Leni or not #Halalan 2025

In the wake of Leni Robredo‘s perceived “endorsements” of two BBM Alyansa candidates and one DDS PDP-Laban, tila nagkawatak-watak ang Kakampinks. Maraming ayaw kina Pacquiao at Abalos, mga dating DDS daw na ngayon ay BBM, mga balimbing! Mas maraming ayaw kay Marcoleta especially dahil sa closure ng ABS-CBN in the dark days of Digong, and also because he would surely vote to acquit VP Sara in the impeachment trial.

Kakampinks were happy enough when Leni formally endorsed Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan back in Feb 11 at the duo’s kick-off rally in Cavite.  And when word got around, via a comment thread on Twitter|X, that she had also promised to vote for Heidi Mendoza, everyone approved, even if wala namang formal endorsement. Marami nga na tatlo o apat lang daw ang iboboto, at alam na natin kung sino-sino iyon.

But many more Kakampinks on my Facebook feed who have Bam Kiko and Heidi topping their lists (that have absolutely no room for BBM-Alyansas or Digong-PDPs) are going for progressives, even if their chances of winning are slim. And these Kakampinks are okay with that, in the hope that the surveys are wrong or that the electorate will swing left in the last two minutes. Very fairytale-ish, but it is what it is.

Sa reddit.com ako nakatagpo ng mga Kakampink na iboboto sina Bam at Kiko, and maybe Heidi, Luke, and Leody, AND certainly some of the BBM slate (basta hindi pro-China) just because they want the VP impeached to prevent a Duterte comeback forever.

MEANWHILE, punditz are saying na dapat ay may quid pro quo, kapalit kumbaga, ang suporta ni Leni kina Pacquiao at Abalos — BBM’s Alyansa should also push daw for Bam and Kiko. Oo nga naman. But Leni shouldn’t have to ask for it pa, di ba. At kung di káya to go public, maaaring daanin sa bulungan, o puwede idagdag sa sample ballots, at the LGU level as the BBM admin’s machinery revs up for the homestretch.

MEANWHILE, in the DDS camp, strategist Lito Banayo, who claims credit for convincing Digong to run in 2016, is expecting 4 or 5 PDP bets to make it to the Magic 12: Bong Go, Bato, Imee, Camille, and even Marcoleta (with INC’s help daw). Fair warning that VP Sara would need just 4 or 5 more votes from incumbent senators.

… Banayo mentioned Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva, Robin Padilla, and Juan Miguel Zubiri, who might vote in favor of the Vice President.

“And then, how would Alan Cayetano vote? How would Mark Villar vote if Camille Villar owes a lot of utang na loob kay Sara,” Banayo added. https://politiko.com.ph/2025/04/23/

The very same question asked of Kakampinks voting for BBM’s sure winners in aid of the VP”s impeachment: how do we know that these BBM winners will not make balimbing to Sara’s side once they’ve made it to the trial as Senator Judges?

I’m remembering the midterm elections of May 2001, post-Erap impeachment trial, post-Edsa Dos and Tres, when only three (3) of Erap’s Puwersa ng Masa slate made it to the Magic 12, and barely.

Then, as now, the nation will be watching and listening closely as the trial unfolds, being reminded of what the Senate and QuadComm hearings surfaced in late 2024, and the Senator Judges will be under intense pressure to conduct themselves with wisdom and integrity, or else.

Read Manila Standard political scientist Ernesto M. Hilario‘s Will the next Senate remove Sara as VP?

The possibility of a second Duterte administration is likely to send chills of apprehension down the spines of those who want a regime that stands firmly on the side of democracy and human rights in the country, and [who] resolutely oppose any vestige of Dutertismo that’s seen to resurface should Sara take the reins of the presidency in 2028.

… A Senate that will vote for keeping Sara Duterte in her current position as Vice President will mean an uncertain future for Philippine democracy.

