Election Epilogue

“Hope,…. is not the same as joy that things are going well, or willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously heading for success, but rather an ability to work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed….. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.”

– Vaclav Havel

On election day of 2010, I woke up to people running in the streets. Dazed from sleep, I feared the worst like it was an emergency such as a fire or a vehicular accident. But no, the story we got was that a candidate himself was distributing money openly to a crowd of voters catching their breath to fall in line. The distance towards witnesses making affidavits for these transgressions is very, very far. Well, I thought this is less heinous ( but violatively heinous, nonetheless) from an experience as a child when an uncle lay lifeless on the street murdered by our political opponent. It was a long and drawn out murder case and lasted almost a decade in our courts. In hindsight, after years of introspective healing, this is the reason why it is taking me half a century to enter local politics.

The texture of the local races has been the same since time immemorial that one hopes and dreams to change it at some point in time. It is so deceptively simple and defies many a formula for change. Perhaps, the constituents prefer constancy and stability and the status quo as opposed to something new. All things equal, poor people would prefer something familiar. People will vote for someone they have access to when they are sick or when they cannot pay school fees or when they cannot pay water and electric bills. All public officials are deemed source of largesse and no politician has a right to enter politics without the funding wherewithal of one’s own or from some rich patron/s who are sure to extract or take behest favors during the politician’s term of office. Still, election is a methodology of democracy and as for politics, Randy David  says,  "politics is a mechanism for forging consensus." 

Each morning during the campaign period, I always wake up with people already lining up to see me to solicit funds to defray prescriptions for medicines, or because it fiesta time in their village or someone wants to ask money for transport or even to pay for water bills. Most often, I tell them that under election laws, I am allowed to spend only three pesos ( P3) per voter. Later, I delegated this explaining portion to a campaign aide. Mostly, as we have to be in the campaign track at the crack of dawn, I was simply not available to many voters visiting me because I was going to their homes. The poverty in the rural areas is unspeakable and during the campaign I was filled with hopes that good governance will make a difference in their onerous and difficult condition. It is a hurdle to understand that poor people want the instant calories now to survive- even for just a day or two during this election fiesta - and cannot wait for poverty reduction programs that will take time to come their way. The logic is that governance is the business of government anyway and promises of good governance are not edible now. Mostly, people believe that whoever is in the reins of government will abuse power. That we have all the laws and institutions to combat corruption cannot transcend this belief. And so, it behooves upon us to promote the mantra that “hope is the triumph over experience.”

Political dynasties are still here with us because scions of politicians born and bred in a political clan are socialized into the ways of good and bad politics and have more chances of survival. Not many an ordinary mortal can survive the ways of politics. Perfect examples of these mortals who cannot survive politics are those who cannot give up their intellectual freedom from the center of wealth and power.

In my campaign spiel, I intimated to voters that I am already living a very comfortable life, I have received my inheritance, done with school tuition duties as my daughter has finished college, visited the world and that I am ready to serve. I guess my listeners are kind to me as they can see that I am still some reluctant public servant wannabe who is not ready to give up my precious personal space and privacy. I am surviving the lessons of the  May 10, 2010 elections.  Something makes sense and I have carried this feeling in moving on. 

Campaigning for a President of the Philippines

Today’s election campaign is targeting to bring national candidates to as many major cities and towns. I have been involved in presidential campaigns in many ways : as a child during the 1965 Macapagal & Roxas campaign when my grandfather was a campaign manager, when I joined the 1998 Roco & Santiago national campaign as a close in aide and now as a team member in the Noy & Mar campaign. Over the weekend, Presidentiable Noynoy graced a local rally in the island city of Samal. The gym was so full to the brim notwithstanding that the notice was just a day earlier.

I have had chances of face to face encounters with Noynoy early on in the decade during Abanse ! Pinay meetings and his overnight transformation as a national leader is unmistakable. Noynoy is now oozing with a charism that feels like divinely ordained. It is a feeling that I associate with Presidents like Obama and Cory much like a feeling of déjà vu.

