The Disapproved UP seal-- Look, no Bald Eagle!

ALAM n'yo bang hindi lang ang pamahalaan natin ang patuloy na nagdadala ng simbolo ng ating kolonyalismo--ang imahe ng Kalbong Agila--kundi pati ang "premier national university" na UNIBERSIDAD ng PILIPINAS (UP)? At alam n'yo din bang may nagpanukala nang palitan ito dahil nga naman "malaya" na daw tayo subalit ito ay hindi pinagbigyan ng MGA pwersang tutatsing???

Hanggang ngayon ang opisyal na seal ng bansa ay nagtataglay ng elemento ng 2 kanluraning bansang sumakop sa atin--ang Leon ng Espana at ang Kalbong Agila ng imperyalistang Estados Unidos. Tinanggal daw ito ng Kongreso noong 1998 pero hanggang ngayon ay kataka-takang hindi pa nagkaka-Plebisito para mapatupad ito.

Sa kaso ng UP, tampok sa kasalukuyang seal nito ang--hulaan ninyo--ang KALBONG AGILA na nakabuka ang pakpak at nakatingin sa kanan. Ang epal na Kalbong Agila na ito ay nakahapon sa isang shield na may mga icon na sumisimbolo sa agrikultura, engineering, at medisina at paikot ay nakasulat ang University of the Philippines at 1908, ang taong itinatag ang unibersidad na ito. (Nauna dito ay ginamit ang seal na nagtatampok ng mas maliit na Kalbong Agila, ang shield na sumisimbolo sa Manila, at ang 13 colonies ng Kano na naghimagsik sa Britanya). 






May nagpanukala nang palitan ang seal ng kinikilalang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas ngunit dahil ang ating bayan ay wala na yatang katapusan sa pagiging tuta ay nabara ito ng kinakasangkapan ng tantads na Central Intelligence Office (o iba pang instrumento ng imperyalista). Noong panahon ng pagkapangulo ng UP ng magiting na si Salvador P. Lopez ay naglabas siya ng Memorandum Circular na may petsang Nobyembre November 13, 1971 na nagbubukas ng paligsahan para sa pag.disenyo ng bago at makabayang seal ng UP. Sabi ni SP Lopez:

“Just as a new seal was designed for the Philippines when it became independent in 1946, so a new seal for the University should have been designed and adopted at that time…. The eagle appears to be particularly inappropriate as the dominant element in the seal of the university.”

Ang nanalong disenyo (nasa larawan sa kanan) ay mula kay Galo B. Ocampo na direktor noon ng Pambansang Museo (National Museum). Subalit dahil ang ating kawawang bayan ay natarakan ng long-term-acting na hipnotismo tutatsing, ang plano ay binara at isinangtabi. Isipin n'yo na lang ang puwersang pumigil dito--mismong pangulo ng unibersidad at director ng pambansang museo ang pangunahing mga bida pero nasupalpal pa.

Malinaw pa sa mata ng kwago na dapat tanggalin ang elemento Kalbong Agila sa seal ng UP (at sa ating Republika) dahil itong animal na ito ay ang pambansang simbolo ng imperyalista, ng bansang Estados Unidos na nagnakaw ng ating ipinaglabang kalayaan, nanakop sa atin, at kumitil sa daang libong o lampas isang milyon nating mga magigiting na ninuno noong Digmaang Pilipino-Amnerikano (1899-1904). Higit isang siglo na ngang tapos ang digmaang iyon, ang ating pagkatalo, ang pag-water torture at reconcentration, ang paginsulto sa ating lahi, kulay, at kakayanan, atbp. (At napakatagal na ring panahong lumipas ay hindi pa tayo hinihingan ng patawad ng walang urbanidad na bansang iyan). Subalit magpi-pitong dekada na ring tayong "malaya" daw mula sa kuko ni Kalbong Agila. Papaalala ko lang sa mga humaling na humaling sa bansang imperyalista--Hulyo 4, 1946 daw tayo 'pinalaya' ng United States of America.

