resident Arroyo
pledged to pursue sustained economic growth and prevent "political sideshows"
from impeding progress. Many people say that it all depends on who are playing
the "political sideshows". Usually, people who indulge in political side shows
are tagged as "destabilizers" and they were all from the opposition and others
who disagree with her governance. If she does not want people to criticize her,
she might as well demolish the opposition in the May 14 elections.
***
In a press briefing President Arroyo said: "There is no
turning back. We will balance the budget, create new jobs, and lift this nation
up. For once we have traveled the path of 24 quarters of uninterrupted growth.
We have demonstrated to ourselves and to the world that we can sustain our
economic growth and not be derailed by political sideshows."
***
All political candidates are either laughing or smiling with
bright faces upon proclamation and before the elections. But if they lose, they
have long and sad faces because all of them were confident of winning until they
faced the reality of defeat. But there are many election losers who keep coming
back for another fight and still another fight like punch-drunk boxers.
***
Will Manny Pacquiao succeed in the political arena, as well
as he has in the boxing ring? He is running for congressman in the 1st district
of South Cotabato.
***
The PNP has listed nine provinces as hot spots in the coming elections or
"elections areas of concern." At the rate the campaign is going, especially in
the local contests for congressmen, governors, mayors and other officials, I am
sure that the list of election hot spots or "election areas of concern" will get
longer.
***
Senate President Manuel Villar said: "There are those who say
that the Senate is a stumbling block in the country’s progress because all it
does is conduct investigation and inquiries. But I saw and discovered that the
Senate can in fact be at the forefront of strengthening the economy." He is
right – if the Senate stops playing politics most of the time and concentrates
on their task of legislation.
***
Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, president of the Liberal Party
(LP, Atienza wing) proclaimed LP’s Buhayin ang Maynila ticket with his son, Ali
Atienza, as candidate for mayor and Don Bagatsing for vice mayor. Also
proclaimed were the candidates of LP Atienza wing, for congressmen and
councilors for the six districts of the city. Ali Atienza, a neophyte in
politics, will face veterans Senator Alfredo Lim, a former popular Manila mayor,
and Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna.
***
The original Liberal Party headed by Senator Franklin Drilon
proclaimed Senator Francis Pangilinan and Tarlac Rep. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino
III, as its official candidates under the banner of the Genuine Opposition
coalition. Noynoy vowed to support the independence of the Senate and to oppose
Charter Change (Cha-cha) if done in the wrong session and the wrong manner.
Pangilinan reiterated that he is running as an independent but in the GO ticket.
He would propose and support programs for decent housing, education and
employment. Although Team Unity has two movie actors (Cesar Montano and Tito
Sotto) in its ticket and the GO has none, the opposition alliance has Kris
Aquino campaigning for her brother Noynoy and Sharon Cuneta campaigning for her
husband Kiko Pangilinan.
***
To prove that the law applies to everybody, the Presidential
Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) chairperson, Dr. Constancia de Guzman, dismissed
one of her own officials for dishonesty and falsification of public documents.
Ma. Arianette Salanga, graft prevention and control officer, was dismissed after
she was found guilty of entering false information and her daily time record.
***
My good friend Nandy Pacheco, advocate of a gunless society
and founder of Kapatiran (Alliance for the Common-Good), finally did it. He and
his close friends put up candidates for senator, perhaps, idealists and dreamers
like him: lawyer Zosimo Paredes, Dr. Martin Bautista, lawyer Mario Ongkiko and
lawyer Adrian Sison. At least the Kapatiran was able to field 4 senatorial bets.
That’s only one-third of the 12 senatorial candidates for the 12 senatorial
seats. But now there are only three because Ongkiko withdraw his candidacy upon
adviced of his doctor, he being 73 years old.
***
House majority Leader Prospero Nograles said 70 percent of
areas in the country are dominated by Gloria supporters. In fact, in most areas
there are no serious opposition candidates. If this is so, then we can expect
the administration coalition to win most of the seats in the Lower House. For
the 14th Congress, we can therefore expect no change of weather for the sunshine
coalition.
***
Texters are annoyed by "text spams" or unwanted text messages
to advertise products and services. These are a nuisance since they come more
frequently from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. when mobile phone users are trying to get their
sleep. Who’s to blame? Telcos claim the numbers of their subscribers are kept
confidential. But there are rumors these are for sale. Let’s expect more spams
during the campaign period, this time from unwanted candidates.
***
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) deserves to be heard again
by the Comelec. TUCP was among 33 party-list groups that were delisted by the
Comelec . They were delisted by the Comelec for failing to win-and-or-field
candidates in the last two elections. According to the TUCP it registered as a
sectoral party on January 2, 2004 and that it was only in the May 2004 election
that the labor organization participated in the party-list polls.
