MANILA, Philippines—Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco a kingmaker no more?
“Who is Danding trying to fool? For all we know this is just a ploy so that neither of his nephews would suffer the stigma of being supported by Danding, the biggest landlord in the country and arguably the top crony of Ferdinand Marcos,” said Felix Paz, national council member of the militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP).
Former Negros Occidental Rep. Charlie Cojuangco has said that his controversial father will not support any presidential candidate in the May elections although his nephews, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and former Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, are in the race.
In a statement, Paz said that peasants were “closely watching (Danding’s) every move,” believing that the tycoon remains the kingmaker that he has always been touted to be in politics.
Aside from protecting his businesses, the elder Cojuangco has his sights set on the controversial P130-billion coconut levy fund, which he is seeking to control, Paz said. In this, the businessman needs the support of whoever sits in Malacañang, he said.
“It is definitely within his interest to support and invest on a candidate or even candidates to get this target. It is also within Philippine political dynamics that businessmen especially those as big as Danding to covertly support multiple candidates so that they also win whoever among them wins,” Paz said.
The peasant leader urged all presidential candidates to let the public know their stand on the return of the coco levy funds to the small coconut farmers, the implementation of a genuine agrarian reform, and the prosecution of companies, groups and individuals who had used money intended for farmers for their own interests.
“If they cannot categorically say that they are for these issues then it is more likely than not that Danding is supporting them,” Paz said.
The elder Cojuangco’s abstention from presidential politics, if true, could signal the end of an era of political kingmakers, Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr. said in a text message.
“The next president will ignore all would-be kingmakers. New politics is coming. Watch,” Locsin said.
But Speaker Prospero Nograles does not subscribe to the power of so-called political kingmakers.
“There are no kingmakers in Philippine politics. If they could be kingmakers, they would have long declared themselves king,” Nograles said.
source: inquirer
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
77th Birthday of President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino
Just want to read it over and over again... this is from a reliable source... hehehe...
Despite this, from her early until adult life, she never aspired for political office. But circumstances brought her to submit to the will of the people and the Almighty, and she led the country through a difficult political transition and remained a steward of democratization until her death.
As a young girl, the future President Cory remembers handing out cigars and cigarettes to political leaders and their supporters who visited her father at election time. For the most part, however, her life revolved around school, church, and vacations in Antipolo in Rizal Province, the Sumulong bailiwick, and in Tarlac. Her passion for learning and service was ingrained on her by her forebears. President Cory recalled that her Grandfather Sumulong – whom she called Lolo Juan – encouraged her to read when she was young and also impressed upon her his own values, especially the belief that the elite should not dominate Philippine politics. A nationalist, Lolo Juan also taught all his grandchildren to speak in Tagalog and interact with ordinary folk, skills that the late President Cory practiced and valued.
While she had lived a life of relative comfort, the President Cory also knew what adversity brings and mustered the strength from within and from God to overcome such difficulties. Immediately after the assassination of her husband, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., President Cory was asked to rethink her political role. While she was apprehensive over taking on the leadership role at first, President Cory remembered what her late husband said when asked why he decided to go home despite the threat to his life: “I will never be able to forgive myself knowing that I could have done something and I did not do anything.” And so, she contested the presidency in 1986. With the massive support from her compatriots, she was catapulted to the presidency after the success of the popular uprising in EDSA in February 22, 1986.
When she assumed the presidency, the President Cory immediately buckled down to work, with her priorities clear – restore democracy and the fundamental rights of the people and improve the quality of life of Filipinos. In her years in the presidency, she confronted many challenges and had to deal with contending interests. She subsequently fulfilled her promise to transfer peacefully the power of the President to an elected successor.
After her term, President Cory continued her crusade for democracy and development. Through her foundation, the Benigno Aquino Jr. Foundation, she worked to provide financial and technical assistance to micro enterprises to alleviate poverty. In episodes when the country’s political order was in danger of regression, she lent her voice and her presence to protests and campaigns to restore order, protect the rights of the people, and secure the accountability of all leaders.
