Why they are all afraid of Sara Duterte-Carpio

 “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”

—Plato

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

ANYBODY who can name a Filipino politician today—especially an incumbent mayor, governor, representative, senator—that is not afraid of Vice President Sara “Inday Sara” Duterte-Carpio, is either was born only yesterday, or didn’t study or follow the incredible Philippine politics in the last 12 years.

Twelve years ago, Mrs. Duterte-Carpio, who concurrently sits as Department of Education (DepEd) secretary, hogged the headlines when, as mayor of Davao City in Mindanao, punched several times a court sheriff in full view of residents and reporters for ignoring her request to delay the demolition of the houses owned by informal settlers in one village.

But that’s not the main reason why we think most incumbent politicians today shake in their boots when they deal with the daughter of the most feared president to ever hold office in Malacanang.

It’s because of her maiden name: Duterte.

We all know that if she was not the daughter of her father and at that time the highest elected politician in Davao City, then Mayor Duterte-Carpio wouldn’t even dare to chide the court sheriff in public. 

Many Filipino politicians are really showy and behave like brats in public—especially when they aspire for higher elective positions in government.

 

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In the case of Mrs. Carpio-Duterte, it is rumored that even her own loquacious and hard-hitting father is afraid of her. 

Just take a look at how she behaved and listen to the words she’d spoken days before announcing she was running for vice president alongside then standard bearer and now President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Father Duterte, who wanted the daughter to shoot straight for the presidency, couldn’t stop the daughter from “demoting” herself as she settled for the vice presidency.

But let’s go straight to the point without beating the bush. What are or were the signs that apparently the present set of politicians holding national portfolios are “afraid” of the vice president?

Simple. Vice President Duterte-Carpio gets what she wants in this present administration. 

Even without dancing like Salome, she could demand for the beheading of not only one but many John the Baptists.

Already the Office of the Vice President has successfully amassed P150 million worth of “intelligence fund” in 2022. As if the initial amount of taxpayers money being inappropriately set aside wasn’t horrifying, to say the least, Mrs. Duterte-Carpio’s office again was able to collect P500 million in “intelligence fund”, among other expenses, this year.

To make the badly abused taxpayers puke some more, the Office of the Vice President is again reportedly proposing the same amount (P500 million) for “intelligence fund”, among other expenses, in 2024.

And we haven’t discussed yet the gargantuan and shocking budget she asked and got as DepEd secretary for the same dog: “intelligence fund”, which, luckily, is now slowly (and let’s hope the worried senators can sustain it) gathering some storm of scrutiny in the legislature.  

 

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Vice President Duterte-Carpio got the windfall or managed to wrap up the “pennies from heaven” for her office with ease sans any desolation and opposition.

It’s because, as what the title of this article has emphasized, “they are all (apparently) afraid of Sara Carpio-Duterte.”

If they are vigilant and intrepid, the lawmakers, through check and balance, have the power and authority to derail if not stop this wanton abuse and “waste” of the taxpayers money by the Office of the Vice President and DepEd under Mrs. Duterte-Carpio via the guise of “intelligence fund” that is not covered by any audit report. 

Without the Commission on Audit prying over the intelligence fund, it was feared that past beneficiaries of this ridiculous expenditure were able to enrich themselves by pocketing a hefty portion of the total budget. This is reportedly an old practice that is only being revived by unscrupulous public officials.

During the House and Senate budget committee hearings, the lawmakers can squeeze the vice president and stop her on her tracks. 

The problem is most of them are adamant and afraid to subject the vice president and DepEd secretary to a thorough questioning. We miss Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Joker Arroyo, Nene Pimentel, Ninoy Aquino, and other bombastic legislative gatekeepers and “curators” of public funds.

We aren’t saying that the vice president will steal the money, but there’s a saying that if the rat is laughing at the cat, it’s because there’s a hole nearby. 

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

Sara’s latest act is conduct unbecoming

“I consider your conduct unethical and lousy.”

— Peter Arno

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

DID the Filipino people make a big mistake in electing Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio?

Instead of focusing her attention as a public servant and attending to the needs of the people, it seems Mrs. Duterte-Carpio’s inclination is to spend time waging a battle royal against her perceived political enemies.