Kaya nga bakit HANGGANG ngayon ay dala-dala pa ng UP at ng ating "Republika" ang pambansang simbolo ng imperyalistang mananakop? Ano naman ang idadahilan ng mga pro-US (translation ng iba: tutatsing o zombies ba?) diyan sa tabi-tabi? 'For old times' sake retain the seal'--ganoon ba? O sasabihin kaya nila na 'Let it be because we owe it to the U.S. for giving us the system of free public education'? Talaga lang, ha? Kaya pala sa Kalbong Agila ngayon ay hindi iilan ang mga estudyante nagsa-sideline bilang prostitutes o call girls/call boys para lang makapagtapos ng kolehiyo. At dito naman sa mismong UP ngayon ay iilan na lamang ang mga scholars dahil sa privatization direction na pinatupad ng mga dilaw na pangulo matapos patalsikin si Pangulong Joseph Estrada ng mga dilaw sa tulong ng Amerika. Meron ngang socialized tuituion fee scheme (STFAP) subali't sa kasalukuyan ang default nito ngayon ay Bracket A o mga magbabayad ng libo-libo kada semester. Kung default ang millionaire's bracket, ang pinahihiwatig nito ay pinaghandaan nila ay kokonti lang na mga iskolars.

Huwag sabihin na si Pangulong Marcos lang ang may sala dahil kahit walang nangyari ay sa panahon niya nabuksan ito. Hirayain na 66 na taon na mula Hulyo 1946 ay nakatarak pa rin sa mga mag-aaral ng, at nagsipagtapos mula sa, UP ang imaheng Kalbong Agila. Matagal nang pinatalsik at patay si Marcos, at si SP Lopez at si G. Gamo subalit nakatago pa rin sa baul ang pagpalit ng seal. Deferred ng UP Board of Regents ang pagpapatupad ng pagpalit ng UP seal dahil 'pagaaralan ng mas maigi' daw. Hale, anong UP body ang nagaaral dito at anong klaseng non-scientific experiment ang kailangan magtagal ng 31 taon palakad?

Ganito na lamang kaya. Kung hindi kayo maawat sa paghanga sa ibong nakabuka ang pakpak, PALITAN na lang kaya ng PHILIPPINE EAGLE yung BALD EAGLE diyan sa UP seal para kahit papaano ay katutubo ang dating. Maari na kaya? Lol.

__________


MGA BATIS:

Si Fidel Ramos, ang 'Rizal Day Bombings' at ang Kalbong Agila. http://forthephilippines.blogspot.com/2012/07/si-fidel-ramos-ang-rizal-day-bombings.html

Quindoza-Santiago, Lilia. Philippine Literature during the American Period.
http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?igm=1&i=131

STAND UP. Road Map to Deeper Education. 4 July 2012. http://standupdiliman.com/road-map-to-deeper-education-crisis/

Symbols of U.S. Government: The Bald Eagle. http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/symbols/eagle.html

The University Seal. http://www.up.edu.ph/index.php/about-up/the-up-seal

25 Years of EDSA: A Legacy of Disempowerment, Amorality, & Greater Poverty

NO Thanks to 25 Years of EDSA

TWENTY-FIVE years after EDSA 1, a quarter of a century after the "fascist" Ferdinand E. Marcos dictatorship was dismantled, the Philippines is in WORSE straits. We should repudiate, NOT celebrate, the "People Power" of 1986, as well as the 2001 EDSA II, for its end results. Instead of uplifting the condition and morality of the Filipinos, it led us deep into the quagmire of greater poverty and virtual amorality.

Whereas, during the Martial Law period, the opposition's mantra was "clean and fair and honest elections," today, some well-educated Filipinos openly HAIL electoral cheating, thanking Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the 2004 "Hello Garci" POLL FRAUD that prevented the presidency of Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ).

Narinig mula sa isang kuwarto sa College of Science, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas-Diliman, mga dalawang taon na ang nakakaraan:

Binata: Buti na lang nandaya si Gloria Arroyo. Ayoko nga kay FPJ."

By the way, no one among his classmates raised hell over his pro-poll fraud comment.
 

