The ballot is a sacred thing. It represents an individual’s freedom. Secret ballot is an essential element of a functioning democracy and a right to secret ballot is one of the basic political rights. To borrow the definition from the Net “The secret ballot is a voting method in which a voter’s choices in an election or a referendum are confidential. The key aim is to ensure the voter records a sincere choice by forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation or bribery.”
On the basis of testimonials made in the comment sections of this site, it’s fair to say that members of some religious organizations are being intimidated into voting for a candidate even if they don’t believe in the candidate their leaders have endorsed. One testimony even described how adherents who don’t comply with their religious elders’ instructions, get banished from the organization or excommunicated. This is quite disturbing. What’s more concerning is the fact that Filipinos have been used to this kind of practice to the point that they see religious endorsements as normal. It is further proof that Filipinos do not know how to handle democracy. Individuals are routinely denied their liberty to choose.
The questions we have to ask are, “Why do religious leaders need to endorse a candidate?” and “What’s in it for them?” It seems that they are not fully aware of the separation of the duties of the church and the state.
Blogger Benign0 pointed out how in the past several decades, the Iglesia ni Cristo has been sought after by presidential candidates who wish to secure the vote of their millions-strong flock. For the record, the ones that Iglesia ni Christo have endorsed ended up corrupt and branded as “evil”. What credibility then do they have in choosing someone who will occupy the highest position in the land? One commenter said that the religious leader only based his decision on whoever is popular and winnable. He does not really look at the political platforms of each candidate. This is very interesting indeed because I highly doubt that a religious leader would know anything about how to tackle the challenge, say, of reviving the economy.
This issue has been resolved by Jesus Christ once before:
In short, the government is in charge of governing the affairs of the state. As citizens of the state, we answer to whoever is in charge of the government. Whoever is in charge has to have the ability to run the state in the first place. Whoever is in charge should know how to handle the taxes he has collected. Whoever is in charge should be able to market the state to investors who will help generate income for the land. Whoever is in charge cannot simply promise not to be corrupt because he cannot guarantee that everyone who works for him will not be corrupt.
I suppose religious leaders find that it is their duty to find a leader for the country that will be close to their cause. This is not a guarantee though that who they choose is the right one. I say, this coming election, let each individual choose for themselves who they want to govern them and pay their taxes to. Casting their ballot is one of the few things every individual has control of. That right to choose should not be taken away. After the election is over, the individual will have very little or no control over what the government is doing with their taxes.
About the Author
ilda has written 89 stories on this site.
Ilda is agent provocateur. She wants to help people realise that things are not always what they seem.
Right on target.
How about we’ll create our own AP fiefdom composed of people with the same mindset all over the net? If we can muster the numbers that run into millions, I’m pretty sure politicians will start courting at us.
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ilda Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 8:33 am
That’s a great idea J.B.
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J.B. Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
The only problem is AP is not for the faint-hearted where most Pinoys are.
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It’s time to break tradition and show those influential religious sects that they can’t dictate anymore, especially in exercising our political right to vote. Their flock may have millions in membership but there are more of us who don’t belong there. So, come election day, let’s all go out and vote wisely to prove them wrong and show them that our choice of candidates are better than what they endorsed.
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guilbautedsookie Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 5:18 am
This behavior is dictated by history. We have always been conditioned na if we don’t do this we go to hell.
The Philippines has its own personality disorder and well, it’s not gonna disappear unless you become hyphenated
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ilda Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 8:41 am
That’s right, there are actually more members of the Catholic Church compared to the members of the INC. The problem is, majority might still be over the moon with Noy
A vote against Noynoy Aquino is not a wasted vote
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Remember this…God loves us no matter who we vote for. I do not believe in a God who endorses someone to be president. God gave us our intellect and will to use as our own, and not to shelf and be swayed. I will pull all stops before May 10.The downward spiral that our country is SOLELY experiencing is a product of our nation’s own personality disorder. Corruption and everything else are its very own symptoms.
I might be too radical, pero if no one is willing to even care, no one will
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ilda Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 8:43 am
Hopefully, they will disobey their leader come election day.
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Homer Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 8:51 am
…and days after.
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ilda Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 8:53 am
LOL
guilbautedsookie Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
I’m not agnostic myself, but I sometimes believe that God exists as a guiding light, not as a political determinant
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There’s a sense of false unity in religious bloc voting. It’s only for external compliance but it disrespect the individual conviction of followers regardless of their religious affiliations.
