A Dysfunctional Philippine Government

For the past few weeks, the incessant disturbing incidents of the "Laglag or Tanim  Bala" or "Plant Bullet" extortion scam at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport has sent shivers down the spines of OFW's and tourists, the adverse effects of which  have already reached every corner of the world. 

FOX News anchor Greta Van Susteren highlighted in her TV segment "Off the Record" the "Laglag Bala" scam as a plot to extort money out of the international travelers and cited more than 30 cases of ammo related incidents in the last 12 months with 5 international passengers  arrested in the past 2 weeks. Susteren added " international travelers are targeted by Filipino airport security officials who plant live ammunition in their luggage and busting them to extort money". 

Inquirer's  Nancy Carvajal reported the that " initial findings of the NBI reveal the prevalence of a an extortion syndicate participated by porters, immigration personnel, X-ray scanners, baggage inspectors and security personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The activities of the syndicate came to light last month when Gloria Ortinez, a domestic helper in Hongkong for 26 years, was arrested, detained and charged with carrying bullet in her luggage, despite her tearful denials. Her plight was caught by TV cameras and went viral on social media.

When Benigno Simeon Aquino III assumed as President in 2010, his administration coined such earth-shaking and hopeful catchphrases… “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap” and “ Matuwid na Daan” raising the hopes of the Filipino people for better lives; only to find out soon enough that Aquino III is no different from former Presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo.  Beyond our innocent suspicion, those slogans served and will remain as a cheap deceptive political gimmick to earn the loyalty and trust of the people.

The series of brazen absolute political power abuses by those who were elected to protect the people’s interests have revealed the sad reality that they have abandoned their promises to the people in favor of satisfying their rapacious greed for material possessions in life. While more than 70 % of Filipinos are wallowing in poverty, most of our government officials are enjoying the luxuries in life with the use of people’s money. There are screaming headlines in the national newspapers showing Senators having ownerships of 100 to 120 million residences, condominium units and beach houses, expensive cars and boats and a lot more. Some unscrupulous politicians are even maintaining expensive mistresses not necessarily to satisfy their sexual desires as some of them are not sexually capable anymore because of age but rather to display the venom of their absolute political power. Our Congress Representatives are on the same mold, sad to say.

Historian and Moralist Lord Acton expressed this opinion in a letter to Bishop Mandel Creighton in 1887: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” In a speech to the United Kingdom House of Lords in 1770, William Pitt, Earl of Chatham and Prime Minister from 1766 to 1778 said: “Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it.”

“What Are We in Power For?” is an infamous one-liner phrase used by the late Senate President Jose Avelino when an investigation on his reported corruption was ordered by the late Pres. Elpidio Quirino in 1949. The idiom was immortalized by most politicians and the dogma flourished until today. Without batting an eyelash, Avelino continued by saying:’ “Why should we pretend to be saints when in reality we are not? We are not angels. When we die we will all go to hell. It is better to be in hell because in that place there are no investigations, no Secretary of Justice, no Secretary of Interior to go after us.” Avelino added, “When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He made a distinction between the good crook and the bad crook. We can aspire to be good crooks.” The faith of Avelino in corruption is fully defensible by his catchphrase, “What Are We In Power For.” Is it?  

In general, politicians run for elected government offices because of the compelling attraction of “political power” coupled by the freebies associated with it.  Most elected politicians do not even care about the legal salary and benefits of the position but is most enthralled by the captivating thrill and rhapsody of being the most powerful person in the barangay, municipality, city, province or the country as a whole. As communities gets bigger and urbanized, the appetite of politicians for more socio-economic programs and legislation using the people’s hard earned money become more insatiable. More than that, most if not all political leaders who are wielding authority do not sincerely care about the welfare of the communities they serve but more enchanted in exercising their political power over their constituents and that is what they want more than anything else.

Much as we have wanted to be governed by a democratic government to rule the country by representation, the Constitution established our rights to live in freedom unimpeded by submission to others by setting up three branches of government that would oversee and provide a “check and balance” situation. Unfortunately for us, these branches of government have developed into co-conspirators in fleecing the people evidenced by recent scandals and malfeasances in the Judiciary, Ombudsman, the Military, Bureau of Customs and the House of Senate and Representatives, among many others.

Our elected public officials do not earn a great deal of money through their salaries. What makes politicians do everything in order to win elections without regard to moral values?  it is the” power”, the “other money”, and the opportunity to become part of the exclusive class that they are in pursuit of in the first place and endlessly struggle to protect.

When corruption is being practiced by our political leaders to include Senators, Congressmen and other high executive and judiciary officials of our government, I would dare say that our country is in a quagmire with hopelessness and only a miracle can reverse our failure as a people and as a nation.

After the series of shameful and anomalous incidents such as the PDAP, "Mamasapano massacre, Yolanda Calamity Fund scam, Muntinlupa Bilibid Prison anomalies, BOCustoms corruption schemes, among many others and now the "Plant Bullet" or "Tanim Bala" extortion conspiracy... 

Just like adding insult to injury, it is exasperating to realize that our top government officials, from the President and his close aides, had exuded indifference and insensitiveness to these anomalies.

My heart bleeds to say that the Philippines has been under the rule of a dysfunctional government

What have we done as a nation to deserve all of these? What will happen next is something that the Filipino people will never be in for a surprise anymore.

