Cream of the Crap

That’s not a typographical error. Crap. Not crop but crap. Crap is a slang word that means:

noun
1. an offensive term for nonsense, or something worthless or annoying
2. an offensive term for an act of passing solid waste matter out of the body through the anus
3. an offensive term for excrement

adjective
an offensive term meaning worthless, useless, or lacking in ability

verb
(past and past participle crapped, present participle crap·ping, 3rd person present singular craps)

an offensive term meaning to pass solid waste matter out of the body through the anus

So what’s with the ‘crap’ talk?

Well, yesterday I decided to browse the Team Chiz forum since I have not done so in days due to three research papers. There was a new forum member who calls himself Jose Pidol. Again - that’s not a typographical error. Pidol not Pidal.

To say the least, he is not a fan of Chiz Escudero which makes you wonder why he decided to join our forum. Well, he is actually not a fan of current politicians although he seems to have a soft spot for the Fake One.


Despite of my laidback sarcasm, I do have enough vitriolic ammunitions against people who personally attack other Team Chiz forum members. Let’s just say that Jose Pidol received some of it last night. It’s a Capricorn thing. We’re not showy with emotions but are quite fiercely loyal friends. Although I have not seen most of the forum members personally, I consider them friends. Anyone who dares to hurt them will be placed at the firing end of my tirades.

What did this Jose Pidol said that caused my irritation?

He said that I and the rest of the Team Chiz volunteers are CHEAP because we campaigned for him for free.
He said that our pictures with Chiz Escudero (which are proudly displayed as our forum signatures) should be subjected to Photoshop.

You can now make your evaluation whether this person is rational or not. But for the sake of rationality, let me answer his accusations.

Cheap is defined as:
adjective
costing little: low in price or cost, or lower in price than might reasonably be expected

charging little: charging low prices but offering good value

poor quality: inexpensive and of poor quality

worth little: worth little or accorded little value

undeserving of respect: not deserving to be respected

unfair: dishonorable, offensive, or unfair, especially in a way that seems obvious or calculated (a cheap trick)

stingy: stingy or unwilling to give freely

I am pretty sure that despite of his deficiency in reasoning, he is using the word ‘cheap’ as ‘undeserving of respect.’

Team Chiz members volunteered because we want to help Escudero. In the same manner, can Jose Pidol call the Gawad Kalinga volunteers cheap? Many criticizes the expenses incurred during elections. Isn’t volunteerism one way of lessening the expenditures? Team Chiz volunteers are not cheap. Call them altruistic.

Regarding the Photoshop issue, one forum member said that subjecting one’s picture to computer enhancements is the same as electoral cheatings. Deep. What he means is that both results to fake products.


Come on. Do I look like someone who needs the magic of Photoshop?

Now that I have defended my fellow Team Chiz members - let me defend myself.

Jose Pidol added that I may have had a Monica Lewinsky moment with Escudero as a payment for all my volunteer work. He also asked if it was ‘short.’ This guy got some class, noh?

Here are my answers.
I do not have a blue dress.
I rarely wear a dress.
I only met Chiz Escudero twice a) the first one was with a friend and a couple of 2bU Philippine Daily Inquirer staff and b) second was last week with four other Team Chiz members in the Senate building. It would be difficult to do a Lewinsky in front of others. The best alternative would be an orgy.

By now, my sarcasm has equaled my cholesterol level. )

However, what really caught my attention is that Jose Pidol called my blog a crap. Short of calling it a shi*t hole if you ask me. It is fine with me. I do not mind if you call my blog a crap or a piece of dirt rag stuck in the as* of a hydrophobic filthy hag. I do not mind.

Maybe if Manuel L Quezon III called my blog a crap then that would have affected me. But it was a certain forum member named Jose Pidol who does not have an ounce of analytical and grammatical skills as MLQ3 who called it a crap.

Lastly, this Jose Pidol threatened to cut off my wings. Wings? Yes. Phoenix? The Purple Phoenix? Phoenixes have wings.

I got some bad news for him. The phoenix does not die. Because of its ability of rebirth - it is almost an immortal creature. Like the mythical creature, the Purple Phoenix will not die. I am too good to be killed by your empty threats. Cut off my wings? Try me.

