Ang ala-Showbiz at Mapangarap na Talumpati nina Grace Poe at Chiz Escudero

Ang  ala-Showbiz at Mapangarap

na Talumpati nina Grace Poe at  Chiz Escudero

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Malalaman ang katapatan ng isang pulitiko sa kanyang mga layunin kung sa mga talumpati niya ay iiwasan niyang gumamit ng mga corny at  “matulaing” mga pangako. Parehong maraming ipinangako sina Poe at Escudero, kaya lumabas tuloy na para silang nagbasa ng mahabang “wish list”. Mga napaka-imposibleng matupad ang ipinangako nila, kahit pa sasabihing makikipagtulungan ang mga Pilipino. Sa anong paraan? Upang mabawasan ang gutom, gusto yata nila ay isang beses na lang sa maghapon kakain ang mga mahihirap na tao. Upang masabi lang na may trabaho, gusto yata nila ay tanggapin na lang ng isang ama ng tahanan ang trabaho na ang sweldo ay kulang pa sa pamasahe niya sa pagpasok at pag-uwi.

Maraming nakalimutan ang dalawa, habang animo ay nakalutang sa alapaap nang magtalumpati:

Una, hindi sigurado kung may magagamit na pondo ang bagong administrasyon dahil sa ginawang pangungurakot sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang administrasyon ay halos wala nang natirang pera, kaya nga ang mga proyekto sa kasalukuyan ay pinonduhan ng mga bagong inutang. Hindi mawawala ang korapsyon dahil maski matanggal ang mga korap na namumuno sa mga ahensiya, ang mga “ugat” – mga kawaning may kinalaman ay maiiwan.

Pangalawa, walang napilit maipatupad na mga proyekto na saklaw ng kani-kanilang mga komite sa Senado sina Poe at Escudero bilang mga senador. Ang boses nila ay narinig nitong huling mga buwan lamang kung kaylan ay naghahanda na sila para sa kanilang pagtakbo. Sa nakalipas na maraming buwan at taon, sa kabila ng sunud-sunod na problema ng bayan, wala man lang silang ibinahaging kahit pakunswelong mga solusyon bilang mga mambabatas, hindi tulad ni Senador Miriam Santiago, na sumasawsaw sa halos lahat ng isyu, kahit pa ikasasama ng kanyang kalagayan dahil sa kanyang sakit.

Pangatlo, ang kawalan ng disiplina ng mga Pilipino, isang masakit na katotohanan na nagkaanak pa ng ugaling “palusot”…lahat na lang ay gagawin upang kayaning lumusot. Kahit na anong ganda ng proyekto, kung iiral ito, mawawalan din ng saysay. Ang mga halimbawa para dito ay ang hindi pagsunod sa alituntunin sa pagtawid ng kalsada at paninigarilyo sa mga lugar na pampubliko. Hanggang saan aabot ang hinihingi nilang tulong mula sa mga mamamayan?

Pang-apat, ang ugaling ningas-kugon na nakadikit sa kultura ng Pilipino. Magaling lang sa simula ng mga proyekto dahil may mga kodakan at press release na nangyayari kaya marami ang gustong makibahagi. Makaraan ang ilang buwan at taon, “nalanta” na ang proyekto. Tingnan na lang ang LRT at MRT na sa simula ay “nangingintab” sa ganda, subalit bandang huli ay nanlilimahid na, naging dugyot – marumi, palyado. Ang mga ‘tree planting” projects na para makatulong sa Inang Kalikasan, yong mga lugar na malalapit sa lunsod o bayan, ni hindi nadamuhan at hindi man lang o nadiligan, kaya walang nangyari sa mga tanim. Ang pagpapaganda ng mga center island ng mga kalsada na tinamnan ng mga bulaklak, pagkatapos ng kodakan, naging tapunan ng basura. Ang project para sa Pasig river, hanggang kodakan lang din ang inabot. Ang paglinis sa Roxas Boulevard at mga daluyan ng tubig ng Manila, hindi rin consistent. Etc. etc. etc.