Rogelio G. Balo

Nov. 6, 2015
Central Valley, California USA

 

 

POLITICAL JOKES IN THE PHILIPPINES

 

Less than a month after the submission of the Certificates of Candidacies by political wannabes, politics is turning out to be the most interesting topic anywhere in the country today. Almost everybody will always find somebody who has a different opinion on this issue than you or anyone else. To add glitter to the election campaign, many seemed to be pleasantly surprised and amused at how funny jokes about politicians can be. More often though witty jokes about politicians show a great contrast to their monotonous speeches. Most of us believed that the more successful and popular politicians had become, the more funny jokes that they invite. Thus, for a potential political leader, being the butt of a political joke is a cross between a symbol of honor and ritual of acceptance in the political jungle. But there is one thing about politicians to which everybody might agree: sometimes they can be really quaint and hilarious!

Most of the jokes below are inspired by true stories.  Guess Who? Your guess is as good as mine…..

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BRA and BRIEF 

 A short and loquacious local city councilor likes to be known in the community as a great lover and womanizer. Separated from his wife the reason of which we can only surmise, he hires government lady casual employees for his staff who accede to be his sexual favors. One day, he just finished his latest “conquest” of a pretty new casual employee in a secluded motel and see what happens;

Casual lady employee:  (Teasingly rubbing the neck of the city official) : Sir, I need new bras. I have only one which I am using now. It is already old and torn.
City Councilor:  You don’t need to use bra anymore. Anyway your boobs are very small.
Casual  lady employee :  Abah? Eh, Sir? Why do you use briefs pa when “yours” is very small also….
                                             ( Eh Sir, ngaa  ikaw ga-usar ka pa sang brief, kagamay man gani sang imo?)
                                                  WAAH!  Aray…

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THE SNAKE AND THE WORM

A popular local politician whose first marriage was annulled for several years finally decided to take a new bride, a local socialite.  After the wedding, the couple went to Boracay for their honeymoon and:

NEW BRIDE: Kinakabahan ako. Baka di ko makaya.. Parang natatakot ako!

POLITICIAN:  Kaya mo ito. Diba sabi mo dati may alaga kang malaking ahas?
NEW BRIDE: Oo nga, pero takot talaga ako sa UOD!!
POLITICIAN : WAAH!

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FOR BOTH OF US

The wife of a politician saw an amorous text message to her husband’s cell phone from a man known to her.  One late night the angry wife confronted the politician about his relationship with the man…

 WIFE:   Walang hiya Ka! Bading ka Pala !  Bakla!!!! Diyan ka na nga…..

POLITICIAN:  “Honey, saan ka pupunta?
WIFE:   Maghahanap ako ng tunay na lalake!
POLITICIAN :  Okay yan…Hanap ka ng dalawa hah? Tig-isa tayoh!   Pataay !

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PROBLEM IN MATH

A newly elected high government official was trying to do soe Math calculation and got confused with the result  so shecalled her new sexy secretary and asked :

GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL : If I give you 15% of 3 Million pesos, how much would you take off?

SEXY SECRETARY: Everything Sir! Dress, Pants, Bra, Panty!! Basta everything….
GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL :  HAAH? SUS AH !

 

 
ERAP JOKES  ( Jokes taken from “Erap tion”)

JUDGE: Ano ba talaga nangyari?

 ERAP: . (di nagsasalita) Silent
 JUDGE: Sumagot ka sa tanong.
 ERAP: Naman eh!!! Kala ko ba hearing lang to??? Bakit may speaking?
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ERAP ON ISLAM COUNTRIES

 Reporter: Hon. Pres. Joseph Estrada, What do you think about these countries?

ERAP: What countries?
Reporter: Iran, Iraq and Egypt
ERAP: Oh, Iran is the past tense of I am running, Iraq is the only kind of things you find in the Japanese rock garden. Egypt naman is the pambansang vehicle of the Philippines, which waits for passengers anywhere in the streets! Ngee!
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ERAP IN A MUSEUM

ERAP visited a famous museum and unfortunately he broke a vase. The Museum Attendant became so terrified and said: 

MUSEUM ATTENDANT: Naku sir, more than 500 years old na po yang vase na nabasag ninyo.

ERAP:  Haay salamat. Akala ko bago!  Hik! Hik! Hik!
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PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTS TOGETHER ON A PLANE

  GMA: what if I throw a check for a million pesos out the window to make at least 1 Filipino happy?

CORY: but my dear, why don’t you throw 2 checks for half a million each and thus make 2 Filipinos happy?
 RAMOS: why not throw four checks for a quarter of a million each and make four Filipinos happy?
 And on it went until finally, Estrada  blurts out:
ERAP: “Madam President, why not simply throw yourself out of the window and make all the Filipinos happy?”
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 BREAKFAST in the USA

 A Filipino town councilor was with a group of politicians on a study tour in a sister US city.  One morning he went to a Diner in the city and ordered breakfast.

