Congress has yet to proclaim apparent president-elect Noynoy Aquino

Even as Noynoy Aquino waits for his proclamation by Congress as president-elect, more and more Filipinos are raising valid, legitimate concerns on the conduct of the elections and hopes for the new presidency, as we can see from this roundup.

• The unsung heroes of the elections, our public school teachers, have yet to be honored and paid for their services
• A think-tank asks Aquino not to entertain suggestions for new taxes
• More reports of fraud are trickling in, eating away at the supposed credibility of the election outcome at various levels
• Violence persists as a factor especially in places away from the media spotlight
• Warlordism continues to deny people the benefits of democracy
• Foreign observers from 11 countries are unimpressed by the conduct elections and presented their findings to Sen. Chiz Escudero
• The Ampatuans are keeping their political power
• The automated election system has so far fended off calls for review, criticisms from third parties, etc.
• The era of internet- and mobile-powered election coverage has arrived — but this report sadly ignored the stellar role of Blogwatch.ph while lumping bloggers (who don’t belong to media agencies) together with new media efforts of the big networks.
• The citizen coverage mounted by #juanvote included apolitical/non-political netizens such as gaming bloggers.

Election Day in Makati City. Photo by Anton Sheker of Blogwatch.ph.

What do you think about the conduct and outcome of the May 10 elections?

The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) released a post-election statement which perhaps reflects the sentiments of organized labor and their advocates.

On the automated elections, the CTUHR said:

While it seems there is general satisfaction on the AES, its credibility stills needs to be proven beyond doubt. The AES is highly technical and allows very little room for public scrutiny and transparency, especially when verification facility or process was removed from the machine just few days before the election. And now, several days after the election, allegations of irregularities are surfacing. Losing presidential candidates have refused to concede, not that they expected to win but because they contend the truth about this election had to come out. An interesting case for instance is the bloated number of voting population in the released official national canvass results in the first day of canvassing (May 13) wherein the official canvass bore a total of 158 million registered voters which is thrice the estimated registered voters and well over the country’s total population of 94 million. The SMARTMATIC was quick enough to answer what was considered a “minor” glitch, and was able to correct the data the following day.

Remarkable! Yet the public’s very limited understanding of the process and absence of transparency how it happened also limited its capacity to further inquire into that “minor” error, but definitely left clouds of serious doubts on that amazing technical efficiency. This leaves the call for independent and impartial investigation imperative, not only to straighten the records but to give justice to those whose votes are wasted or lost, deliberately or not, in the myriad of technical hitches.

While regarding the incoming administration of apparent president-elect Noynoy Aquino, the CTUHR said:

The bursting hope for change and upliftment that propelled the people to brave the punitive heat in precincts is perhaps the biggest challenge that the new administration has to contend. As promises were made during the campaign, so were the expectations, and tinkering with these expectations will be a dangerous road to tread.

Without sounding cynical, the Philippines is sure to have new government, and that in itself is a people’s triumph. Except that so called campaigners of Aquino-Roxas tandem seem to place old faces — former members of Arroyo government who jumped ship when it was about to sink and transfer to a more convenient boat—into the incoming Aquino administration. New government, old faces in the cabinet? The people have to be vigilant afterall, as Sen Aquino said in his political ads, he owes his campaign to the people.

Read the whole statement here.

Adios to the presidential campaign! Photo collage grabbed from pinoygigs.com.

I’m glad that the campaign period is over. I say goodbye to the drama, the mudslinging and the hate that comes with the campaign along with this other pet peeves:

1. I want my kids to unlearn those campaign jingles. Adee can sing Villar’s campaign lyrics by heart and I heard Joshwa trying to sing Risa Hontiveros’ campaign jingle.

2. Showbiz people who exploit their popularity by running for public office. Who unfortunately get elected but never do anything while in office.They think that politics and showbiz should go together because its the next step . It doesn’t, It can’t and iet won’t. Not in this lifetime or the next.