As the campaign for local candidates has not started, all speeches before the arrival of Noynoy in a Samal City gym was about his presidential platform. In my own pitch for Noynoy, I introduced his educational platform of transforming secondary education as a stepping stone to a possible livelihood option after graduation and I was much pleased when he actually talked about it as the centerpiece of his rally speech.

We have also been bringing the presidential campaign to barangay hall meetings and barangay fiestas. I am finding out that the national campaign is a chance to review our soul and character as a nation : how despite our industry as a people, we are so impoverished in so many ways. In this sense, it should not be difficult to campaign for a president who is running on the platform of WHY we are poor. In sociology, we say, we know who are poor, where they live and what they do but we seldom address the issue of why we are poor. Therefore, the issue of why we are poor needs to be communicated well. In this electronic age, we have become visual creatures. The connection of corruption to poverty must be visually communicated. Of course, having the wherewithal and funds for communication is another matter. But, we are much pleased that the Liberal Party will accept donations only on the condition that there are no strings attached to the campaign donations. Donations will be accepted only on the condition that the future sitting president will not be beholden to campaign contributors.

It has been written by a literary pundit that we should not pin all our hopes in this 2010 election that is mostly funded by the so called upper class strata of society and that real meaningful change if we go by historical evolution will take, at least, two decades. But then again, if we are in rock bottom, the only way is to go up. And which is why, a palpable ambiance for change is in the air and this election will hopefully crystallize this. So, if as they say change happens every two decades or so, 2010 will be a year for good change and evolution through the ballot, two and a half decades later after the 1986 people’s power under the baton of our beloved President Cory Aquino.

Before The 2010 Election Campaign

The period for filing of certificates of candidacy for the Philippine 2010 elections ended on December 1, 2009. Then, the national election campaign starts on February 9, 2010 while the local campaign starts on March 26. The advantage of local candidates who are standard bearers of national political parties over independent candidates is that they can visit communities already in February to campaign for national candidates. The Supreme Court in a decision has just decriminalized pre-mature campaigning. One is liable for election offenses only if committed during the campaign period. Of course, crimes related to election such as the November 23, 2009 heinous Maguindanao massacre are covered by particular laws in our penal system and even by international laws at anytime because the savagery committed against the women and men are crimes against humanity and particularly if ( Heavens forbid !) a remedy or appropriate penal sanctions cannot be had in this country. Anyway, the Supreme Court decision decriminalizing pre-mature campaigning also means that television infomercials of candidates are not banned. The reason cited is that it is part of our freedom of expression guarantee as enshrined in our constitution. Of course, who has access to media and mechanisms of communications are another matter. So, before the start of the campaign period, candidates can communicate but must not campaign and never invoke the word VOTE or the like. This includes greetings for the holidays in billboards posted in one’s private property or with the permission of the owner of a private property which does not belong to the candidate.

I have been observing some slogans and prominent infomercials and let me do a paraphrasing here of their core messages. Slogans and messages have been crucial in the past. The “ERAP PARA SA MAHIRAP” ( Erap Estrada is for the poor) worked magic with the masses before. Mar’s ( Roxas) “Mr. Palengke” ( Mr. Wet Market ) also struck positively with the viewers. In the current crop of infomercials, the message of NOYNOY’s “Hindi Ka Nag-iisa” ( You are not alone) is in a few words about HOPE and the imperative to continue the struggle as a community or nation. But, others are asking, “ where is the platform?” Which is why, there is a newer version of this television infomercial with a voice over that purports to impart the core message about what the issues are. The Villar infomercials have had plural messages since it started but the main message is : the poor boy who hails from the slums of Tondo, Manila made it but still has empathy with the poor. Critics’ monicker for the old infomercial “SIPAG at TIYAGA” ( industriousness and steadfastness) of Senator Villar is “C-5 at Taga”.
( in reference to the issue of whether there was a double entry in the General Appropriations budget pertaining to the project for the circumferential road called C-5) The Gibo Teodoro infomercial is basically saying to the viewers : I am here and offering to be of service and I have “ talino.” ( intelligence) One big billboard in Davao City says GMA Cares and a vandal wrote “ Pag sure Oy.” ( Hey, please be sure) A friend of mine who does not like to hear the popular expression “ Pag Sure Oy” is suddenly in love with these words in reference to PGMA.


