Battle of the mothers

By admin | May 5, 2010

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 City home to defend her son, presidential candidate Manny Villar. The Villar matriarch cried in front of the cameras when expressing her pain after hearing negative reports about her son. She said that all corruption allegations hurled by other parties against Sen. Villar are false and insisted that Villar was telling the truth when he claimed that he came from a poor family in Tondo before becoming a billionaire through his real estate business. Tondo is a working-class district in Manila. Ms. Curita Villar ended the press forum by singing ‘Stardust’.

Asked if it is wise to use their mothers in the campaign, one of Sen. Villar’s siblings reminded the media that it’s the other party that’s drawing on memories of a dead mother for their campaign. She was referring to presidential candidate Noynoy Aquino, whose candidacy only materialized when his mother, former President Cory Aquino, died last August. After sensing that many Filipinos had renewed their support for the Aquino family during the wake and burial of the former president, Sen. Aquino was immediately nominated by his party as a presidential candidate. In his various infomercials during the campaign, Sen. Aquino has been invoking the name of his good mother.

After learning about the public appearance of Curita Villar, former President Joseph Estrada described it as an ‘act of desperation’ on the part of Sen. Villar. Estrada is also a presidential candidate. But critics reminded Estrada that he also has used his mother in the past to advance his political objectives. When he was still detained for plunder charges, Estrada always cited the need to visit his ailing mother in the hospital every time he asked for court approval to temporarily leave his jail. One of the reasons why he was granted a pardon by President Gloria Arroyo was to allow Estrada to be close to his dying mother.

But the most famous active matriarch in the Philippines is former first lady Imelda Marcos. At 80 years-old, she is aggressively campaigning for her two children who are running for governor of Ilocos Norte Province and senator of the Republic. Imelda is also aiming to win a seat in Congress this year. If she becomes a congresswoman again, one of her colleagues will be another matriarch–President Arroyo, who is almost a sure winner in her bid to represent the second district of Pampanga province in the House of Representatives. The two sons of Arroyo are also candidates in the elections.

It’s often said that behind every successful man is a woman. In the Philippines, we could say that behind every successful politician is a mother.

…and mistresses

All candidates are open during elections, or at least they are about the dark secrets of their rivals. They perform a public service by exposing the hidden wealth, extra-marital activities and illegal government transactions of their rivals. These revelations are all black propaganda, but this does not necessarily mean they’re not true.

A few days ago, vice presidential candidate Jejomar Binay publicly admitted that he was unfaithful to his wife. He made this confession after the internet was flooded with unflattering pictures of Binay’s alleged mistress. Binay confirmed that he once betrayed his wife, but said this was a long time ago and that he had already apologized to his family. Stories and pictures about Binay’s mistress surfaced when he placed second in pre-election surveys.

Binay’s decision to admit his marital infidelity is brave since religious groups, especially the Catholic Church, can use this confession to weaken his candidacy. But as a veteran politician, (more than two decades as Mayor of Makati City, the country’s premier financial district) Binay may have calculated that this issue would have little impact on his chances. By immediately confronting the issue, he may have gained some sympathy votes from voters who dislike the campaign tactic of invading the privacy of candidates and their families.

Maybe Binay is also aware that politicians who are unfaithful to their spouses continue to get elected to public office. He should learn some tips from his running mate, former President Joseph Estrada, who has not lost a single election despite the public knowledge that he has at least 11 children by six women and some other rumored mistresses.

Binay should talk to his former mistress and convince her not to disclose anything that could further ruin his reputation. Pictures were uploaded on the web, but there could be videos as well. Binay should remember how the mistress of former President Ferdinand Marcos shocked the nation when she called a press conference in 1970 and proved her special relationship with Marcos by playing an audio recording of their lovemaking.

If Binay really wants the issue to die down, he could leave the country for a while. This is what the First Gentleman Mike Arroyo did when a senator exposed his alleged extra-marital activities a few years ago. President Gloria Arroyo defender her husband from critics, but on one occasion she said that she would just focus on her job as president because she is married to the country. Will Binay also claim that he is married to the country?

Binay’s critics and rivals will use his confession to remind voters about his moral weakness. They will argue that since Binay cannot remain loyal to his wife, he’ll also betray the country if he becomes vice president. As Binay’s numbers continue to improve in the homestretch campaign, he should check his closet and hide the remaining skeletons that could be unearthed by his rivals.

And the question now is, will Binay retaliate and throw some dirt at his enemies?

Related articles:

sons and politicians
dovie beams
departure gate

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Lights, Camera…Elections!

By admin | April 30, 2010

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 on latest survey results, two actors are competing for the top position in this year’s senate elections. The vice presidential bet of the administration party is a popular TV host and actor. The major candidates of the local elections in the key cities of Metro Manila like Paranaque, Manila, Quezon City and Caloocan are former film stars.

But actors are not automatic winners in elections. Yes, they are well-known and this is a clear advantage, but it is not enough to dismantle the political machinery of well-entrenched families and parties. In 2007, showbiz candidates in the senate race were rejected by voters. World boxing champion and national icon Manny Pacquaio was ‘knocked-out’ by a scion of a political dynasty in General Santos City in Mindanao Island.

But despite these celebrated setbacks, parties continue to field actors in elections because the popularity and rapport of actors with the poor make them winnable candidates.

On the other hand, it is not just film stars who want to enter the world of politics. Most of the time, it is politicians who want to enter the showbiz world. To gain fame, many politicians and aspiring politicians seek affiliation with the entertainment industry. Even President Gloria Arroyo appeared in an afternoon TV series during the early years of her presidency. Her son was an actor first before becoming a politician. Analysts believe that Kiko Pangilinan and Ralph Recto became senators in 2001 because they have superstar wives who are on TV everyday. Some politicians succeed in having their life story featured in TV drama shows. Last year, vice presidential candidate Mar Roxas proposed marriage to his celebrity fiancée on a noon-time variety program.

All major candidates are aggressively hiring actors to endorse their candidacies. Super rich politicians are able to solicit the support of famous young actors of the industry. Presidential candidate Noynoy Aquino is lucky because his sister is the lead actress and host of numerous top-rated shows while his brother-in-law is a basketball superstar. Not to be outdone, Senator Manny Villar was able to convince other showbiz icons to endorse his presidential bid. Even Pacquaio, the idol of the masses, has endorsed Villar. Being a former actor, it seems former President Estrada has no need for too many celebrity endorsers. Besides, his son who is a senator today is also an actor.

