Presidential Primer, 2nd Revision

With Senator Loren Legarda accepting the invitation of Senator Manny Villar to be his running mate in next year’s presidential race, the stage is more or less set for the major players, while the minor leaguers are likely scrambling to project themselves as alternate choices, although, given the already crowded field, it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to scratch the surface. Given the results of the most recent Pulse Asia survey, there appear to be four or five major players, and a host of minor leaguers. Let’s take a look at each and assess their strengths and weaknesses.

The major players:

Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas

Still the team to beat, as Aquino commands quite a bit of popularity, having garnered 44% of those polled, leaving the others trailing his dust. Roxas, at 37%, also leads the pack of vice-presidentiables by a double-digit margin. As I stated earlier, it’s likely that people are treating this tandem as the possible equivalent of the U.S.’s President Barack Obama, and are hoping that Aquino and Roxas represent true and meaningful change.

However, it should be noted that, once he was elected, Obama has had a number of missteps, and is finding out the hard way that it’s one thing promising change, and it’s a totally different thing, making it happen. So it may be for Aquino and Roxas. But, given the rest of the field, at the very least, these two have little scandal attached to them, although Aquino’s opponents are inflating the Hacienda Luisita issue in order to smear the Senator’s name. Aquino, though, has promised to find a solution to the problem, and, hopefully, he will manage to do this before the elections, so that people will see his capacity to lead.

Manny Villar and Loren Legarda

This tandem was just announced last night, although it had been speculated upon that Legarda, who was abandoned by erstwhile partymate Senator Chiz Escudero, would throw her lot in with Villar. Nonetheless, it’s still a strange pair, considering that Legarda was one of those who assisted in ousting Villar from his position as Senate President, and was critical of Villar, especially over the controversial C-5 double-budget insertion. For her to have a change of heart raises suspicions that quite a bit of money was involved in convincing her to run.

Villar, though, might not be such a bad choice to make, given his credentials, but he has shown himself in the past to be of questionable loyalty, given the fact that he was instrumental in impeaching then President Joseph Estrada, and then, when Villar ran again for Senator, he went to gain Erap’s blessing. In Legarda, then, he has a kindred spirit, as Legarda has flitted from party to party, searching for the one who would aid her quest for power. Should both of them win, expect them to be holding knives behind their backs at all times.

Joseph Estrada and Jejomar Binay

Estrada is looking for redemption in the ballot box, but his current survey standing of 11% doesn’t suggest a happy ending for this film star. Having Binay as his running mate does him no favors, because Binay has his own share of shady dealings. The two of them together merely amplifies the perception that the bad old days before Estrada was ousted are likely to return should these two make it to the top.

Estrada seems to be laboring under the delusion that, if he wins, it means that the people believe that he’s innocent of the crimes for which he was convicted. What do the people actually know of the law? The fact remains that he was convicted for plunder, and that, as a former President, he should be ineligible to run, his so-called legal experts notwithstanding. He’s had his chance, and he blew it big time. It’s time to move on.

Gilbert Teodoro and Edu Manzano

Even though Teodoro still hasn’t gotten anywhere close to a strong showing in the surveys, it cannot be denied that, once the campaign begins, as the administration candidate, he will have the full power and coffers of the administration party behind him, and that’s nothing to sneeze at. Still, if he cannot increase his survey results as the campaign unwinds, it’ll be very difficult for him to explain an upset win.

I’m not sure if Teodoro had a hand in choosing Manzano as his running mate, but, given the more experienced possibilities in Lakas-NUCD-KAMPI, it’s still an odd choice. While Manzano has served as Makati vice-mayor, and as head of the Optical Media Board, he hasn’t been in the political arena long enough for him to make the jump to the second highest position in the land. The fact that the heavier hitters in the party weren’t interested in being the vice-presidential candidate may suggest that they’re aware of the difficult road ahead of them should they accept the candidacy.

Teodoro himself will be laboring under the burden of having to answer for all of the administration’s sins. Given the sheer number of the scandals that have characterized this administration, Teodoro is going to be doing quite a bit of explaining.

Chiz Escudero (?)

It’s not yet certain if Escudero will risk his political capital, and perhaps, his career, by running for president next year. For one thing, he doesn’t have a political party to support him, after leaving the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). Unfortunately, this move didn’t pay big dividends for him; no big names cropped up to announce their support for him save for the leftists, who haven’t really committed to him.

Still, in the recent Pulse Asia survey, he managed a respectable 13%, enough for third place, so it’s possible that he will still find some way to make his campaign run. Given the current field, though, it’s probably better for Escudero to bide his time, and prepare for a run in 2016. By then, if he plays his cards right, he will be in good position to claim the top spot then. But not right now.

So far, those appear to be the major players. In my next post, I’ll take a look at the minor players, and see whether there’s a possibility for them to win. More likely, however, the minor players are better off sliding down to a lower position, because, given the current field, should they push through with their bids, they’re likely to be disappointed.

Manny Wins!

The hits just keep on coming from the reigning pound for pound king.

Manny Pacquiao displayed an awesome combination of speed and power, and stopped reigning WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto via TKO in the final round. With the victory, Pacquiao captures his record seventh belt in seven different weight categories.

While Cotto came out swinging in the first round, Pacquiao gained the upper hand by knocking Cotto down twice, first in the third round, then in the fourth. By the ninth round, it was clear that Cotto was simply avoiding getting knocked out, as he continuously backpedaled and jabbed to keep Pacquiao away from him.

In the twelfth round, Pacquiao managed to catch Cotto in a flurry of punches that referee Kenny Bayless finally stopped the match, giving Pacquiao the victory.

What I liked about Cotto was that he was a real stand up guy. After losing to Pacquiao, he went over to Manny's corner and congratulated him for his victory. That's class.

It was a much needed victory to lift up the spirits of a country that has had its share of natural disasters this year. After the twin horrors of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, both of which devastated the island of Luzon, causing millions of pesos of damage, and driving many out of their homes, Filipinos could once more rejoice that their idol once more has put the Philippines squarely on the world stage. No less than US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton predicted that Pacquiao would prevail over the heavier Cotto.

As to what’s next for the new WBO welterweight champ, it is likely that talks are ongoing to set up what could be his biggest match of all, against the undefeated Floyd Mayweather, Jr. With the win over Cotto, Pacquiao should be able to dictate the terms of the fight, although it’s likely that the split of the purse will be a stumbling block, given the size of Mayweather’s ego.

For now, though, the important thing is that Pacquiao has proved that he is a true boxing legend, and, as Filipinos, we should rejoice at that.

To Run Or Not To Run: The Curious Case of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

One of the questions hovering in the realm of Philippine politics is whether President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will run in next year’s elections.

The issue is being floated around by lawmakers loyal to her, notably Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, who was also responsible for footing the bill of one of the President’s extravagant dinners abroad. So far, he has expressed the idea that the President could either run for Congress, representing her home province Pampanga, or for Vice-President. Today, Suarez asserted that the President, given her supposed experience, would make an excellent Speaker of the House.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the President will soon issue an order for Suarez to shut up, as his sycophancy isn’t doing his patron any favors. Based on the surveys, the President is widely unpopular, and one of the reasons for this is the perception that she has been looking for ways and means in order to stay in power. By putting the spotlight on the issue, Suarez is reminding people why Arroyo shouldn’t be allowed to stay beyond her current term.

Still, some of his assertions have some merit behind them, particularly the notion that the President might run for Congress. The media has been keeping a running total of how many times the President has visited Pampanga this year, giving credence to the possibility of the President’s running there.

As for the Vice-Presidency, I’m not sure how much of an asset she will be to any presidential aspirant, although, if she did decide to throw her hat into the race, she would most likely be paired off with the administration candidate-to-be, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. Such a pair would only highlight Teodoro’s attachment to the President, and would only be a lodestone on his back; all his opponents would have to do is to focus attention on the many scandals of the Arroyo administration. Furthermore, it will strongly suggest that Teodoro is merely the puppet of the President, who will most likely act as an eye over his shoulder, thus emasculating the would-be President.

Another issue that the President will have to hurdle is, if she should run, whether she should step down from her position. If she runs concurrently with her position as President, she will never shake off the belief that she will use her position to win. While it appears clear that there is no legal barrier to this, it is still a grossly unfair advantage, and she will never live that issue down should she win.

From another point, it’s possible that all this speculation is merely a smokescreen in order to hide yet another administration scheme. What that could be escapes me at the moment.

It should be noted that, aside from the occasional pronouncements from Suarez and other loyal lawmakers, there has been little reaction from the opposition regarding Arroyo’s post-Presidential plans. It’s likely that people are taking a wait-and-see attitude to this, which is only right. The President hasn’t categorically stated that she plans to run next year, so, at this point, the whole thing is a non-issue, and will remain so until she actually files her certificate of candidacy. When that happens, we can be sure that the fireworks will go off then.

