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SOUNDING BOARD
WHERE COMMON SENSE IS STILL COMMON
 


SOUNDING BOARD
Monday, December 30, 2002
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President Arroyo will not run for president in 2004: feigned retreat?

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines in a very unusual announcement, said on Monday she would not run in 2004 elections, citing the negative effects of political infighting in the country.

Arroyo was elected vice-president under president Joseph Estrada and took over the presidency in January 2001 when Mr. Estrada was ousted in a popular revolt backed by army generals and the influential Roman Catholic church, dubbed as EDSA II (a popular revolt also happened in 1986 when the dictator Ferdinand Marcos was ousted).

Ms. Arroyo foresees that the 2004 elections may be the most bitterly contested elections so far in Philippine history because of the deep political and social divisions Filipinos now have. Tell me something new.

Is this is a feigned retreat? One of the most unusual tactics in war is a feigned retreat. It seeks to draw enemies out of their defensive positions so that they can be defeated - appearing to withdraw, buying some time until the opponent lets down their defenses, or exposes a vulnerable position or, until some time that the retreating party has gained mass support.

The last implication - gaining mass support (through donations and projects for the masses without being interpreted as campaign tactic) - may well be effective for Ms. Arroyo for some time. But she will not completely fool her opponents and the not-so-gullible minority among the Filipinos.

The feigned retreat tactic in politics is quite unusual --- especially for a traditional politician like Ms. Arroyo.


posted by Allan at 9:00 AM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Sunday, December 29, 2002
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Filipinos are easy to spot on the beach

John MacLean's BBCnews.com feature on the extra holiday break imposed by the Philippine government to its working population says that the extra holiday is expected to boost domestic tourism. Boring. But his side comment on Filipino behavior is more interesting:

"Filipinos do sometimes go to the beach. They are easy to spot. They are the ones swimming with all their clothes on."

Quite sweeping and I'm not sure if Mr. McLean is trying to be ridiculous. But as I ponder upon it, his comment may have more than a glimmer of truth in it.


posted by Allan at 8:15 AM (GMT+8)
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Erap prepares team for 2004

Former President Joseph Estrada told the Inquirer in a phone interview Saturday that his Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) had been "reorganized," with his former campaign manager, Horacio "Boy" Morales, named as party president.

Erap's party would be renamed "pwersa" (force). Indeed, this party is a force to reckon with. With the action king Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ) being eyed for president, and an election that is traditionally nothing more than a popularity contest, non-allied politicians have a valid reason to be concerned about.

The gullible majority who votes on popularity basis may again decide the outcome of the 2004 election. Erap's "pwersa" is banking on the CDE socioeconomic classes to once again delliver votes for them. If nothing much has changed on the level of maturity of these groups, then we may see Erap's "victory" once again through the votes of the gullible majority.

This has been the fate of Philippine politics in particular and the whole nation in general - our lives are constantly being decided by the gullible majority. How unfortunate, to say the least. No wonder the CDE socioeconomic classes are so popular to politicians at this time. We see gifts, donations and even policies for them. But what we do not see much is voters' education programs to facilitate better political involvement of everyone especially the CDE crowd. Asa pa 'ko.


posted by Allan at 7:46 AM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Saturday, December 28, 2002
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Iran stops stoning women adulterers - a first step in the right direction

A senior judiciary official in Iran has been quoted as saying Iran has abolished stoning as a form of capital punishment for women.

This is indeed a very welcome move. There are still a lot more room for reform if Iran really want to be a part of the modern world. But putting an end to stoning is a first step in the right direction.


posted by Allan at 7:29 AM (GMT+8)
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The world's first cloned baby?

NewScientist.com News Service reports that the Bahamas-based cloning company Clonaid claims that they were able to "give birth" to the world's first cloned baby on 26 December 2002. However, there has been no independent confirmation of the claim as of press time.

Just as I thought. All the talks on cloning ban may end up futile, especially that talks on cloning ban has been suspended for at least a year. So why not study the matter more rather than try to repress it? After all, technology - in all its forms - is a double edged sword, depending on who uses it and from which point of view you are looking at.


posted by Allan at 7:22 AM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Friday, December 27, 2002
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US probe corroborates rape reports in Burma. Now what?

