Random Musings

Showing posts with label noynoy aquino. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 29

Goodluck, President Noynoy Aquino! (aka P-Noy)

Go P-Noy

"Today the dream starts to become reality", "There can be no reconciliation without justice", "Walang wang-wang" were just some of what I liked about newly sworn in President Noynoy Aquino's inaugural speech, but what I digged the most was when he said "Kayo ang boss ko". I don't know how he'd go about doing that, but it's nice to hear just the same.

Our country is facing daunting challenges but hearing the sincerity from our new President gave me some hope that indeed, things might be different this time. I'm not expecting too much though... I'm old enough to know that no single person can change the system completely.

I'd be quite content if P-Noy would just make decent decisions, demand the best of the people he put in positions of power, not increase our taxes and not steal.. okay na yun sa kin. Perfection may be impossible, but honest governance is certainly doable--I expect nothing less from Ninoy and Cory Aquino's son.

"You are my only son. You carry my name and the name of my father. I have no material wealth to leave you; I never had time to make money while I was in the hire of our people. For this I am very sorry. ... The only valuable asset I can bequeath to you now is the name you carry. I have tried my best during my years of public service to keep that name untarnished and respected, unmarked by sorry compromises for expediency. I now pass it on to you, as good, I pray, as when my father, your grandfather, passed it on to me. ...The only advice I can give you: Live with honor and follow your conscience. There is no greater nation on earth than our Motherland. No greater people than our own. Serve them with all your heart, with all your might and with all your strength. Son, the ball is now in your hands." ~ lifted from Ninoy's letter to Noynoy (written in prison c. 1973).

Here are videos of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III's inauguration speech (via PnoyWatcher of YouTube):

Tuesday, June 15

Should Binay have a place in Noynoy Aquino's cabinet?

yellow worked for him...

It's good that Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay has quit insisting on having the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) post for himself, as if he has a natural right to it. I don't even think he should have a place in the Aquino cabinet at all.

Prof. Winnie Monsod is right, there's just too many graft cases filed against Binay to inspire confidence in him. I hope President Noynoy would not appoint people in his administration who are tainted by corruption.

I respect the fact that Binay had been a loyal ally to the late President Cory Aquino, but his family's uninterrupted 24-year rule in Makati City makes me really uncomfortable. Just imagine, he's been in power here since I was in grade school! I wish him luck in his VP gig and all but I just don't trust the man.

Update: Binay changes mind, declines cabinet post.

Wednesday, June 9

Noynoy Aquino is President, now what?

goodluck, Noynoy!

Noynoy Aquino is officially our President-Elect. I voted for him and I'm gratified he won. Many people scoffed at his perceived lack of accomplishments as a legislator because he didn't have laws galore he sponsored or named after himself but thankfully, voters cared more that he's untainted by corruption. I know the next 6 years will be full of challenges, but I believe he's up to the job.

I think we have enough laws already, if the government only have the intestinal fortitude to implement the laws passed by Congress, our country will be a much better place. What we need is a leader with integrity who'd make sure to put the right people in place to help him get things done.

I was watching the news last night and there was this guy hoping that Noynoy would put food on his family's table, sent his kids to school etc. I mean, seriously? I hope this guy is in the minority... at least someone should set him straight and tell him that it is his responsibility to make sure his family has enough to eat. It is not the President's job or anyone else's. Whatever happened to taking responsibility? Sheesh.

I've never believed politicians' outlandish campaign promises because I believe more in the capacity of the individual to make decisions for their betterment. Government has its place in our lives but it shouldn't be too intrusive--burying us in red tape, too much taxes and unnecessary regulations.

What President Noynoy owes us is transparent and accountable government, one that is on our side... he'll face enough problems caused by his predecessor's profligacy without us expecting the moon and the stars. I wish him the best and I hope for our nation's sake, he succeeds.

Tuesday, April 20

Shalani Soledad's interview with Paolo Bediones on TV5

Bicolana First Lady?

This is for my friend Liza, a big Shalani Soledad fangirl, who's been pestering me to post this here for a couple of days. I don't know how she'd react if Noynoy Aquino doesn't make Shalani his First Lady. She's even taking bets from all of her friends that they will marry after the election, LOL.

Update: Noynoy wants Binay, reporter as coin, ring bearers at wedding :)
Update 2: Shalani elected as Valenzuela's no. 1 councilor.

***thanks to pinaswatcher5 for uploading these vids

Friday, April 16

Noynoy Aquino on Time Magazine cover

his time?

Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III graces the cover of the April 25 issue of Time Magazine. I read through the accompanying article “The Next Aquino: Can Noynoy save the Philippines?” and did a double take when I read this quote from Newsbreak magazine editor Marites Vitug:

"Our trust in politics has been so eroded that people just want a new leader who will do the very basic — who will not be corrupt, who will be good,"

That is exactly how I feel. I'm not looking for a "savior" in this election only someone who will lead this country with honesty and sincerity. I'm not expecting that all our problems will go away by electing a new President--I just want someone who will not steal from our coffers, who will put the people first.