Her death rekindled the commitment of many Filipinos to continue her campaign to empower the ordinary Filipino to make each one of us to contribute, in our modest ways, towards the creation of a truly just, democratic, and humane Philippine society. This commitment is the most fitting tribute that we can give to the woman whose 77th Birth Anniversary we observe today.
Born in Manila on January 25, 1933, the sixth of eight children of Jose C. Cojuangco, a former congressman, and the former Demetria Sumulong, a pharmacist, Corazon Cojuangco Aquino was a member, by birth and marriage, of three political clans – the Cojuangco, Sumulong, and Aquino.
Despite this, from her early until adult life, she never aspired for political office. But circumstances brought her to submit to the will of the people and the Almighty, and she led the country through a difficult political transition and remained a steward of democratization until her death.
As a young girl, the future President Cory remembers handing out cigars and cigarettes to political leaders and their supporters who visited her father at election time. For the most part, however, her life revolved around school, church, and vacations in Antipolo in Rizal Province, the Sumulong bailiwick, and in Tarlac. Her passion for learning and service was ingrained on her by her forebears. President Cory recalled that her Grandfather Sumulong – whom she called Lolo Juan – encouraged her to read when she was young and also impressed upon her his own values, especially the belief that the elite should not dominate Philippine politics. A nationalist, Lolo Juan also taught all his grandchildren to speak in Tagalog and interact with ordinary folk, skills that the late President Cory practiced and valued.
While she had lived a life of relative comfort, the President Cory also knew what adversity brings and mustered the strength from within and from God to overcome such difficulties. Immediately after the assassination of her husband, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., President Cory was asked to rethink her political role. While she was apprehensive over taking on the leadership role at first, President Cory remembered what her late husband said when asked why he decided to go home despite the threat to his life: “I will never be able to forgive myself knowing that I could have done something and I did not do anything.” And so, she contested the presidency in 1986. With the massive support from her compatriots, she was catapulted to the presidency after the success of the popular uprising in EDSA in February 22, 1986.
When she assumed the presidency, the President Cory immediately buckled down to work, with her priorities clear – restore democracy and the fundamental rights of the people and improve the quality of life of Filipinos. In her years in the presidency, she confronted many challenges and had to deal with contending interests. She subsequently fulfilled her promise to transfer peacefully the power of the President to an elected successor.
After her term, President Cory continued her crusade for democracy and development. Through her foundation, the Benigno Aquino Jr. Foundation, she worked to provide financial and technical assistance to micro enterprises to alleviate poverty. In episodes when the country’s political order was in danger of regression, she lent her voice and her presence to protests and campaigns to restore order, protect the rights of the people, and secure the accountability of all leaders.
When she died last August 1, 2009, the outpouring of prayers, support, and sympathy was massive.
Her death rekindled the commitment of many Filipinos to continue her campaign to empower the ordinary Filipino to make each one of us to contribute, in our modest ways, towards the creation of a truly just, democratic, and humane Philippine society. This commitment is the most fitting tribute that we can give to the woman whose 77th Birth Anniversary we observe today.
source: mb.com
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Chiz to run for president
MANILA - Despite his plea for more time to decide, Senator Francis Escudero will seek the presidency, his political adviser Angelito Banayo indicated on Wednesday.
Escudero may be without a political party right now, but he is not entirely without a campaign structure that would solicit and deliver votes in May 2010, Banayo told abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak.
“There are parallel networks that have been established (for Escudero) 6 or 7 months ago,” Banayo said. “These are youth groups, young professionals, Tsinoy businessmen who are supporting Chiz (Escudero’s nickname).”
And whatever worries Escudero’s camp may have about election cheating have been mitigated by the automation of the polls.
In a surprise but hardly shocking move, Escudero announced that he is bolting the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) after 11 years with the party. He explained that someone who wants to lead the country should not be tied up with any political party.
Escudero said he will seek a higher position next year, although he is ambiguous whether it’s the presidency or the vice presidency.
