Trapo, Trapo, Trapo

A successful nationwide automated polls in the first try was too good to be true. And now, I am bracing for the worst.

Like dormant volcanoes, sore losers in the elections are mustering up their creative juices to find holes in the system to claim they were cheated and most probably along the way, find ways to cheat for themselves.

Just because we upgraded the system does not mean we have upgraded our politicians. TRAPO pa rin silang lahat! Nakaka-frustrate!

Patience, My Dear Watson

Herbert Bautista just won but I'm not jumping up and down.

And while it's taking long for Comelec to declare him earlier today, I want to remind the QC Mayor-elect that patience is a virtue. Having you dominate the official count does not give you the right to be all prima donna.

Sure, you can say that you are just being paranoid that they can use the time waiting for other votes to come in to cheat electronically. But hello, what's the rush? I want my mayor to be patient.

You're not the only one waiting to be proclaimed. At least be thankful that unlike other elected officials, you no longer have to endure gruelling months of torture waiting.

Ngayon pa lang turn-off na ko. I hope you can prove me wrong

INC Endorses Bautista

By Reinir Padua
Philstar News Service
May 6, 2010

The leadership of the bloc-voting Iglesia ni Cristo has endorsed Liberal Party bets Herbert Bautista and Joy Belmonte as candidates for Quezon City mayor and vice mayor, respectively.

Bautista and Belmonte both welcomed and were thankful for the endorsement of the politically influential religious group.

Both Bautista and Belmonte believe they were selected by the religious group because of their track record in public service and platform of government.

Bautista is the incumbent vice mayor of the city while Belmonte, an NGO worker, is the daughter of incumbent Mayor Feliciano Belmonte. Jr. The elder Belmonte is running for congressman in the fourth district of Quezon City.

In an interview, Bautista’s chief of staff Aldrin Cuña said the vice mayor’s camp was honored by the endorsement of the INC leadership.

“We will cope with the expectations of the INC as far as governance is concerned,” Cuña assured.

He said the endorsement showed that the religious group “acknowledged the potential contribution of Bautista to the development of the city once he is elected as mayor.”

“We believe the endorsement is based on the evaluation of his (Bautista’s) performance (as vice mayor) and his relationship with members and the leadership of the INC,” he said.

For her part, Belmonte said she felt “extremely honored and blessed” to have been endorsed and selected by the INC leadership.

“I know that the leadership of the INC really exerts all efforts to get to know the different candidates together with their ideals and platform before making a decision,” Belmonte said.

“Their trust and vote of confidence inspires me even more to serve the people of Quezon City with the highest level of commitment and integrity,” the vice mayoralty candidate added.

Illegal Means Bawal

What part of illegal and private does Mike not understand?

Gabriela Hates Aiko

(No one does naman diba? Except Martin Gicane or however you call his jejemon of a husband siguro. The article came out in the Manila Bulletin last April 24.)

By ROBERT REQUINTINA

Women’s advocacy group Gabriela has dismissed as “a scripted political gimmick” the recent television appearances of a teary eyed vice-mayoralty candidate who urged the public to vote for her.

"I think it (crying game) is a strategy to elicit support, however Quezon City voters are intelligent and discerning enough not to be blinded by that. People hardly felt her presence and projects as a councilor." Gabriela party-list Emmi De Jesus said, in an interview.

The group, in a press briefing, has also denied news reports that they are supporting Aiko Melendez, vice-mayoralty candidate, and the latter's running mate, Mike Defensor.

"We fully reject Mike Defensor and denounce in the strongest terms whoever is behind this gimmick which casts doubts on the integrity of the Gabriela women's party-list," De Jesus said.

The women’s group said that their first “concern is who is the source of the false endorsement because definitely we are not endorsing Mike Defensor as mayor of Quezon City” because we are aware of his record as a politician.

