So its Manny and Loren tandem. A year ago, Loren Legarda was one of the fierciest critics of Manny Villar. At that time, Loren was hoping that she will be one of the frontrunners in the 2010 elections. At that time, Loren like the rest, sees Villar as a threat to their ambitions.

Loren also supported the investigation of Manny Villar’s controversy regarding the diversion of C5 road to pass to the properties of Villar to jack up its prices.

Not so long ago, Loren strongly reacted at Manny Villar when the latter commented that one should have at least 1 billion to run a presidential campaign.

Loren then commented,

“Nakakalungkot yung nabasa ko sa dyaryo noong Martes. Sabi ni Senator Manny Villar na kung wala ka raw P1 billion, huwag mo ng ituloy ang balak mo bilang pangulo…Ibig ba n’yang sabihin, kung wala kang pera ay huwag ka ng mangarap na makapaglingkod bilang pangulo sa ating bansa?, (Its saddening what I read in the papers last Tuesday. Senator Manny Villar said if you dont have 1 billion, dont push through with your plan to run for President. Does he mean that if you dont have money you should stop aiming to serve as President of our country?)

Loren added,

“Nakalulungkot pong isipin na paliliitin natin ang usapin ng paglilingkod sa bayan sa isyu ng pera. Pera-pera na lang ba ang eleksyon? Talaga bang ang tingin nya sa taong bayan ay mukhang pera?” (Its sad to think that we will reduce the concept of serving our country on the issue of money? Are elections all about money? Does he really look at our people as hungry for money?)

Fast forward and Loren and Manny are chummy with each other. Villar said theirs was a union, not of money but of principles.

“Ang pagsasama namin ay hindi hinog sa pilit, hindi ginawa para sa popularidad, hindi base sa emosyon kundi hinubog ng pagsasanga ng aming mga pangarap sa bayang Pilipinas,” (Our partnership is neither based on popularity nor emotion, but one that is molded by our common goals for the country.)

said Villar.

My stomach is turning. If popularity is not he is after, why not pick someone from their party and not choose those coming from another? I wonder what is their common goals for the country. Goals for the country, not ruled with emotions. Cut the crap.

After strongly reacting to the comments of Sen. Manny Villar, its absurd that Loren Legarda is teaming with the man he criticized for reducing elections as mere money thing. Damn. Pardon me, but this one’s really revolting.

In any angle we are seeing, its a marriage of traditional political butterflies. Manny turned his back on Erap, jumped to the administration,then to opposition again. But even while he claims to be with the opposition, still he has shown some closeness with Malacanang. You never hear Villar issuing harsh words against Gloria Arroyo.

On the other hand, Loren started as Lakas, jumped to FPJ’s KNP in 2004 to be her runningmate, then jumped to NPC. She is constantly searching for someone who can accomodate her Vice Presidential and the (future) Presidential ambitions.

I strongly agree with Senator Madrigal that this union is a case of political prostitution.

To Manny Villar and Loren Legarda!

“Ganyan ba kababa ang tingin nyo sa taumbayan na kunwariy ang inyong pagsasanib ay dahil daw sa prinsipyo at hindi sa pera pera lang?”

***

The camp of Lakas Kampi is getting hilarious in its comment about Gibo’s consistent low ratings. In August, surveys show that Gibo only has point something percent. Lakas leaders said, its natural because Gibo has not declared his intention to run as President.

Then another survey came and still Gibo lagging by a mile. Lakas then said that wait until Gibo will accept the party nomination and that is where his ratings will improve because party members would rally behind him and to stop the massive exodus to other parties.

Gibo accepted the nomination and is now the presumptive candidate of the administration.

Then this latest survey came. And Gibo is still dwelling at the cellar.

What could be the next alibi? Then, always to be relied upon, Lakas said that people have to wait until the campaign period starts as local candidates would now pitch for Gibo and for sure his ratings will dramatically improve even as what is transpiring, party members are starting to do an ober da bakod to other parties at an alarming rate.

