2010 Landscape so far: 8 Presidentiables?

Posted on October 14, 2009 by Carlo Ople

In the past few days, several parties firmed up their teams for the upcoming 2010 elections. Former President Estrada’s son said in a press release that his father will be running in tandem with Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay. News reports of Vice President De Castro running for re-election under Senator Manny Villar have also resurfaced. Several members of the NPC have also said that Senator Escudero will be their standard bearer supported by Senator Loren Legarda for Vice-President. It looks like Senator Noynoy Aquino’s bid for a united opposition won’t really go anywhere. The only person other than Senator Roxas to give way to him would be Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio.

What about the others?
MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando has been aggressively making the rounds in Marikina since Ondoy struck and literally devastated his home town. From what I’ve heard, BF is no longer interested in national positions. In fact, he’s seriously thinking of running again for Marikina Mayor. It’s a graceful exit for his failed Presidential bid and I honestly believe that he can put his disciplinarian methodologies to good use in Marikina given it’s current condition.

Senator Jamby Madrigal has yet to make any follow-up announcements after her press conference where she said she’d run for the Presidency. Brother Eddie Villanueva, on the other hand, has been firm and repeatedly said that he would pursue the highest post in the land. All the others, Perlas, De Vera, etc. will also probably throw their hat in the battle.

By the way, Sec. Ebdane has been quoted several times that he’s really serious with the idea of running in 2010 for the Presidency. Weirdness. So many!

Bakbakan na!
If we take out Madrigal, Fernando, Ebdane, Villanueva, Perlas, and De Vera from the list, this is what the 2010 campaign landscape will look like:

Escudero – Legarda
Teodoro – Puno
Villar – De Castro
Estrada – Binay
Aquino – Roxas
Perlas – ?
Ebdane – ?
Madrigal – ?
De Vera – ?

Definitely an interesting field we have here. Anyway, let’s just see what happens. From what I know, the next SSS report should be out in a few hours.

Posted in 2010 Presidential Elections | Tagged | 3 Comments

Ebdane and Estrada to push through with their Presidential bids

Posted on October 11, 2009 by Carlo Ople

Former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada has confirmed several days ago that he was running for the Presidency in 2010. To make things more official, he recently said that he will be announcing his party’s slate on October 21. This includes his candidates for VP and Senators. Rumors have been circulating that Estrada has picked Makati Mayor Binay to be his running mate. For his Senators, Estrada shares that he wants to field the following: Senator Enrile, Senator Santiago, Senator Pimentel, Cong. Locsin, Cong. Marcos, Edu Manzano, Danilo Lim, and Grace Poe. It’s interesting to note that some of the names in his list, specifically Lim, Manzano, and Poe, have also appeared on the lists of other parties.

For his reasons of seeking the Presidency again, Estrada explains:

Estrada said he was seeking a chance to become president again for the sake of the poor masses who he said lost the chance to have their lives improved when he was ousted in the second Edsa people power uprising of January 2001.

“I am so frustrated because I was not able to continue my program for the poor people. And I was not able to bring this country back to its image, that this is an honest-to-goodness government and a sovereign nation,” he said in an interview.

“I want to leave a legacy as the champion of the masses,” he said.

“The presidency is a destiny. At this point in time, I can easily retire. Campaigning is difficult and very strenuous. But one has to make a sacrifice for the Filipino masses. And I want to do it.”

If elected, Estrada said he would pursue his plans to end the Muslim and communist insurgencies, which would allow the economy to prosper. He said the Filipino poor would benefit from a robust economy.

And if within three years, this “vision” is attained, he will step down and hand over the reins of government to his vice president.

Source

Another prominent public figure who is hell bent on running is Secretary Ebdane. His announcement seeking the highest post in the land caught everyone by surprise, including members of his own party. It looks like there’s no turning back though since his print ads keep on coming on a daily basis on various broadsheets.

Here’s the news article with more details:

TAGUM CITY, Philippines—He might be consistently at the bottom of the surveys but Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said there is no turning back from his presidential bid.

Ebdane said his low poll ratings will not make him change his mind about seeking the presidency in next year’s elections.

During a visit here on Friday, Ebdane said he was counting on the support of various groups in Mindanao and other areas which he said had pledged to help his candidacy.