Gabriela instead reiterated its support for vice mayoralty candidate Joy Belmonte who is running under the ticket of incumbent mayor Herbert "Bistek" Bautista. Gabriela’s De Jesus cited Joy's half a decade of dedication to eliminating the problem of violence against women in Quezon City.

Gabriela Criticizes Gimmick

A gimmick is a strategy wherein a player goes out of the ordinary to call attention to himself. More often than not, gimmick has been used for a diversion, hitting two birds with one stone: highlighting the good things done to conceal the bad ones as if everything's fine and dandy, making it the most popular campaign stunt, which the following article aims to criticize:


By ROBERT R. REQUNTINA

Women’s advocacy group Gabriela has dismissed as “a scripted political gimmick” the recent television appearances of a teary eyed vice-mayoralty candidate who urged the public to vote for her.

"I think it (crying game) is a strategy to elicit support, however Quezon City voters are intelligent and discerning enough not to be blinded by that. People hardly felt her presence and projects as a councilor." Gabriela party-list Emmi De Jesus said, in an interview.

The group, in a press briefing, has also denied news reports that they are supporting Aiko Melendez, vice-mayoralty candidate, and the latter's running mate, Mike Defensor.

"We fully reject Mike Defensor and denounce in the strongest terms whoever is behind this gimmick which casts doubts on the integrity of the Gabriela women's party-list," De Jesus said.

The women’s group said that their first “concern is who is the source of the false endorsement because definitely we are not endorsing Mike Defensor as mayor of Quezon City” because we are aware of his record as a politician.

Gabriela instead reiterated its support for vice mayoralty candidate Joy Belmonte who is running under the ticket of incumbent mayor Herbert "Bistek" Bautista. Gabriela’s De Jesus cited Joy's half a decade of dedication to eliminating the problem of violence against women in Quezon City.

Father of Modern QC

A CARICATURE OF MEL MATHAY.(Though I seriously wish Manila Bulletin hired a professionally skilled cartoonist so that the sketch will look more like the alleged Father of QC)

By ELINANDO B. CINCO

His progressive ideas still fueled by a sharp and creative mind – managerial ingredients of an immensely experienced administrator.

There is no mistaking that the developments that his successors implemented in and around the Capitol City are his initiatives.

So that in popular parlance, Mel Mathay is, incontrovertibly, the “Father of Modern Quezon City.”

Today he is asking Quezon City residents for their support as he is running again for mayor of the biggest metropolis in Metro Manila, as an independent candidate.

By sheer size (2.8 million residents), QC is so gigantic that only a well-rounded urban development-sharpened manager fits to be its mayor.

In an informal caucus in the house of Dodong and Terry Rosales at Valle Verde-1 recently, attended by the couple’s relatives and friends who are QC residents, Mel Mathay outlined his program of government for the city attuned to 21st century realities.

Hereunder is his agenda of administration (in concise form):

Public assistance services. Provide quick assistance in times of calamity and emergencies, with emphasis on disaster preparedness programs.

Human resources development. Institute anti-corruption measures in government practices; retrain City Hall personnel on moral and ethical standards.

Peace and order. Continue to assist the Central Police District in terms of equipment, communication and transport facilities.

Infrastructure. Build more and rehabilitate inter-neighborhood road networks; schools and health centers.

Environment. Improve waste disposal management; install waste operations facilities, including flood control.

Cultural development. Support performing arts in city schools, barangays and academic communities; establish a museum in cooperation with the University of the Philippines.

Sports and athletics. Update the Amoranto Stadium facilities for sports and athletics; expand the youth sports program.

* * *

JUST IN JEST. With four Garcias running for various elective positions, Bataanons have jestingly labeled them the “Ampatuans of Bataan.” This was related to us last week by retired Balita editor-in-chief Rod Salandanan who once served as Bataan provincial board member.

Not to be outdone are the five Belmontes in Quezon City, led by aging patriarch Sonny. Emersed in the hustings are a daughter for vice mayor, a son gunning for reelection as councilor, a nephew also eyeing a second term in the city council, another nephew angling for a congressional seat in the Second District.

