It’s official: Destiny’s child is running for president and he’ll be doing it on a platform of yellow.
Senator Noynoy Aquino finally announced his plan today the 40th day since the death of his mother former President Corazon Aquino. He made the announcement at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan the same place where Mrs. Aquino took her oath in 1986. Clearly, it’s all about symbolic connections.
Now here’s something for the really superstitious. Senator Aquino couldn’t have picked a better date to announce his candidacy. Today is September 9, 2009 or in shorthand 9/9/9. A very auspicious date indeed. But there’s more. Turn the numbers around and what do we get? 6/6/6. What’s the antonym of auspicious?
Here’s the transcript of Aquino’s announcement lifted from inquirer.net:
“Tinatanggap ko ang hiling ng sambayanan. Tinatanggap ko ang tagubilin ng aking mga magulang. Tinatanggap ko ang responsibilidad na ituloy ang laban para sa bayan. Tinatanggap ko ang hamon na mamuno sa laban na ito. Tatakbo po ako sa pagka-pangulo sa darating na halalan (I accept the voice of the people. I accept the advice of my parents. I accept the responsibility to continue the fight of the people. I accept the challenge to lead in this fight. I will run in the coming elections).”
“Hiling ng sambayanan” or “voice of the people.” Hmmm. I don’t know if I’m going deaf but I didn’t here anyone from our office, my neighborhood or my favorite barbershop say anything about wanting an Aquino candidacy or presidency. However, I did hear discussions on why Willie Revillame should take his own brand of “Pablik Serbis” to the next level by running for office. Now, I’m really wondering which “sambayanan” or taongbayan was the senator talking about.
“Ituloy ang laban para sa bayan” or “continue the fight of the people.” Now what was he talking about again? What fight exactly? The late Senator Ninoy Aquino fought for democracy but he was killed before he completed his mission. A few years later Cory Aquino took up the challenge and she succeeded in restoring democracy. Last time I checked the Philippines is still a democracy so Noynoy can’t possibly fight for that anymore. I wonder what fight is he talking about.
Ok maybe I’m rushing him. The good senator has already proven that he takes time deciding or — as other keen observers say — agonizing even over simple yes-or-no questions. Perhaps he needs more time to formulate a platform that contains all the necessary components to be of real consequence. Well, until he comes out with a decent platform we’ll just have to make do with his wonderful and awesome platform of yellow. Or not.
In the meantime, let’s reflect on the prospect of an Aquino presidency. Here’s a great visual aid by Filo of utakngtilapia.blogspot.com.
(WARNING: Image may cause psychological trauma to very young children. Keep this out of their sight.)
Exactly. Having to go on a “retreat” in order to decide to run for president means (1) he was not even prepared to consider it when his handlers thrust him into it and (2) he seems inclined to stew or agonise over critical decisions.
A leader can’t go into a ‘prayerful’ stupor everytime a tough decision needs to be made.
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lpgd Reply:
September 9th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
his handlers have already put a spin on that. they’re saying noynoy thinks before he acts. but then again, 1, 2 or 3 days of deep reflection on a simple yes-or-no question about an opportunity no politician alive can resist is already too long. noynoy took longer and i don’t think he spent those days really thinking or reflecting about it. relishing the thought, maybe.
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Well if they gonna ask me on this…if Ninoy is alive….i can say is…”He is truly Filipino…and I wish He will run for the Presidency…” But now that’s not possible…but his legacy still lives on….
Today Nonoy Aquino..will run for presidency? Errr…i know some will hate me on this…but this is only my opinion…”WHAT??!” If he is running for presidency…is this a bad joke…why? coz when he is senator??? what he did for the filipino people?? “NONE!” When he lose then became councilor,”what he did??” “NONE!”. When the Hacienda Luisita incident occur…”what he did? a Big ZERO!” This kind people who wants to be leaders…must prove something that “He is for the people!” He is just using his father’s legacy and same as his mother.”Rest their souls.” And then Kris Aquino…the person who is “plastic” she is pretend 2 be good in front of the camera…but an arrogant person that she really is. What will happen if Nonoy will be president and Kris Aquino become part of it….tsk tsk…. Philippines”the Laughing Stock.” I hope all the Filipino people realize that we must vote smart and not tempted 2 be bought and not because of popularity…But we must vote for officials that He/She for Filipino people and willing 2 do anything to make the Phillipines our motherland worth dying for. Vote Wisely!
