Once again, the Philippines has exercised its popular version of what elections mean -- cheating and violence. The recent display of elections, Philippine style, is another round of a stinking electoral exercise practiced in the previous 2004 elections where the electoral fraud reportedly perpetrated by top officials of this country has not reached satisfactory decision in court.
Here in culture-rich and peaceful Mountain Province where there are no reported cases of murder and violence during elections, accounts and stories of vote-buying however have been heard to have reportedly been done throughout the province.
Talks of 500 to 1500 peso bills are rife over the grapevine to have been given to the electorate and even directly reported to this writer to have been distributed per household.
Not only is there reported direct vote-buying which is an illegal act, but also reports of indirect vote buying perpetrated through the giving of pigs during reunions and other family or community celebrations.
A local tourist here in this tourist town was surprised to know vote-buying happened here knowing that cases of vote-buying were filed with the Commission on Elections. She thought it was only in her hometown in Sorsogon and other poverty stricken places that vote- buying happens.
Sagada, while it is a tourist town is still an agricultural community just like other town or province of this agricultural country. Only a few households derive their income from tourism with a few families operating inns and restaurants, and others serving as tourist guides. The rest of the majority of the populace are farmers while some of the very few are employed in government and in private businesses.
Like the rest of the poverty-stricken Filipinos, Sagada populace are also hit with the effects of poverty such that a 500 peso bill freely given by a supporter of a political candidate or given by the candidate himself is already a blessing enough to buy a half cavan of rice or a 1,500 bill enough to buy a cavan of rice and a kilo of sugar.
To complicate matters, the acceptance of the money comes along with the psychological effect of voting for the one who gives the money, otherwise, it would be a curse not to. With a people who have strong cultural, if not superstitious beliefs of receiving a favor and giving back a favor in return, people become enslaved to this system of conscionable vote selling.
That is why, the advise of some politicians for the electorate not to vote for the one who gives the money does not work especially in this 4th class province. Chances are, the one who gives the money or a cow or a pig always wins and the one who presents a very good platform without giving money, will not win.
Calls for new politics, consultative governance, and democratic participation espoused by losing former congressional aspirants in the province including lawyers Anthony Wooden and David Daoas in the 2004 elections, and engineers Arnold Pilando and Jupiter Dominguez in the recent elections remain to be ideal platforms of good governance which have not taken off the ground.
Even implementation of the Local Government Code involving non-government agencies and participation of constituents in the making of barangay municipal and provincial development plans have not been fully implemented since the law’s passage in 1991.
The assertive involvement of the electorate in making a better community is still to be felt. While the law is there for people to participate in decision making for their own betterment and active involvement, governance has been left in the hands of the ones whom they have elected into office.
Either the electorate is apathetic due to utter helplessness or ignorance, or they have simply considered involvement in decision making the least of their priorities in life. This “stinking political system” says Sagada native Rose Capuyan, will continue with a people enslaved and helpless.
This feeling of helplessness and chosen slavery perpetuates when money or a gift is received from a traditional politician who in turn is voted by the recipient in return during elections.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Friday, May 11, 2007
The Anglican Angle
The demolition of the Anglican church in Sabangan by contractors of the multipurpose gym funded from the pork barrel funds of incumbent Rep. Victor Dominguez has created a situation wherein differing supporters of Mt Province congressional candidates used the issue to propel candidacies of their respective candidates.
Based from campaign sorties, incumbent mayor of Sabangan and candidate for congressman Jupiter Dominguez’ supporters are supporting the mayor for having been at their side during the chaotic times of the church’s demolition in 2006, among other reasons. On the other hand, the candidate congressman’s rivals and their supporters claim the opposite.
Let the events that transpired be given credit to whom these are due. Where the mayor’s support was felt by people who claim it to be so, then let it be. Where Jupiter Dominguez’ rivals says the opposite, the burden is on them to prove it so.
With the issuance of the Anglican Diocesan Convention resolution which forwards a strong political position against Victor Dominguez, this has apparently invited comment from the solon’s supporters as well as those who capitalized on the issue and attacked church leaders for indulging in “hate campaign and partisan propaganda”.
While differing supporters and their candidates have their own political gimmicks and strategies to further their popularity basing their conclusions on the events that transpired from the church’s demolition, what currently stands is the solon’s denial of the church’s existence and consequent denial of a congregation who gather to express their religious faith and beliefs.
Victor Dominguez has repeatedly denied the existence of the Anglican church in Sabangan with claims that the lot where the church stands is owned by the Poblacion of Sabangan.
While it is a legal controversy of who owns the lot where the church building stands, whether it is the Poblacion of Sabangan or the Anglican church, the solon has blinded his eyes to the congregation of St Peter’s church who regularly conduct their church services at the very building which was demolished.
This is every evident on some 50 Anglican families who go to church every Sunday and who have been baptized Anglicans in the wooden one-story building, since the Anglican church was established in 1958 up to the moment. This is very evident also on the assignments of the many Anglican priests who have served in St Peter’s church year in and year out.
Bishop Renato Abibico of the Anglican diocese of northern Luzon, and who hails from Sabangan, himself says that he was a regular worshipper of the demolished church building which was then referred to as “pwestoan” in 1965.