Political Scramble

With November upon us and roughly two weeks before the start of filing of certificates of candidacy, the lines among the potential candidates are slowly but surely being drawn, becoming more and more apparent as the starting date looms before us. And this is not only true for the national level, but also for the local level.

In Quezon City, for example, it’s very clear that the mayoralty will be contested, so far, by current Vice-Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista, 3^rd district councilor Ariel Inton, and 2^nd district representative Annie Susano. However, until yesterday, I was unaware that former mayor Ismael Mathay appears set to throw his hat into the ring. On the way home, I noticed that signs had cropped up along the road, with Mathay’s mug basically exhorting people to register as voters before the deadline, but, I can’t recall seeing the posters before the October 31 deadline. Under Mathay’s name was the word, “mayor”, but it’s been almost a decade since Mathay’s last term, so my guess is that he’s either releasing trial balloons to see if he’s still remembered by the voting public, or he is set to announce his own bid for the mayor’s post. Since, for me, anyway, he’s more remembered as a corrupt official way back in the Marcos era, I can’t see how he can win this time around.

It’s a pity that the current mayor Sonny Belmonte is at the end of the three-term limit, because his stewardship of the city has been more or less positive; he would be one official whom I wouldn’t mind getting another term. The limits stand, though, and it’s time for someone else to take over. From what I can see, Bautista is the anointed heir, as Belmonte’s daughter Joy is being groomed to be Bistek’s running mate. Since I don’t know Inton all that well, and I despise Susano and Mathay for a number of reasons, I’ll probably be casting my vote for Bautista, who has kept a fairly low but clean image in his nine or so years as vice-mayor.

On the national level, it seems that the race for the presidency is down to four, as a number of columnists have pointed out: Senators Manny Villar and Noynoy Aquino, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, former President Joseph Estrada, and, if he makes up his mind in time, Senator Chiz Escudero. While there are others who have voiced their desire to run (Bayani Fernando, Jamby Madrigal, Hermogenes Ebdane, Nicolas Perlas, JC de los Reyes, Richard Gordon, and Bro. Eddie Villanueva, to name a few), their low survey ratings and lack of exposure have probably relegated them to the background for this coming election.

Of the major players, only Aquino and Estrada have running mates (Senator Mar Roxas and Makati Mayor Jojo Binay, respectively), although Villar apparently is negotiating with Senator Loren Legarda, who has announced her intent to vie for the second highest post, but was apparently abandoned by her supposed running mate Escudero. Teodoro originally had Local Government Secretary Ronnie Puno, who has since dropped out of the race, so it’s not clear who will be paired with Teodoro at the moment.

The situation, though, is still very fluid, with alliances shifting with each passing day, as politicians scramble to choose which side they will support, in hopes of being rewarded for their loyalty. Until the actual filing day arrives, expect the pace of negotiation to continue building up.

Taking Stock

Looking at my archive stats, I can see that my posting has really slowed down during the past two months. There are two major reasons for this.

The first is the fact that, since I’m working, the past two months have been really hectic. Whether it be checking papers, or preparing lessons, it’s been a bit of a whirl, and I’ve been trying to keep everything fairly balanced.

The other is that, after the ravages of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, it hasn’t been in my heart to be writing mostly negative reactions to what’s been happening since then. After seeing the damage that the typhoons have wrought on our country, it’s clear that it’s not enough to simply snipe away at our leaders; we also have to pitch in, and do our part. There are enough naysayers in our newspapers and media anyway; I don’t need to add to the ranting. And, admittedly, I've been doing some of that in the past.

Now, what I want to do is to try to look at our national situation from a more objective view, without being necessarily biased against one stand or the other. At the same time, I’d also like to try writing about a wide range of topics, to better expand my mind, and my style. Will that mean I’ll be more regular from here onwards? Well, that’s not really under my control; we’ll just have to see.

A Presidential Primer

With November rapidly bearing down on us, and, with it, the time for filing one's certificate of candidacy, politicians are scrambling to strengthen their positions for the upcoming elections. Already, a number of known aspirants to the Presidency have already officially declared their candidacy, while others are still studying their options. In the background, the minor players are positioning themselves behind the candidate they believe will win, and, thus, reward their support once in power.

Let’s take a quick look at the various pairings, and take a stab at their respective chances.

Declared

Loren Legarda

The Senator has just formally declared her candidacy for the Vice-President’s spot, but it’s still unclear as to whom she will be pairing off with, as Senator Chiz Escudero, her partymate in the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), has yet to declare his presidential bid. While she’s definitely popular due to her media exposure and her green advocacy, I’m wary of her because of her constantly shifting loyalties. At this point, it’s clear that Loren is only loyal to Loren, and any candidate taking her aboard as a running mate should do well to remember that.

Gilbert Teodoro

The Defense Secretary has been burned by his apparent lack of early response to the onslaught of typhoon Ondoy, but I think that, with his unceasing and untiring resolve to deal with Ondoy’s and Pepeng’s aftermath, he’s recovered sufficiently to project himself as a credible candidate. Still, the big monkey on his back, being the Arroyo government’s candidate, is going to be his cross to bear, and, unfortunately, despite a strong personal profile, he will be made to pay for the administration’s many sins.

Joseph Estrada and Jejomar Binay

I am most definitely moving out of the country if Estrada somehow manages to win again. If he wins, it shows that we Filipinos are incapable of learning from our mistakes. Already, he’s shown that he has not changed, by calling for the legalizing of jueteng, as well as declaring all-out war on all rebels. It’s the same old, tired tune, and I hope our voting public has matured enough to recognize that. His running mate, Makati City mayor Binay is about as bad, carving out Makati into his own personal fiefdom. This is basically a pair of used trapos, and our country has had enough of that.

Manny Villar

The popular Senator probably would’ve had a clear run at the Presidency if it weren’t for the fact that his fellow Senators Aquino and Roxas also decided to declare their intentions to run. If it weren’t for Aquino and Roxas, I probably would’ve voted for Villar, but only because he would be the choice of a lesser evil. There are enough question marks about his real estate dealings, as well as his accumulation of wealth, which make me, as well as other observers, think very carefully about voting for him.

Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas

In this pairing of two prominent scions, a lot of hope is being placed that they will not commit the mistakes of the past. With Noynoy Aquino, it is hoped that he will not commit the mistake of his late mother, and, should he win, appoint the right people in the various government positions. With Roxas, who graciously slid down to the vice-presidential slot to give way to Noynoy, it is hoped that he too will be able to help uplift the Filipinos’ plight. It is clear that, based on the survey results, this sentiment is shared by many who are tired of the poisonous and corrupt political atmosphere that currently exists, and hopes that, in Aquino and Roxas, our country can be firmly placed on the road to recovery.

Unsure

Hermogenes Ebdane

The former Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Ebdane recently resigned to pursue his own political plans. A number of newspaper ads have attempted to extol his virtues, claiming that he is a hard worker, and someone we need in these troubled times. Still, it must be noted that, even during his tenure, the DPWH was unable to shake off its corrupt image, and questions must be asked as to what Ebdane did to try to lessen his department’s corruption.

Richard Gordon

It’s clear that the Senator and Red Cross chair is harboring presidential dreams, although Gordon has been very quiet about those plans as of late. It’s likely that he will probably not throw his hat into the ring; his survey ratings have not improved, and it doesn’t look like he has a possible party to support his bid. He’s probably better off staying in the Senate, or, if his term is up, seeking another elective post.

Bayani Fernando

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair was rebuffed by his party when the organizing committee chose Teodoro as the official running mate. It seems though that Fernando has tempered his political plans, and is now willing to settle for a lower position, such as the vice-presidency. With Local Government Secretary Ronnie Puno dropping out of the race, it’s possible that he may team up with Teodoro. However, I can’t see any possibility of him winning the vice-presidency either, for, despite a strong work ethic, Fernando has made himself thoroughly disliked while in charge of the MMDA, whether rightly or wrongly. I’m not sure if pairing him off with Teodoro will help either of the two win.

Chiz Escudero

Escudero may still be examining his options, given his low survey ranking, and the fact that his party’s patriarch, NPC head Eduardo ‘Danding’ Cojuangco has not stated his personal preference for a candidate; in fact, there are rumors swirling that Cojuangco may be inclined to support his nephew Noynoy. In addition, despite a fairly erudite talent for speech, Escudero hasn’t really shown us anything substantial. In fact, it should be remembered that he was one of Estrada’s staunch defenders during Estrada’s presidency, and that should be a warning flag to any who are taken in by Escudero’s smooth speech.

No chance

Nicanor Perlas

JC de los Reyes

The environmentalist and the Ang Kapatiran party member are small fish swimming in a very large ocean. While I cannot fault their idealism, at this point, they have more sentiment than sense, as they have virtually no chance of either winning, or even putting a dent in any of the other candidates’ vote totals.

Game Three Musings

Both the junior and the men’s team had their backs against the wall. It was time for them to show the world what they were made of, and both of them delivered big time.
I don’t think there’s been a time in Ateneo history wherein both basketball squads played a rubber match on the same day, and win back-to-back championships, but, it’s happened, and the celebration is sweet.

