Filipinos Seem To Be Okay With Cheating In The Elections

Lots Of Noise And The Local Elections

The Tweet That Is Forever Relevant

There is 5 day liquor ban but morons can run and serve for six years. Makes no sense . #juanvote

— Ed Lopez (@edrlopez) May 8, 2013

Truth About Elections

Elections are about who's lies you believe or who's lies you tolerate. #halalan2016 #pinoypride

— Ed Lopez (@edrlopez) August 24, 2015

Don't Vote for Lita If You Live In Dasmarinas Makati

For every one who exalts himself will be humbled,
but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
Gospel

Lk 14:1, 7-14






Katring (typhoon) is upon us. I drove through it to get to where I was going late this afternoon. While going to my destination I passed through the main artery of Dasmarinas Village which is Pasay Road. It is the widest street there. Apparently not wide enough for a certain pompous politician who lives on Pasay Road. Granted the term pompous politician is actually redundant. I am not good at estimating size but I estimate Dasmarinas Village to be about one and a half square kilometers. The relevance of the size I will get to in a while. For everyone that tells you that everything is on the Internet I could not either find the size of Dasma nor could I even get the name of that arrogant hen who is hoping to get voted in on Monday.



























Us motorists have enough troubles trying to negotiate our vehicles through a typhoon and that Lita knob instructs her vans ( I estimate between 8 and 12) to double park outside her humble abode essentially disrupting the flow of traffic on one side of the street. Why does someone need that many vans in a constituency of that size?? The cost per day for those vans won't make sense with elections at this level. But this is the Philippines. Where the suckers are abundant during election time.




Let me attempt to read the mind of this battle axe:




I Lita of Dasmarinas Village will be facing an election in two days. There is a storm and vehicles in my community are having a challenge getting around. But that is not my concern. It is more important that I draw attention to myself by inconveniencing my community. I will have my vans carrying my hideous likeness block the main road. Can't these people see that I am doing it for their own good? I will compromise their safety because I have an election to win. I am running for public office and I will serve them by getting in. I will get in by getting in their way. There is no other way to get my own arrogant a@@ into office.






I will be bombastic like Manny Villar and use 12 vans with my own ugly mug adorned on them to attract votes to myself like sailors to a sleazy bar. Overkill is the way to go. Worked so well for Manny Villar. All of you are too dumb to see through it anyway.




For those of you who do not live in this hag's territory and don't feel you can relate, here is how you can. Vote against cretin like this. Support people who are considerate of their community and not those who look down on it as insects to be stepped on. To serve one must be humble. This bozo sure ain't.




Ed




Tags: Elections, Barangay, 2010, October 25, Kagawad, Councilor, Manny Villar, politics, politicians


http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/274452/the-humble-shall-be-exalted

http://edrlopez.blogspot.com/2010/04/beware-naked-man-who-offers-you-his.html

Insecurity Or Conviction Revisited

Part of how life works. Authors , columnists, talk show hosts, preachers and others have ideas that they all want to impart on others. Once in a while they make enough of an impact that the people they impart that to that those people keep it going. That's why the teachings of Christ, Confucius , Marx all survive to this day. Others kept those ideas going.






Once in a while there will be an idea that is essentially the same but comes at you from two entirely different directions. I relayed such an idea back in April and I defined the concept as conviction. I got it from one of the more influential books I ever read. Robert Pirsig's Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Influential in the sense that it framed my thinking over the years. The idea goes something like this: people who are yell loudest about a cause do so because that cause is in doubt. So sometimes what might be seen on the surface as complete conviction is either a way of concealing insecurity or convincing oneself.









In April I connected that concept to the campaign of Noynoy Aquino. Lot of people so crazy about him and I could not find any rational reason for it. Well, my personal view as stated back then was they wanted to convince the doubters through sheer fanaticism. Forget reason and logic. Noynoy himself could never be concrete so in his campaign he was just abstract. Talked about destiny, eliminating corruption and his dead parents. Flashing the "L" sign which I still don't see the significance to him personally. Toting the color of cowardice. Ultimately either to the brilliance of his campaigners and/ or the sheer ignorance of the Filipino electorate this superficial strategy worked. Noynoy will be in the international microscope and will be a source of pride or shame since we elected him. Either way we get the government we deserve. You can read more about that here: http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1108/Conviction_Part_2



In the months before someone I know remarried. His mantra was " insert fiance's name here is so galing." Galing is Tagalog for incredible. From my viewpoint not too many in my family seem to echo that sentiment. The question is was he trying to convince himself more than he was trying to convince us? So apply the ideas in the second paragraph to this anecdote. All I can say to that is if you will continuously voluntarily fall on the sword for somebody or something, you will eventually gross some people out.