Unless he is talking about the wings of a sanitary napkin…

Here's a new development. As I was about to post this article, I opened my private messaging box in our forum and there were to messages of an apologetic Jose Pidol. Ang bilis naman. Ngayon pa lang ako ginaganahan.

Opposition Through and Through

Along with four devoted members of Team Chiz, I went yesterday to the Senate just to watch their session. Except for a few solons, almost every senator was present. The main discussion was about the stand of the body regarding Senator Antonio Trillanes.

It was a resolution passed by Senator Aquilino Pimentel. Administration lawmakers such as Juan Ponce Enrile, Richard Gordon, and Edgardo Angara questioned some of the 'whereas' parts. On the other had, Loren Legarda spent her time clarifying points that have been clarified by the others before her while Mar Roxas - I forgot what he said. Of course, I was waiting for only one man. He did not disappoint. Chiz Escudero expressed support on the resolution and proceeded to suggest further proposal for the situation of Trillanes. That made him a SENSIBLE opposition. How about the Gentleman from Maguindanao? He spent his time paraphrasing Escudero.

I am not being biased with my report since this also the whispered reactions of the audience in the gallery.

When the session adjourned, me and my friends excitedly exited the gallery just to see Escudero up close and personal. (Forgive the young and giddy girls.)He saw us and then invited five starstruck girls to his office.

Of course it does not take the proverbial rocket scientist to know how we felt while we are crammed in the elevator with Senator Escudero.

Of course it does not take another proverbial rocket scientiest to know how we felt when we were treated to a one-on-one discussion with him. Here are some excerpts of our conversation.

Question: Did he join the administration?
Answer: No. Definitely not. Voting for Manuel Villar does not make him an administration. The opposition him as a guest candidate and that made Villar part of the opposition. Joseph Estrada wanted the opposition to support the incumbent senate president and he simply followed their leader. In his own words, 'Parang ganito iyon. Hiniram mo ang MVP ng kalaban (referring to Villar) at pagkatapos na manalo kayo bigla niyo siyang iba-bangko.'

Question: How about the issue with Ping Lacson?
Answer: It's like 2004 all over agin when he refused to unite with FPJ which cost the opposition a controversial loss.

Question: How about the twins?
Answer: It is a boy and a girl.

(You know this one will be coming and you know that I was the one who asked this.)

Question: On a lighter side, how about your billboards sprouting all over the Metro?
Answer: (Laughs.) May bago nga. Alam niyo kung ano? Rexona. Meron daw silang heroes and icons at makakasama ko raw si Robin Padilla. Paputian kami ng kili-kili ni Robin.

The other parts of the interview will not be printed.

Sorry. The moment is quite priceless.

But it sure fortified my faith that he will be a sensible opposition through and through.

Points to Ponder

It's just the second month of school year and I already exhausted and exasperated because of school work. Add to the fact that I am getting paranoid from all the criticisms Senator Francis Escudero is getting from the blogsphere as well as in the Team Chiz forum.

I understand the reactions of the blogsphere. They make sense. But in our forum? Goodness...some of them are simply unreasonable. That exasperates me. They cannot understand a simple sentence such as, 'I run as an opposition and will remain an opposition.'

Can you understand it? If yes - then good - it shows that the Philippine educational system works.

Chiz will remain loyal with the opposition.

Here's a message from the administrator of Team Chiz regarding the issue.

Manny Villar ran for GO, in the last Senatorial Election, in Short opposition sya . bakit si Jinggoy Ejercito will be voting for Villar bakit hindi sya sinasabihan kumakampi kay GMA.

One of the main reasons bakit iboboto ni Chiz si Villar as Senate President is President Estrada ask him to . Hindi si Chiz gaya ng ibang GO candidates na maka sarili sususunood sya sa mga kasunduan na ginawa ng mga Pinuno ng GO ( Estrada at Binay )

Pimentel never ask Chiz to vote for him. He nevered approached Chiz, in fact si Chiz pa ang lumapit at nagtanong sa kanya ... ang sagot sa kanya di ko alam yan si Jamby ang nagiinitiate ... dyan lang pano mo bobotohin yung tao as Senate President kung di sya makasagot sa sarili nya.

