AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR
by William M. Esposo
from The Philippine Star

Legendary Manila Mayor Arsenio Lacson once described a ‘young once’ politician as “so young and so corrupt.” In those days, our society still harbored illusions that the youth were idealistic, innocent and generally incorruptible.
These days we know better. In fact, many of the criminals we now see being charged are young and their crimes range from petty theft, robbery, rape, drug dealing and murder. Among our crooked public officials, there are young crooks and older crooks. The sons of plunderers …

by Artemio A. Dumlao
 
Paoay, Ilocos Norte (October 30, 2009) –  It is practically the dead rising and taking over Paoay, an agricultural and fishing town popular fo its renowned Unesco heritage listed baroque-inspired St. Agustine Church, on All Souls and Saints Day.
 
Again on November 1, Ilocanos here compete against each other’s “tumba-tumba”, a catafalque built on
indigenous materials like bamboo, coconut leaves and its famous woven cloth that ape the wake of the dead.
 
Each village’s catafalque is unique as they try to outwit against each other’s creativity in crafting something that …

Frankly Speaking
Frank Wenceslao
  
Salient passages below were included in my email to Philippine government and non-government leaders to ask them to disseminate the information as widely as possible. I’ve received encouraging responses. I especially take note of Sen. Pia Cayetano’s response.
I might’ve sounded presumptuous though that Pamusa would be asked to help the next President whether it’s Noynoy Aquino, Gilbert Teodoro or Manny Villar. I’ve counted Joseph Estrada and Chiz Escudero out. Erap is practically a nuisance candidate while Escudero at 40 is too young to risk his political future when …

by Ellen Tordesillas
The decision of Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero to bolt from the Nationalist People’s Coalition, the party that nurtured his political career the past 11 years, has introduced a new moral element in the campaign.
It showed a young candidate, without the logistics – from family treasure chest or from business earnings or from government resources – to subsidize a national campaign which election experts say could cost P3 billion nor the inherited billions of pesos to, daring to go direct to the people to bring his message of reforms …

With the recent announcement by Chiz Escudero that he was leaving the Nationalist People’s Coalition and pursuing an “independent” course, potential changes could happen in the people’s mind on the dynamics of the presidential race.  This is an interesting reading for those who are following the progress of the presidential candidates for the 2010 elections.
– Perry Diaz

Social Climate
When Filipinos have changed their minds 
by Mahar Mangahas
from Philippine Daily Inquirer
 
MANILA, Philippines — Having formally announced this week that he will run for president in the next election, and assuming that he intends to …

GLIMPSES
Jose Ma. Montelibano
From nowhere in the consciousness of Filipinos, and quarterly surveys in the last two years can show this, Noynoy jumps to being the most preferred candidate for president. It is an awesome development, completely unexpected, and a phenomenon that became a game changer. Sociologists, political analysts and other social scientists eventually found their voice and have since been trying to explain what happened. They will have a hard time doing so as the truth is difficult to understand when it has been missing for so long.
Of course, 51% …

by Purple S. Romero
from abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak
MANILA – Quitting the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) had been on the mind of Sen. Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero for a month already. On Sunday (October 25), the die was cast.
Escudero, who was expected to be NPC’s standard-bearer for 2010, announced his decision to leave the party on Wednesday, stirring shock among his partymates.
But the 40-year-old solon actually reached his decision Sunday, two days after his then rumored running mate Sen. Loren Legarda declared her intention to run for the vice-presidential post.
Some reports say Escudero left the …

AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR
by William M. Esposo
from The Philippine Star

When your Chair Wrecker was ANC Senior Correspondent Ricky Carandang’s guest last October 22 in his “The Big Picture” TV show (9:30 to 10 p.m.), our discussion on the dynamics of the 2010 presidential elections shifted to DILG Secretary Ronnie Puno’s theory about how the candidates will divide the 2010 votes.
Ronnie previously told Ricky that with so many Opposition candidates running there is a good chance that the administration bet will win. Ronnie was banking on retaining the 20 to …

by Antonio C. Abaya
from Standard Today 
The parameters for the May 2010 presidential elections have become increasingly clear in the past several weeks (and day)..
Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas of the Liberal Party have become an official pair. Joseph Estrada and Jejomar Binay are another official pair, for the Partido ng Masang Pilipino or whatever.
But Vice-President Noli de Castro, and Senators Manny Villar, Loren Legarda and Chiz Escudero, and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro are still without running mates, and are cruising the various pick-up joints, looking for Mr. Goodbar, so to speak.
My …

Theres The Rub
by Conrado de Quiros
from Philippine Daily Inquirer 

I saw Manny Pacquiao being interviewed on Australian TV last weekend. I don’t know if it was an old clip or a new one. His answers to the questions the interviewer put to him were a mix of motherhood and thoughtful statements. He was fighting for his country, he said. It was in such a depressed state it could do with some boosting, and knowing his countrymen reposed much hope in that respect on his fists, he would apply himself to the …