Lately, TV Patrol and the Philippine Daily Inquirer has become my new best friends. After three years of slumber, the current developments in the nation's affairs has awakened my inner journalism instinct. My hunger for information - and the truth has intensified tenfold in favor of those who were the underdogs of this elections.
Every morning, I would spend an hour or two consuming word for word the news and opinions posted on the PDI website. All reports favorable to the opposition puts a smile on my face, while new slaps of anomalies thrown at the COMELEC makes my heart beat faster. It's like reading a thrilling novel about politics - except that the drama, conflict and climax happens in real time courtesy of the newsmakers, which are surprisingly more vigilant in reporting the truth behind the irregularities that happened during the recently held elections.
By now, it is well known how election fraud was attempted especially in Mindanao. Several days ago, PDI bannered 12-0 TU in Maguindanao, which was a stark contrast to the universal trends in election results from other parts of the country. It was followed by a revelation by a teacher named "Bai" who exposed to the media how they were forced - at gunpoint - and involving children to fill out the ballots in favor of Chavit Singon, Prospero Pichay and the rest of Team Unity candidates.
I wonder if Pichay's pangarap to have a seat in the Senate will ever come true.
What's absolutely exciting about the developments in this elections is that the more irregularities are being exposed with the help of the media, the more people become aware of these election cheating being done by those in the administration. It creates a deep sense of vigilance and transparency never expected by those in power, which we all know, has the capacity and machinery to manipulate the ballots in their favor. Fortunately, the civil society groups and the opposition were prepared to counter such devious plans. Having a (relatively) free press and a public unsympathetic to the government were the last ingredients for those aligned with GMA to lose badly in the ballots.
Nevertheless, if there is something the administration should celebrate about, it's the economy. They may have been beaten badly in the public's perception, but in the eyes of foreign investors and traders, they are winning the battle.
Today alone, the dollar exchange rate closed at P45 something against the dollar. The last time we had an exchange rate as brilliant as that was six years ago. During that time, I was still in college and Mrs. Arroyo has just been the president for barely a year. Though, this may affect me (and other call center agents) in the long run, the news say that this is good for the overall perception of our economy.
Same thing is true with the stock market, which is reported to be the highest ever in the country's history. Such encouraging news, simply temps me to seek assistance from a stock broker to gain myself a piece of cake in the stock market.
Economy wise, I think we have a vibrant one, despite our sick and dirty political scenery. So long as the two of them won't mix, we are bound to greater heights in the months to come. This is the same reason why, no matter how I hated the administration, my confidence with Mrs. Arroyo hasn't been tarnished yet.
I say this again, one more time.
No matter how many attempts the opposition takes to unseat her in the future, she will remain the President of the Republic. I simply don't see anyone from the opposition or from someone else capable of forming a new government forcibly taken away from her.
It will be very bad, not only for the economy but for our national image as well.
If there is anything this election has taught me, it is that not all masa are dumb as what I have initially percieved. Some of them maybe swayed by a certain and obvious corrupt candidate, but in the end, they still know what is right from wrong.
I've also learned that despite being tagged as a country marred by killings of journalists, we still have a free (and working) press that has now stood up to become the vanguard of Democracy in the country. ABS-CBN should be praised for their ambitious project, "Boto Mo I-Patrol Mo" for successfuly and effectively involving everyone to guard votes and report irregularities happening in the far-flung voting precincts especially in Mindanao.
I hope that in 2010, more organizations (and even commercial establishments) support this huge undertaking.
God Bless Capitalism.
This elections will surely go down in our history as one of the dirtiest - according to the elders, second only to what they had experienced during President Marcos' time. The dramas that unfolded - especially the victories of Fr. Ed Panlilio in Pampanga and Darlene Custodio in South Cotabato against stronger adversaries will forever be a shining example of good winning against evil.
And if ever - the Genuine Opposition secures eight additional seats in the Senate, perhaps, the gods in Malacanang should finally takes seriously what the people demands all these years:
Enough deception, betrayal and corruption.
Stop all political killings and let the perpetrators of summary executions be brought to justice.