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ilda Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 8:47 am
The Filipinos are not encouraged to think for themselves. This explains why a lot of Filipinos were at a total loss when Cory passed away. They’ve been used to having a mother figure to guide them. INC or no INC, I think Noynoy pa din ang majority. This is one of those times that I hope I’m wrong.
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To their credit, the said religious leaders don’t really use violence to force their followers to follow. To my dismay, the followers normally, for lack of a better word, follow? Like sheeple.
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ilda Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 8:48 am
Yeah, they just use intimidation and bullying tactics
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Homer Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 8:55 am
…and very potent kool-aid.
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ilda Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 9:06 am
I don’t know if it’s kool-aid but they do act like they are inhaling something they shouldn’t be inhaling
I’ve been reading the other side of the coin where members said in forums that bloc voting is something religious, something biblical that is in conformity with the unity in the body of Christ. It is something they practice not only because their religious leader told them so, but because it is written in the Bible.
So what’s wrong here? First, there are lots of verses in the Bible that seem to oppose bloc voting. Matthew 22:15-22 (your quoted verse) is one where Jesus Christ clearly stated that the Church and the state is indeed separated. It makes a lot of sense why Christ came down from heaven.
“It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.” – Deuteronomy 30:12-14
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” – John 1:12-13
“And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden.” – Genesis 2:16
I also noticed that though they’re saying that bloc voting is for the “unity in the body of Christ,” and that it is “biblical,” no Bible verse has been quoted in relation to this in any of the forums I’ve visited, nor even from the words of the political leader himself (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iglesia_ni_Cristo).
From my point of view, it is VERY obvious that there’s this religion that always pick the “winnable” presidential candidate mainly because they want their church organization to be protected. From their members’ point of view however, their religious leaders have prayed, reviewed and weighed every single thing about the candidate they will vote for, and that God has chosen him because he is the “anointed” one. These religious leaders will be responsible for programming the minds of their members, but of course, as a PERSON (and not a member), one should be responsible enough to know what his rights are and that he will face God alone.
God gave free will to men, and also the power to discern. Some religions close their doors to any material that attacks their religion. They “excommunicate” those who are against THEIR ways for the reason that it is very “biblical” to excommunicate. In the end their members lose — they feel guilty, and then feel that they deserve this kind of punishment. But do they really deserve this? Deciding for one’s self is biblical (some Bible verses were quoted above). Controlling someone’s decision is not (therefore it is a sin). Let us be reminded that being “open-minded” is not a sin. If one opens his mind, it’s because he wants to know the truth. Knowing the truth is not a sin! It is righteous.
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:32
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ilda Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 12:51 am
It’s obvious Mimang that some religious leaders don’t really go by the book. They have vested interest or worse, they just go for whoever is popular.
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Ang problema kasi ng Pinoy ay medyo kumikiling pa sa medieval Church type theocracy- kapag di ka sumunod, mapupunta ka sa hell.
Pero hindi tama yan e. Ang Diyos para sa akin ay open-minded at HINDI SUMASALI SA POLITIKA.
Kailangan lang sigurong masabi ito sa mga iba pang tao.
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ilda Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 12:50 am
Napansin ko nga yan. Sa Facebook konti lang ang willing ma-involved. There is no real dialogue because most Filipinos are apathetic about everything that is important to our society.
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I am an INC member and a devoted one. I currently hold a high office in my District which will remain nameless. I could not believe the INC just endorsed Aquino. There maybe a time for redemption, but have they forgotten the 1960s incident in Hacienda Luisita and 2004 Massacre? Many of our members of the Church died risking there lives fighting for their rights. It maybe a long shot for the endorsement of Senator Gordon, but Noynoy….there is no way I will follow the bloc voting of the INC. I know that no politician can influence their decision making, but what did Bro. Eduardo see in Noynoy Aquino that he will win the Church’s endorsement? When the campaign season started, it was a long shot, I have written an extensive personal letter to our Church Leader encouraging the Church to choose Senator Gordon not because of his personality, but based it on his clear platform. It was an informative and inspiring letter. My friend suggested to provide a copy to Senator Gordon, but I just can’t take the risk of it being publish. I diligently compared every candidate and Noynoy Aquino is at the bottom of my list. It saddened me to hear that if Noynoy does win, it will be another 6 years of political and economic turmoil that will come to our nation. Our elders in the Church will say, it God’s will. My answer to them, it’s also God’s will to make our land a better place to live in. I love my country. I will vote whoever I think is more qualified to do the job. I think Bro. Eduardo remained misinformed. I encouraged my fellow INC members to think clearly about the decision as it will impact the lives of many Filipinos including the members of the INC who are already suffering from hardships.