Pinoy Councilor:  I want a cup of coffee …

American Waiter: What kind of coffee would you like, Sir, regular or decaf?
Pinoy Councilor : No, Big kap!! Big kap!
American Waiter: What would you like for your breakfast, Sir?
Pinoy Councilor: Ham en eggs.
American Waiter: And how do you like your eggs, Sir?
Pinoy Councilor:  Yes, tenkyu. I like dem beri much.
American Waiter: No sir, I mean how would you like them cooked?
Pinoy Councilor: Yes, tenkyu. I wud like dem cooked.
American Waiter: (now very impatient) Would you like your eggs...fried? poached? hard boiled or soft boiled?
Pinoy Councilor: (now very uneasy) Yes, one fried en one hard boiled or sop boiled.
Waiter: And what bread would you like?
Pinoy: Beg yur pardon?
American Waiter: What kind of bread would you like? white? rye? Whole wheat? toast?
Pinoy: Pan Americano
American Waiter: We don't have that, Sir.
Pinoy Councilor: Okey, gib me taysti.
American Waiter: We don't have that either, sir.
Pinoy Councilor: Do you hab pan de lemon or pan de sal?
American Waiter: Sir, you are wasting my time. I shall ask for the last time, what would you like for breakfast?
Pinoy Councilor: Donut plis....
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Please follow continuing parts of Political Jokes in the Philippines..

I am wishing for all Politicians to have a joyful and fruitful campaign. Good luck !

Rogelio G. Balo

Central Valley, California USA
October 28, 2015

Winning or Losing In a Philippine Election

 

WINNING OR LOSING IN A PHILIPPINE ELECTION     

A Political Election Campaign

Political pundits have been asked numerous questions as to the most important component of a political campaign strategy that will assuredly impel victory for election candidates. Until today, the query remained unanswered as we have heard equivocal answers to a seemingly difficult question. Most political experts will say, having a ”win-able” candidate, a successful fundraising to source out enough campaign funds and a well planned and effective campaign activities  to convert the support of the “target “voters into actual votes in the polling precincts on election day.  

The Role of Mass Media

Political strategists have the use of numerous materials for their campaigns, however, most if not all consider mass media as the most potent campaign tactic. Almost every stage of a political campaign is carefully planned to obtain the fullest media coverage, from fund raising, press announcements, staged campaign rallies, major radio and TV interviews and political debates.

In political campaigns of today, candidates necessitate newspaper, magazines, radio, television and now the internet to reach the voting public with their political aspirations. For this reason, political analysts say that candidates who are deficient in effective media strategy are predestined to meet failure in the elections.

Analysts added that advertising oftentimes distorts essential information and positions while the predominance of polling by news conduits turns elections into popularity contests and causes candidates to follow the opinions of the voters on contemporary issues rather than their own. Whatever its positive or negative effects, the fact remains that exposure to the news media does influence public awareness and opinion, significantly.

Many articles have been written about the effect that the mass media have upon the presentation and outcome of political campaigns however many observers have opined that mass media communications often focuses on the superficial factors such as popularity and family influence of candidates while  ignoring vital issues in the election.

Upsurge of Elected Officials From Various Fields

Nowadays, we have numerous elected government officials who are luminaries from the fields of sports, show business, Tri-media and even from the religious sector.

The long list started with the late Senator Rogelio de la Rosa, who was a matinee idol before he was elected to the Senate in 1957 and later became Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia, Netherlands and Poland, among other assignments. There were unverified reports that Senator de la Rosa could have won the 1961 presidential polls mainly because of his popularity not to mention his respectable qualifications.  While in the middle of his campaign, Sen. De le Rosa withdrew from the race in favor of his co-Kapampangan brother-in-law, Diosdado Macapagal, who eventually won the election.

Former and current elected government officials coming from these fields include Joseph Estrada, Noli de Castro, Loren Legarda, Grace Padaca, Ramon Revilla, Robert Jaworski, Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada, Lito Lapid, Vilma Santos, Isko Moreno, Herbert Bautista, Joey Marquez, Alma Moreno, George Ejercito, Mark Lapid, Father Eddie Panlilio, Grace Padaca, Guia Gomez, Isko Moreno, Manny Pacquiao and the  list goes on and on.

Election Campaign Paraphernalia

For as long as we could remember, Filipinos have seen varied kinds of campaign paraphernalia around the country. Posters and tarpaulins of candidates can be seen in houses, electric and telephones posts, trees, public utility jeepneys and buses, “sari-sari stores, “tri-sikad” and tri-cycles, ice cream carts and many more. With all these paraphernalia of different shapes, sizes and colors scattered around cities, municipalities, barangays and puroks, the whole landscape seem to bear semblance to a carnival, circus or “fiesta” in the whole nation. With the campaign period for local positions scheduled to start on March 29, 2016 expect a more colorful terrain and festive atmosphere everywhere. 

Aside from the tarpaulins, posters and leaflets and flyers, candidates have to spend huge amount of money to provide voters with “giveaway” gifts such as hand fans (abaniko), lighters, calendar IDs, Tee-Shirts, Caps, ball pens, coffee cups, beer mugs, among many other items as far as one’s imagination can stretch. Of course, all of these gifts are personalized with the name, photo and “catchy” phrases and puns of candidates.

It is still vivid in our minds the slogans of; Ramon Magsaysay’s “ Magsaysay is my guy” Diosdadado Macapagal’s “Poor Boy from Lubao”,  Ferdinand Marcos “ This country can be great again”, Estrada’s “ERAP sa Mahirap”, Pres. Aquino’s “ Kung Walang Corrupt Walang Mahirap” Gibo Teodoro’s “ Galing at Talino”, Manny Villar’s “Sipag at Tiyaga”, Joker Arroyo’s “ Kung Bad Ka, Lagot Ka”,and  Pichay’s “ Itanim sa Senado”, among a lot of others.       

