Next Top Candidate

The position could belong to one of them, but at the moment, I don't really care that much. 

Mar Roxas.  He hasn't really said he will run, pero duh - di naman obvious di ba?  Kahit ano pa gawin niya, napaghahalata naman na gusto niyang tumakbo. I guess the Aquino admin used a strategic position in the government cabinet to put him,and mind you - at the right timing - that's about a few years before the next election season starts. para may "recall" at para lahat ng government initiatives na channeled through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) - kay Roxas mapupunta.  Parang ang lalabas tuloy matulungin siya and all that god stuff.  As if naman the people don't know na sobrang pamumulitika na ginagawa nila - well, not all people actually, may mga tangang maniniwala pa rin.
His chances of winning?  I guess it is a ZERO. Hahahaha

Rodrigo Duterte.  He has not yet decided to run for the presidential seat - but the clamor is growing.  He is popular, especially with what he has done to the city of Davao.  Known to have an "iron fist" which people believe to be needed by the government in its fight against crime and corruption.  Well - corruption... di talaga ako sure jan.  Little has been known with his "corruption habits" simply because he is much known for his battles against crime. 
Personally, he has a strong chance of winning if he runs.  Yes, STRONG CHANCE of winning.  He will surely get the "Mindanao Vote" and may be considered as the first person from Mindanao to get the highest post in the government.  He may also get the "Bisaya Vote" which are mostly people from the Visayas and Mindanao - and that is almost half of the country (if my statistics are right).

Panfilo Lacson.  Well, he ran and lost - but it appears that there is a clamor by some groups that he run again, as signified by a TV ad that is circulating as early as May 2015.  He once headed the police, and he is known to be a tough guy.  Well he can probably credit that to military/police training, and his position in the PNP before.  There were corruption cases, murder cases hurled against him.  He has some sort of a "stained' reputation, but then again, who knows, being a tough guy from the police/military could be an edge for brining in a tougher government - something that may follow Fidel Ramos' regime as president perhaps?
Personally, he may have a ZERO chance in winning.  He is not popular - which is, sadly, what most voters are looking for.

Jemomar Binay.  Who doesn't know him?  Afterall, he is the current VP.  He was the first to signify his intent to become President - and he might have decided to run after his landslide win as VP in the previous elections.  He played a dramatic role in transforming Makati City to become the financial capital of the country.  He has also done a marvelous job with the city of Makati - from certain perks and benefits by Makati residents.  Outstanding performance indeed.  Sadly, he is involved in a number of controversies - all dealing with his wealth and finances.  He started political ads way too early than the rest of the possible candidates.  Di mo rin naman kasi maiakkaila na siya ang nangunguna sa mga surveys - kahit na may mga controversies. Siguro madami lang mejo nabubulagan - or maybe matindi lang talaga ang paniniwala nila sa kanya.
Personally - he can win the Presidential seat - that is what the survey says.  Who are the survey subjects anyway?

In any case, the game will change once the filing of candidacy comes in.  Sadly, people do not look at the candidates profile and platform of government.  Philippine elections is still a popularity contest.
 

Pnoy's Lenten Message

Minsan, nakakainis ang dahilan na "Tao lang ako ..." lalo na pag ang nagsasabi ay may pinagaralan, at nakapagtapos sa isang magandang unibersidad.

Ewan ko lang, pero kayo na lang ang humusga...basta para sa aking, ang shupal ng fez niya, at nakakahiya naman sa kanya at sa kanya pa talaga galing ang panguudyok ng pagiging humble.

TUWID ang DAAN

PNP Chief Alan Purisima - on hot seat

One of the many faces of the MRT.