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ilda Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 12:48 am
That’s good to know JOn
I hope you have more influence on the other members than the president of INC.
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enigs Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 1:07 am
don’t worry bro, we already have
.. but then again please be careful haha I know someone being kicked out of his office because of politics well together with my stupid dad of course….
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Alfonso Lista Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
disobeying is an evil act, right? then, do not disobey lawful orders. if one cannot at his freewill stomach being dictated to do this and to do that…then, disobey…the devil would be so glad to welcome his people;;;
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Alfonso Lista Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
I don’t believe JOn is a devoted INC member. his wisdom still lingers on things that will pass away. a true faithful will not question the INC administration’s decision on all matters of spiritual interests. i think JOn must do some recollection and evaluate his belief. all things will pass away come judgment day but the faithful who stayed on steadfastly to all the teachings of the true Church of Christ whatever comes along the way will enter the Gates of Heaven…
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I have only one thing to say to the leaders of INC:
Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes! Matthew 18:7
I really hope they read this and understood its meaning. Hats off to you JOn! I hope you could enlighten other people around you.
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cgro.. ang author nito, ay hindi pihahalagahan mga taong nagsisimba na may pananalig sa diyos, at may pagmamahal sa bayan.. malayo sa mindset, onesided lang and regarding sa seperation of church and state? di talaga literal, i mean? ibig sabihin,? may karapatan pa rin tumakbo ang mga tao nalilingkod sa diyos.??. Ang purpose ng seperation of state and church ay nagbibigay ng margin, sa bawat organisasyon.. Parang syang safety margin ng church at state… pero depende sa motibo ng tatakbo para makapasok lang sa politika.. .. sa tingin ko,, mas ok pa ang taong walang experience sa pamomolitika pero may takot sa diyos kaysa sa meron, kasi kung ang taong iboboto mo ay may malawak na experience pero pinaggalingan nya ay korupt at marming experience para mangurakot, it still useless, even hinahabol pa nya ay pagbabago… Panahon na ang mga filipino mamulat na sa katotohanan, hindi lang puro logical criticisms. Godbless you all and the Philippines
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Dino Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 6:39 am
1. “malayo sa mindset, onesided lang and regarding sa seperation of church and state? di talaga literal, i mean? ibig sabihin,? may karapatan pa rin tumakbo ang mga tao nalilingkod sa diyos”
- Medyo magulo ang statement mo, pero kung ibig mo na inaatake ng author ng article na ito ang mga candidatong naglilingkod sa Diyos, pakidirekta nga ako sa quotation kung saan ginagawa niya ito?
- Sinasabi ng artikulong ito na hindi makatarungan na idikta ng isang organisasyong rehilyoso ang kandidatong gusto
2. “Ang purpose ng seperation of state and church ay nagbibigay ng margin, sa bawat organisasyon.. Parang syang safety margin ng church at state… pero depende sa motibo ng tatakbo para makapasok lang sa politika….”
- Medyo hindi nanaman malinaw ang gusto mong sabihin. Baka gusto mong sabihin na kaya may separation of Church and State ay upang lahat ng relihiyon sa bawat bansa ay may boses tunkol sa pulitika. Kung ito ang sinasabi mo, tama ka. Ngunit bukod pa rito, ang Separation of Church and State ay ginawa upang maikurba ang kapangyarihan at impluwensia ng isang Iglesia (Iglesia Katolika Romana, Iglesia ni Kristo, etc.) sa indibidual na kalayaan ng tao. at ang artikulong ito ang nagsasabi kung saan ang indibual na kalayaang piliin ng tao ang gusto niyang kandidato ay tinatanggal at pinipwersa ng isang sikat na relihiyon sa Pilipinas.
3. “sa tingin ko,, mas ok pa ang taong walang experience sa pamomolitika pero may takot sa diyos kaysa sa meron, kasi kung ang taong iboboto mo ay may malawak na experience pero pinaggalingan nya ay korupt at marming experience para mangurakot, it still useless, even hinahabol pa nya ay pagbabago…”
Sang-ayon ako sa paniniwala mong ito. Ngunit, dapat magkasangayon ang pagtangap ng kahit anong posisyon at ang tunay na paniniwala at takot sa Diyos. Halimbawa, dahil may takot ako sa Diyos at ayaw kong ipahamak ang mga kaibigan ko, hindi ko tatangapin ang posisyon na maging drayber ng mga kaibigan ko dahil wala akong karanasan sa pagmamaneho.