Washington Post reports that a US State Department probe has corroborated reports earlier this year that Myanmar military officials have systematically raped ethnic minority women and girls, according to a declassified copy of the investigation report.

Nothing new. The world knows this already. What we are interested to know is this: now what? With US seem to be fighting 2 wars on the international front (Iraq and the North Korea - only if US can show the same resoluteness in its "war" with Iraq), it is undertable that less attention is being focused on this one. So while the world shakes in anticipation of an impending war with Iraq, and while the a diplomatic solution to the North Korean problem, the atrocities against women in Myanmar continues.


posted by Allan at 1:55 PM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Tuesday, December 24, 2002
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Rawhide Kid to come out of the closet

In February next year, Marvel Comics will be breaking barriers of traditional macho comics characters introducing the first homosexual cowboy - Rawhide Kid. Whether the public will pick this up for reading or not is of secondary importance. Integrating an alternative character into the comics industry is, in itself, a major breakthrough.


(Picture courtesy of ABC Action News)

Stylish outfit, and smart and funny one-liners are what readers will notice from Rawhide kid. Indeed, this is a welcome move. But the more enlightened ones among us should read the material and see to it that Rawhide Kid doesn't become a showcase of stereotyped male homosexual behavior.


posted by Allan at 3:24 PM (GMT+8)
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First and last post on the Jimenez-Perez (non)issue and SOUNDING BOARD's holiday message

This post is about two things. First, I've been trying to restrain myself commenting on the Mark Jimenez-Nani Perez (non)issue. However, in the spirit of what people call Christmas, I think it's a good time to rant on this shit. Secondly, while everybody seems to be high on "being good for goodness' sake", today, a few hours before Christmas eve, I'll say a brief holiday message.

One of the few things I like in a less chaotic government setting (that doesn't include your usual romantic notion of democracy, excuse me) is the easier possibility of a media blockout. And *second* on my list is that stupid Jimenez-Perez issue that newspapers are gloating every single freakin' day. Amidst all the more important issues we face today, it's downright insulting that major newspapers chose to highlight the said issue. I'm just quite relieved that the stupidity of it all may be finally put to rest. Unless, of course, if Philippine media finds another news item to sensationalize. Enough of that.

One thing I wish for this Christmas (to speak in the season's language) is to speed things up a little bit and get this damn holiday season over so I can easily travel, shop and do just about anything with less hassle. My last name isn't Scrooge by the way. Anyway, for all of you who enjoy the holiday rush and find joy amidst all the bullshit the season brings, enjoy the holiday season, or what's left of it.


posted by Allan at 2:52 PM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Saturday, December 21, 2002
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Lula's balancing act: coalitions and centrist politics

Financial Times reports that the Workers' Party (PT) of Brazil's president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Friday failed to form a government alliance with the centrist PMDB party. As Lula aims to get a majority in Congress, the world watches this familiar coalition game.

Lula is now engaged in a difficult balancing act. He needs to forge a coalition to maintain majority in Congress. The process of tending toward the center is quite predictable in the field of coalition building and interest group politics. Any majority bloc can be broken up by a counter-offer from the minority, thereby forming a new majority. The majority bloc maintains the coalition through political favors and matching counter-offers, or it ceases to exist. It's the same interest group politics anywhere. What is shaky is the kind of outcome that will turn out. The current centrist governance could not afford to fail as it may invite extremism and plunge Brazil into more serious troubles. That's why US supports Lula and urges US banks to keep credit lines open to Brazil. That's why world is closely watching.


posted by Allan at 12:10 PM (GMT+8)
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Anti-US campaign and pro-US governance: a smart atrategy of South Korean President-elect Roh

South Korea's president-elect Roh Moo-hyun campaigned with an anti-US platform and is now starting his pro-US governance.

He has vowed to ease the tension on the Korean peninsula, which is clouded by Pyongyang's nuclear issue. He also said that he would work closely with the US to peacefully resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.

