I support Prof. Randy David’s previous announcement that he will run against Arroyo should she pursue her bid in Congress.

I’m currently working on a series of blog posts which aims to gather all the data and facts that will support my personal stand on why I won’t vote for anyone aligned to President Arroyo. Until they answer those questions that I have, they will be fundamentally bankrupt of morals, therefore making it hard to trust them with anything.

Posted in 2010 Presidential Elections, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, TG Guingona | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

APO Hiking Society gets the “Nobody Nobody” Fever

Posted on November 8, 2009 by Carlo Ople

One of the greatest musical artist group this country has ever produced is now sick with the “Nobody Nobody” fever. In their 2009 US Tour, the Danny, Jim, and Buboy uploaded this video of them in various instances dancing and singing to the song. At the end they even have an acoustic live version! Hilarious, just insanely funny. Hey, if Jollibee and KFC couldn’t resist it, you can’t really blame APO right?

Enough talk, here’s the video that will probably virally spread all over social networks.

NOBODY BUT j00!!!!

*Video was linked by Joey Salgado on FB

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Mike Defensor running for QC Mayor?

Posted on November 8, 2009 by Carlo Ople

I had a very early morning meeting today and I had the chance to take a rather relaxing drive around Quezon City. You know it’s election season when tarpaulins of numerous local officials are plastered all over the metro. One tarpaulin caught my eye – it was the tarp of the former Chief-of-staff of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo: Mike Defensor. The main message of his tarp was to go out to register and vote. I made a few calls to a couple of friends and asked around and apparently Mike is rumored to be gunning for the Mayorship of Quezon City.

In all honesty, this guy used to be one of my idols. When he was in congress, he represented the brand of politics that I admire: young, passionate, and non-traditional. More of heart than wallet. However, when he became PGMA’s COS, everything changed. He was like a horse with blinders on, defending the President from all the issues thrown her way despite the evidence saying otherwise. As a result, Mike lost in the recent Senatorial elections. No amount of Boy Abunda PR can save you from that.

In 2010, it’s looking like a face-off between Mike Defensor and Herbert Bautista. It will be an interesting match-up and I can’t wait how the communication campaigns of both these candidates will be like.

By the way, I’ll be writing about the insanely numerous tarpaulins of Joy Belmonte in a separate article. Watch out for that one.

Posted in Mike Defensor | Tagged | 17 Comments

Special Blogger Event with Chiz Escudero

Posted on November 7, 2009 by Carlo Ople

I helped organize a blogger event for Senator Chiz Escudero on November 7, 2009, at Annabelle’s Restaurant along Tomas Morato. There were a lot of bloggers who were eager to meet him especially since he just left his old party, the NPC. There were so many questions lingering and this event was a good venue to clear a lot of things out with Senator Chiz. We arrived at the venue around 11AM to help set up together with former NTC Commissioner Jorge Sarmiento (now part of Team Chiz). Eventually the bloggers started coming in. As usual, my favorite mom blogger, Noemi Dado, was the first to arrive. Jonas arrived shortly after and eventually we were able to pack the venue. Rochelle, who had previous commitments, even caught up. Unlike the first Chiz blogger event, we didn’t have to wait for hours before this one started. Shortly after we ate lunch, Chiz came in, sat down, quickly gobbled down his food, and the conversation began.

Chiz Leaving the NPC
Chiz gave a quite lengthy explanation as to why he bolted out of his party. From what I understood though, it was mostly because of policy differences. In his speech when he announced that he was resigning from the NPC, Chiz highlighted 3 major issues which he wanted to push for:

1. He is against contractual-status workers. This is prohibited by law and it should be enforced.
2. He is against Pork Barrel. It’s a source of corruption.
3. He is for land reform changes – give the farmers their land.

Obviously politicians and businessmen will be against these three items because they’re the ones benefiting from it. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the major backers of the NPC will be hit quite bad in the first and third points.

