Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Monday, December 22, 2014

2014 Christmas Wish List #1

Subaru Impreza WRX
AT 8-speed Lineartronic
Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
Twin-scroll Turbocharged, Direct-injection 2.0-litre SUBARU BOXER® engine
Sport Lineartronic Transmission
Leather-wrapped Steering Wheel with a Racing-inspired D-shaped Design
Multi-mode Vehicle Dynamics Control
SRS*Front, Front side, and Curtain Airbags

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Third Force

In Philippine politics, the electoral contests have always been battles between  the ruling political party and the dominant opposition party. Before the declaration of Martial Law in 1972, the electoral struggles were determined by 2 contending parties -- the Liberal Party and the Nationalista Party. 

The 1987 Constitution paved the way for a multiparty system. As such, we have witnessed numerous candidates for the highest post of the land in the presidential elections of 1992, 1998, 2004 and 2010. But still, the winning candidates for president always come from either of the two (2) major political forces in each election.

Hence, it could be easy to surmise that the 2016 presidential contest will again be a battle royale between the ruling coalition and the main opposition alliance.

This observer, however, heard some news from the political grapevine that a politician from the southern part of the country, who is being egged-on by supporters to seek the presidency, is now open to the idea of fighting for the right to occupy MalacaƱang.

Are we seeing the beginnings of the formation of a Third Force in Philippine poltics?

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Similarities in the 1998 and 2016 Presidential Election Survey


The recent surveys conducted for the 2016 presidential elections brings to mind the polls taken by the same research groups for the 1998 vote. The main protagonists in 1998 were then Vice President Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada and Senator Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, while for 2016 are incumbent Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Grace Poe. Same positions then and now – vice president and senator.

In the surveys for the 1998 vote, Erap led GMA most of the time by just the slimmest of margins, as this table would show:

Period
Erap
GMA
September 1996
19%
14%
December 1996
17%
17%
April 1997
23%
22%
September 1997
19%
19%
January 1998
18%
15%

Noteworthy was the fact that the would be standard-bearer of the then ruling political party languished near the cellar with the following survey results: September 1996 – 1%; December 1996 – 2%; April 1997 – 5%; September 1997 – 3%; and, January 1998 – 6%.

GMA was eventually chosen as the running-mate of Lakas-NUCD standard-bearer Jose De Venecia, Jr., and led the vice presidential race from start to finish.

For the 1998 presidential campaign, the surveys showed the following:

Period
Erap
JDV
March 1998
28%
14%
April 1998
30%
12%
May 1998
33%
15%

Erap won the May 1998 presidential elections, and an analysis of the surveys and official results would indicate that those who selected GMA in the early surveys were split between Erap and JDV when the then Senator chose to slide down to the vice presidency.

Going back to the present surveys, here are the initial results for the incumbent vice president and senator:

Period
Binay
Poe
June-July 2014
41%
12%
September 2014
31%
10%
November 2014
26%
18%

Significantly, the leading presidential candidate of the ruling Liberal Party, just like the standard-bearer of the ruling Lakas-NUCD in 1998, also suffers with the following survey results: June- July 2014 – 7%; September 2014 – 13%; and November 2014 – 6%.

Is this a trend? Will the 2016 results be the same as 1998? Or is it too early to say?

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Inquirer Editorial, 3 November 2014

"Let the fight against corruption be fought on both sides of the political fence. The evidence Binay most needs to exonerate him in the court of public opinion lies in the Senate’s failure to investigate an administration leader on exactly the same charges, under exactly the same circumstances."

Read more: http://opinion.inquirer.net/79824/sure-investigate-drilon#ixzz3I9mssXTh
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

Friday, August 15, 2014

PERYA by Gary Granada

Matandang Musikero - Gary Granada



Di pa uso noon ang hi-tech
At wala pang alternative music
Ngunit ang kanyang mga awit ay totoo
Sa mga kantang sinulat
Ay marami ang namulat
Kahit na ang karamiha'y di nagbago


Buhay pa rin ang musika
Sa kanyang gitara
Kahit na si Koyang Jess tumatanda na
Buhay pa rin ang pag-ibig

Sa sariling himig
Kailan lang siya'y nag-umpisa

Noo'y hinding hindi pupuwede
Musikerong hindi pogi
Ngunit naglakasloob siyang maiba
Sa taglay niyang katapangan
Ang iba ay nabuhayan
Kung kaya kami ngayo'y marami na


Buhay pa rin ang musika
Sa kanyang gitara
Kahit na si Heber ay tumatanda na
Buhay pa rin ang pag-ibig

Sa sariling himig
Kailan lang siya'y nag-umpisa

Ilang beses nang napasabak
Ilang beses nang napahamak
Sa lasing, pulis at budget na aruy

Ilang puwesto na ang nasubukan
Ilang rally na ang naranasan
Ilang konsyerto na ang di natuloy


Tuloy pa rin ang musika
Sa kanyang gitara
Kahit na si Pol Galang nasa Europe na
Tuloy pa rin ang pag-ibig

Sa sariling himig
Kailan lang siya'y nag-umpisa

Ilang lyrics na ang nalimutan
Ilang sablay na sa tugtugan
Ilang kwerdas na kaya ang napatid
Mangyayari rin kaya sa akin
Ganun din kaya ang sasabihin
Ng mga nakababatang kapatid


Buhay pa rin ang musika
Sa kanyang gitara
Kahit na si Granada'y matanda na
Buhay pa rin ang pag-ibig

Sa sariling himig
Kailan lang siya'y nag-umpisa

Kailan lang siya'y nag-umpisa
Kailan lang siya'y nag-umpisa
Bakit ba mukha siyang bata pa

Gary Granada - Eroplanong Papel