NOT ANOTHER MIKE ARROYO, PLEASE!

Nobody can deny that Filipinos have been traumatized having Mike Arroyo as the other half of our current president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. With the number of scams and issues of graft and corruption connected to the first family name ever since PGMA’s term started, especially the ever so famous and extravagant ZTE deal. It’s no joke to conclude that somehow, the person who sits more besides, eats more with, and sleeps more with the person in authority gain more than what we expected. Despite the fact, that right now, PGMA holds the highest position in our country, still it is undeniable that she’s still found herself submissive to his husband and his decision.

And with this, somehow, the Filipino deserves to see if there’s a threat for another FG Arroyo. Although, unlike the Arroyo couples who’s issue was so natural and well-accepted, what’s with this aspirant couple was something less likely yet more different since the decision-maker was no other than the woman to her husband.

And if you haven’t got enough idea who this power wife is, you may probably the list of 2009 wedding of the year or maybe some noontime shows ready to take full take full indulgence with wedding proposals of rich politicians to their famous celebrity partners. And I guess people should also check Twitter if ever to see their latest love cheesiness updates.

Well, anyways, I won’t deprive the public knowing who this couple is… They’re no other than Vice President aspirant Mar Roxas and her wife Korina Sanchez bidding for the public’s votes to gain authority in the Philippines again.

Some among us had already had bad vibes regarding Sanchez, who they tagged as the other “Imelda” and who for me was the “female Mike Arroyo”. Korina’s lifestyle was one of the most talked about issues when you’ve mentioned her name. Her precious choices of clothes and accessories are really astonishing. But do Filipinos are aware of Korina and her BMW issue.

It has been said that Korina Sanchez failed to pay the amortization of her new car, and instead of fulfilling such, responsibilities, she even attack them abusing her privileges as a media personnel. Yet no evidence was kept around the web, and we must praise Sanchez for such an effort in deleting those negative feedbacks before Roxas run for candidacy.

If people like this are capable of mandating some decisions to our country’s leader, then let’s not expect for progress. These types are political leeches and parasites who’ll soon take advantage of our country’s wealth. Mar Roxas maybe a so-so candidate yet still with his leech wife, I couldn’t imagine what will happen to Philippines if he will be elected.

WOULD WE EVER KNOW?

Mar Roxas keeps on saying he’s a man of respect and yet he uttered the most horrible cursing in Filipino language --- ‘putang ina’.

He even did not apologize for it when he stood up for his chance of a privilege speech.

What Cursing does
As what Kapirasong Kritika said on his wordpress blog, typical curses like ‘ulo’, ‘gago’, ‘tanga’ and ‘putang-ina’ might have loosened their original meanings from generations to generations, causing them to be cliché. Or that they have become cliché, which eventually caused them to lose their original meanings.

Every sane man would agree on the above statement.

Cursing has always been bringing a negative impact on an individual as a whole. It degrades, directly or indirectly, everyone you pertain to. Albeit brought by an intense emotional state, one should still refrain from criticizing someone via cursing.

Why mar unbarred the rule
One, he is totally hyped up by the Arroyo dishonesty. Two, he just wants publicity.

Regarding the first reason, which Mar admits he actually did, he would not gain anything. Why? Because everyone is standing on the same boat with him – everyone is on the Arroyo-hate-wagon. You would not be visibly seen if you’re on a tight crowd, would you?

So, in order to make yourself stand out, you have to do something. You can either volunteer to be a tool for other leaders, or you can just do it your own way. Mar did the latter.

And to stand out taller, he used something odd; something a respectable politician would not do – cursing crisply.

Everyone eventually chorused in confusion after he shouted ‘putang ina’ in a huge audience. He is obviously hyped-up that night, but he is nowhere near the desperate situation of calling the inutile administration with such disrespectful phrase.

After that…
After the YouTube video of the said incident hit millions, the Mar Roxas gang of advisers released an infomercial, titled ‘Murang Gamot’. This is to soften the recently branding of Mar as a tough-tough ‘hoodlum’, brought about by the ‘putang ina’ trend.