At the rate that Lakas is deserted by its members, come election only Gibo and Edu will be left with Lakas!

***

Lakas might lose another big provincial ally. Bukidnon online, a Bukidnon blog, posted that the Zubiris are contemplating to switch to the Liberal Party. If the plan with push through, Bukidnon will be virtually Noynoy Aquino-Mar Roxas country as it will seal the unity of the province as far as the Presidential race is concerned. Earlier, Nereus Acosta of the First District and TJ Guingona of the 2nd District are already with Noynoy Aquino. The Zubiris jumping to Liberal would seal the doom of the administration party in the province of Bukidnon.

Yesterday, I decided to “reconcile” with Pacquiao. I have a falling out of Pacquiao right before his second Erik Morales fight. At that time, I dont like his decision to enter politics and his pronouncements favoring the Arroyo administration. I thought he was used by the administration and he willingly allows it. Since then, I was hoping he will lose to mock his stance on politics and the despised Arroyo administration which seemed to use every Pacquiao victory as a deodorizer of its corrupt ways.

However, fight after fight he won convincingly. Pacquiao’s iconic figure becomes bigger in each victory after he disposed great names in boxing, Morales, Barrera, Marquez, Diaz, De la Hoya, Hatton and now Cotto. Years ago, you would never think a Filipino could compete with these boxing greats. To top them all would be surreal! But its happening, right before our eyes. Not just that he won, he devastated them and even forced some of them to retirement if not oblivion.

After all these victories, I become a believer and an adoring fan again. Besides, Pacquiao’s immature comments on politics has mellowed down through the years.

For the record, Manny Pacquiao has racked up seven world titles in seven different weight divisions, making the title pound for pound king assume a new meaning. These seven titles are:

flyweight (112 pounds) – Chatchai Sasakul (1998)
super bantamweight (122 lb) – Lehlohonolo Ledwaba (2001)
featherweight (126 lb) – Erik Morales (2006)
super featherweight (130 lb) – Juan Manuel Marquez (2007)
lightweight (135 lb) – David Diaz (2008)
light welterweight (140 lb) – Ricky Hatton (2009)
welterweight – Miguel Cotto (2009)

We should savor this moment. Maybe, this is the only time we can have a boxer like Manny. He is phenomenal, iconic. legendary. Remember where you are today, the sights, the sounds and the smell. We will miss this moment.

Do not judge candidates based only on RH bill stand: Ledesma

By MIKE BAÑOS – Correspondent Updated November 13, 2009 12:00 AM

CAGAYAN de Oro’s highest ranking Roman Catholic Church official believes that voters should not base their vote for a political candidate based exclusively on his stand on one issue.

“Should a candidate’s stance on the reproductive health bill determine your vote for him?” asked Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro City in reply to a question on how a Catholic voter should cast his vote based on a candidate’s position on the controversial House Bill No. 5043 (Reproductive Health and Development Act of 2008) during a joint breakfast meeting of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) last Nov. 7.

Of the current four candidates who have indicated their intention to run for president next year, Sen.

Manuel Villar has expressed his opposition to the bill while Sen. Benigno Aquino III has indicated his inclination to support it. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and former President Joseph Estrada have not articulated their stance on the controversial bill.

“To illustrate, if for example you have a local candidate who does not subscribe to accountability and transparency in governance, should this make you vote or not vote for him based on either of the two issues alone?

” Ledesma asked.

Like the hot topics currently raising the collective temperatures of the country’s kapihans, Ledesma believes it would be best for all concerned if people should first familiarize themselves on all aspects of a controversial topic before venturing their opinion about it.

“We should read the RH bill in its totality,” the bishop said. “I think many of us will find it is not a simple question answerable by yes or no whether one should vote for or against it.” He said the bill contains many noteworthy provisions which protect the welfare of women and children, workers and the environment.