Here's another. Conversation in a Facebook secret group:

R---- M------ 3:34pm Feb 12:

"well jesusa i would rather have poll fraud or insult the few... that garci incident is a saving grace for all of us because if fpj became president we would end up a 4th world country or maybe we would end up in the movies."

Jesusa Bernardo 11:42pm Feb 11:

"insult the few? lol. eh di sana hindi na nandaya si arrobo dorobo. anyway, as i said, i've got to give it to you for your honesty in embracing the crime and immoral act of poll fraud and insulting the wisdom of the people. :)"

Noong panahon ni Marcos, ang pangunahing reklamo ng mga nasa oposisyon, kabilang ang mga nasa poder ng kapangyarihan ngayon tulad ng mga Aquino-Cojuangco at si Sen. Joker Arroyo, ay ang kawalan ng kalayaan na ihalal ang tunay na nais na bayan. Makaraang mapatalsik si Marcos, lahat ng halalang pangpanguluhan maliban noong 1998 kung kailan nanalo si Pangulong Joseph "Erap" Estrada, ay may bahid ng pandaraya.

The most pronounced and despicably massive cases of poll fraud and cover-up were the 2004 Hello Garci and the recent 2010 Hocus Pcos elections benefiting Arroyo and the incumbent "President" Benigno "Noynoy" Cojuangco Aquino III, respectively. What's even more revolting is that the political and business elites conspired to oust the only genuinely democratically post-Marcos President, Pres. Erap, practically from Day 1 of his term.

In terms of greater poverty, those who have lived long enough to be able to compare the Marcos days with the next era, particular after the EDSA 2 coup against Erap, simply can tell how more difficult life has become in this country. Very high electricity rates--in fact one of the highest in the world-- and higher food prices and transportation costs. Kahit na maraming kababayan natin ang OFW at sumusuporta sa ekonomiya, marami nang kumakain ng "PAGPAG" (kaning baboy) ngayon. Sa payak na pananalita, MAS MAHIRAP mabuhay at gumalaw. Walang pasalamat sa EDSA.

As of 1997, the Philippines was "a major destination for paedophiles... Poverty has also turned rural Philippines into a huge exporter of cheap labour."
http://books.google.com/books?id=kSKlqr0QcXgC&pg=PA52&dq=%22poverty+index%22+philippines&hl=en&ei=-sNlTe_eK9HwrQeIm6XaCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CEAQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=%22major%20destination%20for%20paedophiles%22&f=false

From 1994-1996, the percentage of those earning less than $2 per person a day was 63%, based on the 1999 UN Human Development Report.
http://books.google.com/books?id=hmEptCPHMEgC&pg=PA511&dq=%22poverty+index%22+philippines&hl=en&ei=-sNlTe_eK9HwrQeIm6XaCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=%22poverty%20index%22%20philippines&f=false

 

It should be noted that OFFICIAL poverty statistics surprisingly show a decrease in the number of poor Filipinos from the Marcos years until today. The official figures have long been suspected to be 'doctored' somehow, particularly during Arroyo's time. Asian Development Bank's Karin Schelzig points to one explanation behind the seeming disconnect of the official figures with poverty on the ground:

"Despite a long tradition of poverty measurement in the Philippines, trends in income poverty are not straightforward as one might hope. The most important issue is that there have been two major methodology changes [instituted by the National Statistics Office] since the poverty incidence was first estimated for 1985. The first major change occurred in 1992, and the second in 2003. In essence, there are three different poverty series in existence for the Philippines..."
http://books.google.com/books?id=iVIW-Qh50HoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22poverty+in+the++philippines%22&hl=en&ei=09VlTbDMK4H0cbag3I4M&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=philippines&f=false


Actually, just recently, the The National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB) tweaked the survey method again "by reducing the computation of those under poverty line from those earning P41 per person per day to just P37 per person per day" as reported by the Daily Tribune. Applying the new computing method, the number of poor Filipinos in 2009 was reduced to only 23 million from the 27.6 million based on the old method. Schelzig concludes that (official) figures on Philippine poverty may underestimate urban poverty because of survey methods, and that they may be "worth less in real terms" because poverty lines failed to keep up with inflation over time. With the recent THIRD change in methodology for estimating poverty and the glossing over of high inflation, official poverty figures have been rendered more of illusory and sallowly propagandistic.