“No turning back. Definitely,” he said when asked if he would pursue his candidacy. “People decided for me (to run),” Ebdane added in a talk with reporters outside the College Assurance Plan Auditorium here, where he spoke before the Mindanao Leaders’ Congress organized by the Mindanaoans for Mindanao Movement.

Formed by businessmen, farmers, fisherfolk and other sectors, the M4M seeks to rally support for candidates who would push for the economic and social interests of Mindanao in national politics, according to its chairman Rolly Pelinggon.

Pelinggon said his group decided to support Ebdane because of the many infrastructure projects he helped put up in Mindanao.

Ebdane said he was overjoyed with the support he has been getting.

He also belied insinuations that a larger political block has been funding his presidential bid to muddle the 2010 elections.

He claimed that at least three political parties, which he did not identify, had offered to draft him as standard-bearer. Ebdane said he declined the offer because he had his own machinery.

Ebdane also said he talked to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo about his interest in running.

“Why only now?’” he quoted the President as saying.

“I told her she had assigned so many tasks for me to accomplish and if I had informed her sooner she might be upset,” Ebdane said.

He said the President wished him luck.

Just some thoughts:

- What will Erap do if the Supreme Court says that he can’t run anymore? Will Binay become the standard bearer for his party?
- What will Ebdane do if the administration party officially picks Gibo (which looks like the case anyway)? Will he defect to another party and pursue his plans of running?

There’s still a lot of things that can happen leading up to the May 2010 elections.

Posted in 2010 Presidential Elections, Erap Estrada | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

Posted on October 9, 2009 by Carlo Ople

For capturing the world’s attention and giving hope, US President Barrack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. I kinda have to agree since never has a US President given so much hope not just to his country, but also to everyone around the world. Obama has inspired Filipinos as well and this is very evident in the campaigns of the politicians that have their eyes on 2010. Here’s the full article which I got from Yahoo:

OSLO – President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee said, citing his outreach to the Muslim world and attempts to curb nuclear proliferation.

The stunning choice made Obama the third sitting U.S. president to win the Nobel Peace Prize and shocked Nobel observers because Obama took office less than two weeks before the Feb. 1 nomination deadline. Obama’s name had been mentioned in speculation before the award but many Nobel watchers believed it was too early to award the president.

“Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world’s attention and given its people hope for a better future,” the committee said. “His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world’s population.”

The committee said it attached special importance to Obama’s vision of, and work for, a world without nuclear weapons.

“Obama has as president created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play,” the committee said.

Theodore Roosevelt won the award in 1906 and Woodrow Wilson won in 1919. Former President Jimmy Carter won the award in 2002, while former Vice President Al Gore shared the 2007 prize with the U.N. panel on climate change.

The Nobel committee received a record 205 nominations for this year’s prize.

In his 1895 will, Alfred Nobel stipulated that the peace prize should go “to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations and the abolition or reduction of standing armies and the formation and spreading of peace congresses.”

Unlike the other Nobel Prizes, which are awarded by Swedish institutions, he said the peace prize should be given out by a five-member committee elected by the Norwegian Parliament. Sweden and Norway were united under the same crown at the time of Nobel’s death.

The committee has taken a wide interpretation of Nobel’s guidelines, expanding the prize beyond peace mediation to include efforts to combat poverty, disease and climate change.

___

Associated Press Writer Ian MacDougall contributed to this report.

Never knew that it actually had a prize. Lol. $1.4M USD ain’t bad!

Posted in Current Events | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Korean student’s view of the Philippines

Posted on October 9, 2009 by Carlo Ople

One of my friends forwarded this to me on Facebook. It’s a re-post of a short essay made by a Korean student named Jaeyoun Kim on his views regarding the Philippines. I think that this is very timely given our current situation with the recent calamities and the 2010 elections just around the corner. In this essay, Jaeyoun shares with everyone his views on the real problem of the Philippines. This piece has so many insights and I really have to agree with the kid 100%. I strongly encourage you to read it and to pass it around.

MY SHORT ESSAY ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES
Jaeyoun Kim

Filipinos always complain about the corruption in the Philippines. Do you really think the corruption
is the problem of the Philippines ? I do not think so.

I strongly believe that the problem is the lack of love for the Philippines. Let me first talk about my country, Korea. It might help you understand my point. After the Korean War, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world. Koreans had to start from scratch because entire country was destroyed after the Korean War, and we had no
natural resources.

Koreans used to talk about the Philippines , for Filipinos were very rich in Asia . We envy Filipinos. Koreans really wanted to be well off like Filipinos.