Even if people should find truly objections about the bill, Ledesma said a voter’s choice of a candidate should be tempered by how that person also stands on other issues facing the country today such as law and order, transparency and accountability in government, the creation of jobs, the stewardship of the environment, to name a few.

“I think it’s not prudent to be a single-issue voter,” Ledesma said. “We should balance the candidate’s stance on all issues against each other in making our choices.”

Read full article

Administration Presidential candidate Gibo Teodoro has been avoided like a plague even by partymates. Senator Bong Revilla, Senator Miguel Zubiri and Optical Media Board Chairman Edu Manzano all reject the offer that they will be Vice Presidential candidate of Teodoro. As a result, Gabriel Claudio’s face looks gloomy on television as he announce the party’s convention days ahead.

See Bong, Edu, Migz turn down VP offers

This is a telling blow to the administration party. This only goes to show that even within their own party, they see no hope in Gibo candidacy to bag Malacanang. This is in contrast in 2004 elections where partymates are jockeying who will be the runningmate of then Gloria Arroyo.

Lakas Kampi is also experiencing massive defections. Big names of the party are now joining to the Liberal, Nacionalista or the NPC. At the rate the defections are going, Lakas Kampi may not have enough members to even carry the campaign for Teodoro in the countrysides.

I think what is happening to Lakas Kampi is something what we called karma. Those who live by greed, die by greed. Lakas Kampi of Gloria Arroyo unite the party not by platforms and principles of good government but by greed and opportunism. Everyone knows that party members are the happiest when there is an impeachment complaint against Gloria Arroyo because this will mean freebies stuffed in bayong to be distributed in Malacanang.

Now that Gloria Arroyo is in the twilight of her term, her allies see that she has nothing much to offer as a lameduck President. If they will stick it out with Gloria Arroyo, they are afraid they might be far from the graces of the incoming administration.  Trapos dont like that. They always ensure themselves that they are close to the Chief Executive of the country so that once the leader throw graces, they will be the first to catch the bonanza.  This explains why her opportunists allies are making cheap alibis for them to leave the party.

Compounding her woes, is that their candidate, Gibo Teodoro is lagging in the surveys, a clear indication of the people’s lack of confidence in Gibo Teodoro. Had Teodoro fared better in the surveys, the opportunists allies could have stick it out, knowing that their graces from Malacanang will continue flowing after the 2010 elections.

Blame Gloria Arroyo on your woes Gibo. Her spinmasters are jumping up and down, boasting repeatedly that she will survive until 2010. Well, she seems to survive 2010 but at the expense of her party. After 2010, Gloria Arroyo’s stock has not improve. She is now perceive just as the same as in 2005, hated and despised. It is said “you will reap what you sow.” Its now harvest time for Gloria’s planting. People now wants payback. History will be harsher on Gloria Arroyo.

She deserves it. Poor Gibo.

The Mayors of the 2nd District of Surigao del Norte are reportedly endorsing the tandem of DepEd Region 8 Director Sol Matugas and Board Member Egay for Governor and Vice Governor respectively.

According to mindanao.com, those who reportedly endorsed the tandem are, Mainit Mayor Ramon Mondano, Gigaquit Mayor Carlos Egay, Sr., Bacuag Mayor Shiela Mae Orquina-Cebedo, San Francisco Mayor Simplicia Bacol, Malimono Mayor Teodoro Senaca, Jr., Tubod Mayor Cristina Romarate-Arcillas, Taganaan Mayor Cesar Diaz, Sison Mayor Leicester Fetalvero, Alegria Mayor Dominador Esma, Claver Vice-Mayor Rosemarie “Nene” Gokiangkee and Placer Vice-Mayor Philip Adlao.

According to Bacuag Mayor Shiela Mae Orquina-Cebedo, they endorsed the Matugas-Egay tandem because “It’s high time that we give our people the credible choices for governor and vice-governor in the persons of Ma’am Sol and Board Member Jun Egay whose integrity and record of public service are beyond reproach.”