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angelseye Reply:
December 4th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Nakakatawa ang buhay nating Pilipino…nabubulag na lang tayo sa mga makukulay na pangakong sa panaginip na lang makakamtan. Kung malalaman lang ng buong sambayanan lalo na mga MASA, ang pawang katotohanan lang, siguro maiiba ang takbo ng utak ng Pilipino at magugulat sa kanilang malalaman…. PAUNAWA lang sa karamihan… dapat tayong maging mausisa sa TOTOTOONG layunin ng bawat kandidato…
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Hi lpgd. The average Filipino need only take the next step in the thought process – if the spin doctors are telling us that Noynoy only appears to fiddle too long because he thinks before he acts, then that will now be a convenient excuse for every other politicians to take their dandy time even on matters than have greater urgency. And it’s not like anybody in politics acts before thinking (but then, Mikey Arroyo caught making excuses lying on national tv about ownership of the Beachwood property, may be an aberration), so that in itself isn’t a plus point for Noynoy.
What they ARE doing as a matter of clever money-saving is making these announcements (1) in fairly long intervals from each other, and (2) separately, too (like Mar’s decision following Noynoy’s act of accepting the calls for candidacy). Much to the chagrin of Villar (and surely, at least a little, even Mar), Noynoy never had to devote a centavo to get the massive exposure he’s getting now. So in light of that growing margin that Villar could lose to Noynoy, he has got to be thinking now how the hell to recoup everything he has spent.
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What the f&*! is he referring to when he’s said “sambayanan”? Is he talking about the citizens of the Philippines or his virtual or imagined population? If he is referring to the real “sambayanan” to hell with his imagination. The hype that might have caused this hallucination may point to the fact of having so many usiseros who’ve gone out of the streets to join the death charade sponsored by ABS-CBN and other media hypists. Ayun according to media lahat ng lumabas sa kalye ay maka Cory. Naka!
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lpgd Reply:
September 12th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
welcome jet.
everyone knows this is all just an exaggeration.
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I haven’t heard any milestones accomplished by Noynoy,I think it’s high time for the Filipinos not to vote based on popularity or just because a candidate is being endorsed by numerous stars. We should be “real” not “reel”.Noynoy seems to be riding on the popularity of his parents but other than that what are his credentials in governance? Though democracy is greatly owed to his mother the late president Cory, during her regime two things gave a lasting imprint on my mind “the coup de’tat” and the long hours of brownout (blackout)
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angelseye Reply:
December 4th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
MARK JIMENEZ…. the man of result… Not later, not tomorrow but NOW…
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admin Reply:
December 4th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
angelseye,
thanks for taking the time to visit my blog. however i would like to ask you to refrain from spamming me with links to your candidate. : )
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I have a feeling that there was someone or group mastering in PR who orchestrated the whole thing from the time that Tita Cory (may she rest in peace) that leads to the candidacy of Noynoy — the almost daily bulletin from the time the late Tita Cory was confined to the hospital on a serious ailment regularly updated by Noynoy before press people..the likeable Kris flooding her shows with tears (i sympathized with her and her family on the loss), the publicity generated by “Quanturum” which i asked myself if it has not lost its solemness…the death..the almost showbiz funeral procession..and subsequently the survey that dealth the blow to Mar Roxas’ presidential ambition.
Magaling talaga ang PR handler ni Noynoy and it shows.
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admin Reply:
December 31st, 2009 at 1:09 pm
ramgarra,
you may be right. someone connected to the aquino family saw an opportunity and immediately took advantage of cory’s death. i wouldn’t go as far as to say that that person is ‘magaling.’ it’s quite obvious that there was no real sophistication in how this whole aquino pr work was carried out. it was all just a matter of packaging the message to appeal to the public’s need for drama. in short, purely showbiz filipino style which is essentially rich in form and lacking in substance.
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Caicen Reply:
April 12th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
Very true
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