By: Paul Farol
If all goes as it should, the
By putting aside all the talk of No-El, Charter Change, Gloria Forever, military juntas, and whatever else you can think of that can even in the slightest way keep the country from holding elections in May 2010; this leaves us space to really consider the possibility that we may not really have a choice of who to vote for.
The reality is that the choices are already being made for us even as we speak.
Every time we read about some survey touting a list of possible winners in the 2010 elections and every time we see or hear a Presidential candidate’s TV ad, we find that our options are narrowing down because more and more people are now conditioned to vote for one or another candidate in particular.
This situation has arisen because the Comelec has ignored the very spirit of the Fair Elections Act.
By allowing self-declared Presidential candidates to cause the publication of PAID popularity surveys and by allowing them to advertise as much as they can, the Comelec has created a situation that favors candidates with billions of pesos to spend on a pervasive advertisement campaign.
It is in this situation that writing about my choice for President has me looking like Don Quixote charging at windmills. Or perhaps, to put it more bluntly, talking about my choice for President winning in 2010 may make me seem like someone talking about an impossible dream.
My choice for President in 2010 is Senator Richard “Dick” Juico Gordon and I’ve heard people say that he’d only win in an ideal democracy, to which I say, I am treating the 2010 elections (and the elections after that) as a test for my ideals. I have decided to be as ideal as I want to be.
The reason why I chose Dick Gordon as my Presidential candidate is because electing the President of this country is not about choosing a candidate with the most money, the biggest political backing or the highest popularity rating. If that were the end all and be all of what a Presidential election should be, we ought not to have elections at all – let’s just have SGV ring up and certify the numbers for us.
We must remember that the Presidential election is really about choosing someone who will lead our people in solving the very serious problems that they face every day. And if you ask me what makes me so sure and so certain that Gordon is the right person to vote for as President, I’ll point out that it is only because he has already proven his qualities as a leader.
While other candidates make a big deal in their TV commercials about their affinity with the poor, Gordon has actually lifted people out of poverty. While other candidates promise to change the country without explaining how, Gordon has actually delivered on his promise of changing the country -- albeit, one part at a time.
He turned
He led 80,000 volunteers to convert the wasteland that was the abandoned Subic Naval base into the country’s first
He led the country’s tourism industry through SARS, coup d’etats, and conflict in Mindanao to achieve foreign tourist arrivals of 2 million a year in 2003 – because of his work with Wow
Among the laws he passed as Senator, two major laws have already begun to change how our countrymen will find jobs and how they will place their votes.
Just recently, Senator Gordon passed the Tourism Act of 2009 and this law will enable our country to compete in tourism with
Gordon also passed the Amended Automated Election Law and pushed for its implementation so that in 2010, we will have automated elections that will put a stop to wholesale cheating.
Choosing the next Philippine President should be about choosing the candidate who is best qualified for the position. Gordon has vision, experience and a long track record of succeeding as a leader.
San pa kayo?
Dito na siyempre sa may pruweba.
Hay naku Miriam FOREVER!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-ryeSbi5zk&feature=related
He will be losing out on catholic votes though...the catholic womens' league, children of mary, the nunnery, old maids and certified virgins who will be aversed to a President DICK Gordon. Of course, he'll probably get more votes from bloggers here if he adds "big" to his monicker. :)
Here's an interesting point also I would like to share.
The story is about two cities, two mayors and a former and present Chairman of Metro Manila Development Authority--both of whom aspiring to be the country's
next president.
It has been eleven years since i moved to Manila (EDSA Mandaluyong)from Batangas.
EDSA used to be extremely chaotic--the very essence/state
of what the whole country is.Bayani Fernando, while not a superman, slowly change things around the Metro.We didnt see this during the time of a Jejomar Binay who claimed so much about the"prosperity" he brought to the country's financial district.Binay's "Ganito kami
sa Makati.." an ad supposed to be for they city's founding
anniversary(He's gotta be kidding.That to me, was a big insult to viewers intelligence. Do we need to tell everyone what's
the reason behind that ad?).It's not that i am not aware of
Fernando's posters around Metro Manila.
If Makati is indeed progressive why do we still see squatters?
Just take a look at Rockwell Center with its posh condominiums
and the nearby LaPeral Squatter Compound.
I always believe that Binay can only and TRULY be proud of
Makati if he has concrete (literally and figuratively) housing projects to eliminate those shanties.
