Far From Neutral Notions - Philippine politics, culture and stuff

Apathy is a tyrant’s best friend. ~ Unknown

Former senators Vicente Sotto III and Tessie Aquino-Oreta have jumped ship from Senator Eduardo Angara’s predominantly anti-administration party, the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), to the predominantly pro-administration Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), headed by businessman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco.

You will recall (hopefully) Ms. Aquino-Oreta’s antics during Erap’s impeachment trial, where she was tagged with the moniker (rightly so) dancing queen of the Senate. This was after the majority of the senate tribunal voted against the opening of the second envelope from Equitable PCI Bank, which was supposed to contain incriminating information regarding then-President Estrada. Sotto has likewise has had strong ties to the opposition in the past.

The funny thing is, nobody even asks why they did it. We know why. Or have reasonably good guesses. I take the obvious position: they couldn’t get a slate in the opposition’s 12 and are trying their luck with NPC. And we act like their flip-flopping ways are normal, now. Philippine politics is — has been for a while, actually — a contest of personalities, not ideologies, not platforms, and the only agenda is self-aggrandizement.

It’s so effing hard to care these days, especially if these are the choices we have: political dynasties, has-been (and never-were) matinee idols, and trapos. It’s a ridiculous turn of events when the people we’re selecting to run the country aren’t even people we’d trust to have in our homes. The Haydee Yoracs (rest her soul), Winnie Monsods and Randy Davids — you know, the people who actually give a hoot about other people and are conceivably in a position to know how to run a country — hardly get any attention come election time.

I like to believe that the majority of the voting public actually care about their votes, but all too often we’re stuck with always choosing the lesser evil, between a rock and a hard place, faced with Hobson’s choice; choose your cliche. Or not. Here’s a novel idea: how about we start holding those in power accountable for a change? Choosing candidates at least open to the idea of impeachment would be a good start, I think.

Popularity: 1% [?]

The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.
~ Albert Einstein

May 2007 will mark the country’s midterm elections, where all the seats in the House of Representatives, provincial governors, provincial, city and municipal board members and city and municipal mayors, as well as half of the Senate will be contested.

This year’s elections promise to be a bit more interesting than in years prior. One of the biggest issues facing reelectionists and hopefuls alike is their stand on the administration vis a vis Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In an arena without defined causes and platforms, the Philippine political landscape is defined by personalities and egos; as such, a vote for a pro-administration candidate is a vote for Gloria, as has been exemplified in the failed impeachment attempts of the past. In a pukinanginang twist of fate, a vote against Gloria is, unfortunately, a vote for Erap.

The elections will give voters (read: us) the first real chance to express our opinion on GMA after the aborted impeachment trials. You will recall that the impeachment process was stopped dead in its tracks by pro-administration Congressmen - most of which will be running for reelection. It is a given that impeachment will be tried again, particularly because of Gloria’s insistence on charter change, and the people we put in the House of Representatives will be the ones to decide on the matter.

Question is, do most of us even know where we stand on the matter? It is difficult to have a clear-cut stand on this because of the simple fact that, truly, all politicians are equally bad. There is no Cory in the present day scenario to battle Gloria’s Marcos, and yes, there is no Gloria to combat Gloria’s Erap. The Doctrine of Lesser Evil doesn’t even apply here because they are all the same, hence the voter’s dillema.

That said, is it reason enough for apathy?

Popularity: 1% [?]

“O galit na! Galit ka na e!”

That’s what Weslu (founding member of G.I. & The Idiots, and PUT3SKA, and recently pounding the skins for Brownbeat All-Stars, Juan Pablo Dream and Shuffle Union, among others) would say, often out of context, just to break the tension and illicit some laughter. I didn’t know him that long, or at all that well, but he was fun to be around with, and he was one hell of a drummer. I’m thinking, well, Heaven’s probably a rocking place right about now, with the Celestial Choir jivin’ to the grooves of ska.

I met Welsu sometime late last year, in Malabon. He was sessioning for Juan Pablo Dream and Shuffle Union at the time, and we were going to play the same gig. I remember he was always supportive of the Malabon band scene, ready to give advice, help, and the occasional quip. And the underground scene being what it is, his good-natured ways was a breath of fresh air. He didn’t have issues and he wasn’t one to bullshit.

So it’s just a shame that he had to go. The world is definitely poorer with his loss.

Rest in peace, Weslu Guiang.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Because this is just monumentally bad acting and bad dialog, I had to honor it… somehow…

Of course, something this stupid can’t help but be parodied… by people I used to work with no less. My hat’s off to you Bryan

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