Panglima, ang kanilang mga talumpati ay namumutiktik ng mga pantukoy sa kanilang mga “inspirasyon”. Ang kay Grace Poe ay sa kanyang tatay na si Fernado Poe, Jr., isang aksiyon star ng mga pelikulang may kabayanihan, na animo ay pelikulang “Panday” ang mga tema. Kaya halos bawa’t talata ng kanyang talumpati ay may salitang “magpanday”, sa halip na “gumawa” o “humubog”, upang simple lang sana ang dating. Si Chiz Escudero naman ay hindi nagpatalo – gumamit ng  “puso”, tulad ng pagsabi halimbawa ng “mga proyektong may puso”, etc. Gagawin pang tanga ang mga nakikinig ganoong ang pinapatungkulan niya ng “puso” ay si “Heart Evangelista”, asawa niya! Hinaluan pa ng showbiz ang pulitika! Siguro ang mga speech writers nila ay mga script writers ng pelikula, kaya ang laman ay pang-pelikula ang dating! Ganyan ang nangyari nang mangampanya si Erap, at nang umupo, karamihan ng mga itinalaga sa puwesto ay mga artista. Ang hindi ko makalimutan ay ang itinalaga niyang matabang komedyante sa PAGCOR na nagsabi ng “weather weather lang yan”, kaya walang naipakitang ambag ang nasabing pasugalan para sa bayan na siya nitong layunin, kung saan napunta ang pera, siya lang ang nakakaalam.

Kung babasahin ang kasaysayan ng bansa, ang mga pinangako ng dalawa na pagsugpo sa katiwalian, kriminalidad, gutom, etc. ay mga pangako din ng mga pulitiko noon pa mang binigyan ng mga Amerikano ng kalayaan ang mga Pilipino na nagkumahog sa pag-upo sa mga puwesto sa gobyerno. Walang natupad sa mga pinangako nila sa mga kampanya dahil tuloy pa rin ang korapsyon sa gobyerno at kagutuman sa bansa, at lalo pang tumindi sa pag-usad ng panahon. Ngayon, binabanggit na naman nina Poe at Escudero ang mga problema na saang anggulo man tingnan ay talagang hindi mawawala, hangga’t hindi napapalitan ang sistema ng gobyerno upang maaalis ang mga tiwaling mambabatas na gumagawa ng mga batas para sa kanilang kapakanan. Samantala, pwedeng asahan ang “tulong” ng mga korap na ito subalit siguradong may kapalit. Ang isang pruweba ng masamang ugali ng mambabatas ay ang kawalan palagi ng quorum sa Kongreso kaya hindi matapos-tapos ang pagtalakay sa Basic Law para sa Bangsamoro Autonomous Region….sabi nga ng iba, naghihintay yata sila ng “regalo” mula sa presidente, na siya nilang nakagawian.

Paanong matitigil ang kriminalidad kung mismong sa hanay ng kapulisan at ibang opisyal ng gobyerno ay may kakutsaba ang mga sindikato lalo na sa droga? May mga kuwento pang lumalala ang mga kidnapping tuwing panahon ng kampanyahan dahil kailangan daw ng mga financier na pulitiko ang pera para sa pagtakbo nila sa eleksiyon. Paanong matitigil ang gutom kung ang mga ahensiyang nagpapatupad ng mga programa para dito ay korap? Paanong masugpo ang nakawan sa kaban ng bayan kung ang mga batas na dapat nagpopotrotekta dito ay tadtad ng mga butas na sinadyang ginawa upang mapaikutan ng mga opisyal, nang maluwag silang makapagnakaw? Paanong mapaayos ang sistema ng edukasyon, kung kinukunsinte ng mga ahensiya ng gobyernong may kinalaman dito ang pagsulputan ng mga kursong wala namang pakinabang, kundi mapagkitaan lang ng mga kolehiyo at unibersidad, pati na ang pag-commercialize ng mga textbooks?

Nakakapangamba ang mangyayari sa darating na eleksiyon dahil sa simula pa lamang ng kampanyahan ay puro “pangarap” na ang mga sinasambit ng mga may masidhing layunin “daw” na mag-angat sa kalagayan ng Pilipinas at mga Pilipino!

