Category: Malaya

Proberz Research and Consultancy, a survey outfit used extensively by former President Fidel V. Ramos, has come out with its survey on senatorial aspirants who have the best chance of winning in the 2004 elections.

Proberz has not yet attained the stature of Social Weather Stations or Pulse Asia but I remember it to be the only survey outfit that had Fernando Poe Jr. leading Arroyo by 4 percent in its exit poll in the May 2004 election,. SWS had Arroyo leading by 8.5 percent.

Election results in Metro Manila proved SWS wrong. Much, much later, after the “Hello Garci” tapes came out, Proberz was proven correct.

Many times, we ask where is divine justice when those who lie, cheat and steal continue to remain in power. This Christmas, let’s reflect on…

We all know that Gloria Arroyo speaks with a forked tongue.

At the 71st anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines she extolled the military under the leadership of AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon: “You have pushed back vested interests, you have upheld military justice, you have maintained command discipline and rallied around the flag.”

Arroyo also said “Transparency is crucial.”

I think we are nearing the end-game of the political crisis rooted in the cheating by Gloria Arroyo in the 2004 elections.

The Luneta rally yesterday, whether it was attended by 150,000 as estimated by participants or 15,000 as counted by the police,was a ringing political statement that the people have not forgiven Gloria Arroyo despite the cancellation of the abominable “House-only” Con-Ass and her retreat from her Charter Change advocacy.

All sectors of society were represented in yesterday’s Luneta gathering. The Erap’s “masa” were there wearing orange headbands with a “No to Cha-Cha” message.

Thanks, Ilya Rashkovsky, for a spectacular evening of music.

It was a delightful respite from the emotionally-draining battle against forces that want to bastardize the Constitution to suit their own selfish agenda. Now we are re-charged for Sunday’s big rally and for other battles ahead.

We are glad that we decided to watch the debut performance of the young Russian pianist Ilya Rashkovsky at the Philamlife auditorium in Manila. “He is phenomenal,” enthused concert pianist Ingrid Santamaria.

Last Monday’s session of the House of Representatives was a comedy of errors starring Rep. Emilio Espinosa (NPC, Masbate).

Last Monday’s session was most awaited because the public wanted to see what would happen after last Saturday’s press conference of House Speaker Jose de Venecia and 25 congressmen where they announced they were backing out of the Senate-less Constituent Assembly they brazenly railroaded last week.

Before that surprise but welcome withdrawal, last Monday’s session was supposed to be devoted to election of the presiding officer and formulation of rules for the unconstitutional exercise that was to come the next day because they wanted the amendments to the Constitution by the weekend (Dec. 15) so that a plebiscite could be held on Feb. 12, 2007 to shift to a parliamentary system of government immediately after.

Gloria Arroyo is turning her back on her commitment to House Speaker Jose de Venecia and his allies to support their Cha-Cha in exchange for their support in the past two impeachment attempts.

But if she thought that having mastered the art of deceit, it would be easy, she is now being reminded about honor among thieves. That could be the reason behind conflicting reports being leaked from Malacañang about Arroyo’s position on the Senateless Constituent Assembly that administration allies shamelessly railroaded last week.

Yesterday, the Philippine Daily Inquirer bannered a story about Arroyo reportedly instructing her political affairs adviser Gabriel Claudio to “order” lawmakers allied with her to drop the Senateless Con-Ass as a means to change the Constitution.

The shameless majority in the House of Representatives, personified by Jose de Venecia, Luis Villafuerte, Edcel Lagman, Prospero Pichay, Prospero Nograles and Constantino Jaraula, got their way to have a Senate-less Constituent Assembly starting on Monday to amend the Constitution so that they will remain in power as long as they want, even if the people are sick and tired of them.

We asked some of the gallant majority, who, although few in numbers, give us hope that all is not lost in this country, whether they will participate in the farce that will be played out next week.

Rep. Roilo Golez (Parañaque) said, they still have to decide. “As of now, we are inclined to participate to block their effort and reveal flaws in the process.”

In my credit card bills, my purchases can be classified into just two categories: supermarket and Mercury Drug.

Such is life in this country for many of us who do not belong to the privileged 30 percent of this country. Whatever money we earn goes to food and other basic needs and medicines.

That’s why I welcome the agreement signed by Interphil and the Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) for the former to process essential generic pharmaceutical products using formulations and active ingredients provided by the latter.