A MacGuffin is a plot device that advances the storyline or motivates the characters but has little relevance to the story. The Oscar-ignored but still legendary Alfred Hitchcock popularized and made it as an art form. The ugly bird statue in The Maltese Falcon is the best example of a MacGuffin.
Today, there is a huge MacGuffin hovering in the Philippine political landscape. It is the 2010 presidential elections. But this is a much-improved MacGuffin. Unlike Hitchcock's, the 2010 MacGuffin has huge relevance to the story. Plus the motivation it provides for the lead personalities would shame the acting exploits of Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre.
Story: The 15th President of the Philippines
MacGuffin: 2010 Presidential Elections
Red Herring: The Senate Presidency and the so-called Opposition Split
Lead Characters
1. Manuel Villar
2. Manuel Roxas
3. Panfilo Lacson
Supporting Characters
1. Loren Legarda
2. Francis Escudero
3. Alan Peter Cayetano
The two Manuels is sure to run in the next big fight. Lacson will take another stab. Legarda is the a senate topnotcher twice and is touted to be a strong presidentiable. Escudero is the dark horse. He finished a close and strong second and has the strong political backing. The main criticism is his youth and lack of national experience. As they say, he has so much time in the world.
The battle for the senate leadership is a red herring but with huge consequences. I believe that this is a staged act. Roxas, Lacson, and Legarda are pushing for Nene Pimentel's candidacy. But it is so obvious that they are doing so to remove a huge 2010 obstacle which is Manuel Villar. It seems that he will have a huge advantage over his future rivals if he retains his current position. As Roxas articulated, 'this is to level the playing field in 2010.' Such hypocrisy! After winning in 2004, this guy faded into obscurity then tried to resurrect his dismal performance with a so-called public service ad in the last elections. Oh. He raised a howl on his pet bill.
Question: why doesn't any of the three senators run for the Upper House presidency?
Answer: I have no idea.
Everything seems to be going smooth until it hit two bumps, Escudero and Alan Peter Cayetano will vote for Villar.
How can these two rabid oppositionist vote for Villar? Cayetano has not said anything and Escudero assured that he will remain an opposition regarding pertinent issues.
So...the three lead characters will not be able to stop Villar. Thus throwing another red herring - the opposition split. Serge Osmena has said that the 2010 elections is causing the fracture in the Genuine Opposition. He is most definitely correct. Lacson intimated that Villar had an alliance with the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo after the midterm elections. But of course, the loyalty issue lost credibility with Roxas' 'level the playing field strategy.'
Villar, much as I dislike this guy, run under the opposition slate. He has not done anything (at least in public) that shows he has abandon the cause of the opposition unless you count the Lacson-Defensor Santiago floated rumors. He has lost a lot of ground in the last elections placing a dismal fourth. He thus needs to achieve some sort of political rebound. Roxas is in dire need of a political revival. In a one-on-one match with strict observance of financial use, Escudero will trample Roxas.
The odd one is Legarda. She is backing Pimentel but is not as vocal as Lacson and Roxas. I'm sure she is simply a wise predator. Watching silently as her testosterone-fueled rivals are fighting. But I am sure, given the right time, she'll sharpen those Pashmina-covered claws. Remember the rumors that she has dropped her fellow GO candidates in her sample ballots? She retorted that she will never do that and pointed out that her newspaper ads included all the candidates of the opposition. This is a half-truth. Sure the newspaper ad part is correct but the sample ballots? No. I still keep her sample ballots that was given to us by her father. It only included her name, Nikki Coseteng, and Martin Bautista. She is beautiful but she is also vicious.
Escudero is like a young owl perching wisely in a huge tree - watching his much older peers squabbling for position. He holds a great political momentum including a strong political party, an enormous youth volunteer group and that x-factor called charisma. That's why Lacson and company is trumpeting an opposition split and short of accusing Escudero and Cayetano of abandoning their cause.
Now, there is one character in this story that is not given much attention. Joseph Estrada. It did not came as a shocker that his son Jinggoy Estrada is rumored to be supporting Manuel Villar. Why? He did it before along with his mother. Eventually a new gossip floated: Manny Villar-Jinggoy Estrada for 2010. Expectedly, San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito expressed disappointment and sadness over the decisions of Escudero and Cayetano. But I am pretty sure that his emotion is really directed to his half-brother. It's a common knowledge that there is no love lost between the two.