Finally the reason for revisiting the topic. Colin Cowherd who I often quote here has his version of the exact same concept. Of course expressed very differently from Pirsig.Yet he describes with a different analogy exactly what Pirsig describes religious fanatics are. Exactly what I describe about "galing" people. When he talks about Chicago Bears fans and insecurity in the first minute of the audio it is exactly what I experienced with Noynoy backers pre election. When asked about his deeds that make him worthy of the position of President the typical Noynoy supporter was better off being asked about the nuclear fission. You might have gotten a better answer. It's an insecurity that is ironically revealed more the louder most cultures get when they trumpet or defend certain things they see that are representative of their culture. Whether its sports teams or nationalities. That has always been a common theme in this blog. All the flag waving over Manny, Charice and Arnel. All the gnashing of teeth over the depiction of Filipinos in comedies. Often when Filipinos cry out sorrowfully how they are depicted in international comedies all they are doing is exposing their own double standard. That loudness is fueled by INSECURITY.



Ed


Note: Colin audio available in Multiply version of this post or http://www.mediafire.com/?ptmkuqj3afgta3h

Related Links

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/688/Why_Are_Our_Filipino_Newspapers_So_Dumb

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/970/Sometimes_what_lies_beyond_is_called_the_truth.

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1071/At_Least_No_Fictional_Character_Ever_Said_The_Pinoy_aint_got_no_humanity.


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1193/I_dont_find_Charice_Talented_But_Let_Me_Tell_You_Who_Is


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/619/Arnel_Pineda_Extrapolation

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/401/Desperate_Housewives_and_Filipinos_as_Moral_Beacons_Update_

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/518/Hes_One_of_Us_Thats_Why


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/339/Here_We_Go_Again_Filipinos_Moral_Beacons_of_the_World_

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1196/Insecurity_Or_Conviction_Revisited_

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1190/Alien_Lands_In_Luneta_Joke_



http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1108/Conviction_Part_2

http://www.mediafire.com/?ptmkuqj3afgta3h

Tags: elections, zen, conviction, robert pirsig, art of motorcycle, noynoy aquino, fanatics, sunrise, pirsig

Beware The Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt

Watch me closely, be aware
That all I do is only to surprise you
And every move is sleight of hand
And every word is planned to mystify you

Ask me, "Why?", I don't know
Ask me, "Why?" and I say
"Don't get fooled a second time"
I thought by now you'd learn
You're gonna get your fingers burned

The Alan Parsons Project



In my family I like to joke that beware the vegetarian who tells you that the chicken is good. Manny Villar it's your turn. It's not just because you picked a boxer to endorse you who can't even spell your name. It's not because you allegedly abused your position as senator to reroute a project to your property.It's not because you have Manila's Hugh Hefner wannabees endorsing you. If you had a sister who craves for attention maybe I would have gotten to you sooner. It's because as I said earlier in my posts, I believe you are spending tons of money because there is not much to you. Just as Noynoy hides behind the guy in the 500 peso bill and the first post Marcos president, you believe throwing money away will make the campaign go down in the most delightful way.


There is this expression all form and no substance. Money can buy you form of course, but it can't buy you substance. Actually if you can use someone else's money to promote yourself, the better. Villar wanted the position a long time ago. I remember he was in tax payer funded ads for himself. Lucky a pinoy forum backs up my hazy memory. http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16491


Manny Villar is all cake and no icing. But man, that's expensive icing. One of the best book titles ever is "Beware the Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt". This is a poor country in case some of you have not noticed. If you are going to be a leader of a poor country then you should at least show by example that you know how to spend money. It's funny how every politician in the Philippines is against corruption during campaign season. Makes as much sense as fish being against water. Are they trying to tell you corruption happens in a bubble? Somewhere else? All I know is that somebody is causing the corruption in this place. It's usually the people you hear from most during election season.