Sol Matugas will be pitted against Governor Robert Ace Barbers, while Junjun Egay will faceoff Vice Governor Noel P. Catre who are the bets of Manny Villar’s Nacionalista Party.

Sol Matugas is the wife of incumbent Congressman Francisco Matugas while Egay is an the No. 1 Board Member in the 2nd District and  the son of Gigaquit Mayor Carlos Egay Sr.

***

A friend told me that most tricycle drivers in Cagayan de Oro said Vice Mayor Dongkoy Emano is now on the downhill of his political career.  His failure to preside but a single session in the City Council during 2007 term will be a big issue among the voters this coming election.  Also the failed BOT contracts with UKC builder of Carmen and Cogon markets leave a bad taste in the mouth.  Both contracts were bought out by the Jaraula administration. The Agora renovation is feared to suffer the same fate.  It is also said that Emano’s support of the Cogon market vendors is also waning.

Making matters worse for Emano is his open support of former President Joseph Estrada whom many considered as a spent force in Philippine politics.

Emano also faces a formidable opponent in Rep. Klarex Uy, who like Emano, has already cultivated masa like attributes.  Klarex Uy is very generous to his constituents.  His Kasalan Ng Bayan has free cake and free lechon for every couple promo. When someone dies in the family, one should only give Klarex a call and a tent, monoblock chairs and water dispenser will be sent right away for free. That is why Klarex Uy is very popular with the masses.  If Dongkoy is masa, more so is Klarex Uy.  If Klarex Uy decides to face Emano, he will surely give the latter a run for his money.

The only problem with Klarex is finding a viable runningmate. Earlier, it was Nazareth Barangay Chairman Bebot Rodriguez is the rumored runningmate of Uy until Congressman Rufus Rodriguez joins Emano’s camp.  But elections is still months away and for sure within that period Klarex can find the right man or woman for the job.

Posted in Cagayan de Oro, Surigao del Norte Tagged: Cagayan de Oro politics, Surigao del Norte politics ]]> http://balatucan.wordpress.com/2009/11/10/matugas-egay-tandem-looms/feed/ 0 balatucan http://balatucan.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/rivals-put-up-united-front-against-dongkoy/ http://balatucan.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/rivals-put-up-united-front-against-dongkoy/#comments Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:15:44 +0000 balatucan http://balatucan.wordpress.com/?p=1547 ]]>

picture from Gold Star Daily

Finally, the rivals of Cagayan de Oro Vice Mayor Vicente “Dongkoy” Emano is fielding a viable candidate against his son, Yevgeny Emano, in the person of former vice governor Julio Uy. They are now targeting his son.

Bambi Emano protested insisting as incumbent, he should be the official candidate of the party and not anybody else. Bambi has other reason why he will stick with Lakas Kampi. He said he will be ashamed with the Arroyo boys, Mikey and Dato.

“Maulaw ako kung mibiya ako kaniya. Amigo ko sila si Dato og Mickey Arroyo,”

Emano boy holds on to Lakas, forces issue

By LITO RULONA – Correspondent Updated November 9, 2009 12:00 AM

A THREATENED Misamis Oriental Rep. Yevgeny Vincente Emano has lashed out at Gov. Oscar Moreno over moves to drop him from a list of administration candidates in the province.

Two Uys are threatening to topple down the Emano political dynasty in Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro. The congressman is facing the prospects of fighting former vice governor Julio Uy to keep his seat in the 2nd District of Misamis Oriental while his father, Cagayan de Oro Vice Mayor Vicente Emano, may find himself slugging it out with Rep. Rolando Uy in next year’s mayoral race. Rep. Uy was virtually a political nobody until 2007 when he surprisingly won the congressional seat in the city’s 1st District.

The two Uys share something in common: both spent years as loyal supporters of the elder Emano and therefore, they know the ‘‘style’’ of the reputed local political kingpin.

