The ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) did a great job of giving the general public a chance to get to know more about some of our presidential hopefuls. The station provided real public service with that ANC Leadership Forum.
I wasn’t able to watch the live telecast only the replay and just parts of it so I didn’t catch all that was said. However, I did hear enough to be able to form an opinion about the first batch of participants namely Senators Richard Gordon, Mar Roxas, Francis Escudero, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio.
Judging how they responded to the questions asked of them I would rank the participants this way with 5 being the lowest.
1. Panlilio
2. Teodoro
3. Gordon
4. Roxas
5. Escudero
Without referring to the validity and political implications of their responses and just focusing on how they addressed the questions, I would say that Panlilio and Teodoro did well. I felt that Panlilio was the most candid. I also appreciated Gordon’s responses although I thought some of his answers were a little too wordy and circuitous. As far as these three are concerned, I’d say they did not dissapoint at all communication-wise.
On the other hand, I think Roxas and Escudero proved themselves to be bad communicators. Neither one of them provided any real substance with their responses. Roxas even thought it was appropriate to inject his “lalaban tayo” campaign slogan in his closing message. He did it in bad taste. Fortunately, for him, Escudero was even worse.
To most people, Escudero would probably sound like he is making real sense. But if you really listen hard to his statements you will easily realize that there’s really nothing there. I’m sure the young senator has the brains but unfortunately he chooses not to show it. Instead he wastes his and other people’s time — precious airtime included — with his oppositionist, motherhood crap.
Interestingly, Escudero got some of the biggest applause from the mostly young audience. This is a telling and troubling sign that Escudero’s worthless verbiage is working. It’s that or those who clapped for him were just gullible or plain dumb.
At this point, I would like to reiterate that this is not about the validity or the political implications of the statements made by Escudero and the other participants. My only focus here is whether or not they can communicate sincerely. In my book, Escudero failed miserably in this regard.
Why am I making an issue out of this? It’s simple. I equate sincerity with respect. A person who talks to you without any sincerity is basically desrespecting you. He is basically telling you that he doesn’t hold you in high regard; that he looks down on your intellect; and that he is convinced he can get away with giving you his bulls__t. It’s even more insulting if the person talking to you in such a manner is asking you to give him something as important as your vote.
I wonder about the forum audience present at the Leong Hall of the Ateneo de Manila University. They applauded Escudero’s crap. Were they not insulted at all by his manner?
I sincerely hope that come 2010, all Filipino voters will have already learned to demand respect from politicians.
I am sure some of the colegialas present during the ANC leadership forum would have wanted to eat his tongue for him.
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lpgd Reply:
May 13th, 2009 at 5:57 am
to paul… probably true. i dread to think what would happen to the country if someone like escudero becomes president. i mean he may yet improve and become a better leader in the future but at this point in time he is not fit for the presidency at all.
escudero is a case study in traditional political communication/positioning/marketing techniques. at this point and at the rate he’s going he represents all the things that voters should not tolerate. he is a panderer nothing more.
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Sigh . . . Showmanship trumps substance yet again. Even the Atenistas are taken in. What if this were held in Diliman? More on Escudero. He exuded, in my opinion, a certain “dark-ness.” I also sensed a great deal of pomposity.
Bombast aside, ampaw sina 4 and 5. I agree with the top 3 but not necessarily the order. Teodoro, of course had the toughest time being an admin guy – more so than Gordon who, as an Atenista, could not help but play to the audience.
I share your discomfiture at the adulation Chiz gets for simply being an oppositionist sloganeer but such is youth. Kulang sa lalim.
And what if this were held in Diliman? I think ALL of them would have been dissed, but some more than others.
Good post!
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lpgd Reply:
May 13th, 2009 at 5:57 am
to veintenueve… kulang talaga sa lalim ang youth and i guess that’s where those belonging to the older generations should come in. we should make it our mission to provide some clarification if not enlightenment. thanks for visiting.
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@lpgd. Believe it or not I am not sure if i was being critical of the young. I was quite the firebrand myself. But here’s the difference: meron kaming ideological grounding noon- kahit na baluktot. In that sense my generaration is “superior” because we bothered to study why we believed in what we believed in. Ngayon puro appearances lang. Vocabulary passes for eloquence which makes for dangerous times – as you clearly and correctly argue.