4. Panahon na ang mga filipino mamulat na sa katotohanan, hindi lang puro logical criticisms.
-Kabalintunaan ang pahayag mong ito, dahil paano mong imumulat ang tao sa katotohanan kung hindi mo bibigyang pansin ang mga isyu sa isang lohikal na paraan? Diyalogo ang puno’t dulo ng critisismo, at kung walang pagdidiyalogo, walang pagbabahagi ng inaasam-asam mong katotohanan.
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Dino Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 6:42 am
Whoops may nakaligtaan…
- Sinasabi ng artikulong ito na hindi makatarungan na idikta ng isang organisasyong rehilyoso ang kandidatong gusto *ng nakatataas sa rehiliyong ito*
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“mas ok pa ang taong walang experience sa pamomolitika pero may takot sa diyos kaysa sa meron, kasi kung ang taong iboboto mo ay may malawak na experience pero pinaggalingan nya ay korupt at marming experience para mangurakot, it still useless, even hinahabol pa nya ay pagbabago…”
Sabihin mo sakin na ang taong walang ginawa sa gitna ng hacienda luisita massacre ay isang taong may takot sa Diyos.
Ano na bang nagawa nitong kandidato na to para patunayan niyang may takot siya sa Diyos? ay, oo, tama, sinabi niya kasi sa mga ads na may takot siya sa Diyos. sige maniniwala na rin ako.
*end*
Sa tingin ko, Ang problema ng Pilipinas ngayon ay hindi korupsyon. Sa nakikita ko, EDUKASYON.
Saan ka makakakita ng isang botante na sasabihan ka ng “Panahon na ang mga filipino mamulat na sa katotohanan, hindi lang puro logical criticisms”? Katotohanan ba gusto mo? Si Aquino wala pang nagagawa pagkatapos ng siyam na taon sa gobyerno.
Hindi lang puro logical criticisms? Jesus Maria, hindi na ako nagtataka kung bakit nandito parin tayo sa kinatatayuan natin dalawang dekada na ang nakararaan.
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OO nga eh.. since responsible ng aquino family ang mga nangyare.. iniignore pa rin nila hanggang ngayon..
I’ll go with Bro. Eddie C. Villanueva. Not only Yellow Coded Candidate also with Green.. Mixed.!!
Bro. Eddie Sign.. Diyos and Bayan. Peace Sign, Sama Na sa Tunay Na pagbabago
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Kaya.. di lang sya.. gagawa ng paraan para baguhin ang pilipinas na lukmung parin sa utang at korupsyon.. kundi tayo rin.. tutulog sa kanya.!! Na naniniwala sa ating magandang kinabukasan, dapat may disiplina at panindigan tugo sa bagong pilipinas at bagong pilipino.
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I am an INC and I am ok with this endorsement thing as long it is not Villar or Erap. I will vote for Noy just to make sure that a single vote will separate him from Villar. But after watching a video of Gordon with Karen Davila, all I can say to myself and my girlfriend is that this is the guy we need. We need this kind of leadership, if they say he is arrogant, I say he is just assertive and blunt and frank, and I like that. That was just yesterday, and today I was asking all of my officemates who are they going to vote and when they answer gibo or noy, I say to them Vote for Gordon and they always ask me why..I tried to explain to them but I cannot deliver it the way they wanted to hear and they always say mainitin ang ulo but I never saw that in Gordon..what I saw in him is the truth and the passion. So I will help Gordon to win some votes and I will pester my friends and relatives to no end that they vote for Gordon.
I know that this is not a Gordon fan site. But I guess he is one of those leaders that best reflect the antipinoy..
goodluck to us all..and I hope by some miracle Gordon wins..if it is not Gordon then…then God save us
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ilda Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 9:14 am
That’s wonderful Mickey.
Please share our other articles to your friends especially the first one:
Talk to Harry with Presidentiable Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon
News Flash: Senator Dick Gordon is the Saviour of the Philippines
Why Filipinos cannot handle Dick
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hnstly, if bro. eddie didn’t take the challenge? i’d rather to choose Gordon..
