The nine types of voters

Last update: 3/21/2010

This document has three parts: (1) The Nine Types of Voters, (2) My Ultimate Guide for Voters, and (3) 2010 Presidential Candidates Pros and Cons.

This article is updated and improved from time to time to accomplish its objective of educating voters. I wrote the original document in November 2009 with a title 7 Types of Voters. In December 2010, it became a 8 Types of Voters. In January 2010, it became 9 Types of Voters.

If you have reaction, there is a Comment button below, right after the article. All reaction will be moderated. Comments that advertise a product or promote a political candidate will be filtered.

Introduction

Others choose a candidate first before they build on supports advocacies. I am different. I define first the judgement parameters and voting guides, then gather relevant feedback about each candidate as the campaign goes on and gradually associate them with the parameters, then compare all candidates with a table of impartial and tell-all Pros and Cons analysis.


I. THE NINE TYPES OF VOTERS

1. Band Wagon Follower

During politrical campaign periods, revenues of TV/Radio Stations skyrocket. As the client demands quantifiable result of effective political advertising, surveys just come out from everywhere like mushroom.

The campaign managers pay a lot of money to launch surveys because it is very effective in influencing the decision pattern of Filipinos. Marami kasing mga Pilipino na sumusunod sa band wagon, lalo na ang mga elitely-educated and fashinista sectors na gusto palaging "in sa uso" at feeling nila kapag-hindi sila sumunod sa survey result eh anti-majority and anti-democracy na sila.

Bihira lang ang Pilipinong may genuine na pang-sariling preference na na-coconvert into actual voting decision. Matatalinong sunod-sunoran bah -- ganyan ang producto ng elite-type education system sa Pilipinas.

Maraming ring botante na ang binoboto lang ay ang mga "kakilala" at "naalala". Dyan naglalaro ang kahalagahan ng political advertising. Ang TV Ads, Radio Ads, Posters, Tarpaulins ang pinaka mabisang makinarya na nakapag-bibigay ng band-wagon effect. Pwede rin ang mga color-coded campaign and ribbons, grabe din mag-resulta yan sa band-wagon.

Ang mga TV at Radio Stations ay hindi pwedeng sisihin -- naghahanapbuhay lang ang mga yan sa advertising. Kahit na magaling ang kandidato, kapag walang pera, eh wala ring pang TV/Radio Ad -- siguradong talo kapag wla etong alam na alternative guerilla type campaign. Diyan pumapasok ang mga demonyong ma-impluensyang tao na bumubuhos ng pera para sa kandidato -- of course may kapalit yang campaign contribution na yan kapag manalo ang kandidato.

2. Winnable Gamble

Ang mga sugarol naman, karamihan sa kanila, sanay mag-basa ng prediction sheet ng Karera ng Kabayo o Masiao. Normally, binoboto nila ang "winnable" o yon bang most probable na manalo para makaramdam naman ng sarap ng panalo. Mga losers kasi ang mga klaseng taong eto na bihira lang makaramdam ng panalo sa sugal at sa ganun din sa buhay. Kaya etong vulnerability na eto, pinupunterya eto at tini-take-advantage ng mga campaign strategists.

In surveys, they normally design the questions in such a way that the result will most probably be advantageous to the client. Ang malala, konti lang talaga ang sampling nyan, kaya hindi reliable. Pero effective talaga ang survey mag-create ng band wagon effect and gambling-win effect.

Eto rin ang mga type of voter na tinatalaban ng bulong ng mga campaign strategist na nagsasabing: "kapag binoto mo hindi winnable, SAYANG ang boto mo".

3. Vote Seller

Usong-uso ang vote selling and vote buying sa mahihirap na population.

This kind of voter accepts money from vote buyers. There are vote sellers who actually vote for the candidate who pays.

There are also some who just accept the money but will not actually vote the candidate who paid him/her. Political swindling/estafa ang tawag ko nito, ang ibang term ay "tablador". Sa dahilang eto, maraming napapatay na botante (of course pinatay ng private army ng politico). Marami ding mga pulitico hindi ang botante ang binabayaran kundi ang mga goons na nagha-hari-harian sa lugar.