As for my generation (I’m 54 going on 18) we’ve failed. And there is no clearer proof of this than that no one listens to or trusts my generation – for the most part. The XY boys and girls are about to have their turn at messing things up. I’m now working on Gen Z (I have a 5 year old son) and I will make sure that he will not be a slave of gadgets and gizmos, that he will read written words on real sheets of paper and, most important, listen. I’m starting by doing these things in front of him. So far it’s a wash between me and Cartoon network. Tuloy ang laban.
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lpgd Reply:
May 13th, 2009 at 10:12 am
to veintenueve… just curious. how would you rank the five participants? and why?
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Ehem…
Looks like you’ve got more readers LPGD, don’t let it get to your head or you might end up running in 2010.
Nyehehehe!
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lpgd Reply:
May 13th, 2009 at 11:22 am
to paul… as i said i will never run for public office not unless the system is made corruption and graft-proof. unlike our politicians, i can admit to myself that i am very much capable of graft and corruption and for this reason alone i will never allow myself to be put in a situation where temptation might get the best of me.
my resistance for temptation works only for amounts not exceeding P500,000. beyond that baka di na ko makapag-control.
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I had Dick Gordon and Gilbert Teodoro tied at the top. They did not pander to the audience. Chiz was tight. Very tight. Recall how he gripped the mic. He could also have used the services of a good make up artist. Bad skin tone, no range of expressions. Parang senator Palpatine ang dating (kids reflect on this). He knew which buttons to push but did not go further. Mar? No gravitas.
Gilbert? Definitely has intellect. Razor sharp vocabulary (la Salle, UP Law and Harvard shining through). Dick? Verbose but sufficiently intense and visceral.
Fr Ed? Too avuncular. We need to see the “real” Among Ed. He needs to undergo a stress test. Of the 5 only Gordon has any defining moments to flag: Subic, disaster responses, mayorships. Say what you will but the guy has a real executive track record. Yes, he is full of himself. His capacities for self-promotion and for storing and dishing out hot air are phenomenal but he does not bother to hide these nor apologize. Dick’s a dick.
So you see where I’m coming from. Gordon over Teodoro (by a nose).
And yes I felt utterly disrespected by Senator Escudero y Palpatine and to a lesser extent, by Mar.
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lpgd Reply:
May 13th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
to veintenueve… thanks for sharing. had to look up the word avuncular. hehe. anyway, i also liked that about teodoro. he didn’t pander at all. i also admire gordon i’m just a little wary that he may have some dictatorial tendencies. but he is really worth considering. thanks again for sharing. your comments gave this blog some class, seriously.
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It’s classy – not at all chizzy or cheezy to begin with. And I’m not pandering.
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Hi, I’m with you on this one. I’m only 26 but I can see the wisdom and lack of pretense in Teodoro’s answers. Very level-headed and factual, without sensationalizing the issues for his own benefit. I’m also impressed with Gordon and Panlilio’s answers, candid as you may say, without any forthright intention to put anyone down. Roxas’s and Escudero’s answers on the other hand lack substance and were the low moments of the forum. Sorry, I just can’t respect a leader who cannot see through things other than the negative.
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lpgd Reply:
May 14th, 2009 at 3:41 am
to ian… thanks for visiting and sharing. i’m thinking we should all make noise about these things to educate others on how they should assess the candidates.
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Make noise?
Sure!
Aaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!
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Ian, well said.
I hate to beat on Chiz, but he really deserves to be razzed for his “performance.” Every other panelist appeared to be sincere in pointing out a “positive” about GMA. Why not? Even Hitler and Stalin were nice to their mothers (as far as we know) and that is a good thing at least.
Chiz’s insult- wrapped- in- a compliment about GMA doing us all a favor for awakening outrage is a ploy that is old as he tries to look and sound. He is casting huge stones when the question was about finding what good there is – however slight – in GMA. It was self-serving.
Notice also his Tagalog sounds awfully Padre Damaso-ish? Everytime he says sounds ex-cathedra.
Sorry pero for some reason tumitindig ang buhok ko sa batok pag nag sasalita at nangangaral si Escudero. He’s just not authentic. Mar at worst just tries too hard but you can sense heart and warmth. Chiz? Cold and calculating. Unfortunately for him, a few of us can sense this. I’d be wary of this kid.
