GRP Mail - 31 May 2021
Dear GRP Insiders,
Thanks for being part of our community. Here is the very first edition of our free weekly newsletter GRP Mail.
As these are early days for this service, do provide us feedback and suggestions. We are open to ideas!
Regards,
benign0
In review and in prospect
Saturday the 22nd May, various personalities consisting mainly of entertainers led by Lea Salonga got together for an event dubbed “Love Kita Pinas” which sought to launch the “Regi to Vote” movement. The event was announced by Rappler a week before.
Inday Sara Duterte reportedly running for president according to Albay Second District Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente "Joey" Salceda. Story seemingly not picked up by most major news outlets. Debate rages around who will be her running mate with Bongbong Marcos and her own father, current President Rodrigo Duterte among the names making waves.
1Sambayan announces that it will release the names of its election bets on “Independence Day”, June 12 following an internal selection process and an online vote. This puts additional pressure among the blocs and factions within the Opposition to “unite” and agree on compromises. A marked reduction in public posturing over social media amongst Opposition "thought leaders” and “influencers” was noted last week and will likely persist over this week as the coalition consolidates (or fragments).
Hoping that President Rodrigo Duterte would still pursue talks with ex presidents on South China Sea issue desire Malacanang statement that this activity is not urgent.
News of a meeting between Inday Sara Duterte and Bongbong Marcos circulate Sunday. In a tweet issued that day, SMNI News say their “source” confirmed said meeting. A photo of what seems to be that meeting is attached to the tweet. [NB: SMNI News seems to be affiliated with the group Kingdom of Jesus Christ “a religious organization founded and led by the Appointed Son of God, Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy.”]
Last week's blog posts
News of a meeting between Inday Sara Duterte and Bongbong Marcos has chilling effect on Opposition
May 30, 2021 by benign0
"Supporters of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte regard the supposed meeting as a strong indication that Ms Duterte and Marcos will run as a tandem in the 2022 national elections and, in doing so, supposedly doom any Opposition bid..."
A crisis of existentialism in a time of COVID-19 pandemic
May 30, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"You wonder why we are at the top of the animal kingdom’s hierarchy and yet seem helpless at preventing suffering and death. Maybe this is the natural order of things — evolution as Charles Darwin defined it."
Junking of Leonen impeachment bid exhibits hypocrisy of the Opposition
May 30, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"The leftist-militant groups claim they are fighting in behalf of the people for better governance. This is horseshit. Their minions in the bureaucracy are in on it as well. The same is true with their party-list groups which receive public funds for their representatives and offices."
Lack of a strong national identity makes for dog-eat-dog Philippine politics
May 29, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"Contreras will never admit it but it was Duterte who broke the political template. He has gone beyond party politics. He doesn’t draw most of his support from oligarchs but from the people."
China is the “bad guy” whether it is about tobacco or the virus
May 29, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"Monsod goes to the extent of questioning Chinese vaccine efficacy even if it has been proven in real world conditions. All of this malingering sinophobia is geared towards keeping the Filipinos and the Philippines leaning toward the US."
Inday Sara – Digong “Daughterte-Duterte” tandem puts 2022 in the bag for admin camp
May 29, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"The Opposition has no choice but to lay down their cards first. 1Sambayan has scheduled this for June 12. The administration will move shortly after this. Barring any serious issues between the power blocs, the latter will most likely unite behind one tandem."
Leni Robredo is so dumb that she INSISTS on being the Opposition presidential bet for 2022
May 29, 2021 by benign0
"Leni Robredo is stupid enough to ignore the data describing her dismal potential winnability. But here is exhibited the more important issue — that she is completely inept at articulating her value as a candidate..."
May 28, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"The victory of President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016 gave rise to Dennis Uy, the Chinoy taipan who made his fortune in Diwalwal. Uy has been gobbling up companies left and right in moves which appear to be bereft of strategic impact. His acquisition of the Shell stake in Malampaya is ominous..."