4. Fearful Voter

There are places in the Philippines that is controlled and politically monopolized by politicians who employ private armies. Most of the voters in that place are required to cast their vote, sinusundo pa ang mga yan, and they are monitored to ensure they will actually vote for the line-up of candidates that is dictated by the powerful local politician.

In some places, the goons of the local politicians are really serious in making effort and putting a system in place to identify the political detractors and those who vote the opponent of their boss. Once the opponent is identified, the goons issues grave threats and even really put the detractors into permanent silence.

5. Group Voter

These are voters who think that their leader's recommendation is the best vote. It is also known as Follow the Leader.

This kind of voters are usually members of religious organizations that preach Religion and Politics in one pulpit. In the Philippines, there is a myth (that has never been busted) that that most popular Group Voter are the Iglesia ni Kristo led by Manalo, the Philippine Benevolent Church led by Ecleo, and the Kingdom of Christ of Quiboloy. Another groups that are going towards this status of group voting are the El Shaddai of Velarde and the Jesus is Lord (cum Bangon Pilipinas political party) of Eddie Villanueva.

Indeed, when TV shows a group leader rub elbows with a political candidate, it will create an impression that the group leader is supporting and endorsing the candidate. The bandwagon impact of this show is high, that is why campaign managers always prioritize activities to ensure that their candidate will have the opportunity to rub elbows with the group leader. But in reality, there is no group that votes in unanimity.

Kasama na rin sa category na eto yong mga annointees ng Administration at mga political parties na kung mag-salita eh akala mo ang magagaling ay yong lahat na nasa ticket lang ng party nila.

So, kung magpapadala ka sa mga "Vote Straight" campaign slogans na mga eto, eh ikaw ay tinatawag na Group Voter.

6. Selfish-Associate Type Voter

A selfish-Associate type of voter is someone who personally benefits from the politician who sits or will sit in power. These are the family members, ka-apelyedo, employees, business associates, contractors, and dependents of the candidate.

An associate type of voter is one who voted for a particular candidate because of his/her experience of shaking the hands to meeting the candidate personally. This is the reason why candidates would like to go to gatherings like conventions, conferences, sorties, weddings, baptismals, birthdays, reunions, church worships, etc. Handshaking the voters is a personal touch technique of campaign that is very effective.

This is the type of voter who is very difficult, if not almost impossible, to persuade to change mind. The reason being is that "Economic Survival" is the very reason of their vote and support.

7. TraPolitiClan Voter

This is a type of voter who buys the campaign slogans that says "the children of a favorite politician are potentially good politicians".

If you look closer at the logic of the slogan, you can find no logic because it really does not follow. The reason being is that the children, more often than not, does not have the motivations their parents had. The parent-politician became good-hearted to the people because they grew up poor and they acquired the wisdom through life's difficulties. Children of politicians, especially those who enriched themselved while in power, have normally grown up in an elite environment far away from the sweat smell of the masses.

Well, based on experience, I can also say that "the children of good politicians will be the ones who will destroy the names of the good politician parent". Very rarely can the Philippines earn a husband/wife heroes. For example, having Noynoy to become President is a double edged sword. It may satisfy our bet for a "possible" good leader following the blood-line theory, but it will also put the names of our two heroes at risk in the hand of one individual Noynoy. If NoyNoy fails our usually high expectations, the names of our two heroes go down with him. Right?

When we as a nation begin to adopt a pattern of voting for a candidate based merely on his family relationship with a political icon, our generation will be giving birth to a very dangerous political landscape.

Example, there is nothing wrong if after you examined all the candidates, you will choose the children of the great politicians. But if you have chosen the children merely because you liked their parents, you might want to rethink your basis and open your mind to look for some possible better alternatives. Perhaps we have forgotten that our nation had chosen Gloria because of Diosdado Macapagal -- and look at what happened.

8. Campaign Volunteer Type

The most vulnerable under this type are the Youth Sector who dream of getting a job with the candidate they are supporting, if he/she wins. Vulnerable also are those who dream to get "government project contracts" with the help of the candidate they will be supporting.

