Search Google with the key string “smear campaign Philippine elections” and you’ll get a list, about four pages long, of the same Agence France Presse (AFP) report by Maynardo Macaraig entitled “Internet fuels Philippine election smear campaigns.” It reads in part: Philippine politics has plunged to ugly lows ahead of next month’s presidential election as ... (more)
The servant, the leader and the servant-leader
Posted on February 25, 2010 · 25 Comments
Ask a political candidate why he seeks public office and, chances are, he’ll say he wants to serve the people. The exact words may vary but the substance hardly changes. And that’s not the only common denominator among political candidates. They also unanimously believe that it is worth spending millions, or even billions, of pesos ... (more)
The Fockers and the Basterds
Posted on January 5, 2010 · 23 Comments
Except for those required grade-school essays, I don’t remember jotting down New Year’s resolutions. This year though, I will. I have three in my mind right now, the list is likely grow longer as the year progresses, but three is a good number to start with. 1. Stop trying to make sense of Philippine politics. ... (more)
Do we really require a moral leader?
Posted on November 26, 2009 · 7 Comments
When the Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky affair broke out in the 1990s and people were talking about impeachment, my position was that Clinton should be held liable for lying, perjury if under oath (he initially denied having relations with Lewinsky), but not for having an affair with her. Most of my friends disagreed because ... (more)
Her ever changing civil status
Posted on November 24, 2009 · 28 Comments
I used to admire Loren Legarda back when she was a young newscaster and TV host. She was refreshing and articulate with a personality that commanded attention. Several years later, she became different. She would newscast in a staccato voice and I couldn’t quite understand if it was the effect of a newfound self-confidence or ... (more)
A benighted and repressive Comelec
Posted on November 17, 2009 · 28 Comments
Just last week, in the column “Sometimes, TV doesn’t suck”, I asked whether religious persons make fair and objective leaders who will think, decide and act in favor of the common good rather than in compliance with their own religious biases. Today, I have to ask that question again in reaction to the Comelec’s resolution ... (more)
Electoral campaign
Posted on July 6, 2009 · Leave a Comment
It has often been said that the Philippines has the longest Christmas celebration in the entire world. When the first “ber” month begins, Filipinos can already taste Christmas. But it isn’t just Christmas that we celebrate the longest — we have the longest electoral campaign period too. Not too long ago, when political aspirants blatantly ... (more)
Electoral reforms
Posted on November 25, 2008 · 12 Comments
(Today’s column) What if we can hold the 2010 elections without printing ballots, without fear that ballot boxes would be stolen and switched and without worrying about “dagdag-bawas”? No, I am not talking about the kind of computerized voting that the Commission on Elections has in mind. Think hanging chad in the 2000 battle between ... (more)
So, how did you spend the Halloween weekend?
Posted on November 3, 2008 · 15 Comments
It was not an extraordinarily long weekend but it felt that way because Speedy was home on a Saturday. He never is unless it’s a holiday. Where he works, Saturday is a working day. I wish it weren’t so, it has so ruined our old habit of driving north or south of Metro Manila during ... (more)
Some really inspired Halloween ideas
Posted on October 15, 2008 · 7 Comments
If you haven’t heard yet, the Malacañang-MILF MOA was declared unconstitutional. In terms of merit, there should be nothing surprising about the Supreme Court’s decision. It is the only logical conclusion. In terms of political reality, however, the Supreme Court justices being appointees of the President per provisions of the Constitution, the decision surprised me ... (more)
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