It is not illegal and wrong for actors to join politics as their entry brings entertainment, glitter and fun in an otherwise boring and ugly election campaign. Also, some actor turned politicians have performed well in public service. They can also help challenge the dominant rule of oligarchs in provinces and many of them are sincere in their desire to serve the poor.

But actors must not bank on their popularity alone to succeed in the elections. They must be ready to articulate a coherent platform of governance and they must prove that they are competent to hold public office. Meanwhile, celebrity endorsers should be more discerning in choosing the candidates they will support because their opinion is highly valued by their loyal fans and supporters.

In the end, it is the voting public who will decide whether a celebrity candidate or endorser deserves to win in the elections.

Nuisance

Nuisance candidates are supposed to be instantly weeded out by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) once they have filed their certificates of candidacies. Those who were immediately eliminated from the 2010 presidential race were ‘bizarre candidates’ like Rigoberto Madera who identified himself as the ‘Ultimate Messiah,’ David Torralba Alimurung who wanted to re-forest the deserts of the Middle East and Daniel Magtira who vowed to lead the switch from the country’s usage of its standard 220 volts on electricity sockets to 110 volts. Perhaps the most famous nuisance candidate in recent history was Eddie Gil who found brief success as TV star after being dislodged from the presidential electoral contest in 2004.

The criteria used by the Comelec to disqualify candidates have been questioned by some parties and candidates themselves. Presidential candidate Nicanor Perlas and Senatorial bet Danilo Lim were initially disqualified by the poll body before finally getting the approval to participate in the elections. Senator Alan Cayetano wanted the Comelec to declare his colleague Senator Jamby Madrigal, as a nuisance presidential bet. Activist lawmakers have branded President Gloria Arroyo, who is aiming to win a congressional seat in Pampanga province, as a nuisance candidate.

A nuisance candidate is also someone who deliberately causes confusion among the voters by running against candidates with similar names. As in previous elections, there are many candidates today whose intention in joining the race was to weaken the candidacies of contenders with similar names. In some instances, Comelec failed to quickly resolve disqualification cases against these nuisance candidates. When the Comelec finally disqualified these dubious candidates, the damage has already been done because the election ballots were already printed. These were empty victories in favor of the real candidates because on Election Day, the names of the supposedly eliminated nuisance bets are still included in the official ballot.

The Comelec was also criticized for its delayed action on the disqualification case against presidential candidate Vetellano Acosta. It was only last month when Comelec finally removed Acosta from the official list of candidates. This was too late because the ballots have been printed already. Acosta’s name will still appear in the official ballot next month. The Liberal Party believes the delayed decision was intentional in order to prevent the name of its standard bearer, Noynoy Aquino, from appearing first on the list of presidential candidates.

There is another type of nuisance candidate; although their candidacies cannot be legally questioned. Some candidates are fielding fake candidates in order to weaken their rivals. Fake candidates with similar names can be easily disqualified by the poll body but politicians or former leaders who enjoy a certain level of social reputation can be asked by parties or fellow politicians to run in the elections in order to divide the votes of other candidates. These candidates, though legitimate in the eyes of the law, are no different from other nuisance candidates whose real intention is to collect money and not to win.

It is important that voters distinguish the real from fake candidates. There are still nuisance candidates and other undesirables who have been allowed to run in the elections.

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Ugly leftist

By admin | April 27, 2010

‘Ugly’ refers to the politics of Risa H. and her media officers who issued a press statement accusing Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza, and the Makabayan political coalition of having ‘sold-out’ their principles by aligning with Manny Villar in the 2010 elections. Risa also described Makabayan leaders and organizations as members of ‘nondemocratic left’ who are condoning the alleged criminal activities of the New People’s Army.

A few days before Risa published this statement, she called for a moratorium on election mudslinging. It is unfunny that she ignored her own plea by vilifying her colleagues in Congress and fellow senatoriables Ocampo and Maza.

Did Ocampo and Maza betray their principles when they joined the senatorial ticket of Villar as adopted candidates? The emphatic answer is no. Maza and Ocampo remain committed activists and street parliamentarians who vow to advance their advocacies inside and outside Congress. Their inclusion in the Nacionalista slate is indicative of 1) Villar’s recognition of the militant left’s organized strength and his openness to adopt progressive politics if he becomes president; and 2) the sincerity of Ocampo, Maza, and the Makabayan political bloc to pursue the people’s agenda through parliamentary work.

The left has a sterling record in remaining steadfast as vanguard of the poor and oppressed while keeping a tactical alliance with bourgeois parties and politicians. The left supported Gloria Arroyo during Edsa Dos but it became critical of the new administration when Arroyo mutated into a monster. Ocampo and the late great Crispin Beltran were jailed because of their position that Arroyo must be removed from power.

The left did not financially benefit from its brief alliance with Arroyo. It was the NGO friends of Risa who received a billion peso racket from Arroyo through the so-called peace bonds. When Beltran died a poor man in 2008 despite his three-term stint as member of Congress, it gave a valuable lesson for progressives of all stripes on how to live modestly and avoid the corrupting lifestyle of many politicians.

Its exemplary attitude towards Arroyo during and immediately after Edsa Dos and its brave defiance against the Arroyo dictatorship in the past decade are the left’s best assurance that it will not “sell-out” once Villar becomes the country’s next president. Ocampo and Maza can boast of their untarnished reputation as public servants for nine years as proof that they will not abuse their links with Villar for selfish reasons. The Makabayan Coalition can easily make Villar accountable by invoking the people’s agenda document which Villar signed in a public event last December.

But for Risa and other “Liberal Talibans”, the decision of the left to support Villar is unacceptable because of their naïve belief that Noynoy is the only candidate blessed with a pure heart and good intentions. The other lie (naïve and hilarious at the same time) being peddled by the Liberal Party is that Noynoy is unlike Villar who is spending billions of pesos to win in the elections. Ano sa tingin nila ang ipinambabayad ni Noynoy at Mar sa TV at radio networks, campaigners, at local candidates ng partido sa buong bansa – autograph ni Kris at Korina?

Actually it is Risa’s support for Noynoy which smacks of opportunism. Risa initially endorsed Mar for president but when Noynoy announced his candidacy, she immediately raised the hands of Noynoy. She and her group did this even if Noynoy has not yet publicly stated his platform. Remember the assertion of Noynoy supporters who arrogantly reminded the public that based on tradition (as if the only correct behavior is to follow tradition), the period of finalizing and publishing a platform is only after parties and candidates have filed their candidacy papers? Despite his failure to advance or articulate a meaningful social policy issue, the very popular Noynoy was instantly endorsed by Risa.