Si Mar ang sabi kay Chiz iboto kahit sino hwag lang si villar... To which Chiz answered ... Di ikaw ang tumakbo sa Senate President ... i will vote for you ...

Chiz was ready to answer all the bad publicity pero pinigilan sya ni President Estrada ... Now is not the time . meron ba sa inyo nagduda na di kayang sagutin ni chiz ang mga kinakalat na bad publicity sa kanya ?

In time Chiz will answer this ... and there are a lot more reasons but i can not elaborate them without destroying the credibility of other GO candidates

Chiz is with the opposition and will remain with the opposition while GMA is seated in Malacanang.

If you tie this up to the article of Billy Esposo it fits perfectly well.

Points to Ponder
1. Why are Panfilo Lacson, Manuel Villar, and Mar Roxas ripping the opposition apart?
2. What is the reason of Jamby Madrigal for pushing a Pimentel presidency?
3. Why did Roxas decided to abandon his desire to run as senate president?
4. What is the agreement between Villar, Estrada, and Mayor Binay?

I have four more papers that is due next week. I just have to remind everyone that this is not the only issue worth blogging.

Bossi is still missing. The MILF is in a rampage. The Human Security Act will start its own rampage. And Paris Hilton is free again to inspire havoc.

The 2010 Elections: Much-Improved MacGuffin

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.

Please Do Not Disappoint Us

I have said my piece on a Manuel Villar Senate Presidency. Since the main personalities pushing for the leadership of Nene Pimentel are loaded with vested interests highlighted by Mar Roxas' 'level the playing field for 2010' strategy, I do not mind Francis Escudero voting for Mister Sipag at Tiyaga.

However, most people - including fiercely loyal Team Chiz volunteers - see this as an act of treachery. Traydor ng Bayan, as one activist netizen articulated in another forum. I've been a vocal supporter and staunch defender of Chiz Escudero. But I always put my principles first. When I was a third-grader my teacher in Sibika and Kultura asked me if I would still support my father who was a mayor if he gets embroiled in political scandals or corruption. Without second thoughts, I answered NO. I would still respect him as a father but never as a leader. My teacher was shocked. Maybe she was expecting an answer that would go in the lines of the adage 'blood is thicker than water.'

Trust me, if Chiz Escudero jumpships to the administration, I will stop supporting him...and even campaign against him. His cute picture firmly posted in the right side of this blog will see the end of its cyber exposure.

I am a supporter and a fan. If he changes his heart, damn all the Chiz scrapbooks that I made. It will immediately meet the element of fire. To hell with global warming!

But this is not the first time the rumor mill churned out gossips that Escudero will move to administration camp. The first time (correct me if I am wrong) is before the elections when Jose De Venecia floated the idea that the Sorsogoanon will be part of Team Unity. Escudero run under the Genuine Opposition banner. I even sent him an email message in his on-line office asking for reassurance of his opposition loyalty. He answered back saying that he will always be an oppositionist. I still keep a printed copy of that email reply.

Escudero explained that he will vote for Villar (or to be more precise, he is still hoping that the opposition will have a united stand in the issue) but will remain an OPPOSITION in pertinent national issues.

I believe him. I felt the same reassurance he gave me before. The thing with Escudero is that he may is a good talker but he talks with sincerity. I have seen and talked to a number of politicians because of my father's position...but only a few provides you a sense of sincerity. He is one of them.

Chiz Escudero has made public his desire to run for president in 2010. Moving to the administration camp is a political death wish. He knows it. He is not stupid.

But please sir, do not disappoint the more than 18 million Filipinos who voted for you.

Disappointment is a powerful reaction. It may cost your presidential aspirations.

Generation X Senators

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.

The Top Ten Crazy Things I did for Chiz Escudero

1. Wear yellow shirts. Yellow is my most hated color next to pink. Thank goodness I did not join Team Mike.

2. Wear my black Chiz shirt every Friday. Friday is Chiz shirt day as agreed by Team Chiz members. Since I hate yellow...I have to suffer the sweltering heat of the sun.