3. The intense rivalry among candidates has triggered a slew of mudslinging.Political camps are stinging over the black propaganda their rivals have allegedly been spreading.

4. Twitter has become a crazy place ruled by rabid,ready to bite and pounce supporters.I hate the fact that these rabid supporters will fight you and ready to kill you figuratively and in worse case scenarios literally. Whatever happened to agreeing to disagree

5. Lawmakers who think that they have what it takes to join showbiz should they lose. In this election i think I’ve seen it all and heard it all. Some will exploit everything and anything to get elected. From their past to their present and even their future. Family, friends and pets if they can get away with it.Nothing is sacred and nothing is excluded.

Sonia Roco, the widow of former Senator Raul Roco, first ran and lost in the 2007 senatorial race.

“Para naman silang mga autistic … may sariling mundo.”

This is what senatorial candidate Sonia Roco said in a TV interview in 2007, as she commented on Team Unity’s reaction to poll surveys on the Senate race. She followed her statement with a hearty laugh.It wasn’t funny and I couldn’t find the humor. She said this in 2007 and I still couldn’t let it go.

Yes she apologized but only because some sectors called her out. Had she been not called out because of it I doubt it if she’ll apologize. I’m disappointed because she is an educator.

I was angry by her statement, given in the context it was said. I read her apology and to be honest there is no sincerity on Sonia Roco’s apology for her remark on autism. She said she would work for the cause of autism — if elected. Since she wasn’t elected, I doubt that the she made any commitment to the cause of autism. If she did well I want to see it. As it is Roco’s apology was conditional. A sincere apology knows no condition.

We tend to use analogies when we want to express something. Sometimes it can be careless and can hurt some people who hear it. We all know what Mrs. Roco meant when she said that, but she could’ve left out that part alluding to the autism. This happened in 2007 and she lost because of it and I know that she’ll still lose this election because of that faux pax.

It’s not enough that she’s a widow that has been pushed into the limelight with her bid for the Senate to continue her husbands legacy. She’s no Cory Aquino if I may say so myself. She should have chosen her words carefully. It’s also something that all the candidates should take into consideration. I’m not saying that they should twist the truth, but rather present it without having to offend anyone.

[This is not a hate post. This is not meant to demean someone or put someone down. This is a post of a mother who wants to remind the candidates of the coming election. Be careful and think about what you say because it might really hurt you in the end. -  Leirs]

Would we see a new "sun" rise on May 11?

Batuhan ng insulto ang maririnig mo sa mga bunganga ng mga kandidato ngayong eleksyon. Badtrip nga dahil naka-sentro na sa kandidato ang usapan at hindi na sa isyu ng mamamayan katulad ng tunay na land reform, kalayaan sa dikta ng dayuhan, human rights violation…

Narinig ko kamakailan na sinisiraan ni Noynoy Aquino ang kulay ng partido ni Manny Villar — orange. Sabi ni Noynoy ang dilaw daw ang kulay ng araw kapag nasa itaas ito. Ang Orange kapag papalubog na ang araw.

Parang may mali. Alam ba ni Noynoy ang kanyang Physics? Ang araw kapag nasa itaas ay hindi yellow. Lahat ng kulay ay nandiyan – visible light.

Tapos, hindi mo tinitingnan ang araw kung tanghaling tapat. Mabubulag ka. Wala pa talaga sa mga ordinaryong Pilipino ang nakakakita ng diretso sa araw kung tanghaling tapat – subukan mo nga! Kung wala pang nakakakita ng diretso sa araw, papapaano niya nalaman na yellow iyon? Siguro naaalala lang ni Noynoy ang kanyang coloring book kung saan yellow ang representation ng araw, o naalala niya ang bandila ng Pilipinas. Pero pula naman ang araw sa bandila ng Hapon.

