12? Oh you're talking about the Senate; Governors, Congressmen, Mayors and local Councillors were also elected on that day. Filipinos are politically unsophisticated and they elect personalities as I - and Methersgate - have already said. There is no equivalent to the UK's political system where one party broadly represents the rich, another the workers and a third representing those of a liberal disposition. Here they answer to one master: their paymaster. Why, for example, do you think there is a big emphasis here on curbing the sex trade and human trafficking? Do you really imagine that the politicians are concerned about protecting their peoples? If you do, you'd be very wrong: the real reason is that the US Government is embarrassed by the actions of its citizens abroad and gives huge amounts of grant aid to the Philippines conditional on its government passing such laws. I can tell you quite categorically that the Police has absolutely no interest in chasing and arresting Filipinos involved in the sex trade. But they do chase and arrest Americans who do and with a good deal of success - but you won't read about any prosecutions as offenders are spirited out of the country within a day or two following their arrest and are prosecuted in the US. To keep the money flowing in, the government recently raised the age of consent so more offenders could be targeted. I know of only one case where Filipinos who committed rape have been arrested and will be tried for their crime; but that's no thanks to the police, the credit there goes to a concerned foreigner, a strong family and a very good lawyer. But I digress. Those standing for election will make broad-brush promises as they're handing-out a few Pesos or in TV commercials but rarely commit themselves in writing. Those promises are usually left behind on the tarmac as they board the plane to Manila.
John, I have to agree with Mark. The electoral system is "democracy but not as we know it" Basically, elections are "party time", with a small "p" as there are no real political parties, and huge wads of cash are doled out. The electorate go to see candidates performing song and dance routines and handing out cash. They will without exception say that they are "pro-poor", whatever that means. It certainly is seldom true. Kay didn't vote because she considers it pointless. Her family took the cash and voted the slate that went with it. My ex-wife's family, whom I am still in touch with , took 500 pesos each and then disregarded the instructions that went with the cash and voted the Iglesia ni Cristo slate because they are InC (anyone who thinks the Filipinos lack discipline and cannot organise has not met the InC!) Across the country, the oligarchs returned to power with the interesting exception of the Subic / Bataan area area where the Gordons and the Magsaysays were thrown out lock stock and barrel. This is the part of the countrywhere most of my friends live and they all attributed the result to the computerised ballot being too hard to fiddle. The presence of American forms of government and law can mislead people into thinking that these are applied in an American way; they are not. Simple power, not the Rule of Law, is wnat matters here.
I see. Having received the "bribes" is one obliged to vote for any one individual? Are the voters not free to vote for whoever they wish on the candidates listing / ballot paper? I think my wife's sister took from one candidates representatives but voted for another.
It's actually more like Indian "democracy", You may have missed the Chairman of the Commission on Elections, Sixto Brilliantes, addressing the nation, on the eve of the poll, and telling people that they don't have to vote for the people who have given them money or groceries. Corruption at elections is of course illegal The trouble is that Filipinos at the Juan de la Cruz level of society are basically honest; they tend to "stay bought". Furthermore, they assume that the local big shot will have his people checking their ballot papers against their names (this is one benefit of computerised voting, of course) Remember that 83% of elected politicians are members of "dynasties". Remember also that the cost of an election campaign is huge and must be made back, with interest, before the next election. There are moneylenders who specialise in barangay captains. They get paid in building permits, etc. A shot at a Senate seat, on a national franchise, will set you back at least US$10-20M, according to The Economist.
Okay. Just trying to get my head around this. So if both candidates dish out a bribe, then how does one then vote?
John..From my observation,most people here readily accept cash from all parties involved in the political process..Whether,its from the Mayor,Govorner candidates or candidates for a Barangay Captain or a Councilor!! From how I have observed the process,the people actually take the money from both sides and then vote with their conscience.. In reality,I like these handouts because its probably the last real cash benefit they will ever see during the elected officials term. The Mayor of Panglao lost his bid to continue his term this year but his strategy was a little different.. He paid his constituency not to vote.. Obviously,it didn't work and he lost an absolute fortune! The biggest mistake I made this year was to go shopping at our local mall the day after election. It was like New years eve in new York or London!! Never again.
That does allow some room (17%) for change i.e. getting away from the political dynasties, but I appreciate what you are saying. However, I am beginning to get the impression that I am being told that things will never change? Although the people could change things, by some form of people power, no doubt. But the thought of things never having any potential for change leads me to put a further tick on the "no side" of my checklist.
Quite a lot of what I have learnt about the Philippines I have picked up from the forum in passing. Quite a lot of material comes out almost as a byproduct of any one thread. By way of example I recall on more than one occasion, both in this world and another, reference to travelling by ferry between the islands. I have never travelled by ferry in the Philippines and have no experience of them at all. But I think I have a fairly accurate summary of what they are like now This has been further confirmed by someone that has taken the decision to settle here in the UK with his Filipina wife having spent 14 years in the Philippines. I am not certain I need to take one of these ferries to find out anymore than I know already.
We use the ferry regularly and the general service is good in my experience. Apart from the fast craft to and from Cebu,we have also travelled in suites from Manila to the Visayas on many occasions.. It takes approx 30 hours from Manila to Tag but I enjoy every minute of the journey on the upper decks whilst watching the islands go by drinking SMB. To be honest,I dont like flying and avoid it at all costs..Im sure that the statistics are correct when they say its a far safer way to travel,but I dont care!! Hate flying.