Political Jingles

By nature, Filipinos are music lovers. An entertainment magazine described Filipinos as the “Italians of Asia” because we love and appreciate music just like the Italians do. It is very true that in houses, offices, coffee shops, malls, stores, public utility and private vehicles and markets, listening to music is a part of daily life of Filipinos.

Many of our professional singers have invaded foreign shores and made good as international entertainers. This first Filipino talent was showcased with the front act of the Reycard Duet at Las Vegas in the early 1960’s followed by Pilita Corrales and Jun Polistico of the Society of 7, a band based in Hawaii.  Lea Salonga who rose to world fame with her stage performance of Kim in Miss Saigon, was asked to perform for Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, former US Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton. Lani Misalucha is now permanently based in Las Vegas doing front acts in hotels and casinos while Arnel  Pineda  vaulted to international renown when he became the lead singer of  the American rock band Journey in 2007. And who can miss the young Filipino lady with a powerful and magnificent voice, Charice Pempengco, who made waves in the US, Asia and Europe and even did a concert with the famous Celine Dion at the Central Park in New York after enthralling the audience and TV watchers worldwide in the Oprah Winfrey show, and the number will continue to grow. Today “karaoke” singing is a favorite pastime of Filipinos, from the smallest purok to the biggest urban center in the country. 

When democratic elections in the Philippines began in the early 1930’s, music became a part of every political campaign to attract the fancy of the voting public.  In one election campaign report, George S. Caparas of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) wrote,

“A jingle is basically a candidate’s musical score, but its usefulness lies in its being a mnemonic device that compresses name, program and platform into a 2-minute rhyme. The best ones play endlessly in one’s head. Blaring relentlessly from motorcades and speakers, a jingle enlivens the crowd before a big speech. Its mission is simple. Disarm the voter with a good harmony before drilling the message home. Speeches are all the same and easily forgotten, but a great jingle lingers.”

 The “Lacson Mambo”

The late Manila Mayor Arsenio H. “Arsenic” Lacson became the first politician to use a campaign jingle in the history of Philippine politics.

 Archives recorded a successful political jingle known as the “Lacson Mambo”, a campaign strategy used by the late Manila Mayor Arsenio H. Lacson. The political song that was based on the sensual African drumbeats and Cuban rhythm was reportedly instrumental in Mayor Lacson’s election victories in 1951, 1955 and 1959. 

The “Magsaysay Mambo”

I was still in the elementary school when the late Ramon Magsaysay run for President in 1953 and I cannot forget the many times I and my classmates would sing and dance to the “ Magsaysay Mambo”, amazingly composed by the late former Sen. Raul S. Manglapus.

 Many believed that the jingle became an irresistible song that made the Filipino people “swaying and dancing” to the mambo rhythm of the jingle, with an upfront Pilipino-English lyrics ;

                Everywhere that you would look,,,  was a bandit or a crook,

                Peace and Order was a joke,,,, til Magsaysay pumasok,

                That is why,,, That is why,,,, you will hear the people cry,

                Our democracy will die,,,, Kung wala si Magsaysay,

The perceived effectiveness of the “Magsaysay Mambo” as a campaign strategy was reinforced when Magsaysay won the Philippine Presidency by a landslide. Magsaysay garnered 68.9 % while incumbent Pres. Quirino got 31% of the total casted votes, an unprecedented margin in the Philippines political history.

It makes me wonder why, after many years, this political jingle still lingers on the back of my mind and I can still sing it to the tune and rhythm of the song as I believe most Filipinos of my generation can.  

 Goons, Guns and Gold in Philippine Politics

While it is true that Filipinos have long endured election-related violence in the country, the use of “goons and guns” by politicians have dwindled since the Martial Law in 1972. Carnage brought about by political elections become dominant in the 1950’s to 1960’s where hostilities are almost daily occurrences. Powerful political clans coming from the oligarchic national and local clans maintained “private armies” to pursue political ambitions. Once elected into public offices, these political warlords boost their capacity for violence and intimidation purportedly to counter the NPA rebels or Muslim insurgents.

The deadly clashes of political clans are most prevalent in the local government units where fraud and violence became a daily ritual. Among the many political “warlords” that were always vying for supremacy in their communities are; the Montanos and Bocalans in Cavite, the Josons and Perezes in Nueva Ecija, Crisologos and Singsons in Ilocos Sur, the Cojuangcos and Aquinos in Tarlac, the Dimaporos and Quibranzas in Lanao del Norte, and the Ganzons and Carams in Iloilo. Then, the preponderant “political  warlordism” created armed groups in Mindanao like the “Barracudas and Blackshirts fighting against the Christian “Ilagas”. Another political armed group “PUSA” was organized by powerful political clans in Mindanao, an ellipsis for Pendatun, Udtog Mattalam, Sinsuat and Ampatuan.

However, a most recent poll-related violence jolted the nation with the mass murder of 57 people in a politically volatile province Maguindanao, Mindanao on Nov. 2009. It  is not only the  outrageous number of fatalities that eclipse previous acts of  election-related violence that is mindboggling but also the extent of the senseless bloodbath since the victims included relatives and supporters of a would-be gubernatorial candidate of a rival clan, as well as women, 18 journalists, and travelers innocently passing the scene of the barbaric murders.  A powerful political clan, acknowledged to be a close ally of former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is the suspected perpetrator of the senseless massacre.

Most Filipino traditional politicians (trad-pol) dispense the “gold,” or huge amounts of cash, to buy votes. But they also recruit “goons with guns,” or private armies, to take on equally militarized political opponents. All of these show the grim reality of the deteriorating stability of the democratic state of the nation.