The younger Emano and Moreno were political allies and basketball buddies. For a time, they avoided clashing with each other despite repeated criticisms hurled on air by the elder Emano, a former governor and city mayor, against the capitol. Subsequently, Moreno stopped holding his punches after the vice mayor announced he would field a set of candidates against the governor and his
group in next year’s elections.

Rep. Emano has cried ‘‘political harassment’’ over moves to have his name expunged from the Lakas-Kampi-CMD’s list of candidates in Misamis Oriental.

He said he would question and oppose moves to have him replaced by former vice governor Uy, and invoke the administration party’s equity-of-the-incumbent rule.

The congressman’s father, incidentally, has declared his support for the bid of ex-president Joseph Estrada to reclaim Malacañang. Ironically, the younger Emano has claimed to be a supporter of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, the administration party’s standard bearer for next year’s elections.

While his father is for Estrada, he claimed he was given the freedom to choose a presidential to support in 2010.

Aside from the equity-incumbent rule, the younger Emano also argued that the Lakas- Kampi’s candidates should undergo the process of nomination.

“Dili siya (Moreno) ang magbuot. Sigurista kini siya nga tawo,” Rep. Emano told radio station DxCC.
He said he would bring his case to the administration party’s grievance committee even as he accused his former political allies of misleading the public and other local officials by claiming that he was already dropped him from the list of candidates of Lakas-Kampi.

“Gabuot-buot kini sila og ila aron sila ang masunod,” he said.

He also alleged that Moreno has forged an agreement to support the presidential bid of Sen. Benigno Aquino III of the Liberal Party. The congressman said Moreno and LP leaders, including Aquino, met in the city recently.

“Duha man iyang nawong. Sabot sila ni Teodoro then sabot sab sila Noynoy. Which is which karon?” the congressman said.

Emano also claimed that some members of Moreno’s group have started negotiations with the group of another ‘‘presidentiable’’, Sen. Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party.

The congressman said he would hold on to his position in the administration party because President Arroyo has supported him in his projects and because her sons are his close friends.

“Maulaw ako kung mibiya ako kaniya. Amigo ko sila si Dato og Mickey Arroyo,” said Emano.

The saga for Manny Villar and Gibo Teodoro’s search for a Vice President and Loren Legarda’s search for President continues. Manny Villar, the self proclaimed leader of the Nacionalista had a difficult time finding a running mate despite his early pronouncements of his candidacy for President. Gibo Teodoro on the other hand, has been shopping for a partner like one searching for a tie in his wardrobe. This just goes to show that no matter how moneyed and how well oiled is their machinery, it is not enough to convince the voters to go for either of both of them.

On the other hand, Loren Legarda’s fate is one of a kind in the world. For where can you find here on Earth, a Vice Presidential candidate announcing her candidacy ahead of the supposed Presidential standard bearer.

When Loren announced her candidacy, she has somewhat sent a message that she is available, either to the highest bidder or to the best man who can provide her a nice vehicle towards the second highest position in the country today. Together, the three are sizing up with each other. Gibo-Loren, or Manny-Loren. The scene is not unlike in our hometown cockpit.

Before a cockfight, owners of fighting cocks would huddle, something like a weigh in where owners would pair their cocks (the chicken, of course) to make the fight fair and balanced. The fight will then proceed after the sizes are determined to be more or less equal and when the bets are agreed upon.

I can imagine there is so much talks going on and who knows horse trading in the backchannels. This is transactional politics at its best or at its worst, depending on ones perspective. So party politics simply went out of the window.

Now this is difficult for us voters because it is quite hard for us to account responsibility in the government. Electoral pairings are no longer based on party platforms but rather on personalities. In this way, you cannot easily rely on our politicians. The difference is blurred.