Theory states that in chess and in politics, the center is where the game is at. Elections are generally won by having a centrist platform - one that would appeal to most, if not all, sectors. But this is not a "politics-as-usual" situation for South Korea. Its "Pyongyang crisis" is at its peak, and at the same time, its citizens are vehemently opposing America's proactive stance on Iraq. Mr. Roh knows that he can only win the presidential race via an anti-US platform. But Mr. Roh also knows that, in dealing with Pyongyang, South Korea can't go it alone. A smart political strategy. In the long run, South Koreans will also realize that it is also a strategic move along the lines of of national defense and unification of two Koreas to have US an an ally, i.e., if it wants to diplomatically overthrow the apologetic kidnapper.


posted by Allan at 11:20 AM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Monday, December 16, 2002
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North Korea upset over Bond film

North Korea has called on US to stop showing the latest James Bond film "Die Another Day" saying that it is "insulting the Korean Nation" (BBC News 14 December 2002). North Korea cries foul because of the following: (a) the movie features an evil North Korean officer feared to be planning an invasion of South Korea and then Japan; (b) it shows a farmer tilling a field with a cow, which critics say makes the country appear backward; and (c) the film describes North Korea as part of an 'axis of evil'.

Let's get things straight. It's a freakin' movie. And if the North Korean government is offended, maybe it should ask James Bond himself to issue an apology just like what the "apologetic kidnapper" did to Japan recently. The movie seems a relaxing way to spend time while we wait for the diplomatic solution to the Pyongyang problem.


posted by Allan at 2:27 PM (GMT+8)
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Malacanang's "new order"

As Malacanang gets more and more desperate in rationalizing its actions, we must learn to separate the shit from the bull.

Malacanang further rationalizes its motives behind the "resignation" of Secretary of Socioeconomic Planning and NEDA Director-General Dante B. Canlas, amidst the criticisms that the country's economic performance has nothing to do with it. Through Spokesperson Rigoberto Tiglao, Malacanang even had to resort to saying "....Canlas wanted to go back to the academe because he was bored by his tedious work at the NEDA, which required more of his handwriting than his analytical skills" (INQ7.net 14 December 2002). Critics are not biting. Only Amando Doronila seems to have picked it up.

Romulo Neri, the new NEDA chief, outlines the "necessary" changes: "...refocusing of strategy from external sources of growth to internal sources of growth; shift from demand side stimulus represented by grand infrastructure programs to supply-side productivity and efficiency; and shift from macro-economic reforms to micro-economic reforms (INQ7.net 16 December 2002). Before we all get lost in these big words, maybe we should go back to some basic questions. Do we really have an "economic" problem as Malacanang desperately emphasizes? So why the sudden change and desparate rationalizations? Malacanang knows very well that the government's economic team has been practising a centrist economic management. It is as if Mr. Canlas is an extreme "demand-sider". It is as if Mr. Neri is an extreme "supply-sider". It is as if both are not for freer markets. It is as if we will see major policy shifts. It is as if we are that stupid.

And what about Mr. Neri's Plan 747? The President seems to have been terribly impressed by it despite the fact the the economy is doing fine. Plan "747" stands for a growth rate of seven percent for seven years. This is a recycled platform which nobody picked up when it was launched several years ago. So why the sudden interest from the President? This is the same President who reviewed and approved the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP), which is the country's socioeconomic plan until 2004. This is the same President who heads the NEDA Board, which subjected the MTPDP to a tedious consultation process - within government, across sectors and regions. This is the same President who wants to be with us even after 2004. Unless we do something about it.

Maybe we really need a "new order". Our brand of interest group politics is change resistant. One interest group is neutralized by another. Only coalition-building will get us out of this inertia. But if we can't manage to do that, maybe, just maybe, we need something radical that may pave the way for a real "new order".


posted by Allan at 12:51 PM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Friday, December 13, 2002
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Gloria appoints Neri

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today appointed congressional planning and budget officer Romulo Neri (13 December 2002 INQ7.net) as the new socioeconomic planning secretary and NEDA Director General, replacing Dante B. Canlas, who "resigned" earlier (see previous post).