The Campaign Volunteer type is the best target of political campaign managers. Once a candidate gets the heart of this kind of a voter, its a Jackpot.

These are the kinds of voters who are very participative in politics. They volunteer to do campaigns for the candidate in their small ways using social networking in the internet, wearing the candidate's identity t-shirts, color-coded ribbons, slogans, and other campaign paraphernalias.

These are the kinds of voters who will work hard to influence others to follow their preference, start a band wagon, participate in surveys, join a fans club, suggest some political platforms, all for the benefit of the candidate they have chosen. They sometimes answer questions that are personally addressed to the candidate. They also go to the extent of acting like a defense attorney of the candidate.

The disadvantage of this type is that they tend to become "obsessed fanatics" and they close their eyes to the defects of their candidate. These are also the crabby people who are very prominent in political mudslinging activities.


9. The Conscience Voter

This is the ideal, best, excellent, wise, and patriotic voter. I invented the term "Conscience Voter" to elevate to a higher level the old term they used to call wise voter, that came from the slogan vote wisely. A conscience voter is a wise voter plus a patriotic heart that is inclined to the masses.

Ang conscience voter ay naniniwala na ang pag-boboto ay hindi katulad ng pag-taya sa sugal na iboboto mo ang most probable na mananalo. Hindi siya natatakot pumili kung sino gusto nya. Hindi rin siya na-aapektohan ng survey. Mas lalong hindi siya fanatic na naniniwala na ang pastor o pari ay siyang binigyan ng Diyos ng recommending power sa panahon ng political election. Etong klaseng botante na eto ay hindi i-boboto ang kanyang politikong amo kapag may nalalaman siyang kabalbalan ng amo nya.

A conscience vote is a silent voter. It treats voting as "sacred", like a good judge who does not make irresponsible statements, premature comments, and prejudgemental reactions while the case is still on trial before the appropriate time of judgement.

Definitely, a person is not a conscience voter if he/she broadcasts and announces (during the campaign period), or claims something that sounds like this: "I am a conscience voter, I choose to support PresC Juan De la Cruz, you should vote him so that you will become a conscience voter like me". This type is a campaign volunteer type, he/she creates a band-wagon effect which canot be undone.

But take note, no matter what type of voter you are during the campaign period, you still have your last moment in the voting prescinct, during the election moment, to vote based on your conscience.


II. MY ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR VOTERS

1. Vote on Principle

Election serves its best when people vote based on principle, when each voter chooses the one he/she thinks is best for our country. He studies the background, past performance, platform, and political manifesto of each candidate and makes an independent decision on who will he/she vote for. If there are 58 Senatoriables for the 2010 National Elections, then read the profile of each before making a decision. Sa sobrang daming kandidato, series of shortlisting is a must for your convenience -- but PLEASE DO NOT simply follow SURVEYS as your shortlisting short-cut methodology because you will end up becoming a partial band wagon follower type or winnable gamble type.

2. Act Like a Judge

You would be more decent if you will NOT campaign also if you are a VOTER. Please ACT like a JUDGE. Open your eyes and ears and be flexible for change the entire campaign period. The moment you campaign, you can no longer change your choice.

I know one voter who campaigned for a candidate she initially liked. Later on she discovered something dislikeable about the candidate, but she is already in a dilemma because she could not stop campaigning as she is already known as the champion campaigner of the candidate. In the end, she had to "secretly" vote for someone else new during election. She is an epitome of a person who "sacrificed" her principle. The worse hapenned when her candidate she campaigned for won the election because of her campaign effort. During the whole political term, the elected politician was so corrupt and the voter got so GUILTY.

Pag meron ka nang sinusuportahan, baho ay hinahayaan, wala nang atrasan, wala nang pakikinggan, patay ang bayan.

3. Avoid TraPolitiClans

The parameters of the term "traditional politicians" or TRAPO has never been defined. In fact, if I follow my own definition of TraPo, NoyNoy would be classified as one TraPo.