Many Koreans died of famine. My father & brother also died because of famine. Korean government was very corrupt and is still very corrupt beyond your imagination, but Korea was able to develop dramatically because Koreans really did their best for the common good with their heart burning with patriotism. Koreans did not work just for themselves but also for their neighborhood and country. Education inspired young men with the spirit of patriotism.

40 years ago, President Park took over the government to reform Korea . He tried to borrow money from other countries, but it was not possible to get a loan and attract a foreign investment because the economic situation of South Korea was so bad. Korea had only three factories. So, President Park sent many mine workers and nurses to Germany so that they could send money to Korea to build a factory. They had to go through horrible experience.

In 1964, President Park visited Germany to borrow money. Hundred of Koreans in Germany came to the airport to welcome him and cried there as they saw the President Park. They asked to him, “President, when can we be well off?” That was the only question everyone asked to him. President Park cried with them and promised them that Korea would be well off if everyone works hard for Korea , and the President of Germany got the strong impression on them and lent money to Korea . So, President Park was able to build many factories in Korea . He always asked Koreans to love their country from their heart. Many Korean scientists and engineers in the USA came back
to Korea to help developing country because they wanted their country to be well off. Though they received very small salary, they did their best for Korea . They always hoped that their children would live in well off country.

My parents always brought me to the places where poor and physically handicapped people live. They wanted me to understand their life and help them. I also worked for Catholic Church when I was in the army. The only thing I learned from Catholic Church was that we have to love our neighborhood. And, I have loved my neighborhood.

Have you cried for the Philippines ? I have cried for my country several times. I also cried for the Philippines because of so many poor people. I have been to the New Bilibid prison. What made me sad in the prison were the prisoners who do not have any love for their country. They go to mass and work for Church. They pray everyday. However, they do not love the Philippines . I talked to two prisoners at the maximum-security compound, and both of them said that they would leave the Philippines right after they are released from the prison. They said that they would start a new life in other countries and never come back to the Philippines .

Many Koreans have a great love for Korea so that we were able to share our wealth with our neighborhood. The owners of factory and company were distributed their profit to their employees fairly so that employees could buy what they needed and saved money for the future and their children. When I was in Korea , I had a very strong faith and wanted to be a priest. However, when I came to the Philippines, I completely lost my faith. I was very confused when I saw many unbelievable situations in the Philippines . Street kids always make me sad, and I see them everyday. The Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia , but there are too many poor people here. People go to church every Sunday to pray, but nothing has been changed.

My parents came to the Philippines last week and saw this situation. They told me that Korea was much poorer than
the present Philippines when they were young. They are so sorry that there are so many beggars and street kids. When we went to Pasangjan, I forced my parents to take a boat because it would fun. However, they were not happy after taking a boat. They said that they would not take the boat again because they were sympathized the boatmen, for the boatmen were very poor and had a small frame. Most of people just took a boat and enjoyed it. But, my parents did not enjoy it because of love for them.

My mother who has been working for Catholic Church since I was very young told me that if we just go to mass without changing ourselves, we are not Catholic indeed. Faith should come with action. She added that I have to love Filipinos and do good things for them because all of us are same and have received a great love from God. I want Filipinos to love their neighborhood and country as much as they love God so that the Philippines will be well off.

I am sure that love is the keyword, which Filipinos should remember. We cannot change the sinful structure at once. It should start from person. Love must start in everybody, in a s mall scale and have to grow. A lot of things happen if we open up to love. Let’s put away our prejudices and look at our worries with our new eyes. I discover that every person is worthy to be loved. Trust in love, because it makes changes possible.

Love changes you and me. It changes people, contexts and relationships. It changes the world. Please love your neighborhood and country. Jesus Christ said that whatever we do to others we do to Him. In the Philippines , there is God for people who are abused and abandoned. There is God who is crying for love. If you have a child, teach them how to love the Philippines. Teach them why they have to love their neighborhood and country. You already know that God also will be very happy if you love others. That’s all I really want to ask you Filipinos.

Source

Here’s a video version of the essay which I also find very touching.

When have we last cried for this country?