The juniors went up first, and it was a pity that the game wasn’t televised, and that only the senior batch was allowed to go and watch it. But, such are the breaks, and so the rest of us waited with bated breath for the results. In my case, I was waiting at home, as the stress of the school year finally caught up with me, and I had to call in sick and rest.

My friend texted me as soon as the game was over. The juniors had successfully defended their crown, winning over a higher-seeded, and slightly more talented, De La Salle-Zobel team. The final score was 61-56, so I suspect that it was a tightly-fought battle. One leg was over, and it was time for the men’s team to step up.

There was a lot of heartbreak after game two of the men’s championship, considering that the UE Red Warriors had walloped the Blue Eagles, and handed them one of their worst losses in recent history. However, I was fairly confident that the team would rise up to the challenge of redeeming themselves in Game Three. At the same time, there was a fair amount of fear that Ateneo would fall prey once more to the Warriors’ free-flowing offense.

The Blue Eagles appeared to be of the mood to stamp their control over the game as early as possible, racing to an 8-point lead early in the game. In the second quarter, they continued their offensive barrage, and, simultaneously applied a smothering defense that held the Warriors to only eight points in the quarter.
In the second half, the Eagles were in defense mode, and, while they continued to score, they seemed more concentrated on making sure that the Warriors would not threaten. At the same time, the Warriors looked as if they had lost their fire from the game before. This time, it was their shots that would not go in; they were the ones who looked half-asleep on defense.

I had to leave to drive my mom to the MRT station with about five minutes remaining, and Ateneo was still up by double digits. I got the text from my sister on the way back: the Ateneo men’s team had successfully defended their championship, winning 71-58.

There were a number of heroes in the game, particularly Eric Salamat, who had finally broke out of his Finals scoring slump, and scored about 7 points, which was more than his output of the last two games. Last night MVP Rabeh al-Hussaini, despite some whining about foul calls, still managed to score 21 points and grab 14 rebounds. Throw in the regular cast: Jai Reyes, Nonoy Baclao, Kirk Long, Nico Salva, Bacon Austria, and Emman Monfort, and you have a team that showed that it is capable of demonstrating tremendous will and heart in order to win.

For the high school, it’s the third team to win UAAP honors, as the judo team and the swim team had previously won in the week before; the judo team, in fact, is now on a four-year winning streak, something that neither the junior or the men’s basketball team have achieved. The swimming team is even more impressive, with a five-year streak.

It’s a wonderful way to celebrate Ateneo’s sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary, but we must always remember to thank the Lord for blessing our school in its achievements, because without Him, none of them would have been possible.

Game Two Musings

It’s difficult to write about a loss, but it’s something that needs to be done, like taking out a thorn that’s imbedded in one’s foot, or having an impacted molar extracted.

The University of the East Red Warriors, with their backs against the proverbial wall, had nothing to lose, came out with guns a-blazing, and manhandled the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 88-68, to tie the UAAP men’s basketball best-of-three championship. In winning, the Red Warriors ended the Blue Eagles’ 12-game winning streak, and handed Ateneo coach Norman Black his worst loss since he took over the reins for Ateneo in 2005.

At first, it seemed that the game would go the Ateneans’ way once more, with Ateneo leading by 2, 40-38, at the end of the first half. However, given the fact that, with one more loss, the UE Warriors would be going home without the championship, during the second half, they treated this game as if it were their last, and they came out shooting.

Elmer Espiritu, who only scored 8 points in the first game, led the way, with 22 points, with four three-point shots. Pari Llagas ably supported him with 19 points, with a lone triple. The rest of the Warrior crew, particularly Paul Lee, Val Acuna and Rudy Lingganay, provided much needed scoring support and a tenacious defense that shocked the Blue Eagles.

As for the Blue Eagles, it seemed apparent that something was missing during the second half, as they seemed rudderless and played lackluster defense. Ateneo’s Rabeh al-Hussaini, who was finally shackled by the UE defense, even got the ball stripped right in front of him. Perhaps the Ateneans got too complacent, and thought that they could win it handily. Obviously, they didn’t learn their lesson from Game One, when the Warriors came storming back from a 17-point deficit to lead by one point at the end of the first half, courtesy of a 19-1 run.

With the win, UE forges the rubber match for this coming Thursday. Hopefully, Ateneo will be able to lick its wounds and recover to be able to avoid a repeat of 2006, when the UST Growling Tigers won the championship after losing the first game. The Eagles had better be ready, as UE has not won a basketball championship in 24 years, and, with their win yesterday, the Warriors have shown that they are very eager to end that drought.

Game One Musings

In the face of the tragedy that the Philippines faced in the wake of typhoon Ondoy’s wrath, it took a spirited game to lift people’s spirits, albeit momentarily before they went back to the task of rebuilding their lives.

When Ateneo started Game One of the UAAP Season 72 men’s basketball championship by leading the UE Warriors by as many as 17 points in the first quarter, though, it seemed certain that Ateneo would romp off into an easy win.

Then, the Warriors showed what they were made of in the second quarter. With Raffy Reyes and Rudy Lingganay leading the way, UE fought its way back from the brink with a blistering 19-1 run to take the lead at the half, 35-34.

The second half was a frenzied give-and-take battle, with both teams striving to assert their dominance. Ateneo got started early with a Jai Reyes 3-pointer to retake the lead, and while the Warriors would manage to tie the score again and again, momentum was once more with the Blue Eagles, under the able play of reigning MVP Rabeh al-Hussaini and Reyes, who was one of the many stranded in their homes by the fury of typhoon Ondoy.

Shaking off the effects of the ordeal, Reyes would drain 5 treys in keeping the Warriors at bay, and Kirk Long hit a long (pun intended) one to push the lead once more to a comfortable margin. However, the Warriors, led by Paul Lee and Pari Llagas, continued to threaten and keep within striking distance.

In the end, it was al-Hussaini putting the finishing touches on the win, capitalizing on a UE defense unable to shackle him. When the buzzer sounded, Ateneo had taken Game One, 78-71.

With the second game coming up this Sunday, it’s clear that both coaches need to adjust their game plans. UE must find a way to defend al-Hussaini, who, in three games, has managed to tear the Warriors’ defense into shreds. Ateneo’s other players must step up, especially spitfire guard Eric Salamat who was MIA most of the game. Whatever changes the coaches and players make, it’s clear that we’re in for another exciting game on Sunday.

Business as Usual

In the aftermath of typhoon Ondoy, the regular soap opera that is Philippine politics at work continues.

Last Tuesday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) upheld the merger of the two administration political parties, Lakas-NUCD, and Kampi, paving the way for a more solid cooperation between the two parties. The Comelec dismissed the complaint of disgruntled Lakas members, including former Speaker Jose de Venecia, who said that the merger was illegally conceived. The Comelec pointed out that de Venecia’s protest was too late, considering that he had said nothing when the merger was initially conceived.

This should clear the way for the administration presidential bet for next year, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, to organize the administration machine, and improve his chances of winning next year. That is, of course, if he can hurdle his perceived lack of response to the challenge of Ondoy (a topic for another post).

However, a number of administration personalities have already jumped ship, and have transferred their allegiances to other presidential bets. One of these is Quezon City’s 2^nd district representative Annie Susano, who moved to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) headed by Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco to shore up her chances of running for mayor of Quezon City. It was clear that vice-mayor Herbert Bautista, another Lakas member, would get the nod from the Lakas higher-ups, leaving Susano no choice but to move out.

Also, last Tuesday, the House panel working on the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez predictably voted overwhelmingly to throw out the complaint, citing insufficient evidence. It is clear that the anti-impeachment wall set up by the President also covers her valuable assets; Gutierrez, who is supposed to be the top graftbuster, is a classmate of controversial First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, so it’s unlikely that any impeachment complaint against her will prosper.

The administration representatives may pontificate about the rule of law, and about the need to provide sufficient evidence to support the complaint, but it’s really just the tyranny of numbers. It doesn’t matter how much evidence is presented; what is important is that the administration lackeys know their master, and, as long as their pockets are kept full, they will be willing lapdogs in doing whatever they are told to do.

In addition: Che Tiongson, the former live-in partner of Deputy National Security Adviser Luis "Chavit" Singson, has withdrawn her complaint against Singson's allegedly beating her and her companion up. I can only shake my head in wonder, and wonder how much it took for Singson to get Tiongson off his back.

The Best and the Worst of Ondoy

Typhoon Ondoy certainly brought out the best and, sadly, the worst in the Filipino.

The best includes the many Filipinos who have reached out to those in need of help in this crisis, such as the brave souls who risked their lives, and, in some cases, lost them at the height of the storm in rescuing their fellow countrymen. There was even a judge who used his jetski to rescue around a hundred people.