Villar had to rescind the NP-KBL alliance and boldly included two militant leftists in his senate slate before he got the approval of Makabayan. Villar was endorsed by the left despite his lower public ratings because he proved to be a more sincere candidate with better track record and competence. It would have been easier for the left if it endorsed Noynoy last November or December who at that time was rating 50-60 percentage points in surveys. But our endorsement is not just based on popularity alone.

Did Risa question the inclusion of VATmen in Noynoy’s campaign team? Did Risa clarify the role of Kamag-Anak Inc. in Noynoy’s candidacy? Did she consider the plight of Hacienda Luisita workers and those who were killed in 2004 when she joined Noynoy?

Landlords like Noynoy are thankful for the amended land reform law (CARPER) which Risa supported in Congress. This law was initially being opposed by landlords in Congress but after successfully inserting their amendments last June, even the Arroyo family and other sugar barons voted in favor of this measure. Risa’s sponsorship of the pro-landlord CARPER complements Noynoy’s adamant refusal to treat the Hacienda Luisita matter as a social justice issue. To use Risa’s own words, it surprises me how easily she has sold out.

In fairness to Risa, she is a consistent critic of the militant left. This is the reason why military officials are supporting her. An anti-communist, military-backed partylist solon in Congress (sorry I can’t mention his name, baka sumikat) always enjoins the group of Risa in advocating the elimination of leftist groups from the political mainstream. Why? Because the military and Risa are mouthing the same demands against members of the legal left – that the latter should also condemn the alleged atrocities committed by the NPA; that by refusing to condemn revolutionary taxation, Ocampo, Maza and other activists are affirming their links with the NPA. Through the press statement mentioned above, Risa legitimized the “murderous lines” echoed by Jovito Palparan.

Risa, who claims to be a leftist, should know better that the group she is attacking is not a terrorist organization. The Communist Party is a revolutionary group which espouses the establishment of a new political order through revolutionary means. If she thinks that the Communist Party is a mere terrorist cell which exists to extort money from businessmen and politicians, then why did she agree to become a member of the GRP-NDF peace panel representing the Arroyo government in 2001?

As a student of politics and history, I am aware that most revolutionary groups employ various means, including use of arms, to overthrow the established order. Let us agree that there are now peaceful means to advocate change. But we can’t blame other segments of the population if they continue to think that the reign of injustice and numbing poverty in the country can only end through revolutionary violence. Even the UN recognizes the right of the people to take up arms if they think the elected government has made it impossible for the people to demand change through peaceful means.

By parroting the Palparan doctrine that NPA members are mere murderers and extortionists, isn’t Risa providing ideological justification for the continued postponement of the stalled peace talks? Isn’t this moral-booster line giving the military another reason to step up the all-out war tactic in the countryside instead of addressing the root causes of armed struggle? As leftists, isn’t it more correct and progressive to advocate peace talks and tackle the reasons why many Filipinos continue to take up arms instead of prodding activists to denounce the CPP-NPA? That the insurgency has lasted for more than four decades (the longest insurgency in Southeast Asia) means it is more than just a band of gun toting crazies who love to sread mayhem in the country.

Risa’s insinuations against Maza, Ocampo, and Makabayan members are dangerous because the military can use them to butrress its red-baiting campaign against activists in the legal arena. At least the NPA can defend themselves during military operations but unarmed activists are helpless against illegal combat and psy-war operations. Politicians like Risa, Palparan, and Arroyo who continue to link the legal left with the underground left is the reason why activists continue to be harassed, abducted, tortured, and killed in this part of the world.

Risa’s press statement is not just a demolition job aimed at Ocampo, Maza and Villar. It is part of a systematic campaign to defeat and isolate the left. From day one of campaigning, the military has been very aggressive in its illegal campaign to sabotage the candidacies of Ocampo, Maza, and Makabayan partylist groups. It sends poison letters and death threats to Makabayan candidates, leaders, supporters, and now politicians who endorse the left. Military officers conduct illegal assemblies in communities and schools to warn residents and students against voting Satur, Maza, and Makabayan candidates. Soldiers and their supporters are actively defacing the campaign posters of the left. Palparan is given substantial media time to spread lies in public. The Liberal Party spokesman questions the inclusion of communists in the Villar senate lineup. It is unfortunate that the communist bogey is being used againto get the support of the US imperialist masters.

The post-election scenario is very scary for activists and leftists.

A few years ago, Akbayan stalwarts denounced their inclusion in the so-called NPA hitlist. It turned out that the hitlist was fictitious and the Akbayan leaders who feared for their lives are still very much alive today. They raised a lot of noise in global NGO summits presenting themselves as victims of a totalitarian ideology. What was tragicomic from that affair was that the groups and activists whom Akbayan accused of having ideological and organizational links with NPA were the ones who got abducted and killed by elements close to the military.

Akbayan didn’t kill my comrades and I’m sure it has many members who sympathize with our cause but by spewing out the same malicious accusations hurled by the military against militant activists, (again to use the words of Risa) it “indirectly helps human rights violators like Palparan to commit further abuses.”

Will there be another crackdown against the ‘nondemocratic left’? The signs are evident that the anti-communist bloc will pressure the next president to intensify the war against “communist terrorists” and their “legal fronts.” Wittingly or unwittingly, Risa and her party are being used to whip up insane anti-red hysteria in the country.

Is Risa a leftist? Palparan claims he is a human rights defender; he is even a member of the House Committee on Human Rights. Is Risa a democratic leftist? Palparan is a protector of democracy. What binds Palparan, the democracy-loving general and Risa, the democratic leftist is their shared hatred against the politics of Maza, Ocampo, and Makabayan.

But is she a leftist? Her statements on land reform, living wage, debt moratorium, human rights have been described in the media as progressive. Often, she is mistaken to be a member of Anakbayan or Gabriela. Maybe her statement against the ‘nondemocratic left’ is an attempt to publicly dissociate herself from the ranks of the militant left. Fine. I’ll return the favor by paraphrasing Fredric Jameson: “We have much in common with Risa and her party, in fact virtually everything – save the essentials.”

Long live the revolutionary tradition of the left!

Also read:

Makabayan’s response to the current red-baiting…
Ang maruming laban
Hontiveros-Palparan
Palparan’s new spokesperson

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Animals and dark lords

By admin | April 23, 2010

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 sa buwaya’). Corrupt politicians in the Philippines are often compared to crocodiles.

Critics of vice presidential bet Loren Legarda have lampooned the lady senator as a ‘political butterfly’ in reference to her frequent changing of party affiliations. Members of Congress are called ‘porky’ solons because of their obsession with pork barrel projects. Presidential son Mikey Arroyo was compared to a pig by activists because of his intention to become a partylist representative. Partylist bets are supposed to come from the marginalized sectors of society. The ‘pig’ label is a metaphor for what activists describe as the bastardization of the partylist system. Meanwhile, administration members who are defecting to other parties are called rats who are abandoning a sinking ship.