The sad, pathetic state of hunger of millions of the Filipinos under the yellows is perhaps well symbolized by the documentary of Ferdinand Dimadura, "Chicken a la Carte" (see video below).  Winner of the 56th Berlin International Film festival competition for the Most Popular Short film category, the 2005 documentary shows how a Filipino breadwinner regularly gives Pagpag fast food table scraps, normally recycled for  animal consumption, as festive food for his family. 

The EDSA legacy is not worth celebrating but, rather, condemning. Just look where the Filipinos are today. Our people have regressed not only economically but also in terms of political morality. It has become acceptable even for the normally idealistic youth to trash morals and democratic ideals just because they so dislike a popular but unacceptable-to-them presidentiable.

I say, it's more of [EDSA "People Power" = Poll Fraud + Power Grab].

To be more accurate:

[EDSA "People Power" = Political disempowerment + Amorality + Poverty].

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

_________


References (& raw photo credits) :

Dimadura, Ferdinand. Chicken a la Carte. 2005. Video. http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/1081/Chicken-a%20la%20Carte

Less poor after NSCB tweaks poverty formula. Daily Tribune. 9 February 2011. http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110209hed4.html

Marshall, Katherine and Olivier Butzbach. New Social Policy Agendas for Europe and Asia: Challenges, Experiences, and Lessons. Illustrated Ed. World Bank Publications, 2003. http://books.google.com/books?id=hmEptCPHMEgC&dq=%22poverty+index%22+philippines&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Schelzig, Karin. Poverty in the Philippines: income, assets, and access. Asian Development Bank, 2005. http://books.google.com/books?id=iVIW-Qh50HoC&dq=%22poverty+in+the++philippines%22&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The "Pagpag" Legacy of the Yellow Administrations of the Philippines

AFTER Ferdinand E. Marcos was deposed, democracy was supposedly restored and the lot of the Filipinos improved. Or is it? Beyond what have now been called the "yellow surveys" and official government pronouncements of economic growth, the better gauge of what our people has become is what they EAT, or what the poor people stuff their stomachs with.

The (forced by poverty) eating habit of the marginalized sector of a country speaks not only of the level of poverty of the poor but also of the indignity (or otherwise) that they are experiencing. After three successive yellow presidents--interrupted only by the brief leadership of Joseph Ejercito Estrada, the only one with the most definitive and unquestioned electoral mandate of the Filipinos--ever wonder what is the state of this country called the Philippines (but which I'd prefer to be renamed as either Taga-Ilog or Maharlika)?

The following, an award-winning sort-of documentary film, made several years after Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's "EDSA 2" power grab, perhaps best describe the continuing piteous plight of the urban poor Filipinos. A short film entry to the 56th Berlin International Film festival, it topped the competition when it was adjudged the Most Popular Short film.

While Dimadura wants to bring the point that globalization causes world hunger, his thesis is unsupported, apparently because of its delimiting mere 9-minute run. Besides, isn't it that in a country where the government is run by patriotic, moral, truly elected servants of the people who do not exploit but truly serve the nation, whatever ills globalization brings are dutifully addressed. In such countries, the table scraps (kaning baboy) are recycled for the animal consumption and definitely NOT the poor people's.

As a social reality film, Dimadura's work works to haunt the mind and the conscience. Perhaps wanting to make the rich or comfortable among us not forget nor feel indifferent, he completes the affecting, perhaps revolting, images with his own musical composition that should strike at the hearts of us all:

"Let me tell their story that no one else can hear./

How can someone's laughter bring me close to tears?/

And you'll never know cause you're never there./

After what we've seen, can we close our eyes again?/

Let me tell their story you won't think is true./

I have not forgotten so I'm sharing it with you./

For all the things we know what have we really learned?/

Though i close my eyes the images remain./

And their story begins... again."