The very act of denying the existence of St Peter’s church is denying the existence of the very people who have lived and continued to live in Sabangan. It is denying the existence of the very people who may have voted for the solon in the past 30 years of his term as solon of this 5th class province. It is denying the very principles of the divine law apart from State law, which makes up policies of the government where he sits as congressman.
Thus, the solon’s pronouncements were seen as having violated the very fundamental, human, universal, and constitutional rights to worship and religion which basically composes our essence as human beings. This notwithstanding, let the Anglicans separately pursue with reason their individual choices of candidates this coming May 14 elections as part of their right to suffrage
Based from campaign sorties, incumbent mayor of Sabangan and candidate for congressman Jupiter Dominguez’ supporters are supporting the mayor for having been at their side during the chaotic times of the church’s demolition in 2006, among other reasons. On the other hand, the candidate congressman’s rivals and their supporters claim the opposite.
Let the events that transpired be given credit to whom these are due. Where the mayor’s support was felt by people who claim it to be so, then let it be. Where Jupiter Dominguez’ rivals says the opposite, the burden is on them to prove it so.
With the issuance of the Anglican Diocesan Convention resolution which forwards a strong political position against Victor Dominguez, this has apparently invited comment from the solon’s supporters as well as those who capitalized on the issue and attacked church leaders for indulging in “hate campaign and partisan propaganda”.
While differing supporters and their candidates have their own political gimmicks and strategies to further their popularity basing their conclusions on the events that transpired from the church’s demolition, what currently stands is the solon’s denial of the church’s existence and consequent denial of a congregation who gather to express their religious faith and beliefs.
Victor Dominguez has repeatedly denied the existence of the Anglican church in Sabangan with claims that the lot where the church stands is owned by the Poblacion of Sabangan.
While it is a legal controversy of who owns the lot where the church building stands, whether it is the Poblacion of Sabangan or the Anglican church, the solon has blinded his eyes to the congregation of St Peter’s church who regularly conduct their church services at the very building which was demolished.
This is every evident on some 50 Anglican families who go to church every Sunday and who have been baptized Anglicans in the wooden one-story building, since the Anglican church was established in 1958 up to the moment. This is very evident also on the assignments of the many Anglican priests who have served in St Peter’s church year in and year out.
Bishop Renato Abibico of the Anglican diocese of northern Luzon, and who hails from Sabangan, himself says that he was a regular worshipper of the demolished church building which was then referred to as “pwestoan” in 1965.
The very act of denying the existence of St Peter’s church is denying the existence of the very people who have lived and continued to live in Sabangan. It is denying the existence of the very people who may have voted for the solon in the past 30 years of his term as solon of this 5th class province. It is denying the very principles of the divine law apart from State law, which makes up policies of the government where he sits as congressman.
Thus, the solon’s pronouncements were seen as having violated the very fundamental, human, universal, and constitutional rights to worship and religion which basically composes our essence as human beings. This notwithstanding, let the Anglicans separately pursue with reason their individual choices of candidates this coming May 14 elections as part of their right to suffrage
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Pustaan, mangabak ni Juan
Pustaan ta. Mangabak ni Juan. Napigsa isuna idiay southern ken northern barangays. Adu ti kabagyan na idiay ken naikamang pay isuna idiay southern. Awanen ni Pedro….. kurakot gamin isuna isunga awanen ti pagkagawis na idiay ili.
Presumptions of who will win and who will be defeated this coming May 14 elections are favorite and passionate topics during breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner.
Assumptions range from the length and breadth of the candidate’s relatives to the thickness of his money. So the more relatives a candidate has, the more votes he/she has. That is why in culture-rich places, relatives try to prevent a relative from running in the same position in order to let their relative-candidate win.
But even if one has many relatives but a rival candidate has money to buy votes, chances are the moneyed candidate will buy the votes of his rival’s many relatives.
Vote buying has time and again influenced and taken over the choices of the electorate for a free and honest elections. It has corrupted minds and downgraded the electorates to mere commodities to be purchased like one kilo of sugar or half cavan of rice.
One aspiring congressman advised the crowd during a rally to get the money because that is a “balato”, but don’t vote for the candidate who gives the money. Anyway, as the candidate said, you spend that money in three days only but leave you to suffer in three years.
This issue of vote buying whether or not to get the money has been a moral question which has bugged moralists who want to straighten things out. While it would be totally best not to get the money at all and leave a clean conscience and a sound moral base of living harmoniously, it also leaves a grey area of concluding that the money belongs to the people anyway (as it may come from corrupted government funds) so why not get the money, but not to vote for the candidate who buys your vote.
But hey, getting the money maybe applicable in some areas where the vote-buying candidate is not vindictive of the money he gave and will let the voter enjoy a breath of fresh air the next day. The corrupt candidate’s corrupted followers may be closely guarding you if you have voted for their candidate and if not, you better watch out, you may find yourself not enjoying another breath of fresh air.
Vote buying definitely has to be condemned to the hilt! It has done nothing for the betterment of the people, of the community, of this country. It has downgraded people to mere objects of merchandise.