In my definition, which I think many will disagree, a TraPo is someone who represents the people who financed his campaign. The keyword here is FINANCED. The TraPo has a very weak conviction and principle of Right&Wrong because he is overwhelmed by his loyalty to the persons behind his campaign fund or machinery.

For some, TraPo means an old-timer politician who protects his selfish interest (family, business, organization, locality, financier, cronnies).

Below are my original opinion and I came up with a ten characteristics of a TraPo.

1. Kind of "What's in it for me?"

2. Political campaign is indebted to "someone" who he/she will secretly call "boss"

3. Unethical - lobbies favors for his/her family, friends, political financiares

4. Invests in Campaign Machineries that limits the choices of the general voters (TV Ads, Sobrang dami ng Posters, at lalo na Surveys)

5. Usual political clans -- kamag-anak ng mga "kumita na" sa gobyerno at para bang mga bank robber na pagkatapos tumakas ay gusto pang balikan ang mga natirang kapranggot na barya sa sahig ng banko.

6. Has armed private army

7. No SPECIFIC WORK AGENDA before running for the position

8. Gives alms to the poor using mony and resources squeezed out from government funds and boasts about it as if the money comes from his personal fund.

9. Shows off his thick face and name on Government Projects such as bridges, schools, ambulance, as if the project is funded by his personal donation.

10. Unexplained wealth --sudden expansion of his house into mansions and accummulation of businesses and cars while sitting in power.

11. You can see begging people falling in line in the house of the traditional politician. These people are seeking help for burial, medicines, school tuition fees, fertilizer, baptismal party expense, wedding party expense, bail for an inmate, expenses for sports-fest uniform, and anything else. For dole-out purposes, these traditional politicians normally source out money from corrupt activities (Robinhood style).

A not-TraPo make sides based on their personal conviction and service for the greater good of the country.

Traditional dynasties of politicians becomes unbreakable when we as a nation continue to patronize a political monopoly of the few clan.

Political Dynasty is a heirarchy of politicians from same clans. In other countries, Political Dynasty is associated with "monarchy". But in the Philippines, political dynasty is different, it is not a monarchy type, but rather a GRAND SLAM NEPOTISM.

In the Philippines, we have seen that political positions are very profitable businesses. Maraming politician ang yumayaman sa corruption at gusto nilang ipa-mana ang negosyo-de-gobyerno sa mga anak-anak nila. These corrupt clans have already made a long-term pact with the corrupt contractors and both of them wants to ensure na tuloy-tuloy ang ligaya.

For some TrapPolitiClans, whose main source of wealth is government contracts, the holding on to the political position have become so important in their survival. As the political positions are passed on from one generation to the next within the same family, businesses are passed on, corruption lives forever.

There is no list of TraPolitiClans. You have to determine it by yourself. You should avoid voting or supporting these TraPolitiClans if you want CHANGE in your country or locality. IKAW MISMO ang magbabago ng sistema by not voting the TraPolitiClans (you yourself will changethe system by not voting the traditional political clans.

4. Try the NEW Names

Think twice before you vote a "familiar" name. Look at your country or locality NOW, if you think the past politicians did not do a good job, THEN please do not vote them again -- and this rule must apply to their sons and daughters and spouses who wants to run to continue their clan's hold of the seat of power. New names usually thrive as they offer better services. In placing a bet, I believe that NEW NAMES is better than children of the OLD NAMES.

Para lang yang pag pili ng isda sa palengke. Pag pula na ang mata sa bugbug ng batikos, o masangsang na sa tsismis ng corruption, huwag mo nang bilhin. Kahit blood-line pa yan ni Lapu-lapu, kahit pang sashimi yan na pagka-mahalmahal, kahit suki mo pa ang tindera, kahit anong salestalk ng tindera, kahit dinudumog pa yan ng karamihan, kahit naka-advertise pa yan sa TV. Be safe, huwag mo nang bilhin yang isdang yan. Basta presko, mas makakasiguro ka na safe ang pamilya mo.