 The Political Campaign “Barkers”

In Philippine politics, a political “barker” is a name given to a person who acts as a “mouthpiece” of a candidate or a political party. Usually, political ”barkers” come from the broadcast media of the local radio stations in the provinces and cities and are adept in portraying their candidate’s profile to attract voters attention. Political analysts have observed that the main issue of political “barkers”  is credibility. While there are political “barkers” who campaign through the radio broadcast consistently for a party or candidates, it is common to see political “barkers” rallying for a candidate in one election and against the same candidate in another election, depending on who pays them. “Barkers” of this type can lash demeaning and derogatory diatribes against a particular candidate on one election year but can sing praises to high heavens to the same candidate in another election. Jestingly, a local politician compared some political “barkers” to a jukebox, a musical equipment that plays the kind of music selected by the person who drops the coin money in its slot box. While I find this statement humorous enough, yet many will find this accurate and relevant. As an example, one highly-paid presumptuous political “barker” in a local government unit reportedly humiliated himself by tendering a public apology, as demanded by the accuser, to evade conviction of a libel charge filed against him by an election candidate and former city official.

Maybe for this reason, political strategists should be fastidious and cautious in choosing their political campaigners and “barkers” in order that irreparable damage to the chances of their candidates in winning the election will be circumvented.

So you want to enter the political jungle huh? Before you do that, you have to think not twice but many times before you join the Olympics of Promises, Lies, Deception and Hypocrisy.. That is why many regard politicians as belonging to the rare breed of people.

 

Rogelio G. Balo

Central Valley, California USA

September  27, 2015

The 1965 Philippine Presidential Election Campaign - Battle of Wits and Hypocrisy

THE 1965 PHILIPPINE ELECTION CAMPAIGN - A BATTLE OF WITS AND HYPOCRISY

Three months prior to the 16^th Presidential election on May 9, 2016, election campaigns of opposing political parties will start on Feb. 9 early next year.  By now, I would surmise to say that the political machineries are humming in action gearing for the start of the campaign fever that is expected to increase its heat and reach its steaming point a few weeks before the election date.

In retrospect, the most memorable election that opened my mind to politics was the national poll in November 1965, contested by then President Diosdado Macapagal and then Senate President Ferdinand Marcos, both gone to the beyond. That time, as a new college graduate, I have just started my employment with The Manila Times Publishing of the late Chino Roces and thus accessible to all information on political issues of the country, specifically the said election.

I can still vividly recall the intensity of the campaigns of both Liberal and Nacionalista parties, highlighted by the organization of the Blue Ladies of Imelda Marcos and the Lakambinis in Pink  of Eva Macapagal with their die-hard supporters who were ready to do everything to ensure the victory of their candidates.

The Liberal Party tried to portray their candidate Macapagal, a 1936 No. 1 BAR topnotcher from UST, as the “Poor boy from Lubao, Pampanga” and inculcated in the minds of the voters as an incorruptible political leader. Of course, the Nacionalista Party of Marcos considered this as a highest form of hypocrisy, underlining numerous issues of corruption and publicly underscoring the infamous Harry Stonehill’s  US Tobacco Corporation corruption scandal that rocked Macapagal’s early incumbency. Marcos party likewise established the fact that Harry Stonehill was the financier of Macapagal when he first run for President against then President Carlos P. Garcia in 1961. Aside from the corruption issues, Macapagal’s administration was denounced by Marcos in its subservience to foreign interests, having ineffective economic policies and incompetence in governance.   

On the other end of the spectrum, the Nacionalista party depicted Marcos as a World War II hero and a potential national leader with his exemplary performances in the local and national political scenes The campaign kitty likewise highlighted the exciting achievement of how Marcos completed his law degree from UP while on bail for the murder of Julio Nalundasan in 1938.  Marcos was convicted in 1939 and sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in prison.  Reviewing for the 1939 BAR exam while in jail, Marcos posted bail to take the BAR and passed, placing no 1 with very high scores (98.5) such that he was suspected of cheating. Marcos was summoned by the Supreme Court for an oral re-examination, which he passed with flying colors and was given the final grade of 92.35%. Marcos likewise argued his murder conviction in front of then Supreme Court Justice Jose P. Laurel and on October 22, 1940, was acquitted of the charge of murder and forthwith liberated from imprisonment

 

Naturally the Liberal party countered by tagging Marcos as a land grabber, corporate stock manipulator, a womanizer and a corrupt public official in his influencing peddling and accepting bribery and illegal commissions from reparation contracts under the Japanese Reparation Law. In addition, Marcos was also branded as a forger for the fake war damage claims for lost cattle in his father’s ranch in Mindanao and his fake World War II medals.

The marvel that developed throughout what was considered as the longest political campaign in our nation’s history, was judged by many as a total war between the opposing parties. As the campaign came closer to election day, the tussle between the parties turned nasty and dreadful and displayed all forms of serious accusations and allegations between the presidential candidates.

History will tell us that Marcos eventually won the election by more than half a million votes against then incumbent President Macapagal even with the entire bureaucracy, the military organization  and the mammoth government resources under his disposal. 

