Chess and the Cha-Cha Platform

In Chess, one has to think at least two or three moves ahead in order to secure a win. A move is not that move, but the moves after it. The same is true also when playing the game of politics.

Some weeks ago, we know that House Speaker Jose De Venecia and the pro-administration congressmen pushed for convening themselves as a constitutional assembly (Con-Ass). I did not subscribe to the idea that JDV blundered, as thought by many other observers, with that move. On the contrary, I think that that is a well thought-out plan. JDV is a Grandmaster politician and knows what he is doing. He plans two, three, perhaps more, moves ahead. He may be greedy, but he is not stupid. He will not make a very obvious blunder.

It was so obvious to everyone that Con-Ass will be rejected by many sectors of the society. In fact, everyone, including the CBCP has expressed views against Con-Ass even before the House tried moving to convene itself as such.

I think JDV’s “real” plan is now beginning to show itself. Early today, I heard the news quoting President Gloria Arroyo that Constitutional Change is a platform of the administration (also reported at this government infosite).

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited today Charter change as one of a trio of realities confronting the Philippines that her administration is committed to pursue with urgency and dedication.

The first reality is that the "people accept the need for Charter change; two, that there is a need for a unified national consensus on the means and timetable (of Charter change), and three, that this is a platform commitment of the administration," the President said in her message during the 40th anniversary celebration of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) held at the ADB Headquarters in Mandaluyong City this morning.

Stressing on the word "platform", it zoomed to me that perhaps this is the platform by which pro-administration candidates will be running on for 2007. Both JDV and PGMA want Charter Change (Cha-Cha) so much and there is no other platform they can use. They’ve been dancing the Cha-Cha for a while and it is too late to switch to Boogie.

Meanwhile, JDV knew that Con-Ass will out-rightly be rejected. What better way to generate acceptance of the Cha-Cha by letting the CBCP choose the lesser evil of Constitutional Convention (Con-Con). Now, the discussion is not whether we need Cha-Cha in the first place. We are now bound to select Con-Con (or the lesser evil) over Con-Ass (or the worst kind). The CBCP is now reiterating the merits of Con-Con while the politicians in the Senate are now pushing for it. Senators can now play saviors (they reject something rejected by the people), while congressmen can mimic obedience (they follow the will of the people and the Bishops).

Sadly for the common Filipino, there is still no intelligent debate as to which provisions in the Constitution should be subject to reconsideration. Do we really need Charter Change? For the record, I say NO. What we desperately need are electoral reforms and Cha-Cha is a very expensive way to do it!

Some commentators said that JDV is bluffing when he acted as if they had the numbers (195) to push for Con-Ass even without Senate help. Funny how intelligent people can be fooled. I say JDV is indeed bluffing but not for that reason. He plainly wants the CBCP, the senate, and practically everyone (the opposition, the Jesus is Lord Movement, the El-Shaddai), to push for Cha-Cha by Con-Con. That way, their win in May 2007 may be construed as reasonable. Their platform is Cha-cha which we see that now everyone accepts. I am sure they would still use their cheating machinery, much the same way every politician uses them. But from totally being absurd, the administration win in 2007 is now justifiable.

I am not sure who is in on the “real” scheme. But whoever first exposed the Con-Ass plan is part of the “real” scheme. The shrewd politician in El-Shaddai’s Mike Velarde could be in on it too. The Iglesia ni Kristo could have known. I suspect the JIL and the CBCP (as well as the Catholic religious organizations that joined last Sunday’s rally) are all pawns and did not know what was happening. The opposition, as usual, is clueless at best.

Although we still wouldn’t know the results until the game is over, I say JDVs move is brilliant (I cannot say if it is moral). It is a strategy only a grandmaster can think of. This makes for an interesting election in 2007.

On Mo

He is some kind of a jolt on FM radio... for the first time, there is someone telling (or picking) the truth! I am talking about no other than Mo Twister (I do not know his real name) - that fast talking DJ of 89.9, who is now a controversial personality as reported here and here.

If only the rest of our AM/FM radio personalities are not afraid of the truth, then our mass media would have been better. In fact, the country would have been better.

I just hope Mr. Twister will taper down on his for-adults language and theme so that more people including kids could listen to him and have a breath of fresher air!

Not without Sin

It is good to note that last Sunday's prayer rally at the Quirino Grandstand went peacefully well. However, this could be credited to the fact that there are but a few participants in the said rally. When 30,000 people (as estimated by the Phil. Daily Inquirer reporters) attended a rally where half a million is expected, it could be said that the event did not attract enough supporters. With El Shaddai's Mike Velarde's and Jesus is Lord Movement's Eddie Villanueva's support, and with the CBCP leaderships calls for attendance to said rally, the result is largely dissappointing. What happened to Mr/s Velarde's and Villanueva's millions of members and supporters? Where were they last Sunday?

