Pulse Asia's Survey on the 2010 Elections

Pulse Asia releases its February 2009 Ulat ng Bayan survey for the 2010 elections.

To summarize, the survey states that if the elections were done on February, the following Presidentiables will make it to the top:

"Kabayan" Noli De Castro (19%)
"Chiz" Senator Francis Escudero (17%)
"Erap" Former President Joseph Estrada (16%)
"Mr. Sipag at Tiyaga" Senator Manny Villar (15%)

For the Senatoriables, the survey's top 5 are:

Jinggoy Estrada
Pia Cayetano
Mar Roxas
Miriam Santiago
Frank Drilon

While those who belong to the top 5 are old-timers in the senate, the survey also include "newcomers" in the list of can-be-senatoriables, including Edu Manzano, Korina Sanchez, Joe De Venecia, and Willie Revillame (yes, you've read it right. Willie is on rank 17-23).

Relative to this survey, I have previously posted a blog to give emphasis on the importance of funds, in other words, money, for the upcoming 2010 elections. As pointed out, since the Presidential Race seems tight and we don't expect a runaway winner, money and machinery will definitely play a big role for the winner.

Columnist Manolo Quezon, in his blog entry, In This Corner, provides a comprehensive analysis on this Pulse Asia February 2009 Survey. Manolo points out that while the Administration candidates are doing badly in the survey, the local allies will still play a big role in the final stretch. Which is true! So the Opposition could not yet stage a sound of victory at this moment. They have got to take care of their local allies.

To conclude, I would like to copy on The Professional Heckler's take on the Pulse Asia Survey:


"Vice President Noli De Castro topped the latest Pulse Asia survey with a 19 percent preference rating. He was followed by Sen. Francis Escudero, 17 percent, Joseph Estrada, 16 percent, Sen. Manuel Villar, 15 percent, Sen. Loren Legarda, 12 percent, Sen. Manuel Roxas II, 7 percent, and Sen. Panfilo Lacson, 6 percent. Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay got 2 percent while MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando got only one percent. The First Gentleman was luckier. He got five percent."


Heckler, you rock!

Pera At Pulitika

Napag-usapan na rin lang ang pera, umani ng batikos si Senator (and aspiring 2010 Presidential candidate) Manny Villar sa isang komento na binanggit niya sa isang interview. Sabi ni Villar:

"If you can't raise P1 billion, why even run?"

Reaksiyon naman ng ibang pulitiko (at aspiring presidentiables din):

Mar Roxas: people would elect the next president for the candidate’s platform of government and track record.

Chiz Escudero: it’s the people, and not money, that will elect a president.

Dick Gordon: "arrogant" statement.

In reality, tao pa rin ang pipili ng kanilang iboboto subalit kung iisipin, totoo namang malaking factor ang pera sa kandidatura. Sa nakaraang BARANGAY elections (emphasis sa salitang BARANGAY), may kilala akong nanalong kapitan na balitang gumastos ng humigit sa P500,000 para manalo. Kung sa isang maliit na yunit ng pamahalaan ay may mga taong handang gumastos ng ganoon kalaking halaga, hindi malayong kakailanganin nga talaga ng P1 bilyong piso para sa isang National campaign. In fact, sa airing time pa lang ng political campaign sa TV, gagastos ka na panigurado ng daang libong piso.

Ayon sa isang editoryal ng BusinessMirror,

While Villar’s remark may sound controversial, the reality is that finances will determine in large measure the outcome of next year’s election. In fact, Villar’s figure is the minimum amount required for a decent nationwide campaign, which is P2 billion to P3 billion, per Reuters’ estimate.

Those billions would go to building a nationwide political machinery up to the barangay level. Then the candidates would have to cover all the regions once the official campaign period starts next year. Campaign paraphernalia, such as streamers and handbills, as well as the all-important TV and radio ads, will substantially jack up the cost of running for the highest public office even more. And we’re not even talking of the money involved in surreptitious dagdag-bawas operations à la “Hello, Garci,” which the Commission on Elections (Comelec) swear will be a thing of the past—a situation fervently hoped for, but not necessarily believed.

Sa pinakahuling survey report na inilabas ng Pulse Asia, lumalabas na dikitan ang magiging labanan ng Presidential elections sa darating na 2010. Nangunguna sa survey si Noli De Castro (19%) at pumapangalawa naman si Chiz Escudero (17%). Muling lumitaw ang pangalan ni Erap Estrada (16%) sa pangatlong spot, habang pumang-apat naman si Manny Villar (15%). Kasunod naman sina Loren Legarda, Mar Roxas, Panfilo Lacson, Jejomar Binay at Bayani Fernando.

At dahil nga dikitan ang labanan, sinabi ng ilang political analysts na pinakamalaking magiging factor ang pera at ang pagkakaroon ng "wide and loyal" network.

Sa karanasan ng pulitikang pinoy, malayo pa ang lalakarin bago natin makita ang isang mas malinaw na scenario sa gaganaping halalan sa 2010. Marami pang pangalan ang magsusulputan, paniguradong mayroon pang magba back-out at tatakbo na lamang ng bise presidente o senador, magkakaroon pa ng lipatan portion/balimbingan portion sa mga partido, at makakakita pa tayo ng iba't ibang drama tungkol sa ating mga pulitiko.

Hindi maikakaila na malaki ang papel na gagampanan ng pera sa kandidatura ng mga pulitiko. Ngunit sa huli, ang boto pa rin ng taumbayan ang dapat na manaig. Sa gabay ng Panginoon, nawa ay mapili na nga natin ang tamang lider ng bansa.

Miniminimaynimu

In less than two months, we are entering into 2009 and as I have tackled in a previous blog, the Presidential race fiasco is becoming a hit on the news lately.

The latest SWS Survey , conducted on September 2008, puts VP Noli De Castro ahead of the pack at 29% while Senators Manny Villar (28%), and Loren Legarda (26%) closely followed.

Malacañang palace issued a statement recently enumerating their choices for the 2010 elections-which includes- De Castro, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Senator Richard Gordon, Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte.

Earlier, Villar and Fernando signified their intention to run for the Top post. Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay also recently informed the media that he is also eyeing for the post. (Now, wouldn't that be a match?- Binay vs. BF in another arena).

With a lot to choose from, and a lot more days to go before the 2010, we will yet to see a lot more changes on who will finally submit their Certificates of Candidacy for the Presidential race (needless to say, there will also be a lot more ober-da-bakods in play).

However, there is this post from Cocoy in Filipino Voices.com which actually struck my attention:

++++++++++
Paano Kung Wala?
Written on Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 at 7:29 pm by cocoy

Filipino Voices is asking, Who are YOU Supporting for 2010?

Oh yeah, you should go there and cast.

I’ll wait. Done?

Great!

As I was saying, what if… we hold an election and nobody came? Or everyone did but everyone abstained for lack of choices? I mean, seriously.

It isn’t like we have a huge pool to make a choice from. Do we choose the lesser evil of the bunch– like we have the last 20 years or so? Do we make a stand here and now and say, you want us to vote— give us better choices. We don’t want plain vanilla. we don’t want chocolate! we want coffee mint walnut ice cream!

Are we prepared to draw a line in the sand and say— we want better?

What do you think?
++++++++++

I must admit I am an advocate of exercising the right to suffrage-encouraging a lot of the people, especially the young, to register and vote, however, the question is still bugging my mind: Am I prepared to draw the line and say I want a better choice?

Do I vote and choose the "lesser evil" among those vying for the post?
Or do I stand and say: "I don't want any of those. I want better."?

Now, I'm thinking.