Political mudslinging by animal-calling is not new. Former presidential daughter Imee Marcos described Malacanang Palace as a snake-pit. President Gloria Arroyo called her critics termites destroying the foundations of the Republic. Senator Miriam Santiago mocked a fellow lady politician by calling her an ‘anonymous little insect.’

If in other countries calling someone chicken is an allusion to the weak character of the person, in the Philippines it means the person is backed by a powerful leader. A candidate who is identified as manok (chicken) of Arroyo means the candidate is a favored candidate of Arroyo. Meanwhile, sisiw (chicks) is a term used by confident candidates to refer to their weak rivals.

Some politicians are proud animal lovers. Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson has opened a mini-zoo in his residential palace. His Siberian and Bengal Tigers are always shown on TV. Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos also uses the tiger as symbol of the city. Former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza prefers the eagle as an icon. One of his campaign slogans is ‘Pagbabalik ng Lawin’ (Return of the Hawk). A group of cockfighters wants to enter congress through the partylist system.

Most animals are gentle beasts but they are often misunderstood by humans. The perceived ferociousness of animals is often compared to the wild behavior of politicians. This is unfair to animals. Maybe animal rights groups should warn politicians and writers to stop abusing the good image of animals. They may be animals but they are not as greedy, slothful and vicious as their human counterparts in politics.

Underworld politics

Gambling lords. Warlords. Drug lords. Despotic landlords.

These are the superstars of the Philippine underworld. Their armed goons and almost limitless wealth make them powerful political kingpins and kingmakers. Businessmen go to them for protection, priests request donations from them and politicians want to be cozy with them. Today, many of these ‘dark lords’ are aspiring for public office. Maybe, like Michael Corleone from the film The Godfather they wanted to be legitimate.

Gambling lords are more popularly known as ‘Jueteng’ lords. Jueteng is an illegal numbers game in the provinces. It is similar to a small town lottery but it is outlawed by the state. There are jueteng winners everyday and most of them are farmers and small income earners who hope to receive extra cash from betting on their favorite numbers. But the bigger winners are jueteng lords who operate the game and collect the dividends every evening. To escape arrest, jueteng lords pay protection money to police, local officials and national politicians. Former President Joseph Estrada was impeached in 2000 because of an allegation that he was receiving jueteng protection money.

Some suspected jueteng lords have crossed-over to mainstream politics. Lilia Pineda, wife of an alleged jueteng boss in Central Luzon, was elected board member of Pampanga, the home province of the president. Pineda’s son is even godson of the president. Pineda is now running for governor. Armand Sanchez of Batangas is another suspected jueteng strongman in the Southern Tagalog region. Sanchez was elected governor of Batangas and is hoping to reclaim his seat this year.

Drug lords are in the limelight today because of a recently released US State Department report which warned that drug money would be used to influence the results of this year’s elections. The value of illegal drug trade in the country is estimated at about $8.4 billion. Government officials admit that narco-politics is already entrenched in various parts of the country. A city mayor in Metro Manila was tagged last month by the police as coddler of suspected drug lords.

A warlord is a broad name for politicians or leaders who control a private army. Warlords are feared because they act as little presidents and little generals in their turf. The most notorious warlord today is Maguindanao leader Andal Ampatuan who is accused of masterminding the gruesome election-related massacre of 57 civilians last November. But Ampatuan is just the kingpin of Maguindanao. There are 85 provinces in the Philippines and each province is dominated by one or several warlords. According to the police, there are at least 112 private armies operating in the country.

Despotic landlords are the royal families of feudal Philippines. These landlords continue to own huge tracts of prime agricultural lands despite the implementation of numerous land reform programs in the past decades. In many provinces, despotic landlords are also the reigning political dynasties and warlords. Landlords who own the biggest land in the province can easily win during elections because majority of voters are their tenants. Activists have accused the Cojuangco-Aquino family, the owner of the biggest family-owned plantation in Southeast Asia, of being despotic landlords who ordered the killing of 14 protesting farmers in 2004.

The other prominent ‘dark lords’ of Philippine politics are the smuggling lords, quarrying lords and fake lords who invoke the name of God during elections.

The underworld bosses become more influential during elections because of their money and armed machinery. Instead of herding them to jail, they are glorified as kingmakers and philanthropists. Some suspected shady characters are even running for public office. The influence of ‘dark lords’ in politics is often compared to the sun. On a cloudy day we do not see the sun yet we feel its mighty presence and harmful ultraviolet rays.

‘Dark lords’ are an anathema in a democratic country like the Philippines. Like the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun which destroy life on the planet, ‘dark lords’ and other underworld untouchables weaken the democratic potential of politics.

Posted in election | Tagged | 1 Comment

Octogenarians and soldiers

By admin | April 18, 2010

Albay province governor and presidential adviser Joey Salceda is happy to note that candidates in the 2010 elections are younger compared to those in previous elections.

The average age of presidential aspirants in 2004 was 60.25. The candidates were Fernando Poe Jr., 65; Panfilo Lacson, 57; Raul S. Roco, 63; and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, 56. The average age of presidential candidates this year is 55. Younger candidates include Noynoy Aquino, 49; Gilberto Teodoro, 45; and JC de Los Reyes, 40.

The majority of voters are also young with 40 percent of the electorate belonging to the 18-35 age bracket. Also, there are more than 3 million first time voters. Candidates and voters alike are getting younger. Indeed, this is a good year for young people.

But the rise of young politicians does not mean the automatic exclusion of senior citizen politicians in Philippine politics. The old guards continue to wield a strong influence on political parties and they still get elected in public office.

In the House of Representatives, there are 55 members who are at least 65 years old. There are 17 others who didn’t disclose their age but most probably belong to the senior citizen age group. At 84, Congressman Pablo Garcia from Cebu province is the oldest member of the Lower House. He is the patriarch of the Garcia clan which dominates Cebu politics. Still strong and mentally sharp, Garcia is a sure-win candidate in this year’s elections. He’ll be 87 on 2013; the year when his term ends. The second oldest member of Congress, Antonio Diaz from Zambales province, is also a candidate this year.

The most prominent active octogenarian politician in the country is Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. Despite being 86 years old, Enrile is aspiring for a new term as senator. Most likely he’ll win as indicated by latest nationwide survey results. He’ll be 92 years old when his new term ends.