Lost momentum
But because of his continued ambiguity, Escudero has lost momentum in the past few months, a source, who is a political operator-adviser, told abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak.
With Senator Benigno Aquino III surging in the surveys, Escudero has lost the opportunity to solidify his position as a strong presidential bet, the source observed.
Although he is known to be glib and to have a sharp tongue, Escudero has been coy about his presidential plan, and this has been turning off many voters.
In contrast, the reluctance of Aquino, who is not known to be articulate like Escudero, appears more genuine, the source said.
When Liberal Party (LP) President Senator Mar Roxas offered to slide down and Aquino took on the challenge reluctantly, “the two gained moral ascendancy which Escudero could no longer claim for himself.”
“This put Roxas as a viable vice-presidential bet because he is perceived to be sacrificing. Escudero is still a strong contender, but like (the late Senator Raul) Roco, he would be seen as a spoiler," the source said.
Like Escudero, Roco hailed from the vote-rich Bicol region. Roco was figuring strongly in pre-election surveys, only to peter out in the campaign stretch. Roco contested the 2004 presidential race, landing fourth behind President Gloria Arroyo, Fernando Poe Jr., and Panfilo Lacson.
Chiz to recover lost ground
Banayo admitted that Escudero has lost some ground with the entry of Aquino, “but we intend to recover and secure those that Aquino will lose.”
He said Aquino may be enjoying the “after glow” right now, “but the question is how long can he sustain it?”
In the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) conducted September 18-21, Aquino was the preferred choice of 60 percent of 1,800 respondents, followed by Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Senator Manuel Villar with 37 percent. Escudero was at fourth place, trailing former President Joseph Estrada. Respondents were allowed to give up to 3 names. (Read: Noynoy, Villar best leaders to succeed Arroyo)
Automation eliminates cheating fears
Told that Escudero’s votes would be vulnerable to cheating without a political machinery that could field watchers, Banayo said the modernization of the election system has mitigated fears of cheating.
Banayo said the anomalies are normally in the election documents, from the election returns to the statement of votes and certificate of canvass, and the slow tally and the slow count. In the automated polls, the results in the precincts are immediately transmitted to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) headquarters, thus removing human intervention. Election returns, however, are still printed by the machine.
The political operator-adviser, who was with Lacson before he gave up his presidential ambition, downplayed the role that political parties play in national races.
He said local officials “will fend for themselves in the local fights,” rendering vote delivery by local officials largely irrelevant.
Essentially, he said, command votes, as dictated by local power players, exist only in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Message, not party, is key
In a multi-candidate presidential race, Banayo said “what is important is how your message resonates to the public.”
He said Escudero’s camp is inspired by the experience of Senator Miriam Santiago who, despite a ragtag team, nearly won the 1992 presidential race. Santiago, at that time, captured the imagination of the youth vote, which Escudero is now trying to claim as his constituency.
In cutting his ties with the NPC, Escudero can now campaign based on people politics, instead of the power politics and party politics that burden other candidates, Banayo said.
Still, Escudero “agonized for a month over his decision.”
Chiz-Ping in the works?
Asked if there is a brewing partnership with Lacson as Escudero’s running mate, Banayo said Lacson sent a text message saying "Good move Chiz," and indicated that he wants to sit down with Escudero to talk.
Other political advisers and operators, however, do not share Banayo’s optimistic views.
They noted that political reality dictates that a national candidate should have support in the grassroots level through a political party. “You cannot go around by yourself. Look what happened to Lacson?” Lacson contested the 2004 presidential race as an independent.
As a possible graceful exit, they said Escudero should have endorsed Aquino and Roxas instead if he wanted to regain a moral high ground.
abs-cbn news
Escudero may be without a political party right now, but he is not entirely without a campaign structure that would solicit and deliver votes in May 2010, Banayo told abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak.
“There are parallel networks that have been established (for Escudero) 6 or 7 months ago,” Banayo said. “These are youth groups, young professionals, Tsinoy businessmen who are supporting Chiz (Escudero’s nickname).”