According to GMA Network Flash Report, NEDA employees have expressed sadness over Canlas' resignation. They promised to wear black armbands during this coming Monday's flag ceremony at NEDA grounds to sympathize with their outgoing boss.


posted by Allan at 1:32 PM (GMT+8)
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On the “resignation” of Dante Canlas

DZMM 630 on the AM band announced this morning (Friday, approx. 730 hrs GMT+8) that Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director-General Dante B. Canlas has resigned from his post. Mr. Canlas also told the Inquirer last night the President had asked him to resign “because of perceptions of an economic crisis that needed to be dispelled" (13 December 2002, Philippine Daily Inquirer). DZMM reported that Mr. Canlas has gone out of town this morning. The resignation came a week after a major survey indicated that President Arroyo's approval rating had dropped. Unconfirmed reports say that the major reasons for the resignation could also be related to the Phlippine International Air Terminals Company (PIATCO) deal (NAIA Terminal 3). And the possible replacement? Romulo Neri. Whoa. What’s going on here?

A little background on NEDA. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is composed of the NEDA Board and the NEDA Secretariat. The powers and functions of the NEDA reside in the NEDA Board, which is the country's premier social and economic development planning and policy coordinating body. The Board is composed of the President as chair, the Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning and NEDA Director-General as vice-chair, and several cabinet members. The NEDA Secretariat provides technical support to the NEDA Board, including the conduct of studies and formulation of policy measures and other recommendations on the various aspects of development planning and policy formulation, and coordination, evaluation and monitoring of plan implementation. The Secretariat is headed by a Director-Ceneral who carries the rank and title of Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning and Development.

Some questions.

PIATCO? NEDA's position on PIATCO got Mr. Canlas in trouble recently, particularly from the Philippine Senate. Is this IT? Korina Sanchez asks the same question.

"Economic crisis" and falling ratings? At the rate the economy is growing, there is no economic crisis that some sectors believe. There is, however, an "information" crisis. It is a perception problem - getting the messages across that, primarily, there is no economic crisis. But that is not Mr. Canlas' turf. Malacanang has a Philippine Information Agency (PIA) under the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS). Shouldn't OPS-PIA get the blame for that? Our assumption here is that this perception problem is the reason behind this issue. Or is it?

NEDA works on politics-as-usual reforms. Incremental changes, not-so-controversial, and not-so-visible to the masses (as opposed to crisis-ridden reforms mostly by line agencies). Has President Arroyo become so fixated with 2004 that she wants to get more mileage by having more "visible" characters in her cabinet? Just asking. In practice, NEDA works behind the scenes. Mr. Canlas has no political clout whatsoever. He is a technocrat. Although he has done an excellent good job, he is dispensable, *if* we follow this line of thought.

Or is it something related to core NEDA functions? Again, just asking.

As the cabinet revamp continues amidst the President's falling approval rating, crisis-ridden reforms may possibly improve the President's rating. We can only hope that Malacanang's attention be focused on socioeconomic development and not on possible electoral rewards in 2004. Or am I being too naive?


posted by Allan at 10:09 AM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Thursday, December 12, 2002
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"Hurried Woman Syndrome": medicalizing gender stereotyping

Michelle Cottle has added another excellent contribution to The New Republic. She discussed how some people tends to "medicalize" the obvious. In this article, she focused on the Hurried Woman Syndrome (HWS). I must say that, with the limited exposure I have with gender issues (I am a work in progress), I agree with Ms. Cottle:

"Must we medicalize everything in order for it to be real? I'll tell you what's wrong with women: We have stupidly agreed to do it all. We bought into that 'you can do anything a man can do' line, without pushing the reciprocal expectation that men will do much of what we were originally doing. This is why many dads still expect a ticker-tape parade when they change a diaper or wash a dish. It's also why, when women come home from ten hours at the office, their brains immediately shift into life maintenance mode, spinning through a mental checklist of thousands of chores yet to be done. It's not that men won't help when asked--repeatedly; it's that most never look around for what needs to be done without being asked--repeatedly" (11 December 2002 The New Republic).

Ouch. Truth hurts.


posted by Allan at 12:43 PM (GMT+8)
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House arrest and falling ratings: Malacanang's win-win strategy?