Isa pa, kapag matanda na, ipa-retire 'nyo na yan, huwag nang iboto. Hindi kailangan ng sobrang tandang experyensyado sa gobyerno, lalo na sa Congresso (Senate and House of Representatives) dahil meron namang regular staff components ang Congress na mag-guide sa mga bago. Papasok lang ang INNOVATION sa gobyerno kapag mga bata at bago ang politician.

Tingnan nyo rin kung nagkaroon ba nang overseas exposure ang isang kandidato. Maganda yung mga kandidatong meron experience in cultural exchange program or scholarship sa ibang ma-uunlad na bansa. Mas lalong makakaganda sa bansa natin kapag nakakita na ng magagandang bagay sa ibang bansa ang ating mga politiko dahil most likely, gusto niya itong gayahin ang mga kagandahang eto.

5. Watch-Out and be Alert Against TRICKY SLOGANS

Politicians normally have slogans. Be alert! There are two types of slogans: (1) One is a Promise of a DESIRED OUTCOME, and (2) second is a Promise of an ACTION. I recommend you choose the ones with a Promise of Action.

Let me give you an example of a bad slogan that I categorize as a promise of a Desired Outcome. I heard one presidentiable Gilbert Teodoro slogan on the radio, saying "College Graduate Bawat Pamilya". Ask yourselves the same questions I ask: "How's the President going to achieve that? How are we going to measure the success? Can the President mandate that desired outcome? Can you just stupidly get statistical data and divide the total number of college graduates by total number of families?".

The presidentiable could have a better slogan if he will say: "If I become President -- out of the President's discretionary budget, I will personally grant one college scholarship benefit fund for each family without any condition and make sure that the budget is released ON TIME!". Now thats what I call a DECISIVE MAN speaking!

Another very stupid slogan of the GMA Supporters in the past was: "Gloria Kami! Babae katulad ni Cory!"... Helloooow!

But GMA, though, had a very good action slogan that she really stood by in her entire Presidential career: "STRONG REPUBLIC!" --- sa interpretation ko in salitang kanto "Mag Rally Ka, Tutubohin Kita!". Ayan, we got what we deserve -- no matter how people attempted to stirr the public into an oust Gloria Arroyo Movement after the series of corruption scandals, the administration remains strong.

Ngayon naman: "NoyNoy! Anak ni NiNoy! Kasing Galing ni Ninoy!" ..... Helloooow anong logic?

Ang maayos lang na action slogan ay kay Bayani Fernando: "POLITICAL WILL". The slogan is just amazing! And no question, it really fits his character. It encompasses the ideal characteristic of a President which is to IMPLEMENT the laws.

Now let's look at Gilbert Teodoro who is banking on his "EXPERIENCE". The best article about this what Kay Malilong Isberto The Freeman in the FaceBook article How to Sell a Candidate (updated January 26, 2010). Kay said "Most claims about a candidate’s past accomplishments can be verified in various records. I just don’t know if voters will have the desire to go beyond the spin and look into them. For instance, Gilbert Teodoro claims to have job experience as a Congressman. This “experience” includes leading an impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. after the Supreme Court ruled that the coco levy funds prima facie belonged to the government and not to companies controlled by his uncle, Danding Cojuangco."

Did you get what I am saying here?

6. Read the Contents Label

In looking at the contents label of the candidate, obselve the three elements -- (1) Specific Plan of Action or Advocacy, (2) Hidden Track Record, and (3) Citizenship.

Know The Candidate's Specific Plan of Action

When I talk about Specific Plan of Action, I am simply refering to the Personal Advocacy of the Candidate.

Look at NoyNoy Aquino. Si NoyNoy ay wala talagang original na ambition maging Presidente. At kung na-udyok lang siya na tumakbo bilang presidente, ang presidency niya ay kaya ding patakbuhin ng mga ma-impluensyang mga TraPong nakapalibot sa kanya. He is the only presidentiable na walang klaro na Action Statement. Clearly, he is just taking advantage of the Desperate Hopes of the people, making his mom a convenient color coded packaging. NoyNoy, as of today, is a canned good that came out from a good reputable factory, but he is now on the display shelf without contents label.