A Question on COMELEC’s Credibility

A Question on COMELEC’s Credibility

by Apolinario Villalobos

In the Philippines, it is disheartening to note that offenses are seemed tolerated or allowed to circumvent laws. Also, despite the strong indications of misdeeds, these are let pass due to the absence of laws, but no effort is being made for their formulation.

For instance, the obvious and early campaigning of those who are interested to run during the 2016 election is not considered an offense against electioneering because they have not filed their respective candidacy, yet, and what they are doing is not within the campaign period. How can the Commission on Election be so naïve not to understand what is happening, when even an ordinary Filipino knows that what these people are doing is plain and simple campaigning?

If COMELEC has to maintain its image as “guardian” of honest elections in the country, why can’t it come up with a policy or enhance its already existing ones to put a stop to the mentioned fraudulent practice which is making a fool of the Filipino people? How can COMELEC maintain obsolete rules that tolerate unbecoming practices that smack of deception?

The Filipinos also cannot understand why the COMELEC fail to come up with their judgments against erring overspending candidates immediately after every election when all that its people need to do is tabulate the expenses of candidates to check the total against what is allowed. To say that they are undermanned is foolishness, as this kind of hectic activity is anticipated, hence, budget for such is supposed to be appropriated for contracting auditors which is necessary. What is irritating is that their findings are released as the questioned officials are nearing the end of their term!…or when another election is forthcoming! Worst, COMELEC waits for an interested party to lodge a complaint before conducting an investigation, when it is holding on to the basis for election frauds! If that is the rule, why not change it?

Finally, while the COMELEC as an agency has a mandate, the big question is if the people who are administering it are capable and trustworthy!

The Philippines needs a Strongman as President…could it be Duterte?

The Philippines needs a Strongman as President

…could it be Duterte?

By Apolinario Villalobos

With threats from within and outside, the Philippines needs a strongman. By strongman, it means that such a guy should be respectable and with a tested conviction.

From within, the country reels from the overpowering and pestering corruption since the first day of its self-governance. From outside, the country is perceived as lame because of its equally weak leadership. That is the sad state of the country today. No amount of made up report about its “progress” printed in bold black figures has been able to lend an impressive image of the country, as the objective of such report is obviously to encourage the government to borrow more money from lending countries that are salivating at the prospect of its continued indebtedness.

Illegal drug business is having a grand time in the country and crime is steadily on the rise. Illegal mining financed by foreigners in cahoots with corrupt local officials is left unchecked. Poverty and unemployment are practically gnawing up the economic foundation of the country. The educational system is so unreliable, that instead of alleviating the lot of the youth, it has contributed to their shock and confusion due to exploitive schemes of educational institutions resulting from redundant course offerings.

Juveniles are left out on the streets, harassing unsuspecting citizens, and while enjoying sniffs of rugby from bottles and small plastic pouches. On the other hand, the agencies that are supposed to be overflowing with programs for this segment of the population just look the other way. They remove these urchins from the streets only when foreign visitors are coming.

I mentioned in my earlier blogs, Duterte who practically, gave Davao City a 24-degree turnaround with his conviction in implementing the law. Agdao which was known before his time as “Nicaragdao” due to heinous crimes even at daytime, now sports a new genteel image. For a big and veritable tourist destination in Mindanao, curfew is being strictly observed with much respect, together with the non-smoking in public places. Literally, Davao is the only city in the country that celebrates Christmas silently, albeit, with much solemnity, due to the strictly imposed firecracker ban until the eve of New Year.

Some quarters are wary that, although, Duterte has proved his worth as Mayor of Davao City, its scope is just a minuscule compared to that of the Philippines as a nation on matters of “control”, especially, on the personages that comprise the administration. It should be noted that corruption is not limited to heads of offices but subordinates, as well. Add to this the two halls of lawmakers – Congress and Senate, whose support is very necessary. Will the two houses which are immensely enjoying their “benefits” cooperate with a “straight” President in the person of Duterte, just in case? Will the well-entrenched corrupt personalities exchange their monetary benefits for “idealism”?