Amidst President Gloria Arroyo's falling ratings, Housing chief Mike Defensor proposes house arrest for former President Joseph Estrada instead of continuing detention. Whatever comes out of this issue, there is a good chance that Ms. Arroyo's rating will improve.

When Mr. Defensor proposed for former President Joseph Estrada's house arrest, the proposal got different reactions from all sides. Some said yes, for greater unity and in keeping with the Christmas spirit. Some said no, such move is not allowed in Philippine laws. Some said the act of proposing (for house arrest) may be a ground for filing contempt charges, and just leave the courts alone. Then President Arroyo stepped in with a convenient statement saying that "the rule of law, and not a consensus, would prevail vis-à-vis the issue" (INQ7.net 12 December 2002).

Very noble statement from someone who stands to gain from the media hype. When a Housing chief proposes a very controversial "housing" (house arrest) policy, and causes media hype, are we supposed to believe that he did not have previous clearance from the President? Judge for yourself.


posted by Allan at 10:41 AM (GMT+8)
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SOUNDING BOARD
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
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The special envoy issue and what lies beneath

First Gentleman Mike Arroyo had declined his appointment as "special envoy" to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Presidential spokesperson Rigoberto Tiglao said that to avoid complications, Mr. Arroyo can be just a personal representative of the President.

This withdrawal came as the proposed appointment met stiff opposition from most sectors who claims that the move is in anticipation of the approval of the absentee voting bill, which will give OFWs the right to vote during elections. In addition, Senator Raul Roco had warned the President about violating the law against nepotism and her own Administrative Order prohibiting public officials from having transactions with her husband and relatives.

This issue is not as simple as it looks. There are 2 basic issues which every critic of the Arroyo government will notice. Firstly, this is the same President who deferred her daughter's foreign service officer's appointment because of one major concern: that it may be seen as nepotism and that a conflict of interest might arise in the future. One could only speculate that because the First Gentleman's post is more "politically-sensitive", the President risked making a controversial appointment. If that's true, we know now that she didn't get away with it. Secondly, on this particular issue, the Arroyo government seems to be trying to hide behind technicalities. The official appointment is secondary and even immaterial compared to the First Gentleman's exposure as "personal represenative" of the President to OFWs. So the issue is not whether he is appointed or not, but his being abroad representing the President (a member of the President's family performing official functions). This is the same line of defense of Malacanang when the Senate questioned the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA). Malacanang was quick to say that it was an "agreement" not a "treaty" and hence, does not need Senate approval - as if the Philippine Senate is that stupid.


posted by Allan at 3:49 PM (GMT+8)
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BF: Metro Manila needs more than a Hitler for its sidewalk clearing operations

Then Marikina mayor and now Metro Manila Development Authority chief Bayani Fernando (a.k.a. "BF" to his former constituents) stresses that it takes more than a "Hitler" to rid the metro of stubborn sidewalk vendors.

The MMDA chief was reacting to the perennial problem on illegal sidewalk stalls especially during the Christmas season. Mr. Fernando's sidewalk clearing operations have been branded by sidewalk vendors and urban poor groups as "anti-poor" and "Hitler-like" tactics. Mr. Fernando declared a moratorium on sidewalk clearing operations during the Christmas season.

His perception of the problem shows the depth of understanding of sidewalk vending and of informal sector economy in general. His take on this issue: he "...expects sidewalk vendors to keep on returning until they finally get tired and transfer to markets" (9 December 2002 INQ7.net). With this mindset, Metro Manila vendors have sufficient reasons to be worried. They will transfer to markets (from informal to formal sector of the economy) only if market-selling payoffs (cost minus benefits) outweigh the payoffs of sidewalk vending. Terrorizing vendors is not the solution. Engaging them in better income-generating activities (including easing up procedural and financial requirements for market stall-based vending) and community organization are better options.

Mr. Fernando did a commendable job in Marikina. But Metro Manila is a totally different territory. Applying his well-known governance style to the whole Metro Manila may not yield the same positive outcome. He needs to look at sidewalk vending from a different perspective - payoffs to vendors. Maybe Mr. Fernando needs to constantly remind himself that he is no longer in Marikina.


posted by Allan at 12:54 PM (GMT+8)
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