3. Buy Chiz shirts for rabid Escudero supporters.

4. Print around 500 solo pictures of Chiz Escudero as a replacement for flyers. Due to the great demand for Escudero campaign materials, there is usually shortage of paraphernalia. Thus, I decided to print 4R pictures as a substitute. It's quite a hit in our town. People literally mob me because of the precious photos.

5. Campaign in Iloilo (with fellow volunteer Liz) for 13 days. Read: I don't speak Ilonggo. But the food is great!

6. Campaign in Iloilo in front of the house of Raul Gonzales, Jr. Yes. He is the son of He who must be Shamed. After plastering a community in Mandurriao with striking Chiz stickers, a resident told us that the son of the DOJ secretary got angry. It is another demonstration of the old adage, 'the apple does not fall far from the tree.'

7. Create a series of Chiz Escudero scrapbooks. Team Chiz members have a habit of text brigading the latest magazine featuring Escudero. So if the June 11-18 issue of Biz News Asia sells more than the usual...Tony Lopez, you have to thank us.

8. Convince my non Chiz fan parents to vote for him. I am so good in persuading them that they even campaign for the senator-elect from Sorsogon. During the early part of the campaign season, my mother twisted her ankle, but that did not stop from trekking wet markets in order to campaign for the young lawmaker. My secret in persuasion? Good old voodoo. Kidding.

9. Write - as in manually write his name in sample ballots. Since I was not able to obtain stickers, I had to convince a few others to write his name in several hundreds of sample ballots. Our work paid off. Escudero obtain 78% of the votes in our town. Number one.

10. Engage taxi drivers in small talks (sometimes long discussions) about - who else - Chiz Escudero. I once rode a taxi manned by a Bicolano driver. When he learned that I was a volunteer and a half-Bicolana, I got a discount. Not bad.

Note: if Escudero decides to run for higher office (which he most certainly will), this list may include eating live chicken, swallowing swords, and convincing Raul Gonzales, Jr. to campaign and vote for the soon-to-be father of twins.

No to Bread Price Hike!

One of the press releases of Senator-elect Francis Escudero during the campaign period is about the possible consequence of food shortage due to the bio-fuel or alternative fuel craze. For lack of better word, I’ll call it a craze. Anyway, it’s not yet a lifestyle. He said that there could be a shortage because farmers might be more enticed to plant alternative fuel-related crops than – let’s say – rice. I thought that he has a point but I would not believe the shortage scenario just yet.

The name Thomas Malthus is synonymous with famine. He said that overpopulation could lead to food shortage and eventually, world famine. It’s possible. However, Malthus didn’t take into account a couple of things – science and technology. These twin factors prevented a worldwide nightmare. And these also stopped me from totally accepting the food shortage explanation of Escudero.

His comment is not in any way a dig to fellow candidate Juan Miguel Zubiri. I guess the outgoing Sorsogon representative knows a thing or two on food production as well as shortage since his father was a former head of the Department of Agriculture in which the National Food Authority is part of. (You should have seen the overwhelming support given to Chiz by NFA-Iloilo. Raul Gonzales’ financial reward has no effect whatsoever.)

The point I’m making is that: the price of bread might increase! As if expanded value-added taxes are not enough. The price of good quality flour has increased (from P510/ 25 kilos to P520/ 25 kilos). Simple economics would tell you that if the price of raw material increases, the price of the manufactured product also increases. What’s really scary is the explanation for the said price alterations.

The problem is felt worldwide. Less wheat is harvested because more farmers are attracted to plant corn since it is use as an alternative fuel. See. There is a grain (pun intended) of truth to Escudero’s claim.

Please spare bread! Please spare the noble bread! It is my 24/7 food intake every school semester.

Choosing between clean air (bio-fuels) and a full stomach (affordable bread) is like choosing between Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. You cannot choose. It is best-consumed as a combination.

It is commendable that we are doing something to slow down the effects of global warming but this should not displace other things of importance such as food production. Even the G.H.W Bush-anointed Ozone Man, Al Gore would agree.

I tell you…expensive pan de sal does not really taste good. Even if you put cheese…and eat it with Chiz.

