GRP Mail - 14 Jun 2021
Dear GRP Insiders,
A lot of what is going on nowadays in Pinoy politics is because the politicians we look to for direction and clarity are the very ones adding chaos and confusion to the national chatter.
That just means ordinary Filipinos need to be the bigger persons in all this. That's the challenge.
Regards,
benign0
In review and in prospect
The communist bloc within the Philippine Opposition took a massive PR hit after a landmine explosion that killed Far Eastern University footballer Kieth Absalon and his cousin was linked to the New People's Army.
The rest of last week saw various politicians engaging in speculative positioning and testing of the waters as primary Opposition coalition 1Sambayan remained tight-lipped in the lead up to the June 12 “announcement” of their election slate.
The 1Sambayan June 12 announcement can't even be considered a disappointment as it was nothing more than a non-event for most Filipinos, one marked by old-school appeal to victimhood of “the poor” and “oppressed”. These sorts of appeals no longer resonate with the voting public and using these as pillars for an election campaign could only lead to failure.
And through all that, “vice president” Leni Robredo still remains undecided as to what she will be doing in the lead up to May 2022. In so being undecided even at this crucial juncture, Robredo further demonstrates her lack of conviction in her role as a key personality of the Philippine Opposition. It raises the question of what the objective or even the whole point of “Team Leni Robredo” (TLR) is or, for that matter, that of 1Sambayan.
One thing made clear in the June 12 announcement fiasco is that 1Sambayan lack a campaign platform, lack an inclusive vision for the country, and lack leaders who ordinary Filipinos can relate with. This week is one where Filipinos should expect to see their Opposition picking up the pieces after that shattering weekend and come together with a better proposal. Don't hold your breath though.
Last week’s blog posts
Politics
The @1Sambayan June 12 fiasco was a validation of Duterte and a vindication of Marcos
June 13, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"The Opposition finally reaped what they sowed yesterday, the 12th of June 2021. The 1Sambayan coalition didn't have any viable candidates to present to the public nor did they have a platform. It was still the same old narrative from the Marcos era about 'freedom and democracy'."
June 12 “Freedom Day” marks the ironic end of @1Sambayan
June 12, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"The reports of the Opposition’s death hadn’t been greatly exaggerated. They’ve been dead since 2016. But like former President Ferdinand 'Apo Lakay' Marcos, their interment had been delayed."
GRAVITAS is what makes Philippine presidents. Not popularity. And certainly NOT PA-CUTE.
June 12, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"So does Pac-Man have the gravitas? Leni Robredo has gravitas? Trillanes? Please not even as a joke. Men who have gravitas do not seek the Presidency just because of popularity or the perception of it."
Kiko Pangilinan ABANDONING Opposition to focus on his own re-election!
June 12, 2021 -by Ramon Ortoll
"The truth is, the opposition under former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) was, during her time, more united than the opposition to current President Rodrigo Duterte will ever be going into the May 2022 polls."
Dilwan Party’s DNA of Divisive Politics, Dynastic Politics at Kilatis Sa Politika ng Quezon City
June 10, 2021 by Paul Farol
"Ito yung tipong lider na kapag may inutos, maraming sumusunod at walang choice ang iba kungdi ang sumunod. Parang sa trabaho lang, or sa loobang tinitirahan kung saan may iisang sinusundan at kinakatakutan na banggain."
Would a Ping Lacson – Tito Sotto tandem for 2022 win if Inday Sara Duterte does not run for president?
June 10, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"Lacson is an independent while Sotto is the Vice-Chairman of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). There is the question of which political party will serve as their official vehicle and that of their Senate slate and ground machinery."
Ping Lacson likely to run for president, Isko Moreno still logical choice for @1Sambayan
June 10, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"It wouldn’t be a surprise if Senator Grace Poe is his running mate. Poe can go back to her Senate seat even if she doesn’t win the Vice-Presidency."
June 9, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"Why is Duterte still popular? The Opposition has thrown everything it can at him but nothing has stuck. What gives? Simply put, Duterte broke the mold of the typical President. He is not your typical President in any aspect."
June 9, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"Duterte crafted his message simply. He didn’t make it convoluted. He spoke to the people in a manner they understood and he did so making it appear that he was one of them. He had the Presidency in the bag after the first debate."
Ping Lacson’s futile presidential aspirations
June 8, 2021By Ramon Ortoll
"The environment today is a lot different when he ran in 2004. This time around, the public can easily be reminded of Ping Lacson's 'sins'."
June 8, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"The truth is, poverty is not only caused by the political structure but by the intelligentsia themselves. Just look at the new breed of economists, statisticians and journalists and you will have an idea of the kind of influence they have in molding the next generation..."
Presidentiables are a no-contest but the race for the vice presidency in 2022 is where it’s at!
June 7, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"No doubt about it, Marcos won the Vice-Presidency in 2016. He was cheated and the facade had to be maintained lest sleeping dogs be awakened. The only way Bongbong becomes President is if fate smiles or even laughs out loud on him."
June 7, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"The hypocrisy is glaring. When any of their members are arrested or killed, it’s a human rights violation. When soldiers and policemen are killed, they’re casualties of the 'revolution'."
Business
The UP School of Economics was USELESS when Filipinos needed its “expertise” the most
June 12, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"Up to this point, no one from the UP School of Economics has presented an integrated economic recovery plan. All they did was nitpick the modified strategy presented by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and NEDA Secretary Karl Chua."
“Old normal” NEVER coming back, industrial-scale digitisation critical
June 10, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"Radical change always encounters resistance. Those who aren’t able to adjust like to think that the old normal will still return. No one actually knows because the science is still evolving with the pace being dictated by the new variants."
June 7, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"The House of Representatives has been busy rushing through these amendments before the election campaign begins but the Senate is, again, the stumbling block. The upper chamber has been reduced to nothing more than an obstruction..."
Crime
The communists should PROVE their “remorse” for Absalon landmine deaths by turning themselves in
June 8, 2021 by benign0
"Under the law, one takes responsibility for a criminal act before a Philippine judge. If the CPP-NPA are sincere in their efforts to account for their crimes, they should submit to due process within the Philippines’ criminal justice system."
Important dates
30 Aug 2021 - National Press Freedom Day
Notebook
Dr Larry Brilliant who worked with the World Health Organisation to eradicate smallpox describes COVID-19 as the “forever virus". Brilliant expects a years-long battle to achieve herd immunity to “a virus that infects multiple species, animals and humans, and a virus that has multiple new variants, each one having the potential to reinfect people,” and, as such, "is sort of disqualified from being a candidate to be eradicated.” Read more.