As we remain under the clout of the ruling elites under the newly seated HOCUS PCOS Illegitimate, watch and ponder on the true, or more real, unfortunate legacy of the yellows.

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

The 16 Presidents of the Philippines --a historical satire

Pakibasa rin ho ang: The Hacking of the Supremo, Unang Bahagi (Bonifacio Series VII) 

Satirical text version:


1.  ANDRES C. BONIFACIO (1896-1897) *

TUNAY na Unang Pangulo. Ayaw kilalanin ng mga elitista.

2.  EMILIO F. AGUINALDO (1897/98-1901)  

Orihinal na mang-aagaw. Berdugo 2x. Nagpa-onse sa mga Amerikano.

3.  MANUEL LUIS M. QUEZON (1935-1944)

Panahon ng Imperyalistang Kano. Pinataob si 'hero-killer' Aguinaldo sa Halalan 1935.

4. JOSE P. LAUREL (1943-1945)

Panahon ng 'Takot ako Hapon.'

5. SERGIO S. OSMENA (1944/45 - 1946)

 Hindi suportado ng Amerika ang pagtakbo noong 1946. Hindi nagkampanya kaya tumiklop kay Roxas.

6. MANUEL A. ROXAS (1946 - 1948)

Ginoong "Parity Rights." Aming likas na yaman ay inyo rin, Amerika!

7.  ELPIDIO R. QUIRINO (1948 - 1953)

Panahon ng Hukbalahap. Pinatalo daw ng Amerika noong Halalan ng 1953.

8.  RAMON F. MAGSAYSAY (1953 - 1957)

Care of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Makataong "Amboy."

9.  CARLOS P. GARCIA (1957 - 1961)

  "Filipino First" policy. Period.

10. DIOSDADO P. MACAPAGAL (1961 - 1965)

Kalayaan daw ng bansa ay Hunyo 12, 1898.

11. FERDINAND E. MARCOS (1965 - 1986)

Diktator ng Martial Law. Pero medyo inayos ang bayan.

12. CORAZON COJUANGCO AQUINO (1986- 1992)

Santa de Santita. May "Kamag-Anak Inc."

13. FIDEL V. RAMOS - (1992 - 1998)

Nanalo DAW noong Halalan 1992. Salamat sa brownouts.

14. JOSEPH  EJERCITO ESTRADA (1998 - 2001)

Mabisyo. Pero may nasyonalismo, patriotismo, at populismo (maka-Masa). Biktima ng mga tampalasan at timang.

15. GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO (2001-2010)

Mangaagaw # 2. "Pangulo" ni Hello Garci at Ampatuan. Ang Pinaka.....   grrrrrrrr! Matagal nang hinihintay ni FPJ.

16. BENIGNO SIMEON AQUINO (2010 - ___) 

Automated Hello Garci a.k.a. HOCUS PCOS # 1. (?).  Aba eh, anong nangyari kay dilawang Gob. Rafael Nantes ?!?

*Andres Bonifacio, Unang Pangulo ng 'Pilipinas' (Setting the Historiographic Record Straight)
http://forthephilippines.blogspot.com/2011/12/andres-bonifacio-unang-pangulo-ng.html
_________

Why Edsa 1 Is Sacred & Edsa 2, Immoral: A Pictorial Comparison

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

VIDEO: Cory Aquino Tributes & the Philippine Story (EDSA 1, 2, & 3)

Companion video to article

"Cory Aquino Tributes & the EDSA 2 Denial Syndrome":

The necrological services on the fourth day of the wake of former President Corazon Aquino struck this column as disconcertingly Edsa 2 in composition and sound, no matter that the VIPs who remained in their pews represented all the Edsa revolts--Edsa 1, 2 & 3. Except for Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, the public figures who took the podium were movers or stalwarts of the 2001 "People Power" power grab.

READ MORE

Destitute mother's parricide & suicide: Poverty & despondency under bogus President Arroyo

Manila - A jobless Filipino mother killed her three children Tuesday by forcing them to drink liquid toilet cleaner before taking her own life, police said. Police said poverty apparently drove Janeth Ponce, 32, to kill her children, ages 4, 3 and 2, in their house in Laguna province south of Manila.