Many political analysts believed that the showing of the movie “Iginuhit ng Tadhana” was the singular  most effective and persuasive campaign strategy that won the Presidency for Marcos. The controversial movie that depicted life story of Marcos stirred a legal battle after its banning and generated the support of the voting population., especially in the far flung barrios, towns and cities in the provinces. The “Iginuhit ng Tadhana” movie  became the arrow that pierced the “Achilles heel” of Macapagal in that election.  More than that, most of us could not undermine the vital role of the Blue Ladies and how Imelda Marcos sang and danced to the hearts of the voting populace.

More than what is written above, both political party candidates displayed with flamboyance the highest form of hypocrisy and audacity throughout their campaign sorties. Many political observers believed that the Nacionalista party has mastered the art of hypocrisy, an attribute necessary for politicians to win elections, both in the national and local levels.

Rogelio G. Balo

Central Valley, California USA

Sept.  19, 2015           

 

Life, Destiny, Choices and ...Regrets

Life, Destiny, Choices and…Regrets

What is Life?

A simple definition of life is “the existence of a human being”.  Of course, this definition extends to all forms of animals, plants and living organisms.   

In his philosophy about human life, Ralph Waldo Emerson said , “Life is a journey, not a destination.”

Most of us believe that life is a journey where the paths are oftentimes rough and thorny, dominated by ups and downs and mysteries. A life’s journey is filled with lessons, challenges, good and bad choices, successes and failures, torments, tragedies, desperation and happiness that will finally lead us to our destination, our goal of what we want to be in life. Some of these challenges will put to test our strengths, weaknesses, courage, resolve, and faith. Along life’s path, we may fall due to obstacles. In order to pursue our dreams in life, it becomes imperative to rise after each fall and overcome these challenges and tests. Sometimes these obstacles are really blessings in disguise and we need to hurdle them to continue our journey. Destiny And Choice Destiny Destiny is defined as “what's meant to be, what's written in the stars, your inescapable fate”. Destiny is synonymous with other nouns like divine, luck, fortune, and serendipity. Those who believe in destiny believe that there are greater forces defining one’s life journey. .For them, there's no way to avoid destiny, since it's going to happen no matter what you act anyway. Choices While on the other end, numerous persons believe that what we have attained in life, whether we consider ourselves a failure or successful is because of our choices along our journey. Choice is an essential factor that many great and famous people believed to make a person what he is.  People who believe that life is a world of choices considers  life as a product of our own decisions. An essential part of our lives is making choices or decisions. We make choices on a daily occurrence; from the food we choose to eat, the dress that we buy, the friends that we keep and many other daily activities that we do. In many of these cases, making choices is something that we do without much thought, without hesitation, without concern. However, in important issues we tend to think twice assessing the situation giving us moments of hesitation, doubts and fears on the outcome of a bad choice. Regrets As defined by Wikipedia, “regret is a negative conscious and emotional reaction to personal past acts and behaviors. Regret is often expressed by the term "sorry." Regret is often a feeling of sadness, shame, embarrassment, depression, annoyance, or guilt, after one acts in a manner and later wishes not to have done so. Wikipedia further explains that “regret is distinct from guilt, which is a deeply emotional form of regret; one which may be difficult to comprehend in an objective or conceptual way. It is also distinct from remorse, which is a more direct and emotional form of regret over a past action that is considered by society to be hurtful, shameful, or violent. Unlike regret, it includes a strong element of desire for apology to others rather than an internal reflection on one's actions, and may be expressed (sincerely or not) in order to reduce the punishment one receives.” Every decision that we make is basically our own choice although most decisions are forced upon us every day by uncontrollable circumstances surrounding the issues. Generally, good and bad choices shaped one’s success or failure in a lifetime. While a right decision concludes a subject of concern, it would take another or several decisions to rectify an initial wrong decision. Unfortunately, there are wrong decisions on vital matters that are irrevocable and the damages as a result are irreversible causing torturous times for the decision maker and others who are affected by a bad decision. A family man who decides to indulge in big time gambling and loses his fortune will not only realize his dismal failure as a person but most importantly his culpability as a husband and father as a result of a bad choice. People go through life with some regrets.  Every one of us has some regrets especially on bad choices that we made whether they maybe trivial or serious concerns.  Although most regret can refer only to a bad action or decision made, there are many of us who felt regrets on things that we have failed to do.  Choosing a career, a life partner and business ventures are classic are example of crucial concerns that necessitate careful study and assessment before making decisions since these are matters that will significantly affect our lives and our families.  Unfortunately, even the most carefully made decisions can leave us haunted with feelings of regret, always bothered by doubt "what if?" Many of us carry these feelings of regret with us through the passage of time, most often permitting them to influence our future choices. The fact is though, by the time your pain or sadness is old enough to be a regret, or deep enough there is likely nothing that you can be done to repair the damage. Here again is where grieving is the only way to move on. As human beings, it is natural to have regrets. Of course, regret is necessarily not bad. A person who regrets treating a friend badly because of gossips may learn not to make these mistakes again. In most instances, regrets help the person make better decisions in the future. Some people who live by the principle of "no regrets," may find it perturbing because without regrets we never learn from our bad decisions and provides us greater chances to replicate the past indiscretions. On the other hand, if we focus intensely on our regrets, it can lead us to imbed fear in ourselves and may doubt our ability to make options, which can prevent us from making any choice at all when confronted with a situation where we have to make a decision. Procrastination or withdrawal is surely to result. Scientific studies show that people tend to overestimate the level of regret associated with a decision, and that the majority of people regret inaction above all else [source: Connolly and Zeelenberg]. When faced with a hypothetical decision, study participants believe that they are much more likely to regret things they do than things they don't do. When asked about real-life experiences, however, an overwhelming majority regretted the things they hadn't done much more than the things they had. More recent studies show that people anticipate much higher levels of regret than they actually feel when making decisions. Participants on average felt less regretful about failures or bad decisions than they expected, and those who made the most reasonable and informed decisions experienced the lowest levels of regret. A research study confirmed that regrets are quantifiable. Simply put, the more serious the wrong choice, the more intense regrets are, necessary to ease the torment especially when there are other persons that are affected by the mistake.  Conclusion   An old adage says : “Your Life Is What You Make It”.  “The power to fail or succeed is yours alone. You have the responsibility to shape your life to reach whatever you want to be”. Maybe very own boxing idol Manny Pacquiao was destined to be the world’s boxing icon, as many believed. But we have to consider is that Pacquiao reached the apex of boxing not just because it was his destiny. Coming from very humble beginnings, he could have been a baker, a factory worker or a farmer. Yet he chose to become a professional boxer to get out of poverty. To do this, Manny has to overcome many hurdles in life to reach his destination. He trained and trained hard with perseverance, dedication and commitment. Manny suffered desperate losses in his early bouts but because he remained focused in his choice to become a successful boxer, Manny is now where he wants to be, at the top of the boxing world. The case of William Gates is another enriching example of reaching life’s destiny through choices. Gates, a son of a prominent lawyer and successful banker was preparing to become a lawyer, like his father. Bur Gates was more involved in computers in high school. With his superior genes, Gates was a national academic scholar and accepted in Harvard University where most of his waking times were spent in studying computer programs. Without any study plan, Gates made a choice to drop out of Harvard in his second year, this after consulting his parents who were supportive of  his dream to start a life in computers. Subsequently in 1975, at the young age of 20, Gates co-founded Microsoft with close friend Paul Allen.  And the rest is history. Gates became the wealthiest man in the world and have donated more than 40 B US dollars on social and humanitarian causes through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Destiny ? or Choice ? An old adage says : “Your Life Is What You Make It”.  “The power to fail or succeed is yours alone. You have the responsibility to shape your life to reach whatever you want to be”. I am positive that when you have finished reading this article you will be tempted to sit down and seriously ponder about your life up to the present stage. You will find yourself asking these questions? What have I done wrong? What are the things that I have failed to do? Why did I made these and those choices? After trying to look back at your past, you will either feel gratification or feel sorry for missing some opportunities in the past. After all. “life is what we make it.” And Walter Jennings Bryan said: “ Destiny is not a matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not something to be waited for, but rather something to be achieved. “