Now look also at Dick Gordon's slogan in Facebook. It says: "Leadership must be earned, not bought nor inherited." ---- Parang tunog ng naghihingalong kandidato na kailangan tumalangka ng ibang kandidato para i-angat ang kung sino man yang "someone who earned leadership". ---- The same question all over and all over again ang meron ako: Dick, tell me what specifically will you do if you become President?

Bihira ka lang makakita ng kandidato na klarong klaro ang gustong gawin. Halos lahat parang mga blankong paper na dapat mong pirmahan bilang botante. Unfair naman yan sa botante, diba?

Erap has a very good pro-poor platform.

Look for the Hidden Track Record

You can also look at the track record of the candidate and make that pattern as his/her contents label. Under this category, make a determination of what major issues were brought to him, what he did to it, and what he failed to do. Look at how he handled opportunities for change.

If he had the implementation power as part of the executive branch, look for the tolerations he ever on any the anomalies. If he had experience in the legislature, look for his votes on issues and advocacies that you are personally involved with. If the candidate is from the busines sector, look for historical transaction with government and make a detemination if he had ever "unethically" dealth with the government. If the candidate is from the judiciary, look at the landmark cases he handled.

The very good example is Gilbert Teodoro. He had time as Secretary of National Defense when the Private Armies in Mindanao grew in unmanegeable proportion. The result is the Maguindanao Massacre. He knew about the growth of the private armies, but he tolerated it, did not act on it, and now in his presidential campaign slogan he is saying "no one can tell me what to do". His excuse --- the private armies are already there when he came. From my perspective, this guy is inactive, lazy, unresponsive, no sense of accountability, and no guilt at all. The only thing I can say is, can we just stop debating about this guy and just set him aside for a moment while we choose who are we going to vote for President?

Transparency of Citizenship

This information about a national election candidate is quite easy to determine. But many voters disregard the importance of this factor.

We should also not forget to ask the candidate if he is an American Citizen or British or Chinese or whatever.

I have heard rumors that Edu Manzano is an American citizen. Richard Gordon also has an American-sounding surname.

We should ask them because I strongly recommend that we DO NOT vote for NATIONAL candidates who have other citizenships other than Filipino citizen. They are supposed to protect national interests with 100% loyalty to the Republic of Philippines.

There is such thing we call Conflict of Interest. Their allegiance to other nations makes them half-loyal to the Republic of the Philippines.

We can sleep better at night if our nation's leaders have no other citizenship. This applies to national positions -- for President, Vice-President, Senator, including Secretary level of the various Departments.

8. Vote for a Good Mix of all Political Spectrums

This recommendation is very much applicable in your choices for seats in the Senate.

The Partylist Organizations are assumed to be composed of the "Marginalized Sectors". Their advocacies are stronger when there are Senator (upper house) who will consolidate advocacies with them. The ideologist sector of the political separatists also need a "representative" in Senate.

We, as a nation, might need the logical expertise from the various kinds of political ideologies. When time comes that resources are too scarce, everyone would struggle to get a big share of the income from economic activities of the nation. To protect the marginalized sectors, we need to mix-in a little "socialism" in the concoction of our national policies, if we will fail to do this, the strong will gradually enslave the weak.

These persecuted political ideologists, such as the comminists ideologists, are like endangered species, like tigers, cobras, sharks, potentially dangerous at the moment when mixed with the general population, but they may be very useful in the future. The government has been killing them for years, and they are already approaching extinction. Instead of killing them, we should take good care of them and ensure continuity of their ideology to the next generation and ensure the prevention of their extinction.

If you vote in a candidate with a communists ideology, it does not make you a communist.

By voting for a communist ideologists, you can help put a stop on the killings that are based on political, ideological, and religious differences. The population, in order to be "perfectly" democratic, must increase its tolerance on these differences. There must be a balance of opportunity to speak in the most proper venue of government, which is the Senate. As you can see an imbalance of ideologies in our laws, think about voting a set of candidates in the Senate who advocate represention for the underdogs.

Don't look at any ideology as a solid meat viand. Look at each of it as if it is a mix of ingredients wherein you will only utilize what is "best" in it's ingredients.