It is therefore imperative for the electorate to vote only for those senatorial bets who will exercise prudent judgment and decide on her case based on a careful weighing of the available evidence unearthed by the House quadcomm instead of voting along political or partisan considerations.

Vote wisely, Kakampinks, Leni or not.

Bumoto para ma-impeach nang tuluyan

[Dahil maraming humihingi ng Tagalog version}

Sa mga botante na nagtatanong, nag-iisip, kung sino-sino ba ang dapat ibotong Senador sa May 12, ang pinaka-kritikal na laban ay ang Impeachment ng VP.

Oo, maraming pang ibang isyu na importante rin, pero sa ngayon, wala nang hihigit pa sa Impeachment sapagkat ayaw nating makabalik ang dinastiyang Duterte — sa loob ng anim ng taon ni FPRRDay lalong nalugmok ang ating Inang Bayan sa hirap, takot, patayan, at utang. Ayaw nating makabalik sila para muling maghasík ng lagim.

MALINAW NA gagawin ni VP Sara ang lahat para di ma-impeach sa Senado.

Kapag nahatulan siya na nagkasala ng at least labing-anim (16) na senador (2/3 of 24) sa Impeachment Trial, bawal na siyang tumakbo for ANY public office. Mabibigo ang balak niyang tumakbong pangulo sa 2028. Kaya naman todo ang kampanya niya para sa mga kandidatong tiyak na ipapa-walang-sala siya sa Impeachment Trial.

KAILANGAN ni VP SARA ng SIYAM (9) na KAKAMPING SENADOR

Sa ngayon, sigurado siya sa boto ng apat (4) na nasa Senado pa: Robin, Jinggoy, Allan Peter, at Mark Villar. Medyo sigurado na rin siya sa dalawa (2) ng PDP-Laban ni Digong na pasók sa Top 12 ng surveys: Bong Go at Bato de la Rosa. Kailangan na lang ng tatlo (3) para maka-siyam.

Ito ang dahilan ng kanyang pag-endorso kina Imee Marcos at Camille Villar, kahit pa kadugo’t kaalyado ng BBM Alyansa. At ng pag-endorso ni Cong. Pulong Duterte kina Gringo Honasan at Ariel Querubin (utos daw ni Digong@ICC).  Pag nakapasok iyang apat (4), may sampu (10) nang kakampi ang VP at pihadong mahahatulan siyang inosente kahit maysala.

At kung hindi man makapasok sa Magic 12 sina Honasan at Querubin, nandiyan naman sina Willie Revillame at Philip Salvador na akyat-panaog labas-pasok sa Top 12 ng mga survey. At baka maaasahan din si Pia Cayetano na kabalikat ni Alan Peter.

Mas marami, mas mabuti para kay Sara. Kung makaka-13 siya, ibig sabihin, majority + one, makakayang palitan ang Senate President ng isang DDS. Yari tayo sa Impeachment Trial.

SA KABILANG BANDÁ
SA ATING BANDÁ

Kailangan natin ng sixteen (16) senators na magco-convict kay VP Sara batay sa mga ebidensiyang nasiwalat sa QuadComm hearings na napanood at napakinggan natin.

May maasahan tayong apat (4) na nasa Senado pa: Chiz Escudero, Risa Hontiveros, Win Gatchalian, at Raffy Tulfo (?).  Hindi tayo sigurado kina JV, Loren, Joel, at Migs.

May maaasahan ding pito (7) na BBM-Alyansang pasók sa top 12 ng SWS April survey — Erwin Tulfo, Lito Lapid, Tito Sotto, Bong Revilla, Abby Binay, Ping Lacson, at Manny Pacquiao.

Totoo, ayaw na sana natin sa mga tulad nilang mga lumang politiko o “trapo” (traditional politicians), lalo na yung mga artista’t dinastiya, na sa hinaba-haba ng panahon ay di nakapagpasá ng mga batas para sa malawakan at malalim na pagbabago ng isang marumi at maramot na sistemang pangkabuhayan.