Chances are the vote-buying candidate is a corrupt public official. Where did he get he money to buy your votes and where will he get the money to get his money back? Your answer is as good as mine. Its another round of corruption. Which means your municipality, your province, your city, and this country will still be counted among the poorest countries which had never learned its lesson to advance and move for a better province or city where such is the case.
Presumptions of who will win and who will be defeated this coming May 14 elections are favorite and passionate topics during breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner.
Assumptions range from the length and breadth of the candidate’s relatives to the thickness of his money. So the more relatives a candidate has, the more votes he/she has. That is why in culture-rich places, relatives try to prevent a relative from running in the same position in order to let their relative-candidate win.
But even if one has many relatives but a rival candidate has money to buy votes, chances are the moneyed candidate will buy the votes of his rival’s many relatives.
Vote buying has time and again influenced and taken over the choices of the electorate for a free and honest elections. It has corrupted minds and downgraded the electorates to mere commodities to be purchased like one kilo of sugar or half cavan of rice.
One aspiring congressman advised the crowd during a rally to get the money because that is a “balato”, but don’t vote for the candidate who gives the money. Anyway, as the candidate said, you spend that money in three days only but leave you to suffer in three years.
This issue of vote buying whether or not to get the money has been a moral question which has bugged moralists who want to straighten things out. While it would be totally best not to get the money at all and leave a clean conscience and a sound moral base of living harmoniously, it also leaves a grey area of concluding that the money belongs to the people anyway (as it may come from corrupted government funds) so why not get the money, but not to vote for the candidate who buys your vote.
But hey, getting the money maybe applicable in some areas where the vote-buying candidate is not vindictive of the money he gave and will let the voter enjoy a breath of fresh air the next day. The corrupt candidate’s corrupted followers may be closely guarding you if you have voted for their candidate and if not, you better watch out, you may find yourself not enjoying another breath of fresh air.
Vote buying definitely has to be condemned to the hilt! It has done nothing for the betterment of the people, of the community, of this country. It has downgraded people to mere objects of merchandise.
Chances are the vote-buying candidate is a corrupt public official. Where did he get he money to buy your votes and where will he get the money to get his money back? Your answer is as good as mine. Its another round of corruption. Which means your municipality, your province, your city, and this country will still be counted among the poorest countries which had never learned its lesson to advance and move for a better province or city where such is the case.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Consultative Politics
Consultative politics is making a wave among some political aspirants. While this is so, the need for consultative and participatory politics is becoming clearer as a right among the populace earlier made pronounced by the need for sectoral representatives party list groups in Congress. What is traditional politics is now fading down the drain with perceptions and actualizations of better systems and better approaches of governance getting clearer.
Congressional aspirant for Baguio City lawyer Jose Molintas said governance should not be confined to people whom we elect and democracy should not end after elections. It should be participatory and continuing.
A new system of approach to our common problems and at the same time remove corruption is what is needed, the incumbent city councilor said. An anticipatory government shall not only be focus on day to day problems but also prepare for the future. When we get everyone to discuss, we believe that we are more prepared for the future, the aspiring congressional candidate heading the Koalisyon Kontra sa Korupsyon said.
The human rights lawyer said conduct of a regular if not weekly fora among sectoral representatives of Working Groups among the residents of Baguio is needed to be in place. Such group should have the mandate to receive and discuss reports and make recommendations to the City Council and the Congressman to act upon.
With respect to corruption, congressional aspirant for Baguio City lawyer Mauricio Domogan said systems are already in place to curb corruption so the question should not only be thrown to those in government but also to those in the private sector. You might not know as the private sector could also be the source of corruption, he said.
The incumbent solon added “Possibly we can adapt other systems that can improve the situation but it all depends on who are running the affairs of government. We need to educate the private sector that they can get what they want even without doing something illegal.”
***
In Mountain Province, aspiring congressman and incumbent mayor of Sabangan town Jupiter Dominguez has a down to earth way of looking at participatory politics. He said consultative systems and knowing what your constituents’ problems and demands are age-old systems which need revitalization. “The peoples’ concerns can be determined by being with them, talking to them naturally in conversational and informal chats, and turning the issues which they present in formal systems. Consultative systems need to be revitalized as this system had not been felt by the populace of the greater Mt. Province in the previous years in national legislation,” Jupiter said.
Volunteer support networks can be formed in the barangays and municipalities to complement elected officials in government articulate their demands and bring these to municipal and provincial development councils and legislative units, the aspiring congressman elaborated.
***
In the same line, aspiring governor for Mt Province Bonifacio Lacwasan is forwarding his Barangay Muna platform of government. The incumbent chairman of the Association of Barangay Chairmen and currently a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Mt Province lamented his resolution forwarded to the provincial legislative body in March 2006 calling for a yearly subsidy of P100,000 from the 20% development funds of the Province per barangay, faced difficulty of reaching 3rd reading despite unanimous endorsement from barangay captains of the province
Congressional aspirant for Baguio City lawyer Jose Molintas said governance should not be confined to people whom we elect and democracy should not end after elections. It should be participatory and continuing.