In law making, we need to take a little ingredients from the capitalist viand, a little from the religious viand, a little from the communist viand, and a little from the socialist viand.

The best thing we can get from socialist ideology is their concept of equality (pantay pantay lahat).

The best from the communist ideology is government-controlled productivity of the population (bawal ang tamad).

The best we can get from capitalist ideology is the chance of every individual to achieve his personal dream of success (freedom).

The best we can get from religious ideology is the rule of conscience and equality of mankind (if there is anything left of their evolution towards self-righteousness).

A good mix of the best parts of these ideologies is ideal set-up of a Senate. So, if you want a Senate that will be a venue of a perfectly democratic set-up, you can allocate your basket of 12 candidates accross various political ideologies.

9. DISCERN a TOP-DOWN CANDIDATE

Many Filipinos have a mentality that says: "Iboboto ko yang Senador dahil magaling yan dahil Presidentiable nga yan nong nakaraang election eh".

A Top-Down candidate is one who runs for President to gain popularity and momentum for the next election wherein he/she plans to run for Senator. The best example I can give is Gilbert Teodoro, whcih I discerned in a eureka way!

Because of it's VERY poor performance, the GMA administration party (LAKAS-KAMPI) is already recognized by many as DOOMED LOSER in 2010. Nevertheless, they have to field-in a presidential candidate to "keep" the supporters who "benefited" from the GMA administration. Everyone knows Gibo will lose, but just like Jamby, he just run now as President to gain support momentum for his running for Senate in 2013. How was I able to detect this? Well, I have read his platform, and it appears to be a Senatorial platform.

Look for the article about Gibo on his tax policies posted by GMANews.TV on 2/23/2010. It says that Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Thursday that he favors raising the rate of expanded value-added tax (eVAT) from the current 12 percent to up to 15 percent if he wins the presidential race this May. But he is also mulling the option of reducing personal income taxes to 25 percent. Speaking before members of the Makati Business Club (MBC), Teodoro said that he agrees with proposals to raise the eVAT given the losses the El Niño dry spell is expected to bring the country, especially in the agricultural sector.

In my opinion, Tax Law determination is not a function of the Excutive Branch. It is the function of the Legislative. The article above reveals the Senatorial Platform of Gilbert Teodoro. Sumingaw ang utot ni Gibo. Sabi nga ng ibang matitibay na supperter ng Administration, "walang mawawala kay Gibo kung matatalo siya sa Presidential race ngayon".

10. Be a CONSCIENCE VOTER

If all Filipino voters are conscience voters, the best ones will be voted, our country will achieve the best result of political elections.

Ikaw ano ka ba, bilang botante? Alin ka sa ibat ibang klaseng botante na eto? Meron ka pa bang na-isip na isa pang klaseng botante, i-post mo sa comment sa baba.

WHAT NOW IS OUR ADVOCACY?

Now that you are aware of the 9 Types of Voters, what specific action are we to do?

What I suggest we do is Advocacy that starts inside your own heart. The battle against this miserable political cycle in the Philippines is a very long battle, we would be counting generations to achieve a stable change.

Through voter education, inch by inch, we will fight this battle starting this generation. In our little way, what we can do ridicule the 8 types of voters and promote the CONSCIENCE VOTER type. Lets associate the 8 types with SHAME. This is our strategy.

When it comes to advocacy, we as a people, should work as a team. Here is an inspirational speech that I would like you to watch. Please welcome, Al Pacino..

Myth of Popularity Vote

There is a myth that says "Who would vote for Unfamiliar Names and Faces?" But look at Richard Gomez, he lost in the Senatorial race. Congressman Pitsay also lost the Senatorial race despite overloaded posters and campaign ads. There is a trend that people is becoming aware that popularity (wellknowness) is no longer a valid basis of voter's choice.

Only new names and new faces in politics can guarantee new directions of our country. The longer we continue with the "usual" ones, the longer we cannot see change. The longer we hold on the the "old" politicians, the more we continue being nailed down on this status quo of poverty. And one election too late to think this way will be equivalent to six years of regret. So, check out the 10 Presidentiables and make a brave CONSCIENCE VOTE -- let us prove it to ourselves that we can make brave decisions ALONE and that we cannot be influenced by the usual campaign machinery of the "usual" politicians!

