I’m not sure if
it’s a good idea na ipakita sa publiko ang mga taong ibinoto ko. Sabi nga ‘the
vote is sacred’. But I think it’s more like having the option of keeping one’s
vote secret and not be obligated by anybody to show one’s preferences. At the
same time, mayroon din naman akong kalayaan na ihayag din ang mga taong ibinoto
ko.
Maaga ang botohan dito sa abroad. Postal system
kasi o di kaya ay puede naming dalhin ang official ballot namin sa Philippine
Consulate or Philippine Embassy on a specific date.
Choosing the
best is not easy. It’s really a tough balancing act. May mga taong it seems na
ok na ok pero questionable ang mga policies at platform, may ilan din na
black-listed na sa akin pero pinagbigyan ko pa rin.
So ito ang 12
candidates na tinimbang at mga tunay na bigatin among the 33.
1.
Risa
Hontiveros- Maganda ang
laban. Maganda din kasi. Nakakatamad nang manood ng Senate debates kung puro
pangit na, tapos puro trash talk pa. Apart from the fact na may maganda eh may
utak din.
Ibinoto ko siya dahil I have a soft spot for activists, yung mga street
parliamentarians. Dati din siyang journalist and then she entered Congress
through Akbayan party-list.
Sa Kongreso, ipinasa niya ang Cheaper Medicines Law, CARPER Law, Anti-Prostitution
Bill (to the dismay of many bigots and Church-backed macho legislators and
their queridas), Gender Balance Bill (for the emancipation of women), and
Students’ Rights and Welfare Bill. Isa din siya sa mga important personalities
behind the Reproductive Health Bill.
Minsan nakabangga na niya si
Miriam noon. Pero I remember during the impeachment trial ni Corona, the dragon-lady
commended Hontiveros, pagpapakita na may utak at galing talaga siya.
I think she was also a member of the peace panel talks with the NDF. We
need someone who can communicate with adversaries, not some macho military
legislator-kuno guy who acts like a negotiator but in fact, he’s a disgraced
sloppy diplomat.
She’s running under the administration’s coalition, something that’s so
unlikely of an activist. She’s now part of the establishment. Pero sabi nga
niya "The establishment is a space to challenge, to push the limists to
reform, to transform... Let's transform it in our own image and likeness.”
2.
Teddy Casiño- Here’s another
street parliamentarian. An activist and a true representative of the minority,
this guy from UPLB has been fighting for the rights of the poor and for the
progress of the country. He studied
agriculture, kaya mas naiintindihan niya kung paano ma maximize ang potentials
ng lupa at natural resources ng Pilipinas.
He authored important laws such as The Public Attorneys Act of 2007
which expanded free legal services for the poor, the Tax Relief Act of 2009
which exempts minimum wage earners from withholding taxes, Rent Control Act of
2009, and Anti-Torture Act of 2009.
Kaunti lang ang absences niya hind katulad ni Enrile Jr. na halos hindi
na talaga nagtatrabaho sa Kongreso.
He’s a relentless fighter against corruption and government abuse. Maraming
may ayaw sa kanya dahil komunista daw siya. He admitted that he’s a leftist,
but his way of reforming the government is not through bullets but through
ballots and legislation.
3.
Baldomero Falcone- senatorial
candidate of the Democratic Party of the Philippines. He’s a
business consultant. He was never elected to any public office. However, he’s
active in NGO projects and programs in helping the poor by giving decent jobs
and housing to the poor. This is not your typical politician who hands out
millions of pesos to non-existing NGOs.
He has a big heart for the people, especially the Visayans, who makes up
a considerable fraction of our population. He said in an interview that he
wants to be the voice of the Visayans in the Senate. And he has this great idea
in mind- SECURITIZATION, which will boost the economy and help provinces to be
progressive. Kayo na mag research kung ano yon.
4.
Ricardo Penson- He’s a business
executive and a social activist. He is currently the CEO of Ausphil
Tollways Co. He’s an advocate against political dynasties in the Philippines. He has formed
the Krusada Kontra Dynasty. He said that if he becomes senator, he will push
for that bill, and if it fails to become law he will resign. Hmmmm… mabibigat
na salita yun ah. He’s also pro-divorce, since he himself is separated four
times.
5.
Greco Belgica- I shouldn’t
vote for him. He’s an anti-RH Law. His views regarding divorce is questionable
(legally and doctrinally speaking, I find his views really unnerving). He’s a pastor too. I ruled out from my list
all candidates who are running with religiously inspired platform.
But I made some exceptions, and out came Belgica. So why him? He’s
young-blood and he might bring new ideas and a different perspective in the
Senate. He has studied here and abroad from well-known schools. He’s pro-death
penalty. And he’s running under the Democratic Party of the Philippines.
He’s also promoting an interesting tax reform that might help the
country- FLAT TAX. Lahat ng tax pare-pareho lang. According to him, many
progressive European nations have adopted this system. I’m quite sceptical with
such reform, pero sige, isabak na natin. We’ve tried many things and reformed
the tax system many times. Let’s try something revolutionary.