Parang di alam ni Noynoy ang kanyang siyensya dahil kumpara sa orange unang lumulubog ang kulay yellow kapag lumulubog na ang araw. Hindi niya nakikita ang yellow sa takip silim kasi lumubog na ito.

Pula naman ang huling nawawala sa kalangitan kapag takip-silim. Makikita niyo ito sa kulay ng kalangitan kapag nag-aagaw na ang liwanag at dilim. Makikita mo na ang pinakamataas na kulay sa langit ay Pula, sunod ay orange at sunod ay yellow, tapos green, tapos blue, tapos violet – visible light o rainbow color. Bakit Pula ang nahuhuling lumubog? May kinalaman dito ang pagkakaiba ng wavelength ng mga kulay.

Ang may pinakamahabang wavelength ay pula at may pinakamaiksi sa visible light ay violet. Huling lumulubog sa takip-silim ang may pinakamahabang wavelength, kulay pula. Ito naman kasi ay dahil mas nakakalusot sa curvature ng earth ang mas mahabang wavelength.

Ang haba o iksi rin ng wavelength ng kulay ang dahilan kung bakit unang makikita sa bagong umaga ay ang pula kasunod ay orange at pumapangatlo lang ang kulay yellow.

Kung ako ang tatanungin may mas ipagyayabang ang mga pulahan kapag kulay sa langit ang pag-uusapan: huling nawawala sa takip-silim at unang lumalabas sa bagong umaga. Naalala ko tuloy ang mga aktibista sa kolehiyo na nagsasabing: may binabadya ang kulay ng kalangitan, pula ang kulay ng kalayaan.

Major political parties. Visual from Pinoy Wired.

I can still vividly remember Professor Roland Simbulan‘s lesson about the nature of political parties in the Philippines. Actually, he discussed it every meeting for one whole semester. I can also still remember how he quoted Senator Juan Ponce Enrile regarding the matter. According to Enrile, the only genuine political party in the Philippines is the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). The CPP  is a political party based on ideology which recruits members and formulates and carries out programs based on their core political philosophy. I can also remember how my professor described political parties abroad. He told us about a legitimate and productive communist party in Japan and the ideology-driven Conservative and Labour Parties in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, these things are not true in Philippine politics.

Political parties in the Philippines might possess some idealogical principles to some extent but their existence thrive not because of ideology but because of accommodation and elite factions. Considering the dynamics of political campaigning here in the country, we could see candidates boast individual platforms without consideration of and cohesion to the “ideology” of their respective political parties. Furthermore, some candidates regard their membership to political parties as a way to form “cliques” or voting blocks. Worse, some candidates do not consider it at all. For example, here in Muntinlupa City, there are virtually no political parties. What we have are “Partido Fresnedi” and “Partido San Pedro” since the latter has a mixture of different politcal parties. The former, however, relies on Liberal Party’s popularity (Yellow Shirt with the Philippine Archipelago–they wear one everyday). Who cares anyway?

Even though the Philippine electorate is after the candidate and not after the political party, it is important to take a look at the main thrust of each political party. Let us try to find if an “ideology” or some form of it at least. I will consider the political parties of the different presidential candidates because, more likely, they are the mainstream ones or they are those we can see down to the local level.

Liberal Party (LP)

Liberal Party’s attraction banner is “Transformational Leadership”. The party’s platform revolved around different areas of concern from the Economy to the Environment. To find a solution to the problem, Liberal Party argues that the government should fight corruption, prioritize empowering jobs, make education the central strategy, protect public health and deliver justice to the poor.

Ang Kapatiran Party (AKP)

Ang Kapatiran Party’s carrier statement is “Para sa Diyos at Pagbabago” and “Integridad”. According to them, their party “will focus more on moral principles than political expediency, more on the needs of the poor and the vulnerable than the interests of the rich and the powerful, more on the pursuit of the common good than the demands of special interests, and more on the culture of life than the culture of death”. Moreover, AKP promises to deliver “The Politics of Virtue” and “The Politics of Duty”.

Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP)

Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino’s main thrust lies on populist principles. Unfortunately, I can’t find a more specific information about populism as PMP’s core philosophy.

Bagumbayan-Volunteers for a New Philippines (B.BAYAN-VNP)

Bagumbayan-VNP argues that everyone of us should have a “vision grounded on values empowered by voluntarism”. Just like the Liberal Party, Bagumbayan-VNP listed different “values” ranging from voluntarism to environmentalism.

LAKAS KAMPI-Christian Muslim Democrats (LKS-KAM)

Lakas Kampi-CMD presents different principles that, according to them, would “develop and advance the political, economic, and socio-cultural systems of Philippine society”. These principles range from Good Governance and Globalization to Social Justice and Solidarity.

Bagong Pilipinas (BP)

Bangon Pilipinas advocates for “genuine change”. They want to change leadership through peaceful means; the system that breeds corruption; and the “hearts and minds of all Filipinos”. Furthermore, BP wants foster an advocacy that “builds on faith in God and ourselves, and in our capacity to do what is right and condemn what is wrong.”

Nacionalista Party (NP)

Nacionalista Party carries the slogan “Ang Bayan Higit sa Lahat”. The core value of NP is “Independence”. According to them, “The Nacionalistas achieved political independence from its colonial masters. Now, the focus is on achieving economic independence”. No further substantiation was given in their party’s website.

I tried to find information about Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL)’s main thrusts as a political party but I can’t find anything except bits of history about KBL as an “umbrella political party”. Anyway, let’s go my personal observations. All of them presented vague goals and political thrusts. Well, I believe the current system of political parties is to provide an umbrella thrust and it is up to the candidates to formulate their specific platforms based on the political party’s core philosophy. However, all of them are talking about the same things. Worse, their core thrusts cannot even be expressed in one simple and concrete phrase or statement. Well, I honestly liked NP’s “economic independence” but it is just a mere restatement of the other parties’ thrusts.

I’m afraid that this is an irreversible political culture. This kind of system might actually work if each thrust is concrete, is representative of the interests of different social groups and classes (this is what political parties are for anyway) and has the ability to answer the nation’s problems directly. I hope that the next government can do something about this matter. For the mean time, the electorate should dissect the candidates’ individual platforms rather than attributing that candidates’ perceived performance to their political parties, to the prominent personalities of these political parties and, of course, to the color (or design) of their clothes when campaigning.

[Main source/Further reading: Contemporary Politics in the Philippines: The Configuration of Post-EDSA I Political Parties by Professor Roland Simbulan.]

Neric Acosta, Sharuff Ibrahim Albani, Alex Tinsay, and Arnold Clavio on Unang Hirit.

Last April 20, in GMA-7’s Unang Hirit, my attention was caught by Liberal Party’s (LP) senatoriable, Neric Acosta with his provocation of People Power lest the party’s standard bearer, Noynoy Aquino, doesn’t emerge victorious in the coming elections.

I, together with other UP Diliman students, had the chance to witness the show live, with host Arnold Clavio. The staff invited questions from us audience, and one of my comrade’s questions was luckily picked for Acosta to answer.

“Kung magkaroon po ng failure of election ngayon darating na eleksyon 2010, anong karampatang action po ang gagawin natin kaugnay po dito?”Ericson Julio asked.

“Unang-una po, to be very direct about it, Ericson, people power. Kasi po ang demokrasya ay hindi pagmamay-ari ng Comelec, ng Supreme Court, ng militar, ng GMA, o ng Malacañang. Ang nagmamay-ari po ng demokrasya, nasa kamay po ng taumbayan. Kung if-failure nila ito, lahat tayo manindigan, karapatan ng taumbayan, ng sambayanan ang demokrasya. Humanda po tayo ah, labas po tayo lahat sa lansangan,” the former Bukidnon Representative answered.