Anyway, after the initial explanation, Chiz was bombarded by questions left and right. I’ve already posted some clips of him about who he would endorse if he didn’t run as well as his Senatorial bets. An interesting discussion popped up when Chiz was engaged by one of his most vocal critics, Benj. They talked about secular government and how Chiz was recently misquoted on why he wanted students who were victims during Ondoy to be considered for an automatic passing grade. That’s for a separate post though.

I’m not sure if it was Dine or Jane, but someone also asked Chiz his stand on OFW’s. Chiz basically reiterated his earlier positions that he took during the Blas F. Ople Usapang OFW Leaders Forum. As one of the top countries exporting labor, the Philippines should be at the forefront of coming up with multi-lateral or bi-lateral agreements that will protect the welfare of our workers abroad. Paul Farol also asked very interesting questions, most of which I’ll discuss on separate posts.

The RH Bill
Chiz also talked about the highly controversial Reproductive Health Bill. He shares that he doesn’t think it won’t get approved anytime soon because PGMA is against it, and that the moment it’s passed in the Senate and Congress, PGMA will either just veto it or not assign any funds to the program. Personally he wants people to be informed on how they can plan their families. He’s also anti-abortion unless it’s needed to save the life of the mother.

There were so many other topics discussed that it will take me some time to short through my notes and the videos that I was able to take!

My Personal Take
Over-all, I think Chiz is a really good guy. He has the right heart for service, and maybe that’s also his weakness. He can’t stand how politics is being done now to the point that he might not be able to win battles that need fighting because the weapons needed are covered in blood. I genuinely respect and admire him for his passion for what is right, and in the event that he still decides to run, I still believe that he actually has a chance. If he finds a way to convince and let the people know who he really is, then maybe he can make it. He definitely has a very tough battle ahead of him but nothing is impossible.

Thanks to all the bloggers who attended. If you’ve written a post on the event, please leave a comment here or drop me an e-mail so that I can link to you.

Posted in Francis Chiz Escudero | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Chiz Escudero might just endorse Noynoy Aquino

Posted on November 7, 2009 by Carlo Ople

During the first blogger event that I attended with Senator Chiz Escudero, we asked him who he would want to be President (other than him). His answer then was Senator Noynoy Aquino. Fast forward a couple of months later, I’m in another blogger event with Chiz again. This time though a lot of changes have happened. Noynoy is now actually running for President and Chiz just resigned from the NPC. I thought it would be interesting to see if what he said that would still apply. So I asked him again – if he were to not pursue his 2010 Presidential bid, would he support Noynoy Aquino? I’ve uploaded a video of him answering the question and you’ll find the answer VERY INTERESTING.

His answer?

“Headed in that directon.”

BOOM.

If this happens, all the other Presidential candidates, Villar and Estrada included, can kiss their 2010 ambitions goodbye. The remaining youth and opposition vote that Chiz has would rally around Noynoy, probably cementing his victory in 2010 unless he does something unbelievably stupid before May.

However, like what he said, nothing yet is set in stone. Chiz might go on and still make a run for the Presidency despite being independent. If there’s one thing that’s sure with Philippine politics…. it’s that nothing is really for sure, haha :)

Posted in 2010 Presidential Elections, Francis Chiz Escudero, Noynoy Aquino | Tagged , | 13 Comments

Senator Escudero’s Senate Line-up

Posted on November 7, 2009 by Carlo Ople

In a blogger session with Senator Chiz Escudero, he shared with us his planned original endorsed line-up for the Senate with his former party, the NPC. He still supports these candidates even though he’s left the party already. One of the names that came up was my auntie’s, Susan “Toots” Ople. Others that he mentioned were Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, Cong. TG Guingona, Bongbong Plaza, and General Danny Lim.

Here’s the video. Sorry for the poor quality, I took this with my BlackBerry phone camera and I forgot to take out the plastic case which kinda covered the audio receptors, haha.

I’ll be posting more about the various discussions that happened in the event in the coming days. He even mentioned who he would endorse if he decided not to pursue his bid for the Presidency.