Posted in Current Events | Tagged | 22 Comments

Chiz Escudero and October 10, 2009

Posted on October 8, 2009 by Carlo Ople

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has been repeatedly been quoted saying that he’ll announce his political plans during or shortly after his 40th birthday. That day is just around the corner as Chiz will be celebrating his 40th year this coming October 10, 2009. A lot of people are assuming that the young Senator will be gunning for the Presidency given his strong performance in surveys. He’s also been aggressively campaigning on the ground and on the provincial radios.

Other than his on-ground efforts, Chiz has also been quite creative with his non-traditional campaigns. He’s one of the first candidates I’ve seen make the use of online viral videos. His “Bagong Sigla” online campaign has two episodes: Apokalipto and Salot. Both of these videos are very entertaining to watch, especially if you’re young and you’re a fan of anime. I’ve embedded both videos here for your viewing pleasure.

Bagong Sigla Apokalipto

Bagong Sigla Salot

Chiz has also revamped his campaign website, Chiz Nation. It now has the same theme as his videos and it looks like his message for 2010 will really be “Bagong Sigla”. Kinda similar to US President Barrack Obama’s “Change” campaign.

On a more personal note, I’ve had the chance to meet Chiz on several occasions. The most memorable ones though were (click the links to read):

Blogger Coffee Session with Senator Chiz Escudero
Senator Chiz Escudero’s “Saging lang ang may puso” during the Ople OFW Forum

Will Chiz announce something in the next few days? We all have to wait and see.

Posted in 2010 Presidential Elections, Francis Chiz Escudero | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

A world without Filipinos

Posted on October 6, 2009 by Carlo Ople

I found a very touching article now making the rounds in the Facebook network. It’s an article entitled “Imagine a world without Filipinos” and it’s written in an Arab press channel (looks like a magazine). In the article, the author relates how immensely important Filipinos are to their country as well as to the rest of the world. He goes on to say that they are very dependent on the Filipinos around them and that they could all die a slow day if the Filipinos choose to leave them. This is an excellent tribute to our OFWs out there and I just couldn’t resist posting about it here in this blog.

Here’s a scanned photo of the article for your reading pleasure:

ofw tribute

Source

Some staggering facts that really made an impact on me while reading the article:

23% of the world’s total number of Nurses are Filipinos
20% of the world’s seafarers are Filipinos

If Filipinos disappeared from the place of the planet tomorrow, the world economy would literally be paralyzed. We play an important role in the grand scheme of things people. So always be proud when you’re in another country.

Posted in Current Events | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

God, Ondoy, and the 2010 Elections

Posted on October 5, 2009 by Carlo Ople

I attended Sunday service yesterday at Victory Greenhills and our Pastor delivered a timely and meaningful message entitled “God in the midst of the storm“. It was definitely one of the most emotional services I’ve been to and I really felt blessed after attending. In the message, Pastor Dennis shared with us a few verses of what God said to a nation that was flooded. I believe that this is the same message that is meant for us as a country. It even touches on the upcoming 2010 elections which is just around the corner. It’s really relevant to the Philippines and it just hits home. Every verse has so much meaning and I want to do my part by spreading this so that everyone can read it.

Is. 54:11 “O storm-battered city, troubled and desolate! I will rebuild you with precious jewels and make your foundations from lapis lazuli.

Is. 54:12 I will make your towers of sparkling rubies, your gates of shining gems, and your walls of precious stones.

Is. 54:14 You will be secure under a government that is just and fair. Your enemies will stay far away. You will live in peace, and terror will not come near.

Is. 55:10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.

Is. 55:11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

What really struck me from the verse is Is. 54:14 (text in bold above). This underscores how important the upcoming 2010 elections are for us as a nation. We all have to participate because we are ultimately responsible for the leaders that we get. If you don’t vote, then you really have no right to complain at all. I challenge all of you to be part of the solution.

Ladies and gentlemen, REGISTER and VOTE.

Let’s all continue to pray for God’s blessing, protection, and grace as we move forward after Ondoy. At the same time let’s also ask for wisdom so that we will be able to distinguish who the right leader is for our country.

Posted in 2010 Presidential Elections, Current Events | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Inmates do their part in Ondoy relief operations

Posted on October 4, 2009 by Carlo Ople

Do you know how truly amazing the Filipino “Bayanihan” spirit is? I came across an article on the print version of the Philippine Daily Inquirer yesterday and I was touched by one of the stories. Apparently even Filipino convicted criminals in prison are doing their fair share of helping out with the relief operations for Ondoy! According to the article, the Mandaue inmates gave up one meal so that the money used to buy their food would just be given as a donation to the relief operations. Other than that, the Cebu inmates (popular for the dancing thingy) are giving cash from their own pockets as well.