Dick is a FAG, he can never act as Commander...he relies on his Boy toys...That will be a dishonor to our dead Heroes...Get It?!!!! Tsk...
and i thought i'm the only one..I will vote for Dick Gordon too..hay it remains a fantasy..
I agree.. Sen. Gordon is also my choice. I do hope that he runs for President.. indeed he is the one who has the most accomplishments.
While Sen. Manny Villar is inserting budget allocations to gain more money under his "C5 at taga" program, Bayani Fernando was fixing the water system of the squatters in Recto.In the meantime, during the time Noli De Castro cruelly left his first wife to marry a Muslim and now demolishing mercilessly squatters along the railway without relocation fro his commission on the project, Bayani Fernando, then a young businessman, is using his construction equipments to block the pro Marcos soldiers from open firing on the helpless civilian in the EDSA Revolution.Remember the time Loren Legarda married a old rich murderer para magka pera and converted to Muslim para di mademanda ng bigamy, well, Bayani Fernando was giving 11,ooo squatters their own homes.While Erap Estrada is stealing the pension money of the ordinary SSS members, Bayani Fernando was clearing the sidewalks from the encroachments of rich store owners and illegal vendors protected by kotong cops so that the poor people will have a place to walk on , and, the poor children will have at least a small area to play.
While Ping Lacson are murdering lots of people for money,Bayani Fernando is raising funds for the churches with concerts together with Sec. Angie Reyes and fromer Sen. Joey Lina.While Jojo Binay is making money by volume thru the cakes given to his own supporters bought from his own bakery,paid by Makati government, Bayani Fernando is managing the MMDA Hostel in the Port Area so that the poor promdis will have a cheap place to stay while in Manila.“Marea From Heaven” is a mystery……...it is the sequence of the Philippine presidency that put an ordinary housewife, a lowly paid soldier, a college drop out … and probably, a former sacristan, to become president, against well moneyed and well positioned opponents.
Dick Gordon For President or Bayani Fernando For President ?
Who is the BEST Presidentiable of the them all?
Is the Philippine presidency so bad that almost all aspirants are wicked? Who is the next president of the Philippines? Who are really the Philippine presidentiables?
The choice is yours…but don’t worry,“Marea From Heaven” will guide you.
Who’s afraid of Dick Gordon?
60 Minutes
He may be the tough and gung-ho leader that people know him to be, but strip him of every position, accolade or achievement that he has ever attained, Senator Richard Gordon is first and foremost a dedicated dad, a loving grandfather, and a proud son.
Gordon has come face-to-face with the biggest tragedies and calamities, or even tough political issues, but he is not ashamed to admit that he still breaks down and cries at the memory of his father James Leonard Gordon who was assassinated during his term as the first mayor of Olongapo in Zambales.
“It was very hard coping with that tragedy. It’s still here. I still cry. I only cry for two things, my father and my country. You never forget your parents. When you talk about your father, the way he died, talagang tatamaan ka dun. So you teach your children and grandchildren that.
Despite those melancholy moments, Gordon makes sure he passes on the lessons he learned — starting from his great grandfather Col. Jose Tagle, a revolutionary hero whose bravery freed the Caviteños against the Spaniards in the Battle of Imus; and of course, his father who gave up the privileges of being an American to serve his people as a Filipino...
It may seem out of character for Gordon, a father to four children and lolo to 11 grandchildren, but he is actually the doting and affectionate type who would regularly keep track of his kids’ whereabouts and even say “I love you’’ on the phone. He explains that this gives his children the assurance that “they’re special people but they are not to be specially treated.”
Gordon has always been as active and involved in his endeavors even as a student. But like any ordinary high-schooler, he had his share of mischiefs, neglecting school for parties and movies. For this, he flunked in his sophomore year at the Ateneo, a failure he regrets to this day....
Armed with perseverance and leadership, Sen. Gordon transformed Olongapo from a sin city to a model city when he was mayor for 14 years (1980 to 1993). He introduced various innovations in local governance. After the dismantlement of the US Military Bases in 1991, he led an army of 8,000 volunteers in making Subic into a premier investment hub. The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority attracted over 30 investors and provided some 70,000 jobs for Filipinos.