Our change politics movement (CPM) has compiled a list of activities that candidates and supporters can do at anytime and before the campaign period. The CPM list of activities that can be done at any time based on our election law include "publishing results of surveys if favorable, asking media to write columns on favorable results of surveys, using campaign gadgets, gear and apparel on one’s own personal property, expressing supporters’/volunteers’ own belief/opinion on issues, qualifications, programs of government, using supporters’/volunteers’ own alternative media (e.g. Facebook, Multiply, Friendster, Twitter, SMS) to express support/belief/ opinion, using home-made or personally created campaign paraphernalia without words vote for.”

In turn, the CPM list of activities, after filing of candidacy and before the campaign period include "distributing campaign literature or materials but avoiding keywords that may be construed as expressly soliciting votes such as the word “VOTE,” distributing campaign paraphernalia, gear and/or apparel for use by supporters like shirts, caps, calendars, umbrellas, pins, lanyards, baller IDs, jackets/vests, but avoiding keywords that may be construed as expressly soliciting votes such as the word “VOTE,” putting up and maintaining accounts in Facebook, Multiply, Friendster, Twitter, etc. through supporters, but not the candidate, and adding and/or accepting invitations from as many friends or contacts as possible and regularly update posts and status messages expressing opinions or commentaries on the qualifications, programs of government, etc. "

Senator NoyNoy Aquino & the presidency *

What kind of a leader does the Philippines need after the Gloria Arroyo administration? Will Noynoy Aquino be equal to the big task of addressing the seemingly intractable ailments that beset our nation? Our nation is desperately needing a leader who can journey with us towards our national goals that still need to be crystallized and articulated as agendas or policies that will generate mass based support. For the long term, the next presidency should not only be a knee- jerk reaction nor a symptomatic treatment of the pathologies of the moment but one that governs towards being a great nation : more wealth that is shared, good governance, justice and human rights prevailing and with good social institutions ( family, schools, health system, mass media, religion, etc) that will nurture all our resources for the current and future generation.

Noynoy has charisma and credibility and the burgeoning massive support which should translate into campaign funds and ultimately votes will be enough for him to win the presidency. Already, some political party turncoats have expressed to join the Liberal Party of NoyNoy Aquino and Mar Roxas. But, the Liberal Party has announced that it will be discriminating in their choice of local standard bearers. One presidential wannabe said that our clamor for Noynoy is part of the so called “ politics of personality” which is traditional politics. Some say that Noynoy did not really dazzle us with landmark legislations while he was at the 11th & 12th & 13th Congress and even now in his post as Senator of our Republic.

But, his accomplishment as a legislator is impressive enough. One would conclude that he is both a fiscalizer and an institution builder. He was deputy speaker of the 13th House of Congress. Currently in the Senate, he is chair of the Committee on Local Government and therefore he is privy to the state of the art of our local bureaucracy. He is a member of various congress committees because after all legislation in both houses of Congress is collective work. For this reason, it is crucial that legislators who will be elected will champion and support the people’s agenda because legislation requires the so called needed numbers for the passage of proposed bills into law.

Similarly, the seat of the Presidency is a plural agency with the support of hundreds of line agencies all over the country. Every cabinet member who is the alter ego of the President implements hundreds of millions worth of programs. In this sense, sans corruption, a cabinet member who is the head of a national line agency can really make a difference in the lives of millions of our people. While the budget is ultimately appropriated and legislated by our legislature, the budget originates from the Office of the President. That is why the post of the President is the center of power especially if the President has the support of the legislature. Equally important in this electronically wired world is the support of the community of nations in our global village.