May 27, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"Secretary Arthur Tugade is a far cry from Jun Abaya. The light rail system is being integrated with the rehabilitated Philippine National Railways (PNR) system."
May 27, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"The rationale was it is easier to negotiate with an autonomous Muslim entity as opposed to the Philippine Senate composed of 24 unpredictable Senators."
On how the politicisation of community pantries and ayuda contributed to Filipino mendicant culture
May 27, 2021 by Benedict Exconde
"Instead of community pantries and “ayuda,” what the Philippines and Filipinos need are opportunities to earn money and stand on their own. This can be done by safely re-opening the economy, and removing protectionist policies in order to create new job and business opportunities"
Mad scramble amongst oligarchs for influence over the Philippine Opposition is all about natural gas
May 27, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"Coupled with 1Sambayan’s announcement that they will make their roster of candidates public on June 12, the political teleserye is highly-charged as the public awaits with bated breath the next episodes in what is the most entertaining drama in Philippine society."
May 26, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"MLQ3 cites the 'well-documented balimbing nature of the Filipino' then goes on to use this as bases for discrediting the multiple surveys that have been conducted over the last several years that exhibit the persistent popularity of Duterte."
May 26, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"China put the Aquino administration in a quandary with its seizure of Scarborough Shoal to the point that Aquino had to run to his American patrons for help."
Why does @1Sambayan need to wait until June 12?
May 25, 2021 by benign0
"In essence, what accounts for all this time 1Sambayan is giving itself before they lock in their bets seems to be all about subjecting their pool of horses to a popularity funnel — i.e., the nomination process to test their acceptance amongst coalition honchos and then, as stated, leaving it up to an online mob to decide for them."
How to build a non-Yellowtard Philippine Opposition
May 25, 2021 by benign0
"If what is said of wealth is true — that behind every great fortune is a great crime — the same could be said of a great country. Behind every great country is a great atrocity."
Opposition still FOOLISHLY betting on Leni Robredo despite “narrow path” to 2022 election win
May 25, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
“Isko will take away votes from Robredo-Drilon, not the other way around. Where then is the viability that Nery speaks of? Region 5 may not even be solid because Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda is openly for Inday.”
A confluence of Islamic extremists’ and Mindanao drug lords’ interests led to the Marawi City siege
May 25, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
“The grant of autonomy during Fidel Ramos’s Presidency led to Muslim-Filipinos getting into the drug trade. The prominent families of Central Mindanao who were also politicians were the pioneers; Candao, Ampatuan and Mangudadatu. This was how the Muslim quarter in Quiapo became a distribution center.”
Duterte’s magnificent infrastructure development program MUST continue past 2022
May 24, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"The question now is what happens next? We need continuity as the infrastructure gap still exists. Thirty years of neglect is not solved in six years. The change in the politico-economic structure is necessary."
May 24, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"A leader of the likes of current President Rodrigo Duterte comes along and all of a sudden we are under an authoritarian fascist dictatorship even if we are not. This is political dysfunction at its best because at the core of the problem is that the Filipino still cannot decide if he is Asian or Western."
May 24, 2021 by Ramon Ortoll
"It’s no wonder then that former Senator and convicted mutineer Antonio Trillanes has been given a 'professorship' at the Ateneo. The shot he fired across Vice President Leni Robredo’s bow is indicative of financial backing for at least a Senatorial run."
Important dates
12 June 2021 - Opposition coalition 1Sambayan announces 2022 election candidates
Notebook
Facebook vaccine info “fact checkers” funded by vaccine companies. It's starting to make sense! (video, source RT)
Inquirer editor John Nery gives good advise to his own camp, the Opposition in his blog post “Self-defeating habits of the anti-Duterte opposition”.
A sharp increase in Philippine military and law enforcement presence in the West Philippine Sea has been reported over the last three months ending May -- a boost in patrols "beyond anything seen in recent years".