This is a shining example of why the Filipino race is great. Despite all of the problems these guys are facing inside prison, they still have it in them to dig deep into their hearts for charity! Man… simply awe-inspiring. If the inmates donated, then there’s absolutely no reason for you guys not to pitch in as well.

To the inmates of Mandaue and Cebu, mabuhay kayo mga kapatid!

Posted in Current Events | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Where I’m from, everyone’s a hero

Posted on October 3, 2009 by Carlo Ople

I was watching TV this afternoon and I heard Bianca Gonzales say that there was an artwork going around the interwebs made by a certain Mark Gosingtian which pretty much summed up everything that’s been happening in the past few days. It basically has the text “where I’m from, everyone’s a hero” and it uses elements of the Filipino flag. Pretty simple but so meaningful and just inspiring. I finally found it just a few minutes ago and I’m reposting it here. Mark, you should have this made as a shirt and donate portion of the profit to the Ondoy victims.

where im from everyone's a hero

I have a confession. Before I was only proud to be Pinoy each time Manny P. would fight and win. However with what I’ve witnessed in the past few days, I’ll forever be proud to be a Pinoy because I know I come from the land of living and breathing HEROES.

Posted in Current Events | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Pepeng battering northern Luzon

Posted on October 3, 2009 by Carlo Ople

I’ve been receiving messages and calls asking about the status of Pepeng. Apparently people think that the warning was a fluke because it really isn’t raining too hard in Metro Manila. That’s probably the case for us here but Pepeng is actually wreaking havoc all over Northern Luzon. Based on news reports, the winds are so strong that roofs and ceilings are being blown off wherever Pepeng goes. Billboards have also been reported to be destroyed as well as trees being uprooted.

There’s no reason to be rejoicing here in Manila just because we’re no really feeling the full effect of Pepeng. Our “kababayans” in northern Luzon are taking a beating. Let’s fully support relief operations there once the storm passes.

Here’s the news article on Inquirer.Net:

Pepeng pounds northern Luzon; blows off roofs
By Vincent Cabreza, Villamor Visaya Jr., Tonette Orejas
Inquirer Northern Luzon
First Posted 13:21:00 10/03/2009

Filed Under: Pepeng, Flood, Disasters & Accidents
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines—-Heavy rains and strong winds accompanying Typhoon “Pepeng” started battering this Cagayan capital at noon Saturday, blowing off billboards and roofs of shanties and toppling trees along major roads.

Power and communication lines were cut off as residents started feeling the strength of Pepeng, which was spotted by the weather bureau at 100 km east of Tuguegarao at 11 a.m.

Tricycles, the only available mode of transportation in the city on Saturday morning, stopped plying their routes because drivers feared that they would be blown off by the strong wind.

Residents of coastal towns in northern Cagayan, where Pepeng was expected to make landfall by Saturday night, have been evacuated, reports from the Office of Civil Defense in Cagayan Valley said.

Melchito Castro, OCD regional director, said Pepeng’s winds, at a maximum of 175 kilometers per hour, were stronger than those accompanying Typhoon “Karen” that hit the province in 2008.

In Isabela, at least 577 families sought shelter in school buildings, evacuation centers or their relatives’ houses in Cabagan and Dinapigue towns, according to reports from the provincial disaster coordinating council.

In Aurora, about 600 families in five coastal towns were asked to move to higher ground on Friday night as the province prepared to face the onslaught of Pepeng.

Senior Supt. Romulo Esteban, Aurora police director, said residents of the critical areas of Dipaculao, Dinalungan, Casiguran, Dilasag and Dingalan towns, where a major landslide hit in 2004, heeded authorities’ call to do a pre-emptive evacuation as the typhoon approached.

In Nueva Vizcaya, disaster management officials lamented the refusal of many residents who are living in identified flood- and landslide-prone areas to move to safer places as Pepeng drew closer to northern Luzon on Saturday.

Evaliza Agamata, disaster management provincial coordinator, said villagers living on the banks of the Magat River in Bayombong, Solano and Bagabag towns refused to heed the pre-emptive evacuation order that they issued on Friday.

If you go out of your house you’ll probably feel the strong winds. If it’s strong here, what more in the area where the typhoon is really at?

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