A new system of approach to our common problems and at the same time remove corruption is what is needed, the incumbent city councilor said. An anticipatory government shall not only be focus on day to day problems but also prepare for the future. When we get everyone to discuss, we believe that we are more prepared for the future, the aspiring congressional candidate heading the Koalisyon Kontra sa Korupsyon said.
The human rights lawyer said conduct of a regular if not weekly fora among sectoral representatives of Working Groups among the residents of Baguio is needed to be in place. Such group should have the mandate to receive and discuss reports and make recommendations to the City Council and the Congressman to act upon.
With respect to corruption, congressional aspirant for Baguio City lawyer Mauricio Domogan said systems are already in place to curb corruption so the question should not only be thrown to those in government but also to those in the private sector. You might not know as the private sector could also be the source of corruption, he said.
The incumbent solon added “Possibly we can adapt other systems that can improve the situation but it all depends on who are running the affairs of government. We need to educate the private sector that they can get what they want even without doing something illegal.”
***
In Mountain Province, aspiring congressman and incumbent mayor of Sabangan town Jupiter Dominguez has a down to earth way of looking at participatory politics. He said consultative systems and knowing what your constituents’ problems and demands are age-old systems which need revitalization. “The peoples’ concerns can be determined by being with them, talking to them naturally in conversational and informal chats, and turning the issues which they present in formal systems. Consultative systems need to be revitalized as this system had not been felt by the populace of the greater Mt. Province in the previous years in national legislation,” Jupiter said.
Volunteer support networks can be formed in the barangays and municipalities to complement elected officials in government articulate their demands and bring these to municipal and provincial development councils and legislative units, the aspiring congressman elaborated.
***
In the same line, aspiring governor for Mt Province Bonifacio Lacwasan is forwarding his Barangay Muna platform of government. The incumbent chairman of the Association of Barangay Chairmen and currently a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Mt Province lamented his resolution forwarded to the provincial legislative body in March 2006 calling for a yearly subsidy of P100,000 from the 20% development funds of the Province per barangay, faced difficulty of reaching 3rd reading despite unanimous endorsement from barangay captains of the province
Saturday, May 5, 2007
The Anglican Angle
The demolition of the Anglican church in Sabangan by contractors of the multipurpose gym funded from the pork barrel funds of incumbent Rep. Victor Dominguez has created a situation wherein differing supporters of Mt Province congressional candidates used the issue to propel candidacies of their respective candidates.
Based from campaign sorties, incumbent mayor of Sabangan and candidate for congressman Jupiter Dominguez’ supporters are supporting the mayor for having been at their side during the chaotic times of the church’s demolition in 2006, among other reasons. On the other hand, the candidate congressman’s rivals and their supporters claim the opposite.
Let the events that transpired be given credit to whom these are due. Where the mayor’s support was felt by people who claim it to be so, then let it be. Where Jupiter Dominguez’ rivals says the opposite, the burden is on them to prove it so.
With the issuance of the Anglican Diocesan Convention resolution which forwards a strong political position against Victor Dominguez, this has apparently invited comment from the solon’s supporters as well as those who capitalized on the issue and attacked church leaders for indulging in “hate campaign and partisan propaganda”.
While differing supporters and their candidates have their own political gimmicks and strategies to further their popularity basing their conclusions on the events that transpired from the church’s demolition, what currently stands is the solon’s denial of the church’s existence and consequent denial of a congregation who gather to express their religious faith and beliefs.
Victor Dominguez has repeatedly denied the existence of the Anglican church in Sabangan with claims that the lot where the church stands is owned by the Poblacion of Sabangan.
While it is a legal controversy of who owns the lot where the church building stands, whether it is the Poblacion of Sabangan or the Anglican church, the solon has blinded his eyes to the congregation of St Peter’s church who regularly conduct their church services at the very building which was demolished.
This is every evident on some 50 Anglican families who go to church every Sunday and who have been baptized Anglicans in the wooden one-story building, since the Anglican church was established in 1958 up to the moment. This is very evident also on the assignments of the many Anglican priests who have served in St Peter’s church year in and year out.
Bishop Renato Abibico of the Anglican diocese of northern Luzon, and who hails from Sabangan, himself says that he was a regular worshipper of the demolished church building which was then referred to as “pwestoan” in 1965.
The very act of denying the existence of St Peter’s church is denying the existence of the very people who have lived and continued to live in Sabangan. It is denying the existence of the very people who may have voted for the solon in the past 30 years of his term as solon of this 5th class province. It is denying the very principles of the divine law apart from State law, which makes up policies of the government where he sits as congressman.
Thus, the solon’s pronouncements were seen as having violated the very fundamental, human, universal, and constitutional rights to worship and religion which basically composes our essence as human beings. This notwithstanding, let the Anglicans separately pursue with reason their individual choices of candidates this coming May 14 elections as part of their right to suffrage.
Based from campaign sorties, incumbent mayor of Sabangan and candidate for congressman Jupiter Dominguez’ supporters are supporting the mayor for having been at their side during the chaotic times of the church’s demolition in 2006, among other reasons. On the other hand, the candidate congressman’s rivals and their supporters claim the opposite.