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when I get back later to pampanga..I will definitely show them the links..actually I texted my parents and they all agreed that gordon is the man for the job..I hope its not too late for us who believe in change..
also I don’t agree with the list of senators that the INC announced for bloc voting..Revilla and Lapid??!! when I heard those names..I was just so disappointed..I mean how do they choose these leaders? well I hope that at least 30% of INC voters have a free mind and the will not to surrender thier rights because of what was interpreted in the bible.
thanks ilda
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Alfonso Lista Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
it is not surprising at all that from the INC members will rise several misguided souls that will try to subvert and infect others into giving in to their misguided beliefs…a true believer will deny himself outright to follow the teachings of Christ and to submit to the Church Heirarchy…because it is to the Church Administration the Lord God has vested all the authority in order to bring people to the full knowledge of His Glorious Wisdom and salvation come Judgment Day…
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Ilda, I’m literally in tears right now. Below is an article of a friend of mine, I just found his article too anti-intellectual. I can’t take it anymore. I just thought you might want to refute every f*king sentence in this illogical article. Sorry for the trouble.
I tried to convince my friend, but he’s brainwashed too much by Noynoy 
——————————————————————————————————————————–
Many young people (like me, don’t laugh) have already written about Gibo and Gordon. But very few have written about Noynoy. Whether or not you have made up your mind on who to vote for, please allow me to explain why I am voting for Benigno Aquino III this Monday.
In a single sentence, I’m voting for Noynoy because he is average, he is not presidential, and he cannot fix our problems.
Average
To begin, Noynoy’s critics say that he is the “pwede na” candidate. Gibo was a former Defense Secretary, while Gordon is Red Cross chairman, former mayor, Subic transformer, and distinguished senator. Villar’s rags-to-riches story is not the story of an “average person.” Why, good friends say, should I vote for the Senator who didn’t pass any law in congress?
Well, I am voting for the Noynoy who may not have authored as many bills as his rivals, but who was present in almost all Senate sessions (because laws don’t pass without the votes) while his rivals were busy campaigning for the presidency two years before the election. I am voting for the Noynoy who sat through budget hearings to question unnecessary government spending; the Noynoy who simply did his job, but did it well.
While he came from one of the richest families and one of the best schools in the country, Noynoy wears cheap clothes that grow two sizes larger at his campaign sorties. He lives in the small Times St. home he grew up in. He can choose to live the good life, but he lives a life with as many comforts as discomforts.
In so many respects, Noynoy is like the guy in the middle of the class ranking, who chooses to do things quietly but is always there when you need him. We often look for the person that stands out, but this Monday, I am voting for the average student because I can identify with him and he can identify with us. Maybe we don’t need the brightest president, but we certainly need one who will trust in the people and will be humble enough to listen to us.
Not Presidential
Like it or not, the president is the face of the nation. If SWS asked voters who is the best-looking presidential candidate, they’d most unlikely go for the sole unmarried. Balding hair, protruding stomach, and baggy clothes? You wouldn’t want your president sporting that in the ASEAN summit.
In other aspects, Noynoy is also un-presidential. He does not have the rockstar ability to rouse a crowd. Unlike some of the other candidates, he has no ability to fund his own campaign. Unlike all of the other candidates, he did not really want to be president.
But while he can’t make all people stand in his rallies, he has already inspired hundreds of thousands throughout the country to campaign for him. He doesn’t own a business empire that funds his sorties, but the poorest and richest of people donate to his campaign. Wary of the great temptation of power, he doesn’t want this job as much as his rivals do and as strongly as Marcos, Erap and GMA did. But this may be his great asset, as he will not cling to power; he will define his presidency instead of allowing himself to be defined by it.
He may not have the boyish good looks that make the eldest of lolas faint, or the swagger that allows Obama to gather as much people in DC as in Berlin, but Noynoy is presidential in the aspects that really matter. If he wins, he will be a president like no other.
Won’t Fix Our Problems
What has become a great national illness is our propensity to look for a national messiah. We voted Marcos the bar topnotcher because he possessed the skills and the brains supposedly needed in the presidency. We elected Erap because he seemed to promise an end to poverty (sounds familiar?) We elected GMA because, with a Ph.D. in Economics, she should’ve possessed the working knowledge to build a stronger economy founded on stronger institutions.
It was not wrong that we voted people who were skilled. What was wrong was we expect our presidents to run the country by themselves.
I will vote for Noynoy because he is not the messiah everybody else claims to be. He does not promise the end of poverty. He might not have the intelligence of Gibo and the executive skills of Gordon, but by the looks of his Senatorial Slate, he will most likely surround himself with people who are both intelligent and good-hearted.