And whatever worries Escudero’s camp may have about election cheating have been mitigated by the automation of the polls.
In a surprise but hardly shocking move, Escudero announced that he is bolting the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) after 11 years with the party. He explained that someone who wants to lead the country should not be tied up with any political party.
Escudero said he will seek a higher position next year, although he is ambiguous whether it’s the presidency or the vice presidency.
Lost momentum
But because of his continued ambiguity, Escudero has lost momentum in the past few months, a source, who is a political operator-adviser, told abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak.
With Senator Benigno Aquino III surging in the surveys, Escudero has lost the opportunity to solidify his position as a strong presidential bet, the source observed.
Although he is known to be glib and to have a sharp tongue, Escudero has been coy about his presidential plan, and this has been turning off many voters.
In contrast, the reluctance of Aquino, who is not known to be articulate like Escudero, appears more genuine, the source said.
When Liberal Party (LP) President Senator Mar Roxas offered to slide down and Aquino took on the challenge reluctantly, “the two gained moral ascendancy which Escudero could no longer claim for himself.”
“This put Roxas as a viable vice-presidential bet because he is perceived to be sacrificing. Escudero is still a strong contender, but like (the late Senator Raul) Roco, he would be seen as a spoiler," the source said.
Like Escudero, Roco hailed from the vote-rich Bicol region. Roco was figuring strongly in pre-election surveys, only to peter out in the campaign stretch. Roco contested the 2004 presidential race, landing fourth behind President Gloria Arroyo, Fernando Poe Jr., and Panfilo Lacson.
Chiz to recover lost ground
Banayo admitted that Escudero has lost some ground with the entry of Aquino, “but we intend to recover and secure those that Aquino will lose.”
He said Aquino may be enjoying the “after glow” right now, “but the question is how long can he sustain it?”
In the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) conducted September 18-21, Aquino was the preferred choice of 60 percent of 1,800 respondents, followed by Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Senator Manuel Villar with 37 percent. Escudero was at fourth place, trailing former President Joseph Estrada. Respondents were allowed to give up to 3 names. (Read: Noynoy, Villar best leaders to succeed Arroyo)
Automation eliminates cheating fears
Told that Escudero’s votes would be vulnerable to cheating without a political machinery that could field watchers, Banayo said the modernization of the election system has mitigated fears of cheating.
Banayo said the anomalies are normally in the election documents, from the election returns to the statement of votes and certificate of canvass, and the slow tally and the slow count. In the automated polls, the results in the precincts are immediately transmitted to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) headquarters, thus removing human intervention. Election returns, however, are still printed by the machine.
The political operator-adviser, who was with Lacson before he gave up his presidential ambition, downplayed the role that political parties play in national races.
He said local officials “will fend for themselves in the local fights,” rendering vote delivery by local officials largely irrelevant.
Essentially, he said, command votes, as dictated by local power players, exist only in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Message, not party, is key
In a multi-candidate presidential race, Banayo said “what is important is how your message resonates to the public.”
He said Escudero’s camp is inspired by the experience of Senator Miriam Santiago who, despite a ragtag team, nearly won the 1992 presidential race. Santiago, at that time, captured the imagination of the youth vote, which Escudero is now trying to claim as his constituency.
In cutting his ties with the NPC, Escudero can now campaign based on people politics, instead of the power politics and party politics that burden other candidates, Banayo said.
Still, Escudero “agonized for a month over his decision.”
Chiz-Ping in the works?
Asked if there is a brewing partnership with Lacson as Escudero’s running mate, Banayo said Lacson sent a text message saying "Good move Chiz," and indicated that he wants to sit down with Escudero to talk.
Other political advisers and operators, however, do not share Banayo’s optimistic views.
They noted that political reality dictates that a national candidate should have support in the grassroots level through a political party. “You cannot go around by yourself. Look what happened to Lacson?” Lacson contested the 2004 presidential race as an independent.
As a possible graceful exit, they said Escudero should have endorsed Aquino and Roxas instead if he wanted to regain a moral high ground.
abs-cbn news