Let the events that transpired be given credit to whom these are due. Where the mayor’s support was felt by people who claim it to be so, then let it be. Where Jupiter Dominguez’ rivals says the opposite, the burden is on them to prove it so.
With the issuance of the Anglican Diocesan Convention resolution which forwards a strong political position against Victor Dominguez, this has apparently invited comment from the solon’s supporters as well as those who capitalized on the issue and attacked church leaders for indulging in “hate campaign and partisan propaganda”.
While differing supporters and their candidates have their own political gimmicks and strategies to further their popularity basing their conclusions on the events that transpired from the church’s demolition, what currently stands is the solon’s denial of the church’s existence and consequent denial of a congregation who gather to express their religious faith and beliefs.
Victor Dominguez has repeatedly denied the existence of the Anglican church in Sabangan with claims that the lot where the church stands is owned by the Poblacion of Sabangan.
While it is a legal controversy of who owns the lot where the church building stands, whether it is the Poblacion of Sabangan or the Anglican church, the solon has blinded his eyes to the congregation of St Peter’s church who regularly conduct their church services at the very building which was demolished.
This is every evident on some 50 Anglican families who go to church every Sunday and who have been baptized Anglicans in the wooden one-story building, since the Anglican church was established in 1958 up to the moment. This is very evident also on the assignments of the many Anglican priests who have served in St Peter’s church year in and year out.
Bishop Renato Abibico of the Anglican diocese of northern Luzon, and who hails from Sabangan, himself says that he was a regular worshipper of the demolished church building which was then referred to as “pwestoan” in 1965.
The very act of denying the existence of St Peter’s church is denying the existence of the very people who have lived and continued to live in Sabangan. It is denying the existence of the very people who may have voted for the solon in the past 30 years of his term as solon of this 5th class province. It is denying the very principles of the divine law apart from State law, which makes up policies of the government where he sits as congressman.
Thus, the solon’s pronouncements were seen as having violated the very fundamental, human, universal, and constitutional rights to worship and religion which basically composes our essence as human beings. This notwithstanding, let the Anglicans separately pursue with reason their individual choices of candidates this coming May 14 elections as part of their right to suffrage.
Monday, April 30, 2007
It takes Jupiter to overthrow Saturn
Congressional aspirant for the lone district of Mt Province, Jupiter Dominguez, has an interesting name. Jupiter, the chief god of all the Olympian gods in Greek mythology also known as Zeus, is the son of Saturn whom Jupiter overthrew.
Like the Greek gods, Jupiter is challenging his uncle, long time congressman of Mt Province for nearly 30 years, Victor Dominguez for the congressional seat. Should Jupiter “overthrow” his uncle is a story and will be known come May 14.
We will know why and how he will “overthrow” his uncle given present circumstances. Jupiter had proven how to lead, having a mind and guts.
Defying the culture of not rivaling a relative, much more an uncle, is a negative point among the conservatives. Much more, among the clannish tribes of culture- rich Montanosa.
Yet, rivaling a relative means that it is an issue of initiating changes and not sticking to culture and status quo where it may even be an unresponsive and inutile one. While you may gain votes among the liberals , you may also neutralize the conservatives.
This means Jupiter can initiate responsive and relevantly contemporary political and economic reforms which would be good for the people of Mt Province rather than letting obsolete and unresponsive systems still work which is what trapos do.
Should he have been a trapo, he may have to run in the same party with his uncle in another position, or waited for his uncle to retire before coming in. A friend said, maybe it is just a political gimmick and that eventually one of the two will endorse his votes to the other.
Yet, that would be political suicide for this political family if that would be done. In the next elections, nobody would believe them again. Candidacy is not an issue of political dynasty. It is an issue of capability. Jupiter has the qualifications of a congressman if given the chance by the electorate. He has been an outstanding mayor in his hometown in Sabangan, chairman of the Mayors’ League of Mt Province, and even adjudged as one of the most outstanding mayors of the country. He has proven his mettle.
According to my friend, Jupiter will keep off votes from other young aspirants and will eventually let his uncle or him win. Yet, that would be dividing a house and getting defeated. And worse, both may get defeated.
Both have the money and in elections, money is a major and crucial need in order to win. Either one could win. Besides, Jupiter is coming in at the right time that his uncle is already retiring in his 70s, my friend insisted.
Should Jupiter emerge victorious in the coming May 14 elections, I am inclined to believe that the Olympian gods must also be working in remote Montanosa where it also has its own mythological stories of Kabunian and the creation of the earth.
Like the Greek gods, Jupiter is challenging his uncle, long time congressman of Mt Province for nearly 30 years, Victor Dominguez for the congressional seat. Should Jupiter “overthrow” his uncle is a story and will be known come May 14.
We will know why and how he will “overthrow” his uncle given present circumstances. Jupiter had proven how to lead, having a mind and guts.
Defying the culture of not rivaling a relative, much more an uncle, is a negative point among the conservatives. Much more, among the clannish tribes of culture- rich Montanosa.
Yet, rivaling a relative means that it is an issue of initiating changes and not sticking to culture and status quo where it may even be an unresponsive and inutile one. While you may gain votes among the liberals , you may also neutralize the conservatives.