I remember in February of 1986, that when Cardinal Sin called for people power, millions of people immediately heeded the call. It is so difficult to heed that call then because we are still under Marcos' brutal dictatorial rule at that time. (It was said also that Cardinal Sin called for a rally against Consitutional Change in 1997 which was attended by hundreds of thousands of people) But what made people heed that call in 1986, with graver risks than now, yet a far fewer people attended last Sunday's rally called by almost all the known bishops and cardinals in the country? Do we really need (Cardinal) Sin to mobilize the Filipino people?

Many times in recent past, politicians and commentators both opined that the people (the youth in particular) today largely remain unaffected by the what is happening in the country. They say the Filipinos now lacks patriotism. The Pinoy does not want anymore to heed their own conscience and act on what they think is right. They wanted the people to express their opinion, and when the people did not attend these mobilizations, the people are then branded as filled with apathy or just plain lazy.

But who is listening to the people, really. Many times they have spoken but are misunderstood. The people at large are sick and tired with our leaders, in government, in the opposition, even from the religious. We are a leaderless society. With Sin gone, there are no more leaders left for us to follow.

Is the CBCP duped into endorsing the Con-con?

Although the bishops of the CBCP are known to dissapprove the Con-Ass recently pushed by the House of Representatives, it is evident now that the same bishops openly approve of a Con-con. We would never know whether the CBCP really wanted charter change or they chose con-con only because it is the lesser evil.

Last December 2, I read a commentary by one of the most credible columnist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Solita Monsod, about the supposed rumors that the Administration through the House of Representatives is planning to railroad the Con-ass process. The plan supposedly include and starts with the appointment of Justice Reynato Puno.

THERE is an e-mail and text message going around that the plan of the administration goes like this: Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban retires on Dec. 6 (his birthday), when the House of Representatives also meets as a “constituent assembly.” Justice Reynato Puno is appointed chief justice on Dec. 8. The Supreme Court goes on vacation on Dec. 13. The House passes a resolution, calling for a plebiscite, on Dec. 16. With the Court on vacation, absent a call by the chief justice for an emergency meeting, there is no obstacle to the Commission on Elections’ accepting the House resolution and immediately scheduling a plebiscite on Feb. 16. The deed is done.

Although the plan seems to be coming into reality proven by the appointment of Justice Puno and the recent actions by the De Venecia-led congress, Ms. Monsod earlier described the plan as could be one of the most "hare-brained schemes yet devised".

Whether this is really the plan of the administration, or is the product of a suspicious and fevered opposition mind, it ranks as one of the most hare-brained schemes yet devised.

It is obvious to everyone today and even from last week that any attempts by congress to railroad the con-ass will immediately be opposed by many sectors, including the CBCP. It is indeed "Hare-brained" to push for con-ass. But as to who is "hare-brained" is questionable. We know that De Venecia, a very astute politician can never be described as someone lacking of political scheming skills. It could therefore be better concluded that the real scheme behind the "hare-brained" scheme is set to force the cha-cha opposition in the senate and in the CBCP to choose something of a lesser evil, the con-con over the con-ass!

The fact is that Monsod's piece even started the fire that could have ignited the CBCP to summon a large prayer rally, short of calling for "People Power". I do not have proof that Ms. Monsod is part of the scheme behind the scheme, even without her knowing it, but I cannot be blamed to have some suspicions.

Today's commentary by another respectable Inquirer columnist, Amando Doronilla, says that People Power is proven alive by the death of the Con-ass. He could therefore be mistaken. The right conclusion would be that People Power indeed can be manipulated!

The roughshod manner by which the President’s allies in the House passed the resolution sparked a political storm that galvanized the strongest outrage against the administration since the crisis of July 2005, when her administration was on the verge of collapse under pressure from street protests demanding her resignation over tapes tending to show presidential interference in the canvassing of the 2004 election results.

Now, we see that the CBCP openly discuss their preference to con-con. Funny, I never even realized that they approve of Cha-cha in the first place!

It is also amazing to note that several members of the senate now also describe the merits of a Con-con over the Con-ass, while the issue whether there is a real need to change the constitution is relegated as a foregone conclusion!

Mike's Personal Endorsement

As I have discussed in one of my previous entries, newscaster Mike Enriquez has very much reduced his credibility for me even only by the way he speaks. He always has this sense of urgency even when the news he carries does not have worth. To me, he is the "boy who cry wolf", and is not to be taken seriously.