Nakakairita lang isipin na lagi na lang pinagmamayabang ng pangulo ang “tuwid na daan” na dinadaanan ng kanyang pamunuan. Sino nga ba naman ang di maiirita kung mejo napaghahalata naman na ang mga kalaban lnag niya sa pulitika ang tinitira, pero ang mga kaalyado palging pinoprotektahan? Sino ang nakalimot sa Yolanda kung saan napakabagal ng pagdating ng tulong galing sa gobyerno – na nauunahan pa ng mga foreign aid? Nakaktawa lang isipin na sa gitna ng kalamidad at pagdurusa ng mga taga Tacloban ay isang burukrasya pa ang madadatnan ng mga nais tumulong na galing sa ibang bansa. Nakakapagtaka isipin na ang laki ng pera na nakalap mula sa mga foreign pledges and aid ngunit isang taon makalipas ang trahedya, parang hindi pa rin masyado nararamdaman ang lubusang pagbangon ng Tacloban? Sino ang nakakaalala sa bangayan nina Romualdez at Roxas sa mga panahong iyon? Ang pananalita ni Roxas na para bang sinisisi pa ang local government sa kakulangan sa paghanda noong mga panahong iyon na nagdulot ng pagkasawi ng liu-libong buhay. Nakakainis isipin na alam niyang pati ang local government ay apektado rin sa trahedyang iyon. Nasaan na ang Tacloban ngayon? Malamang nasa Visayas pa rin, pero ano na nga ba ang kalagayan ng mga biktima ni Yolanda? Bakit naroroon pa rin ang barkong sumadsad sa dalampasigan at di pa rin natatanggal? Nasaan na ang mga pinapangakong pabahay? Bakit ba tila ang bagal pa rin ng pagbangon ng Tacloban kahit na milyun milyon nag nalikom na donasyon mula sa ibang bansa? Nasaan na ang pera? Bakit kailangan na ang national Government pa ang mamahala sa pagbangon ng Tacloban gayung mas nakakaalam ang local government sa pangangailangan ng mga nasasakupan? Ano pa nga ba ang masasabi ng mga tao sa kinakaharap na kontrobersiya ng Chief PNP ngayon? Ang kapal nga naman ng mukha ng opisyal na magsabing wala siyang tagong yaman or di siya nakinabang sa posisyon gayung kitang kita naman ang ebidensiya. Kaliwa’t kanan ang mga patunay ng kanyang pagaabuso sa kaban ng bayan pero ang pangulo pa ang nagtatanggol sa kanya. Ito nga ba ang tuwid na daan? Alam naman ng lahat ang close relationship ng pangulo at ng chief PNP. Nagsimula ito sa panahon ng dating Pangulong Corazon Aquino. Di nga naman nakapagtataka na ipagtatanggol ng pangulo ang kaibigan – subalit, sa interes ng bayan, ito nga ba ay naaayon sa tuwid na daan? Ang mga pasaring ng pangulo sa nakaraang mga administrasyon ay walang katapusan. Para bang sa bawal public forum/speech niya ay may naririnig kang pasaring o paninisi sa nakaraang administrasyon. Para bang sinsabi niyang ang lahat ng problema niya ay dahil sa mga nagawa ng nakaraang administrasyon. Bakit nga ba sa halip na solusyunan nag problema at maging accountable nito, kailangan bang ipaalam sa lahat na hindi siya ang nagpasimula ng problema? Nakakarindi na ang mga sinasabi niyang pasaring – the same way as nakakarindi na rin ang lagi niyang pinagmamalaking tuwid na daan. I don’t take a train when I go to work but I have definitely tried riding the MRT. It is indeed the fastest way to get to Makati or Taft Ave coming from Quezon City. I was in college when the MRT opened. If I can remember it right, it’s initial journey was only up until the Shaw Station. Then when it became fully operational, it stretched all the way to Taft Ave from North EDSA for only 15 pesos. Again, I was in college then. That was over 10 years ago. It is a shame that until now, the fare remained at 15 pesos. Shame, because after more than 10 years, the MRT system now has a lot of maintenance issues. Yet it is true that it is the government’s responsibility to provide an effective transport system vis-à-vis providing an effective and efficient railway system like the MRT, still, the public, especially those who patronize the MRT, has a fair share in it’s maintenance and upkeep. I can only surmise, had the fare been increased before, then it may not succumb to the maintenance issues it is facing right now. I guess 15 pesos for the past 10 years is just too much to bear for a government who has a lot of other things to tend to. Now that there is news that its fare will definitely go up before 2015, people start to complain – that it is too much. Maybe they did not realize that much that it has been too long since that 15 pesos fare started. Other than the maintenance issue, there is also a question on the government subsidy, as only people in Metro Manila who patronize the MRT enjoys it. People from the Visayas and Mindanao do not patronize it but they are also worthy of government support. If only the government subsidy is decreased thus a fare increase, then those extra government funds could have helped the other aspects of governance.

MAKATI in my MIND

Yes, binoto ko sa Jejomar Binay nung tumakbo siya as VP. E ano ngayon, e naiwala ako kakayahan niya – na kaya din niya gawin sa buong Pilipinas ang ginawa niya sa Makati. I was wrong. Ang ganda kasi ng Makati…well, at least maraming bahagi ng Makati. Ang ganda ng mga benepisyo ng mga tao, libre education, may health benefits, may mga stuff for Senior Citizens. Parang too good to be true ang mga benepisyo ng pagiging taga Makati. Siyempre, ninanais mo rin na mangyari ito sa buong bansa. Pero after 4 years, parang wala naming nangyari. Lalo lang nahalata ang ambisyon ni Binay na mamuno sa bansa bilang Presidente. Ang layu-layo pa ng election, nangangampanya na. Nakakairita lang. Eto pa at nahahalungkat na ang mga itinatagong baho ni Binay. Alam naman ng lahat ang pinakabagong controversy ni Binay ngayon – ang Building na over-proced daw, at ang mga tagong yaman sa may Batangas. In spite all of the hullabaloo, the Vice President remained silent. In spite the Senate invitation during the hearings, he refused to air his side – but instea, called for a Press Conference which was supposed to explain his side of the story. I saw that presscon – and what he said was not something new. It wasn’t more of an explanation, it sounded like – an election campaign speech. Yet silence can be strong indication that he might not be doing anything wrong – BUT – too much silence could mean otherwise. Yes, tama naman na kung wala kang ginagawang masama, kaya mong humarap kahit kanino, kahit saan at kahit anong oras. Sad. Pero, gusto ko pa rin bumalik sa Makati. Saludo pa rin ako sa mga benepisyo na natatamasa ng mga tao doon. Sa Makati pa rin ako boboto sa susunod na election. Binay for President? No, I don’t think so.