Philippine Political Theories, linkage, politics and Facebook

Political ideologies in the Philippines are dominated by two words, leftist or rightist. Depending on how a person was educated, trained and by personal experience, his ideology on how society, community and government differs from one another although at some issues a common ground is established.

In the Philippines, we classify leftists and rightists according to how they will react on a certain issue. Let me give an example, I have been posting articles online for a couple of years now and the reactions I get depend on how the person is affected. If I write something against the construction of a Mall in a province, some will say “keep it up! We do not need too much commercialization” or “construction of a big mall is against the rights of the small businessmen” etc. But some will also say “we welcome development in the province” or “let us not be left  behind, having a mall will encourage business growth” etc. Simply put, ideas and opinions of every person vary and there could be an unending debate on who has the better thought.

Opinions are everybody’s right whether it is pro or anti-government. Taking away the right of one person to express his opinion is tantamount to over all chaos. If a person expresses his opinion on a certain issue, reactions should be based on the issue presented and NOT on the person who presented his opinion. However, in the Philippines, this is not the case. If you present your opinion in an issue, you will receive comments that are personal in nature such as “grow up” , “immature”, or “poor you”. Worst cases would be threats to you and your family.

Rightists control business, economy and government. People in the right wing will do everything to remain in power and control and that means even using the military and police to achieve his interests. On the other hand, Leftists provide alternative suggestions against the control of the Rightists and addresses the issues and concerns involved in the control and implementation of rightist programs. Leftists are considered as pressure groups, branded as anti-government but seriously speaking, without them, there will be no balance at all.

Leftists are oftentimes associated with the communist party of the Philippines and its branches. People see them rallying in the streets shouting their issues and concerns. They may look like the “contrabidas” in a an action movie but their sentiments and voices provide the much needed balance against a totalitarian rule. They have the balls to speak out when others prefer to keep quiet.

But there is another form of ideology, much bigger and wider than what was presented above, and that is “CENTRIST”. This is the common people’s rational thinking. An independent analysis different from left or right thinking.
As defined:
 “CENTRISTS espouse a "middle ground" regarding government control of the economy and personal behavior. Depending on the issue, they sometimes favor government intervention and sometimes support individual freedom of choice. Centrists pride themselves on keeping an open mind, tend to oppose "political extremes," and emphasize what they describe as "practical" solutions to problems.”
–    an example would be: A centrist may say something such as the following: Abortion should be legal, but only in certain situations such as the woman having conceived during rape or not having the financial ability to pay for the baby, as well as others.

In certain aspects, many individuals are considered a centrist. Open minded to all issues and concerns but do not judge according to a political theory. They try to resolve issues and concerns according to what they believe is right and practical and if needed participate in government control or attend/organize street protests and rallies. It is an action involving the individuals free will and not dictated upon. This evolving theory is fast rising in the Philippines and it is considered as a threat in the bi-theory control in this country.

Again, I consider the “Baguio City case” as a landmark case of “centrists” thinking. The strong opposition for the construction of a Korean project at the Athletic Bowl was started and supported by common people. With the help of technology, open information, participation and awareness, the common people of Baguio city showed support against the City Government’s MOA by participating in an online protest. A group was created at Facebook denouncing the said MOA and in a few weeks the number of members rose to  more than 9,000. These supporters – oppositionists are the “silent voters”. They supported this opposition by free will, expressing their thoughts without fear and looking at no leaders but themselves so that their concerted efforts will bring forward a righteous concern to those who are in control.

As I have been expressing years ago, technology will change the control of information and with such technology comes the fear of losing control especially on the part of  politicians and their organizations because today their slightest moves are now in the publics’ scrutiny. Traditional politics is changing and the new battle ground is done online. Most of the voters in this generation are internet savvy. Information about a politician is traveling faster than the speed of light and even if politicians will use their money to buy votes, I believe the new generation of intelligent voters will decide according to what they think and how they feel and not because of any affiliation or influence.