As dictated by dirty Philippine political tradition, in case Duterte wins, lawmakers will surely change their color again so that they can meld with him. If this happens, will Duterte maintain his steadfastness as a no-nonsense leader, thereby, prove himself as really, a strongman? Personally, I know, he will.

Duterte is the person who qualifies as a leader at the right moment which is 2016, a decisive and tumultuous year for the country. He may not have an experience as a governor, a congressman, a senator, or even as vice-president, but any person on the street knows that most of those who filled those positions are corrupt and even naïve. Of what use then, is having an experience in those positions, before one can become president?

The 2016 Philippine Presidential Election…could be the worst

The 2016 Philippine Presidential Election

…could be the worst

By Apolinario Villalobos

In the eyes of the ordinary Filipino, the 2016 Philippine Presidential election will be “bloody” and full of frauds, aside from very expensive due to the expected massive vote-buying that will happen. The following are the reasons why:

• Roxas, Pnoy’s bet must win so that he (Pnoy) will be assured that his cases and planned suits will not prosper. If Roxas wins, he will find his hands full of indebtedness to people, aside from Pnoy, who wanted him to sit as president so that they can go on with their corrupt practices, by virtue of manipulation.

• Binay must win so that his graft cases will not prosper, especially, if the corrupt congressmen who stand as the majority in the Lower House will cross over to his side of the fence. Binay’s success will also signal the victory of Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla, who may even be granted “temporary” release from their detention, and Pnoy will have his share of humiliating court appearances.  Binay might even be supported by militants who are observably very silent when it comes to issues against him.

• If Poe wins, both Pnoy and Binay will surely spend days in court to defend themselves for graft cases filed against them. The only hope of Poe is the united stand of the different Christian churches. Militants will definitely not support her. If, the Roxas camp will be split at the last minute in her favor, she will have a chance of winning. Those from the Roxas camp who will support her, are the “trapos” (traditional politicians), who will again change their color, hoping that they can control the inexperienced Poe, hence, continue in pursuing their selfish motives which stinks of corruption.

Because of the above situations, both the Roxas and Binay camps will exert deadly effort, though separately, to discredit Poe. The Roxas camp will do it very subtly, while Binay’s will be severe, touching even on trivial matters, such as Poe’s adoption, which it is doing now. But, the bitter fight shall be between Roxas and Binay.

The campaign season will make the electorate temporarily rich because of the expected flood of cash, although, some bills shall be bogus or fake, as usual. Electoral campaigns shall be characterized by cash dole-outs even in broad daylight, without fear or timidity. Most alarming, though, is that the people behind the “hello Garci” scandal are still lurking in the COMELEC!

The Commission on Election is expected to play “helpless” on election-related problems due to their claim for inadequate facilities and staff, as their way of washing their hands every time problems crop up during election. Expect, too, finger-pointing on the foreseen failure of vote-counting due to breakdowns of the already inadequate computers.

Worst, there may be attempts to declare a failure of election and a military take-over. The forthcoming election is expected to be chaotic because honor and integrity of the families concerned, except that of Poe’s, are at stake!

The Binay Camp has ran out of gimmicks against Poe…so it resorted to the adoption issue

The Binay Camp has ran out of gimmicks against Poe

….so it resorted to the adoption issue

By Apolinario Villalobos

Desperate is how the Binay camp can be described in its effort to disintegrate the persona of Grace Poe as the formidable opponent of Jejomar Binay in his quest for the presidential post. With nothing else to throw to her face, they used the adoption issue…and the technicalities, yet! The spokesperson of the Binay camp sounded dolefully as its spokesperson, read a litany of technical errors on the adoption process, especially, on the date that Grace Poe was adopted by a yet-to-be-married Susan Roces and Fernando Poe, hence, a question on their “capability” to adopt as “unmarried persons” which shows their lack of “parental personality”.

Whoever thought of such strategy clearly is out of his mind, as it just drives voters to the side of Poe because of the Filipino culture that makes them love the underdog and the oppress. Not even the issue on “inexperience” can be used against Poe, as not all presidents of the Philippines or any country for that matter did not become vice-presidents first. The primary issues on the forthcoming 2016 election are “cleanliness” and “integrity”.