It appears there’s no stopping the pambansang spoiled brat from wasting precious time and government resources engaging in unnecessary and nugatory political skirmishes for her own personal benefit, while the nation is facing egregious economic crisis and calamities.

Political in-fighting and elbowing for the future higher office by our aggressive public officials is disgusting and sickening especially when the state of the nation is reeling and wobbling from a myriad of difficulties. 

The people voted for their public officials primarily to serve them, not to watch somebody perform in the cockfighting arena.

In a statement dated June 7, 2023, where she used the letterhead of the Office of the Vice President, Mrs. Duterte-Carpio came out firing on all cylinders against House Speaker Martin Romualdez, her rumored rival in the 2028 presidential election.

 

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Her statement bewailed:

Speaker Martin Romaldez had absolutely nothing to do with my decision to run for Vice President.

To say that he “tremendously helped in pushing for” my Vice Presidential bid is acutely inaccurate - an insult to thousands of groups and individuals who incessantly implored me to reconsider an earlier decision not to join national politics.

And it was Senator Imee Marcos who eventually persuaded me to run as Vice President - and it was a decision sealed only after President Bongbong Marcos agreed to the conditions I set before running for VP.

There was no Speaker Romualdez in the picture.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. was obviously badly informed or made to believe a lie.

Meanwhile, a person who cannot distinguish between attack and humor has no place in politics - especially if one fails to understand that political bickering is just a facet of democracy and should not be used to equate with governance.

On the one hand, how the recent political developments have become an opportunity for sycophants is quite amusing.

Let me reiterate this, however - the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is stable and strong.

It has my all-out support and the support of the majority of the Filipino people. 

Thank you.

 

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Whatever the genesis of her feud with Speaker Romualdez, it is fundamentally wrong for Mrs. Duterte-Carpio to use the power and influence of her office to lash at a potential political rival.

It’s unethical and conduct unbecoming pure and simple.

The presidential election is five years away. There are so many important things to do and urgent problems to tackle. 

Even if the presidential election is held next week, it is still not proper for Mrs. Duterte-Carpio to lambast a fellow public official in that manner because of internal political wrangling. 

The interest of the country should come first before the political interest of any elected public servant—regardless of which dynasty the politician belongs.

Being the daughter of the feared former president does not give Mrs. Duterte-Carpio the right to do away with decorum and abuse her public office.

It’s grossly unfair for the Filipino people to pay for the salary of the likes of Mrs. Duterte-Carpio, who is also the secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), when all they do is engage in cheap political bickering and grandstanding. 

 

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WE are currently experiencing poor air quality in New York City as the result of smoke and haze from wildfires in Canada. 

An Air Quality Health Advisory was in effect starting last night (the advisory came while we were watching the NBA Game 3 “live”) for all five boroughs that is expected to last throughout the weekend.

To limit health risks as a result of poor air quality, we’ve been told to:

-Limit outdoor activity as much as possible, especially people with heart or breathing problems, older adults, and children.

-Keep windows closed and minimize use of window air conditioning to avoid introducing poor air quality indoors.

-Wear a high-quality KN95 mask if you need to go outdoors.

And if we experience difficulty breathing and want to speak to a provider from home, we were advised to use Virtual ExpressCare and call 911 if symptoms persist and become more serious.

 

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As we wrote here in the previous article, the scoring machine of Denver Nuggets’ super duo—Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray—would lead the barrage of aggressions that dismantled the host Miami Heat in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 7.

The amazing duo got back to their effective two-man game, and the Nuggets' re-commitment to defense led to a 109-94 victory over the Miami Heat and a 2-1 series lead.

Jokic recorded the first 30-point, 20-rebound triple-double in Finals history, finishing with 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists, and Murray notched a triple-double by putting up 34 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. 

It was reportedly the first time in NBA history—playoffs or regular season—that teammates had 30-point triple-doubles.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

 

 

 

‘I’ll see you in September’

“People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy.”

—Anton Chekhov

By Alex P. Vidal

GARY Lewis and The Playboys used to serenade us that when summer is gone, “I’ll see you in September.” 