As Secretary of Tourism in 2001, Sen. Gordon worked wonders for the then tarnished reputation of the Philippine tourism industry, plagued by kidnappings, damaging travel advisories, the SARS disease and the continued threat of terrorism. He used the same volunteer spirit to inspire a culture of tourism among Filipinos and paved the way for a cultural renaissance in the Walled City of Intramuros. With his “WOW Philippines! More than the Usual!” campaign, tourist arrivals increased; the country was placed back on the world tourism map with him serving as World Tourism Organization (WTO) commissioner for East Asia and the Pacific in 2002 and chair of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) in 2003); and Intramuros became a glittering tourist destination offering the best of the regions’ culture, cuisines and products.
We Filipinos would appear to be bad judges of character when it comes to our leaders because of the information that is made available about our leaders/candidates. Campaigns are made to appeal to emotion, drama, image, etc. rather than laying down real issues, character, values, track records, vision, platforms, capabilities…campaigns have these common “showbiz” approach. So naturally, instead of forming realistic impressions we get “larger than life” images and get carried away by emotion, of “you and me against the mang -aapi” or “we down troddens should stick together.” We actually resent those who truly outshines in credentials and go for those who can talk eloquently in Tagalog and it doesn’t matter if he/she is just mouthing off ideology or nonsense or repetition of both over and over again.
Is this the fault of media or the campaign strategists?
Both Bayani and Dick Gordon are potentially great presidents, they have the vision, leadership, and management skills you don't see in the other candidates. Unfortunately, you have to factor in "winnability" on top of all elements to win in elections. Gordon turns off the "masa" with his Americanized English and Bayani doesn't really have that "charismatic" face that brings in votes. Either the Filipino voters mature in their responsibility or a more efficient information drive be launched for these two candidates (or both) should happen, otherwise we'll just get another joker who can dance and sing their version of "Dahil Sa Iyo."
Hay naku, yan na nga ba sinasabi ko, you let one drumbeater in, victorina becomes boring. Daming PR pushers dito. Next topic, please!
It’s a presidential titillation, wrote Efren L. Danao in his Manila Times column. In Danao’s March 14, 2009 column, he wrote: I am certain that Teodoro would not have announced his interest had he not been titillated by somebody up there who likes him.
Gilbert Teodoro, a brilliant lawyer, seasoned political leader with proven track records, will likely get a Malacanang’s endorsement.
If he becomes the official bet of the administration, and gets the support, even if given tacitly, of his uncle, businessman Eduardo Cojuangco, he would surely give the opposition a hard time. Alito Malinao wrote in Manila Times.
Blogger Carlo Ople, has the same opinion. I have a strong feeling that if ever Secretary Teodoro gets the endorsement, he actually is a strong contender for the Presidency.
Some are already claiming that GMA’s nominee will politically cursed. But on the contrary, President Arroyo’s endorsement got the force. I have strong faith the with Sec. Teodoro, Sen. Villar will get hard time.
Would Gilbert Teodoro make a fine president? I certainly think so! Ducky Paredes declared.
Gilbert Teodoro rallying point will be his brilliance, his political maturity, and his clear stand on issues.
Will Gilbert Teodoro Jr. be the Philippine President? A big chance, yes!
hi amiel. i read your article in world news. thanks!
http://article.wn.com/view/2009/05/30/Pneumonia_No1_killer_of_children/
"Anonymous said...
Hay naku, yan na nga ba sinasabi ko, you let one drumbeater in, victorina becomes boring. Daming PR pushers dito. Next topic, please!"
EXCUSE ME PO!!!
I'm glad Victorina allowed all the comments . If one sounds like pushing for a certain politcians--its the very essence of democracy. We all root for someone we believe has the potential to be the country's next president--"if you think it's boring and we are being a PR pushers--grow up!
Call us PR pushers if we go for ERAP!
Forget it! Whatever anyone says, we are in for another disappointment.
youve got to be kidding me! this is the same person who tried to incite his followers to a "kuh d etat" because he did not want to step down in subic? i smell another trapo...
My Blog
http://www.wretch.cc/blog/markacey
Thanks for your share
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Hsinchu, Taiwan
Dick Gordon has dictatorial tendencies, but the U.S. would be happy to have him around.
Has anyone heard Kate Gordon speak her mind? If Imelda makes you go "Huh?", so will Kate. It's a good thing the hubby has the motormouth to keep her in the background.