-The Earth Times, Tue, 09 Sep 2008 08:45:06 GMT

I've lived through all four decades, including during the time of Ferdinand Marcos' dictatorship, but suicides due to poverty were little known of until the controversial presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Only in November 2007, 11-year-old Mariannet Amper hanged herself in their shanty in desperation over her family's abject poverty. These two cases hugged the headlines because juveniles are involved, but suicides that included only adult Filipinos have been reported--sporadically but occurring more often nonetheless.

To the best of my memory, the more than rare frequency of poverty-driven suicides began being reported only after the EDSA 2 coup d etat that deposed the constitutionally elected President Joseph Estrada to install the elite-backed Arroyo in 2001. Survey studies after survey researches--both local and international--have shown Arroyo's presidency as most inimical to the Filipinos. Her administration has also registered the highest levels of overall hunger, or "Total Hunger," in nearly a decade since the SWS surveys on hunger began. She is also viewed as the most unpopular and "Most Corrupt" president in the history of the Southeast Asian country since the time of Marcos based on the poll researches of both the SWS and Pulse Asia survey institutions.

Then Vice-President Arroyo was able to seize the presidency through the so-called "EDSA 2 Revolution," backed by the Catholic Church, business elites, military elements and political oppositionists to Estrada, led by herself and her husband. Based on the admission of Arroyo's husband to respected Filipino writer Nick Joaquin, the Arroyos bought and distributed "millions" of print material and used mass texting to assemble "people power" in the streets of EDSA as part of what is now viewed as a planned conspiracy to grab power,

These suicides ghastly showcase the sufferings of the Filipino masses gone to desperation level. The "bogus" administration of Arroyo (dubbed so due to her 2001 power grab and the 2004 electoral fraud scandal) is morally accountable for the unprecedented hunger and poverty in the country. The funds of the Philippine treasury and the energies of her contested administration have practically all been directed towards keeping her illegitimate rule instead of improving the conditions and opportunities of the people, particularly the marginalized lot. She has proved to be an innately self-serving "President" who has skillfully exercised "patronage politics" oiled by dispensing pork barrel and junket favors to equally crocodilian politicians like her.

Perhaps as much to be blamed for the obtaining despondency among the half a million households, whose members at times are forced to do without a single meal in a day, is the gullible mob that either unsuspectingly or stupidly came to support EDSA 2. Thinking that it was a "spontaneous" act founded on moral calling, they helped depose President Estrada, who had been fierily branded as corrupt by the propaganda machinery of a power hungry Arroyo and party. As it turned out--to the detriment of the nation--Arroyo, who ironically laid claim to the presidency via a "revolution" for good governance, would be the only Philippine leader to ever receive negative satisfaction ratings, and even bested Marcos for the ignominious title of "Most Corrupt President in Philippine History." As the "EDSA 2 gullibles" have realized too late, Arroyo was a disguised malevolent politician who conned them all.

To say "mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa," is the least the more patriotic of the EDSA 2 conspirators and gullibles can do. But what good would a thousand sorry's do to the grieving, destitute families of Janeth and Mariannet and other poverty-related dead-by-suicide victims of Arroyo's administration?

__________

References:

Bowring, Philip. "Filipino Democracy Needs Stronger Institutions." International Herald Tribune. 22 Jan. 2001. http://www.iht.com/articles/2001/01/22/edbow.t_3.php

"Poverty-stricken mother kills three children, self in Philippines." The Earth Times. 09 September 2008. http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/230527,poverty-stricken-mother-kills-three-children-self-in-philippines.html

Pulse Asia. Additional Findings on Corruption-Related Issues: Most Corrupt President in Philippine History. October 2007. http://pulseasia.com.ph/resources/photos/table2_corruption_0710.gif

Pulse Asia. Pulse Asia's July 2008 Nationwide Survey on Coping with Double Digit Inflation Rates. July 2008. http://www.pulseasia.com.ph/pulseasia/story.asp?ID=656