Not convinced, Filipinos on-line dragged up the ad and compared it more to the cursing incident.

‘MURAng gamot pala (Cheap Medicine after all), hindi pagmu-MURA (Not Cheap cursing)!

There it is. A revelation of Mar Roxas façade as an emotionally-driven character. Fitting everything up in the puzzle, this is one big shot publicity campaign. Would we say ‘Go Mar on 2010!’, then?

MAR ROXAS’ EFFORTS ON LOWERING DRUG PRICES, A FAKE

Last January 2009, there were advertisements aired on TV bragging about Liberal Party vice presidential bet Senator Mar Roxas’ efforts on making the prices of medicines lower for the benefit of the poor. The TV ad just appeared to be the senator’s strategy to build his campaign for the 2010 presidential elections. According to a blog posted by Wawam on wordpress.com, the Roxas campaign was committing a strategic blunder which is definitely true. The advertising of Roxas’ brand promotional campaign indeed turned a blind eye on realities.

As far as one can remember, Roxas promised a 50 % cut on the prices of 21 ESSENTIAL but EXPENSIVE medicines on all pharmaceutical firms which were actually implemented. The so-called Executive Order No. 821 imposed price cuts on anti-hypertensive, anti-cholesterol, anti-bacterial and anti-cancer medicines. These includes the anti-cancer drugs Cytarabine with a price ranging from P240 to P1, 980 and Doxorubicin and all their salt form which amounts from P1, 465 to P2, 265.74. Take note on the prices of the above mentioned medicines, is that the actual essential drugs bought by the poor Filipino families?

Senator Roxas is claiming that he is pro-poor Filipinos and that his heart is with the poor. Is he saying that just as a promotional campaign for his vice-presidency? We hope not.

Moreover, if Roxas is really caring for the welfare of the financially incapable Pinoys, then why did he excluded the real essential and most commonly taken medicines purchased by the most people in his much boasted Executive Order No.821? The medications for colds, coughs, fever and flu, headaches, allergies, diabetes, diarrheal infection and so on are the drugs where the prices should be slashed on. It causes more headaches in extending the Filipinos’ budget and pockets whenever there is an unwanted and unexpected illness in the family. Isn’t he just concerned with the benefit of his well-off friends who can afford the medicines he mentioned in his executive order? Or maybe, it is really just another ad to uphold his little good deeds and to endorse his name in the upcoming election polls.

KORINA SANCHEZ, MORALLY UNHEALHTY?

Nararapat ba siyang tumayo bilang maybahay ng susunod na pangalawang pangulo

Mga paratang kay Korina

Sa mga nagdaang taon, sari-saring isyu na ang ibinato sa beteranang broadcaster na si Korina Sanchez. Ilan dito ang diumano’y pagmamaltrato niya sa kanyang mga katulong. Hindi man kapani-paniwala, paano nangyaring nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob ang kanyang mga kasambahay na magsampa ng reklamo laban sa kanya?

Isa na rito si Bernardita Inocencio, 42, dating kasambahay ni Korina. Inakusahan ng nasabing katulong ang journalist ng pambubugbog at hindi pagre-remit ng SSS contributions. Pinatunayan naman ito ng SSS sa inisyu nilang certification. Ayon sa SSS section head na si Charisse Castro, si Inocencio nga ay may coverage sa SSS para sa December 2000, ngunit nabayaran lamang iyon ni Sanchez noong January 3, 2002. Nagbayad lamang daw si Korina matapos ang magsampa ng kaso ang kampo ni Inocencio laban sa kanya, ayon sa abugado ng nagrereklamo na si Atty. Mel “Batas” Mauricio. Wala na rin daw halaga ang nasabing pagtugon dahil ang “krimen” ng hindi pagbabayad ay naisagawa na, dagdag pa ni Mauricio.