“I'll see you in September

When summer is gone

Have a good time but remember

I'll be waiting back home

And when you go out dating

With some guy all alone

Just remember I'll be waiting

When summer is gone.”

This year, Fall season will officially unfurl in U.S. on September 22, but, for the time being, we have to deal with summer season’s scorching heat (as predicted by weather experts) as summer officially begins on June 21, Tuesday.

What to expect in summer? According to Forbes, expect the following: High prices. Bad service. Frequent delays. Another COVID outbreak. Anything could happen when you travel this summer.

The travel world has changed during the pandemic. It's less predictable, and service levels will be lower. Plus, Covid is still here, and cases are rising in some cities.

We will pay more and we will get less, experts say.

Travel pros say we have to guard against scams and depleted or nonexistent inventory problems this summer.

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There is a more precise moment that astronomical summer will begin in the Northern Hemisphere. That's at 5:14 a.m. on Tuesday, which marks the 2022 summer solstice, it was reported.

According to USA Today, this is the precise moment when the North Pole tilts closest to the sun, making the sun appear at its highest point in the sky of the year.

At that moment on Tuesday, the sun will be directly above the Tropic of Cancer. That's the farthest north the sun moves in the sky, which is why the days close to the solstice have the most daylight of the year.

USA Today says some people call it "the longest day," but to be precise, it's the day with the most daylight, because every day has 24 hours.

The amount of daylight will be roughly consistent for a few more days before shrinking each day until the winter solstice in late December.

In reality, it's felt like summer across the nation for the past few weeks, and meteorologists consider summer the hottest three months of the year (June, July and August).

But the real heat is still to come: On average, there is a one-month lag between the solstice and peak summer temperatures, according to climatologist Brian Brettschneider. 

That's why July is often the hottest month of the year in many locations.

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JUST ASKING: Is Sara Duterte maneuvering in anticipation of a challenge and an opportunity? 

This was the thought-provoking question made by Philippine Star columnist Federico Pascual on June 19, who went on: “By advancing to today (June 19) her oath-taking as vice president she could be firming up her position, expecting to enter the fray officially as the vice president in case Marcos is suddenly squeezed out.

“One situation, which most lawyers we have asked said they saw as remotely possible, is the Supreme Court’s barring Marcos from running for president or its ruling that his CoC was not validly issued by the Commission on Elections.

“If Marcos is disqualified on this ground, can Duterte (who is set to take her oath today) quickly take his place as president? Is this the reason why she is rushing her taking her oath as vice president – to give her leverage in going after the presidency?

“The Supreme Court is studying two sets of disqualification cases that were appealed by certiorari from the Comelec on the belief that the poll body gravely abused its discretion in its en banc rulings on the DQ cases.”

As we usually mention in every interesting subject matter, let’s wait and see.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

Sara should stop being onion-skinned

 

“If your opponent is of choleric temper, irritate him.”

—Sun Tzu

By Alex P. Vidal

VICE President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio should control her temper when it comes to dealing with the critical press.

Media is not an enemy. A criticism from any journalist is not a declaration of war or a plot to put down any public official.  

Whether she likes it or don’t, it’s “part of the job” of the critical press to make her and other panit sibuyas or onion-skinned public officials mad (it depends actually on what kind of public officials the people have elected)—if they don’t perform effectively and efficiently; or, if they sleep on their job or become waslik poder or abusive. 

There is a saying that “ang pikon talo” (he who is oversensitive or short-tempered loses). 

In a free society, no jittery public official however powerful or influential can take away the rights of the critical press to exist and “fiscalize” the government.

King Louis and other despotic and croaky leaders of antiquity and modern times have learned fatal lessons after curtailing and muzzling the press. 

Thomas Jefferson wrote to a friend in 1786: “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.”

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If Duterte-Carpio will react to all the media criticism in all her six years in office like what she did when she lambasted journalist Raissa Robles for criticizing the tourism program of the incoming tourism secretary, Christina Frasco, in Mindanao, she can’t perform her task as duly elected vice president of the Philippines.

If she will react to all negative stories and treat them as personal attacks, her efficiency and usefulness will be crippled; and she has no business being in government service.