The question was later on followed up by Clavio.

“So kung matatalo ni Noynoy, People Power?”

“Hindi matatalo si Noynoy kung walang dayaan po. Alam nating panalong panalo na sa taumbayan. Ngayon lang kung titignan po natin, sa pag-iikot po namin sa buong bayan, bibilangin lang, lumabas na ang lahat ng tao, boboto lang, walang disenfranchisement, naniniwala po tayo na ang taumbayan na po ang nagsabi na gusto natin ng pagbabago,” Neri replied.

I am not a political blogger nor am I an advocate, but my scepticism was ringing the alarm about such frantic behavior. I can’t help but be a leftist about the spurring advocacy of the hailed yellow army to mobilize amassed supporters to a “new people power” centered on volunteerism as called by Noynoy in a rally in Tarlac. Based on what Neric said above, it is easy to conclude that the party is somehow being over-desperate to sit Noynoy and Mar on the thrones. The best analogy to their probable bitterness is the loss of a basketball team of no good sport attitude. They dismiss the thought of successful elections with Noynoy not winning.

On another note, while it is true that he tops in the recent surveys, it is wrong to assume that he has bagged the hearts of voters to the finish line. Results of surveys are mutually exclusive of that of elections. If failure happens, and if he doesn’t win, it is very idiotic to come up with the assumption that he is cheated just because it was observed in selected advantageous campaign locations that everyone was in yellow and waving a Laban sign.

Let’s just see how many people they can drive to flock EDSA again.

Too much at stake in the elections. But some want more: A backdoor entrance to Congress, new "districts". The loser: the real marginalized sectors who the partylist system is supposed to serve.

The partylist system was a milestone for democracy in the Philippines, as it was intended to give marginalized and underrepresented sectors an opportunity to participate in crafting laws, as well as oversight.  While we have seen this for more than a decade, we have also seen the system’s many flaws and limitations.  And we have been witness to how some forces have used these limitations to their advance their self interests.

Given the downside of this system, we voters have two challenges: 1) to continue improving the system itself; and 2) be very discerning in voting for a partylist group, which is the more immediate task at hand.

A closer look at the list of candidates as well as their methods of campaigning is, of course, necessary.

Topping the list of concerns are a number of the candidates, whose membership and status as being marginalized are being questioned.  Rep. Mikey Arroyo is the primary case in point.  The list also includes former energy secretary Angelo Reyes, as well as other groups and representatives who are said to be allied with the current administration.  Arroyo is the nominee of the Ang Galing Pinoy, while Reyes is with 1-Utak.

Are they really qualified to run?  Can we really believe that Mikey is a one of the thousands of “marginalized” tricycle drivers, vendors, and security guards?

Former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban himself has underscored in his column on the Philippine Daily Inquirer that both partylist and their representatives must belong to marginalized sectors:

Only for the marginalized. Comelec’s job is simple: just follow existing jurisprudence. In Ang Bagong Bayani vs Comelec (June 26, 2001 and June 25, 2003), which I had the honor of writing, the high court clearly ruled that the party-list system was reserved only for those “(1) who belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors, organizations and parties; and (2) who lack well-defined constituencies but (3) who could contribute to the formulation and enactment of appropriate legislation that will benefit the nation as a whole.”

Thus, the party-list candidate must show— through its constitution, articles of incorporation, bylaws, history, platform of government and track record—that it represents and seeks to uplift marginalized and underrepresented sectors.

Ang Bagong Bayani likewise plainly held that “not only the candidate party or organization must represent marginalized and underrepresented sectors so must its nominees… who (must also) belong to marginalized and underrepresented sectors.”

Speaking of marginalized sectors, is Firm 24K really a group that represents a marginalized sector?  The group stands for: Friends of Imelda Romualdez Marcos, 24K Association.  Imelda, marginalized?  Does this mean that we can have the Noranians or the Friends for All Seasons of Vilma as partylist groups in 2013?