Maliban sa hindi pagbibigay ng SSS contributions, inakusahan din ni Inocencio si Sanchez at ang kanyang sinasabing kasintahan na si Paul Aquino ng pambubugbog. Nangyari daw ang pagmamaltrato sa condo unit ni Aquino kung saan nag-part time daw si Inocencio. Ayon sa katulong, sinaktan daw siya ng magkasintahan matapos siyang magpaalam na aalis na sa kanilang poder bilang kasambahay. Samantala, pinabulaanan naman ni Sanchez ang bintang at inakusahan naman si Inocencio ng pagnanakaw ng kanyang mamahaling bracelet.

Sa nasabing isyu, hindi talaga malalaman kung sino ang nagsasabi ng totoo, si Korina Sanchez ba na isang broadcaster at kilalang tao, o si Bernardita Inocencio na isang kasambahay na naghahangad lamang kumita para mabuhay ang pamilya? Hindi rin maituturing na kung anuman ang kinahinatnan ng imbestigasyon ay iyon din ang totoong nangyari. Kung walang magsasabi ng tapat at totoo, tanging Diyos lang ang nakakaalam noon. Bilang isang public figure, natural lamang na ipagtanggol ni Korina ang sarili laban sa mga hindi magagandang akusasyong idinidikit sa pangalan niya. Bilang isang katulong, ano naman ang mapapala ni Inocencio kung gumagawa nga lang siya ng ingay? Aanhin naman niya ang publicity? Hindi naman siya artista o pulitiko.

Mar Roxas bilang Bise Presidente

Kamakailan lamang ay ikinasal sina Korina Sanchez at Mar Roxas na isa sa mga kandidato sa pagkapangalawang pangulo. Idinaos pa nga ng dalawa ang proposal sa isang noon-time show. Ito ba ay upang pakiligin ang sambayanan? O parte na ito ng kanilang kampanya para sa nalalapit na eleksyon?

Sa kabilang banda, nararapat ba si Mar para kay Korina, at si Korina para kay Mar? Hindi kaya ang pagpapakasal niya kay Korina ang magdadawit sa kanyang pangalan sa mga eskandalong kinasasangkutan ng newscaster? Hindi yata magandang tingnan na ang susunod na pangalawang pangulo ay palaging nasasangkot sa mga gulo ng kanyang asawa. Malaki rin ang magiging impluwensiya ni Korina kay Roxas. Maaaring maapektuhan nito ang pamamalakad ng asawa sa kanyang bayan. Kung nananakit na si Sanchez, ano pa kaya kapag ang asawa niya ay naluklok na sa puwesto? Hindi malabong maging isa si Roxas sa mga pulitikong mapagsamantala sa kapangyarihan dulot ng kanyang asawa.

PUBLIC SERVICE OWNS NO LIMIT

For such a public servant and a government official, the primary goal is to serve the nations and to be a responsible model to all. Although, in the Philippine politics, it is more likely to be this way, that a representative of another generation of a certain clan will pursue what his ancestors have done before. But achievements only contribute to a name and not to the person itself, though, in fact, these can be use as an edge to others. Leadership and sincerity is not transmitted thru genes at all,

This inheritance of authority doesn’t justify anything at all. The Filipinos shouldn’t be moved to vote someone for the reason that his ancestor has done this. The country doesn’t owe anything to its leaders, because it is their task to do so but, the leader should pay exert effort to compromise with the trust given by their people.

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In relation to this, aside from the topping presidential bid Noynoy Aquino, Mar Roxas, the grandson of late President Manuel Roxas, is one good example. It doesn’t mean that since Mar Roxas is cleared and was qualified enough to stand for any position in our country.

Though, the web failed to provide a concise biography of Mar, still people was pushed to be skeptic about it and how in just a glimpse the people was oriented to this Mr. Palengke. One day, the Philippines was watching television with Korina Sanchez confirming her relationship with Mar Roxas.

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Right now, people were questioning Mar Roxas about the certain exclusion of some medicine from the Cheaper Medicine Act. It is said that those medicines excluded were produced by companies owned by Mar’s friend. That Mar Roxas concern for the poor was somehow defeated by his biased accommodation for his peers.

If he really wanted to help people, he should make these medicines be selected for the poor. He should have considered the possibility of those medicines to be needed by the poor.