Still Gaining Momentum

Note: there are a number of administration blog and forum assassins out there but this entry is for all hard-working volunteers of Genuine Opposition senatorial bet Francis Escudero especially members of Team Chiz.

The trust rating surveys...the consistent magic five ranking...not to mention the twins...Sorsogon representative Francis Escudero is riding high on a tidal wave of momentum going to the last stretch of the campaign.

Holy Mock-arel
In a mock polls conducted by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting last April 9, Escudero got the most votes among priests in the Diocese of Bacolod. Just like the surveys, the result was dominated by Genuine Opposition bets. Equally stunning is the strong showing of the three Kapatiran bets.

Another Endorsement
Rumors are buzzing that the powerful Iglesia ni Kristo has already endorsed two senatorial candidates, Mike Defensor and Francis Escudero. Though I am not quite familiar with Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy - Sun Star Davao has described him as one of the most popular religious leaders whom politicians court come election time. He decided to reveal his magic 12 on the 25th of April - his birthday. This should make the volunteers of Chiz smile, 'Moreover, Quiboloy told Sun.Star Davao that almost all of the senatorial candidates, administration, opposition, and independents, have sought his endorsement. But aside from Pangilinan, it was only senatorial aspirant Francis Escudero whom the pastor mentioned as a good choice.'

Tony Awards
Please correct me if I'm wrong, is Antonio Lopez of Biz News Asia and Tony Lopez of Manila Times - one and the same? Well I thought that he would be the last person - well - third person (after Alex Magno and Domini Torevillas) to notice surge in Escudero's campaign. But...surprise...surprise...look at his column. Among the congressmen running for senators, lawyer Chiz Escudero is making the best showing. He improved his rating from 23.2 percent (6.96 million votes) in January to 45.3 percent (13.59 million votes) in April, a gain of 22.1 percentage points, or 6.75 million votes. The affable Bicolano with a pedestrian sartorial taste climbed from a losing position, at No. 13, in January to No. 3, a dizzying 10-rung pole vault.

Much credit to his amazing campaign should go to Chiz Escudero. But I guess all volunteers (Team Chiz members included) should take deserving bow. Congratulations and keep up the good work. Sugod!

The Cheating has Started

Try surfing Votester. It is a beta site that allows Yehey members to vote their preferred senatoriables and party-lists representatives.

Francis Escudero has been leading the tally for quite some time. He is followed by fellow oppositionists Antonio Trillanes IV and Panfilo Lacson. Yesterday (March 14), the 2bU section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer published an article regarding the website. It mentioned that although the votes of Chiz is not an indicator whether he would be the next Mr Palengke, it still show that the youth are indeed watching the election season.

I browsed Votester and to my surprise Mike Defensor placed second. It would not have come as a surprise except that he never figured in the Top 6. What is more shocking is that he suddenly reached the 100 vote mark. As one fellow Team Chiz member observed, Chiz received a normal 20-30 votes in one day while Mike gathered around 50-60 votes.

Since I am a big CSI fan, I decided to investigate. Based on the testimonials of Defensor in the site, most of his 'supporters' visited Votester from March 14 to 15. On the other hand his critics commented on March 3 or 4. See the discrepancy? In addition, noticed that the 2bU article was published on March 14.

I would not be surprised if Tol's 'supporters' voted in droves as a reaction to the article.

But this was not the first time. Remember ANC's Face-Off? For some unexplainable reason, despite the competence of Escudero the former presidential chief of staff kept on piling the text votes.

The cheating has definitely started.

But I guess most Filipinos know the truth. They know it very well that they are rewarding the Sorsogon lawmaker a high ranking in the surveys.

Master of the Mock Elections

After topping the senate staff and SSS mock elections, Francis Escudero placed number 1 in the Ateneo de Davao mock polls.

Here is the complete article.

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/12 March) – The Opposition’s Rep. Francis “Chiz” Escudero topped the March 9 automated mock polls held at the Ateneo de Davao University, with 170 out of 194 votes cast.

The lone Mindanawon bet who joined the Magic 12 at number 12 is Juan Miguel Zubiri with 85, or half the number of votes Escudero got.

