Party of the future

19 November 2009

I am distracted by the latest events in the Philippine political landscape. So now, I let distraction pass me by as I prepare a lesson on interpreting poetry because there are more poetic things going on in politics right now.

Gloria Arroyo declared that the merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD is the “party of the future” because it has as its standard bearer a young, dynamic and competent leader in the person of Gilbert Teodoro. Teodoro of course is below 50 years old, therefore, he is very young compared to, let’s say, Methuselah, a biblical character. And the administration’s choice for vice-president is the ‘non-politician’ and a ‘new face in politics’ Edu Manzano who was once a vice mayor of Makati but lost to Jejomar Binay when the actor-politician ran for mayor of the country’s financial district in 2001.

Teodoro is a graduate of De La Salle University, University of the Philippines, and Harvard University. He was a representative of the first district of Tarlac for three consecutive terms from 1998 to 2007 before assuming the office of National Defense chief. He has a wife who is also a representative – his replacement when he’s away.

Edu Manzano is a multi-awarded actor. He joined the US military when he was young – then eventually pursued acting as his career. Arroyo appointed Manzano in 2004 as head of the Optical Media Board (OMB) to fight piracy of copyrighted ‘artistic’ materials. He’s the former husband of governor Vilma Santos of Batangas and of Maricel Soriano.

I remember the campaign line of Gloria Arroyo in 2004 presidential elections that actors were not qualified to be president – because at that time her close rival was the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. But in her desire to remain immune of the cases that will be filed against her when a new administration assumes office, Arroyo and her party are desperate to choose an actor to boost the candidacy of Teodoro. Arroyo said that Lakas-Kampi-CMD is the party of the future – because if – God forbid – Teodoro wins, they will party in the future.

In Philippine elections, voters are always losers. During elections – public attention is always focused on candidates, and never on the voters, that is why there are no loser candidates, they are always winners. If they do not win, they’re cheated. Who are the losers then but the voters who put their hopes on the politicians who spend millions and even billions during their campaigns.

Teodoro – a young politician but is working on an old wine skin. Manzano – a new face in political landscape whose image is as old as the advent of the trapos. If Manzano could not control the little thing between his thighs how could he be able to lead the country as vice-president of Teodoro who’s hiding inside the political dress of Arroyo?

Okay let me sum it all up: Teodoro + Manzano = Arroyo. And the winner is Arroyo because she will remain a phantom president who will enjoy immunity from graft cases promoting the politics of impunity – and the losers – the Filipino people.

mlq3 for senator

16 November 2009

This may sound absurd – or you may even call it a crazy idea. But I really mean it. Manuel L. Quezon III for senator. Yes, mlq3 can be a good legislator. He's maintaining a weekly column in the Inquirer, and has a regular show in ANC (ABS-CBN News Channel). Reading his columns and watching him engaged in the conversation on national issues and on the fate of Philippine politics I am equally informed and enriched though not without critical assessment of his ideas.

The country needs brilliant minds in the Senate just like the days of old before the declaration of Martial Law. I only heard from my grandparents how they would skip classes just to watch and listen to debates in the Senate floor – not just simply debates but sensible debates where bright minds engaged in the war of words and ideas, a thing that we lack in the present composition of the legislative body's upper chamber.

I am no friend of mlq3 though he's my online buddy in Facebook and Scribd, but I want to see him debating in the Senate floor defending significant bills he would author. I don't want to see the Senate filled with power hungry idiots who had spent millions of pesos in financing a campaign and in paying the Comelec for the position. I don't want to see Bong Revilla, Lito Lapid, Jinggoy Estrada and Miguel Zubiri in the senate who do not even know how to ask appropriate questions for a senate inquiry. They heavily rely on their staff for ideas – ideas that are often insensible.

What the country needs is a sensible Senate that is a model of transparency, brilliance and public engagement. It should promote citizens' participation and engage the public in the national discourse. Actually not just the Senate but also the House of Representatives and Malacanang. Discourse and intellectual engagement should not only be confined in our deteriorating colleges and universities – rather people of all walks of life should be aware and conscious of what's going on in their country.

Mlq3 may consider cracking at a Senate seat. If he so desires, he could secure my vote and the assurance that I would campaign for him anonymously.