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How can you place Panlilio number 1 when he could not even give a firm answer to family planning?
How can you place Teodoro number 2 ? did you actually believe him when he said with his answer to the question about him being an Administration candidate?
and number 3 Gordon? He deserves a FAMAS award for his answer about who he admired most.
Roxas deserves to be number 1 by far. However Escudero with his machine gun tougue should be at number 5
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lpgd Reply:
May 14th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
to jaaf… thanks for sharing. i don’t know what to say. that’s just how i saw it. also, the ranking i gave wasn’t based on whether or not i believed them. it was based on who i thought gave logical, sensible and sincere answers. to me senator roxas’s answers were standard “politiko” responses. that’s just how i saw it.
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To: ChangePolitics Movement (CPM)
Please include Bais City, Negros Oriental in your list of places with prevalent or notoriously rampant vote-buying practices during elections. No candidate here can land in any city position without buying votes – and usually the one that gives the biggest amount wins, regardless of poor qualifications or bad character.
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lpgd Reply:
May 14th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
to ted… this is not the site of changepolitics movement. it would be best to go to this site http://changepoliticsmovement.org/. thanks for visiting.
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JAAF. This was all about projection. The absolute truth or falsehood of what these players say or project is known only to God and, if he’s honest to himself at the very least, the prez wannabe. Be wary of too much clarity because that that could very well be glibness. We can only infer.
Your opinion is as good as mine. We are all pundits here. I look for signs of competency and crunch time savvy. Like it or not Dick Gordon has shown these, Teodoro, maybe. FAMAS award? You bet. Hammy acting beats trying to look cool and composed as far as I’m concerned. And I’m not sure Dick was “acting.” The guy really thinks he’s God’s gift to the country. Is that bad?
I will say this again. Watch out for panderers and demagogues. Give a thought to candidates who have balls enough to say what you don’t like to hear. Look for character.
On the basis of that one showing who among these fine specimens of political livestock would you trust to lead us through the current uncertainty and hell itself? Mar?
C’mon lpgd don’t let the politesse that’s culturally bred into our cultural DNA beat your better nature. JAAF’s scribblings were all opinion. He does not say where he’s coming from in giving Mar high marks. Oo nga naman. What was it about Mar that made you crown him the grand poobah?
We were talking about communication style and ability. IMHO Mar’s delivery had the spiciness and savor of plain rolled oats – warm. Escudero was rolled oats – cold – with (I suspect) fine bits of broken glass.
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lpgd Reply:
May 14th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
to veintenueve… had to look up yet another word “politesse” hehe. maybe i’m becoming a panderer myself. buti na lang di ako kandidato.
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TED TALINIS: I can’t help but find your family name remarkable. TALINIS=MATALAS=SHARP
You’re very fortunate your ancestors resisted being forcibly renamed.
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Hi again. Yes, I agree that people who have the gift of discernment (not that anyone doesn’t) should make themselves visible. It bugs me to see students from the nation’s premier school act seemingly vulnerable and clueless of these politicians’ pandering. I only have to use my gutfeel to know whether or not the speaker is trying to play tricks on me in expense of factual rhetorics and civility.
It brings to mind this timeless piece:
“God give us men…
Men who can stand before a demagogue
And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking!
Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog
In public duty and in private thinking.”
May God help us indeed.
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I must revise my original opinion about the ANC Leadership Forum.
I originally found it quite light because I was expecting the candidates to be seriously grilled.
On second thought, now, the forum was able to generate a lot of buzz. Even the sanitary engineers (janitors) in the senate are talking about the forum and who they think answered quite well. So, right now, I am thinking that the forum was successful on this point and perhaps grilling candidates may not be at all necessary to get a hint of their character or what they’d be like as the next President.
As for Gordon crying when he told the audience that his father was his hero. I am personally averse to shows of public emotion on national TV. But then again, his answer was quite sincere and I’ve heard him talk about his father a gazillion times.
Because, before any kid learns to idolize Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, and even Jesus Christ, I think every one’s first hero as a kid would be his father or mother.
I think how we turn out later in life, has a lot to do with how we see our parents and how much like them we try to be or try not to be.
I can only guess at what Gordon’s relationship with his father was like. But what I do know is that he grew up to become a lawyer, a con-con delegate at the age of 26, a mayor at the age of 35, the founding Chairman of SBMA, the Secretary of Tourism, and now a Senator gunning for the highest post in the land.