For party-list groups, Kabataan topped the polls with 52 votes followed by Gabriela (45), Bayan Muna (34), Anak Mindanaw (7) and Abanse! Pinay (5).

Posted in the university website, the Ateneo de Davao choice of the Senate 12 is a mix between administration and opposition – five each from Team Unity and Genuine Opposition and two “Independents” (Francis Pangilinan and Manny Villar who is also included in the GO slate).

Escudero topped the senatorial race way ahead of Social Weather Stations (SWS) toprunner, Pangilinan, who received 158 votes with Villar following closely behind with 157. Villar ranked third, too, in the SWS survey.

The rest of the candidates and their votes: Joker Arroyo (146, TU); Ralph Recto (138, TU); Benigno Aquino II (132, GO); Loren Legarda (131, GO); Alan Peter Cayetano (115, GO), Edgardo Angara (108, TU), Panfilo Lacson (107, GO); Mike Defensor (98, TU); and Zubiri (TU) with 85.

Former Senator John Osmena (70, GO), Aquilino “Coco” Pimentel (55, GO) and Prospero Pichay (50, TU).

The Botong Pinoy Mock Elections was spearheaded by the Social Involvement Coordinating Office (SICO) through its director, Ma. Teresa Isidor in coordination with the SAMAHAN Central Board's (Student Council) President, Patricia Silva and its Secretary General, Denise Subido.

The mock elections made use of "touch screen" equipped computer stations located at the ground floor of Thibault Hall. The computers had pictures of senatorial and party list candidates on which the "voters" could click or select using a finger and the system printed the ballot with the list of chosen candidates.

Alfred Padlan of Mega Group of Computer Companies said the automated mock polls showed that elections using computers can work.

The Botong Pinoy Mock Elections was open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and was done simultaneously in Dumaguete, La Union, Los Banos and Manila, Padlan said. The results were immediately sent to the server in Manila but the results of the mock polls in the other areas were not posted in the Ateneo de Davao website.


I only hope that he would also win in the real elections. Am I right Team Chiz?

Chiz Escudero Gains Momentum

Moving Up
In the last SWS survey, Escudero hovered around the dangerous 10th to 11th spot. The latest survey however shows that he has advanced to the sixth to seventh spot.

Two out of Two
Last month, Francis Escudero topped the mock elections of senate employees garnering 535 out of the possible 738 votes. Today, he again ranked first in a mock polls among SSS employees. That's two out of two. I'd like to tell all the members of Team Chiz that this is a cause for celebration but our real celebration should be held after the last vote is counted.

Fiery Friendster
Some candidates are taking the battle over the popular site Friendster. I read in one of the papers that Miguel Zubiri was surprised that he already had 175 (as of the last counting 177) friends. Chiz has more than 300 friends in his SECOND ACCOUNT. His first account reached the quota of 1000 friends so he has to create another one. By the way, Vic Magsaysay has a Friendster account.

Second Wave
Maintaining aesthetic taste, Escudero will be seen in his second television ad. You could view it here

Video Chronology of the Senate Candidacy of Chiz

The Filing of the Candidacy
The day before he filed his candidacy, the Jose De Venecia was quoted in a newspaper interview that the lawmaker from Sorsogon might join Team Unity. On the 30th of January, Escudero filed his candidacy to quell the nasty rumors.

Named as One of the UNO Candidates
Congressman Escudero made it to the first installment of senate slate announcement of the United Opposition.


Presentation of Opposition's Complete Line-up
He's not in the video but his father was.


Start of the Campaign
Chiz launches campaign via Internet chat.

On the Campaign Trail
It's really a no-brainer why this guy gets mobbed by people. Can you spell G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S?

Meeting with Estrada
With the opposition's most important endorser - apart from the Filipinos.

The Iconic Ness on the Icon in the Making

Alma Moreno is pop culture icon. Seriously. The dance numbers that defined the decade that was the '80s. The camp movies that made Philippine Cinema more...uhmmm...interesting. Plus the memorable mangled English that gave Melanie Marquez stiff competition. Loveliness...