I will vote for Noynoy because he knows he alone won’t fix our problems. After 14 presidencies, I think it’s time for all Filipinos to cease looking for the single-person solution. Judging by how his campaign has been run, he will get everyone involved in the rebuilding of our nation.
In his campaign, Noynoy says that “kayo ang aking lakas.” I think a Noynoy presidency is the real fulfillment of people power, OUR power, one that aims not to simply replace presidents, but one that promises to change mindsets and attitudes, correct national bad habits, and give us people the freedom to shape the country we want and deserve. Noynoy will not allow us to take the back seat not because he is lazy, but because this is OUR country also.
I will vote for Noynoy on Monday because I can, will, and choose to do something for my country.
P.S. While I think that Noynoy is really (in part) running on his parents’ name, I also don’t want to underestimate the value of character and good upbringing, which I trust he has, given that both of his parents were widely-respected public servants.
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Jay Reply:
May 7th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Wow, I sense some insecurity with this one. He honestly is so into the KoolAide that he’s buying into Noynoy’s average-ness when he and his ilk have honestly more pull to actually make differences even before his campaign.
Sadly this guy forgot that Noynoy isn’t poor like the people he’s trying to appeal to. He can ****ing wear a 2 piece suit two sizes bigger than his or literally a pambahay clothes in Malacanang because he’s got a choice. Sadly for the rest of the pinoys, BEGGARS CAN’T BE CHOOSERS!.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA omfg I can’t believe he’s eating that statement like a Lechon fiesta in Tondo before elections.
What am I reading? How does he choose to define his presidency with his legacy?
Most likely? He should see who he’s already surrounding himself with already.
Clinging on the EDSA legacy. So if his candidate he voted in ****s up, he’s got rally as PLAN B. Wonderful. Just wonderful.
If his head wasn’t watching ABS-CBN or GMA7, he’ll also figure out guys like Dick Gordon, Gibo Teodoro, Manny Villar also came from their distinct characters and good upbringing, but chose to accomplish their goals and be men of distinction.
So will everyone else voting in May 10. Except he isn’t armed with the information or the repercussions that have led to the hardship of why the country continues to stagnate, even more so with promoting his candidate.
This friend of yours is sadly compromised. I hope they still love drinking that yellow koolaide once he regrets their choice.
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ilda Reply:
May 8th, 2010 at 12:58 am
@Migs
Your friend is making a big mistake. He is misguided in his belief that an average person or shall I say simpleton, is what we need. If that were that case, let’s just pick some random guy out on the street, make him wear a barong tagalog and put him in Malacanang.
It’s too shocking to read that your friend is quite happy with Noynoy’s perfect attendance in the Senate sessions despite his lack of accomplishments. Noynoy did not do his job to the best of his abilities. As a senator it was his duty not just to offer nay or yay to the other senators who were proposing new laws. He too needed to have the initiative to come up with laws that will benefit the Filipino people especially the poor. This is proof that Noynoy Aquino did not do his duties well. It’s like saying that it is ok for a child to simply go to school everyday just to get a perfect attendance but never mind if he is not understanding the lessons or contributing to the discussions at school. Your friend’s justification is very insulting to the hard working senators like Gordon and the others who have authored bills and enacted laws.
This is just too judgemental in my opinion. People should never base their decision in deciding who is going to be a good leader on appearance alone. Yes, Noynoy Aquino’s taste in clothing is quite a turn-off for most people but it is only high-lighted because of his lack of accomplishments. Many people like Bill Gates were considered a nerd in manner and appearance but it is his hard work and success as an entrepreneur which made him the richest man in the world. You can’t consider Bill Gates as a slacker compared to Noynoy. Noynoy is already 50 years old and still lives in the same ancestral home. His living in the same house is not the problem per se; it is the fact that he has not proven that he can be an independent minded person. He has always lived in the shadow of his parents. He is not his own man.
Your friend is wrong in thinking that Noynoy is humble. A humble person will not utter such bold statements such as “If the counting of the votes is accurate, we will be victorious” He even dared to say that the bloody demonstration in Thailand will be insignificant if there is a failure of elections. He was suggesting that he does not care for disruption in business, normal lives or the safety of the public. He is of the opinion that it is already a secure win for him and any other result is unacceptable. That is not someone who is humble. Someone who is humble is someone who still believes that there is a possibility that people actually prefer another candidate other than him. Noynoy Aquino is full of himself.