Robles had Twitted, “Apparently, Frasco would like to open up Mindanao to tourism. Im sure the extremist Abu Sayyaf and other bandits would be pleased by the prospects of so many potential kidnap victims. Way to go, Frasco. Prep yourself for ransom negotiations. ASG might ask you to nego personally.”

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Duterte-Carpio responded by calling Robles’ Tweet “insulting” and a “demonization” of Mindanao, saying it is “replete with journalistic recklessness and irresponsibility,” according to a report from Inquirer.net.

“What Robles did was a demonization of Mindanao and an insult to its people,” the incoming vice president, who is the incumbent Davao City mayor, said in a statement as reported by the online news service.

The daughter of outgoing President Rordrigo Duterte apparently felt “insulted” because she is from Mindanao and Frasco, the object of Robles’ valid criticism, is her former spokesperson.

But as the incoming second highest official of the Philippines, Duterte-Carpio should learn to change her choleric attitude toward the critical press. 

She is now in the big league and the playing field is wider, bigger and demands a higher level of accountability and tolerance toward  constructive criticism.

Robles’ flak was only a tip of the iceberg, so to speak; it’s only a pinch in the buttock. It’s not even a molotov, yet it already triggered a snafu inside Duterte-Carpio’s central nervous system.   

In the next six years of the incoming administration, Duterte-Carpio and other high-ranking public officials in particular and the government in general will definitely face more tidal waves of criticism from the press, more explosive and chronic, more “irritating” and powerful than Robles’ carping admonishment of the tourism program.

The kids will be separated from the adults. 

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

Support from cults, false prophets not a sure win

“Regardless of who wins, an election should be a time for optimism and fresh approaches.”

—Gary Johnson

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

TWO big religious organizations in the Philippines have endorsed the Bongbong Marcos-Sara Duterte-Carpio tandem for president and vice president in the May 9, 2022 election.

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, headed by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) “Most Wanted”-listed Apollo Quiboloy and El Shaddai, headed by Bro. Mike Velarde.

Soon, the Iglesia Ni Kristo, founded by Felix Manalo, might follow suit.

With three powerful and influential religious groups backing the Marcos-Carpio ticket plus the Pulse Asia (PA) and Social Weather Station (SWS) surveys, some people might think victory is in the bag respectively for the only son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and the only daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Wait a minute. Don’t be too fast.

Elections are decided by the voters who cast their ballots on election day (some malicious minds are saying they are decided by Smartmatic machine), not by the polling firms; not by cult leaders and false prophets who operate organized religions.

In the five Philippine presidential elections we have covered in the past, scientific surveys and the support of mammoth secular groups mattered, but they weren’t absolute.

 

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Nowadays, independent voters cast their votes according to their conscience and personal choices; and they reject subjugation by their controlling leaders for a block voting.

Many of them aren’t anymore intimidated by the dominance and control of their pushy leaders, and they take liberty to openly pick and vote for the candidates that represent their sentiments and values.

And that’s where the spirit of volunteerism beckoned. 

Instead of blindly following the wishes of haughty secular leaders to vote for a common candidate, many independent voters choose to go all the way to volunteer for the candidates of their choice. 

They aren’t scared of sanctions and retributions. Times have changed.   

With three months to go, so many things can still happen; some of the previously unshakable alliances and bandwagons might still break up and reorganize, especially in the local level. 

Even The Economist has warned that “An absolute majority may not be enough for Ferdinand Marcos Jr to win the presidency.”

“The popularity of Mr Marcos, the son of the late president of the same name, is a return to form. He is particularly attractive to younger voters, who seem either unconcerned about or unaware of the record of the older Marcos, a dictator who ruled for over two decades and was deposed only after a popular uprising in 1986. The younger Mr Marcos tries to maintain his appeal by avoiding the subject of his father’s regime all together,” explained The Economist in its February 12 edition.

As the saying goes, it’s not yet over ‘till the fat lady sings. It’s a long way to go, folks.

 

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Beware of Love Scam. Before, during, and after Valentine’s Day, many gullible people succumb to love scam, especially in the social media.