But whatever credibility Mike left for himself is totally gone when you listen to his radio news program in the morning over at DZBB (594KHz). While their station ID basically says that they do not have any conflicting interests ("walang pinoprotektahan, walang kinikilingan") or to that effect, Mr. Enriquez brazenly endorses his advertisers and delivers his endorsement of them as if they are news. Surely, I give Mr. Enriquez 100% for passion, but 0 for his sense of integrity. He does not know that by endorsing his advertisers personally , he loses his credibility or what's left of it.

Whatever his station ID says, Everyone knows whose interests he is working for. I wonder why anyone would listen to him?

Are Bishops Confused on Charter Change?

Although some would agree that changes in the constitution are in order, the same people cannot agree how to effect such change. I am taking note of Bishop Lagdameo's entries on his blog that while he seems to agree that our constitution somehow needs amending, he prefers that it would be through constitutional convention or con-con (and not through constitutional assembly or con-ass). It seems by his statements that the whole CBCP holds this position.

As CBCP earlier has said: while we agree that certain aspects of our Constitution may need amendments and/or revision, we do not support hasty effort to change this fundamental law without widespread discussion and participation of people who are not in congress but knowledgeable in law. We continue to believe that major shifts in the form of government require widespread participation of civilian society, and relative serenity allowing national discussion and debate. This is best done through a Constitutional Convention (CON-CON) where the members are elected by the people precisely for the purpose of framing a new Constitution. We have many illustrious and credible non-politicians who can help frame a new Constitution. A CON-CON might be very expensive, but it is worth spending much for something that is good for the greatest number. And so we say: YES, TO CHA-CHA through CON-CON.

I am not sure if I am just confused or the good bishop is confused rather than me, but it is obvious he does not even believe in the present constitution. He thinks con-con is the only way it should be done, even while the present constitution allows both con-ass and con-con! Suddenly, Bishop Lagdameo became a constitutional expert pontificating on the advantages of one method over the other. Perhaps he indeed really wanted to change the present constitution, that is, to change how the manner the constitution could be changed!

I suggest Bishop Lagdameo and the other bishops of the CBCP leave this matter to those who know the constitution. I suggest he (they) does not speak about this subject directly because by doing so, he only shows his confusion which confuses the public (his flock) even more.

Philippines in World Headlines

The Philippines is on world headlines once again. Sad to say, we are on it because of the devastation of a typhoon. I was hoping that someday, we will be there not because of any tragic occurence, but because of something positive.

CNN today has on their website news about "red hot, car-sized" boulders from the recently erupted Mayon sliding down the volcano's slopes brought about by the rains of Typhoon Reming (International name "Durian").

Typhoon sends red-hot boulders into villages

MANILA, Philippines(CNN) -- Survivors told of red-hot, car-sized boulders loosened by typhoon rains barreling into Philippines villages Friday after Typhoon Durian roared across the island nation. At least 388 people were killed, Red Cross officials said. Flooding and blocked roads challenged rescue efforts after the storm hit Thursday with winds gusts up to 165 mph. At least 75 people were missing...

Meanwhile, UK's BBC also headlined the same landslides.

Hopes fade after Philippine storm

Rescue workers in the central Philippines are searching for survivors in the wake of a typhoon that triggered deadly landslides. More than 400 people have been reported either dead or missing, but Philippine officials said the toll could rise. Rescue operations are continuing, but emergency workers say hopes of finding any more survivors are dwindling. Areas near the Mayon volcano, south-east of Manila, were among the worst-hit by Typhoon Durian.

A local mayor said several villages had been wiped out...

The Philippines is also on Yahoo's headlines as AP reported on more dead bodies recovered...

More bodies uncovered in Philippines
By OLIVER TEVES, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 55 minutes ago

PADANG, Philippines - Rescuers recovered more bodies from flooded homes and mud-swamped villages on Saturday, raising the death total from Typhoon Durian to over 300, with up to another 300 people missing.

The typhoon blasted ashore with gusts of up to 165 mph, sending walls of muddy volcanic ash and red-hot boulders crashing down the slopes of the Mayon volcano, which erupted last summer.

The national Office of Civil Defense reported 208 people dead and 261 missing. But the figures included only 22 dead and no one missing from one town where 120 bodies had been recovered....

Meanwhile, it could be noted that although Typhoon Reming is well covered by the local media, the volcanic landslides are never thought of. Unlike before, in Pinatubo, where every typhoon and rains cause deep concerns to everyone on its possible effects on the volcanic debris, not the same concern was hinted on Mayon. I think the reason here is that both media and government are concerned mainly on the effect of the typhoon in Manila. Where Pinatubo can cause concern to Manila, Mayon could not.

The only reason why Reming is extensively covered by the local media is because Manila is on its original path. Sad to say, our local media is concerned only mainly on the effects of the typhoon to themselves. They are not really delivering the news because the news is there. They got the news to protect themselves and since they got the news already, they thought of profitting from it by selling it as "news".