This means Jupiter can initiate responsive and relevantly contemporary political and economic reforms which would be good for the people of Mt Province rather than letting obsolete and unresponsive systems still work which is what trapos do.
Should he have been a trapo, he may have to run in the same party with his uncle in another position, or waited for his uncle to retire before coming in. A friend said, maybe it is just a political gimmick and that eventually one of the two will endorse his votes to the other.
Yet, that would be political suicide for this political family if that would be done. In the next elections, nobody would believe them again. Candidacy is not an issue of political dynasty. It is an issue of capability. Jupiter has the qualifications of a congressman if given the chance by the electorate. He has been an outstanding mayor in his hometown in Sabangan, chairman of the Mayors’ League of Mt Province, and even adjudged as one of the most outstanding mayors of the country. He has proven his mettle.
According to my friend, Jupiter will keep off votes from other young aspirants and will eventually let his uncle or him win. Yet, that would be dividing a house and getting defeated. And worse, both may get defeated.
Both have the money and in elections, money is a major and crucial need in order to win. Either one could win. Besides, Jupiter is coming in at the right time that his uncle is already retiring in his 70s, my friend insisted.
Should Jupiter emerge victorious in the coming May 14 elections, I am inclined to believe that the Olympian gods must also be working in remote Montanosa where it also has its own mythological stories of Kabunian and the creation of the earth.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Kampanya Taktika
I laughed out loud when congressional aspirant Atty. Mauricio Domogan in an interview said “Nu umay ti politika, tiempon ti panag-uulbod.”
With the election campaign now in the heat of the moment, we will expect more promises and lies to come along the way as aspirants will promise this and that and bring the moon down to earth. So dear voters, listen with a discerning ear the sweetly flavored words of the aspiring public official as he woos your votes.
But of course not all these aspiring wanna be’s are lying braggarts or sheepishly looking smug liars. Juan de la Cruz has to be very discerning in how he will separate the full time liar from the white defensive liar, the superficial from the well-meaning one.
Some aspiring public servants are sincere enough to state and if given the chance, do their platform of government. How could we know then the genuine one from the impostor public official, the lesser evil from the bigger evil?
1.Should he/she be an incumbent or former government official, what has he done
during his term? Was he/she able to implement programs as he is mandated to do? Did he initiate pro-people and democratic systems in government for the people to participate in and/or get benefited? Given particular circumstances, was he/she able to stand up for pro-people and public good amidst pressures and threats of being isolated or not being given favors? If not, he must have been comfortably receiving his 15-30 salary only.
2. Does he/she hold a reputation of getting SOPs? This country is already full of filthy rich public officials. If we want our country to advance like our Asian neighboring countries Hongkong or Singapore, get these filthy rich corrupt people out of public office.
3. Should he not be a public official and a neophyte trying out in public office, what does he do in life? What good will he bring for the people? Is he capable of being a public official given his respective capacities? Is he able to initiate systems and approaches for the betterment of the people? Will he/she be able to stand up for pro-people positions amidst pressures and threats of being isolated or not being given favors from superiors? If not, tell her/him nga agdigos iti nalammiis nga danum bareng mari-ing.
We need public officials who are not corrupt, people who will stand up for just and people-oriented concerns. Leaders whom we feel confident that they can lead and be there at your side come hell or high waters. He may be a Christian, a Muslim, or a Pagan; an Igorot, an Ilocano, or Tagalog; a man or a woman. But definitely, not an alien or a misfit.
We need workable and relevant systems. Better approaches which would redound to the public good and public interest. And this means better and responsive characters who would actualize what government is supposed to mean: a government by, of and for the people.
***
I like what Mrs Cecilia Dalog is doing in Mt. Province to win votes for her husband, incumbent Gov. Maximo Dalog on his bid for a second term as governor of Mt Province. By herself, she goes from house to house in her hometown at Bontoc and talks to members of the household asking them to support her husband. This humbling gesture of a spouse to support her better-half speaks of the independence of a woman to do what she plans to do at the beginning of the day.
The woman is the anchor of the house, and with the persevering attitude of Ms Dalog, I am inclined to believe that comebacking governor, Atty Dalog sources his strength of character from his wife.
I am reminded of the wife of a well known politician who goes campaigning for his husband escorted by a pack of umbrella-holding women. One loyalist holds an umbrella for the wife of this well known politician whether in the heat of the sun or on a rainy day. I guess the politician-husband sources his strength from the umbrella.
With the election campaign now in the heat of the moment, we will expect more promises and lies to come along the way as aspirants will promise this and that and bring the moon down to earth. So dear voters, listen with a discerning ear the sweetly flavored words of the aspiring public official as he woos your votes.
But of course not all these aspiring wanna be’s are lying braggarts or sheepishly looking smug liars. Juan de la Cruz has to be very discerning in how he will separate the full time liar from the white defensive liar, the superficial from the well-meaning one.
Some aspiring public servants are sincere enough to state and if given the chance, do their platform of government. How could we know then the genuine one from the impostor public official, the lesser evil from the bigger evil?