Pero bilang mga kakampi ni BBM sa Alyansa slate, puwede silang asahan na magdesisyon sa Impeachment Trial batay sa ebidensiya, alang-alang sa Inang Bayan.

Kung dati-rati ay iniismiran o binabale-wala natin ang mga survey — iba kasing mga kandidato ang gusto nating manalo, at sila ang ating ibinoboto, basta, kahit nangungulelat at pihadong matatalo — SA HALALANG ITO ay hinihingi sa atin na bumoto tayo ayon sa survey.

Oo, maniwala tayo sa survey. Noong May 2022 nga, nanalo ang labing-isa (11) sa labing-dalawa (12) na pasók sa Top 12 ng Pulse Asia April survey.

SIXTEEN (16) VOTES para mahatulang maysala si VP Sara.

May apat (4) na nasa Senado pa, plus pito (7) na pasók sa Top 12, ay labing-isa (11). Kailangan natin ng lima (5) pa.

Pumili tayo doon sa mga may laban, yung di malayo sa Top 12, na maasahan natin sa Impeachment Trial. Tulad nina Bam Aquino (15th), Kiko Pangilinan (16th), at Benhur Abalos (18th). At konting kembot na lang sana, sina Heidi Mendoza (24th), France Castro (26th), Leody de Guzman (32nd), at Luke Espiritu (30th).

Parang ganito rin ang iniisip ni former VP Leni Robredo na ka-e-endorse kina Benhur at Manny Pacquiao, idinagdag kina Heidi, Bam, at Kiko. May pag-asa talaga.

LISTAHAN ng 14
Pumili ng 12

Benhur Abalos
Bam Aquino
Abby Binay
France Castro
Luke Espiritu
Leody de Guzman
Kiko Pangilinan
Ping Lacson
Lito Lapid
Heidi Mendoza
Manny Pacquiao
Bong Revilla
Tito Sotto
Erwin Tulfo

Kung ayaw mo sa artista, ilaglag sa listahan si Revilla (na kurakot din daw) at si Lapid. O kaya, dalawang dinastiya (si Revilla pa rin). Ang mahalaga ay maka-12, pandagdag sa apat (4) na incumbent Senators na kakampi na natin. para maka-16 Senators na maaasahang isasaalang-alang ang ebidensiya sa mga kasong kriminal na hinaharap ng VP.

Ipakalat ang listahan mo. Ipalaganap ang panawagang ito.

#VoteToImpeach #SaraMaysala

Vote for Senators who will Vote to Impeach

Calling on the Yellows, Pinks, and Reds of all shades.

VP Sara‘s impeachment is the most critical issue that should guide our choice of 12 senators on May 12. There are many other important issues, yes, but first let’s make sure the Dutertes do not make a comeback (a la Trump) and wreak national havoc anew with their dark and vengeful ways.

Let’s take the cue from VP Sara herself who has endorsed Imee Marcos and Camille Villar — kahit pa kadugo’t kaalyado ni PBBM — just because she needs at least nine (9) votes to acquit her in the impeachment trial.

So far, she can count on four (4) of the 12 senators still in the Senate — Robin, Jinggoy, Alan Peter, and Mark Villar — but only on two (2) re-electionists in Digong’s PDP who are expected to make it to the winning 12 — SWS‘s April survey has Bong Go in 1st place and Bato dela Rosa in 6th. Who knows when the ICC will get them. Meanwhile, that’s 4 + 2 = 6 votes.  https://pia.gov.ph/139544-2/

Sara may also be counting on Pia Cayetano (5th place) of BBM’s Alyansa who is expected to vote a la AlanPeter because they’ve always voted alike (korek me if I’m wrong). That’s 6 + 1 = 7.

She needs at least two more. And here’s where she’s counting on Camille, 11th place, and Imee, in 14th. That’s 7+ 2 = 9.  Exactly the number of votes she needs to be acquitted, never mind evidence of guilt.