I may not agree to some premise that we should forget party based politics in this country because, it was never practiced in the country ever since. Thats not quite true. In the pre Martial Law era, the political battle lines are clear. Its either you are a Nacionalista or a Liberal. The party standard bearer tandems then are comparable to the U.S. elections now. Just look at the past pairings. In 1945 elections, the Nacionalistas had Sergio Osmeña as President and Eulogio Rodriguez as Vice President who are pitted against the Liberal Party’s Manuel Roxas and Elpidio Quirino. The Liberal tandem went on to become Presidents at some point in time. In 1949 Quirino of the Liberal Party teamed up with Fernando Lopez to beat Japanese era President Jose P. Laurel and his running mate Senate President Jose Avelino of the Nacionalista Party. In 1953, however, Quirino and his runningmate Jose Yulo lost to the Nacionalistas Ramon Magsaysay for President and Carlos P. Garcia for Vice President. There are othe notable pairings like Liberal Party’s tandem of Diosdado Macapagal and Emmanuel Pelaez which beat Nacionalista’s incumbent President Carlos P. Garcia and his runningmate Sen. Gil Puyat.

Now these are just examples of the high quality of Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates of the past. Candidates are chosen because of their ability and perceived capacity to lead. The Vice President especially is chosen with the idea that in the event that something happens to the President, he can readily assumed the Presidency at any time.

Thats a far cry in what is happening today where news anchors, media personalities, boxing legends, movie actors and actresses and clowns have become convenient fall back to weak and dull Presidential candidates. This explains why Noli De Castro never left Gloria Arroyo at the height of the scandals rocking her administration. De Castro might have been apprehensive that he is not ready to become the President should the Gloria Arroyo resigned. That is why, he never left the side of  Gloria Arroyo even several sectors are already eyeing him as the viable replacement of Arroyo then.

This kind of abhorrent practice in selecting runningmates, also explains why, Secretary Eduardo Ermita has caught the attention of Senator Bong Revilla to become the running mate of Gibo Teodoro in case talks with Loren Legarda bog down.

“Iyan ang kabutihan ng magandang lalaki eh (That’s the advantage of being handsome), ”

Ermita referring to Senator Revilla.

Anyway, whatever be the outcome of these talks, the electorates should already have the idea to whom they would trust their votes this coming 2010 elections. Voters should now realize that they should only entrust the future of this country to the people who have clear visions, consistent reputation for integrity and honesty and with a clear political platform based on the ideals of the party.

This party is present. Clue. Its the only party which has no difficulty in forming a presidential ticket on its own based on the strength of its members.

Ituloy Natin Ang Laban! Pangulong Noynoy Aquino

I can judge the character of the candidate the way his campaign slogan is made and directed. When a candidate says he is for the poor, that he came from a poor family, that he loves the poor, that the poor is neglected etc., right away I will scratch that candidate from my list.

These kind of candidates are just taking advantage of the poor’s misery. They are appealing to the emotions of the poor by promising them everything. They know that majority of our voters are the poor so it is just natural for them to woo them, sweet talked them and pampered them to get their nods. But this kind of extraordinary attention to the poor is good only during election time.

Many presidential candidates in the past have used this kind campaign strategy but once they are in power, the forgot everything about the poor. Once in power, they accumulate wealth in a frenzied fashion, while the poor remained poor. Erap Estrada and Gloria Arroyo are the shining examples of this crooked kind of politicians. They capitalized on the poors helplessness although I believe that Erap was the lesser evil of the two.

On the other hand, while they are parading themselves as champions of the poor, politicians are flocking to their camps like ants knowing that the said candidates are financially well endowed. This is another ironic situation where a candidate who says he is poor is also at the same time awashed with campaign money to dangle with the politicians for them to join his fold.

Now in the 2010 election, I have seen two candidates in this mold, Erap is one of them and the other is someone who vainly advertises himself vigorously as the new champion of the poor.