Many government well entrenched existing programs need reforms and many bureaucratic processes have not been working according to the current requirements of our changing economic landscape. But, every now and then, we are able to recruit to our civil service well meaning, competent and honest bureaucrats or technocrats who will take on the role of public servants seriously and as well look up for guidance and inspiration from a good leader sitting at the Office of the President of the Philippines.

* from my column at the Mindanao Times/ Opinion Page/ WomenWise Sept 9, 2009

Project Citizenship : Mar Roxas

Senator Mar Roxas was the only guest that showed up in the July 30, 2009 forum on Mindanao Peace, Economy, Environment & Youth Development. It was a forum under the auspices of the Project Citizenship of the Ateneo de Davao University ( particularly the Political Science & History program of the Social Science & Education Division and SAMAPULA, the organization of Political Science students ) and the Change Politics Movement. Other politicians such as Jejomar Binay, Grace Padaca, Francis Pangilinan, etc, who have individually expressed a desire to run for national posts were invited, too, but did not make it.

Mar Roxas said there is something to be said about those who show up and so I am giving space to him and hopefully, the rest who did not show up will have their space here another time. Senator Manuel "Mar" Araneta Roxas II was born May 13, 1957. He is the grandson of former Philippine President Manuel Roxas. Mar, an economist, is a product of the Ateneo de Manila for his basic education and studied Economics all the way at the Wharton School of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States. Mar is very eloquent and spoke a handful without notes. He would pepper his speech with Binisaya Ilonggo as he served as a congressman from Capiz from 1993 to 2000 until former President Joseph Estrada appointed him as a cabinet member for the Department of Trade & Industry. Asked what the best thing Gloria Arroyo did, he said that it was re-appointing him as head of the Department of Trade & Industry.

Then, he was asked about what is great about the Liberal Party. He said that among the current crop of Liberal Party stalwarts, no one has been tainted with wrongdoing or corruption. I wish to share to the younger generation that perhaps, the reason why Mar says current Liberal party members is because the dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1965 was once a prominent member of the Liberal Party founded by former Philippine President Manuel Roxas, and then Marcos became a turncoat after failing to get the Liberal Party's nomination for president. Marcos ran as the Nationalist Party candidate for president against the Liberal president, Diosdado Macapagal. Marcos won and was forced to step down twenty years after ( in 1986) when Cory took over as President after the EDSA people power revolution. Anyway, I felt even as a child back in 1965, that there were only two political parties : Liberal and Nacionalista. In local politics, though, delineation between what parties stood for was blurred as voters elected personalities or local kingpins and overlooked political parties. My sense is that it is still the same up to now which is really an indication for party building and for us citizens to invest ourselves in the discussion of political party platforms and national and local election issues.

Mar who is not topping but rising, though, in current presidential surveys was elected as Senator in the 2004 elections by 19, 372,888 votes and is still the highest ever garnered by a national candidate in Philippine election history.

The following are his answers to the rest of the issues :
a) On his expensive television commercials, i.e. the tricycle driver spiel, Mar says that the funds are his inheritance. While others would spend on expensive cars, he is choosing to spend his money communicating to the Filipino people.
b) On Mindanao peace : He is for peace but not carving another juridical entity out of the Philippines and that consultation on these issues are very crucial.
c) On reproductive health : he was asked how he would implement the Magna Carta of Women particularly reproductive rights: he said that definitely he is against abortion and to the students in the audience he said that providing information on reproductive health is important and that government should not impose or interfere on the couple’s decision on what is good for them in the area of reproductive health.

Many of my friends in Mindanao really took issue with the Mar Roxas stand on the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancentral Domain ( MOA-AD) particularly on the Bangsa Moro Juridical Entity (BJE). Perhaps, Mar as a politician, is also sensing the pulse of the larger majority and which is why communication and public awareness and consultations in planning alternative futures are crucial.