TRI Media is a thing of the past. Today, the fourth medium is bigger, faster and more people oriented because the internet provides a venue for people participation from all ages around the world. This new medium provides a free for all discussion. Recently, I came across a video clip in Facebook, it was discussing the CPP-NPA-NDF entering into the mainstream of Philippine politics by legal means. I knew at the first instance that it was a bad publicity campaign against those who are running in the party list system. I wanted to see how people will react on the video so I used the “share” button, after which I copied in toto the message of the original poster also emphasizing that it is a re-post. I was amazed when a good friend who is a lawyer instantly belittled me for posting the “anti-leftist” video telling me to grow up and calling me as immature. His reaction didn’t surprise me at all. However, a new comment was added praising the video as informative and should be shared. There was a clear difference in opinion but I decided to click on the “remove” post button to avoid an unending debate just like what happened months ago when I posted a Youtube video with the title “muslim demographics”. At first, there was a good discussion of opinions but later on turned into a bad personal debate between two persons. I had to delete the post. 

Clash of ideologies is now in the internet and unlike before, you can now say whatever you like online without the fear of being punched in the face or lambasted in a proceeding. This new found freedom is somewhat absolute since there is no government agency that can control the internet and the rich exchange of information found within. This freedom is now available to the employees working 8hours inside the office, students, laborers, teachers, ofws, etc who can now  participate anytime in issues and concerns. This was the clear case in the “protect the Burnham park movement”.

Today, I remain to be a centrist. I react against the lapses of government and its leaders if needed and I will not hesitate to voice out concerns against those who are claiming to be progressive. At the end of the day, my opinion remains to be my opinion and I am entitled to it without fear or favor.

With the upcoming elections, social networking sites like Facebook will be flooded with political groups and organizations. Instead of shrugging them off, why not participate, learn and comment? You are free to say anything you want as long as you maintain a certain level of “professionalism”. You have no right to go personal only because the issue presented is against your thinking. Just avoid the “fan pages” since you cannot interact directly. Better join the “groups”, it is interactive.
 
Pahabol: I read a very long article about the new and unfamiliar trend of Facebook. It is now the largest social organization around the world and it is changing technology faster than we can cope up. According to the article, Google is leading in the world of online advertisements but this will soon be a thing of the past since more and more advertisers prefer Facebook advertising because of their direct target approach. This is why you keep seeing those unending political ads of candidates in your Facebook account and I’m sure those ads will double or triple in the coming months nearing the election date. Facebook will become a venue for Philippine political circus.
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Specific Poll Survey for 2010 Baguio City Candidates

Online Poll survey for Baguio City from Congressman down to the City Councilors is now open. Show your support by voting at www.baguiocitypolitics.blogspot.com.

The recently concluded poll survey showed a participation of more than 6000 online votes. However, some sectors wanted a Baguio alone poll survey where a particular niche for onliners from baguio can be established thus the result will be more accurate for a political "preference".

This poll survey is open fron February 05 - March 25, 2010 only and this time the calendar will be followed strictly since it is already a niche poll survey.

Also, poll survey for online voters for Benguet, Ifugao, Mt.Province is already running with the same period of coverage as shown above.

And as always, let me reiterate that the result of this online poll survey will only show "preference" and is not accurate as to the final result of the 2010 elections.

Show your participation, go to www.watwatworld.com or www.baguiocitypolitics.blogspot.com to vote.
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BAGUIO ONLINE POLL SURVEY FINAL RESULT: Farinas, Molintas, Yangot leads.

CATEGORY: BAGUIO POLITICS BLOG

The recently concluded survey polls conducted by watwatworld. com shows that the citizens of Baguio City are silently participating. The online votes from November 2009 to January 30, 2010 counts to almost 6400 making it a highly participated survey.

As I have been saying since the very start of the survey, the result is not conclusive so as to say that it is already the election outcome. However, this result will show the possible preference of the “silent” voters especially those whom I call as new generation of intelligent and online voters.