Rogelio G. Balo
Central Valley, California . USA
Sept. 15, 2015

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Philippines As One of the 50 Most Corrupt Countries in the World

Philippines as One of the 50 Most Corrupt Countries in the World

Corruption is prevalent in almost every country in the world– but some are more corrupt than others.  An independent research institution released a complete list of the most corrupt countries in the world, ranked in order of how corrupt the country's government is. Many countries have made it to this list, thanks to its corrupt politicians with illegal money making skills. In these countries of the world, bribery and corruption are rampant.

 Source : Transparency International, 2009, 2013

Somalia is ranked as the top most corrupt while New Zealand is the least corrupt country. Most importantly. Singapore is listed as the second least corrupt country, besting even most highly developed countries like the U.S.A, United Kingdom and other European countries.

Sad to note over and over again, the Philippines was listed in the first quadrant of the ranking, 42^nd amongst 180 countries in the world. Notably, among the South East Asian countries, only Cambodia and Myanmar are more corrupt than the Philippines while Bangladesh is ranked 45^th.  Vietnam(57)  and Indonesia (58) Thailand (94), are way down in the ranking with South Korea (141) and Japan (165)  listed in the last quadrant, meaning lesser corrupt countries.

The least 10 corrupt countries in the world is ranked as New Zealand, Singapore, Denmark, Switzerland, FINLAND, Netherlands, Norway, Australia, Canada and Iceland.   

 

A Negrense Philippine Senator ?

A Negrense Philippine Senator?

 Undoubtedly, the recent united stand of most politicians from Negros Occidental in supporting Rep. Albee Benitez for the Senate in the coming 2016 elections is a welcome development for most Negrenses.  Notably joining the call were Governor Alfredo Maranon, Vice Governor Bong Lacson, Districts Congressmen, component cities and municipal mayors and Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella. The eventual election of a Senator from the province will serve as a “shot in the arm” for the people of Negros Island as a whole.

Philippine history archives exhibited that there were several Negrense Senators in the Legislature of the Philippine Senate that represented the 8^th District comprising Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Antique and Palawan. Among them were Esperidion Guanco (1916 -1925), Mariano Yulo (1925-1929), Francisco Zulueta (1929 – 34), Gil Montilla (1934-35). Guanco and Zulueta are natives of Iloilo while Yulo and Montilla were from Negros.

On the Senate term of the Philippine Commonwealth from 1942-46, Negrenses Ramon Torres and Jose Yulo were elected in 1941.

In the First Congress of the Republic of the Philippines, Enrique B. Magalona Sr. from Saravia was elected as Senator. He was re-elected in 1949 for a new term from 1950-1953. In the 3^rd Congress,  Silay’s Jose C. Locsin was elected as Senator for his only term from 1954 – 1957 thus reputed as the last Negrense to be elected to the Philippines Senate.    