1.Should he/she be an incumbent or former government official, what has he done
during his term? Was he/she able to implement programs as he is mandated to do? Did he initiate pro-people and democratic systems in government for the people to participate in and/or get benefited? Given particular circumstances, was he/she able to stand up for pro-people and public good amidst pressures and threats of being isolated or not being given favors? If not, he must have been comfortably receiving his 15-30 salary only.
2. Does he/she hold a reputation of getting SOPs? This country is already full of filthy rich public officials. If we want our country to advance like our Asian neighboring countries Hongkong or Singapore, get these filthy rich corrupt people out of public office.
3. Should he not be a public official and a neophyte trying out in public office, what does he do in life? What good will he bring for the people? Is he capable of being a public official given his respective capacities? Is he able to initiate systems and approaches for the betterment of the people? Will he/she be able to stand up for pro-people positions amidst pressures and threats of being isolated or not being given favors from superiors? If not, tell her/him nga agdigos iti nalammiis nga danum bareng mari-ing.
We need public officials who are not corrupt, people who will stand up for just and people-oriented concerns. Leaders whom we feel confident that they can lead and be there at your side come hell or high waters. He may be a Christian, a Muslim, or a Pagan; an Igorot, an Ilocano, or Tagalog; a man or a woman. But definitely, not an alien or a misfit.
We need workable and relevant systems. Better approaches which would redound to the public good and public interest. And this means better and responsive characters who would actualize what government is supposed to mean: a government by, of and for the people.
***
I like what Mrs Cecilia Dalog is doing in Mt. Province to win votes for her husband, incumbent Gov. Maximo Dalog on his bid for a second term as governor of Mt Province. By herself, she goes from house to house in her hometown at Bontoc and talks to members of the household asking them to support her husband. This humbling gesture of a spouse to support her better-half speaks of the independence of a woman to do what she plans to do at the beginning of the day.
The woman is the anchor of the house, and with the persevering attitude of Ms Dalog, I am inclined to believe that comebacking governor, Atty Dalog sources his strength of character from his wife.
I am reminded of the wife of a well known politician who goes campaigning for his husband escorted by a pack of umbrella-holding women. One loyalist holds an umbrella for the wife of this well known politician whether in the heat of the sun or on a rainy day. I guess the politician-husband sources his strength from the umbrella.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Easter and Elections
Easter falls in spring when flowers bloom, the new year begins, and signifies a season of merry making and optimism.
It is in spring when the festive Mardi Gras in New Orleans is in full swing, Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival is made ecstatic , Baguio’s Panagbenga is in cheery bloom, Adivasi’s Baha (Flower) Festival in Bangladesh is in high spirits, and many of town fiestas in the country are celebrated during this festive season of the year.
The start of the election period in the country happen also in spring. Politicians with their own dose of promises for better roads and schools want the electorate to believe in a better life when the vote –wooing (and buying) political wanna be’s get elected into office.
Those who enacted the law that elections will happen in May 14 with the 45 campaign period must have been thinking of spring and what it signifies.
Spring is a season of a promising future.
Come every election period in the country which happens in the early months of the year, the dazzling posters and promising words of aspiring politicians seemingly speak of a better life for Filipinos. Unfortunately, the promise of a new life however has not moved significantly better come election after election since the country gained its independence in 1898.
Millions of Filipinos still continue to work in other countries as overseas contract workers doing menial jobs like domestic work in developed countries year in year out. Washing dishes has become an international demand by rich people from rich countries to hire a maid to do the work. The Philippines with its rich source of human resource has a ready supply of teachers and college graduates who become maids. Aside from domestic helpers who flock to Hongkong and the Middle East, the country sends off construction workers, truck drivers, seamen, nurses, caregivers, chambermaids etc to other developed countries including the US and the UK.
Yet, the country doesn’t have to gain a reputation as a supplier of domestic helpers if it is economically able to hold its people and make the country great with its skilled and knowledgeable human resource. The problem is, our skilled and educated citizens go abroad and scrub the toilets of rich people in rich nations in order for them to earn the dough and be able to send a child to school or make a better life for their families.
And so it goes that millions of Filipinos are still mired in poverty to make both ends meet come election after every election period.
The National Statistical Coordination Board reveals that 40% of the country’s populace are living below the poverty line coming from 30.6 million Filipinos or 6.12 million families throughout the country's 78 provinces, 84 cities or 41,940 barangays.
Of P14,866 annual per capita poverty threshold for 2007, the amount of P9,987 is for food while the difference of 4,880 is for non-food needs. Of the ten provinces with the highest poverty threshold, nine are in Luzon and one in Mindanao with NCR recording the highest at P19,345. NCR is followed by Abra, Cavite, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga, Rizal, Mt Province, Nueva Ecija, Davao del Norte and Benguet.
Ten provinces (three in Luzon, six in Visayas and one in Mindanao) have the lowest poverty thresholds in 2007 with Siquijor registering the lowest at P11,663, NCSB notes.
Poverty in the Philippines is most acute and widespread in rural areas with poverty incidence rates of 21.5% in urban areas to 50.7% rate in rural areas.
Corruption, it cannot be denied is one major culprit in an imbalanced rich-poor proportion of the country’s populace. It continues to suck the country’s income for the powerful and the rich and heightens economic depravity among most of the country’s marginalized and deprived people.