Scammers offer fake love or do something during the chats that will control the emotions of their prospective victims.

Millions of people turn to online dating apps or social networking sites to meet someone. 

But instead of finding romance, many find a scammer trying to trick them into sending money.

They’ll often say they’re living or traveling outside of the United States. We’ve heard about scammers who say they are: working on an oil rig; in the military; a doctor with an international organization.

We’ve heard about romance scammers asking their targets for money to: pay for a plane ticket or other travel expenses; pay for surgery or other medical expenses; pay customs fees to retrieve something; pay off gambling debts; pay for a visa or other official travel documents

Scammers ask people to pay: by wiring money; with reload cards like MoneyPak or gift cards from vendors like Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, or Steam. 

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

A salute to Sara

“Misinformation or distrust of vaccines can be like a contagion that can spread as fast as measles.”

—Theresa Tam

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

A STRANGE fever hit me hours after I took my COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNtech booster shot from Walgreens in Jackson Heights, Queens on Monday (November 15).  

I initially refused to believe it had something to do with the booster shot since I was among the only few in New York who didn’t have any side effects when I took my first two Pfizer primary doses respectively on April 19 and May 17 this year also in Queens.

But when the fever came simultaneously with a pain on the right arm where I got the shot, I became convince Pfizer-BioNtech was culprit of the twin juggernauts.

Both the slight fever and pain on the right arm had been nipped in the bud by two Tylenol and one Advil capsules in two days.

Side effects after the second shot may be more intense than the ones experienced after the first shot. 

These side effects are reportedly normal signs that the body is building protection and should go away within a few days.

Reactions reported after getting a booster shot were reportedly similar to those after the two-dose or single-dose primary series. 

Fever, headache, fatigue and pain at the injection site were the most commonly reported side effects, and overall, most side effects were mild to moderate. However, as with the two-dose or single-dose primary series, serious side effects are reportedly rare, but may occur.

 

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Booster shots can be a normal part of the vaccination process when it comes to getting a vaccine to protect ourselves against a disease like COVID-19 

“Booster” basically refers to an extra dose of a vaccine after the original (or primary) dose has been administered. 

These boosters can be weeks, months or years later, according to Sandy Salverson, PharmD, vice president of Pharmacy Operations at OSF HealthCare.

“Most adults have a memory of having to get a booster for a childhood disease, such as measles, whooping cough or meningitis. Or for a disease like tetanus, where booster shots are recommended every 10 years as the original immunity wanes,” Salverson said.

Some vaccines are reportedly administered using the strategy of giving the original (or primary) dose along with a booster dose. 

With the original dose, the immune system is primed to recognize and produce antibodies against the virus it was created to defend.

 

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Booster shots are reportedly administered to remind the body’s immune system about the virus it needs to defend against. This improves or gives the immune system a boost.

It’s recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals who received the two-dose series of either Pfizer or Moderna get a third dose of the vaccine 28 days after receiving their second dose.

What’s the difference between a third dose and a booster shot? “A booster is given when a person has completed their vaccine series and the immunity protection against the virus begins to decrease with time, as data has shown,” Salverson said. “The third dose is strictly to improve the immunity response of those moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals and becomes part of their primary series.”

She explained that these individuals are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 and are more at risk of serious, prolonged illness. Their level of immunity following the two original doses of the vaccine is lower than people who are not immunocompromised.

Salverson added: “This isn’t because the vaccine isn’t effective. It’s because the immune systems of these individuals need the additional dose as part of their primary series to reach the level of immunity that best protects them from severe illness or hospitalization.”

 

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I salute Sara Duterte-Carpio for standing up against her unpredictable and arrogant father, who got pissed off after she didn’t file her Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for president.

The father, a suspected hedonist, was again caught lying through his teeth. 

Several months ago, he ranted against rumors that his daughter, who is mayor of Davao City, would run for president.

The presidency is not for women, argued the hubristic father, who discouraged his daughter from seeing the highest office of the land.

When Mrs. Duterte-Carpio filed her COC for vice president, the angry man became angrier and nearly ran berserk. 