In the Philippines, the experience of the president who held several elected positions in the past, especially, vice-presidency, clearly show that it did not help in improving the situation of the country. On the contrary, because of the experience which is heavily tainted with learned corruption, the situation of the country just got worse. How much more if a guy has decades of such kind of “experience”?

What Osmena, Roxas and Pnoy should Do to Help the Country at this Time

What Osmeῆa, Roxas and Pnoy

Should Do to Help the Country at this Time

By Apolinario Villalobos

On Osmeῆa….he should stop analyzing the presidential capability of Grace Poe, even declaring that she is just good for the vice-presidency. Osmeῆa, himself, has proved nothing as a lawmaker so he is not in the position to judge his fellow politicians. It is a good thing that Grace Poe fought back by saying that many so-called seasoned politicians assumed responsible positions but proved to be just disappointments due to their misdoings. Osmeῆa should open his eyes and ears to understand the message of Poe.

On Roxas….he should stop talking like a puppet echoing the “tuwid na daan” and “reforms” that are the daily mumblings of Pnoy, his boss, to whom he kowtows with all loyalty and sincerity. Roxas is just showing his lack of backbone in all his statements and actions. He should come up with his own platform that may be related to what his boss promised but did not accomplish, if that is what he wants to do – at least he can be original somehow. He should prove that he has his own will power, and not a copycat.

On Pnoy….he should stop talking about his “tuwid na daan” and “reforms” because Filipinos have not seen anything yet that can give substance to those promises. All he showed was insensitivity to the popular clamor of the populace to remove from their positions his inept and questionably performing buddies. Because of his inaction, the country slid miserably more into helplessness. The guy’s promises have been proven to be shams that just became butts of joke. Corruption under his administration got worse, and even assumed a somewhat legal image. He may not be corrupt, himself, but his tolerance of such misdoing makes him one, as he is aware and even becomes a party. If he is not aware of this, it just proves that he is not really listening to his “bosses” as he promised. Unsavory stories about his attitude never fail to fill to pages of tabloid and broadsheets, even the airwaves.

Of late, it has been discovered that the much and perpetually questioned pork barrel is again inserted in the 2016 budget. Is this what Pnoy is saying about his “reforms”? What reform is he talking about when he is obviously tolerating the commission of corruption? He must stop talking about his two trademarks to give relief to the Filipinos who are getting tired of his mumblings!

Roxas should show “independent-mindedness” by stepping out of Pnoy’s shadow…if he wants respect

Roxas should show “independent- mindedness”
by stepping out of Pnoy’s shadow…if he wants respect
by Apolinario Villalobos

Anybody can notice the lameness of Roxas as he clutches hard on the clout of Pnoy. This early, he should show some kind of independent-mindedness by stepping out of the president’s shadow, as the latter is also perceived, according to broadsheet editorials, as a lame duck, himself. Roxas should stop mumbling the nauseating “tuwid na daan” and “reforms”, the failed keywords in the slogans of Pnoy. In the first place, the “tuwid na daan” is nowhere to be found and the “reforms” are nothing but blubs because the security and economy of the country under Pnoy just got worse. He sounds hollow every time he speaks, and the image he shows is very pathetic, as if begging for attention. If he wants respect, he must prove that he can stand on his own feet without leaning on equally uneasy reputation of the president.

This late, for the last minute preparation for 2016 electoral campaign, Roxas still hopes for an endorsement from his idol, the president. He is pitifully oblivious to the detached attitude of the president as regards the endorsement that he has been longing for. In the eyes of the Filipinos, Roxas’ attitude is a manifestation of weakness. So how can he command respect, much less, attention from the electorate when he finally goes out to campaign when he cannot even stand on his own feet? He hopelessly depends on the endorsement from an equally proven weak person. He is deaf to the loud declarations from all sectors that an endorsement from the president could mean a kiss of death.