When the naked man sells you his shirt, remember that it was your own blindness, the dazzling vision that danced before your eyes, not his skill, that closed the deal.

-Harvey Mackay (p. 289)

Politicians are seen as cheats, liars, thieves and opportunists for a reason. It's true. I give you no such proof that Sen. Villar is all those things. But if the guy was honest, virtuous and sincere, would he need to spend as much money as he has? You don't spend money just because it's there. A good leader of a financially challenged nation has to be be fiscally responsible. Or are you thinking that once Villar is in office, he will flip a switch?

I personally believe that the excessive spending of Villar is to make up for inadequacies elsewhere. I will leave it up to you what those inadequacies are. The issue is not so much where the money is coming from or how it's being spent. The issue for me is the fact it is being spent in such large amounts to begin with. You could not tell me in a zillion years these are the actions of an efficient man. Not sure about you but this country as challenged as it is, could use an efficient man at the helm. Villar is spending but go ahead make the case that he is spending wisely. I can not.




Noynoy just continuously talks about his parents. Not about what he has done up to age 50. Why? Because it works for him.



Villar just spends money and spends and spends. Why? Because it works for him.

What you ultimately have to ask yourself if their behavior translates into an effective leader for this country.

Ed



http://www.gmanews.tv/story/188232/comelec-asked-to-probe-villars-source-of-funds


http://philippinenews.com/article.php?id=6668


http://newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7651&Itemid=88889051

http://antipinoy.com/the-world-gets-ready-to-move-forward-while-philippines-remains-stuck-in-a-moment-it-cant-get-out-of/

http://ph.politicalarena.com/presidential-elections/news/villar-to-barnstorm-media-outlets-across-the-country

http://www.malaya.com.ph/02252010/edbanayo.html

Tags: corruption, waste, manny villar, elections, bribes, spending

Conviction Part 2

Dedication

You are never dedicated to something you have complete confidence in. No one is fanatically shouting that the sun is going to rise tomorrow. They know it's going to rise tomorrow. When people are fanatically dedicated to political or religious faiths or any other kinds of dogmas or goals, its always because these dogmas or goals are in doubt. ( from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig)

If you recall in Conviction Part 1, I try to make sense of all the people I see fanatical over an occupation that in common culture is usually looked down on. That occupation of course is politician. I just see this senseless fanaticism and fervor over nothing. But that is exactly why I find this passage this explains it so well.Back in Conviction Part 1 I relied on the New Testament to make sense of this fanaticism. In Part 2 I will use the discipline of philosophy.

How did I get into this book? Well First of all, find authors who speak to you. Harvey Mackay was one. Sometimes these authors have recommended reading lists, and I suggest exploring them too. This book was on Harvey Mackay's recommended reading list. It of course had the most unusual title so it got me curious. Once I found the book it proved to be a very memorable reading experience. It's all about the journey of life and ways of thinking. Ways of evaluating. All about experience. Once you realize that then comprehending the book gets easier.


This was one quote that always struck me was the idea of people who were dedicated to a cause, or fanatics. It is the very resistance that they encounter that gives them the strength to be fanatics. Read that short paragraph again. Nobody will argue about the sun rising on Wednesday and Thursday and Friday so no one is fanatic about it. But if something were in doubt then fanatics will emerge to "convert" those that doubt. For me that's why Noynoy has the dedicated legion that he does. The guy's record proves him to be a political stiff. Nothing noteworthy in his resume. But the fanatics somehow made a leap from his parents glory days to an envisioned future of a competent Noynoy steering this ship of state towards utopia. That may be a bit of an exaggeration but one does not get fanatic over a vision of mediocrity. Their envisioned future has no basis in the reality that Noynoy has delivered in his first 50 years on Earth. He could not lead his way out of a paper bag. Yet he is supposed to lead this country.

Yet it is those of us that doubt Noynoy based on his track record that fuel the fanatics to yell even louder in this annoying campaign season. One that already has a convicted plunderer and a guy whose billions are spent for no practical reason. There you have it, the stiff, the mad spender and the plunderer are apparently 1-2-3 in the polls. If that does not make you question the cerebral capacity of our electorate I don't know what will.

Ignore the fanatics. Make up your own mind. Track record and skills have to count more than one's deceased parents and romanticized revisionist history. A romanticized history I might add that Noynoy was a bystander.