It doesn’t include a certain actor who did rescue his movie partner actress via speedboat. Unfortunately, she was all he rescued, as they left even if there were others who could’ve fit in the boat, making the whole thing look like one big publicity stunt. A day or two after, the two were reported by their parent network as helping out in handing out relief goods, a way perhaps of glossing over some of the messy rescue details?

The best includes the Cavite congressman who filed a resolution for him and his fellow House representatives to donate P1 million from their respective pork barrels to relief work.

It doesn’t include House Speaker Prospero Nograles, who, in a representative show of House leadership, said congressmen should only donate P20,000. That’s generosity for you.

It also doesn’t include Pampanga Representative and Presidential son Mikey Arroyo, who was allegedly photographed a day after, buying liquor from a supermarket. The photo was then widely disseminated on the social network Facebook, eliciting howls of rage from people still angry over Arroyo’s apparent lies about his statement of assets and liabilities. Arroyo, in turn, angrily retorted that such networks should be tightly regulated, making some of us believe that he would be one of those who would welcome the return of martial law to our country. It’s also an ironic statement, considering that networks like Facebook have been instrumental in getting news about those in need out.

The best includes the many Filipinos who have donated their time, money and relief goods to succor those who have been rendered homeless due to the fury of Ondoy. Our youth, once thought to be apathetic, came out in droves to help pack bags of relief goods, bringing a light of hope to our country’s future.

It doesn’t include the ghouls who exploited the situation and engaged in all sorts of activities, ranging from the raising of prices of basic goods to looting the evacuated houses of those fleeing the flood. There is a special level of hell waiting for these, or so I hope.

With another storm coming in, it is hoped that we can manage to focus on giving our best, and not our worst, in facing the challenges that this storm may bring.

The Fury That Was Ondoy

September 26, 2009 will be a date that many Filipinos will remember as the day it rained forever.

It started out like any ordinary rainy day, and, in my case, I made my way to the Ateneo that morning to give a teacher-training seminar to public school teachers. When I arrived at the high school campus, the rain had actually let up, making me think that it would be the end of it.

But, as the day progressed, it was clear that this wasn’t an ordinary rain, as it continued to rain in torrents, causing the drains to almost overflow, and deep puddles to form on the high school lawn.

By midday, we started hearing reports of huge traffic jams outside, and the participants began to worry and ask me whether the seminar would be cancelled, so that they could go home. However, I was told by our head that Katipunan Avenue outside was hopelessly gridlocked, and we might as well just finish the seminar sessions. All the while the rain pounded incessantly, a constant sheet of water.

By lunchtime, we started hearing horror stories of our co-teachers’ houses in Marikina and Cainta being flooded, almost up to the ceilings. My coordinator came in from the grade school fair with her family, and told us that there were a lot of stranded people there due to the traffic outside. Mr. Pagsanghan, my mentor, arrived from Miriam College, where he was giving a talk, and told us how the flood waters came into the covered courts and shorted out the electricity.

My own problem was that I had forgotten my cell phone at home, and I couldn’t contact people to find out what the conditions were outside. My call to my mom told me that my wife and her sister was somewhere out near the Delta area, and my sister, who was at the nearby Parco, couldn’t get to them because the floodwaters were too deep for the car to go through. Fortunately, my daughters were safe, albeit in different locations: my eldest was with my mom, whose house is on a hill, and my youngest was at our own house, which is elevated.

At the high school workroom, a part of the ceiling apparently gave way, and flooded the entire workroom; I’m not sure if part of the flood was due to the overflow from the drains, though. The last time that had happened was about a decade ago, when water came through the seams, and we had to frantically remove all of the computers from the computer room. Fortunately, the water only reached the edge of my cubicle, so I hurriedly shifted all of my boxes onto my desk and cabinet.

My co-facilitators and I wound up finishing the seminar an hour earlier than the given schedule, to allow the participants to try to get home. As for me, my co-teachers and I stayed at the workroom, and, while the internet was still working, we kept updated from the status posts of our friends on Facebook, some of whom had been stuck for hours in the traffic gridlock.

The brownout came at around three, so we relocated to the cafeteria, where we waited for news of the traffic easing up. That came around five, when the guard told us that traffic was free-flowing on Katipunan.

I decided to take the C.P. Garcia route, only to find out it was backed up just after the UP CS entrance. Fortunately, I managed to cut through UP, but, since Ylanan Road was backed up and not moving, I made my way to University Avenue, where the traffic was slow, but moving.

At the intersection with C.P. Garcia, traffic coming from that road was snarled because of cars turning left from University Ave. However, it made a great block to cross the intersection, and it was easy getting to Commonwealth Ave., where I had heard the traffic going home was light.

At Commonwealth, I saw this was the case. Several trucks and vans had attempted a counter-flow going to the Quezon Memorial Circle, thus causing a massive gridlock wherein only a few vehicles at a time were able to get through. As it was, there were dozens of people on the road, all walking towards Tandang Sora Ave.

The road was clear all the way to my parents’ house near the central temple of the Iglesia ni Kristo, so I made it home from Ateneo in less than an hour. For some, however, it would take hours to get home, and for many others, the storm had stranded them where they were.

The next day, the Philippine Star, in its headline, compared the storm, codenamed ‘Ondoy’, to hurricane ‘Katrina’, which devastated the Southeastern part of the United States a few years ago. Inside were pictures of trucks half-submerged and people stranded on rooftops. A news story reported that the amount of rain last Saturday was almost equivalent to the rainfall of the entire September. A good number of places across Metro Manila are without electricity, telephones, or potable water.

So far, despite the devastation wrought by the storm, casualties appear to be fairly light, although that might be because authorities are still collating data (I’m hoping, though that the number casualties are truly low). Among my friends and co-teachers, while there is a great amount of property damage, I don’t have any reports of casualties, for which I am very grateful. Doing a quick scan of Facebook posts show that a number of people are missing or out of contact. Hopefully, this is due to the lack of network coverage than anything else.

Still, there is a lot of work to be done. Many families have been rendered homeless due to the flood waters that engulfed their homes. Many are still stranded because flood waters haven't abated in their area. Food and clothing are needed, and donations are coming in from everywhere, which goes to show the goodness of man shining through in the darkest of hours.

The storm is a reminder once again for us not to forget the fury that nature is capable of releasing.

UAAP Basketball: Final Four Update

It appears that Ateneo didn’t miss the services of forward Nico Salva, at all.

The Blue Eagles made short work of the UST Growling Tigers, and never trailed in beating UST, 81-64. Ateneo guard Jai Reyes did most of the damage, scoring 17 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Former Rookie of the Year Ryan Buenafe chipped in 15 points, and guard Eric Salamat harried the Tigers with impeccable, making away with four steals.

Coach Norman Black made use of the Blue Eagles’ bench, and found ready substitutes for Salva, who was suspended for having punched FEU’s Jens Knuttel in Ateneo’s previous game. Christopher Sumalinog came in and contributed a lot, sacrificing himself at one point with a suicidal dive for the ball, which Ateneo converted into an easy two points.

It was a bittersweet moment for UST’s Dylan Ababou, for, although he is the Most Valuable Player for the year, UST was unable to get past the first round of the Final Four; the Tigers have not won the championship since their 2006 crown. Also graduating from the UST squad is standout Khasim Mirza, so the Tigers are likely to be in rebuilding mode next season.

In the other Final Four matchup, the UE Red Warriors hung tough, and defeated a Mark Barroca-less FEU team, 84-74, earning the Warriors a rubber match on Thursday to determine the other Finals competitor.

At first, it seemed that the Tamaraws would be able to buck the loss of Barroca, who left the team for good after rumors of his being involved in game-fixing arose. But, apparently, his loss, as well as Knuttel’s injury (hamstring), left a gaping hole in FEU’s guard rotation, and the Tamaraws fell prey to the Warriors fast-paced offense.

However, all is not lost for the Morayta-based squad, as coach Glenn Capacio has a deep enough lineup to make the necessary adjustments for Thursday’s game. Still, momentum is on the side of the Warriors, who have now won seven straight to keep their Finals hopes alive.

As for the Ateneo team, they now have a full week with which to rest and prepare for what promises to be a grueling Finals. Whether it will be the Warriors or the Tamaraws, the Blue Eagles are going to have their hands full.

UAAP Update: Onwards to the Final Four

At the close of the UAAP men’s basketball elimination round, the playoff picture became so much clearer.

Last Thursday, the De La Salle Green Archers were upended by the lowly National University (NU) Bulldogs, thus ending the Archers’ chances of keeping their hopes alive for a Final Four slot. La Salle needed to win, and, if the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers lost to the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, a playoff game for the last slot would have to be played. With UST playing the way it’s been playing its last few games, I have no doubt the Archers would’ve been able to get the last slot.

However, NU had other plans. Having been long eliminated from the playoffs, the Bulldogs were looking for some consolation to their sorry season, and got it in the form of ending not only the Archers’ hopes for this year, but also La Salle’s 14-year streak of making it to the Final Four (except, of course, for the year when they were suspended). It’s something the Bulldogs can take into the off-season to cherish.