I have been making posts and articles about online participation of the “new generation of intelligent voters” since 2007. Three years ago, I participated in online forums and posts supporting the candidacy of Senator Trillanes who as we all know lacks campaign funds. Bloggers were posting stories silently supporting him. At the end of the day, the “pushing” of ideas to vote for Trillanes was carried over by the readers to their homes, shared it to their family members and unexpectedly, to the loud cries of the rich and powerful candidates, Senator Trillanes was born. It seems that the voting public supports the underdog and not necessarily the opposition.

Today, majority of the voters are most likely to be influenced not by popularity of the candidate but by common thought which was influenced but what they believe, see and hear. Regardless of the billions spent on commercial, print and TV ads by politicians, the voters will still vote according to their conscience.

The new battleground of political candidates is not on the streets or in TV or Radio stations because in this generation, majority of the voters prefer to use their time surfing the internet than listening to the commercial ads of the politicians. One example would be the newly registered voters counting to millions. This generation of voters spend their time researching, chatting, watching, reading, playing or watching porn online rather than watching TV. Facebook alone can confirm this trend.

Some readers of my posts argue that political influence online is only a small portion of the voting public. They say that not all areas have internet access and many provinces and cultures still practice the traditional money making politics. I have to disagree. Even if the internet access is not available in some areas, still the voters nowadays are more involved and thinking independently from the usual practice. This came about because most of the “elders” whose words are laws are now slowly fading away. Simply put, everybody wants change.

Going back to the online poll survey result for Baguio City, again I emphasize that the result is NOT conclusive for a win but a mere preference of those who voted. The May 2010 election will still determine the winners.

The result are as follows: Online Poll Survey from November 2009 to January 30, 2010

FOR MAYOR
Total votes: 2290

1. Barcelo, Ruben Liwanag – (55 votes) 2%
2. Busacay-Lazo, Erlinda Adan – (64 votes) 2%
3. Domogan, Mauricio Gambao – (922 votes) 40%
4. Go, Marquez Ocampo – “Mark” – (238 votes) 10%
5. Hernandez, Guillermo – (77 votes) 3%
6. Labo, Ramon Lozano – (98 votes) 4%
7. Mandapat, Julius Javier –92 votes) 4%
8. Molintas, Jose Mencio – (1526 votes) 66%
9. Puzon, Peter Dulay – (62 votes) 2%
10. Sembrano, Elaine Dominguez – (109 votes) 4%


FOR VICE MAYOR
Total votes: 1213

1. Domalsin, Carol Rosado – (105 votes) 8%
2. Farinas, Danilo Tesaluna – (613 votes) 50%
3. Olowan, Faustino Atiwag – (514 votes) 42%


FOR CONGRESSMAN
Total votes: 6377

1. Avila, Edgar Mendoza – (31 votes) 0%
2. Balisong, Rocky Thomas Aseilan – (706 votes) 11%
3. Bautista, Reinaldo Jr. Asperin – (200 votes) 3%
4. Bello III, Dwight Nicolas Advincula – (17 votes) 0%
5. Quilala, Rabindranath Pablo – (16 votes) 0%
6. Ramos, Felipe Tribonaldo – (75 votes) 1%
7. Vergara, Bernardo Mangacang – (2148 votes) 33%
8. Yangot, Leandro Jr. Bagto – (3761 votes) 58%
9. Yaranon, Baraulio Dacanay- (39 votes) 0%

Please visit the website www.cordillerapolitics.blogspot.com until February 14, 2010 to see actual results. A new poll survey for Baguio City will starts on February 05, 2010 – March 25, 2010 from the congressional candidates down to the city councilors.

