Anti-graft executive resigns to support Noynoy and Mar

By Juan Escandor Jr.
Inquirer Southern Luzon

NAGA CITY, Philippines—With the formal launch of the tandem of Senators Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and Manuel “Mar” Roxas II as standard-bearers of the Liberal Party, an executive officer of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) has resigned to support the two’s campaign for the 2010 elections.

Commissioner Jaime Jacob revealed Monday that he resigned from the PAGC so that he could freely support the campaign of the LP candidates for the top positions.

Source: Inquirer.net

The Lord of the Ring

Jim Paredes recently tweets about the analogy of our current political situation with the novel and movie Lord of the Ring:

If we were in LOTR and Noynoy is Frodo, and Mar is Sam, who is Gibo? and who are Aragorn, Smeegol, Sauron? YOur thoughts.

Here's Jim's and followers of his twitter account's take on this:

• Noynoy Aquino is Frodo Baggins, who is set to destroy The Ring to give power back to the people
• Mar Roxas is Sam Gamgee, the ever loyal friend of Frodo (hindi kami maghihiwalay ni Noynoy!)
• The Ring represents Power that corrupts people
• The main antagonist, the Dark Lord Sauron represents greed and corruption
• The current administration is Nazgul. Slaves to the promise of the Ring (power) and Servants of Sauron (corruption)
• The Filipino people represents Aragorn, the reluctant yet real "King" to whom Frodo and Sam will be ultimately loyal
• The Shire is represented by the Aquino sisters, which Noynoy leaves against his will to rid the world of The Ring
• Erap is Gollum (Smeagol), the one who had the ring, was corrupted by it, wants it again OR the one who had the ring and wont let go! Hint: Maliit din siya!
• Elrond is the memory of Ninoy and other Marcos era heroes. Linking us to the past struggles against Sauron
• Someone suggested Jim or APO to be Legolas. Naks! Chavit is Shelob. Elves are the celebrities who support Noynoy

How about you, what's your take on this?

Why I won't vote Noynoy

An interesting blog by Blogger Edge:

I won’t vote for Noynoy just because he’s the son of Cory and Ninoy Aquino... I won’t vote for him just because of his track record as a congressman and senator...

I would vote Noynoy, because... (he) has the capacity to reunite, the divided and subdivided, Filipinos.

What the country needs now is not an economist, not a journalist, not a soldier, not even a housewife, nor a dancing politician, certainly not an actor, and most certainly not a dictator, but a president...who can effortlessly rally Filipinos towards a united goal.

Read more...

The possibility of a majority president

By Manuel L. Quezon III Philippine Daily Inquirer

One defect of the present Constitution is that by abolishing the two-party system, it inadvertently deprived the country of something it has taken for granted about the presidency: that whoever wins it begins the term with a true majority vote. The best that we’ve been able to manage (in 1998 with Joseph Estrada) was a presidency that began with over 60 percent of the electorate having voted for somebody other than the winner.

Charles de Gaulle in his time, seeing a virtually ungovernable France, imposed a Constitution that established a strong presidency, which the French were inclined to favor and which fostered a multi-party system up to a point; but he also armed the presidency with the means to exercise its authority with an unquestionable majority mandate. He did this by putting in place run-off elections.

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El Shaddai in Brussels Supports Noynoy

El Shaddai leader Mike Velarde may have openly bared his plans to run for public post in 2010, but his followers in Brussels think otherwise.

Members of the El Shaddai St. Remi chapter have vocally opposed the idea of Velarde taking part of what they consider a “chaotic world of politics” in the country.

Pina Payucong, former Coordinator of El Shaddai confirmed that they have supported Velarde in so many ways but hopes he would change his mind.

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50% prefer Noynoy in vote-rich Luzon areas: SWS survey

By Ricky Carandang, ANC and Isagani de Castro Jr., abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak

MANILA - One out of every two voters in vote-rich areas of Luzon would have chosen Sen. Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III if presidential elections were held in early September 2009, according to a Special Survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) obtained by ANC and abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak.

Aquino was preferred by 50% of 1,200 respondents from a pre-selected list of five names that also included erstwhile survey leaders Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr., former President Joseph Estrada, Senator Francis 'Chiz' Escudero, and Vice-President Noli de Castro.

Villar, Estrada, and Escudero were statistically tied with 14%, 13%, and 12%, respectively. De Castro was preferred by 7% of respondents.

