GRP Mail - 26 Jul 2021
The Philippine Opposition remains missing in action with a little more than just 10 months to go.
Dear GRP Insiders,
Where is the Philippine Opposition?
The mystery persists. Help us solve this mystery.
Regards,
benign0
In review and in prospect
Hopes that the tandem of Senators Ping Lacson and Tito Sotto would step up to the role of a genuine Opposition long overdue to Filipinos were dashed when the duo (or, perhaps, their handlers and PR consultants) let rip messaging not too different from any of what the traditional Opposition have dishing out. Not surprisingly, the Lacson-Sotto brand at best only weakly resonated with the convertible vote. Neither camps — not those in the centre looking for alternatives nor those in the traditional Opposition looking for leadership options — bought the pitch.
There are many hot-button issues that demand addressing within the frame of proper campaign platforms — that is, if any of the candidates are up to the job of formulating and delivering intelligent messaging off these. Trouble is, they and their handlers are old dogs that can't be taught new tricks or, even where new tricks are proposed or even quite evident, simply lack the intellectual chops to wrap their heads around them.
As the clock ticks towards May 2022, the big mystery persists: Where is the Philippine Opposition? Only time will tell. Unfortunately, there is not much of it left.
Last week's blog posts
Politics
The time is right: 2022 could potentially see a Marcos back in Malacanang
July 25, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"The viable options are Bongbong Marcos (BBM) - PRRD or Inday Sara (ISD) – BBM. It can also be an ISD – House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez ticket with BBM running for the Senate to eventually become Senate President."
In these times of pandemic Filipinos need a UNIFYING Opposition rather than a divisive one
July 24, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"The Luzon lockdown put in focus the underdevelopment of the regions. This makes the 2022 election crucial because clear platforms of action need to be presented by candidates running for office."
Long-overdue campaign financing laws and system change needed to make democracy work FOR Filipinos
July 23, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"The 1987 Constitution is but the justification for the continuing existence of oligarchs and corruption in government, if you think about it. How much do taxpayers spend annually for the Senate and the House of Representatives?"
The last State of the Nation Address of a most unorthodox president: Mr. Duterte, take a bow!
July 23, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"Overall, the bad boy hillbilly from Leyte, Cebu and Davao did good. His father could never have imagined Rodrigo becoming President one day. Probably his mother as well."
Philippine opposition reduced to exaggerated cartoons to advance their politics
July 22, 2021 by Roman Surtida
"And second, there’s nothing 'courageous' about dissenting against this administration. Every attention-deprived woke this side of the planet had been doing it for years since Duterte was in office and they’re still okay."
Lacson-Sotto genuine Opposition the final nail in the coffin of the Yellowtards
July 21, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"Lacson was wise to reject the overture of 1Sambayan. He pointed out in his letter to its founder, Retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio, the disconnect given he (Lacson) was a principal author of the Anti-Terror Bill..."
Those idiots who compare Isko Moreno to Inday Sara Duterte just because both are mayors
July 20, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"The recent actions of Isko exposes his weaknesses. He takes a potshot at Daughterte by way of a blind item which is how it’s done in showbiz."
July 19, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"The pandemic will not end anytime soon. This is why the 2022 election is crucial to the country. We need a President who has the political will to institutionalize reforms for the future of the country."
Uncommon courage marks how Ping Lacson and Tito Sotto stepped up to the call for a TRUE Opposition
July 19, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"The Lacson-Sotto tandem has a clearer path to a possible victory than the opposition will ever have in this race. Voters tired of the old narrative being peddled by the traditional opposition get an opportunity to look at the issues from a fresh perspective."
Media
July 22, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"Contreras seems oblivious to what happened to the candidate he endorsed in 2016. Jejomar Binay lost. His bête noire now is Duterte because of his bitterness. Emotions cloud the judgment of a 'political analyst'."
July 20, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"The problem with Contreras is he lets his hatred of Duterte get in the way of his analysis. He continues to insist that Duterte has a voter base of only 18% per their survey."
Society
It’s time to think outside our 500sqm homes
July 24, 2021 by Ilda
"There will be generation of kids who will find it difficult to deal with the real world after spending too much time indoors and living in virtual reality."
Communists like @TonyoCruz and their fronts like @IBONFoundation push AYUDA nga-nga culture
July 24, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"Managing an economy is not as simple as Tonyo thinks it to be. This is why he and his comrades are not good for anything beyond agitating and exploiting the poor. The mendicant culture they promote is not an option in the pandemic environment."
Public service
Reform of the Ph’s corrupt bureaucracy only possible if 1987 Charter is JUNKED
July 25, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"Examples would be the Commission on Human Rights and the Office of the Vice-President. These institutions do the public a disservice because they perform their mandate in a manner which is detrimental to government."
Business
Pandemic-is-endemic will be the call as pressure to campaign hard bears down on election candidates
July 22, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"This will fuel demand for competent data analytics experts who can build a database and design surveys which will determine if key performance indices are being met on the ground."
Blame on Marcos and, now, Duterte for the Philippines’ underdevelopment is a LIE
July 21, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"Whatever industries Filipinos and Chinese-Filipino industrialists put up, shut down during the post-Marcos period because of labor unrest triggered by leftist-militant groups identified with the CPP-NPA-NDF."
World
July 22, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"As President Rodrigo Duterte once recognized in a moment of realpolitik candor, it is now simply unrealistic to assume that the U.S. will always be willing to lose lives and equipment in the defense of his country in any dispute against China."
Important dates
30 Aug 2021 - National Press Freedom Day
01 to 08 Oct 2021 - Filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC)
Notebook
"One study found the amount of virus shed from people infected with Delta to be over 1,000 times greater than from the original 2020 strain identified in Wuhan. Another study, which hasn’t yet been peer reviewed, showed Delta is more than twice as likely to cause hospitalisation, ICU admission and death." (Full article)