For this wholesale effort, the Belmonte-Fives are known – tongue-in-cheek – as the “Pentagons”!

On the distaff side, sashaying through crowded meetings and caucuses are three inter-related Castelo girls, barely out of their teens; a Medalla girl, daughter of an incumbent councilor, all are giggling their way to the City Council.

Friends campaigning to victory. Two barangay chairmen in the Second District of Quezon City, whose terms are expiring, are casting their lot for council seats: Lito Bernardino and Rannie Ludovica. They are known for their zealous work in their respective barangay projects. Experienced LGU managers, and nice guys too.

Running After Erap's Magic

I know this is over a week late but I just figured why Quezon City Rep. Annie Suzano openly expressed support to former President Joseph Estrada even though she has yet to resign as Lakas Kampi CMD's chairman in QC!

And I really think it's not because her constituents in district II have been clamoring for her to endorse Erap all this time. That's just an obvious publicity and or political stunt.

She jumped ships (or return to her old party. Whatever) because she knows that former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, the bet of administration party in the presidential race, cannot make her win in QC!

I know, right?!? It's that simple. Come to think of it, Gibo has been very busy lately for the final crunch of the campaign after being virtually held hostage by Lakas officials, who do not want him as president. He's definitely got no time for her!

Gibo talaga is very bright, knowing that Suzano is a huge waste of time to even feign the smallest effort as help to make her be the next QC mayor.

So Suzano, my latest laughing stock, went back to the arms of Erap because he was the one who made her win as councilor when she was just starting out a career in politics as QC councilor. She knows she cannot do it alone.

But baby, even with the Erap magic, I dont think you can hocus pocus the minds of the people that youve no match against Mathay, and Bistek. Never mind Defensor, he's like Voldemort. Hehehe

Today's Issues

Legit or not, these issues force voters to become vigilant concerning public issues:

Captain Barbell

Anong mangyayari pag nanalo si Bistek as QC mayor?



... papasok sya everyday ng naka-ganito:

Everybody's Speaking Gibberish

I look at her and I can't help but to stare... because Quezon City Rep. Annie Suzano is a trainwreck. Good for her she's filthy rich. It kinda offsets the defect. Hehe.

My family and I had a chance meeting with Suzano early today when we had our lunch in Gloria Maris Greenhills. And there were a lot of media people. I joined in to eavesdrop. That's the only thing I'm good at, I think.;p

So anyway, she was having lunch with the staff of former President Joseph Estrada. He wasn't there, though. (Sayang, I would have liked to have a picture with man on the wrong side of history). Okay, so she was actually nice... and unusually approachable.

Then these two reporters asked her if she resigned from Lakas as chairman of campaigns in QC before she endorsed Erap. The honorable congresswoman answered with: "Ilang dekada na ako sa ating President Erap, nandito na ako. Yun lang ang masasabi ko."

Boy did she know how to answer. I think she just spoke Chinese. I did not get the idea. And after a good eavesdropping operation, I found out that she meant that she is just returning to her old political party - Estrada's party.

And this brings us back to the question: did she resign from Lakas to be able to return to Erap's party? Pwede naman nya kasing sabihin na lang na yes diba. Ganun din yun.

And then a very funny part happens. These two reporters made comments after the interview:

Reporter 1: Pare, tanong mo kung her support for Erap means an admission that she cant make Gibo win in QC?

Reporter 2: Ayoko nga baka kung ano na naman sabihin nyan. Iba na lang, yung madali at obvious.

Reporter 1: Hmmm.

(After what seemed to be like 4 seconds)

Reporter 2: Eh kung: "Mam, is this you announcing your real support for Erap or is this just you watching for your own back?"

They also spoke Chinese. Ay Mandarin.:))

Laugh!

Gotta admit, this is a good one! And this is sooo Erap! Hehehe!