One thing that puzzles me is this, why make a big fuss about the senate leadership? Whoever wins does not change the fact that the majority of the Filipinos hates the current administration. The opposition got whacked in the Lower House but still most of us would want a successful impeachment. Get this: the senate is not the 'genuine' opposition - the majority of the Filipinos are. Last elections, we just provided you a mandate so that our sentiments would be heard.
Do I honestly care about the senate leadership? Hell no. But I do want this senate to challenge the brutality and tyranny of the current administration. The two senate neophytes accused of treacherous acts suffered most of this administration's oppressive moves. Cayetano had to struggle with an unknown namesake while Escudero almost suffered the fate. Everything was thrown to this two except for the proverbial kitchen sink. You think they are stupid enough to strike an alliance with the enemy? They are young but they are not Gringo Honasan.
Reader, are you still following me? Are you still feeling well?
No?
Me too.
This is one MacGuffin in dire need of a conclusion. The bad news is that we have to wait for three more years to see its end.
Generation X: a term used to describe generations in many countries around the world. The exact demographic boundaries of Generation X are not well defined, depending on who is using the term, where and when. According to generation researchers Neil Howe and William Strauss, Generation X includes anyone born from 1960 to 1985 in North America.
That is according to Wikipedia.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer has an interesting article today. Entitled as 'Generational Clash Looms in the Senate,' it featured an interview of Gen X senatorial poster boy Francis Escudero regarding their impending invasion of fellow Gen Xers Alan Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes.
'The senate should be ready for out-of-the-box thinking because if we continue to do the same thing we will have the same results,' the Sorsogoanon warned. He admitted that their group 'will go through a period of adjustment' although he said that their elders should also adjust.
During the proclamation, Escudero and company were criticized for their almost casual attire. The out-going Minority Leader countered that there was no dress code for the ceremonies. The rest of the Team Chiz volunteers could only swoon with satisfaction.
Escudero added that when they do not things traditionally, 'it's not necessarily rebellion, it's an admission that times have changed. That things cannot remain the same. We should learn from the past. If we keep doing the same things in the same manner, we will have the same results.'
Translating it to Gen X language, that would be, 'Don't say were rude, man.'
Since the three Generation X lawmakers are media-savvy with a very bright future ahead of them, they would be quite a force to reckon with in the Upper Chamber. I suggest that they make their own club like the Wednesday Group or the Cavalier's Club to consolidate and formalize their influence. I just hope that they do not call at as Gen X: Slackers of the Senate.
On the other hand, senior citizen re-electionist senator Edgardo Angara believes that it is actually the Gen X senators that will change as time passes. Maybe he is speaking from experience.
I am yearning for a new political rivalry of a different kind. Something like a Spice Boys versus Bright Boys competition. If a generational clash is the best that they could right now, then I am willing to take it. My Japanese classmate commented that Philippine politics may be crazy but it is definitely not boring as the Japanese Diet.
Finally. Senators who could discuss the nitty-gritty of our constitution and the importance of 'Reality Bites' and 'Dazed and Confused' to the history of world cinema in equal lengths.
Make us proud Gen X senators.
I want to say 'woah' every time you do something.
Note: I forgot to post this one.
1. They're still waoting for the separate complaint of Luli Arroyo.
2. The Arroyos are still looking at an Allan Cayetano-Ramon Tulfo Conspiracy. If they find sufficient evidence linking the two personalities, then they would file a consolidated complaint.
3. The majority did not understand the complaints.
4. Or...the First Family has yet to give the majority additional porks and perks.
5. Mike Arroyo had unexpected visitor in the person er ghost of Rene Cayetano.
6. Both parties are contemplating a less complicated procedure: a Mix Tag Team Match featuring Allan-Pia Cayetano and Mikey-Luli Arroyo. This could very well be an undercard match of the Batista-Bobby Lashley and King Booker-Mr. Kennedy fight this coming October in the Araneta Coliseum.
7. The majority got scared of the minority's "full force" appearance. They felt that it was hard to go up against a team composed of suspected communists, a former boxer (Roilo Golez) and a sumo wrestler (Ronaldo Zamora).
8. The majority thought that they were suppose to talk about Charter Change and not some ethical complaint. Overheard in JDV's office, "Sayang ang oras."