With La Salle eliminated, the other game last Thursday between UST and UE became no-bearing, with UE winning handily over the hapless Tigers, who have lost four straight games. It’s not a confidence-building situation going into the Final Four.

Last Saturday, Ateneo and Far Eastern University (FEU) slugged it out to determine who would get the top spot and face hapless UST, and who would get the second slot and face the dangerous UE Warriors.

I only got to see the second half of the game, but it looked like FEU was going to coast to clinch, as FEU guard Paul Sanga was red-hot in the third quarter, and the Tamaraws stampeded to an 18-point lead, although the Blue Eagles cut it down a bit by the end of the quarter. However, Ateneo sophomore Nico Salva was summarily ejected for backfisting FEU’s Knuttel, and, while it’s fairly clear that Knuttel did a fair bit of acting to sell it, it was also clear from the replays that Salva engaged in a bit of unsportsmanlike behavior. It’s likely that he’ll miss the Ateneo’s first game in the Final Four.

In the fourth quarter, though, Ateneo stormed right back, with Jai Reyes and Eric Salamat leading the charge. The Blue Eagles dug in deep, and found the will to come back from the daunting deficit, and managed to capture the lead halfway through the quarter. At the same time, the Tamaraws, who were sizzling in the third quarter, suddenly found it difficult to find ways to score, and, thus, Ateneo led by as many as 5 points after trailing for so long.

However, FEU was not done, and kept the game close right until the end. With 2 seconds to go, and Ateneo leading by 2 points, the reigning MVP Rabeh al-Hussaini committed his fifth and last foul on Neil Cervantes, sending Cervantes to the line. It was a tense moment for both teams: Ateneo was hoping that Cervantes would miss one of the free throws, and FEU was hoping to tie the game and send it into overtime, where they would have the upper hand over an al-Hussaini-less Ateneo.

Cervantes, obviously pressured, made the first shot, and then missed the second. Salamat (I think) grabbed the rebound, and cheers of celebration erupted from the Ateneo side. Ateneo had survived, 74-73.

With the win, Ateneo clinched the top spot, and will face UST in the first round of the Final Four. The Eagles, though, are likely to face the Tigers sans Nico Salva, although, given the Tigers’ fortunes as of late, the Eagles might not miss Salva’s services too much. FEU has a much tougher assignment, as the UE Warriors have been on a winning streak, and have a strong lineup.

As for the rest of the league, Adamson trounced UP in the game prior to the Ateneo-FEU match, and, in doing so, the Falcons tie La Salle’s 5-9 record. But, because Adamson has a superior quotient, the Falcons clinch 5^th place, and the Archers slide to 6^th. While the Fighting Maroons come in last tied with the Bulldogs, they can boast of one unique accomplishment: UP is the only team to beat Ateneo so far this season. Add that to the fact that they also beat La Salle, and UP has the unique distinction of having beaten last year’s finalists. That’s something that coach Aboy Castro and his team can take with them to build on for next year.

It’s been an exciting regular season. Now, on to the playoffs.

Culture of Impunity: Mikey's Big Mouth

The more Presidential son and Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo opens his mouth, the deeper a hole into which he digs himself.

Arroyo’s predicament began when a group of veteran journalists, under the title “The Vera Files”, came out last week with a report of how his and his brother, Camarines Sur Rep. Dato Arroyo’s annual Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) didn’t list certain U.S. properties that they had acquired. The report also questioned how the Arroyo’s net worth had ballooned exponentially during the time they’ve been in office.

A few days after the report, Rep. Mikey Arroyo appeared on GMA 7’s morning show “Unang Hirit” to answer the report’s accusations. His appearance, which has come out on YouTube, didn’t do him any favors, as he stumbled over questions posed to him by Winnie Monsod and Arnold Clavio. His attempts to dodge the questions were clearly seen, as well as the sheer arrogance with which he acted. He even challenged Monsod and Clavio to sue him in court if they had any problem with his SALN.

The problem with that, as Monsod asserted, that the basis of filing one’s SALN is for transparency’s sake, and that the burden of proof lies with the SALN filer, not the public. Arroyo’s challenge for people to sue him in court is the standard response of the Arroyos and other public officials who have done their very best to obfuscate their wrongdoings. But, in this case, it is the wrong response, and is indicative of Arroyo’s attempt to avoid answering the issue directly.

One statement that stood out, and, became the basis for another report by the Vera Files, was Arroyo’s assertion that his increase in wealth came out of wedding gifts and campaign contributions. Of course, one question that immediately comes to mind is whether election campaign contributions can be used for personal expenditures such as houses.

The Vera Files punctured Arroyo’s assertion by noting that, in his SALN, he listed zero campaign contributions, which indicates that Arroyo may have perjured himself on national television when he stated, on the record, that part of his wealth came from campaign contributions.

Whether the Ombudsman decides to act on this issue is anyone’s guess, given how beholden the current Ombudsman is to the President. It is because of this situation that the Arroyos’ culture of acting with impunity has arisen. The other problem is that, because of the sheer number of scandals that this government has created, we the Filipino people have become so jaded and desensitized to corruption that we don’t raise a fuss when a new scandal rears its ugly head. Thus, the culture of impunity is strengthened.

Culture of Impunity: The Case of Chavit Singson

One of the glaring problems of the administration is the prevailing perception that the officials in the government, particularly the President and her close allies, act with impunity, comfortable in the knowledge that they are protected by the system.

Take, for example, the case of Deputy National Security Adviser Luis “Chavit” Singson. A few days ago, he practically bragged on national television that he beat up his live-in partner, Rachel “Che” Tiongson and her lover, after he allegedly caught them “in the act”. He even stated that the two were lucky that he didn’t kill them.

Keep in mind that this is a public official, who’s supposed to uphold the law and comport himself properly, admitting, for the record, that he committed a crime, which is basically violence against a woman. Instead of being contrite and humble, he even arrogantly states that he could’ve killed them, under the misconception that the only punishment he would get would be a slap on the wrist. The truth of the matter there is that, if the rule of law were upheld in our country, had Singson done what he said he’d do, he would’ve been charged with homicide.

Worse, being involved in national security matters, it’s very possible for Singson to have used assets available to him to maintain surveillance of his ex and her lover. If proven to be true, then Singson is not only guilt of violence against women; he is also guilty of abusing his office.

So far, however, Palace officials have been pussyfooting around the issue, simply saying that Singson should submit himself to the legal process, and that they would wait for the results of the investigation. It doesn’t seem bothersome for them that Singson has already confessed to the crime of beating up a woman. Shouldn’t that be troubling enough to suspend him, considering that our President herself is a woman?

At the same time, I’m not too willing to believe the story of Tiongson wholesale, as there is enough detail to call her version of the story into question. But, if we simply focus on the matter of the beating, shouldn’t that be enough evidence to at least suspend Singson while the investigation is ongoing?

Of course, it’s important to remember that Singson is very close to the President, and, as shown in the past, the President is very forgiving of her inner circle. So, unless the clamor for Singson to face the charges against him continues to grow, it’s very likely that the President and her officials will do their utmost to see to it that this sordid affair be swept under the rug as swiftly and as furtively as possible.

UAAP Update: Playoff Picture

It’s been a busy season, what with the preparation and administering of the exams, giving me little to no time for writing. Add the very addictive game “Plants vs Zombies” to the mix, and it’s a recipe for not writing at all.

In the UAAP, the playoff picture remains muddled, except for the third seed slot, which the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors hold without dispute. University of Sto. Tomas (UST), which currently holds the fourth slot, seems more than willing to give it away, having dropped crucial games against La Salle, which is one game behind UST, and Adamson, which is playing the spoiler role to the hilt. In both games, the Growling Tigers, known this season for a very explosive offense, and a very porous defense, showed more of the latter, and little of the former.

All UST had to do was win one game out of the remaining three, and it would clinch the fourth slot in the Final Four. But, apparently, for UST coach Pido Jarencio’s crew, that seems to be a Herculean task, as the much-vaunted Tiger offense, centered around MVP candidate Dylan Ababou, Khasim Mirza, and rookie Jeric Teng, was defanged yesterday against a soaring Adamson Falcon attack.

Now, UST is in a must-win situation against 3^rd placer UE in its final game. If the Tigers manage to pull that off, they’ll have clinched the fourth seed. If they don’t, then UST will have to hope that the National University (NU) Bulldogs beat the Green Archers on Thursday; otherwise, the Tigers will have to play a knockout game against La Salle, whom UST hasn’t beaten this season.

On the other side of the playoff picture, the Ateneo Blue Eagles remain perched at the top, after handily beating the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, thus avenging the Eagles’ only loss of the season. Just a game behind Ateneo are the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, who survived a gutsy La Salle squad to prevail in overtime last Saturday. The two teams are set to meet on either Saturday or Sunday. If Ateneo wins, it will have clinched the top spot, and will face either La Salle or UST in the Final Four. If FEU wins, it will have tied Ateneo at the top spot, and the two teams will play another game to determine the standings for the Final Four.