Enrile is a veteran politician who has remained politically relevant for the past 40 years. The only other public personalities who achieved this feat are former President Fidel Ramos, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, former Senate President Jovito Salonga and communist leader Jose Maria Sison. Enrile, unlike his contemporaries, is still very active in politics. As Senate President, he is officially the third most powerful man in the country today. His popular campaign slogan, ‘I want you to be happy,’ is perhaps a creative tactic to make the voters ignore his age.

Age was an issue raised against former Senate President Jovito Salonga in 1992 when he ran as president of the country. His rivals cited his age (72 at the time) and frail health as reasons why he should not become president. Today, Salonga is still alive (though semi-retired from politics) while many of his rivals are either dead or retired from politics.

The future of Philippine politics definitely belongs to the youth. But the political career of Salonga and Enrile is a timely reminder for everyone not to ignore yet the country’s senior citizen leaders and octogenarian politicians. They are political survivors whose wisdom, experience and even weaknesses can help guide the young leaders of the country.

Soldiers as politicians

Scholars often write about the militarization of the bureaucracy, referring to the high number of retired military officers in the president’s Cabinet, but they often overlook the winning record of the military in elections.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has a total active force of 113,500, with 131,000 personnel in reserve and 158,500 paramilitary troops. This means the military has a solid vote of at least half a million. This figure does not include the family members of soldiers and retired officers of the military. If we add the number of the police force, the combined votes of the military and police could reach more than a million.

With this number, plus the fact that soldiers can use its armed strength to influence the decision of voters, it makes sense for military officers to run for public office. They can tap the nationwide organization of the military to boost their campaigns and they can rely on the guaranteed votes that the institution can deliver for them.

Who are the prominent soldier-politicians of the Philippines?

General Fidel Ramos, the chief-of-staff of the armed forces during the Marcos regime and defense secretary during the Aquino government, became president in 1992. Four of the country’s 23 incumbent senators are graduates of the Philippine Military Academy. They are Senators Gringo Honasan, Rodolfo Biazon, Panfilo Lacson, and Antonio Trillanes.

Biazon won in 1992, 1998 and 2004. Honasan won in 1995, 2001 and 2007. Lacson became a senator in 2001 and was re-elected in 2007. Trillanes became the youngest senator of the Republic three years ago. Biazon was Aquino’s military chief-of-staff before he ran in 1992. He is now a candidate for mayor in the city of Muntinlupa located south of Manila. Lacson was the country’s police chief during the Estrada government. Honasan and Trillanes are former rebel soldiers who attempted to overthrow the governments of Aquino and Arroyo.

The surprising electoral victories of Honasan and Trillanes may have inspired other rebel soldiers to run for senator as well. Two detained soldiers are senatorial candidates in the 2010 elections; they are Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and ex-Marine Col. Ariel Querubin. Lim is running under the Liberal Party while Querubin is a candidate of the Nacionalista Party. Two other soldiers who want to be senators are former marine officer Mon-Mon Mitra and controversial General Jovito Palparan. If they all win this year, there will be seven former soldiers in the senate.

Soldiers are also running for lower elective positions. The Magdalo Party, a group founded by young rebel soldiers, is fielding at least four congressional candidates. Arroyo’s former Cabinet members who are running for congress today are also former soldiers. They are Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Presidential Management Staff chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes. Civil society groups are also accusing the military of funding and directly supporting various party list groups which could further widen the clout of the military inside congress.

In a different context, Mao Zedong once asserted that ‘Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.’ In the Philippines, this apt quotation can refer to the rising power of the military to assure the victory of their former comrades in the electoral arena.

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Season of mudslinging

By admin | April 17, 2010

Written in 2007….

Politics is addition. The longer you stay in public office, the more number of enemies you will attract. There are no permanent friends and enemies; only the desire for power and absolute power. A politician thinks this way: “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”. During elections, every candidate is a potential enemy of another candidate. Membership in the same political party and coalition does not guarantee the mending of fences of bitter rivals. Such is the sad feature of Philippine politics. Such is the spectacle we are witnessing today.

Team Unity ridicules the name of Genuine Opposition as “Grand Alliance of Genuine Opposition” or G.A.G.O. The other side strikes back. Team Unity was named as “Team Unity of Team Arroyo” or T.U.T.A.

Team Unity is criticized for fielding showbiz candidates and turncoats (balimbing) in its senatorial lineup. GO is accused of promoting political dynasty by including senatoriables who have relatives in the Senate. Ralph Recto and Joker Arroyo castigated the Opposition for encouraging unconstitutional means of changing the national leadership.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lambasted the Opposition for harboring a ‘politics of hate’ and destroying the sustained economic gains of the country. The Opposition downplays the supposed economic growth and highlights corruption in government and lack of public trust.

The Opposition will use the ‘Hello Garci’ recording in its campaign jingle. Chavit Singson will use a video clip of the impeachment proceedings of former President Joseph Estrada featuring fellow coalition member and ‘dancing queen’ Tessie Aquino-Oreta.

The Opposition is complaining of harassment: The citizenship of Alan Cayetano is being questioned. Media maliciously reports the spin that Cayetano and Chiz Escudero did not pass any meaningful piece of legislation. The National Security Adviser names five Opposition-leaning partylist groups as ‘communist fronts’.

The Administration believes its enemies are engaged in black propaganda: Ralph Recto is hailed as Mr. VAT for sponsoring a law which increased tax rates. Miguel Zubiri clarifies he is still running for Senator contrary to radio news reports in Mindanao that he has backed out of the race.

Joker called Antonio Trillanes IV as ‘poster boy of rebellion’. The young soldier answered back by challenging the 80-year old former human rights lawyer in a public debate. Kiko Pangilinan, former student activist, is rebuked for his posture of independence. His colleagues described his status of being neither here nor there as gesture of arrogance and wishy-washy principle in life.

Edgardo Angara could not hide his disdain against his former friends in the Opposition for dropping him in the senatorial lineup. A few weeks ago, Prospero Pichay did not mince words in explaining his opposition to the inclusion of Tito Sotto and Oreta in the Administration ticket.

Ricky Recto insults his sister-in-law on national television. Young Governor Villafuerte of Camarines Sur is at odds with his father Congressman Villafuerte. The Pinedas are being linked to jueteng. The Lapids are accused of profiteering from quarrying.

Mudslinging in local politics is more interesting and grotesque. Mistresses are surfacing in public, rape and murder cases are filed in the courts against certain candidates, hate text and email messages abound, secret bank accounts and fabulous undeclared assets are exposed.

There is another reason why only adults are allowed to vote. We need to protect children from the immature, uncivilized and foolish behavior of election candidates and political parties. Debates on public governance are welcome but we only hear unnecessary noise. We need more discussions on pressing issues affecting the lives of millions of our people.

