My column for today is Revolt in the making. There’s an interesting proposal, and movement, afoot in Negros Occidental. Some interesting political and other scuttlebutt from various sources in Bacolod City, including local media men:
*The observation that the President’s repeated visits are a sign she thinks she needs to tend to her political support there, but that familiarity is breeding indifference -she comes to often each return visit increasingly becomes a non-event, which isn’t politically helpful.
*Who’s strong, senatorial elections-wise: Loren Legarda, and, suprisingly, Gringo Honasan (“nothing he does reduces his popularity”). Generally, people will vote opposition in terms of the Senate: Miguel Zubiri is the lone administration candidate considered to have a strong chance among local voters.
*Whose support is waning, waning: Panfilo Lacson (formerly very strong), and Allan Peter Cayetano. For the same reason: “all bark, no bite.” Also, Tito Sotto,Tessie Oreta: “they jumped to the wrong ship” are doing poorly, as is Mike Defensor.
*In general, “the masses are for Estrada up to now,” but other considerations (such as dole-outs) means political sympathies may not be reflected in the actual voting.
*Part of Iggy Arroyo’s campaign strategy was to give a karaoke machine to every barangay, delivered via chopper.
*Supposedly, 27% malnutrion rate among kids. Claim that 60% of rural kids have cooties.
*Hacienda owners are gearing up to have the land reform program formally abolished, or no longer extended.
This afternoon, a team from GMA7’s Reporter’s Notebook interviewed me about the insurgency. Interesting conventional wisdom from sources ranging from Gen. Almonte (ret.) etc.: NPA strength is back at the level it reached before the 1986 Edsa Revolution. Reporter told me that instead of having to recruit students into the CPP, students are now volunteering to join the NPA, etc. -in some cases, with the support and encouragement of their parents.
In the blogosphere, Far From Neutral Notions comments on Cesar Montano’s senatorial bid, as does Underside, as does The Purple Phoenix, who serves as a bridge to entries identifying how bloggers will vote, and why, are multiplying.
The Philippine Experience explains why he will vote straight opposition, as will raincontreras.com; Far From Neutral Notions is ambivalent. Big Mango even more so, if degrees of ambivalence is possible. Village Tickler is plain disgusted with both slates.
I wonder if the views of students, whether Sunday Driving or Ang Akeng Mooltiplay (see also her impassioned -and touching- appeal for young people like her to vote), both explaining why they the opposition, are the exception or the rule.
Filipino Changemaker writes an open letter: if seven things take place during the coming elections, he might just leave the country.
Unsleepable dissects the political ads showing on TV.
Pinoy x sa KSA has interesting views on buying in, and unloading from, the stock market. Bunker Chronicles thinks Filipinos aping Chinese New Year rituals is wrong.
Today is my grandmother’s birth anniversary. Appropriately enough, I encountered the blog of Ed Aragon, who reacts to my show’s recent episode on the Battle of Manila.
Technorati Tags: Blogging, elections, philippines, politics, president, Senate
Anecdotal news-making is always troublesome because it — the anecdote or anecdotes — may just tend to glorify an improbable, like the story of one small salagubing in Batangas killing a full-grown carabao. But reports of (probably only five to twenty-five) incidents of “…students now volunteering to join the NPA …in some cases, with the support and encouragement of their parents” is bad news. If it is a couple of suwail na mga anak, still, the anecdote is troublesome. If it is students joining because they are hungry — more troublesome. The only “non-troublesome” is stories of adventure-seekers hoping to eke out some adrenalin, but it appears this was not the case.
UPn Student, I suppose the reports of parents encouraging their children to join the NPA goes some way in answering your conjecture on Arroyo’s popularity with the rural folk two threads back.
maybe it’s time we demand media back up their reports with facts – names and places instead of taking it all – hook, line and sinker.
para naman na tayong palestinian hammas sa statement na yun…
re the revolt…the alternative is what Chavit accused Erap of doing – holding back tobacco excise tax funds that was meant for Ilocos Sur. i believe this has been going on far longer than anyone will care to admit. toeing the party line or sucking up to the boss is not exactly a new concept.
my own view, we CAN change things, it may not be perfect at first, but we can work on it. I’d rather see this kind of revolt rather than violence and messy street protests that will get us nowhere…
but in the end, the lawmakers and politicians are the ones with the highest accountability to make changes in their own little world that affects us all. it’s not just one issue, it’s several – electoral reforms, a more equitable tax distribution and senate representation, local autonomy, and even violence in places like Abra or Masbate. we can debate all we want but if local politicians will not pick up the cudgels for change, we won’t get anywhere.
That’s just another reason I say the race for congress is more important than the race for a national seat. it’s the local politicians, in touch with the grassroots, who have more to contribute to the country than any joker, ping or bong.
Reporter told me that instead of having to recruit students into the CPP, students are now volunteering to join the NPA, etc. -in some cases, with the support and encouragement of their parents.
This is a communist propaganda masquerading as news. Mita is right. We must demand facts, names and places and not rely on “authoritative source” hogwash being peddled by some newspaper just to sell. PDI has become as my favorite blogger says “Philippine Daily Innuendo” has stoop down to the gutter of phil. journalism using “unimpeachable source”.
zapper, you’re welcome to contact gma7, ask for a copy of this week’s episode of reporter’s notebook, see the rebels they interviewed, the efforts they went to validate these stories, see what general almonte has to say, and then come back to me and tell me what it has to do with the inquirer or communist propaganda.