Read the earlier posts to see the previous results.
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January 15 Poll Survey: Yangot, Molintas, Olowan leading

After almost a month of vacation, watwatworld is back! Let me start my blog with the latest result of the online poll survey we are conducting. I have spoken to some politicians, lawyers, followers and supporters about the poll survey of watwatworld.com and just like in most cases, their opinions vary depending on how they are affected by the survey. Let me put it this way... if you gather 100 bright and intelligent lawyers in one room and ask their opinion on a certain legal issue, you will get 100 different opinions unless it is favorable to some. It is simply hard to please everybody.


Some traditional politicians and supporters dismiss online surveys as irrelevant and useless but they are dead wrong. There is a NEW sector of voters clustered on the freedom of technology. They are not as loudmouth as politicians or their supporters but they actively participate in the end results. One good example is the issue against the alleged MOA selling the Baguio Athletic Bowl to the Koreans. When journalist Pigeon Lobien made a post (article online) discussing the Athletic Bowl issue in Facebook, in less than a week, thousands of Baguio "onliners" commented and actively participated in forwarding the information to the Filipino people all over the world. And so with too much "online" pressure, the Baguio politicians who had something to do with the issue are now washing their hands. This "silent" online sector even helped in making a Senator in the last 2007 elections by the person of Sen. Trillanes.


However, relevant as it may be, this poll survey does not determine the end results. It will surely vary and differ on the day of the election. To give chance to the other candidates who are running behind the survey, watwatworld will end this current survey at by January 30 and a new poll survey will be created for February until March.


Watwatworld will also entertain political candidates who would like to be featured in the blog. Here, you can present your programs, ideas, and achievements. This will create your online presence faster and wider. Watwatworld has established its niche particularly Baguio City and the Cordillera Region with almost a thousand blog visitors per day. You can present yourself to a targeted audience. First come, first serve.


Below is the latest poll survey result as of January 15, 2010.





FOR MAYOR

1. Barcelo, Ruben Liwanag – “Ben” – INDEPENDENT
2. Busacay-Lazo, Erlinda Adan – “Erlinda Weir” – INDEPENDENT
3. Domogan, Mauricio Gambao – “Morris” – LAKAS-KAMPI CMD - 38%
4. Go, Marquez Ocampo – “Mark” – PWERSA NG MASANG PILIPINO (PMP) - 3%
5. Hernandez, Guillermo – “Willie” – INDEPENDENT
6. Labo, Ramon Lozano – “Jun” – INDEPENDENT - 1%
7. Mandapat, Julius Javier – “Butch” – INDEPENDENT
8. Molintas, Jose Mencio – “Joe” – LIBERAL PARTY (LP) - 56%
9. Puzon, Peter Dulay – “Terminator” – INDEPENDENT
10. Sembrano, Elaine Dominguez – “Kabsat” = INDEPENDENT - 1%

FOR VICE MAYOR

1. Domalsin, Carol Rosado – ” ” – LABAN NG DEMOKRATIKONG PILIPINO (LDP) - 16%
2. Farinas, Danilo Tesaluna – “Danny” – NACIONALISTA PARTY (NP) - 36%
3. Olowan, Faustino Atiwag – “Ulo” – LP & PHILIPPINE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST PARTY (PDSP) - 50%

FOR CONGRESSMAN

1. Avila, Edgar Mendoza – “Ed” – PMP - 1%
2. Balisong, Rocky Thomas Aseilan = “Rocky” – NP - 28%
3. Bautista, Reinaldo Jr. Asperin – “Peter Rey” – INDEPENDENT - 3%
4. Bello III, Dwight Nicolas Advincula – “Ike-Kimat” – INDEPENDENT
5. Quilala, Rabindranath Pablo – “Kabagis Abet” – PDP-LABAN
6. Ramos, Felipe Tribonaldo – “Felipe” – INDEPENDENT
7. Vergara, Bernardo Mangacang – “Bernie” – LAKAS-KAMPI - 9%
8. Yangot, Leandro Jr. Bagto – ” ” – LP - 57%
9. Yaranon, Baraulio Dacanay – “Raul” – LDP - 2%
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Yangot, Molintas, Olowan leads Baguio Poll Survey.