He wanted his daughter to run for president because, according to him, she was ahead in the surveys. He even threatened to run for vice president against her only to change his mind and filed his COC for senator in the eleventh hour. 

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

The daughter who cried wolf

 

“Bluffing is most effective when done sporadically; bluff too often, and you'll blow your credibility.”

--Daniel Negreanu

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IF she will be elected (her supporters have nothing to worry if she’s “late” because daddy knows best) as the next vice president in the May 9, 2022 Philippine election, how can the Filipinos trust Sara Duterte-Carpio now that she has become known as “the daughter who cried wolf?”

Can you trust a leader who changes her mind as often as she changes her hairstyle? 

Can you trust a politician who lied about her true intentions (“I will run for mayor today, I will withdraw my COC tomorrow and run for another position, or none at all, and so on and so forth”) even before the goings get tough?

In the tale The Boy Who Cried Wolf, a shepherd boy repeatedly tricked nearby villagers into thinking a wolf was attacking his flock. 

When a wolf actually did appear, the villagers did not believe the boy's cries for help because of his tainted credibility, and the flock was destroyed.

 

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Known in the political circle as Inday Sara, the mayor of Davao City has tainted her credibility--if she hasn’t lost it yet--when she recently withdrew her Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for reelection as mayor of Davao City. 

The withdrawal, which wasn’t totally unexpected, came after she repeatedly and prominently made known to the public she wasn’t interested to run for a higher position other than for reelection in Davao City.

But it appears the withdrawal of her COC was somehow connected to November 15, the much-awaited deadline for substitution of candidates, where everyone has been waiting on tenterhooks.

The suspicion that Inday Sara is only at the beck and call of daddy and will do everything to please him in as far as the daughter’s political future is concerned, will be confirmed when vice presidential “candidate” Bong Go will also withdraw his COC on or before November 15, and pave the way for the daughter who cried wolf.

If they think they’re doing this “to confuse the enemy”, they’re dead wrong. No one is confused. They played chess like non-rated pawn pushers; all their plots were much-anticipated, and people were able to read their lips and body languages.

The script was poor, and this will disqualify them from the Famas award. 

 

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What a shame that Go has been apparently forced to participate in this film festival at the expense of his own credibility as an elected senator.

He and another charlatan, Senator Bato Dela Rosa, have been forced to perform as toy soldiers for The Boss, who simply regarded them as duck pins ready to be sacrificed and toppled in a back alley bowling game.  

Public servants with delicadeza and self respect would feel embarrassed now that the people were aware everything they did politically, they did it for daddy or The Boss, not because of what they wanted; not because of public interest, which should be the paramount consideration.

Amid the daddy-daughter-duck pins filmfest, there is an impending case in the Commission on Elections (Comelec) seeking to disqualify Inday Sara’s rumored future standard bearer, Bongit Marcos, because of past convictions in the trial court for non-payment of taxes.

In the event Bongbong will be disqualified, this will justify any attempt to elevate the daughter who cried wolf as the substitute presidential timber.

With daddy’s power and influence, it’s not far-fetched for the daughter who cried wolf to be “elected” as the next president. This possibility, of course, can only happen if Bongit is canned. 

If he wins (assuming he won’t be disqualified), Bongit will need to constantly watch his back from the would-be “elected” vice president daughter who cried wolf.

Can a next sitting president trust this kind of vice president?  

We can’t imagine a republic being directed by a daughter who cried wolf. She had cried, nay lied before and thought it’s normal even before becoming the second highest person in the land. She will cry, nay lie once more once she is in power.

Everything she does must have daddy’s imprimatur as a “debt of gratitude” or as “out of fear.”

If daddy has respect for the daughter who cried wolf, he will let her decide for herself, not to pull the strings for her.

Never mind the duckpins and ass-lickers. The film festival won’t be completed without the supporting actors.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

 

 

 

Keeping an eye on Sara

“Don't tell me what you believe in. I'll observe how you behave, and I will make my own determination.”

--Alex Trebek

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WE will continue to keep an eye on 43-year-old Sara Duterte-Carpio, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte and mayor of Davao City, until November 15, the deadline for substitution of candidates in the May 9, 2022 Philippine election.