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Schooling in Siok

By admin | April 12, 2010

Graduation rites are important but they should not be extravagant. Even education officials recognize the need to conduct simple graduation activities. But many schools still want a grand celebration and this necessitates the collection of graduation fees from students.

Student are able to finish basic education without paying tuition but they can’t get their diplomas without paying exorbitant graduation fees? Public schools can sustain their operations for the whole school year without collecting fees from students but they can’t organize a one-day graduation ceremony without receiving payment from parents?

Graduation programs are memorable rituals, but still they are just rituals. The process of education is more important. Parents should be more concerned with the schooling process over the graduation program. We should worry more over the quality of learning materials our students are reading, the teaching methods of teachers, the safety of students inside campuses, and the curriculum implemented by school administrators.

A diploma is a worthless piece of paper for a student who didn’t learn the required competencies imposed by the state. A graduation ceremony is an empty ritual for a student whose learning potential was not realized.

But we continue to glorify and enjoy attending graduation programs. After all, we are obsessed with spectacles and ostentatious display of individual achievements and quantifiable results. We often forget that academic achievers and polite kids are not necessarily the brightest students in the school.

Is it possible to organize simple graduation programs? Yes. In fact, I attended a simple graduation ceremony last March 29 at Sitio Siok Elementary School in Barangay Mabini, Koronadal City. I was a guest speaker in the program and my task was to motivate students and their parents. In the end, it was I who was inspired by what I witnessed in this remote town in South Cotabato.

Siok is a small school located at the foot of a small hill in Koronadal Valley. To reach the school, one has to pass an “abortion road”. Siok does not matter to decisionmakers because of its remoteness and small voting population. The school only has four classrooms (two classrooms were built through the pork barrel of Bayan Muna). About half of students are Indigenous Peoples. Teachers often give lessons outside the school to reach out more IP students who can’t go to the campus. Students walk for at least one hour (two hours everyday) to attend classes.

Despite the meager resources it receives from the government, Siok is able to provide a decent education to students. Faced with a student group coming from diverse backgrounds, teachers adopted creative and appropriate methods and modules. I was impressed by the dedication of teachers in fulfilling their mission to teach and help the students. Often, they have to spend their own money in order to feed the poor students.

There was no overly decorated graduation stage when I arrived in Siok. No expensive graduation togas for students. No new shoes for graduates, some students only wore slippers. No fees were collected from parents. The graduation was held in the schoolyard.

I appreciate the bonding of parents, students, and teachers in the community. Maybe this was possible because the school is really very small. But I feel it was also brought about by the sincere desire of everybody to raise the standard of schooling in the area even with the little support it gets from the state. IP parents are happy that their children are given proper education. Teachers are actively interacting with community residents.

I was enlightened about the miracle of teaching during my brief stay in Siok. Here, schooling is made possible because of the collective effort of the community. I was disappointed to see substandard school facilities in Siok but I was inspired by the perseverance of the people of Siok to deliver and improve the learning needs of their children. There is hope after all.

Far South

I arrived in General Santos City last March 27; it was only my second time to visit the country’s tuna capital. Breakfast was provided by Piston officers who welcomed us in the airport. After breakfast, we campaigned in the public market. While campaigning, I learned that some Muslim women do not like their hands to be touched by men. I encountered this behavior again in Digos (talaga bang bawal hawakan ang kamay o ayaw lang nila sa kandidato?)

We motored towards Polomolok where we had our lunch at Sadok resto. Polomolok is famous because it is the location of the Dole plantation. Polomolok is an ideal agricultural land because it is near the foothills of Mt. Matutum, a dormant volcano.

I was guest speaker during the launching forum of Makabayan Coalition held at Londres Gym in Polomolok. I stayed overnight at the house of my relatives in the nearby town of Tupi.

I was like Mr. Partylist Palengke the following day since our team campaigned at Lagao market in Gensan and Alabel market in Sarangani. I sensed that the Pacquaio-Chiongban electoral match-up is a close fight.

I went to Koronadal City (formerly known as Marbel) on March 29. Koronadal is now the regional administration center of Region 12 after government offices decided to leave Cotabato City.

As mentioned earlier, I delivered an inspirational talk in Sitio Elementary School. Then I paid a courtesy call to Congressman Dodo Pingoy, my esteemed colleague in Congress who is now running for governor in South Cotabato. Thanks Dodo for the Buko Halo-Halo!

Before proceeding to Gensan, we made a brief stopover at Polomolok market in the afternoon. There were many people in the market and most of them were Dole workers. While distributing leaflets, I remembered that Dole is accused of committing unfair labor practices. There is blood in your pineapple? Hmm, what is certain is that there is endosulfan in your pineapple (as reported by farmers themselves). Organically-grown pineapples are small and brownish; I saw these products in the market. Meanwhile, Dole pineapples are bigger and greener – courtesy of endosulfan and other chemicals.

We had our dinner at Tuna Grill resto. We stayed at Dolores Hotel. The following day we had a breakfast meeting with Councilor Lagare, the lone opposition councilor in Gensan. Then I guested in an environmental radio program at DXDX, an RPN-9 station.

We went to Digos to campaign in the market before proceeding to Davao City where I delivered a talk during the planning session of the UP Mindanao Student Council. For merienda, I recommend Lachi’s resto located in Marfori Village. Try their sans rival.

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Swine Flu, Twitter and elections

By admin | April 7, 2010

Last year, the swine flu (AH1N1) pandemic created widespread panic around the world. In the Philippines, the swine flu scare prompted the government to install thermal scanners in airports and government buildings. Catholic church officials discouraged the holding of hands inside churches as a precautionary measure against the spread of the deadly virus, while many Filipinos wore facemasks in public places. Hand sanitizers, alcohol, and flu vaccines, meanwhile, became popular consumer items.

Today, the swine flu threat is no longer a top security and health concern in the Philippines. Yet the Philippines is by no means free of the threat, which could actually be exacerbated by the elections in May. Indeed, even though swine flu vaccines are supposedly available today, this isn’t a guarantee that a new pandemic can be prevented.

So, what’s the connection between the virus and the election?

Handshaking is the most effective and most common form of election campaigning in the Philippines. Politicians and candidates love to shake hands and kiss babies in order to prove their ‘genuine’ affection for the poor and ordinary voters. If candidates want to win, they have to meet and shake the hands of their constituents in public markets, town plazas, schools, and inside the homes of voters.