It’s another rip-rollicking ride as we approach the end of the basketball season, and, at this point, it’s anybody’s ball game for those still fighting for a slot in the playoffs.

UAAP Update: A Tale of Two Wins

In the past four days, the Ateneo Blue Eagles played and won two games, maintaining their 1-game lead over 2^nd place Far Eastern University (FEU). However, the wins against National University (NU) and Adamson University came in very different ways.

Last Thursday, Ateneo came out with a virtual repeat of its first game with NU, and pummeled the Bulldogs into submission with a 21-point victory which could have been a bigger blowout had Ateneo coach Norman Black kept his starters in until the very end. But, recognizing the double opportunity of resting his starters and letting his bench get some needed experience, Black pulled out his starters early in the fourth, letting such little-used players such as Vince Burke and Frank Golla play against NU’s first-stringers. While the Bulldogs came roaring back in the face of weak opposition, Ateneo’s third stringers didn’t completely buckle down, and managed to hold their own; this was shown by the fact that Ateneo’s starting lineup didn’t enter the game after being pulled out.

Some dubious records were either set or tied, as the Blue Eagles, led by a breakout performance by last year’s Rookie of the Year Ryan Buenafe, held the Bulldogs to only three points in the first quarter; ironically, it was the very first score of the game, a three-pointer by NU guard Joseph Hermosisima at the 9:41 mark. It would be the last score of NU for over ten minutes, and the Bulldogs ended the first half with a measly 10 points.

At one point, the Bulldogs were actually tied at 21 points … with Buenafe alone sometime in the third quarter. NU was never a threat in this game, playing sloppy basketball in the first half, and playing hard only when the game was out of reach.

It appears that the Eagles needed that much-needed pick-up game, because Sunday’s game with their fellow raptor school Adamson wasn’t a walk in the park.

The Blue Falcons struck early, racing to as many as 11 points to lead the game. The Eagles seemed to be shocked by the onslaught, but recovered enough to cut the lead down to 2 the end of the first half.

The second half seesawed most of the way, with neither team able to break away. Both teams played good defense and shot adequately, making it an exciting game to watch.

Ateneo finally took control with less than two minutes to go, as Adamson seemed to fall apart in the end game, while the Blue Eagles’ championship experience kicked in at just the right moment. Ateneo won its 25^th straight win over Adamson, winning 61-52, an almost mirror image of its first win over Adamson this season.

Elsewhere in the UAAP, the La Salle Green Archers continue their downward spiral, losing its fifth straight game, and in real danger of missing the Final Four for the first time during coach Franz Pumaren’s tenure, the ban notwithstanding. Its chances no longer in its hands, La Salle must now win all of its three last games, against UST, FEU and NU, and hope that 3^rd place UE loses its last three games, or 4^th place UST loses two of its last three games in order to gain a playoff for the final slot. Should La Salle lose, or UE and UST continue to win, then that’s it for the Archers’ playoff hopes.

As for the Blue Eagles, only two games remain on their schedule, one being a rematch with the University of the Philippines’ Fighting Maroons, who gave the Ateneans their only loss of the season, and second-placer FEU Tamaraws, who lost to Ateneo in the first round, but have become more dangerous since then. The Blue Eagles are going to have to dig deep and prepare for these two teams in order for Ateneo to maintain the top spot in the UAAP basketball tournament.

UAAP Update: Twists and Upsets

The rough season for La Salle continues, as coach Franz Pumaren enters uncharted regions with his fourth straight loss, this time to erstwhile cellar-dweller University of the Philippines last Saturday. The loss marks another first in Pumaren’s storied career as coach of the Green Archers; it is the first time such a streak has happened.

It’s ironic that the one doing most of the damage was a La Salle product. Rookie Mikee Reyes, who led the Fighting Maroons with 25 points, hailed from La Salle-Greenhills, and, if I read the papers right, was supposed to have joined the Green Archers, but, apparently, things turned out a little differently.

With the loss, La Salle drops to 4-6, and its chances of getting into the Final Four hinge on the top four teams playing badly the rest of the way. For UP, things appear to be looking up a tad, as the Maroons manage to match their win total from last season, and have proven to be a viable threat for the rest of the season.

In yesterday’s games, Ateneo and Far Eastern University (FEU) parted ways at the top, with Ateneo grabbing the solo lead after managing to get past a feisty University of Santo Tomas (UST) squad, 80-70, and FEU falling to second after being thrashed by third placer University of the East (UE).

In the first game, it seemed like the Eagles would wind up in second, since the Growling Tigers held a slim lead going into the fourth quarter, and reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Rabeh al-Hussaini was in foul trouble early. But Kirk Long had a breakout game, scoring 21 points, including a long (pun intended) 3-pointer with around 2 minutes to go. That was the back-breaker for UST, as they were forced to attempt quick 3s to catch up, to no avail. The Tigers’ scoring went cold down the stretch, and Eagles padded their lead thanks to all the free throws made as UST vainly tried to stop the clock.

I wasn’t able to watch much of the FEU-UE match, but apparently, the Red Warriors took control in the second quarter with a hot 82% shooting clip to lead at the half by 4. When I turned on the TV again, it was late in the fourth quarter, and UE was leading by 11, and went on to win by 13.

With a quick look at the schedules, the Blue Eagles will have to battle complacency as their next three games are against the bottom teams, namely, NU, Adamson, and UP, before their final match-up with erstwhile co-leader FEU. However, all three teams have proven that they can fight, and so, Ateneo can’t take any of them lightly. UP, in fact, having handed Ateneo its only loss so far, is probably itching to sweep its Katipunan rival.

La Salle has a tough road ahead, as UE and FEU are still on its schedule, making the Archers entry into the Final Four an iffy proposition.FEU, in particular, will probably dust itself off after the UE loss, and woe betide the next team the Tamaraws will face. UE, on the other hand, looks to continue its winning ways, and may even battle for second, if FEU runs into trouble. As for UST, the Tigers have to continue shooting well. Since they give up more than 80 points a game, they’ll run into trouble if Ababou, Mirza and Teng go cold, which might open the door for any of the low four.

It’s been an exciting season so far, as all of the teams have game, and it’ll be a wild run-up to the Final Four.

UAAP Basketball: Ateneo Upends La Salle

This time, Ateneo left nothing to chance, it seems.

In a sharp contrast to the first game, the Blue Eagles came out with guns blazing, and smothered archrival La Salle, 81-65, to continue their winning ways in the UAAP men’s basketball championship.

In their first match-up, the Blue Eagles and the Green Archers fought a tight match, with Ateneo literally escaping by the skin of its teeth with a 76-72 overtime win. It appears that, this time around, the Blue Eagles displayed their veteran’s experience to the hilt, and made sure the Archers would not threaten.

It seems that the Green Archers inexperience has finally caught up with them, as they shot terribly from the get-go, shackled by the Blue Eagles’ tenacious defense. While La Salle managed a rally of sorts in the third quarter, it wasn’t enough to stop the determined Blue Eagles.

King Eagle and reigning Most Valuable Player Rabeh al-Hussaini finally shook off his slump, and was virtually unstoppable en route to 26 points, with three blocks thrown in. He was ably supported by his teammates, as Nico Salva, Eric Salamat, Kurt Long, Jai Reyes, and Nonoy Baclao all played quality minutes as they sent La Salle to its third straight loss, a first for the Taft team under the coaching leadership of Franz Pumaren.

With the win, Ateneo moves a half-game ahead of erstwhile co-leader Far Eastern University (FEU), and is well-primed for a run at a back-to-back championship.

If there’s one that I’m rather disappointed with, it’s that the scheduling happened the way it did. The rivalry games between Ateneo and La Salle are the big games of the UAAP season, and, with both over, the remaining schedule of games seems almost humdrum. While Ateneo still has some big games left, particularly with FEU, University of Santo Tomas, and University of the Philippines, which handed Ateneo its only loss so far, they won’t have the same electric intensity that the Rivalry always generates. The sad thing is that, with the way La Salle is going, it’s possible that we’ve seen the last game between the two archrivals for this season.

Side note: With this post, I've now reached 900 posts. It would've been earlier, but I realized that the counter on the Blogger dashboard also counted drafts.

Thanks to everyone who's followed this blog. Now, on to post #1000!

Book Review: "Percy Jackson and the Olympians"

With the success of the “Harry Potter” series, it’s inevitable that a number of book series will attempt to cash in on the phenomenon, but, as is the case, most of these will fall by the wayside, because they are invariably poor copies.

However, in the case of the five-part “Percy Jackson and the Olympians”, writer Rick Riordan accomplishes two things: one, he creates a character as appealing and as unique as Harry Potter, and two, he revitalizes the rather old-fashioned topic of Greek mythology, making relevant once more to our consciousness.