Hit him for his pang-Famas crying bout, but also try to imagine what would it be like if your own child one day tells the whole world that YOU (not anyone else)is his hero.
I’ll bet, you’d be crying and blowing bubbles out of your nose.
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Chiz got the biggest applause because the audience share his sentiments regarding the current Malacanang occupant. Teodoro’s exaltation on GMA’s ability to lower unemployment is a sham. Sure the unemployment rating is low but please answer this: how much MONEY WAS BORROWED to reach that economic statistic? We are in debt hole and you still lap up the unemployment rate?
It make sense why most surveys show that GMA has a very high dissatisfaction rating. It also makes sense that Escudero is consistently topping trust ratings. The people understand him.
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lpgd Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 2:36 am
to purplephoenix… you’re probably right. the audience applauded escudero because they can relate to his contempt for pgma. but, that’s the problem.should that even be the most important issue in relation to the coming elections?
i would hate to see a candidate get elected because his platform was based solely on anti-pgma or anti-anyone sentiments.
our presidential hopefuls should run on platforms that directly address the country’s problems. they should get elected because of that not just because they are against the incumbent.
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Nice one Paul.
LPGD: new words and phrases are vitamins. Make sure to take yours every day. No danger of overdose. When the benefits start kicking in you will feel a bit giddy with the powers they bestow. The key, therefore, to optimum use of this power is self-awareness.
Knowing Dick Gordon personally, I thought he would choose Wenceslao Vinzons for a role model. But no. He chose dad. A strategic choice.
And Ian, the two Thomases: Beckett and More will never go out of style. Your timeless piece is spot on. Siguro Atenista ka o di kaya nadapuan ka ng Hesuwita ano? If not, I apologize. Otherwise it was meant as a compliment.
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Oh! Not Escudero please. He may look like a great speaker, he has a great talent of playing with words to sound good even if it’s all crap. Argh!
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“i would hate to see a candidate get elected because his platform was based solely on anti-pgma or anti-anyone sentiments.
our presidential hopefuls should run on platforms that directly address the country’s problems. they should get elected because of that not just because they are against the incumbent”
LPGD: This is the great service your blog renders: Trash talking does not equal leadership. Remember what happened to the opposiiton after Feb 86? The became, collectively, the ruling coalition which, having no Marcos to kick around, ended up kicking each other, which they do to this day.
And do not be so welcoming of post admin prosecution of the Arroyos. Look at the Macoys. Prosecution will distract the nation and, since they can afford the best legal and illegal help, produce unintended consequences.
Our expectations are too low.
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lpgd Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 4:37 am
to veintenueve… how do we solve that anyway. everytime we change administrations there is always that issue of prosecution against the preceding one. it goes on and on and on. how will we break the cycle?
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LPGD: Beats me. What answer I have will be unpalatable to many: we need a Philippine Lee Kwan Yew crossed with Nelson Mandela. We need a cast iron saint who will make us take the strong medicine then live through more suffering before things get better.
Why do I include Mandela? Because, ruthless guerilla and apartheid victim that he was, he saw no future in retribution as policy. He, like other great leaders, knew that ultimate justice will be imposed by heaven and history- anyway. Meanwhile he had a nation to repair and govern.
Remember that culture is the behavior of leaders. Followers take their cue from the people on top. I hasten to add that there can be many cultures. So which one is yours? Show me your leader and I’ll have an idea of the collective value system.
What did the ANC show tell us about the “First Five” when viewed against this filter?
Doronila thinks they were all diminished by it. I agree – especially for Escudero.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20090515-205098/Nobody-got-away-undiminished
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Veintenueve, I wholeheartedly agree with your statement about retribution. Retribution cannot be the single force that should drive a decent leader to run for public office. More than anything else, that office is a pragmatic venue that cannot afford to address just a single issue out of the thousands that oppress the country. To see and hear candidates contain themselves into the retribution vacuum is disconcerting. Doronila hit it out of the park when he said that the forum accomplished very little in the way of providing us a concrete glimpse of their policies and platforms.
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Ian
Ask Among Ed how he’d reconcile the commander-in-chief role with priestly principles. Will he knowingly order men and women into harm’s way? Is he ready to order the AFP to take actions that will certainly lead to collateral damage? We also need to pin him down on population management.