With more than a hundred respondents from the online generation and after 10 days of having this online poll survey. Here are the initial results as of December 20, 2009.



For President:

Noynoy Aquino: 42%

JC Delos Reyes: 1%

Erap Estrada: 10%

Nicanor Perlas: 1%

Gibo Teodoro: 39%

Eddie Villanueva: 4%

Manny Villar: 6%

Jamby Madrigal: 0%

Richard Gordon: 5%

In Baguio City, the election fever is felt as much as the Christmas season. Having hundreds of online readers and followers, WatWatWorld came with this initial poll survey result for Baguio City:

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Baguio City Poll Survey ( I )

Since the poll survey started four days ago, the survey is picking up and the votes are coming. Again, let me emphasize that this poll survey conducted by watwatworld is not conclusive to say that it is the end result of the Baguio 2010 local elections. The main idea is to see the preference of the "new generation of online voters" by simply clicking on their desired politician. This will also show that there are a lot of politically active and aware internet users.

Suffice to say that online activity is part of today's political area of battle. As you have seen, organizations, political groups, associations and volunteers groups are sprouting like beans in social networking sites such as Facebook, Friendster and Twitter. With this simple poll survey, we will see how many users are active in online voting.

The results below came from www.cordillerapolitics.blogspot.com - a secondary blog of www.watwatworld.com, it maybe early to release this initial result but we have to start somewhere. So here it goes:


For Baguio City Congressman:

Edgar Avila -18%

Rocky Balisong - 25%

Reinaldo Bautista - 14%

Bernardo Vergara - 7%

Leandro Yangot - 33%

For Baguio City Mayor:

Mauricio Domogan - 52%

Ramon Labo - 5%

Jose Molintas - 47%

For Baguio City Vice Mayor
Carol Domalsin - 1%

Danilo Farinas - 41%

Faustino Olowan - 58%

One thing that politicians should always remember, the old days of campaign strategies are slowly fading and sad to say only one practice will always remain and that is vote buying in any manner.

From the very first day I started blogging, I always addressed the voters as "the new generation of active and intelligent voters" and "the new generation of online voters". We can see this happening and we can give thanks to the advancement of technology where information, ideas, news etc is shared faster and wider than the regular newspaper. There are two major events where I could equate the my quotes above. First is the unexpected winning of Senator Trillanes. He had no money to campaign, no machinery to use, he was in a detention cell but the people voted or him. The are thinking intelligently for him and and acted on it and so he won. In fact, in the present Senate, I can say that Senator Trillanes is the only candidate who really won because of the people. Second is the ouster of former President Erap Estrada. It is admitted that the online generation made an impact by texting, blogging, posting in social networks etc. There was "meeting of the minds" online and soon it was spilled over to the streets. This is reality ladies and gentlemen. The old days and old ways are changing.


And so I say... watwatworld! watwatworld! watwatworld!
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The Muslim, Catholic, and Chinese challenges

Slowly but surely, the local Muslim community has grown to unexpected proportions in a city high up in the hills, with the nearest body of water several miles away.

Muslims are supposed to be a coastal people, diving for fish or riches in the ocean deep, or, for the criminal of mind, engaging in piracy, raiding helpless towns, and robbing honest traders plying the surface of the sea.

* * * * * * * * * *
No one really knows when and what made them merchants of the soil, selling all kinds of wares from sunglasses to DVDs, and before that, branded rubber footwear like Adidas and Nike, not exactly made in Switzerland or Germany.

The joke is that articles for sale by Muslims come cheap because of their questionable origin.

When the cell phone business became a booming industry, the Muslims were practically the first to benefit, knowing where to scour for cheap but fancy-looking mobiles that were later sold for twice their actual value, with outlandish claims of being imported but smuggled.