Who would have thought that the former sex symbol knows how to choose a senatorial candidate? In an interview she praised opposition candidate Francis Escudero of his intellect and cool manner. But of course, she still let out a classic Alma Moreno moment. She said that 'gusto kong magpakuha ng picture sa kanya.' So...the next time the two crosses path, do not be surprised if Escudero is taking a picture of Moreno. Gusto niyang magpakuha ng picture sa kanya HINDI niya gustong magpakuha KASAMA siya.

Last question: Ate Ness, ang picture ba na yan ay for here or for Vandolph?

If you understand the question above, it could only mean two things:
1. You're old enough to have seen Alma Moreno in her heydays.
2. You're quite adept with Filipino showbiz trivia. In short, chismosa ka.

Here's the URL address of the video.
You Tube Video of Alma Moreno Praising Chiz Escudero

Let's Get Ready to Rumble

Campaign officially starts today. Whew. It's a good thing that my father is running in the local arena which means I still have time to manage my increasing stress. My father is aligned with the administration BUT until now...he is just SURE of two senatoriables. And they are not part of the so-called Team Unity. By just looking at blog, IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS that the lawmaker from Sorsogon is one of the lucky two.

Though, he's thinking of voting for one member of Team Unity. Here's a clue: his campaign tag before was UBUSIN ANG MGA CORRUPT. He spearheaded the impeachment of a certain Jose Velarde but he seems oblivious of Jose Pidal since he decided to run under Team Unity. Hmmm...

I have a 31-page case to analyze and submit this afternoon but I just have to see the newly improved and spanking site of Chiz Escudero. Must I say...it is really nice! Plus you can hear his campaign jingle that was inspired by one of my favorite bands Sandwich. The song is the ultra-catchy 'Sugod.' The jingle goes something like this: Sugod kasama si Chiz/Boses natin sa Senado/...

Thank goodness he did not chose a Lito Camo composition.

For the uninitiated, Sandwich is one of those bands that have been successful in evading the baduy music territory. Led by the amazing Raimund Marasigan (formerly of Eheads), they have won awards left and right thanks to their musicality and astig music videos. Marie Jamora is a goddess!

It will take months before we know how the midterm elections will end. But I'm pretty sure that it WILL NOT be clean. Why? Should I enumerate the reasons? Isn't it obvious?
1. COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos
2. DILG Secretary Ronnie Puno
3. DND Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane
4. AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon
5. President Gl...
... I forgot she did not won the elections...
5. Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

If this administration will suffer the same fate as Dubya then it's all good.

We will not forget the Ghost of Garci. I will make sure my friends and family will not forget the Ghost of Garci. Sorry is not enough.

As the great Dixie Chicks sang, 'I'm not ready to make nice/I'm not ready to back down/I'm still mad as hell/And I don't have time/To go round and round and round/It's too late to make it right/I probably wouldn't if I could/Cause I'm mad as hell/Can't bring myself to do what it is/You think I should.

I'm not ready to make nice but I am ready to vote.

Don't Move My Chiz

Steps on Quelling Administration-fuelled Rumors
1. Immediately file your candidacy.
2. Bring the lady who said that the Fake One stole the presidency 'not once but twice' with you.
3. Bring your beautiful wife with you. Why? Why not?
4. Hear mass then walk to COMELEC. Be ready for screaming female fans.
5. Articulately answer the media regarding the rumors.

That is just what House Minority Leader Francis Escudero did last Tuesday. If not for a midterm examination, I would have gone to COMELEC and scream with the mob - enlightened mob.

It's the start of the yellow fever. It's official, we should all say Chiz this elections.

By the way, who was the cretin who made remarks that Chiz might move to the Dark Side? Jose De Venecia. So why is the Speaker not saying anything right now? It's hard to make comments when you're not even sure if you can keep you congressional seat. They say the future of JDV is bleak and dark - as in madiLIM. Plus, how can you keep your confidence when rumors are swirling that Luis Villafuerte will be the next House Speaker. God forbid!

Anyway, the first line in my ballot will read Francis Joseph Escudero.

A certain Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin said before that 'a dinner which ends without cheese is like a beautiful woman with only one eye.'

