It’s all over the news: it’s unprecedented yet expected — the president of the Republic of the Philippines will run for congressman of her home town, 2nd District of Pampanga.
It is expected that she will win. Not unopposed, but hey … you’re the President for nothing!
Even oppositionists are saying that there is no law that prohibits any former president to run for lower office. The constitution did not. Not any laws of the land.
I was thinking — why? Why didn’t our 1987 constitutional convention see this coming? Why didn’t any of our lawmakers saw the need to create a law that may prevent this from happening?
Then I realized …
Maybe our constitutionalists and our lawmakers see this act as close to impossible. Maybe they thought that no one would be so greedy to the point of running for lower office just so s/he can stay in power. Maybe they did not see anyone would have the heart to bring shame to the office of the president by doing such an act. Maybe they thought that the highest leader of the land should know delicadeza.
Convicted plunder former president Joseph Estrada, at age 70+ wants to be president again. For fun and ego, he wants to prove others wrong about his wrong doings.
Current president and very UNpopular at that, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, will run as representative. So her plate number will now be 8 and not 1, eh! If she wins, how will her colleagues in Congress call her — Madame. President, er… Madame Speaker?
Ah, Joey de Venecia. Aside from promising “free cellphones” when he win the senate, what else do he want to do? Is the senate now the ultimate target of “whistle blowers”?
These and a lot more.
So, what do you think makes Philippine politics fun?
Emotionally charged, star-studded, 3.5 minute ad — that’s Noynoy Aquino’s first assault.
If he’s going to unite the Philippines as a president, he must have given us the first crack by uniting the Kapuso and Kapamilya network stars. The music video is sang by Regine Velasquez. Other Kapuso stars include Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera and Ogie Alcasid. Kapamilya stars include Boy Abunda, Bea Alonzo, Sharon Cuneta, Anne Curtis, Mariel Rodriguez, Bianca Gonzales, Ai Ai delas Alas, Eric Santos and of course, Noynoy’s sister Kris Aquino. And I think I saw James Yap with Team Philippines.
This TV ad made the others looked like the real trapos.
I was able to withstand the hour long acceptance speech by Erap yesterday at UNO’s convention. A couple of ironies I noticed:
1. He keeps on beating up “this administration” and “Gloria Arroyo” for corruption, poverty and the elitist rule. He’s standing on an anti-GMA platform. The irony is, during campaign period, he’s not going to go against GMA. He’s going to go head to head with Noynoy Aquino, Manny Villar and Chiz Escudero. Not with GMA, or even GMA’s bet Gibo Teodoro. Talking about barking on the wrong tree.
2. He keeps on telling the Cory Aquino anecdote — when, according to the story, Tita Cory apologized to him for joining force with GMA in the 2001 ouster. As to the context and of how it was said and meant to mean by Cory, it’s another story. The irony is, Noynoy Aquino, Cory’s son is up against him. I wonder what his “mahal na Pangulong Cory” would say about that?
This is going to be a fun Philippine election ride ahead of us!
Former president and convicted plunderer Joseph Estrada a.k.a Erap is announcing his candidacy for the up coming 2010 presidential elections.
However, when he files his formal candidacy on November 30, people will take this case in Supreme Court for sure. There is a legitimacy question for him running again since he once was president but was ousted on his third year. He argues that he is still legitimate to run because he did not finish his term, others think otherwise.
If I would be the one asked, we might just need to let it go. Let him go through the process without controversy whatsoever. In fact, let him do that movie with Ai-ai delas Alas. I’d like him to run again. Here are the reasons why -
1. Contrary to his 1998 land slide victory against Joe de Venecia, he has more than 1 formidable opponent this time. His perceived popularity will be up against even more popular and able candidates in Noynoy Aquino and Manny Villar. Heck, even Chiz Escudero will kick his behind.
2. The arrogant old guy thinks he’s the savior of mankind. Or at least of the Filipino people. Let the Filipino people tell him he’s not even close to any of Mars Ravelo’s comics characters.
3. The movie star turned politician thought that the Philippines is a huge movie production. He said he wants to just finish the last 3 years of his term then pass the presidency to the Vice President. Why, are we suppose to feed his ego?
4. The convicted plunderer thinks he still has the support of the people. He never imagined that during the campaign period, the voters will be reminded that:
He is convicted by the crime of plunder. That he even thanked Gloria Arroyo for giving him pardon
That his presidency was filled with controversy, midnight drinking spree with his buddies, a plunging economy, a shaking market and a corrupt government.
Let him run again for president. Let his butt be whipped off by other opposition candidates. And after the elections, let us all tell him to forever shut his big mouth up.
So, what do you think, do you still want him to run for president unopposed at the supreme court?