This is turning into a sort of cheerful all purpose knockabout thread! Anyway, ferries... I used to work for a P&I Club that insured Filipino inter island ferries. It was educational. The owners pay lower wages than deep sea - draw your own conclusions about whether this attracts the best people. The ships are usually former Japanese coastal ferries; additional gensets to run the aircon are sometimes installed high in the structure without a new inclining experiment. Because Japanese spares are expensive and often get lost in the Customs a lot of items in the engine rooms are locally made pattern spares.
Just to cheer you up, here is a very cynical Filipino website: http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/ and here's another: http://antipinoy.com/ here, on the other hand, is a serious discussion of the problem of the dynasties: http://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/30748-just-let-the-people-decide
"pro-poor" hideous double entendre, yes they are pro poor people, poor folk can be manipulated and like to be told someone cares about them, probably sums up all politics in a nutshell As I have said before it resembles a feudal society with the consequent political wars being ameliorated by a sort of pseudo democratic process, you are quite right Andrew they vote for whoever is paying out at the time, Ana's sister has often been involved in working for and promoting the local politicians campaigns however I know for fact that she does not understand the issues raised by any of them. Ana herself does not vote but only because she is too lazy to get the full set of official documents and id's she would need to actually to allow her to vote (mostly a result of her prior loss of citizenship 18 years ago). Some of her other sisters have been involved in campaigning before as well but again purely for the financial gain, the amounts on offer, albeit small, are hard to resist for poor people
My wife's family voted for their employer(s) family. And why wouldn't they as they are good people to work for.
Crap just realised that Estrada beat Mayor Lim last month, not that I was a fan of Alfredo Lim (even though he is my compadre as a result of my pals marriage) but I don't think it's good to have a corrupt character like that in power again in the Phils. I've heard so many older guys say it was so much better when Markos was in power and others slightly younger who hark back to Estrada, total cult of personality that dominates the political system over there. I would be scared living there if Estrada had another go at the presidency and won.
Hey, but aren't they all held together by a coat of paint? And I understand there is no idea of names and numbers and are heavily oversubsribed at point of departure? My understanding is that they are ferries that have been left for scrap, effectively, no longer considered serviceable by their former owners. (This sort of thing happens with floating rigs by the way, so I can understand it happening) Also, don't you have to wear your life jacket throughout the journey?
Ah, yes, names and numbers. When the DONA PAZ collided with the VECTOR on the 20th December 1987 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Doña_Paz she was officially carrying 1,583 passengers; the usually accepted figure for loss of life is 4,375 and including sales after the loss of the shop became known (I kid you not - think about it!) 7,800 passenger tickerts were issued. This was the worst ferrydisaster but ver far from the only one. You will obsrve that no blame was attached to the Filipino owbers of the ferry and all the blame was assigned to Caltex.
Actually Caltex, which chartered the Vector, was cleared of any financial liability. Sulpicio has an unenviable record of shipping disasters and loss of life.
I have just been reading this. A fair summary? "I don’t think there is a point in holding elections in the Philippines. It’s so expensive and the whole process just disrupts normal activities and keeps Filipinos from moving forward. What is the point in going through something that won’t even change or improve how things are being run in the country anyway? Before every election, the candidates use literally the same song and dance routine to entertain the voters. After the election is over, the candidates go back to doing everything they can to protect their family’s interests and virtually nothing that could benefit the rest of the population. It’s just ridiculous. f the Filipino voters are going to choose and elect their public servants from candidates who come from the same families who have been ruling the country for decades, then these families ought to just take turns in having a go at those lucrative positions in government; something like a contractual term will do. That’ll save us from bearing with all the empty slogans, campaign jingles, and adolescent mudslinging in the months leading to Election Day. It’s getting harder and harder to feel sorry for Filipinos nowadays. They keep blaming others for their miseries when the fact is they are the ones who vote for the same people who cause much of their miseries. One can be forgiven for saying that Filipino voters are simply stupid, arrogant and just a bunch of losers. At the moment, there are 178 dynasties ruling 73 of the 80 provinces in the Philippines. Now, that’s a lot. Who voted for these people? The answer: the same people who continue to complain about their wretched lives. Even a convicted plunderer can run again and again for public office. As long as he is popular, he and the rest of his family’s chances of winning are strong. It’s so pathetic. Every three years the voters have an opportunity to vote for someone new and yet they still choose to vote for the same bozos. If Filipinos are tired of the same families who are running the country, why can’t they demand the end of the ruling of the dynasties? It should be easy enough to do if the clamor to end it is loud enough. The clamor for better candidates should culminate on Election Day, when voters choose someone who doesn’t belong to a ruling elite and someone who holds a true vision for the country. Some Filipinos think that blaming the candidates is the way to go. Yes, majority of the candidates are taking advantage of the voter’s ignorance. These candidates deserve the scrutiny and some of the valid criticism. However, let us not ignore the fact that the voters are responsible for choosing the candidates." http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/...hould-be-blamed-for-the-philippines-problems/
He can't - it's one term only - but he has two (cout nt 'em!) sons by two different mothers both in the Senate, and the current Vice-President, Jejomat Binay, just got his daughter, Nancy Binay, elected to the Senate on the grounds that "She's my daughter!" - she has never held a proper job (just "PA" to her parents) and did not take part in any debates. The working assumption is that the United Nationalist Alliance of Binay, Estrada and Enrile will run Binay as their Presidential candiate at the next election and there is a very good chance that he will win. Historically, the VP, usually from a different party to the President, tends to win. The UNA coalition (as noted, there are no real parties, just temproary alliances) includes a selection of charming and delightful people like Jack Enrile, Gringo Honasan, Migz Zubiri, the aforementioned Nancy Binay and the two sons of Estrada, all of whom have shown by their careers to date that they are eminently well qualified, both in terms of chanracter and ability, for high public office.