New “Districts” Created?

Ang Galing Pinoy’s bid for congress also shows another flaw of the system.  The other nominees in the partylist are all elected officials of Pampanga.  Surely, Pampanga’s interests, along with those of other provinces and the security guards they all claim to represent, are important.  But it is apparent that they have, in effect, created another district for Pampanga without following laws on creating new districts.  It’s a clever move, considering that Mikey could not anymore run for representative in his district because he gave way to his mother, President Gloria.

So in the absence of available districts, he in effect able to make a new one with fellow Kabalens.

But Mikey and his group are not alone in trying to  “create” new districts.

Laguna Governor Teresita Lazaro, who is completing her last term as governor, is running another the KLBP or Kababaihang Lingkod Bayan sa Pilipinas.   Former Rep. Salacnib Baterina of Ilocos Sur’s first district is running under APO or Alliance of People’s Organizations.  The current representative of the district, Rep. Ronald Singson, is running for reelection.  Ronald Singson is the son of Luis “Chavit” Singson, who is running for governor.

Former Rep. Miles Roces is making a bid to return to the House of Representatives through the Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA).  He is the son-in-law of former DENR Secretary Lito Atienza, who is running for Mayor of Manila.

Dynasties

One also wonders if the partylist system has also been invaded by dynasties and those who wish to create them.  Roces’ case makes one think of that.  I mentioned Angelo Reyes.  His son, Jett, is also running in Taguig.  Maynard Lapid, the son of reelectionist Sen. Lito Lapid, is running under Yes We Can, Inc.

Maria Evangelina Palparan, the wife of now senatorial aspirant Jovito Palparan, is making a bid to take over her husband’s position as partylist representative.

Mother and son Adelaida and Eulogio Magsaysay are nominees under the same partylist, the Alliance of Volunteer Educators (AVE).  Apart from AVE, the Magsaysays, have long been considered a dynasty in Zambales.

There are also allegations that the Adhikain ng mga Dakling Anak Maharlika (ADAM) is a front for the Ampatuan clan of Maguindanao.  Two of its nominees are Zamzamin L. Ampatuan and Bai Puti L. Ampatuan.  Zamzamin has denied this allegation.

Support for Major Political Parties

While the administration has been charged with infiltrating partylists, a number partylists have also partnered with other major political parties.  We have seen this as a trend in the past few months, as more and more partylist groups have come out to openly support presidential candidates.  Akbayan is openly supporting Noynoy Aquino, as its current representative, Risa Hontiveros, is running for Senator under the Liberal Party.  Meanwhile, Gabriela is supporting Manny Villar, as Liza Maza makes her bid for the Senate.  Agham, a group of scientists and inventors, is also open about endorsing Villar.  And the most obvious Villar supporter, AKAP Bata partylist, plays a remixed version of Villar’s jingle.

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism has reported that mutual support between the presidential bets and their partner partylists has allowed the former to circumvent provisions on the airtime of advertisements.

Personally, my greater concern about the unlikely partnership is how it would affect the legislative agenda and oversight role of the representatives should they win or get reelected.  Let us say, for the sake of discussion, that Villar and Agham win, and Agham files a bill that Villar and the administration coalition will not support.  Who’s agenda gets followed then?  Will partylists that partner with major political parties still enjoy independence, most especially if they get funding from the political parties?

Reforms + Voters’ Education

Given the flaws in the system, as well as the Comelec’s inconsistencies on which groups are allowed to run, an informed public is the best weapon against voting for the wrong and invalid partylists.  There is still much room for improvement insofar as voters’ education is concerned.  There is still a great lack of awareness of majority of the population.  Which is why it does not come as a surprise that some partylist groups have been using ridiculous names just to be the first name on the ballot in order to get the immediate attention of an uninformed voter.