The Old Man and the Sea (of Inexperienced)

Former Quezon City Mayor and Congressman Ismael “Mel” Mathay, Jr. is raring to reclaim the reins of the premier city. Mathay is pitted against eight other candidates for mayor, many of whom are much younger than him. Despite the odds, he boasts of his strengths, claiming he has loyal and solid following in the city’s four districts.

His opponents for the mayoral post include Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista, Rep. Annie Susano, former Environment Secretary Michael Defensor and businessman/civic leader Johnny Chang.

Belying concerns about his health, the 77-year old Mathay says he is “as fit as a fiddle” and still capable of discharging the strenuous tasks of running the city government. For him, the May 10 polls are more than just a politicalexercise—it is D-Day for Quezon City. For him, solving the city’s problems is a critical ingredient in the overall well-being of Metro Manila. Quezon City, after all, is the country’s main urban hub. Having served as vice governor and de facto chief operating officer of the Metro Manila Commission (the forerunner of the Metro Manila Development Authority) during the Marcos era, Mathay knows what he is talking about.

Quezon City comprises one-fifth of Metro Manila’s territory. It is the repository of migrants and “refugees” not only from all 16 neighboring cities and one municipality (Pateros is the only non-city left in the metropolis) but also from the provinces. Because of land availability, Quezon City is a natural magnet for settlers, most of them illegal.

And this is why Mathay feels Quezon City badly needs leadership. At a recent mayors’ forum, he explained that the growth of the city should be managed well. Since he left the office of the mayor nine years ago after serving for three consecutive terms, he noted that the city’s population grew by 500,000.

That’s half a million—a significant fraction of whom are likely out of work, hungry and desperate.

This is where critical planning is badly needed. Mathay says his priorities are jobs, health care, housing and peace and order, all of which are interconnected.

Quezon City residents have been feeling the pressure of rapid urbanization, and many of them are grumbling about the lack of basic services. One reason for the growing discontent and desperation is that many don’t see concrete and sound plans to address their plight.

This is where planning and vision come in. Amid the political rhetoric that comes with the political season, Mathay can lay claim to real development that he jumpstarted. In a media forum, he says it was under his watch that development projects like the Eastwood cyberpark in Libis, Metro Centro in Cubao and Fairview were born. These projects have generated thousands of jobs and countless business opportunities for many. Now, he says he is aiming to push for more. He promises to create employment and widen the revenue base of the city. He also wants to increase the income pouring into the city government’s coffers without raising taxes.

For a city that touts itself as the richest in the country, Mathay says he can’t understand why the aforecited problems still linger.

There is widespread complaint among residents and business firms that they are overtaxed and many of the fees charged by city hall are among the highest in the country. The cheapest community tax certificate (cedula) in Quezon City—for jobless people —is worth P50. The equivalent cedula fee in Makati or Taguig is only P5.

Mathay says there are several other problems bugging Quezon City which he says make him more motivated to reclaim the mayoral post.

It’s probably frustrating for a man of his age and experience to see the opportunities wasted and chances blown away. He speaks with firmness in drawing up his idea of how to turn the city’s fortunes around.

(Opinion of Fel Maragay, columist at the Manila Standard Today. It came out today)

Three-Cornered Fight

Contrary to popular opinion, I think QC will have a three-way battle come May 10. The mudslinging between leading mayoral bets Herbert Bautista and Mike Defensor will tire people out that they will soon have to choose an alternative.

And ta-da: In goes Mel Mathay.

I just realized it's a gonna be a mini version of the presidential race. With Sen. Manuel "Manny" Villar hitting on Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III has been hurting both their campaigns, thus helping the reelection bid of former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada.

Mathay and Estrada just might be able to pull off a surprise. So hold onto your horses people. A lot can still happen in 23 days.:D

Black Propaganda 101

The history of misinformation as a tool to advance one's interest dates back to the time when Hercules, Jason, Perseus, Theseus, and Achilles were competing to be named as Greek mythology's best hero.

