Mong has been a blogger since 2004. He is a youth activist and Member of Philippine Parliament representing Kabataan Partylist.
The poor are glamorized victims during elections. They become VIPs – Very Imporant Poor – as candidates try to woo their support. Election then becomes a contest between politicians offering the best pro-poor platform. But platforms are not enough. Often the winners are those who distributed cash gifts and other small value items. During elections, [...]
Local politicians often complain about the duties they are expected to accomplish as public servants. Professor Alex Brillantes explains the situation at the local level: ‘For many people, local governments ARE the government. They are the frontline, the firing line. People go to them for help, advice and assistance from womb to tomb.’ And as [...]
Part 1: Senate Race – A Virtual Campaign Part 2: Burgers, Fries, Coke, and Politicians Part 3: Opinion Polls – “A Science without a Scientist” Remember Ramon Magsaysay’s famous line – “Can we defend it in Plaza Miranda?” There was a time when politicians were capable and willing to engage in public debates, often in [...]
Written for The Diplomat…. Barring any unforeseen events or extra-legal surprises over the coming days and weeks, Sen. Benigno Simeon ‘Noynoy’ Cojuangco Aquino III of the Liberal Party will likely be proclaimed the next president of the Republic of the Philippines. Noynoy topped the exit polls and unofficial canvassing of the May 10 elections and, [...]
I’ve written several articles for The Diplomat about the Philippine 2010 elections. Some of them have been reposted in this blog. In the past week, I submitted these short election updates: 1. So Far, Not so Bad 2. Disenfranchised Voters 3. Philippine Elections: The Good, the Bad, and the Funny 4. Replace or Retain Voting [...]
…written in 2007 If you believe in democracy, then vote on May 14. If you want deserving candidates to win, then encourage others to vote as well. If you want to remove incompetent leaders, then volunteer to guard the counting of votes. This is our duty as responsible citizens. Our vigilance is the price of [...]
Membership in a political party isn’t required to win in Philippine elections since political families are more influential in delivering votes for their relatives and anointed candidates. In small municipalities, the candidate who belongs to the biggest family is sure of winning in the polls. If there are several big families in a city or [...]
Mothers are effective campaigners on behalf of their politician children–they can gather sympathy votes by displaying their love for their children and they can vouch for the sincerity and humanity of their politician children, especially those embroiled in controversy. Last Monday, 86-year-old Curita Villar addressed the media for the first time at her Las Pinas [...]
Don’t mix politics and entertainment? Think again. Actor Joseph Estrada became president in 1998 while his showbiz pal, Fernando Poe Jr., almost became one in 2004. TV stars topped the senate race in 1992, 1998, 2001 and 2007. There are three actors in the senate today and all of them are running for re-election. Based [...]
Should animal rights activists be concerned with how Filipino politicians describe their enemies as animals? To bolster his anti-corruption campaign message, senatorial candidate Teofisto Guingona III made a somewhat funny TV ad which showed him punching an animated crocodile. At the end of the video, Guingona shouts that he is angry at crocodiles (‘Galit ako [...]
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