The whole story is told from the point of view of Percy Jackson, a young boy who discovers that he is much more than human. He is a demigod, a son of one of the Greek gods, and, he later discovers that he is a son of Poseidon, the god of the sea, and one of the Big Three, the sons of the Titan Kronos, the other two being Zeus, the ruler of the gods, and Hades, the god of the underworld. However, since the three major gods had made a pact after World War II not to father any children, due to a prophecy that foretold the destruction of the Olympians, Percy’s existence is in question, being the product of a union that broke the pact. Worse, in the first book, Percy is accused of stealing the master bolt of Zeus, and must go on a quest both to recover the bolt and redeem himself.

While he manages to accomplish this, Percy has little chance to rest, as he is tested again and again both by the gods, and by the main adversary, Kronos, who is attempting to re-form himself and take his revenge on his wayward children. What happens is something I won’t spoil; it’s something you have to find out for yourself.

What I like about the series is that it’s fairly easy reading, and the language is contemporary and uncomplicated, as if to whisk you right into the story. Also, the story is a treat for those knowledgeable in Greek mythology, as it seems that writer Riordan explored every nook and cranny of Edith Hamilton’s classic work “Mythology”, and, in doing so, managed to bring the various gods, demigods, heroes and monsters to life. For those not too familiar with Greek mythology, the series presents an easy stepping stone into the genre.

At the same time, the story is a classing coming of age tale, which is appealing to those who are in the process of finding themselves. In Percy Jackson, we find another character forced to make some hard decisions, and growing up in the process.

With the movie of “The Lightning Thief” the first book due out next year, it’s likely that the popularity of the series will considerably spike, and hopefully, more will be introduced to the world of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and enjoy their stay as much as those of us who already read the series have.

President Arroyo to Her Critics - Screw You!

Somehow, I get the feeling that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is in a “screw you” sort of mode, considering the number of controversies she has been involved in, in the wake of President Cory Aquino’s passing. From her indelicate “no comment” about a personal message for Aquino after going to Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, to the controversy surrounding her selection of the National Artists, to her $20,000 anniversary dinner at Le Cirque, to the revelations about the almost exponential growth of her wealth over the nine years of her Presidency, it appears that Arroyo has thrown caution to the wind, and has thrown down the gauntlet to her foes, as if to say, “What are you going to do about it?”

What can we do about it? The President is immune from suit, so cases of corruption cannot be filed against her. Besides, the Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, the top graftbuster, is Arroyo’s political appointee and classmate of her husband, and has demonstrated that she is not inclined to go after the big fish, especially those allied to the President. Impeachment is also out of the question, as her lapdogs in the House of Representatives have been well-rewarded (paid off) to block any attempt to raise the complaint to the Senate. Even looking to another individual, a la Cory Aquino, is futile, as her political foes are as corrupt as she is.

A co-teacher of mine speculated about the possibility that the motive behind Arroyo’s actions is to provoke violent protest in order for her to declare martial law. If such is truly the case, then Arroyo is playing with very dangerous fire. The Filipino people have been very patient with her, given the fact that there is no one whom we can look to for relief. If Arroyo forces the issue and continues to be embroiled in controversy after controversy, having no one to turn to may not matter anymore, as the powder keg of discontent will simply explode from saturation.

Quick Bites

According to Press Secretary Cerge Remonde and Atty. Romy Macalintal, if the morality of the $20,000 dinner President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had to celebrate her and her husband’s 41^st wedding anniversary is being questioned, the media is also equally guilty, having received millions from airing thinly-veiled campaign advertisements from presidential candidates. Since, according to Macalintal, these ads are clearly signs of early campaigning, shouldn’t the media be blamed from profiting from this, when the money could be better spent helping the poor?

While Macalintal may have a point, he is still skirting the issue of the President’s dinner. By using squid tactics, he continues the ploy of avoiding discussing the issue.

Unfortunately, another report of another lavish dinner, a $15,000 shebang in Washington, DC, belies the supposed lack of controversy surrounding the New York dinner. It makes me question how much the President is spending on dinners during her trips abroad, and, if she isn’t spending, who are footing the bill, and who benefits from sucking up to the President.

* * *

“Wowowee” host Willie Revillame has taken an indefinite leave of absence from his show, mainly due to the furor created by his inappropriate comments about the network decision to simultaneously air the transfer of the late President Cory Aquino from the La Salle Greenhills campus to Manila Cathedral alongside “Wowowee”. In addition, the Movie and Television Classification and Review Board (MTCRB) is planning to investigate Revillame for his comments on the issue.

While I am elated at this turn of events, considering that Revillame was unbelievably arrogant and insensitive in making his ill-conceived statements, I can’t help but feel that Revillame is a scapegoat in this mess, and that ABS-CBN, whose production staff made the call to air the two events simultaneously, doesn’t look like it’s going to take any heat from this issue.

* * *

The controversy surrounding the President’s selection of National Artists, particularly director and komiks creator Carlo Caparas and National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) director Cecilia Guidote Alvarez continues to create ripples of discussion.

For me, the question that should be answered is why nominee Dr. Ramon Santos, a noted musician and composer, was dropped from the list when he was part of the official list of nominees of the NCCA and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), while Caparas and Alvarez were named, apparently as a result of executive privilege, despite the fact that neither went through the selection process.

I am not sure as to what Caparas’ credentials are to be named a National Artist, considering that he didn’t illustrate the komiks that he created (he’s a National Artist for Visual Arts and Film), and his body of work in film is punctuated by his infamous “massacre movies”.

In Alvarez’s case, there is the matter of delicadeza, considering that she is both NCCA head and a presidential adviser to boot.

While it is clear now that the President does have the authority to name the National Artists even without the vetting of the NCCA and the CCP, it is something that she shouldn’t wield on a whim. But then again, there appears to be nothing that President Arroyo considers sacred, given her recent actions. This controversy will just become one of many during her term.

Presidential Excess: A $20,000 Dinner

Is it right for our President to spend $20,000 on a sumptuous dinner while the country is mourning the passing of an icon? Is it right for our President to act so extravagantly when majority of Filipinos are living in poverty? Apparently so, because that’s just what President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her lackeys did just before heading back here.

According to a New York newspaper, the President and her companions were reported to have dined on caviar and champagne at Le Cirque, a posh New York restaurant, shortly before returning to the Philippines.

The sheer extravagance of the meal boggles the mind. Even if the tab was allegedly picked up by one of her lapdogs, Leyte Congressman Martin Romualdez, it appears that the Arroyos are learning the wrong lessons from the Marcoses, who acted in the same way before they got ousted in 1986 in the EDSA I People Power Revolution led by the late President Aquino.

No matter how the Presidential mouthpieces try to put a positive spin on it, the President’s dinner leaves a bad taste in the mouth to many Filipinos who are experiencing hunger on a daily basis. With the current exchange rate, the tab for the dinner almost reaches a staggering P1 million, which is enough to feed a lot of people.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde tried to pass off the dinner as a "simple" dinner, but Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez belied Remonde's claims when Suarez claimed that P1 million was normal for a dinner in New York. Normal, perhaps, for people like Suarez or Romualdez, but unreachable for the regular Filipino diner.

The bad taste is worsened by the fact that the Arroyos and their companions celebrated this extravagant dinner while the rest of the country mourned the passing of former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino. It seems, then, that President Arroyo might not have been so saddened by Cory’s death, considering that the former President had called for Arroyo’s resignation after the 2004 “Hello, Garci” scandal, and had continued opposing Arroyo up to just before she passed away.

Given the current mood of the Filipino people, grieving over the passing of a beloved leader, Arroyo has to tread lightly, as any new scandal by her or her government could ignite the powder keg of discontent, and set off a wave of protests that she might not survive this time around.

UAAP Update: Ateneo Beats La Salle in Overtime

Yesterday’s game between archrivals Ateneo and La Salle was a classic match-up, with Ateneo getting the better of La Salle in overtime, 76-72, for a share of the lead with Far Eastern University (FEU) in the men’s basketball championship.

The Araneta Coliseum was, for once, awash in a sea of yellow instead of the traditional colors of Ateneo’s royal blue and La Salle’s emerald green, as a show of respect for the death of former President and icon Corazon “Cory” Aquino. Even coaches from both teams sported yellow shirts for the occasion.

What I liked about the pre-game events was the opening prayer, which was co-led by Fr. Nemy Que, SJ, from the Ateneo, and Bro. Bernie Oca of La Salle, reminding us that, despite the often bitter rivalry, we are all Filipinos, and shouldn’t let petty disputes keep us apart.

As soon as the game started, it was electric from the get-go. Both teams obviously came prepared, and the lead seesawed until La Salle pulled ahead in the second quarter, and did not relinquish the lead until the fourth, where Ateneo came storming back, finally retaking the lead with about three minutes to play.

With time winding down, and Ateneo up by three, Hyram Bagatsing forced the overtime extra period by draining a quick three to tie the game at 67.