There’s still an impending national paranoia that she will spring back to prominence and change her plans on or before the much-anticipated November 15 deadline.

The burden of proof, of course, falls on the presidential daughter’s shoulders to belie this mystery since she is the one involved in this long-drawn brouhaha.

We will know if, like what her father did in 2016, she will substitute for Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa or Bong Go, who are both “running” for president and vice president, respectively, under the PDP-Laban (Cusi wing) in the eleventh hour.

We will know with absolute finality if she was only faking an orgasm and taking us all for a joy ride.

 

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Mayor Carpio has repeatedly announced she wasn’t interested to run for any national post and was hell-bent to pursue her reelection bid.

As of now, her credibility is still intact, especially when she nixed the calls from her rabid supporters to “run Sara run” (for president) and firmly faced the TV camera to elucidate her decision.  

We would salute her if she really meant what she had said. 

It’s another story if she will suddenly become a drama queen and grab the jersey for a presidential or vice presidential run “because of insistent public demand” or whatever Famas-award winning soliloquy.  

We believe that a legitimate, sincere, independent, morally upright candidate for president, vice president, or any other positions, shouldn’t hide his or her true intentions to the public.

A man or woman of words is a trustworthy and credible leader.

 

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A true leader shouldn’t wait for the dictate or final decision of his or her father or mother. The candidate must decide for himself or herself. 

The parents have nothing to do with the candidate’s political plans, if the candidate claims to be independent and competent elective official.

A true leader should tell the people from the very beginning that he or she intends to serve them and is seeking their votes for a certain position during the filing of Certificate of Candidacy (COC) in the Commission on Elections (Comelec), set on October 1-8, 2021 or a month ago.

People won’t be impressed if a candidate, however brilliant and grizzled, is only at the beck and call of someone who wields a tremendous power over him or her, and all the candidate’s decisions will emanate from that Godzilla.

A candidate must be transparent, down to earth, straightforward right from the very beginning and isn’t hiding a political black magic.

 

-o0o-

 

AS I’ve mentioned in my recent article, the next mayor of New York City was already “pre-determined” even before the election day.

The election on November 2 of Democrat Eric Adams, a former New York Police Department captain, as the Big Apple’s second Black Mayor, was already expected owing to the fact that New York City is a “democratic territory” or majority of the voters are registered as democrats. 

Adams won in a landslide election that offered little surprise given that Republicans are outnumbered by a margin of about 7 to 1.

Currently the Brooklyn borough president and a former state senator, Adams, 61, will take the reins from outgoing mayor Bill de Blasio, whose second term was mired in the effects of the pandemic, historic job losses, skyrocketing housing prices and rental rates, extreme income inequality, and a broke transportation system.

We congratulate, Mayor-elect Eric Adams.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo—Ed)

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

‘Papa’s girl’

“Some people ask me whether I'm a 'mama's girl' or a 'papa's girl.' I'm nobody's girl. My brother clings to our parents; I'm the one shoving them out the door.”

--Hayden Panettiere

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WE will know whether Inday Sara Carpio is an independent woman or a “papa’s girl” on or before November 15, the deadline for the substitution of candidates in the May 9, 2022 Philippine election.

If she will substitute for PDP-Laban presidential candidate Bato dela Rosa as most political observers are anticipating, there will be no question that Mayor Carpio is also under the beck and call of her daddy Digong, just like Senator Bato and Senator Bong Go and other political duckpins in the Duterte administration.

If she becomes presidential candidate Carpio on November 15 after a repeated denial, daddy Digong’s face will be etched on her political face forever. 

If she will ignore the sirens, who charm the winds and lure nearby sailors with their enchanting music and singing voices, and continue with her “commitment” to run for reelection in Davao City, Mayor Carpio will not only gain my respect, I will also campaign for her if she decides to run for president in the future.

Credibility is non-negotiable.

And Mayor Carpio still has it now.

 

-o0o-

 

The Doubting Thomases, who think the Duterte father and daughter are only using Messieurs Bato and Go as smokescreens for their political zarzuela or the daughter’s presidential aspirations, will eat their words once Mayor Carpio will not show up in the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-designated area for the filing of substitution on or before November 15.