But to be sure, she won’t mind getting more than 9 senators on her side, four (4) more, to be exact. With 13 votes — majority of 12 + 1 — Chiz could be replaced by a DuterteDiehard senator, which might explain why Cong Pulong Duterte has also endorsed Gringo Honasan, in 19th place, and Ariel Querubin, 29th (on Digong’s instructions daw). But maybe they’re really counting more on Willie Revillame (IND), now in 13th place, and Philip Salvador (PDP), 17th, na akyat-panaog sa surveys, pasok-labas sa magic 12.

ON THE OTHER HAND

To impeach Sara we need at least 16 Senators who will vote to convict.

So far we can count on four (4) of the Senators still in the Senate — Risa Hontiveros, Chiz Escudero, Win Gatchalian, and Raffy Tulfo. Not sure about JV Ejercito, Loren Legarda, Joel Villanueva, and Migs Zubiri, who could swing either way [again, correct me if I’m wrong].

Going by the SWS April poll, (not counting Pia and Camille) BBM’s Alyansa has seven (7) in the top 12 —  Erwin Tulfo (in 2nd place), Lito Lapid (3rd), Tito Sotto (4th), Bong Revilla (7th), Abby Binay (9th), Ping Lacson (11th), and Manny Pacquiao (12th).  [Pasók din si Ben Tulfo (IND, 8th) but who knows with these Tulfos, baka swing votes pala?]

I know, I know, the seven (7) are all traditional politicians and artistas, mostly even dynasts, to boot!  But hey, what matters at this point is making sure we get the 16 votes to impeach Sara. We can do it only if we stop with the romantic notion that we are doing right when we ignore the surveys and vote for the ones we like, basta, kahit nangungulelat at pihadong matatalo.

Hindi dapat ismiran o bale-walaín ang Pulse Asia at SWS just because di natin like o type ang inire-report nilang mga kandidatong most-likely-to-win. Pulse Asia and SWS have been doing this a long time, gauging scientifically the inclinations of a representative sample of the electorate at a specific points in time. Historically, their pre-poll survey results have proven consistent with election results.

In April 2022 Pulse Asia’s opinion poll nailed 11 of the 12 senators who made it to the magic 12. Ronnie Holmes promises a last report very early in May. Abangan natin, in case may significant differences with SWS’s April poll. https://pulseasia.ph/updates/april-2022

16 VOTES TO IMPEACH

There’s at least four (4) Senators still in the Senate who we can count on. And going by SWS, there are seven (7) BBM-Alyansa candidates in the top 12. That’s 4 + 7 = 11.  We need five (5) more.

Let’s choose from the ones who have a fighting chance because they’re not too far from 12th place:  Bam Aquino is in 15th, Kiko Pangilinan in 16th, Benhur Abalos in 18th. That’s three (3) + 11 = 14. We need two more.

Francis Tolentino is in 21st place but he seems to be another swing vote, could go either way. Heidi Mendoza is in 28th, France Castro 30th, Leody de Guzman 32nd, Luke Espiritu 34th.

It would seem that former VP Leni Robredo is on a similar wavelength. She has lately endorsed Manny and Benhur in addition to Bam, Kiko, and Heidi.  Hope springs eternal. https://www.inquirer.net/

LIST of 14
Choose 12

Benhur Abalos
Bam Aquino
Abby Binay
France Castro
Luke Espiritu
Leody de Guzman
Ping Lacson
Lito Lapid
Heidi Mendoza
Manny Pacquiao
Kiko Pangilinan
Bong Revilla
Tito Sotto
Erwin Tulfo

NOTE. You can remove the artistas Revilla & Lapid, or let go two of the dynasts, and still come up with 12. Plus at least four (4) still in the Senate would make a total of 16, exactly the number we need to impeach the VP. Share the list. Spread the word. #VoteToImpeach 

Sui Generis Superstar

by Patrick Flores

Was it the water she sold? Or could it have been the sound of the train running on its tracks? Or just the lilt of her voice, singing songs of her hometown and also of ski trails, the warbling of the meadowlark, and moonlight in Vermont? Difficult to imagine that Nora Aunor is already 61; she was all of 11 when she won first prize in a music tilt sponsored by a milk company in Camarines Sur. Still harder to grasp that she has over time chalked up around 181 films, 238 songs, 53 records, and 260 awards. What kind of time and world might have formed Nora? What atmosphere of history did she breathe?

On the centennial of Philippine independence in 1998, the Cultural Center of the Philippines named a hundred artists of the nation, including the likes of the exemplary patriot-painter of the nineteenth century Juan Luna. Quite a formidable league, and Nora was the only actress of film to be part of it, a tribute to how her fine labor has transformed the work of art in the Philippines and how a humbled and inspired nation has returned the gesture.

Surely, the talent is the horizon, creating an extensive landscape of efforts in music, film, television, and theater and excelling in these fields as attested by the countless honors here and elsewhere. An argument can be made that she is sui generis — without precedent, peer, or progeny.  She has been compared with the fabled Italian actress Giulietta Masina; and the equally illustrious French icon Jeanne Moreau, the chair of the Berlinale jury when Himala (1982) competed in 1983, remembered Nora having put up a brave fight against a Soviet actress that year.

The mythology would inflect this artistic potency. In other words, it is not only the rigor of the technique and the lightness of the effect that has made many cherish Nora’s presence in art and social life. It is also the moral tale of journeying from peninsula to city to pursue the promise of her voice and, in the fullness of time, to transcend the adversity that had made her dare to dream in the first place. It is the ballad of the migrant, the amateur, the expectant. It is the source of stigma, sadness, and inevitably, of the sublime. This myth has been lasting, and for her kind in different places, it is so moving.

It is this mythology that has enabled Nora to gather her own mass of faithful, to stir up the occasional hysteria, and to become quite a cognate of cinema as medium: how a wisp of a girl morphs into a startling kind of substance on screen is the very technology of enchantment itself. And the power can only be palpable. At the height of the Martial Law of Marcos, perhaps only Nora’s army, fired up by intense devotion, could have held a candle.

With form and mythology comes change. And Nora changed a lot of prejudices and discriminations, from the concept of a star to the role of a superstar, from the mestiza leading lady to the morena movie queen, from the studio fixture to a risk taker in terms of producing her own films and taking on eccentric characters. Change, too, came by way of the breakdown of the divide between the supposedly bakya (low-class) and the burgis (elite), high art and low art, commercial film and art film. Nora embodied aspects of these tendencies, with no apology nor conceit. She was only 23 when she produced and starred in Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos (1976), and on the first year of the awards of the organization of film critics called the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, Nora was declared Best Actress. We wonder who owed more to whom, the intelligentsia or the girl from Iriga?

Finally, the persistence, the sheer stamina of Nora to trudge on, with or without a National Artist medallion around her neck, a piece of jewelry that has been unfairly snatched away from her by mere government. The year has yet to end but she has already made six films and some of them have been doing the rounds of international film festivals, making her the busiest star in an industry where its so-called celebrities waste away in the cesspool of entertainment. With the recent grisly death of a transgender Filipino allegedly in the hands of an American soldier, she again comes to mind. As we watch the news unreel, who would not not remember Nora intoning the line before her brother’s coffin in Minsa’y Isang Gamu-Gamo (1976): “My brother is not a pig!”

In the lamentable film Hustisya (2014), Nora plays the role of Biring, a hireling in a syndicate who later takes the helm. In the last scene, a party to celebrate her birthday, the country’s corrupt political class gathers in her parlor. An assistant whispers something in her ear and she laughs nearly wickedly. Nora Aunor has always known the farce of this society and has mastered the madness of her method.

BusinessWorld, 2015