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Noynoy strong in survey

By Aurea Calica and Elisa Osorio (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has rated strongly in a survey of presidential contenders conducted shortly before the announcement of his intention to run in the 2010 elections under the Liberal Party.

Makati Business Club president Ramon del Rosario Jr. said the unreleased survey, conducted by a prominent polling group, showed “hopeful results” for Aquino’s presidential bid.

But another source who declined to be named said Aquino rated significantly higher than consistent survey topnotcher Sen. Manuel Villar, former president Joseph Estrada, Sen. Francis Escudero, and Vice President Noli de Castro in a Social Weather Stations survey in Metro Manila and in some vote-rich regions in Luzon. The details of the survey are yet to be released.

Read more...

Cojuangcos may give up Luisita—Noynoy

By Philip Tubeza
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — After more than half a century of ownership, the influential Cojuangco family might eventually have to leave Hacienda Luisita, their vast sugar estate in Central Luzon, due to the labor disputes that continue to plague it, Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III said Saturday.

Aquino, the expected standard-bearer of the Liberal Party in the 2010 elections, said that his family has incurred a large debt due to the labor disputes and that he expects these troubles to continue if the family does not relinquish control of the 6,400-hectare property.

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Challenges face Aquino son in bid for presidency

MANILA (AFP) - – The son of Philippines democracy icon Corazon Aquino has made a blistering start to his presidential campaign, with even his rivals admitting that voters are euphoric over his candidacy.

But both supporters and adversaries believe Benigno Aquino faces a huge task in uniting a fractured opposition ahead of next year's poll, with a billionaire property tycoon and a battle-hardened former president his biggest hurdles.

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The Philippines: an Aquino makeover on the road to the Presidency

by Virginia M. Moncrieff
The Huffington Post

The Philippines has not yet recovered from its official mourning period for former President Corazon Aquino, the "mother of democracy," who died last month. Monsoonal waves of love are still washing over her family. There has been near hysteric pressure on her only son, Senator Benigno 'Noy Noy' Aquino III to make a tilt for the presidency in next year's elections. "Yes Yes! Noy Noy!" screamed one local newspaper headline.

Read more...

Binay gives way to Noynoy

Makati Mayor Jejomar C. Binay announced on Wednesday that he would no longer vie for the presidency and would instead run for vice-president in 2010.

In an official statement issued by the United Opposition (UNO), of which he is the president, Binay said he hoped that his "move would help unify the political opposition."

Source: abs-cbnNEWS.com

Noynoy declares 2010 presidential bid

Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, son of democracy icon Corazon Aquino and national hero Ninoy Aquino, on Wednesday finally declared that he is running for president of the Philippines in 2010.

Source: abs-cbnNews.com

Noynoy Aquino announces bid for presidency in 2010 polls

It's a go for Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III. On Wednesday, he announced that he will run for president in 2010 as standard bearer of the Liberal Party (LP).

Source: GMANews.TV

Noynoy Aquino to run for president in 2010

Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III officially announced that he will run for president in 2010 on Wednesday, exactly 40 days after the death of his late mother, former President Corazon Aquino.

Source: Inquirer.net

Roxas: Aquino will run for president in 2010

Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas II on Tuesday said he is convinced that Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III will run for president in 2010.

Roxas, who was in Bacolod Tuesday, said he did not want to preempt Aquino's formal announcement but said he was convinced the latter would make a go for the presidency.

Kris Aquino apologizes to Noynoy

For blabbering about his lovelife, Noynoy Aquino had to admonish his sister Kris, who subsequently aired a public apology on showbiz news program, “Showbiz News Ngayon (SNN),” last Sept. 3.

Korina Sanchez on her past with Noynoy Aquino

Nowadays, prized broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez openly talks about her beau Sen. Mar Roxas’ announcement that he will give way to Sen. Noynoy Aquino as standard bearer of the Liberal Party for the 2010 presidential election.

However, there’s a sidebar to the story that Korina refuses to make a big deal of: Her past romance with Sen. Aquino.

“(That) was a lifetime ago,” said Korina in a recent press conference at the Club Filipino.

Noynoy needs to win OFWs support

Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III must bare his agenda for the millions of overseas Filipino workers and their families to win their support following the clamor for him to run in the presidential race in next year’s election.