I believe a leader does not need highfalutin degrees to be effective, he just got to have common sense and integrity. The greatest problem we have in this country is government corruption, so we need to elect leaders who will not compromise their honor... that may be a tall order but I'm optimistic there are still people like that running for office this election.

Update: Landslide victory.

Wednesday, April 14

Manny Villar's C5 vs. Noynoy Aquino's SCTEX

compare and contrast

The election is just a month away and predictably, accusations and counter-accusations from various politicians running against each other are flying right and left. Philippine politics is crazy and gets even more so come election time, I mean they are even taunting each other to get psychological tests now (maybe to prove who's crazier?)

Politics here is not for the faint of heart. So what's happening now as the election approaches is just the usual. Anyway, my FB friend Caloy shared this video of Winnie Monsod's analysis of Manny Villar's C5 road extension project and Noynoy Aquino's SCTEX. Watch this and decide for yourself.

Wednesday, April 7

A 15% E-VAT is crazy

pay 3% more?

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves is proposing to increase to 15% the 12% expanded value added tax (E-VAT) we currently have today. It's absolutely maddening that bureaucrats like Teves, don't seem to care that a 12% consumption tax is enough of a burden on consumers already.

The government has been spending (and stealing) our money like drunken sailors without a thought to our budget deficit and now that it's in a "fragile fiscal position" it wants us to bail it out again through this confiscatory tax increase on everything we buy (like that chocolate sundae I've been enjoying in this heat).

Sen. Noynoy Aquino opposes this plan and instead wants to improve revenue collection. I may just have found the reason to vote for him this May election, somehow voting for him because of his parents' heroics is kind of lame to me. Now I could say I like his stand on taxes and Manny Villar honestly is sounding more and more desperate these days which is a big turn-off for me.

Update: from WSJ - Europe's VAT Lessons: Rates start low and increase, while income tax rates stay high.

Wednesday, January 20

Noynoy Aquino and Shalani Soledad

goodluck!

I found this article about how Noynoy Aquino met his girlfriend Shalani Soledad.

SENATOR Noynoy Aquino was dining with friends in Alfredo’s Steak House on Morato when the topic of his “type” of woman came up. The bachelor legislator, who turns 50 this year, was at a loss for words but as his eyes wandered around the restaurant, he spotted a woman a few tables away. Straightaway, he told his friends: “See her? That’s my type of woman.”

A few minutes later, the senator stepped out for a smoke (a bad habit he should quit soonest) and was greeted by the woman he had spotted and her group. Told that they were councilors from Valenzuela, Bulacan, Noynoy warmed up to them, not least because, as he laughingly reasons, “I was then chair of the Senate committee on local government.” Of course, he managed to get the woman’s name and they exchanged numbers. And while strengthening relations with local governments, he and Shalani Soledad soon became a couple.

...So what attracted him to Lani, as she is called by friends and family? “The minute we started talking, there were no communication barriers,” he shared. “We clicked instantly, and I found that I could talk with her about almost anything.”

Awww... I hope Noynoy has finally found "the One". At almost 50, I bet his judgment has gotten pretty good. Choosing the right person to marry is one of the most important decisions one could make. I don't think it's a knock on his character that he's taking his sweet time. I believe he could be a good President while single. So it's not good to pressure him to get married if that's not what he wants.

Shalani Soledad seems to be a fine woman... pretty, unassuming, well-spoken and she is not running around boasting about her connections, either. I might be a little biased though because 'Lani' is a proud Bicolana and a councilor in the 2nd district of Valenzuela City (where I went to school). It would be nice to have a First Lady like her, but she must be ready for the pressures that comes with all that too.

Update: new Inquirer feature "NOYNOY-SHALANI A love story people are talking about".

Update 2.0: The Aquino women (Ballsy, Pinky & Viel) on Shalani:

ALL three have only good words for Shalani Soledad, the city councilor who is Noynoy’s main squeeze. Though none of them have been on the stump with her, they are aware of Shalani’s own campaign sorties, and Ballsy says she’s heard so many stories about Shalani’s capabilities as a campaigner.“Being a local government official, she would know the challenges and demands that a politician faces,” Ballsy says with approval.

Asked if Shalani is their “favorite” among Noynoy’s girlfriends, all three roll their eyes and Ballsy, sighing, says: “We’ve had so many favorites among them through the years. We don’t want to hope again. We leave it all up to Noy.”

Update 3.0: from Philstar: Shalani Soledad: Simple and sincere
Update 4.0: from Manila Bulletin: She’s that girl