In all fairness, DG won't make a bad candidate. This doesn't mean I would vote for him right now. I'm still searching for a candidate who won't be categorized into that "lesser evil" tag. Whether that candidate shows up remains to be seen.
Anonymous:
In response to this:
"youve got to be kidding me! this is the same person who tried to incite his followers to a "kuh d etat" because he did not want to step down in subic? i smell another trapo..."
When the Americans left Subic, it was a wasteland covered under tons of ash.
Olongapo City, which basically derived its economy from the bases, was practically dead.
When Gordon led 8,000 volunteers to convert the bases into a Freeport, they did so with no pay and no assurance that it would succeed.
They poured sweat and blood into it, eventually, they succeeded.
A TRAPO would have just probably taken whatever could be taken from the bases and sold it all. As they did with CLARK and SANGLEY.
A TRAPO would have probably asked the National Government for money to turn the bases into some kind of white elephant project.
A TRAPO would have probably enriched himself while leaving his people impoverished.
Gordon didn't do any of those things.
Anyway, after transforming Subic from a wasteland to an investment and tourism destination, Erap booted him out.
The thing is, how would you react something which you had worked really hard to build is given to someone who eventually destroyed it?
Kibit balikat ka na lang? Sorry ka na lang?
Kung matino ang pag-iisip ng isang tao at buo ang kanyang loob, ipaglalaban mo.
Iyon ang nangyari kay Dick Gordon at sa Subic sa panahon ni Erap. Ipinaglaban niya.
Sa panahon na ito, kung saan ang mga nagsusulputang mga leading Presidentiables ay kilalang mga balimbing at mahilig makipag-kompromiso, ang kelangan natin isang tigasin at palaban.
Dick Gordon.
Pangalan pa lang, alam mo nang tatayuan ka na.
"Iyon ang nangyari kay Dick Gordon at sa Subic sa panahon ni Erap."
WHY? Does Gordon own Subic? He only works at the pleasure of the incumbent President!
i am also rooting for him..as of now,he has the "lesser evil" tag for me =)
with the power of the internet nowadays, hopefully, this would help a lot in guiding the Filipinos in deciding on who are worthy of their votes and not be influenced by those "pervasive advertisement campaigns"
hopefully, there would be institutions who would put their efforts in educating those Filipinos who are still not internet savvy so that they would not only rely on the information they got from those paid advertisements
hopefully, there would be a site that would discuss on all the pros and cons of a certain candidate so that those who are already internet savvy but are having information overload could rationalize on who's the "lesser evil"
(sorry to the anonymous for using your words)
hopefully, hopefully, hopefully..there would still be a bright future awaiting for the Philippines
WHY? Does Gordon own Subic? He only works at the pleasure of the incumbent President!
-----------------------------
You would have done the same if you were in his place. Then again, you never did anything worth fighting for anyway...
gordon does not own subic. he was put there ny gloria. i doubt if he did not get anything out of transforming subic into what it is today. granted the guy can and has done that. does this mean he can run the country as well? He is an appointee and even if he has done good in subic he should know when his term ends .(when the president says so) all im saying is, this guy did what he did and he should be proud of his achievements in subic. but, na kaka turn off how he seems to want to cling to power and position. imagine paano pa kung presidente na sya...
Dick Gordon.
Pangalan pa lang, alam mo nang tatayuan ka na.- HAHAHAHA! MAGANDANG CAMOAIGN TAGLINE TO! HAHAHHA!
basta, one of my criteria for choosing the next president is:
someone who i wont be seeing in any ads 12 months prior to the elections.
somehow, a handful is out of my list.
thanks for the insight, i might go for dick..
tayuan natin to! lol
I'm fixing my vote either on Bayani M or Dick G. Though I have heard Dick's points of view over Magic 89.9 and I'm fully aware of Bayani M progress in Edsa and in other areas of M.Manila...I'm from the province (Davao to be exact pero I've been here for three years na). Di naman namin nakikita talaga ang sitwasyon wa National Level kaya most of us are just basing our options sa nakikita namin sa news, propaganda and our concience...(And di naman maipagkakaila na we go whomever our famous mayor supports) But exposed to so many things and reading blogs of this sort really helps a lot. I actually read victorina just today. Some pepters directed me here...And I will read this from here on...I know in the coming days, I will slowly realize who among the two will I vote. I want to make the right decision.
I will definitely vote for Sen. Richard Gordon. I hope and pray that many of us will do..- edge