The Yolanda typhoon episode proved his weakness as a DILG secretary, although, he tried to be at the scene of disaster together with the “trying hard” other concerned cabinet secretaries. As expected, after photo opportunities, each of them went on their own way. He failed to control the defective flow of relief goods to the affected LGUs. He failed to act on the overpriced construction of temporary shelters. He failed to conduct immediate investigation on the blatantly stolen relief goods. He failed to make an accounting of the cash donations…which donors themselves, later questioned.

Roxas also failed to check on the exceedingly delayed rehabilitation of the families in Zamboanga City who were affected by the attack of MNLF…and for more than two years now are languishing in temporary makeshift shelters without water and toilet facilities. Yet, every time the president reports on this, what comes out of his mouth are assurances that everything is under control. As DILG secretary, Roxas should be responsible for every lies that the president reports on local governments.

His failures can be listed on several pages… concerns of local government units – his responsibilities, as Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government. He should not pass the buck on to the DSWD and DPWH, if he is that “concerned”, a word that he shamelessly uses to prop up his droopy image. As the DILG Secretary, he is supposed to be on top of all the LGUs, with the rest of the concerned cabinets just providing support.

As if the abovementioned flops are not enough, the utmost disregard he suffered from the president was when he was left out as plans were drawn regarding the Mamasapano operations with yet, the suspended PNP Chief, Allan Purisima. He was expected to resign, because the act of the president was a grave show of distrust to him. But he swallowed his pride and still served his idol. Is this a manifestation of a strong and respectable personality? Is this the kind of a leader that Filipinos want to elect in 2016?…is he deserving of any position, even as vice-president?…yet, he dolefully dreams to become president!

With sadness, I could say that the historic magic of the “Roxas” as a political name may finally find its end in 2016. Such name may finally be forgotten.

Mapapagkatiwalaan pa ba ang COMELEC?

Mapapagkatiwalaan pa ba ang COMELEC?
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Ang Commission on Election (COMELEC) ay itinuturing na tagapamahala ng pinakamakapangyarihang karapatan nating mga Pilipino – ang pagboto. Ang ganitong kapangyarihan ay naipapatupad lamang natin tuwing panahon ng eleksiyon kung kaylan ay pumipili tayo ng mga iluluklok sa mga puwesto.

Subalit ang nakakalungkot, itong ahensiya na inaasahan at pinagkakatiwalaan natin ay ilang beses nang ginamit ng mga tiwaling presidente, at hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay wala pa ring napaparusahan….napo-promote pa. Magkaputukan man ng mga balita tungkol sa mga gamitang ito…hanggang doon na lang. Kunwari ay may magsasalitang mga mambabatas at mga opisyal, pagkatapos ay susundan na ng katahimikan. May mga “resulta” at “naipapatupad” tulad nang nangyari kay Coco Pimentel. Subalit, walang ginawa ang COMELEC sa mga tauhan nitong gumawa ng katiwalian…nandiyan pa rin sa mga puwesto nila.

Ang malaking eskandalo ng botohan nang tumakbo si Fernando Poe, Jr. ay sumentro sa “Hello Garci” scandal. Na-zero si Fernando Poe sa mga Muslim communities, isang napaka-imposibleng pangyayari at nakakatawa, dahil idolo ng mga Muslim ang actor. Ang gumawa ng pandaraya ay hindi gumamit ng isip niya, kaya madaling nabisto. Wala na ang military na si “Garci”, subalit ang taga-COMELEC ay nandiyan pa rin, at na-promote pa daw.

Kung ibabatay sa kasaysayan, lumalabas na balot ang ahensiya ng mga eskandalo, subalit ang nakaupong presidente ay walang ginagawa tungkol dito. Bakit? …anything can happen.

Matagal nang isyu ang mga computer at sistema na ginagamit sa eleksiyon, subalit hanggang ngayon ay parang wala pa ring malinaw na direksiyon. Bakit?…anything can happen.

Dahil sa kagustuhan ng sambayanang Pilipino na magkaroon ng eleksiyon, kung sakaling walang mapipiling kumpanya ng computer na magagamit dahil talaga namang gahol na sa panahon, siguradong gagawa ng “remedyo”, matuloy lang ang elesksiyon….yan ang nakakapangamba dahil “magagamit” na naman ang COMELEC…. “mauutusan”na naman! Siguradong may mabubusalan na naman ng pera!….talagang sa Pinas, anything can happen!