There are more than 80,000 candidates vying for only 17,000 seats. This means there are 80,000 individuals who are physically interacting with 50 million voters everyday. This could also mean that there are 80,000 individuals who are potential carriers of deadly viruses. The number could be higher if we include the supporters and families of candidates. Each candidate has hundreds of supporters and family members who also interact with voters.

National candidates (for President, Vice President, Senator, Partylist groups) pose a greater risk because they frequently travel throughout the country.

Yet, while last year people were afraid to touch others because of the swine flu scare, today everybody seems to have forgotten the virus as handshaking becomes popular again as we approach the elections. There are no more thermal scanners in airports and government buildings and churchgoers are now holding hands again during mass. Filipinos are no longer buying facemasks and hand sanitizers in large quantities. In short, people have become complacent and lax again in promoting personal hygiene and public health.

Perhaps health officials should advise candidates to regularly wash hands before conducting handshaking campaigns every day. The public should also be warned to sanitize their hands after shaking candidates’ hands. Parents shouldn’t allow their babies to be kissed by young or old politicians.

It seems candidates are not just guilty of delivering dishonest campaign speeches, they could be guilty as well of carrying and spreading deadly viruses in the country. Can health authorities declare candidates as health hazards?

Twittering candidates

In 2007, detained rebel soldier Antonio Trillanes was not allowed to campaign outside his prison cell when he ran for senator. But Trillanes was still able to discuss his platform by maximizing Friendster, the most popular social networking site in the Philippines. Trillanes is still in detention, but he is now a senator.

Learning from the campaign strategy of Trillanes, candidates today are also using various social media tools to bolster their chances of winning in the elections. While many analysts look down on the effectiveness of online campaigning, politicians can no longer ignore the cyber community.

Friendster itself is less popular today because of the meteoric rise of Facebook. In fact, all major candidates have Facebook accounts. Another useful and popular election tool is the microblogging platform Twitter. Plurk is more famous among Filipinos, but politicians and their supporters prefer Twitter.

There are five types of Twitter users in the 2010 elections: 1) candidates; 2) online team of candidates; 3) core supporters of candidates; 4) media; and 5) voters.

Few candidates personally manage their Twitter accounts. Usually, candidates hire a web team to handle their emails, Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites. The popularity of a candidate’s Twitter profile can be measured by the number of re-tweets and followers it has.

Candidates use Twitter to update voters about the campaign activities. Volunteers can also be recruited through Twitter. Furthermore, it can disseminate party slogans through viral campaigns and provide a glimpse of what the candidates are thinking, feeling, or doing on a particular day and time. It is an effective vote-getting platform because it humanizes the candidates. It also offers an opportunity for voters to engage the candidates directly.

Overall, Twitter campaigning is now a recommended strategy for national candidates. But candidates must calibrate this type of campaigning by asking their supporters to refrain from sending unsolicited tweet messages and redundant tweet reactions. Candidates should also refrain from swamping the web with false information and deceitful campaign messages. Online citizens are easily turned-off by these underhanded propaganda tactics.

Who are some of the twittering candidates and what have they been tweeting?

Adel Tamano, who is running for senator: ‘enjoyed my market tour at Roxas market and Isabela province. The people were very warm and courteous. I wish every market was like this’

Ruffy Biazon, another senatorial candidate: ‘My throat hurts a bit..not from the campaign speeches but from karaoke night. I’m really not made for this’

Mar Roxas, vice presidential candidate: ‘Now in San Jose, Antique. Crowd is overwhelming! In the heat of afternoon sun, they’re out in the streets to greet & wave at us. Memorable!’

Loren Legarda, another vice presidential candidate: ‘The cleanest body of water in the world, Kawasan river, is a joy to behold. It’s found in Badian, Cebu. I wish all rivers are that way.’

Jejomar Binay, also a vice presidential candidate: ‘@icon128 Was great news indeed that social networking sites become potent instruments in responding to natural&man-made calamities.’

Alex Tinsay, media broadcaster who is running for senator: ‘So nice to be welcomed by my daughters back here at home. They’re still awake and we’re spending quality time. Had a chance to bond with my wife Judy and son John as they went with me to Davao. I’m so grateful for their care and support’

Joey de Venecia III, senatoriable: ‘Elated and flattered to hear my fellow Pangasinenses shout they would want to have a Pangansinense as Senator after 12 long years w/o one.’

Eduardo Piano, running for city councilor: ‘a firm handshake, eye contact, sincere smile, and a line or two: “good morning”, “how are you?” — a candidate to prospective voter’

Pia Cayetano, running for reelection as senator: ‘Got home in the wee hours from Pangasinan. Im getting used to eating and sleeping on the road.. Then working on my blog after midnight.’

Liza Maza, a senatorial candidate: ‘I am appealing to the PUP (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) Board of Regents to recognize the right of the students to accessible education and junk the proposed tuition…’

Mel Mathay, candidate for city mayor: ‘today is the start of the official local campaign, i started the day with a mass for blessings’

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Rotating brownouts and politics

By admin | April 4, 2010

A spectre is haunting the Philippine islands – the spectre of rotating brownouts.

Luzon is continually plagued by 1-3 hours of brownouts everyday. Even Mega Manila, the seat of government and major economic hub of the country, suffers from daily power blackouts. The whole of Mindanao was recently put under state of calamity because of the power supply crisis. How cruel, the powerless have literally no power in their homes.

I am writing this blog entry in South Cotabato where residents are forced to endure 10-12 hours of power disruptions. Just imagine the social and economic impact of the rotating brownouts. Small entrepreneurs cannot buy power generators, government offices cannot provide sustained services, consumers cannot watch TV or sleep comfortably, and even election candidates cannot hold campaign rallies in the evening because of the power woes.

Is climate change the real reason why several major plants conked out in the past few months? Is there a genuine power supply crisis or is there a sinister plot by clever people to create a believable crisis in order to justify shock therapies like higher power rates, bloated contracts with Independent Power Producer, and the revival of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant? So many vested interests are trying to use the energy crisis to make money or gain more power.

Some people suggested that the rotating brownout is the country’s daily Earth Hour pledge. Oo nga naman, araw-araw may Earth Hour sa bansa. Sobra pa nga ng isang oras eh. Others joked that it is a ploy by the administration to refresh the memories of the people about the 10-12 hours of brownouts during the term of “Calamity Cory” in order to weaken the candidacy of Noynoy.

Whether the power crisis is genuine or not, it is an indictment on the state of governance in the Philippines. It exposes the lack of vision of the current and previous administrations. Don’t blame mother nature and high fertility rates, matagal na nating alam na may pagbabago sa klima at mahilig gumawa ng baby ang mga Pinoy. Why didn’t the government anticipate the current power shortage?