* * * * * * * * * *
They also quickly learned how to do repair work, charging fees for loose wirings that need only to be tightened, or replacing a missing screw, making it appear that it involved intricate work by telling you to come back hours later or the next day.

To the consternation of the police, not a few cell phone dealers were soon engaged in the fencing business, buying cheap and selling high, since it is almost impossible to trace a stolen cell phone by simply substituting a new SIM.

* * * * * * * * * *
And as the Muslim community grew in number and affluence, so, too, did they become bolder, acting as a mob when a member is threatened even with legal arrest.

In one celebrated city incident, about 50 Muslims faced off with the Baguio police, who were greatly outnumbered and forced to call for back up. Occurrences like these are not healthy for a peaceful and law-abiding city like Baguio, whose citizens, alas, are united in purpose but not of action.

* * * * * * * * * *
This is true not only in politics, but also in the battle against crime or evil.

Oh, Baguio folks will march against Jadewell and for peace and order, but would not dare stand up against a group aching or looking for a fight.

Their biggest fear is that politics as practiced in the northern provinces will soon contaminate the city.

In fact, I am rather perturbed that certain politicians who continue to suffer defeat at the polls election after election are proposing that the only way to beat Domogan is to “take him out.”

* * * * * * * * * *
What, replace a “perceived evil” as seen from the eyes of the blind, with a real one? I hope those desperados are only joking.

And yet to some extent, and I do not refer to Domogan, the only way to fight fire is with fire itself. I mean, who are the people taking Baguio away from us? Who are the carpetbaggers from north and south of the city?

Well, if you do not fight back, be prepared to become slaves in the place of your birth.

* * * * * * * * * *
Long before the invaders from the lowlands came to Baguio, the Chinese community was already in place, but preferred, to borrow the words of a magazine writer, “to assimilate and integrate, rather than dominate.”

Unhappily, one can not say the same of (their) Mainland China, whose economy is said to have overtaken all other industrialized countries except the United States and Japan, and judging from the weather signs, may have visions to take over as world leader in case the United States and Europe falter.

But with all the problems facing these God-forsaken islands, this is of little concern to us, especially since we are treated as beggars anyway by the present world powers.

* * * * * * * * * *
China may be treading that path, but better a fellow Asian than the Caucasians, who have this irritating notion that color of skin signifies superiority.

But racing in that same direction are the Muslim countries, said to be scheming to bring the world to its knees by means of annihilation, and although there appears to be no sinister link between this ambition and terrorism, it is thru this means, planned or otherwise, that could lead to that end—an Islam earth.

* * * * * * * * * *
And while these are happening, the Catholic Church, unless a miracle similar to Fatima happens, appears to be losing its grip over its flock, who seem keen in moving over to other religions, if only to resurrect their badly battered belief and faith in God.

Except perhaps for the nuns, there is a silent but angry perception that Rome’s messengers are interested in more mundane things rather than spreading the Gospel of the Lord.

A priest enjoying the perks of life—dining, wining, driving around, sometimes with a woman in tow— certainly does not sit well with the ordinary parishioner, since men of the cloak are deemed to be literally servants of heaven.

* * * * * * * * * *
There is nothing also Christian about the way Catholic-owned schools treat their employees and students, exacting high tuition fees and paying low wages. Whoever said that tyranny went out with the Spanish friars was dead wrong.

So today we have a choice between becoming a Muslim or a communist, while the apostles of the church busy themselves accumulating worldly possessions instead of saving the souls of the faithful.

Why, even the running priest is a politician in disguise, and the bishops use their power to have their protégees appointed to choice government positions.

Power does not only come out of the barrel of a gun, but in a democracy, even more so from the mouths of those who preach sacrifice and goodness.

Like they say, “hindi ko naman linalahat, kaya lang….yun na nga.” Condemn them Lord, for they know what they do. Amen.

Article by: Benny Carantes

Title: Opposite Connection

Publisher: Baguio Midland Courier,

October 25, 2009

Credits are due to the author and publisher above.
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