Let’s also hope that the next congress make the reforms to improve the system.  Apart from the crafting of laws, we want to make sure that the P70-M annual pork barrel allocated to each congressman goes into good hands.  And we want to make sure that they are not just mere additional hands or votes when the lower house makes important decisions that affect the lives of more than 90 million Filipinos.

Crispin Beltran smiles at the premilinary investigation at the DOJ sometime in 2006. Photo by Tonyo Cruz.

As the country veered closer to Election Day, workers today honored the great life story of trade union leader Crispin B. Beltran at the unveiling of his bas relief sculpture at Plaza Miranda.Beltran died in May 2008, after falling from the roof of his simple house. Beltran left behind a wife and a big brood of children and grandchildren, and workers and other working people who now feel orphaned by the loss of such a great yet humble leader.

The story of how Beltran died and lived in utter simplicity and humility exposes the fantastic tales of those who now seek to be elected as leaders of the country.

When Beltran died, he was an esteemed Member of Congress. So feared was his tongue, his deep knowledge of domestic and foreign affairs, and his commitment to social change that the Arroyo administration found it necessary to illegally arrest and detain him — first on the basis of an expired arrest warrant, and later based on a fabricated rebellion charge which the Supreme Court would later throw down the trash bin.

Ferdinand Marcos also imprisoned him for being one of a few brave leaders who inspired the first strikes and helped form the KMU in the middle of the long night of terror we now know as martial law.

While other legislators routinely milk the powers and perks of the House for their personal benefit, Beltran died like a pauper. He did not even own his own house. The story goes that he took out a loan from the Government Service Insurance System so he could buy an austere house and lot package. The story, by the way, is true.

Unions too present endless temptations to leaders. There are union dues and collective bargaining agreement negotiations where capitalist grease money could change hands. There are strikes and attempts to pay off leaders for them to call off strikes in the name of “industrial peace” (also known as “the peaceful acceptance of slavery and destitution”). Workers elected him several times as chair of the biggest federation under the Kilusang Mayo Uno and of the KMU itself.

Various sectoral organizations recognized his role as a workingclass leader and repeatedly elected him as chair of the country’s biggest activist alliance, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.

It wouldn’t end there. Beltran was known globally as a respected voice and representative of Filipino workers, speaking on their behalf before the International Labor Organization and various labor gatherings. When the world’s cause-oriented groups decided to form the International League of Peoples’ Struggles, Beltran was there too and his role was nothing less than as the global chairperson.

Imperialism (foreign domination), bureaucrat capitalism (graft and corruption) and feudalism (landlordism) were standard terms Beltran used in his speeches inside and outside Congress. He mentioned them not so much to proselytize about the Left which bannered those terms. He did so to remind and stress that the multi-faceted problems we face are not as simple as some would like to believe and could never be simplified. The social cancer indeed cannot be cured by aspirin or chicken soup.

Tributes poured from across the political spectrum when he died because he was a genuine workingclass leader, who put the welfare of workers and the people even before his own family — a position that could be labeled as scandalous at the moment — and chose to devote time, energy and skills to show that people like him can competently become legislators and leaders. Even the traditional politicians recognized in Beltran a champion of New Politics and paragon of Proletarian (read: workingclass) Leadership.

Beltran’s life story and that of his death should remind us not to bring down our standards as we prepare to elect our leaders. We must look for those with clean records, yes, but also those with the proven track record and life-long commitment to inspire and lead our people to overcome poverty and build a better country.

Yes, we feel orphaned that Ka Bel is no longer with us. But let his life and death inspire us to search for and create new Beltrans who are the leaders the country needs.

Risa Hontiveros Baraquel. Photo by Flowell Galindez.

Two bloggers take on Liberal Party senatorial candidate Risa Hontiveros Baraquel.

• Flowell Galindez of 100ARAW.com interviews her for his blog.
• Arnold Padilla meanwhile blogs about her true agenda.