Tulad ng Inaasahan, sinisiraan na ng Kampo ni Binay si Grace Poe

Tulad ng Inaasahan
Sinisiraan na ng Kampo ni Binay si Grace Poe
ni Apolinario Villalobos

Sa ganito kaaga, napapaghalata na ang pagka-trapo ni VP Binay. Dahil sa pagkadismaya sa pagpirma ni Grace Poe sa rekomendasyon upang imbestigahan na siya korte pati ang kanyang junior na anak, lalo na dahil sa ugung-ugong na tatakbo pa ito sa pagka-presidente, mga personal na bagay na kinakalkal ng kampo niya.

Ang mali ng kampo ni Binay, ginamit pa ang isyu sa pagiging adopted ni Grace, dual citizenship, at kawalan ng residency, kaya hindi daw ito kwalipikadong tumakbo sa pagka-presidente. Puro palpak ang mga isyu laban kay Grace. Noon pa mang estudyante si Grace, alam na nitong ampon lang siya at ikinuwento pa nga niya kung paano nangyari ito. Ang dual citizenship ay matagal na ring nasagot ni Grace na nawalan ng bisa ang kanyang American citizenship. Ang sa residency issue naman, history na rin ito dahil matagal na ring nasagot.

Kaya kinakasuhan ang mga Binay sa mga ginawang pagnanakaw ay puro mali ang mga stretehiya ng kampo niya. Nagmumukha tuloy silang timawang nakatalungko sa kangkungan.

Mabuti naman at sumagot si Grace na nagsabing okey lang ang mga binabato sa kanya, kaysa naman sa kasong plunder – pagnanakaw.

Sa isyu ng pagtakbo sa presidency, si Grace ay ang tinatawag na “underdog” o inaapi, pero sabi ng marami, si Binay naman ay “dog” daw. Mahal ng mga Pilipino ang mga inaapi dahil sa pagkagusto ng mga Pilipino sa mga ma-dramang kwento.

Ang Mga Dahilan sa Pagpasok sa Pulitika

Ang Mga Dahilan sa Pagpasok sa Pulitika
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Sa darating na panahon ng eleksiyon 2016, babaha na naman ng pera sa Pilipinas, lalakas ang buying power ng mga Pilipino, at lalaki ang kita ng mga negosyante, kaya gaganda na naman ang report sa survey tungkol sa pagkabawas ng gutom sa bansa. Aalingawngaw na naman ang mga pangakong ampaw. Magkakaubusan na naman sa botika at grocery ng alcohol na gagamitin ng mga plastik at makatao daw o makamahirap na mga kandidato kaya panay ang yakap at halik sa mga tindera sa palengke, magsasaka, street sweepers, mga sanggol sa iskwater, mga batang yagit, atbp.

Maririnig na naman ang mga litanya ng dahilan ng mga hangal na kandidato kung bakit sila pumasok sa pulitika. At ang pinakatanyag na dahilan ay “gusto kong makatulong sa aking kapwa” na palaging sinasabi ng isang kongresman ng isang lalawigan sa Mindanao, ganoong palagi naman itong absent sa mga session at ang dahilan ay may ginagawa siyang “mahalagang bagay” para sa kapakanan ng bansa. Gusto pa niyang maging senador, at kung maaari nga lang ay Bise-Presidente. Siguro iniisip niya, makakakuha naman siya ng matatalinong staff. OMG!!!

Sa sobrang kayabangan nitong tao, ginagamit na rin ang Diyos upang ipakita sa mundo na siya ay may malakas na pananalig sa Kanya. Ang hindi niya kinatakutan ay ang karma na unti-unting dumadating dahil sa dami ng mga kasong isinasampa laban sa kanya. Bilib na sana sa kanya ang mga Pilipino, subalit nasobrahan naman ang pagkabilib niya sa kanyang sarili na umabot sa puntong lahat ay gusto na niyang pasukan kahit alam ng lahat na hindi niya kaya.