Lacson to Kris: Let Noynoy decide if he wants a first lady

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Saturday told television show host Kris Aquino-Yap to let her brother Sen. Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III, the Liberal Party"s presidential prospect, decide whether to get married or not.

Loren won't give way to Noynoy

Amid calls for sacrifice in favor of Senator Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III, presidential wannabe Senator Loren Legarda said on Saturday she would not give way to the son of the late President Cory Aquino.

Noynoy's ability to unite opposition questioned

Some presidential aspirants have dropped their bids to support the candidacy of Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and pave the way for the opposition to unite in time for the 2010 elections. However, some political parties doubt if the senator can achieve this goal.

Noynoy delays announcement of 2010 poll plans

The public, particularly his supporters, would have to wait a little longer: Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III said Tuesday he would announce his plans concerning the 2010 elections next week yet.

Coalition formed to back Noynoy"s presidential bid

Several groups from both the public and private sectors on Tuesday formed a "reform coalition" supporting the possible presidential bid of Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III in next year"s elections.

Palace acknowledges Aquino ‘bandwagon’

While he has drawn two "reformist'' presidential aspirants to his side, Senator Benigno "Noynoy'' Aquino III will have to prove he's one of them, Malacañang said Friday.

Cebu group launches Aquino campaign

The call for Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III to run for president is gaining ground in Cebu.

Pangasinan mayors vow support for Aquino

At least 15 Pangasinan mayors have committed to support the tandem of Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, if he decides to run for President, with Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay as his running mate, a local official said.

Boholanos join campaign to draft Aquino

The effort to put up Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III as a presidential contender in 2010 continued to gain ground here with Boholanos now joining the signature campaign to convince him to do so.

FPJ supporter backs Noynoy’s 2010 bid

The man claiming to have initiated the signature campaign for the late Fernando Poe Jr.’s run for the presidency in 2004 is throwing his support to Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III for his widely anticipated run for the country’s highest office in 2010.

Noynoy thanks Panlilio for support

Nagpasalamat si Sen. Noynoy Aquino na bukod kay Sen. Mar Roxas ay may mga pagpaparaya para suportahan ang pagkakandidato niya. Sabi ng senador, mas naliwanagan siya matapos ang retreat kasama ang mga madre ng Carmelite Monastery sa Zamboanga.

Kiko willing to give up VP bid for Noynoy

Senator Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan on Friday said he was willing to give up his vice-presidential bid to support the impending tandem of his Liberal Party (LP) partymates, Senators Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino and Manuel 'Mar' Roxas II.

Light candles to help Noynoy decide, group tells Pinoys

A multi-sectoral group on Friday asked the Filipino people to light a candle every 6 p.m. starting today [Friday] until September 9 to help Senator Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III decide on his political plans for 2010.

Kris to Noynoy: I'll lay off your love life

Celebrity host Kris Aquino-Yap has promised to stop meddling in the love life of her brother, Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

Panlilio, Padaca drop presidential ambitions for Noynoy

Throwing their support behind Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio and Isabela Governor Grace Padaca on Friday announced that they will no longer join the 2010 presidential race.

Panlilio, reformists back Noynoy's 2010 presidential bid

A group of local government officials, led by Governors Ed Panlilio and Grace Padaca, on Friday declared their support for the possible presidential bid of Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

Palace backtracks on branding Noynoy retreat a "gimmick"

Even as it blamed the media for playing up the word, Malacañang on Friday backtracked from its statement that Senator Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III's spiritual retreat could be a political gimmick.

Lacson to Erap: Give way to Noynoy

Pinaatras na rin si dating pangulong Joseph Estrada sa pagkandidato bilang pangulo para magkaisa ang oposisyon sa likod ni Senador Noynoy Aquino. Ito ang panawagan ni Senador Panfilo Lacson. Ang sagot ng kampo ni Erap sa pagba-Bandila ni Maricar Bautista. Bandila, Huwebes, Setyembre 3, 2009.

Palace claims Noynoy retreat could be a 'gimmick'

The decision of Sen. Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III to go on a spiritual retreat could be a political gimmick, a Malacañang official claimed on Thursday.

Noynoy's discernment starts with Mindanao briefing

Senator Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino's period of discernment was off to a productive start on Thursday, starting with a briefing on the situation in Mindanao.

Aquinos still not keen on Noynoy’s Palace bid

Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has remained mum on plans to run in the 2010 presidential race, saying his sisters were still not “enthusiastic” with the idea.