9. Mike Arroyo was not available to oversee the hearing. He was busy with his...what? More than forty libel cases?!
10. The majority had to postpone the hearing because they were needed by Gloria to console her from the dismal result of her European trip.
Minority Floor Leader Francis Escudero is confident that Congressman Allan Peter Cayetano will not be expelled by the Lower House. He said that even the majority will not dare do what the First Gentleman(?) wishes. Why?
Here's the answer of Escudero in a DZMM interview: Una na lang, sumusobra naman talaga at 'yung komentaryo na 'yon ay naririnig namin hindi lang sa hanay namin kung hindi pati sa hanay ng mayorya na sobra naman na 'yan dapat ay hindi na umabot sa puntong 'yan bakit naman pinapalaki.
Pangalawa, ang nasa kaisipan din siguro ng ilang mga miembro sa mayorya ay gulong ito na umiikot. Kapag ito ay nagawa sa mga nasa ilalim habang sila ay nasa ibabaw baka dumating ang panahon na gawin din sa kanila ng mga nasa ibabaw kapag sila naman ang nasa ilalim.
Check the link by clicking the title.
Here's now are the top ten reasons why the Lower House will not Expel Allan Peter Cayetano:
1. Unless they really want Rene Cayetano to haunt the Batasan...
2. The expulsion proceedings will hamper the Charter Change plans of the administration. Constantino Jaraula and his tribe does not like that idea.
3. This means that the minority will receive free media exposure.
4. This also means that majority will receive free criticisms.
5. Those who will vote to expel Cayetano will be balut-deprived for life.
6. Do you think the majority lawmakers(?) would want to see Dinky Soliman again in the Batasan gallery?
7. The administration congressmen are too tired. After exerting major effort in explaining the unexplainable and the impossible during the 2nd impeachment debates, they now have a new case to contend with - expulsion. I mean come on...we should give them a break. Remember not all of them are lawyers this might take a toll on their brain.
8. A Cayetano expulsion will give the opposition senators ideas on how to get rid off administration senators.
9. The Arroyo couple has little pork barrel to distribute after providing a lot for the impeachment turncoats and traitors.
10. If Cayetano will be expelled for lying...then you can be sure most if not all congressmen will be expelled too.
It just occured to me why not settle this issue through a cycling contest...between PIA CAYETANO AND WAY KURAT ZAMORA? That will be more entertaining.
Accompanied by his brother and son in the Lower House, Mike Arroyo filed a complaint against Representative Allan Peter Cayetano for (we know this by heart, all together now) PEDDLING LIES.
Not surprisingly, his fellow Atenean Prospero Nograles received the complaint. The bombastic majority floor leader assured that the complaint will be directed to the Ethics Committee. Aksyon agad, ika nga!
If Cayetano gets expelled for peddling lies, shouldn't Iggy Arroyo be expelled too for admitting that he was the real Jose Pidal?
Mikey? Come on, his movies are crimes against humanity. WE ALL SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST HIM.
Here are the ten possible outcomes if Cayetano gets expelled as congressman:
1. He will easily win in the 2007 Senatorial elections.
2. The ghost of Rene Cayetano will haunt the Arroyo couple - forever.
3. Anybody may assume Cayetano's vacated position as long as his family name is Tinga.
4. ABSCBN will revive their legal service program Companero y Companera. It will be hosted by Allan and Pia Cayetano. Talagang kapamilya. Oh, it will be directed by Lino Cayetano.
5. He will have a busy schedule accomodating all request for interviews by all TV stations.
6. He will be a regular guest in all the shows of ANC.
7. Speaking of ANC, they will produce another Square-Off program but with a reality TV twist. It will be a weekly debate pitting Cayetano against any member of the Arroyo clan he chooses.
8. The Taguig-Pateros representive will give Mike Arroyo not three but five balut. It means: GO TO HELL JOSE PIDAL.
9. The opposition will stage a fighting despidida party for Cayetano in front of the Batasan with Dinky Soliman singing If We Hold on Together once more.
10. Like his father, the life of the younger Cayetano will be dramatized in Maalaala Mo Kaya. Sam Milby will star as Cayetano while Rudy Meyer will play Mike Arroyo. The director? Lino Cayetano.