Hindi na dapat pagdudahan ang kanyang kakayahan sa isang larangan na ginagamitan ng tiyaga at lakas ng katawan, subalit sa larangan naman na ang dapat gamitin ay utak, ibang usapan na. Tumatakbo ang kanyang opisina pero dahil sa mga suwelduhang tauhan na matatalino, kaya kahit wala siya ay may naisa-submit na report, nakakagawa ng mga proyekto dahil may nagagamit namang budget, at may naihahaing mga panukala sa kanyang pangalan. Ibig sabihin, sa sitwasyon niya, para siyang nagpa-franchise ng kanyang pangalan para magamit sa pulitika.

Gusto daw niyang tumulong sa kanyang mga kababayan, kaya handa siyang tumakbo sa mas mataas pang puwesto sa pulitika. Kung ang pagiging kongresman nga lang ay hindi niya magampanan ng maayos, mas mataas na puwesto pa kaya? Sana may puwestong pangdekorasyon lang ang gamit, at dahil tanyag siya, doon siya angkop. Magagamit kasi ang pangalan niya bilang bahagi ng Kongreso o Malakanyang!

Hindi kailangang pumasok sa pulitika upang makatulong sa kapwa. Ito ay napatunayan na ng maraming pilantropo na ang ilan ay ayaw magpabanggit ng pangalan. Napatunayan din ito ng nagpapatakbo ng mga bahay-ampunan para sa mga bata, may kapansanan, at matatanda. Napatunayan din ito ng ilang grupo na nakakarating sa mga liblib na isla ng Pilipinas makapamigay lang ng lapis, papel at iba pang gamit-eskwela, pati na tsinelas at damit. At ang isa pang halimbawa ay si Mother Theresa at ang kanyang mga kasamang madre na kahit kapos sa pondo ay nagagawa pang makapamahagi ng tulong.

Marami na akong narinig na mga dahilan kung bakit may mga pumapasok sa pulitika, na ang pinakatanyag nga ay ang una kong nabanggit na pagtulong sa kapwa. Subalit kung katapatan din lang ang pag-usapan, ang pinakabiniliban ko ay ang walang kagatul-gatol na sabi ng isa na, “it runs in the family”. Yan ang tama, dahil nga naman lahat sila sa pamilya ay may puwesto, mula sa pagkakongresman ng tatay, pagka-gobernador ng kapatid, at pagka-mayor ng nanay. Ang nakausap ko ay tatakbo namang kagawad muna dahil puntirya niya ang puwesto sa pagka-mayor na inuupuan pa ng kanyang nanay.

Ang iba pang mga dahilan na hindi dapat kalimutan ay:

1. Ayaw maging hamak na empleyadong inuutusan lamang.
2. Upang mapalawak at mapalaki pa ang mga negosyo ng pamilya.
3. Upang mapatunayan sa sariling kaya niya…(magpayaman?)
4. Upang makaganti sa mga umalipusta sa pamilya nila….(delikado!)
5. Upang maisulong ang adhikain ng grupo…(talaga?)
6. Undergraduate kasi, at walang mapasukang trabaho.

At, ang “pagtulong sa kapwa”?….para yang SUNTOK sa buwan!…hindi na kapani-paniwala!

Kung sa seryosong usapan, ang pagpasok sa pulitika ay nangangailangan ng talino SANA. Pero sa Pilipinas, iba ang kalakaran dahil pera at katanyagan ang gumagalaw, maliban na lang siguro sa pambihirang nangyari sa Davao City dahil ang ginamit ng mga namumuno doon na mag-amang Duterte ay prinsipyo, katatagan, at tapang – hindi pera at katanyagan. Tinupad nila ang pangakong lilinisin at patatahimikin ang Davao City na nangyari naman.

Maraming mambabatas na kahit utak-tungaw ay nakakaupo sa mga bulwagan ng batasan. At, hindi na dapat pang itanong kung ano ang dahilan at sino ang may kasalanan…dahil alam naman ng lahat! Para sa mga nagmamaang-maangan na inosente kuno, basahin lang ulit ang unang talata o paragraph.