And last but not the least, it's high time we crucify Gonzales and Abalos.
The time for change is now.
---
entry written during the entire telecast of TV Patrol.
Every morning, I would spend an hour or two consuming word for word the news and opinions posted on the PDI website. All reports favorable to the opposition puts a smile on my face, while new slaps of anomalies thrown at the COMELEC makes my heart beat faster. It's like reading a thrilling novel about politics - except that the drama, conflict and climax happens in real time courtesy of the newsmakers, which are surprisingly more vigilant in reporting the truth behind the irregularities that happened during the recently held elections.
By now, it is well known how election fraud was attempted especially in Mindanao. Several days ago, PDI bannered 12-0 TU in Maguindanao, which was a stark contrast to the universal trends in election results from other parts of the country. It was followed by a revelation by a teacher named "Bai" who exposed to the media how they were forced - at gunpoint - and involving children to fill out the ballots in favor of Chavit Singon, Prospero Pichay and the rest of Team Unity candidates.
I wonder if Pichay's pangarap to have a seat in the Senate will ever come true.
What's absolutely exciting about the developments in this elections is that the more irregularities are being exposed with the help of the media, the more people become aware of these election cheating being done by those in the administration. It creates a deep sense of vigilance and transparency never expected by those in power, which we all know, has the capacity and machinery to manipulate the ballots in their favor. Fortunately, the civil society groups and the opposition were prepared to counter such devious plans. Having a (relatively) free press and a public unsympathetic to the government were the last ingredients for those aligned with GMA to lose badly in the ballots.
Nevertheless, if there is something the administration should celebrate about, it's the economy. They may have been beaten badly in the public's perception, but in the eyes of foreign investors and traders, they are winning the battle.
Today alone, the dollar exchange rate closed at P45 something against the dollar. The last time we had an exchange rate as brilliant as that was six years ago. During that time, I was still in college and Mrs. Arroyo has just been the president for barely a year. Though, this may affect me (and other call center agents) in the long run, the news say that this is good for the overall perception of our economy.
Same thing is true with the stock market, which is reported to be the highest ever in the country's history. Such encouraging news, simply temps me to seek assistance from a stock broker to gain myself a piece of cake in the stock market.
Economy wise, I think we have a vibrant one, despite our sick and dirty political scenery. So long as the two of them won't mix, we are bound to greater heights in the months to come. This is the same reason why, no matter how I hated the administration, my confidence with Mrs. Arroyo hasn't been tarnished yet.
I say this again, one more time.
No matter how many attempts the opposition takes to unseat her in the future, she will remain the President of the Republic. I simply don't see anyone from the opposition or from someone else capable of forming a new government forcibly taken away from her.
It will be very bad, not only for the economy but for our national image as well.
If there is anything this election has taught me, it is that not all masa are dumb as what I have initially percieved. Some of them maybe swayed by a certain and obvious corrupt candidate, but in the end, they still know what is right from wrong.
I've also learned that despite being tagged as a country marred by killings of journalists, we still have a free (and working) press that has now stood up to become the vanguard of Democracy in the country. ABS-CBN should be praised for their ambitious project, "Boto Mo I-Patrol Mo" for successfuly and effectively involving everyone to guard votes and report irregularities happening in the far-flung voting precincts especially in Mindanao.
I hope that in 2010, more organizations (and even commercial establishments) support this huge undertaking.
God Bless Capitalism.
This elections will surely go down in our history as one of the dirtiest - according to the elders, second only to what they had experienced during President Marcos' time. The dramas that unfolded - especially the victories of Fr. Ed Panlilio in Pampanga and Darlene Custodio in South Cotabato against stronger adversaries will forever be a shining example of good winning against evil.
And if ever - the Genuine Opposition secures eight additional seats in the Senate, perhaps, the gods in Malacanang should finally takes seriously what the people demands all these years:
Enough deception, betrayal and corruption.
Stop all political killings and let the perpetrators of summary executions be brought to justice.
And last but not the least, it's high time we crucify Gonzales and Abalos.
The time for change is now.
---
entry written during the entire telecast of TV Patrol.
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