Social Weather Stations. Second Quarter 2008 Social Weather Survey: PGMA's net rating falls to record-low -38. 18 July 2008. http://www.sws.org.ph/pr080718.htm

Tordesillas, Ellen. "Credit should go to Mike Arroyo". Malaya. 16 Jan. 2002. http://malaya.com.ph/jan16/edtorde.htm

Photo Credit:
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20080325-126376/Rally-rock-the-latest-wave

****************

Arroyo's 2008 SONA as pack of lies, again

Gloria Arroyo's forthcoming State of the Nation Address will again be a pack of lies. Only 14 out of every 100 Filipinos believe there will be any truth in the scheduled July 28, 2008 SONA, compared to the 86% percent who either disbelieve or remain undecided.

The figures come from the latest Ulat ng Bayan research survey of independent public opinion polling firm Pulse Asia. Not counting the undecided, the marked predominance of those who dismiss Arroyo's 2008 SONA as not truthful compared to those thinking it will be truthful is seen across all demographic levels and social classes. The disparity of the number of skeptics versus those who tend to believe ranges from nearly 100 percent to over 400 percent in all categories of the respondents in the nationwide survey held from July 1-14, 2008.

A clear majority of those from classes A, B and C (36%) think that the scheduled SONA of Arroyo will not be truthful while only less than half (15%) believe it will be truthful. Among those in the D class, 41 % are skeptics while a mere 13% are believers.

In terms of age groups, the greatest disparity is registered in the 25-34 year-old group, with 48% thinking the SONA will be fictitious while a very small percentage (11%) think it will be factual. Even among government personnel, an overwhelming majority is skeptical whether the SONA of Arroyo: 39% believe it will be untruthful while only 15% think it will be truthful.

Among the college graduates or those with post-college education, the percentage of those who believe that Arroyo will lie in the SONA is much higher over those thinking she will not lie (34% vs. 12%). This belief is shared by those without any formal education, although the disparity is higher: 43% are skeptics while only 16% tend to believe.

Almost the same total number of Filipinos have adjudged Arroyo to have been untruthful in her past SONAs compared to those who think she has been truthful (14% vs. 13%). According to Pulse Asia's media release, the "currently low proportion of people (14%) who still believe that her SONA this year will be a truthful one" is a point of concern for the Philippines. There has been significant drop in public indecision over Arroyo's SONA and the "low proportion of believers in her SONA's truthfulness ...cannot possibly represent much political capital for her and her administration."

An earlier Pulse Asia survey study held in October 2007 has shown that Filipinos regard Gloria Arroyo as the Most Corrupt President in Philippine History, even beating former dictator Ferdinand Marcos for the ignominious title. Ironically, Joseph Estrada, her predecessor whom she deposed in the 2001 Edsa revolt, Joseph Estrada, is ranked number two as the Least Corrupt President in Philippine History, next to Corazon Aquino, during the post-Martial Law era.


References:

Table 3 Truthfulness of Forthcoming SONA of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Pulse Asia. http://pulseasia.com.ph/resources/photos/table3_SONA0807.gif.

Table 2 Truthfulness of Forthcoming SONA of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Pulse Asia. http://pulseasia.com.ph/resources/photos/table2_SONA0807.gif.

Pulse Asia's July 2008 Ulat ng Bayan Survey: Media Release on Public Perceptions Regarding State of the Nation Addresses (SONAs). Pulse Asia. http://pulseasia.com.ph/pulseasia/story.asp?ID=651.

Most Corrupt President in Philippine History. Pulse Asia. http://pulseasia.com.ph/resources/photos/table2_corruption_0710.gif.

Least Corrupt President in Philippine History. Pulse Asia. http://pulseasia.com.ph/resources/photos/table3_corruption_0710.gif.

Pulse Asia's October 2007 Special Report's Additional Findings on Corruption-Related Issues (Most/Least Corrupt Philippine Presidents). Pulse Asia. http://pulseasia.com.ph/pulseasia/story.asp?id=632.

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