Your friend is putting all intellectual people in the same mound. Again, he is being judgmental. If people will continue to think that intelligent people become evil, our society will not strive for excellence anymore. People will think that they will be shunned if they appear to be more intelligent than the average Filipino. Tell your friend to look at results or past achievements of the candidate rather than the number of diplomas then. Noynoy Aquino still fails in this department.
Your friend is wrong in thinking that Noynoy will listen to the people. The whole campaign season there has been no evidence of him listening. The people around him have been protecting him from all the news that was unfavorable to him. He has not addressed any of issues. Any further calls for a presidential debate were considered too insignificant by Noynoy. This further insulted the thinking class. If he had addressed issues that were important to his opponents, people could have had the chance to see the real Noynoy. Instead, he was unavailable, too committed or uninterested. Noynoy is not someone who will listen to the people. He does not even care that the SWS or Puls Asia surveys owned and operated by his family and friends were conducting surveys that suspiciously had him on top all the time. And the media owners who also have alliances with the Liberal Party, releases the same poll results to public to make everyone believe that he is always winning.
Noynoy does not own a business empire but he has the backing of the biggest media outlets like ABS-CBN and the Philippine Daily Inquirer. They have been controlling the flow of information from the beginning.
Sorry, Migs but your friend is wrong about Noynoy. He is a member of the oligarchy therefore, is part of the problem. He does not have the strength of character to go against his family who own most of the companies in the Philippines. I hope it’s not too late to change his mind.
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this is true even in the US. They call it the Sarah Palin cult
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The author of this site should be more factual. I mean, not basing their opinion by their own, or basing their opinion by believing to others opinion.
In the INC’s part, its just all about unity.
“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” I Cor. 1:10
MEANING OF VOTE:
-Expression of judgment (Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary)
If block voting in the INC is just an added doctrines (like doctrines in the Catholic Church), i think it would be stopped by the church administration especially because it makes people have a bad impression in the INC. but even the block voting was hated or criticize by most of people, the INC still fight for it to obey god’s commandments not to have divisions among Church members.
The one’s should be criticize are catholics or nonmembers. Why?
who involved in the CHEATING DURING ELECTION? how about Infuenced by politicians? Vote buying? and etc???? Do INC members do these?
very simple. NO!!
Who done those??
HMMMMMMMMMMMM…
a hard to hear FACT
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“The one’s should be criticize are catholics or nonmembers. Why?
who involved in the CHEATING DURING ELECTION? how about Infuenced by politicians? Vote buying? and etc???? Do INC members do these?”
are you really even sure that INC does not do those? you sure are close minded..do you really believe every INC member is so religious..in worship and in following doctrines..gimme a break..
how can we openly discuss issues to persons like you if you already diss statements like that
oh..goodluck to your so called unity.
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Alfonso Lista Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
mickey is a self-confessed inc kuno, a devoted one..pweh!!! hindi ka inc mickey…SHIRMUTAH qa…
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Hello ilda, I am enjoying your articles so much and the comments sections is very informative too. Keep it up.
I am not as good as some of the people i see here but I just wanted to share my thought.
“For the record, the ones that Iglesia ni Cristo have endorsed ended up corrupt and branded as “evil”. What credibility then do they have in choosing someone who will occupy the highest position in the land?”
I think a lot of Filipinos either have short memories or six years is long enough to completely forget everything. It is one of our biggest problems. We easily forget. That is why Erap is running and right now he’s at second place.
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ilda Reply:
May 10th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Thanks Charles! Don’t be shy about leaving a comment. Good and bad comments are always welcome
I actually thought I would be dedicating my blogs to Erap before the election but Noynoy ran so I had to switch. I really had fun writing them. There was so much material to work with and I guess lots more to come.
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It’s a conspiracy I tell you!
Because nobody gives a damn about education anymore, it’s part of their plan! They want mindless people to populate so they have no problems pushing their agendas over people who really think because they have their zombie army to back them up anytime! Yes, I’m looking at you democracy. They made sure that they will bring up the people to have a memory retention of a goldfish so if they screw up, no biggie, just slap some fancy commercials and it’s awwwwright already.
And no offense, why is religion so anti-intellectual?
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To the writer of this article, I want to give a big thanks for differentiating what the religious leaders do with what is actually taught in the bible. Too many folks here lash out at the bible because of the religious meddling in this country when in fact they are misdirecting their (righteous) indignation.
It would be the equivalent of be blasting education because the professors use their time with their captive audiences to inject their opinions into lectures. It may not necessarily be the subject being taught which is wrong, but the one teaching it.