Ask Chiz if he has a vision for an energy secure Philippines. How to balance the need for affordable energy with the need for availability. Why you and not Mar, Dick or Gilbert or Among Ed, etc? Hard policy questions.
There’s much to be asked and we have to thank LPGD for pointing out that the way of answering is just as important – maybe more important than the answer itself.
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lpgd Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
to veintenueve… you’re much too kind. but seriously, i never thought this would generate much buzz. i guess there are many filipinos after all who also feel frustrated with how campaigns and elections have been going for so long.
regarding your earlier post about retribution. i was actualy planning to post something about it. i must admit what held me back was the fear that most people will not find it palatable. its about the “a” word if you know what i mean. anyway i’ll try to collect my thoughts and post later.
ian… you should influence other filipinos within your age group. the youth often confuse criticism for critical thinking. you obviously know the difference.
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lpgd, thanks for the encouragement. That sounds like a frightening endeavor considering that things like this is so uhm, uncool, with guys my age (haha) but I hope I can find ways to do it.
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I recently attended a symposium on Good Governance by Pampanga Gov. Ed Palilio
at St. Peter Gonzales de Thelmo Parish Church here in Aparri. The governor
graphically narrated how he won the 2007 elections in Pampanga. He scholarly
explained elements of good governance like transparency, accountability,
participation of people in governance, among others, by the use of his first
hand experiences as governor.
Personally there is nothing new in the concept of governance which he shared.
There is good governance because of bad governance. But what was striking to
hearing was the role and responsibility of the people, especially the Catholic
faithful, in good governance. He said that the people should elect the right
leaders of this country and not to allow moneyed people like the jueteng lords
pushing down our throats their choice of candidates. Worse, these kingmakers
would themselves decide to become political kings. Simply put, our people should
vote according to their informed conscience and should not allow the kingmakers
to magically fix the results of elections.
During the open forum, I asked the governor two things: first, is there a
deadline for his period of discernment and divulge later to us whether or not he
is running for the presidency? Governor Panlilio said that he is not setting a
deadline. But when shall we know that his period of discernment is over? I asked
him too whether he would take the challenge to run for the presidency if there
would be no good candidates to choose from. He was consistent with his answer
that he was open to the possibility of running for the presidency but only as
the last option.
I agree with some who say that come 2010 national elections it would be the
Good pitted against the Evil. If Governor Panlilio runs for the presidency he
would be on the side of the Good of course. But without him as a presidential
candidate, the 2010 national elections just the same would be a playing field of
naughty devils. Our country would remain as hell as ever.
Why don’t we have a Christian Vote? Let us not be particular about the
religious denomination this time. If a presidential candidate is bent to destroy
the teachings of Christ then let us finish him with our Christian Vote. And any
presidential candidate who lives a life of the gospel values of Christ then let
us support and champion his cause.
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Reg,
Why is there no Christian vote? Because Christian principles (as opposed to Christian affiliation) were never our defining values.
It will be good for Fr. Ed to run – if only to see if a person can win on a purely moral platform. Cory was the closest we had to such a thing. HIstory is going to judge her harshly on the governance side. As for Fr. Ed, he has yet to show that he can govern strategically. Cleanness is not policy.
There is something scary in calling for a “Christian vote.” Is it based on the numbers or the principles? Why not an Islamic vote?
I now know why Christ never dabbled in politics. NEVER. It has no place in his teachings. He was also indifferent to denomination. “He who is not against you is with you.” NOw that, my friend, is the ultimate endorsement of inclusiveness.
Beware the religious vote. It’s a trojan horse for bringing unelected men in skirts, collars and plaid suits into positions of EVEN greater power and influence.
And before Pere Ed goes any further in courting our vote, let him lay down his principles on reproductive health and national defense. Without these, he’s just saying, “just trust me.” Sorry Fr. no cigar. You’ve been taking too many swigs off the sacramental wine if you think you can walk to Malacanang on a morality ticket.
I’m sorry if I sound skeptical of churchmen and reigionists of any sort. I grew up in their schools and have seen them up close and personal. They are clerics first, citizens second.
Let the good father answer the difficult questions first.
V
PS “naughty devils” is an oxymoron – an asymmetric one
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