All the amount of fanaticism in the world will not change the fact that Noynoy has a blank resume.

Ed


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1107/Conviction_Part_1_


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1109/Beware_The_Naked_Man_Who_Offers_You_His_Shirt


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1065/What_A_Lame_Campaign_Noynoy_Related


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/943/What_part_of_beyond_reasonable_doubt_do_you_not_understand_Erap_related

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/913/Riding_the_Momentum_of_Death

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/tag/robert%20pirsig

http://worldofalbert.multiply.com/journal/item/230/Why_I_Am_Not_Voting_For_Noynoy_Aquino?replies_read=51

http://www.gowland.ca/zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/286/Zen_and_the_Art_page_13_My_Personal_Interpretations

http://www.virtualschool.edu/mon/Quality/

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1108/Conviction_Part_2

http://robnazario.multiply.com/journal/item/31/Interesting_Information_on_Noynoy_Aquino

Tags: zen, elections, art of motorcycle, robert pirsig, conviction, fanatics, sunrise, pirsig

What A Lame Campaign Noynoy Related

"In his interview with UKG, Noynoy admitted that the controversies hounding his youngest sister somehow affect his presidential bid."


http://ph.news.yahoo.com/abs/20100126/tel-noynoy-let-s-give-kris-aquino-james-336e25d.html





Read that quote from a Yahoo story again. What is it saying? My personal opinion is that Noynoy's campaign is being buoyed by the legacy of his dearly departed parents and the fame of his drama queen sister. He has nothing to fall back on. With the possible exception of some of my relatives campaigning for him. If he had any substance, any distinct identity then any public shenanigans by any family would have as much impact as ping pong balls on Rambo's chest. But this is Noynoy we are talking about. Like Barack Obama before him, no one can name one significant accomplishment that predates the campaign. That is why the actions of his family will define him more than his own actions will. Because he has none. I countered a Noynoy supporter here in Multiply. I would like to believe I made so much sense that he did not bother to handle my objections. If these are your supporters Noynoy, I would hate to see your adversaries. Noynoy govern this country? He can't even control his sister.


Ed


Links:




http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/913/Riding_the_Momentum_of_Death


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/918/Call_Me_Cynical_Kris_Aquino_Related



http://robnazario.multiply.com/journal/item/31/Interesting_Information_on_Noynoy_Aquino


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/28/AR2008072802464.html






*********************************************************
http://robnazario.multiply.com/journal/item/31/Interesting_Information_on_Noynoy_Aquino




For those who want to Know Noynoy Aquino, read on. Remember that voting for a president is one of the biggest responsibilities that we are given in this life. And we all have to do our part in order to keep the future of our company as bright as possible. Here are some interesting facts about Noynoy Aquino that you might not know about.
Noynoy Aquino was born Benigno Simeon Cojuango Aquino III on the eight of February 1960. He is currently a senator but is dropping his place in order to run for President for the election next year as part of the Liberal party.
Here are some among other interesting facts about him. He is a proud product of Ateneo University. During a coup d'etat that was staged by rebels way back in Cory Aquino’s term of presidency, there was an incident that led to the serious wounding of Noynoy. During the year 1998, Noynoy Aquino sat in the House of Representatives of Tarlac as elected in that year’s congress. Then last 2007, he became a Philippine Senator.
Of course, as a result of his bid for presidency, a deluge of criticism has been thrown his way. A lot of people, for example, say that he does not really deserve to even run for president because he has not enough accomplishments to show for. Neither is he vocal enough for his presence to be actually felt anywhere. It seems that he takes after his mother who was also soft spoken. And it seems that it is his sister Kris Aquino who inherited their father’s blatant honesty.
In all those eleven years that Noynoy has been in the government seat, his main detractors note that there seems to be no major contribution to the legislative body from him. There seems to be not enough political will in Noynoy as well. After his mother’s well televised burial which the whole nation mourned, he was then approached by the party to head them as a presidential candidate. It does not really seem, even in just looking at Noynoy smiling shy demeanor, that he deserves to be president nor even really has enough political will to be president. Is he seems to just be riding the fame of his mother and father, something that is in very bad taste.
But of course, none of these are true. It is a fact that Noynoy Aquino just needs to get the chance to be president and his parents’ legacy shall be continued especially since a son will never be able to stain such a high legacy.