Month: April 2010

Nacionalista Party presidential candidate Manuel Villar, Jr. said if he wins, the speaker of the House of Representatives will come from their party and not President Gloria Arroyo.

He also challenged Liberal party presidential candidate Benigno Aquino III to come with him to Tondo so he could show to him how he lived when he was poor.

In a press conference before the Holy Week break, Villar said, “Pag ako nanalo bilang president, maglalagay kami ng kandidato pagka speaker, na manggagaling sa aming grupo. Ang tingin ko nga, pagnanalo si Noynoy ang magiging speaker ay si GMA; mahina kasi siya , hindi niya makokontrol yung mga congressman, (If I win as president, we will install as speaker someone from our group. As I see it, if Noynoy wins, GMA will become speaker because he won’t be able to control the congressmen).”

Click here (VERA Files) for the rest of the story.

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Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.

He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself.

While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress.

I am not far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that ONE SOLITARY LIFE.

by Roberto R. Romulo

Filipino World View
The Philippine Star

The nation owes a debt of gratitude to three individuals: Delia Albert, Domingo L. Siazon Jr. and Antonio “Tony Boy” Cojuangco. Both Ambassadors Albert and Siazon were career foreign service officers who became Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Ms. Albert (a replacement has been announced) and Jun Siazon (co-terminus with President Arroyo) are ambassadors to Germany and Japan, respectively. They have been outstanding ambassadors. Whoever replaces them will have a hard act to follow.

On the other hand, Tony Boy has been chairman of the Museum of the Filipino People since the time of President Fidel V. Ramos. As chairman for the last 12 years, he has been exemplary in the management of the museum and sustained in his financial support. His leadership will be sorely missed by everyone who, as I do, value this important institution.

The world is watching us

Because the world community does not vote in our national elections, candidates and parties don’t really seem to care about how the rest of the world is looking at them and at the upcoming political exercise. It’s a mistaken view that we might quickly come to regret.

Having an election in itself is no guarantee of a positive reputation. There are plenty of examples where countries that held elections wound up worse off image-wise after the balloting than before it

For the Philippines, believe it or not, our democracy and electoral process have not received the global endorsement they should. And this is largely because we have not shown, so far, any real capacity for managing our elections well. Besides not being able to quickly canvass the votes, we are prey to chronic instances of poll fraud and violence, which are only highlighted by challenges from losing candidates and the media.

One ambassador assigned to the Philippines once told me that the world always takes a deep breath and prays whenever we hold elections in our country. They never know what’s going to happen.

Candidates and their campaign strategists may be tempted to say, “So what, the international community can’t vote anyway.” But in fact, legitimacy for both the balloting and the winners in the eyes of the world is of great importance.

Already, we see this in the decision of the Millennium Challenge Corp. to defer the grant of $500 million to the Philippines for anti-poverty and anti-corruption programs until after the elections. And we will surely see it in the coming months in the performance of the stock exchange.

But more important, in my view, is the fact that a credible election and a credible presidential winner could rally the world behind our country, and the new government would have a chance of hitting the ground running in terms of international affairs when it takes over. This is because the goodwill and support of the international community is imperative for the success of the new administration. We will need foreign investment to drive the economy forward because we simply don’t have sufficient capital to invest in all of the new infrastructure and major economic strengthening programs we require. We will need other countries to open their markets to our products. And we will also need them to continue opening their labor markets to our workers.

When you come down to it, some two-thirds of our GDP and GNP are dependent on our ties with the world. So there’s no dismissing the foreign perspective of the May elections. It is in this light that I have long advocated that the presidential candidates should spell out their stand on foreign policy issues and how the world figures in their vision for the nation. It would be unfortunate if we wound up, for example, with a president who does not know world geography or the basics of current international affairs.

That brief time in 1986 when the whole world respected us is long gone. International admiration has been dissipated by all that has happened since – the many crises and adversities, and the sense of opportunities not being used to national advantage.

But it is also true to say that, although the luster of EDSA did not last, the nation has not been exactly without achievements as we elect our 15th president in May. The Philippine economy is today one of the more credible economies in Asia. Management of the macro economy has been good and there are sectors – like services and outsourcing – where we are arguably a leader. On the political and social fronts, there is a certain level of stability despite all the contentiousness around us.

This is something to build upon as we go into the May election. In my view, we have certain opportunities in this political exercise which, if successfully seized, can be a major plus for the nation on the international stage.

The first opportunity is for us to demonstrate in May that we can make the automated election system really work. It’s a big question, but if automation works effectively and efficiently for at least 80 percent of the entire country, it will be a major plus for our democracy. The world will heave a great sigh of relief and hail our democracy. It will at least dramatically confirm the legitimacy of the results with the losers licking their wounds rather than crying foul.

Second, the presidential candidates and their parties can do much to strengthen our international image by showing political maturity and greater appreciation for the importance of world affairs. Of course very few presidents come into office with credible foreign policy expertise. Much of it is gained on the job. But a demonstration of appreciation for this dimension certainly would bode well. Presidentiables unnecessarily hurt themselves by showing disdain for this international dimension to national life. I am reminded of Sarah Palin who famously said she has foreign policy expertise because she was governor of a state bordered by two “foreign countries” – Russia and Canada.

Finally, we can use the May elections as an opportunity to show the world that there is meaning and significance when we say we are the oldest democracy in Asia.

It may be that the coming elections will serve as a watershed for our national life. As I watch the campaign unfold, I sense a quickening of public interest. The media has never been more engaged in covering an election campaign as it is now. And I am pleased that I am not alone in my appeal to candidates to explain themselves more specifically and clearly to the people.

It could be that because of the size of our challenges, we are starting to outgrow the smallness of our politics. It could be that civic interest in the elections is forcing the candidates and parties to do better. Or it could simply be that we all sense that it’s now or never for us. We can’t afford to miss this boat.

Others may disagree, but I believe the fact that everyone seems to be engaged in the May elections is positive. I am not troubled that the political families – the Aquinos and the Marcoses among them — the Left and the Right, the Christians and the Muslims, and virtually every group and sector are involved. With all participating, if we have a successful election and manage a good political transition, we could forge a clear path towards a brighter future.

With the world watching, a new day could dawn on the Philippines. But I say this with my fingers crossed and my heart and mind in prayer

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