That means Mayor Carpio isn’t only credible but is also reliable and someone who has the palabra de honor.

But if she “changes her mind” in the eleventh hour (just like what daddy Digong did in 2016) because “only fools don’t change their minds” as her would be defense and substitute for Senator Bato as anticipated by most political observers, that splendid “credibility” will instantly burst like bubbles.

The voters can sometimes be stupid, but they don’t forget.

How can they forget Mayor Carpio’s heroic soliloquy that she “isn’t interested to run for president” because she is “more interested” to seek reelection for city mayor?

 

-o0o-

 

“Tops the survey” press release campaign tactic by some candidates will have no match versus the “trolls” or those who leave intentionally provocative or offensive messages on the internet or social media in order to get attention.

Trolls are reportedly being paid by moneyed politicians with more emphasis on destroying their rivals than to promoting the paying politicians. 

The use of trolls became effective when Mr. Duterte won the presidency in 2016.

Mr. Duterte became even more invincible and popular when he occupied the Malacanang allegedly because he had been buttressed by the trolls.  

While “(name of politician or candidate) tops the survey” press release has been a traditional election strategy to condition the people’s minds, trolls mislead and misinform the people.

More people nowadays are reportedly spending time in the social media platforms than those reading, watching, and listening to the news, music and entertainment in the mainstream media.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo—Ed)

  

 

The insincerity of the Dutertes

 “Insincerity is always weakness; sincerity even in error is strength.”

—George Henry Lewes

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IF President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Mayor Sara Carpio, were sincere, they would not turn the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for the May 9, 2022 election into a slapstick show.

They would have told the people right away straight in the eye that daughter Sara will be running for president.

No more melodrama, no more acts of buffoonery and political processions.

That’s how real public servants should behave; they don’t conceal their intentions when public interest is concerned. 

Statesmen and women are transparent and aren’t merchants of political voodoo.

True leaders don’t beat around the bush when it comes to telling the public how they would want to serve and in what capacity.

What is happening is no less than Mr. Duterte himself is the one setting a bad example of how a leader can misbehave.

First, Mr. Duterte said he would not run for any public office anymore when his term expires next year. 

Then he announced he was running for vice president after “accepting” the nomination from his PDP-Laban party.

 

-o0o-

 

And, again, he is now saying he has “decided to retire” from politics. When can we expect this leader to tell us the truth and nothing but the truth in one fell swoop?

And like her father Digong, daughter Sara said repeatedly she would not seek the presidency.

She filed her COC for reelection as mayor of Davao City to prove this.

They think the Filipinos are fools and ignorants who don’t understand the Duertes’ tactics and soap opera.

If father and daughter can’t be transparent to the people about their candidacies, how can we expect them to be transparent in their dealings once they retain or reclaim the Malacanang next year?

We all know that father and daughter are only bluffing. 

We know they have been playing political footsies and masquerading since day one in as far as the question of who will run for president and vice president in their family is concerned.

They may call it “confusing the enemies” as inspired by Lao Tzu’s Art of War, but we know that President Duterte, in truth and reality, wants daughter Sara to succeed him, not his sidekick, Senator Bong Go or any of his asslickers.

 

-o0o-

 

But while the Dutertes try to “confuse” their enemies with their games of musical chairs tactics, the people are the most confused, which affects the image of the Dutertes and how they perceive them as leaders.

When people are confused they can’t decide which candidate or political party for that matter to support. 

They become vulnerable to distortion of facts and truth; their minds can be misdirected and manipulated; and they can be brainwashed and pushed to the dungeon.

And we know that Go’s candidacy for vice president is a farce.

We know that the election law in the Philippines allows a last-minute switching or substitution of the candidates. 

Under Comelec Resolution No. 10695, promulgated Feb. 10, 2021, the ultimate deadline for substitution of candidates is not Nov. 15, but May 9, 2022.

The eight-day period from October 1-8 is also the time for filing the list of nominees, certificates of nomination and certificates of acceptance of nomination and affidavits of party-list groups, coalitions and organizations under the Comelec Resolution approved Jan. 13, 2021.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo)