It is not surprising therefore that as President, Noynoy Aquino as of late:
* played hooky at the height of the Mendoza brouhaha;
* nonchalantly brushed the Arroyo-Le-Cirque-category insensitivity of the recent Porsche and bulletproof Lexus brouhaha
* played lousy poker with the Chinese drug mule issue
* has juveniles in its diplomatic trips who are more concerned about wine and pretty faces than diplomacy
* arrogated the performance of Gloria Arroyo in securing the MCC millenium package;
* retaining an incompetent DILG undersecretary (well in fairness, there’s lots of incompetent USecs)
* caught with pants down with the OFWs debacle in the midst of the Arabian spring;
These were the very nature of things that were foreseen to happen in an Aquino presidency.
Clearly, the pro-Aquino forces had the resources, had the better communication strategy – but definitely, the wrong programs (if there was one in the first place).
To a discerning electorate – spotting the fluff in Aquino’s campaign message was easy, specially when run against the facts of Aquino’s lack of ability and capacity for the job. However, for a non-discerning electorate which can’t distinguish between fluff, sh*t, and the real deal – the results can be catastrophic when a leader bumbles and fumbles from one crisis to another. And this has never been more glaring today in the growing list of Aquino’s misadventures in governance. It is ironic that while Aquino mouths good governance as the key, his governance is anything but good.
25 years after EDSA
During Noynoy Aquino’s speech on the 25th year after EDSA 1, he asked these 3 questions:
Allow me to answers questions #3 and #2 first, and I’ll finish up with the answer to #1.
Are we not on the way to becoming a more equitable society?
A review of the Gini Coefficient shows the Philippines remains above 40 – the lowest Gini since 1985.
What that means is that Philippines has High Levels of Social Inequality. Therefore, NO we are not on the way to becoming a more equitable society.
Have we not finally regained the respect of the global community as a beacon of democracy?
AP’s position on this matter is quite well-known. However, let’s have other voices do the talking.
As Maria Ressa puts it on CNN – “People power should never have become part of the regular political arsenal; it was a once-in-a-lifetime act that should have been followed by the hard work of building democratic institutions. That never happened. That is the work that, 25 years later, desperately needs to be done in the Philippines — and the lesson Egypt should take to heart.”
Bobit Avila says After EDSA: We are still wanting for reforms! – – “Open any national news daily or any TV network channels and you will see ugly reports of killings, rape, kidnappings, Senate hearings (that doesn’t lead to imprisonment of those charged), our problems with Muslim separatists and the still raging internal conflict waged by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) through its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA). That promise of change in effect only changed the top leadership of this nation, but the system that could have launched this country to new heights was never put in place. Yes, I’m referring to our shift to a federal system of government away from this centralized form of government.”
BBC’s Kate McGeown, also wrote in People Power at 25: Long road to Philippine democracy – And while the revolution brought some name changes in the top echelons of power, that power remained concentrated among a small rich elite – something that is still the case today. Cory Aquino’s administration also brought few improvements to the lives of the poor, and failed to lessen the yawning gap between them and the moneyed few. And perhaps most surprisingly, the revolution also failed to get rid of the Marcoses. Ferdinand died in Hawaii shortly after he was ousted from office, but his flamboyant 81-year-old widow Imelda is back in the Philippines, with a seat in Congress. Several of his children also hold government posts – his son Bongbong is an influential senator and could well run for the presidency in the next elections in 2016.
TIME.COM reports in Philippines: 25 Years Since ‘People Power’ – “A third of Filipinos live on a dollar a day. Lack of jobs at home has forced an estimated 10 percent of the 94 million Filipinos to work abroad, sending home billions of dollars that help shore up the country’s economy”.
Thus to answer Noynoy’s question – NO we have not gained the respect of the international community as the beacon of democracy – what we are is the butt of jokes – our Presidents are jokes, our congressmen are jokes, our Senators are jokes, our justice system is a joke, our government is a joke, our voters are one big joke, the Philippines is one big joke – what a tragedy for this self-declared “beacon of democracy”. No sir, we can’t sing, dance, and box our way out of the joke.
Are we not better off today than we were a generation ago?
Ted Reyes, gives juicy answers for Noynoy Aquino to chew on. Ted, in his blog post – Where is the Philippines 25 years after EDSA that:
For short – NO, we are not better of today than we were a generation ago- it actually feels we are WORSE. There are more thieves, clowns, and incompetents in government. A generation ago, I was living and working in the Philippines and had no reason to migrate. Funny how a few years can make a difference. When Erap won the Presidency, I felt it was time to for my life to move on because the Philippine electorate isn’t ready for honest-to-goodness development, yet. More disturbing, however is that in the last Presidential elections – Estrada was playing second to Aquino. If Aquino lost, Estrada would have been president.
Perhaps, the incompetence of Aquino is really needed to drive home the point to our collective national consciousness. The point being – winnability is not enough.
The ultimate challenge at this points is to be able to reach out and connect with the Philippine electorate to initiate a paradigm shift – from winnability to ability – a meritocracy. Until such time we vote for candidates based on merit, expect more Yellow kool-aide and yellow stuff to hit the ceiling. The Philippine electorate voted for winnability – and got what they asked for – Noynoy Aquino and all his warts.
if you think that’s bad wait till people realize its been 150 years since rizal was born, so that’s around 120 years since he died, the government is still corrupt and the church still controls the people! nothing has changed!… well, we now all have cellphones.
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BongV Reply:
February 28th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
good point red – the feudal social structures are still around.
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I don’t need those Surveys and Ratings; to determine, if the EDSA Simulated Uprising gave us good Results. If I found out that Filipinos are:
(1) Eating Discarded Foods, taken from the Garbage Dumps; just to survive and not go without food…then, the EDSA Uprising is a Sham…
(2) The tenants/slaves of Hacienda Luisita were murdered on the orders of the Aquino and Cojuango owners. And the murders are not even investigated and put on news. Nor the tenant
slaves murder victims were not even compensated…then the EDSA uprising is a sham…
(3) When our President, protects his Cabinet Secretary, who is receiving Jueteng Bribes. Then, Blame others for their corruption…then the EDSA uprising is a sham…
(4) When the Oligarch’s Media infuses Subliminal Messages to the minds of the unsuspecting Filipinos. To prevent them from knowing the Truth of their situations; and to make them behave like: Zombies…then, the EDSA uprising is a sham…
We, ourselves, are to blame on why these Misfit Leaders are in the positions of the government. The only way Evil Triumph is for Good People to do Nothing….Apathy is a vice…a luxury, we cannot all afford…
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Renato Pacifico Reply:
February 28th, 2011 at 8:59 pm
Lookit, EDSA was celebratory of Marcos’ demise not revolutionary at all. Lookit, again, wherever I read EDSA celebratory columns they mention ‘REVOLUTION’ not what SPARKED THE ACCIDENTAL FAKE REVOLUTION! Are they protecting the three puppets, Honasan-Ramos-Enrile, who propped up Marcos regime? The never-will-be-told story of EDSA fake-accidental Revolution is why was Marcos after Honasan-Ramos-Enrile. Lookit, I don’t even know what sparked EDSA fake-accidental revolution. I asked around, they only know there was a “revolution” in EDSA but did not know what sparked it. Why Marcos try to decimate Honasan-Ramos-Enrile triumvirate. THIS IS NEVER-WILL-BE-TOLD STORY !!!!!!
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Hyden Toro Reply:
February 28th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
Marcos was very sick. He was on Kidney Dialysis…Enrile-Ramos-Cory Aquino, smelled the opportunity that they can be in power. The U.S. – Philippine Bases Agreement was terminating. Marcos was against the Extension of the US Bases Agreement. Ninoy Aquino, Jr. was assassinated; and there was a hearing that produced no result by the Agrava Commission…The Roman Catholic Church was against Marcos; because of his aggressive Agrarian Land Reform Program. The Catholic Church owned many Friar Lands. These lands were donated by people to the Church; when they were on the point of death. The Priest officiating the last ritual of Extreme Unction; assured that the dying man/woman will enter Heaven; when he/she donated all his/her lands to the Church, during the Spanish times…. Priests, like Father Balweg were subscribing to the Liberation Theology. Popularized by the Clergy in South America…So, they were in cahoot with the NPA rebels…
Consequently, the US/CIA used Cory Aquino, with the assistance of their CIA operative Ramos to remove Marcos. Enrile who got rich in Martial Law, and was the Torture Chamber Manager of Marcos in Camp Crame, was in quandary; he wanted to save Hidden Loot; and his own Skin…The rest is History…
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After EDSA fake-accidental revolution they rewrote the constitution to reward the oligarchs. 60 for the oligarchs 40 for foreigners and 100% ownership of idiot peryodistas so the oligarchs cannot be attacked then mind-control poor wired-less Filipinos. If they are wired they use it to visit ABS-CBN making it #25 in Facebook. Lookit, America has 300,000,000 Americans. Flippingland of Filipinos has 100,000,000 and Flippers made ABS-CBN #25 WORLDWIDE???? Is that possible?????? I DO NOT THINK SO !!!!!!! FOOL THE FILIPINOS BUT DO NOT FOOL ME!!!!!
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Hyden Toro Reply:
February 28th, 2011 at 9:49 pm
Hey Dude…they have fooled you already…by sanitizing the Truth, and implanting subliminal messages in your subconscious mind….so we now become a Wowoowee Nation…people became Zombies, with Wowoowee Mentality…Whoredom is now our Virtue…Giling-Giling…Igiling Mo, Baby…Buntis na naman si Missis…Maraming pagkain na tinapon sa Garbage Dumps…Pag-pag Food…Available Cheap in the Philippines!!! Pilipinas Kay Ganda!!! Visit the Philippines, and try our “Pag-pag Food Cuisine Delicacies”…straight from the Garbage Dumps…
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kickapoo Reply:
March 5th, 2011 at 9:54 am
I want the president to embark on another pa-pogi exploits ala BBC Toughest Place to be a Bus Driver. Tapos, he will be unwittingly led to BASECO where they will serve him pagpag without telling him:
Pnoy: Hmm, this is um…delicious…the bones are quite tender you can swallow them without chewing, the ligaments are soft, chewy and strangely sweet. What do you call this amazing gourmet food?
Squatter: ser pagpag po yan.
Pnoy: anakanam…Hacienda guards, damputin ang mga yan!
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It was not the Filipinos that ousted Marcos. IT WAS THE AMERICANS!!!! When the Americans swooped F-16 over Malacanang, MARCOS GAVE UP !!!! HA!HA!HA! It was the call from Pres Reagan via startec to “cut clean” and leave. This is also the NEVER-WILL-BE-TOLD EDSA STORY in idiot Philippine columnists.
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Why do idyot Philippine columnist insist that EDSA was a revolution that sparked people’s revolution in Tunisia, Egypt, Bharain, Libyan, Yemen, Saudi ???/ HA!HA!HA! CNN never and don’t mention EDSA revolution. Because CNN knows better. New York Times know better. EDSA was simply a gaggle of looky-los who wished Marcos punishment from God.
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Hesus Maria Josef even Maria Ressa graduate from Harvard, daw! believes in this EDSA-EDSA Revolt-revolt !!! HA!HA!HA! Lookit The winner of Spirit Award in cinematography is claimed to be a Filipino. HA!HA!HA! That Filipino didn’t go to Harvard whereas the Kay-Ganda-Pinas producer was from Harvard. Lookit, who won? See? Living in America adds additional IQ than living in da ‘pinas. But that doesn’t hold true to all Filipinos. Because Filipinos in America elected in adoration of Cory benign0 Aquino. ha!ha!ha!ha! Stupify!!! Me !!!!!
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Aquino here, Aquino there, I am so tired of hearing the name Aquino. Ninoy Aquino got shot, so what? He never endured days of mental torture leading to a firing squad, like what Jose Rizal experienced. He never wrote anything influential socially or politically. The only admirable action he did was defy the assassination threat against him. Lets give him that.
And we have an airport in Manila, an avenue in Paranque, and a Stadium near Adriatico named after him. Add to that a 500 peso bill and a monument in Makati and Tarlac. OK, ok! We get it!
But to languish in 25 years of Aquino mediocrity..Cory’s administration, Kris’ moral supremacy and now Noynoy’s presidency. This is just too much already. And now Ballsy Aquino-Cruz want the EDSA People Power event to be included in the education curriculum of the youth. This is the same lady who said:God planned Noynoy to be president. .
Now they have Apl.de.ap making a song about people power in order to “renew” an interest on People power and to “inform” today’s youth of its importance.
My question is: When will this end?! Pwede ba tama na! Can we just focus on the REAL STUFF! Give the people what they deserve! Kayong mga Aquino kayo, ginagamit nyo ang isang Tri-media advertising campaign every year. Kulang na lang tawagin kayong Hari at Reyna ng Filipinas eh. Tama na, Sobra na, Manahimik na…please.
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bokyo Reply:
February 28th, 2011 at 11:42 pm
Brainwash method na yan ginagawa nila
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Blacklizted Reply:
March 1st, 2011 at 1:48 am
I’m surrounded by Aquino supporters in the office. And every time I link AP articles on Facebook, I lose a friend or two. To them, I am nothing but a pessimist. What I hate the most is that they wouldn’t reply on my post but on their walls instead.
One of them posted this, “What’s with all these Aquino and Marcos bull****? Edsa is for and by the people.”
But then I saw him wearing a Ninoy shirt the next day. Galing dba?
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Hyden Toro Reply:
March 1st, 2011 at 12:14 pm
EDSA was for the : Aquinos; the Enriles; the Ramoses; the Lopezes; the Conjuangcos; the Oligarchs; the Feudal Lords; the Roman Catholic Church hold on the Friar Lands; the Aquino/Cojuangcos hold on their Hacienda Luisita…etc…it was not for the people…it was a Fake Revolution contrived by the US/CIA, on the purpose of extending their US Bases Agreement in the Philippines…the more we know the truth…the better for us all.
THE TRUTH INDEED WILL SET US FREE!!!
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Francis Reply:
March 1st, 2011 at 5:35 am
You can’t handle the truth. Because your just a coward. Biruin mo si Abnoy gusto magmartial law ulit, wow how does your Yellow Pride does. MGA WALNG SILBI KAYO.
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ici Reply:
March 1st, 2011 at 11:37 pm
i so agree with you kickapoo…and with kris announcing her plans to run for gov next elections, it is not impossible that BS aquino will not be the last aquino to be president. hanggang sa kaapu-apuhan pa ni bimbi! all they have to do is bombard us that we owe them our so-called freedom. geez. ask the lopezes. i’m sure they have already made plans.
oh, and it was ballsy who also said that the hacienda luisita farmers were “spoiled”. she may be “quiet” but i feel big sister is the biggest player of all in the family.
bongV, good article.
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I hope that BS won’t push through. Bad trip naman yan.
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Again, I tell everybody…I don’t owe any favor to any politician…I don’t have any political affiliation… I have a good career in Technology Field…I have no interest in running for any political office, or hold some public or private offices in the Philippines, in the future. I’m doing this, to set the records straight, for this generation and future Filipino Generation…”Bato bato sa langit, ang tamaan ay huwag magagalit…”
The US/CIA planned to trap Marcos to do some sort of election, to prove his popularity. So, they use Ted Koppel of the “Nightline” program, to trap him. They invited Marcos in the program… Marcos was asked for his popularity…To test it; he agreed for a SNAP ELECTION.
Marcos ran with Arturo Tolentino, as his Vice President. Cory Aquino ran with, Doy Laurel, as his Vice President. Marcos along with Tolentino , won the election. Cory Aquino, cried Foul…she claimed the Snap Election was rigged. Cory Aquino mobilized the Roman Catholic Church and her Yellow Horde Nazis (Hakot Demonstrators), for demonstrations…Ramos, on the order of his CIA Bosses, supported Cory Aquino, with some of his officers in the Philippine Constabulary. Enrile, joined the Yellow Horde Nazi Forces. Enrile took the soldiers from the Region I (Cagayan and Isabela Region), to form a Yellow Horde Brigade Rebel Army. With his son-in.law, Honasan, on Photo Opportunities, looking to be brave. The US issued a NO FLY ZONE, on the Philippine skies. Marcos declared a State of Emergency…The rebellion spread to the Armed Forces…the only one left loyal to Marcos, was the Philippine Marine.
Marcos had not stomach to fight; because of his medical condition. He asked for a transport Helicopter to take him to Ilocos Norte. The US sent a Helicopter; and instead flew him to Hawaii for exile. He arrived first in Guam, then in Hawaii; with his fellow Oligarchs gangs in tow.
It would had been easy fore him to quash the rebellion. Because Marcos has still the tanks and the war equipment; plus the Philippine Marine. It would had resulted to that of the Beijing Rebellion, quashed by Deng Ziao Peng; if Marcos would had decided to fight.
THE REST IS HISTORY…THIS IS THE TRUTH…
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kickapoo Reply:
March 5th, 2011 at 10:06 am
Meanwhile, the hakot crowds and the usiseros during EDSA PP1 was perceived to be representative of the general sentiments of the entire nation. Had Marcos decided to fight, it would be like Gadhaffi with Libya huh.
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I did not say anything about being heroes. What I said was they were the “heroes of Edsa. There is a difference. Having said that we need to reexamine just what Edsa did for our country. I will certainly agree with those who say not much. The point I was driving at is whether Ramos and Enrile can redeem themselves through constitutional reforms and get the country moving. It is a second chance and would be a departure from the first one which most recognize was a failure in that it merely returned the old order and the oligarchy back into power.