Theseus argued that Perseus and Hercules could not be counted as real heroes considering that they are demigods. This made Theseus very popular.

Achilles eventually exposed Theseus as having real stinking body odor that helped lift the enormous boulder when he was 16, a controversy that turned people off and diverted their affection to Achilles.

Achilles was almost touted as the best Greek hero until Perseus alleged that he has been taking some sort of performance-enhancing drug when his mother dipped his entire body in the River of Styx when he was still a baby.

When people saw that they have no use for a vulnerable mortal heel, Greece has been left baffled as to who should be named as their greatest hero...

Little did these Greeks know that half way around the globe about a couple of millenia later, modern politicians would immitate the strategies of their Greek heroes to win Constitutional popularity contest eventually known as elections.

In the Philippines, black propaganda became more popular. Discrediting competitions has evolved into a very elaborate tactic, which can be reduced to more or less like this news article:

Mathay not withdrawing from QC Race!

A Cinderalla Story

My blog favors the underdog. Everybody loves a Cinderella Story. So just because I cant read or seen much of him enough on newspapers and TV does not mean we cant see him online. So peeps, meet the man:

Question and Answer With Mel Mathay.

FYI, Mathay

To expand growth and generate more jobs in Quezon City daw, former QC Mayor Mel Mathay has disclosed plans of putting up more Eastwood Cities in Libis across different parts of the city. Yippeee!

I heard in an interview that Mathay thinks the stretch of Mindanao Avenue has protentials of being developed into another commercial and business district in the next few years.

He explains that the construction of the North Luzon East Expressway, the one you see they are builing along NLEX that will link QC to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), will open doors for more job generation and opportunities.

I think it's a brilliant idea - making QC as the nearest gateway to the airports in Clark and Subic, which could be reached through NLEX after they finished the construction of NLEE.

If Mathay can develop QC as the gateway to the airports in Pampanga and Olongapo, it's sure that it will increase job opportunities, like reviving the factories that closed down around Mindanao Avenue.

And he's pretty much capable to do it.

During his term as as Quezon City mayor from 1992 to 2001, Mathay was able to develop grasslands of Fairview into a commercial and business district by the establishment of SM Mall, which increased city revenues without imposing new taxes.

The development in Fairview as well as the conversion of a closed textile company into the first cyberpark in Libis, the establishment of SM North Edsa and business center in Cubao has doubled initial developments for Quezon City.

So Mr. Mathay, you had me at Eastwood. Hehehe.;p

An Open Letter To The Winning Candidate for QC Mayor

April 8, 2010


(INSERT NAME OF THE CANDIDATE WHO WILL WIN MAY 10 POLLS HERE)
Mayor of Quezon City

RE: Appeal to make more Eastwood Cities


Dear Sir/Ma'am;

It was 2005 when my friends first introduced me to Eastwood City. Our class just finished defending baby theses and we need to celebrate before going on our own vacations.

It was my third year staying in Manila so you can only imagine how the bars, coffee shops, as well as the diners along the cobbled street of the district impressed me so much that it shrank me to my boots. I thought it was just as grandiose as the compound of Enchanted Kingdom, where a better kind of magic happens.

Sana magtayo pa sila ng maraming EK, I thought to myself as a little girl. And now as a grown lady, I hope you will use all your powers to make more Eastwood Cities around the city of the stars.

If the one happens to be reading this is not former Quezon City Mayor Mel Mathay, I hope you will imitate what he did when he initiated efforts to build the most charming commercial and business center in QC that is Eastwood City during his term from 1992 to 2001.

Maybe you should seek his advice so a girl like me can find more and better job opportunities in QC so that I won't have to to report for work in Mandaluyong City. I also hope you would swallow your pride and seek his counsel since the guy also started developments in SM North Edsa, Fairview, and the Araneta Center in Cubao.