The problem with this other candidate is that he has the money to spend for propaganda and this proved to be very effective. With his money, he can hire the best publicists and advertisers. He can pay the best minds in the business. And it paid off. Survey after survey he leads. But when Noynoy enter into the picture, slide down to a far second. That is when this erstwhile “silent” candidate is now talking. He said,

” The man to beat need not be the best competitor. The man to beat is the most popular, not necessarily the best.”

Funny but this candidate, before Noynoy’s entry, is not necessarily the best also. This candidate, who was erstwhile leading the surveys, is just striving to be the most popular also hoping that this will be sustained until election time. How ironic?

Another problem is that how could this candidate recoup his expense in trying to make himself fragrant to the poor? After winning the election, these kind of candidates will be busy paying back their benefactors. And thats where governance will fail again. Thats where we are going back to square one.

Helping the poor get out of their rut is not as simple as it is portrayed to be. It involves policy decisions that affect them. That is why a candidate that is beholden to a privilege few can not be expected to accomodate the needs of the poor. He has to pay back to his financiers, and a term for the Presidency is not even enough to pay for it. That is why politicians who promised and spends so much “for the poor” during campaign surely fail in their promise.

In the end, the electorate should learn the lessons of the past. Those who are trying to represent them and identify with them always fail them. Its time for people to elect someone who does not promised much but will do his part silently but effectively addressed and eventually remedy their misery.

The political players are caught by surprise by the sudden departure of Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) thereby casting doubt his bid to become the next President of the country.

Before the start of this political frenzies, NPC boasts of the formidable line up of Chiz Escudero and Loren Legarda as standard bearers. Suddenly, Loren Legarda announced her candidacy for Vice President. But she instead announced that she is available to other Presidential candidate despite the fact that her party mate, Sen. Chiz Escudero is publicly known to run for President.

Its baffling that this kind of awkward situation was not checked by the NPC leadership. Perhaps because NPC, as a party has no clear alliance whether it is for the administration or for the opposition. Perhaps the party leadership think that this kind of set up works well with party members indefinitely. Take for example Chiz and Loren is with the opposition while Senator Ernesto Maceda is with Erap. Some members are secretly supporting Gibo Teodoro, despite the latter is no longer a member of the NPC but with the Lakas Kampi.

But there are situations, like the upcoming presidential elections, where the party should take a stand; where it will ally itself. Playing both with the administration and the opposition will no longer work. As the events unfold, Chiz Escudero is the first casualty of this set up. Had NPC had stick to their horses and crack the whip on Legarda who was publicly shopping for a presidential candidate, the Escudero departure would not have happened.

With Escudero gone, Loren Legarda emerged as the top contender for the party’s standard bearer, assuming that the party will proceed in fielding candidates. Unfortunately, Loren lacks the charisma of Chiz. Loren also carries the burden of convincing the voters that a woman president is still acceptable for the next six years given the 9 year reign of Gloria Arroyo.

However, Loren’s public announcement that she was shopping for a presidential candidate despite the availability of her partymate does not look well in the eyes of the voters. A lot of my acquaintances do not like Loren. They just cant explain it. Maybe they have seen something in her. Call that intuition. I myself find Loren as insufficient. She is a picture of a politician who is continuously trying hard to promote herself. She abandoned Lakas in 2004 when FPJ preferred her over Miriam Santiago. Then she abandoned LDP in 2008 to be with a stronger party and where there is a bigger chance of being drafted again for the highest position of the land. Now that she is with NPC she is opening her doors to presidential candidates of other parties.

In the meantime, I rather find Loren’s reaction to Chiz departure as hypocritical.  Loren said, her sliding down to Vice President was wasted.  I think this statement is true and credible if Loren had stick with Escudero all the way.  It is not right for Loren to say thate her sacrifice is wasted because in the first place, she does not look to be Chiz partner.

As for the NPC, it may not be a problem. If Loren cannot carry the party, it can simply coalesce with Lakas Kampi whose standard bearer is a former member, Gibo Teodoro. In any case, NPC can still win, with or without Loren or Chiz.