Posted in 2010 Presidential Elections, Ace Durano, Francis Chiz Escudero, Susan Toots Ople | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Jalosjos, depravity, and justice

Posted on November 7, 2009 by Carlo Ople

I’ve been reading up on the Romeo Jalosos case and after investigating the facts, I can’t help but feel disgusted and repulsed at how this administration has abused their power and spat at the face of justice and morality. I can’t imagine how it must have felt for the victim and her family to see someone who abused and brutalized her set free. The trauma must be unimaginable.

Based on what I found out, Jalosjos was convicted of statutory rape and was sentenced in 1997 to two life terms and an additional eight to fifteen years for each of the six counts of acts of lasciviousness that he did against an 11 year-old girl in 1996.

In June 2007, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo commuted the term of Jalosjos to 16 years, three months, and three days. Jalosjos was initially released December 16, 2007. However, Arroyo recounted the order and Jalosjos was ordered to return to jail. Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales then announced that Jalosjos should be released April 2009 and not December 16, 2007.

Despite that order from the Department of Justice, Jalosjos went against it and flew on a private plane to Dapitan in December 2007. Fortunately, he was arrested the following morning and was brought to jail.

Eventually, someone convicted of molesting an 11-year old girl was released (sometime March) and now roams free. He even wants to run for public office.

It’s cases like this which give courage to criminals to keep on doing what they’re doing. It sends out the wrong message. Acts like this show that we have a weak justice system, and that good lawyers and connections can get someone out of trouble easily.

I was really sad after finding out the facts behind this case. Hopefully the next president won’t be as lenient to criminals as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was. What use are our laws if they’re not being implemented properly?

Posted in Current Events | Tagged | 2 Comments

Vicky Belo and her “Bad Luck”

Posted on November 7, 2009 by Carlo Ople

Dra. Vicky Belo, one of the controversial figures in the Hayden Kho scandal, seems to keep on running into bad luck these days. I kinda feel bad for her since I’ve met her several times and you can really see that she’s depressed when you look into her eyes. When I met her during one of my talks during Go Negosyo, she would constantly cling to her daughter, something that I interpreted as her drawing what strength she could from one of the things that remained “pure” and untainted by media and scandals.

It looks like there’s no immediate respite for her at the moment. A few days ago the NBI filed criminal cases against her for an alleged botched “butt” job for one of her previous clients named Josefina Norcio. Apparently the victim even wants to file more severe cases because she found out that based on the investigation that one of the components used in the cosmetic procedure used acrolein which is supposedly an irritant and was even considered as a chemical weapon during the previous world wars.

Here’s her story:

But years later, she began to experience pain, she couldn’t move her lower body, and her buttocks were inflamed. Her condition worsened as she experienced difficulty in breathing and her blood pressure became erratic.

Subsequent medical checkups showed her buttocks were full of pus, a condition linked to implanted hydrogel.

The NBI investigation showed Belo, Cayetano and Decangchon are not surgeons—Decangchon is a gynecologist while Belo and Cayetano are general practitioners. At the same time, it said the three have not undergone the trainings required by the Philippine Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons.

But it doesn’t end there. Belo Medical Clinic is also facing violations with the BIR because their lawyer, Atty. Adel Tamano, admitted publicly that Belo’s group has performed more than 600 hydrogel procedures which don’t match the income statements filed by the company.

It looks like the sex video was just one of the many challenges that Dra. Belo will be facing in the coming years.

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BIR Chief Resigns: “I’m ashamed”

Posted on November 3, 2009 by Carlo Ople

Well this is something you don’t see everyday! BIR Chief Sixto Esquivias resigned from his post last week. In a series of interviews after he cites that the main reason why he stepped down was because he was ashamed that he wasn’t able to deliver the targets for 2009 of the BIR. Apparently there is a big shortfall in terms of collections and he decided that the honorable thing to do was to step aside and let someone else do the job.

While I don’t know what this move can do to his career, I’m impressed that he was able to let go of such a powerful and influential post. If there’s one thing this administration lacks, it’s humility and that’s what Esquivias demonstrated with his resignation.

Good luck to Atty. Sixto Esquivias and his future endeavors. :)

Posted in Current Events | Tagged , | 2 Comments