Subsequently, Jose Yulo of Bago City run for President in the general election in 1957 but lost to Carlos P. Garcia who was from the small province of Bohol. Yulo’s Candidate for Vice President, Diosdado Macapagal won however.  In the same election, Jose C. Locsin, who ran for reelection as Senator, missed the last 8^th slot by a heartbeat, losing to the winning candidate Cipriano Primicias by a very slim margin.  

 In more recent elections, several Negrenses have attempted to become Senators but were not successful for many reasons. One question that may come up to one’s inquisitive mind is the questionable unity of the voting public of the province to provide all out support for its own candidates for national positions.

Bacolod native and lawyer Wilson P. Gamboa  Sr., a former Bacolod city councilor, Assemblyman and Secretary of Land Reform joined the 1987 Senatorial election under the GAD-Unido party. With 24 Senate seats for contention due to the change into a unicameral system, Gamboa placed no. 40 among 84 candidates. The Lakas ng Bayan LABAN bets won 22 out of the 24 seats and only 2 candidates from GAD won, Joseph Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile.

Another promising Negrense who was a potential Senator was the late Frank Chavez who hailed from Sagay City. Equipped with impeccable academic achievements and national prominence, Chavez was the youngest Philippines Solicitor General, youngest Bar Examiner and TOYM awardee, among many accolades, failed to land a slot in the Senatorial races in 1999 and 2004. In the 2004 Senatorial elections, Chavez got 4,286,838 votes and ranked 23^rd among 48 candidates.  It is sad to note though that Negrense Chavez was not able to get the support of his province mates. The votes that he garnered (301,898) was far lesser than the votes gotten by non- Negrense candidates, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Pia Cayetano, Bong Revilla, Richard Gordon, John Osmena, Aquilino Pimentel, and Mar Roxas.

While the province of Iloilo supported their own candidate Miriam Defensor-Santiago, making her  no. 1 in her home province Iloilo, Negrense Frank Chavez ranked only no. 8 in Negros Occidental.  Whoa ! Whoa!  How frustrating indeed!

Ironically, in the same elections, popular candidates with mediocre qualifications like Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada and Lito Lapid won Senatorial seats in the 2004 election. It is quite true, “politics is funnier in the Philippines.”

Atty. Alexander L. Lacson is another Negrense who, despite outstanding qualifications, failed to hurdle the 2010 Senatorial elections. Schooled in the Philippine Military Academy, UP Diliman and Harvard Law School, Lacson is a native of Kabankalan, Negros Occidental. Winner of numerous awards such as the Galing Pilipino Award, Young Pilipino Achievers Award, and Good Pilipino Award, among others Lacson is also a law lecturer, author and philanthropist.

In the final tabulation, Alex Lacson garnered 5,242,594 votes and ranked 22^nd among the 61 senatorial candidates. Lacson’s showing in the election can be considered a good one for a candidate without campaign funds and a first attempt in national politics. Another Negrense candidate in the same election was former Congressman Apolinario Lozada, who ranked lower than Alex Lacson, at 29. Most notably, their defeats made many shake their heads taking into account that, again, popular entertainers/movie actors with less qualifications and with mediocre performances as incumbent Senators Bong Revilla (No. 1), Jinggoy Estrada and Lito Lapid were among the 12 winners.. Again, politics is funnier in the Philippines.

Are Pilipinos cursed by the gods to have these nincompoops as Senators over and over again? Or are Pilipinos too immature and indifferent as voters to consistently make bad choices in their political leaders? Mama Mia!  (At the time of this writing, Estrada and Revilla are now in jail for accusation of plunder)

While in the past the Philippines had taken pride in its dignified and intellectual Senators, the parliamentarian of today is a direct contrast. Gone are the Senate days of Claro M. Recto, Ferdinand Marcos, Amang Rodriguez, Sergio Osmena, Manuel Manahan, Cipriano Primicias, Ambrosio Padilla, Lorenzo Tanada, Arturo Tolentino, Gil Puyat, Francisco SOC Rodrigo, Lorenzo Sumulong,  Jose W. Diokno, Benigno Aquino, Tecla Andres-Ziga and Emmanuel Pelaez, among many other elite statesmen. Today, the Philippine electorate had voted sports idols, movie actors and TV personalities and sons, daughters, brother, sisters and relatives of political dynasties. From movie actor Joseph Estrada, wife Loi, sons Jinggoy and JV Ejercito, Ramon Reviila Sr. and Bong Revilla, Rene Cayetano, son Alan Peter and daughter Pia, the Dictator’s son, Bongbong Marcos, VP Jejomar Binay’s daughter Nancy Binay, Actor Lito Lapid, TV personalities Noli de Castro, Loren Legarda, Tito Sotto and Orlando Mercado, to name a few.

Maybe it is high time to have a Senator from Negros Occidental considering that Iloilo has already made a big headway in having its own Senators namely Fernando Lopez, Roding Ganzon, Teopisto Guingona Jr. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Franklin Drilon. Even former Senator Manuel Villar has his roots from Iloilo.

Although winning in the Philippine election requires being in a major political party, national prominence and most importantly loads of money and

In order to ensure the success of Cong. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez in his bid for Senator in 2016, it becomes imperative for Negrenses to put their act together and abandon the much vaunted “crab mentality ” prevalent among us, especially the politicians.

Rogelio G. Balo

Central Valley, CA USA

Nov. 4, 2014