The spectre of rotating brownout is not a technical problem; it is a political issue involving greedy oligarchs and power-hungry dynasts. Therefore, the crisis requires a political solution.

Usage of the term ‘rotating brownout’ always pertains to a technical matter but actually the term is very political. It is an apt metaphor for the type of politics in the country. The term can refer to the kind of leadership practiced by politicians, especially during elections.

If the goal of politics should be the empowerment of the people, then what we have in the Philippines is “rotating politics.” Politics comes alive only when politicians visit their constituents during the campaign period every three years or every ribbon cutting ceremony. But for the rest of the year, “politics” is invisible or dead.

Good governance should lead to a fair distribution of resources in the cities and provinces but “rotating politics” produces only lopsided economic development. Infrastructure projects and public funds are treated as gifts to be given by the president to loyal underlings in the provinces. And so local politicians patiently wait for their turn to receive precious government funds from the president when she visits a province or city. Sorry na lang kung di makabisita si presidente, sa susunod na skedyul na lang. This is rotating politics.

At the local level, politicians are like rotating brownouts. May iskedyul ang pagdating nila sa mga baryo during fiesta, graduation, Christmas party and ofcourse during election campaign period. But unlike rotating brownouts which bring darkness to communities, politicians always “bring home the bacon.” They distribute cash gifts, scholarships, movie tickets, water pumps, fertilizer (no condoms, magagalit ang Obispo). They bring entertainment and happiness during campaign sorties. The visit proves the so-called goodness of politicians (but the people need good governance!) and sympathy of leaders to the plight of the poor (not charity, but justice!).

The opposite of rotating brownouts is adequate energy supply and efficient energy infrastructure. The opposite of rotating politics is good governance. Political power should not be equated with the opportunity to mingle with and laugh at politicians during weddings, funerals and Christmas parties. It should refer to the ability of citizens to access state-sponsored services and other social welfare claims all-year round. More importantly, it means citizens and citizen groups are ready and allowed to make politicians accountable for their wrongdoings.

Today the scourge of rotating brownouts makes life more miserable in these unhappy isles. But misery can turn into rage and rage can lead to resistance and resistance provokes change. The spectre of rotating brownouts can make the people yearn for a revolution.

Darkness envelops the Philippines everyday because of the rotating brownouts. We are literally and symbolically living in darkness. During these dark times, the people must fight back. There must be pockets of revolt in every dark corner of the archipelago. Dark Knights must join the army of change. This is a struggle to bring forward the torch of new politics. Fight darkness. Spread the light.

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Posted in nation | Tagged | 2 Comments

Parachute politician in Palawan

By admin | March 30, 2010

If there are parachute journalists, there are also parachute politicians. During elections, national politicians become parachute candidates. I am a parachute candidate. I visit provinces and far-flung towns to campaign for Kabataan Partylist but I only stay for less than 24 hours. This prevents me from deepening my knowledge about the issues confronting our kababayans in the regions. To prepare for what I will discuss in my speeches, I rely on newspaper reports (if there are local newspapers, and if they are written in English or Filipino), conversations with politicians (sometimes unreliable source of information), and updates from our chapters.

But despite my greater awareness of the political life in the provinces, I still remain a parachute politician. Because of tight campaign schedule, I’m unable to explore the tourist spots and exotic wilderness of our islands. Last March 3, I was in Puerto Princesa where I saw my wife’s cousin. Her family was there to have a short vacation; most probably they went to El Nido, Honda Bay, or the world-famous Underground River. Regarding my Palawan trip, I was only in Puerto Princesa for less than 24 hours and I didn’t leave the town proper. Indeed, I’m a parachute candidate.

Palawan experience

The caravan started from the airport and we made a stop-over at the public market. The market tour was memorable because it was the first time that I introduced myself as a member of Congress instead of simply talking about my partylist. Apparently, it is easier to convince voters to support Kabataan Partylist if they know that I’m a congressman.

After campaigning in the market, we had our lunch at Badjao Seafront resto. Mayor Edward Hagedorn, who is always mistaken as the mayor of Palawan, hosted the lunch meeting. Some of his pals from the Lo’ Waist Gang joined us in the resto. Hagedorn is a famous local chief executive who has garnered awards for his successful pro-environment programs (Bantay Dagat). He is also called Mr. Political Will because of his strong leadership. Maybe Hagedorn’s hands-on leadership is the reason why I didn’t see illegal campaign posters in the city.

Hagedorn clarified that Puerto Princesa, not Palawan, is the country’s last frontier. Puerto Princesa is described as a “city in a forest.” To protect the pristine resources of Puerto Princesa, Hagedorn has banned mining activities in the big city, which was recently classified as a Highly Urbanized City. Even factories are not allowed to operate in the area.

Hagedorn lamented the decision of the provincial government to allow large scale mining in the province. He said that sooner or later big mining companies would sue him for economic sabotage because he rejected all mining applications in Puerto Princesa. Would you believe that a mining company has applied for a permit to extract marble deposits from the Underground River?

The St. Paul Subterranean River Park or Underground River in Sabang, Puerto Princesa is a world-renowned tourist destination site in Palawan with almost 1,000 visitors everyday. Last month, President Gloria Arroyo became the country’s first president to have entered the river which was classified in 2003 as a National Geological Monument.

After lunch, we met the local press corps at the Palawan State University. I learned that BSPE (Petroleum Engineering) is a leading course offering in the university because of the continuing demand for skilled workers at the Malampaya oil and gas field.

Then I spoke in a voters’ education forum organized by PSU students. Many of the organizers are new members of Kabataan Partylist who applied for membership through the internet. I also delivered a brief message in a rock band concert inside the campus.

We had our dinner at Inato resto where I ordered a familiar recipe: “walang kamatayang pansit” – this is the exact name of the food listed in the menu. Then we toured Baybay, a former urban poor settlement which was converted into a seaside promenade. Hagedorn is proud of his housing program for informal settlers: it is the poor who will choose their preferred housing site and the city government will buy the land.

We stayed overnight at Skylight Hotel. I was a guest at DYER Environmental Radio the following morning.

Trivia: Before MIMAROPA, there was MINSUPALA – Mindanao, Sulu, Palawan. Is it correct to name Palawan as part of Luzon? Shouldn’t it be included as a Mindanao or Visayas island? Even Moro rebels are claiming that Palawan is part of their ancestral domain.

Joke: What is the largest airport in the world? Puerto Princesa airport. Why? Kasi pag take-off mo pa lang ay nasa Vietnam ka pa rin referring to the Vietnamese settlement near the airport. Palawan used to host refugees of the Vietnam War.

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