In regard to rights being violated by religions in the Philippines, I truly regret that this is an old article and that most likely no one will read my comment. I have had this on my chest for quite some time now.
When I take a ship, I feel my rights violated because they insist on playing the mass over the intercom. They do the same in the malls, requiring employees to stop what they are doing. This is a double whammy from my point of view because they are not only violating my right not to have to participate in a religion that is not my own, they are requiring participation in a religion as a prerequisite to getting a job in their company. That is religious discrimination!
When I took my wife to the hospital to give birth to our daughter, I was shocked by the paper we had to fill out. I would have been a little uncomfortable if it had said “What is your religion”, something that I see a lot of and frankly find it humiliating to have to disclose my religion for things that have nothing to do with religion, but the fact that the question simple asked if we were Catholic. I asked the receptionist if we would be discriminated against if we were not, but I was quickly hushed by my wife who didn’t want to make any waves. Normally I wouldn’t have accepted that, but since we were in this position that we needed their services, I guess we were forced against our will.
Now, here’s where it gets really interesting. My wife and I had talked about birth control long before this day. We agreed that since we weren’t prepared for this child and we wanted to at least provide her with everything she needed, she would get a tubal ligation if it ended up being a c-section.
Well, it ended up being a c-section. We filled out the paperwork for the c-section, and were pressured by the staff not to go through with it. After a far-to-lengthy discussion about our differing ethical viewpoints (they think that altering the reproductive system is unethical. I think having more kids than one can financially afford to support and then watching them die because you can’t afford the medical treatment when they get dengue is unethical) they finally agree to comply with our wishes, but did it end there? No! They opened my wife up and removed the baby. Then, with my wife still open, they started pressuring me to reverse our decision. Can you imagine that? Debating the ethics of a tubal ligation while my wife is laying there bleeding! Which do you think is more unethical?
I blame the Catholic church. Studying their history, though, reveals this is nothing new. At their behest, followers of the church used to open people’s bodies and let them bleed while pressuring them to comply with the church in the past too…DURING THE (self-censured) INQUISITIONS! As a foreigner in this country, that was the single most barbaric thing I have witnessed aside from the Ampatuan massacre (which I did not personally witness). What is wrong with them? Is their religious dogma more important than the life of my spouse? It’s not even our religion for God’s sake (no pun intended)! Don’t we have a right to enjoy medical treatment without having to submit to the Catholic Church?
Earlier this year, the Catholic Church sent out some of it’s followers to survey the neighborhoods. I asked them if I was legally required to comply. I refused when they told me that I was not. They told me that they were trying to make sure everyone was legally married and solution the problem if they were not. Well, you make your own opinion about that one. I’m not comfortable giving out personal information at my door step like that, and I don’t think the Catholic has any right to require that. I came back a few minutes later and they had snagged my wife (which I resent because it was just like they were rubbing it in my face). I had a talk with her later explaining to her that the Catholic Church has no power over us except what we willingly give them, and she could have said no. She was “Shy” to refuse as I had. *Sighs*
It’s not only the Catholic that violate my rights. When I take a bus, some times the Baptists stand up in the middle of the bus and start preaching (followed by solicitations for money).
Let me say first, I am not against people speaking publicly about their religion. I think that is a human right as well. However, it is also my right not to listen to them if I don’t want to. I am always willing to have a religious (or any other kind of) discussion on a free and equal playing ground, but I don’t appreciate being forced to be a captive audience.
For one thing, I don’t believe what they are teaching. The fact that they are holding a bible in their hand does not mean that what they are teaching is correct or well-researched. Second of all, the very principles of the bible they are holding maintain that a person has the freewill to decide for their self. Forcing someone to listen when they have no other choice is taking that choice from them. Well, anyone, they still can’t tell me what to think.
What really fries me is that not one person stood up to challenge it. It’s like, all you have to do to steal their mind and freewill is to hold up a bible and they all become mindless drones. I tried to challenge what he was saying, but I was hushed by my wife. Again, I feel my rights were violated, and I was extremely disappointed in my wife for assisting in this crime. It’s not even our religion, for God’s sake!
Every time Iglesia Ni Cristo sounds it’s 4:00am wake up call, and the Catholic rings it’s bells and I am forced to sleep with ear plugs, I feel that my rights have been violated. It’s not my religion, for God’s sake!
I am all for freedom of speech and religion, except for when that freedom is used to rob others of their rights. Everyone should have a choice.
I am most discouraged by the fact that everyone seems to be afraid to stand up against this frail bully. They only have as much power over you as you give them.