I know you know what I am talking about.:)

And if the one reading this is former Quezon City Mayor Mel Mathay, rock on!!! High five. This is me giving my approval. I know you will prioritize my request. After all, you started all this.



Sincerely,


Amihan Dela Cruz

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

It's amazing how one person can turn his/her ire into something as entertaining as this:



And I just noticed, almost all of the photoshopped posters I found online were bashing Mike Defensor. He's that annoying! You know I'm not alone.

A Time for Reflection

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Amen.

QC an election hotspot

With great information comes great responsibility. So watch out for any election-related violence.

Report related incidents to National Capital Region Police Office hotline at 838-3203 or call:

Quezon City Police District Command and Control Office at 925-8417 and 920-1378
Muntinlupa City Police Station at 862-2611
Paranaque City Police Station at 826-8121
Taguig City Police Station at 642-2062
Makati City Police Station at 887-4626
Pasay City Police Station at 831-1544
Manila Police District at 524-1369

Be safe, you all!:D

The Feeding Fiasco

I lifted this caricature from a friend's blog. Have a look see:



The math involved only made me dizzy. So I'm just gonna let 'where did the millions of pesos go?' fly out the window since anyone can argue 'every politicians do that' and what have you.

I don't mean to discredit anybody or put someone on the pedestal despite the glaring missing links of evidence...

... but honestly, while it's good to feed the hungry, I think it is still better to teach them how to fish instead of giving them fishes. As the saying goes, you'll feed them for the rest of their lives and not just for a day. Right?

And the Gleek in me wants to quote Will: The good teacher does not hand the answers to his/her students. He/She just have to point the way and guide them.

Why People Love to Hate Mike Defensor

The Star-studded QC

I dunno how the name of QC Rep. Annie Suzano got in the list of TV celebrities running for public office in the City of Stars here.

Did she produce a flop movie? Was she a former actress actor? Is there something I don’t know. Enlighten me.

Brave but Chicken S**t

I chanced upon the official site of a famous local politician in the Metro. I could not help myself to express my disappointment when the mayoralty aspirant backed out from a public debate at the last minute because he sensed that his opponents "may gang up on him."

Duh? Philippine politics has always been that way since the Big Bang Theory happened. Why give into such pressures now more than ever?

But what ticked me off the most is when the candidate quit the debate to deliberately disappoint the audience and organizers of the event, who he suspected of having prejudice against him.

Go check this out to see for yourself.

So the question that springs to my pea-sized brain is: When he becomes the mayor, do you think he will be a good mayor to all his people? or a good mayor to the selected ones, who can kiss his ***?

Atras Abante

As it turns out, I'm not the only one who noticed the irritating parade of campaign posters in a carnival that is Quezon City.

Apparently, the queue of eyesore has become the last straw for Majority Floor Leader Ariel Inton that it made him quit the mayoralty derby on May 10 polls yesterday.

Kasi ba naman diba?

My mom, who is working at the City Hall, said that Inton has been questioning why the there's no action to address flying voters and questionable registrants issues in QC.

Hmmmm. But it sounds more like it has finally dawned on the politician that he stands no chance against the incumbents for me - influence and financial wise.

I'm preparing myself to hearing more scenarios like this in the future because election, as we know it, is full of running and quitting "for show."

Rock The Vote

I have never missed an election day. But the first ever automated elections makes my heart beat on my throat. I know I'm not the only one, though.

So click on here for something that could guide as all through May 10 polls.

Pasig or QC?

I just moved in to a new flat near Robinson's Galleria last month. And my new address reads Ortigas Center. I immediately assumed it's in Pasig City, but someone just told me it is still considered within the area of Quezon City.

I know, right? Are you kidding me? I know I'm a geographic idiot but this is the first time I have ever heard of this. They said the area is still covered by Santolan, QC or something like that. So I guess the $64,000 question here is:

San dapat magparehistro mga residents dito sa eleksyon? Huh. WEIRD.