One of the less-noted developments in the recent elections is that, with much of the counting over, the country has just doubled the number of women in the Senate. As of this writing, no one among the victorious women is in danger of being dislodged from the winners’ circle, but none of those within shot of securing a place in the two remaining slots is a woman, either.
It never gets old. The sights awaiting us at polling centers on Election Day are a bracing testimony to the vigor of our democracy. Whatever is said about Filipinos, it is clear that Filipinos love to vote.
“It’s like being captain ball of a team,” said Sen. Pia Cayetano of her role as an endorser of candidates for tomorrow’s polls. “When you choose your possible teammates, you choose the most capable, most qualified and proven people to join your team. You choose the best.”
The United Nations estimates that in any country, 10 percent of the population is composed of disabled persons—the blind or visually impaired, the deaf or hearing impaired, the physically disabled or wheelchair-bound, and the developmentally or mentally impaired.
The report in yesterday’s (Thursady’s) Inquirer that departing senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is endorsing “balik-Senate” Jamby Madrigal, and handing over to her the “mantle” of graft-buster in the Senate, reminded me of the lone member of Team PNoy still languishing in the outer margins of the winners’ circle.
Like the “Catholic vote,” the “women’s vote” has been much talked about, speculated upon and searched for. But so far, the evidence for it has been sparse, with a consensus emerging that in fact many women voters do not vote for women candidates, or for candidates who support women’s issues.
A clarification. The results of the “straw vote” held during “Timbangan 2013,” sponsored by the Movement for Good Governance (MGG) with partners Youth Vote Philippines and Mulat Pinoy, were not meant to be an endorsement of the “winning candidates.” Instead, the exercise was meant to promote the use of the MGG’s “scorecard” by voters who [...]
I don’t know what “face” reelectionist Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes presented before the media gathering “Bulong Pulungan sa Sofitel” yesterday (Tuesday).
Recently, retired Bishop Teodoro Bacani remarked that he was “happy” that senatorial candidate Risa Hontiveros was lagging in the Senate race, remaining outside the “winning circle” even if she is part of “Team PNoy” that is dominating the rankings.
I’ve never been much for running—or for any exercise, for that matter—so frankly, I don’t know what would compel otherwise level-headed folk to get up at sunrise, pull on running shoes, and start jogging around the neighborhood. And when they return, all sweaty, panting and smelling of the sun, I have to wonder what possessed [...]
When two bombs went off near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, said Brent Nielson, first counselor of the Philippines Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, reports quoted survivors as saying their thoughts immediately flew to their loved ones—to parents, spouses, children, friends—who were either cheering on the racers on the sidelines, waiting in coffee shops or hotel lounges for the racers to show up; or just keeping track of the race’s progress back home, on TV.
If all goes well, and enough young candidates make it to the Senate, this year might well mark a “generational change” in national politics. Among the candidates counted as members of the new generation are Rep. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara and Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, both of the Liberal Party coalition’s “Team PNoy.”
