Sorry I really had to repost :)
I am trying to be as objective as possible.
Random thoughts so far:
- It seems that only Gilbert Teodoro, Dick Gordon and Noynoy Aquino have experience in extemporaneous public speaking. They use their two minutes wisely.
- All this talk about God and the need for spiritual revolution is cute, and I understand that Christians see that as a need, but also the Philippines is not a country exclusive to Christians, and even the term Christian has a lot of subclasses under it, so I’m not sure that it’s entirely fair to the Filipino people to have so much of this God talk being tied in with governance. Christians ought to be guided by their relationship with Jesus, yes, but in relation to other people, well, Jesus touched the leper.
- Nakakatawa si Erap. Sobrang nakakatawa si Erap. All biases against him aside, I see how he has endeared himself to the Filipino people. He doesn’t seem so very smart, particularly since he doesn’t really answer the question, because I suspect he doesn’t really understand, as he did not really understand the mechanics of the forum. But also I think he is much better informed than our biases allow us to believe. He seems to have memorized some pretty nice lines—I say he owes it to the good advisers on his side.
- Nick Perlas and JC Delos Reyes (sino?) clearly do not have a full grasp of what they are getting themselves into. They try rhetoric, but the trying doesn’t quite cut it. They are sure of what they stand for, but seem not to understand the difficulties that they will encounter in actually translating these ideals into action, getting it through the legislative process, and pitting it against the bureaucracy. It’s a lot more complicated than it looks. Everyone has good intentions. It’s balls that make a strong government.
- Brother Eddie, forgive me, feels like a load of crap. It ticks me off like hell (the comparison is intentional, mind you) that he refers to himself in the third person. His English is difficult to understand, not that I can be fooled by empty rhetoric, but that bad speaking is, in fact, a hindrance to effective communication. He says “no-nonsense” a lot, like it’s a word that he rehearsed. He is clearly not stupid. BUT HE SHOULD STOP QUOTING DAMMIT. I get irritated with “restoring dignity” and such, like the FIlipino has no dignity just because his government is ineffective. I was under the impression that dignity was innate. And again, we all want change, it’s useless to keep saying it. It all lies in the doing. Si GMA lang naman ang may ayaw ng pagbabago. Tsaka yung bestfriend niyang si Ampatuan.
- Dick Gordon is very intelligent, sensible and eloquent, but he seems to have an augmented view of himself. Dick Gordon is Upsilonian. He is clear about what he wants, seems capable enough. He just might make an effective executive. I’ll be looking out for more.
- Strong rhetoric often sounds angry, I think. Just saying.
- I think we all understand that the Philippines has moral problems. We do need revival from within, as Gordon said, not just a change of men, but a change in men. I think, however, that it is not necessarily the job of the government to change people. That happens on a much more personal level. We impact people up close. I think, however, it is the government’s job to create a country where people can exercise this change. As it is, we are in a country where good character is suppressed by a flawed system. The domain of the government is more largely the system than it is the character.
- Noynoy Aquino is quite a surprise. He sounds sensible enough. He talks fast, seems well-informed, with more of his father living in him than I had expected. I think his reluctance for power is a strength. But like Cory it can also be his great weakness. Before this forum I didn’t think he had balls, or at least that avoided them (notice how he walks?). But I see a ray of light—a much stronger resolve than I had expected. Although if he wants to win an election, he has to work much harder than this. Get a stylist. And also put a knot on the little sister’s mouth. Maybe showing off the pretty girlfriend wouldn’t hurt. Most importantly, show us that we should vote for him, HIM, not his parents. We already did that, and they’re dead now, and that’s sad, but it’s time to move on.
- Gilbert Teodoro is oozing with potential. Very qualified, very winnable, trophy wife to boot. He gives straight and intelligent answers, besting Gordon by not sounding quite as angry and without as much shameless self-promotion, and Noynoy by carrying himself with more grace and much greater sense. To be sure, I am appalled that he is on the administration’s side of things. I understand that he is attempting not to bite the hand that feeds him, but I expected more conviction from him regarding GMA’s cheap, perfectly-calculated, it’s-horrible-and-you-know-it’s-gonna-happen-you-wanna-throw-up-all-over-her-goddamn-face move to run for congress that strangely gives me the same sensation as Carlo F (change of middle initial is intentional) Caparas’ National Artist win. So he can either be really just an impressive jackass, or just playing it safe while he is not yet in a position of advantage over GMA.
- Gilbert Teodoro will win. Just saying. He can take the majority of this country if Noynoy doesn’t move fast, or if Manny Villar makes such careless moves as this—not showing up—again. And even if he doesn’t generate enough votes, the administration has cheating mechanisms mastered quite well, made even easier with the automation of elections. The divided opposition—not to mention Erap splitting the numbers even further—might not be able to consolidate big enough numbers to subdue him convincingly enough. Sana lang, gaya nga ng sinabi nya, utang na loob nya man yan kay GMA, pag presidente ka, presidente ka. Gawin mo ang tama.
- Iboto ko kaya si Noynoy para lang mas mahirapan ang administrasyon na mandaya? O kaya si Villar. Pala lang may laban. Hahaha. I’ll rethink that when I’m sober.
Yan muna. Driving to UP in a few hours. Will rewrite this, expound on the ideas, etc next time. AND. Will write about Randy David also next time.
Almost have the same view…still thinking of who to vote..but I’m more onto Gibo (about 55%)..Villar..Fernando..and Aquino.