The more impoverished a country is, the higher its practice of corruption. Obviously, unequal distribution of wealth and lack of resources, services, and economic opportunities for the mass of people, continue to perpetrate. And with the country being the most corrupt in Asia, poverty gets more enhanced, and the country’s image gets more stinky as ever.
Lack of responsive government continue to perpetuate among the country’s leading politicians most of whom are comfortable elites and have traditionally played the role of patrons and benefactors, relying on the pork barrel or ill-gotten wealth to buy votes. And with the penchant of Filipinos for “utang na loob”, what is objective is muddled with the personal perception of being perpetually indebted to a benefactor at the expense of pro-people, rational and better economic and political systems.
Elected (and even appointed) officials who are bound to truly represent and advocate the interests of their constituents remains wanting. Come May 14 elections is another round of sweetly packaged and obsolete promises of a new life for Juan de la Cruz.
And among Christians who compose some 90% of the country’s 75 million population, making the May 14 elections truly meaningful and responsive for a better life remains to be a prayer this Easter Sunday. (Printed, Northern Philippine Times, April 8-14, 2007)
It is in spring when the festive Mardi Gras in New Orleans is in full swing, Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival is made ecstatic , Baguio’s Panagbenga is in cheery bloom, Adivasi’s Baha (Flower) Festival in Bangladesh is in high spirits, and many of town fiestas in the country are celebrated during this festive season of the year.
The start of the election period in the country happen also in spring. Politicians with their own dose of promises for better roads and schools want the electorate to believe in a better life when the vote –wooing (and buying) political wanna be’s get elected into office.
Those who enacted the law that elections will happen in May 14 with the 45 campaign period must have been thinking of spring and what it signifies.
Spring is a season of a promising future.
Come every election period in the country which happens in the early months of the year, the dazzling posters and promising words of aspiring politicians seemingly speak of a better life for Filipinos. Unfortunately, the promise of a new life however has not moved significantly better come election after election since the country gained its independence in 1898.
Millions of Filipinos still continue to work in other countries as overseas contract workers doing menial jobs like domestic work in developed countries year in year out. Washing dishes has become an international demand by rich people from rich countries to hire a maid to do the work. The Philippines with its rich source of human resource has a ready supply of teachers and college graduates who become maids. Aside from domestic helpers who flock to Hongkong and the Middle East, the country sends off construction workers, truck drivers, seamen, nurses, caregivers, chambermaids etc to other developed countries including the US and the UK.
Yet, the country doesn’t have to gain a reputation as a supplier of domestic helpers if it is economically able to hold its people and make the country great with its skilled and knowledgeable human resource. The problem is, our skilled and educated citizens go abroad and scrub the toilets of rich people in rich nations in order for them to earn the dough and be able to send a child to school or make a better life for their families.
And so it goes that millions of Filipinos are still mired in poverty to make both ends meet come election after every election period.
The National Statistical Coordination Board reveals that 40% of the country’s populace are living below the poverty line coming from 30.6 million Filipinos or 6.12 million families throughout the country's 78 provinces, 84 cities or 41,940 barangays.
Of P14,866 annual per capita poverty threshold for 2007, the amount of P9,987 is for food while the difference of 4,880 is for non-food needs. Of the ten provinces with the highest poverty threshold, nine are in Luzon and one in Mindanao with NCR recording the highest at P19,345. NCR is followed by Abra, Cavite, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga, Rizal, Mt Province, Nueva Ecija, Davao del Norte and Benguet.
Ten provinces (three in Luzon, six in Visayas and one in Mindanao) have the lowest poverty thresholds in 2007 with Siquijor registering the lowest at P11,663, NCSB notes.
Poverty in the Philippines is most acute and widespread in rural areas with poverty incidence rates of 21.5% in urban areas to 50.7% rate in rural areas.
Corruption, it cannot be denied is one major culprit in an imbalanced rich-poor proportion of the country’s populace. It continues to suck the country’s income for the powerful and the rich and heightens economic depravity among most of the country’s marginalized and deprived people.
The more impoverished a country is, the higher its practice of corruption. Obviously, unequal distribution of wealth and lack of resources, services, and economic opportunities for the mass of people, continue to perpetrate. And with the country being the most corrupt in Asia, poverty gets more enhanced, and the country’s image gets more stinky as ever.
Lack of responsive government continue to perpetuate among the country’s leading politicians most of whom are comfortable elites and have traditionally played the role of patrons and benefactors, relying on the pork barrel or ill-gotten wealth to buy votes. And with the penchant of Filipinos for “utang na loob”, what is objective is muddled with the personal perception of being perpetually indebted to a benefactor at the expense of pro-people, rational and better economic and political systems.
Elected (and even appointed) officials who are bound to truly represent and advocate the interests of their constituents remains wanting. Come May 14 elections is another round of sweetly packaged and obsolete promises of a new life for Juan de la Cruz.
And among Christians who compose some 90% of the country’s 75 million population, making the May 14 elections truly meaningful and responsive for a better life remains to be a prayer this Easter Sunday. (Printed, Northern Philippine Times, April 8-14, 2007)
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