Now this is strange. A new survey by Pulse Asia shows that of all the presidential candidates Senator Manny Villar enjoys the trust of more Filipinos. It shows Senator Noynoy Aquino only at second place. Here’s an excerpt from an abs-cbnnews.com report.
The January 22-26 survey showed that 70% of Filipinos had much trust for Villar, compared to 64% for Aquino. Eighteen percent of voters said they were undecided about Villar while 23% said the same for Aquino. Both candidates had the same percentage of voters (12%) saying that they had little trust for the two candidates.
Aquino and Villar were statistically tied in the last presidential survey conducted by Pulse Asia last January 22 -26. Thirty-seven percent of Filipino voters said they would vote for Aquino in the presidential election while 35% said they chose Villar.
I do not hide the fact that I’m not a fan of election surveys. I strongly believe they are manipulated in one way or the other. However, I’m making an exception with this survey because I like how it takes away from the Aquino camp’s apparent claim that their candidate is the only trustworthy candidate. I wonder how the yellow horde will react to this.
By the way, if I were a believer of SWS and Pulse Asia surveys I’d probably say this is a development for the simple reason that it shows that not all Filipinos are buying Noynoy’s honesty schtick.
But then again, I am an anti-election survey kind of guy so I’ll stick to my stand that this or any other election survey out there are not to be believed. More importantly, they should not in any way serve as a basis for how we should vote.
In the first place, how can anyone really tell that this or that candidate is trustworthy? Do Noynoyistas and Villaristas have intimate knowledge of the real character of their favored candidates? Are they possessed with extra-sensory powers they are able to see into the hearts and minds of these politicians both of whom refuse to articulate exactly how they will fulfill their respective campaign promises of ridding the government of corruption and putting an end to poverty.
The truth is the respondents of this Pulse Asia survey (if indeed they do exist) just followed their gut feel. Nanghula lang sila. In all likelihood they will do the same come May 10. Good luck with that.
i think surveys should not be made public at all as it tends to manipulate those who are undecided into thinking who is the most out of the rest. it’s not at all different from a 20-something pop icon telling those well in years who to vote for. blah!
it is good that the public, as the survey says, is not buying aquino’s honesty stint. but i dont think them buying villar’s is better.
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HOW, REALLY, DID MANUEL BAMBA VILLAR JR. GET TO BE RICH? It bears to investigate and it can serve the Filipino nation well to know that Manny Villar may actually have broken through from Tondo-ragged accountant to billionaire-rich presidentiable by allowing himself to be used as a foreign investor’s dummy in the Philippine real estate business. You see, the conduct of real estate business in the Philippines is made exclusive by law to Filipino citizens, necessarily because its affairs involve sensitive issues affecting civil rights, territory, sovereignty, patrimony, and national security. Wasn’t that a debonair American who was smilingly visible every day at the offices of Crown Asia Inc. way back before the Villars became political aspirants? Unfortunately, sighting American presence at the Crown Asia Inc. organization deteriorates to zero visibility in hot election weather, especially nowadays! As Manny Villar embarked on a political career, it strategically became imperative to avoid flaks of damaging controversy about being financially beholden to foreign influence, especially from nationalist camps of the likes of then Senator Teofisto Guingona Jr. who was one among legislators instrumental in passing general law limiting real estate business in the Philippines to Filipinos only. In fact, it was from 1997 to 1999 that the bespectacled, middle-aged, happy American investor (silent? fronted? non-express? implied?) of Crown Asia Inc. was last regularly observed at the 18th Floor of Cityland Herrera Tower. Apart from being born with a silver spoon, most of us often have “humble”, sometimes “rotten”, beginnings; yet being transparent about such beginnings can do even more good than harm. The answer may go as far back as Villar’s auditing days at internationally-patronized Sycip Gorres Velayo (SGV) or, perhaps, good Senator Manuel Villar would like to comment on the matter at this time?
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bp Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
pilipinopoako,
i’m no fan of manny villar, but i don’t think there’s anything shocking about the possibility that villar used himself as a dummy for a foreign entity as you say. if it were true, it only shows that he saw an opportunity and he grabbed it which is quite consistent with his being a businessman.
the way i see it what you said highlights more the need to change our constitution in such a way that foreign entities would be able to set up businesses here without having to resort to using dummies.
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