Well...a senate which ends without Chiz is like a beautiful woman with only one eye.

One Vote at a Time

The latest Newsbreak has Chiz Escudero and two other aspiring senators in cover. I immediately bought a copy the moment I saw it in my favorite newsstand. As I was admiring my favorite lawmaker, a woman commented that he speaks eloquently.

I'm pretty sure he's not referring to the other 'Francis' also known as Mr Sharon Cuneta. So I instinctively replied, 'Eto po bang naka-shades na semi-cal?' She nodded. Then I added that he is running for senator this coming elections. She smiled and said that he will vote for him.

One vote at a time... then we can all finally address the current House Minority Floor Leader as Mr Senator. Or simply...Chiz.

Two Hours with Chiz Escudero

The good people of 2bu Inquirer granted my request to have a photo with signature of Francis Escudero. They did more than that...they gave me a chance to talk with Chiz. Pictures will be uploaded later. Sosolohin ko muna.

Having met a number of politicians before, one thing that differentiates Chiz from the rest is that I did not feel AND he did not make me feel that he was a politician.

(Ang bango ni Chiz!)

He was very accomodating in answering questions that are mostly not related with politics.

(Ang gwapo ni Chiz!)

When I saw his car (Alam ko ang plate number, fan ako eh.), all of the questions that I wanted to ask him popped in my head. However, when he shook my hand, nakalimutan ko na lahat.

(Ang gandang ngumiti ni Chiz!)

Along with 2bu's Tammy and Leslie and my friend Roxy (rhyming pa), we talked about almost everything - from Angelina Jolie to Mar Roxas...of course, may mga CHIZmis - which will not be posted in the blog.

(Ang galing magsalita ni Chiz!)

Thank you po talaga Sir. You made my Christmas and upcoming birthday memorable.

But of course, thank you to the staff of 2bu who knows how to make a person happy.
It's nice to know that there are still people who are willing to grant simple wishes. I remember a movie director once said that life is made up of moments. You will never completely remember everything that happend to you but what will stand out are those moments that made you laugh or cry, smile or frown. You will not recognize the gold bar just the glitters that shone brightly in time.

Nakita lang si Chiz naging poetic na.

Sige thank you na rin sa makulit kong friend na si Roxy.

All I can say is that siguradong may boto ka na sa 2007 elections.

I wanted to skip the cheesy part but...this is really a Merry CHIZmas!

Chiz Fans Out There

CLICK the title of this entry and you'll be directed to the official website of House Minority Leader Francis Joseph Escudero.

Of course, this is all about the upcoming elections. But damn it, he's so hot in that suit and yellow tie!

The site is still under construction but I don't mind visiting it everyday. (That yellow shirt looks so good on him!)

Okay. So it seems that I'm just drooling over the pictures and not reading the essential articles posted in his site...but...the truth?

I have clipped those articles and is now part of my Chiz Escudro Scrapbook.

Goodness.

Damn. He's so hot!
That suit.

That tie.

That smile.

The Death of a Butanding

I have forgotten to write this piece of news. It concerns the death of a whale shark -more popularly known here as the butanding. It's a gentle giant of sea creature that feeds on planktons.

In the early days of September, a butanding was hacked to death (by bolo, experts presumed) in Camarines Sur. Poor fellow. It was indeed tragic.

However, my malicious mind could not help but paint a bit of political color in the light of this environmental tragedy. Severals weeks before the tragedy, the second impeachment against Mrs. Arroyo was hacked to death (by pork barrel, the public believed) by her allies in the Congress. The murderous spree was led by Edcel Lagman and fellow Bicolano lawmaker Luis Villafuerte.

Uhmmm...in which part of the Bicol region did Villafuerte came from? Camarines Sur, right.

Uhmmm...but the butanding is commonly seen in which part of the Bicol region? Sorsogon, right. Donsol in particular.

Uhmmm...in which part of the Bicol region did Minority Floor Leader and oppositionist Francis Escudero came from? Sorsogon, right. Sorsogon.

Is it a case of karma?

Napadaan lang sa Camarines Sur yung inosenteng butanding namatay na. Joke lang.