In overtime, the Blue Eagles struggled to reassert themselves, but La Salle kept the game close until Ateneo surged to a five-point lead with less than a minute to go. However, it still wasn’t the end, as Archer Bader Malabes shot a 3-pointer to bring La Salle within 2 points of Ateneo. Unfortunately, on the next possession, as La Salle came back from an Ateneo missed shot, Ateneo’s Ryan Buenafe managed a steal, and was promptly fouled with about 3 seconds to go. Buenafe, last year’s Rookie of the Year, made both free throws to put the game out of reach, and Ateneo prevailed over their archnemesis.

It was a game with a lot of passion and high emotion. La Salle’s Joshua Webb, who scored a career-high 26 points, probably sparked Ateneo’s fourth quarter comeback with an ill-conceived kick at Ateneo’s Bacon Austria, who had just fouled him. Archer guard Simon Atkins drew a technical for his taunting, and that enabled Ateneo to get back into the game.

The win, however, came at a rather steep price, as top Eagle and reigning MVP Rabeh al-Hussaini suffered a sprained ankle late in the fourth quarter after stepping on Malabes’ foot. I’m not sure how bad it was, although Rabeh did manage to stand, albeit rather gingerly, for the post-game singing of the Ateneo alma mater. Center Nonoy Baclao also suffered an injury, his left hand as he attempted to disrupt a La Salle pass, but he managed to return in overtime with his hand taped up. Since Ateneo’s next match is this Thursday against University of the East, hopefully both players will be up and running by then.

With the first round of eliminations over, at 6-1, Ateneo is co-leader with FEU, with UE, La Salle and UST tied at second, all sporting 4-3 records. With any luck, Ateneo can continue its winning ways en route to another crown. It’s most likely, however, that, given the intensity of all of the teams, even those at the bottom of the standings, the road to the finals is going to be a rough one.

Stupidity of Some People

As the country mourns the passing of an icon, there have been a number of issues that have cropped up, all of which have been of interest to me. Unfortunately, I have not had the time to write about them, due to the increasing demand of my workload. So, before these issues are overtaken by newer issues, as they so often are, I’d like to give some quick thoughts about each.

* * *

In the wake of former President Cory Aquino’s death, a number of prominent Filipinos have done some incredibly stupid and insensitive acts. I’ve already mentioned the curt refusal of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to give a personal message of condolence, after having gone to Mass, no less, but others are also guilty of stupidity.

Wowowee’s host Willie Revillame has been involved in a number of controversies in the past; key among these is the tragic stampede at the ULTRA in 2005, resulting in death and numerous injuries. But his actions during the transfer of Cory’s remains from La Salle to the Manila Cathedral take the cake.

To be fair, the production team of ABS-CBN is equally to blame for showing the live feed of the procession during the showing of Wowowee; if they wanted to serve the public interest, they should’ve just continued showing the procession exclusively, and cut the popular show. Since they didn’t, Revillame spoke up after a segment, and asked that the feed be removed, since it was difficult to run the show with it playing.

Once more, the tactlessness of Revillame reared its head; instead of saying it on air, he could’ve ordered to cutting of the feed during a break. As a result, it appeared to the viewers that he was acting arrogant and self-important; it should be noted that, while he argued that the network either airs his show or the feed but not at the same time, he called for the removal of the feed first, which goes to show what he considers to be more important.

While Revillame is clearly at fault, and should probably be reprimanded for his insensitive comments, the production staff of ABS-CBN is also to blame. Given the importance of the event, perhaps Wowowee should’ve given way. But ABS-CBN officials were probably loath to give up so much advertising money that they decided to show both, and, in doing so, did a great disservice to the former President, considering that, if it weren’t for Cory and EDSA I, the network wouldn’t have gone back on air in the first place.

So far, ABS-CBN officials have been silent on the matter, apparently preferring Revillame to take the heat. But they themselves are not blameless in this issue, and should answer for their insensitive actions.

* * *

Another stupid move is that of Senator Jamby Madrigal, who seems intent on capitalizing on Aquino’s popularity to push her own bid for the Presidency, which she had just recently announced.

During the procession and the burial, yellow-beaded bracelets with Madrigal’s face were distributed, a clearly blatant attempt to exploit the moment, and increase awareness of Madrigal and her presidential bid.

I’m sure that, if confronted, the Senator will likely deny that she is the source of the bracelets, and claim that it’s part of a demolition job to destroy her chances (meager as they might be) of winning in next year’s elections. Given Madrigal’s checkered political career, I’ll find that hard to believe; the administration doesn’t really need to go after Madrigal, because she’s doing an excellent job of self-destruction anyway.

* * *

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, another presidential contender, blundered when he surmised that the former President’s passing will ignite stronger moves to oust President Arroyo. It’s clear that he’s also capitalizing on the death of Aquino, and hoping that it will galvanize the people against Arroyo, just as Ninoy’s assassination in 1983 awakened the Filipino people against the tyranny of the Marcos dictatorship.

There’s one big difference about the two deaths, though. Ninoy was felled by an assassin’s bullet, and, up to now, it’s suspected (but not proven) that Marcos was behind it, while Cory died of a lingering illness, and, although the Arroyo administration is suspected to be guilty of many crimes, I really doubt that it can be held responsible for Cory’s death.

However, if Arroyo does anything really stupid between now and the May 2010 elections, Binay’s prediction just might come true.

* * *

Hm, this post is going longer than I figured; I had hoped to comment on the controversies surrounding the selection of this year’s National Artists and the Judicial and Bar Council’s list of candidates for the Supreme Court, but it’ll be too long to write about it in this post, so that’ll be the subject of my next post(s), unless overtaken by more current events.

Musings on the Funeral Mass and Burial of President Corazon Aquino

I wasn’t able to put my thoughts down into writing after the funeral mass and burial of former President Cory Aquino, as my backlog just seemed to threaten to overwhelm me when we returned to work the next day. So, it is Saturday, the third day after the burial, that I write this.

Last Wednesday, I joined up with the Ateneo contingent to go to Manila to attend the funeral Mass for Cory Aquino. Originally, the plan apparently was to station the contingent in front of the Manila Cathedral, where the remains of the former President were being kept. However, while an advance party went to the area at around 4 in the morning, they were apparently asked to relocate. So, when we arrived in the Manila area, we found ourselves stationed at Anda Circle, just a hundred meters or so away from the Cathedral.

Fortunately, ABS-CBN had set up a video screen at the circle, so we were able to watch the whole event unfold.

The Mass was a solemn and grand affair, with a bevy of priests concelebrating the Mass. Bishop Soc Villegas was the main celebrant, while Fr. Catalino Arevalo, SJ, the longtime spiritual adviser of the Aquino family, said the homily. The choir was made up of various music ministries and choirs, including Bukas Palad, Hangad, and the Ateneo Chamber Singers, while the music was provided by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.

The cream of the Philippine music industry came to sing the solo parts of the Mass, including Dulce, Martin Nievera, Regine Velasquez, Erik Santos, Piolo Pascual, Zsa Zsa Padilla, and Lea Salonga. Lea’s stirring rendition of “Bayan Ko”, the anthem of the EDSA I revolution, brought tears to my eyes, as I recalled those halcyon days when we mustered the courage to stand up to a brutal dictator.

The weather was schizophrenic, at times, pouring hard, and at times, not, but we at the Anda Circle stood our ground, and continued to participate in the proceedings, as our way of honoring Cory’s great sacrifice for our nation.

When the procession from the Manila Cathedral started, we all flocked to the streets, to catch a last glimpse of an icon heading to her final resting place. It was only when the procession passed us by, and, as we made our way back to our buses, that we felt the fatigue from having stood for about five hours. But it was totally worth it, as we managed to go and see the spiritual leader of our country’s democracy one last time, and honor her with our participation in her funeral Mass.
The procession would move slowly towards the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, and, after I got home, slept, and woke up at 5 pm, I found that it was still making its way to the cemetery, as the movement was slowed down by the multitudes who wanted to pay their last respects. I was amazed at the fortitude of her four escorts, as they had remained at stiff and strict attention throughout the nine hours of the procession.

It was close to seven pm when the procession arrived at the cemetery, and full military honors were accorded the former leader. I felt a chill as the members of Cory’s Presidential Security Group (PSG), now grey and grizzled, escorted the leader they once protected to mausoleum wherein she would be reunited with her beloved husband, former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino.

A blessing was said, and, afterwards, the former President’s remains were solemnly placed in her tomb. Then followed a long line of friends and family wanting to pay their last respects, standing prayerfully in front of the tomb, or placing a yellow flower inside. Then the cemetery workers placed the slab on the tomb, and sealed it, and then, the ceremony was over. President Aquino’s remains were finally at rest.

Once more, I find myself thankful for living in these times, as Philippine history unfolds before my eyes. I am thankful to have been a part of this unfolding, and I hope that the lessons that we learn from this experience will continue to guide us as a people.