As track-record, well, dati siyang councillor sa Manila. Okay na rin,
at least he has an idea of how the political game is done.
6.
Alan Peter Cayetano- This is what
you get in a country where there are a lot of suckers- a list of same old
names. But in my opinion, the Cayetano siblings have shown their independence,
even though they are a dynasty. Wala na talaga ako mapagpilian. But I like the
guy because he has balls. Sino makapagsasabi na tatayo ang lalaking ito to defy
something like Enrile the Institution? And as we all have seen, he’s a very
scrutinizing senator and have fought bitterly against corrupt officials such as
Erap and GMA.
7.
Dick Gordon- His head is full
of ideas. When he opens his mouth, well, he talks a lot. He’s a very assertive
person, and a very passionate one. I’m voting for him because he is someone who
is willing to bring a bill in the Senate floor and stand up for an intelligent
debate. He has an impressive track-record dating back from when he became a
delegate in the 1971 Constitutional Convention. I see him less of a reformer
but more of a builder. He’s a visionary who is eager to build up the nation and
set the paths of the people straight. Quite a strong personality.
8.
Ed Hagedorn- Puerta Prinsesa
sounded like a legend until Ed Hagedorn came and made this place a real piece
of heaven on earth. In an interview with Karen Davila, he admitted many of his
dark past- logging, illegal gambling operations. But it seems that he mended
his ways by doing everything legal for the sake of Puerto Prinsesa City.
Now he’s one of the best progressive politicians of the country who have
become staunch environmentalists. He typifies a kind of leadership that
harmonizes environment and development. I think he’s some sort of a trapo too.
I believe he can do a lot in making laws regarding the environment and
upgrading the local government.
He admitted that he doesn’t possess sophisticated skills in legislation.
But that’s okay. We’ve had two Revillas, a Lapid, a Sotto, a Pacquiao, and an
Estrada. He’s a lot better than the macho bloc of the Senate. He just has to
make sure na kukuha siya ng isang speech-writer na may imagination, hindi yung
may degree mula sa isang sikat na university pero walang alam kundi mangopya ng
speech ng ibang tao.
9.
Cynthia Villar- I have put this
lady in my black-list. But I gave her another chance and watched an interview
with her. And it turned out that apart from the fact that she has a low opinion
of ‘room nurses’ and an anti-RH Law, it’s hard to deny that the woman is
handing out jobs and opportunities for women, the youth and the poor.
One reason why she got my vote is that she understood the frustrations
of OFW’s who are insufficiently supported and inefficiently assisted by the DFA
and DOLE. She wants a Department of OFW’s. She is the only candidate whom I
have heard to acknowledge the importance of OFW’s as citizens and not mere
human exports.
If you go and do a background check sa website ng Congress you will see
that she filed bills that favour education, the youth and women, and the poor.
She doesn’t live in the shadow of her husband.
10. Edgardo
Angara- Again, here’s
another dynasty. Forgive me pero wala na talaga eh. Pero wala naman din siguro
masama. He was part of the prosecution team during the Corona Impeachment
Trial. A very smart guy (studied in UP, Harvard Law School, London School of
Economics and Political Science) with good looks as well (oo, bumoto sa pogi
para mawala na ang mga panget sa Senado! Hahaha).
As a congressman, 10 of the bills he filed have become laws of the land.
He’s also an advocate of educational reform. He was one of the Ten Outstanding
Young Men of 2010 for his hard-work in Congress and his advocacy.
11. Mitos
Magsaysay- I hated this woman because she was a
pro-administration legislator during GMA’s tenure. She’s anti-RH, anti-divorce,
and seems to be investing so much on the Catholic vote (bakit hindi na lang
sumama ito sa Kapatiran Party?), so why am I voting for her?
Because she’s a hard-hitting b*tch, a feisty legislator, and a maverick,
and she is the ideal senator for the Aquino Administration.
She has proven to be a staunch critic of the President, especially his
cabinet officials. I do not trust many of our cabinet secretaries. Kung puro
kabarkada nila ang kaharap nila sa mga committee hearings at budget hearings,
eh mabilis makakalusot ang mga kagaguhan ng ilan. Since Magsaysay is very keen
in scrutinizing them, makakasigurado tayo na itutuwid niya ang mga ‘kakaibang
daang matuwid’ ng mga gago sa iba’t-ibang deparments.
12. Ernesto
Maceda- Finding the last candidate was hard. Kasi nga kakaunti ang alternative. Pero kinuha ko
na din si Manong. Age shouldn’t be an issue. Matanda man eh may ibubuga pa rin.
What else can I say? Maliit pa akong political critter eh naririnig ko na ang
pangalan niya. He was a former senate president and during his tenure, maraming
batas silang naipasa.
Hard-working and his track-record is not only impressive but also
illustrious. In the past, he has set himself apart from tyrants and corrupt. He
was a brilliant political figure during the Aquino administration, and an
important leader in the succeeding administrations. He was and is known as
Mister Exposé.
Now Manong wants to come back to the Senate. And I say yes! Let’s put
some brains and expertise in the Senate!