Religious Leaders Entering into Politics

The most popular candidate who came from the religious sector is Eddie Villanueva. His being a pastor will not make him less entitled to the rights and political consciousness as a citizen of the Republic of the Philippine. But his being a pastor will not also make him a person who is perfectly sin-proof.

In my opinion, leaders of religion and leaders of politics should not encroach the wisdom of one another. Religious leaders speak and render opinion based on their heeding of the voice of God. Political leaders heed the voice of the people.

The turn-off point of Eddie is his strong affiliation to the organization of the Church and makes him potentially violable to the Article 2 Section 6 of the Constitutional provision on the separation of the church and state.If he really wants to run for a National Position, the solution I recommend to him is to QUIT first as leader of the church and lie-low for some time, and re-channel his heart and mind to hard-core politics. And most importantly, he must stop using the word "GOD" in any of his political opinion speeches, because I think it is blasphemy to use GOD as a stamp banner to enforce the strength of any political speech.

Bulk Vote Buyer

Mag-ingat din sa mga kandidato nga "bulk buyers". Bulk buying is a situation wherein a candidate run with a sole purpose of denting the potential votes of the opponents of his client. Example: we have two BIG opposing candidates.Candidate AA is pro incumbent administration.

Candidate BB is opposition to incumbent administration. What candidate AA will do is find someone who share the same political sentiment with candidate BB and ask that person to run and lets call him AAB.There will be voters of Candidate BB who will vote Candidate AAB, and as a result, Candidate AAB will dent the number of votes for Candidate BB, and the further result of the dent will help Candidate AA win. Candidate AAB running the election is secretly finance by Candidate AA, and after the election Candidate AAB is paid by Candidate AA by the number of heads who voted for Candidate AAB.

In short, dalawang pamamaraan para bumili ng boto. First is you buy voters to vote for you. And the second one is you buy voters to split the vote of your opponent. These payments can be done directly to the voters or to the one who will facilitate the bulk vote. The second one is more smooth and efficient to implement because you only have to pay one person.

Look at TV/Radio Advertisement Spending

As of 2009, a 30-second airing of a Political Ad in TV costs around 400,000 Pesos during primetime.

Now, look at your candidate, focus your eyes on his eyes, and ask him these questions below.

• Who pays for the TV/Radio/Print political advertising of the candidate? At the end of the advertising, it normally says: "Paid For by Friends of Candidate". Who are these "friends"?
• Is the candidate realy that rich, where did he get that money that is bigger than the brand advertising of many companies? Did he loaned it, from whom, and how's he going to pay it?
• Is the friend just a fanatic fan extravagant spending without asking nothing in return?
• Is it an investment, expecting something in return?
• What is the meaning if the political ad spending of a presidential candidate reaches 3 Billion Pesos?
• What is the consequences that we have to face if that candidate will win?

Let me tell you some hint guys and this is how amazing campaign funds work. First, you have to know what a President CAN give to a specific person -- APPOINTED POSITION IN GOVERNMENT.

People who ambition to get appointed (as Commissioner, or Secretary, Undersecratary, Regional Director, Officer of Government Corporations, Contractor, etc.) spend at least 3 million pesos to support the political campaign of a Presidentiable (this is based on my personal experience during the 1998 Presidential Election).

There are thousands of appointive positions that a presidentiable can "sell" which makes "presidentiability" a very lucrative money-making activity. Some people who ambition to get appointed give political fund to at least three "winnable" candidates. They spend at least 10 million pesos for split multiple support to three or more candidates, just to make sure that the investment will return. When their candidate wins, they get the position -- and it will be time to "recover" more than how much they spend during election. This is worst than unethical, so basically, nobody wants to talk about it.

So, what am I saying here? I am telling you that the bigger the candidate's spending in ads, the bigger is the potential "hemorrhage" of government funds when that candidate wins. The bigger the spending in ads, the bigger the potential to be corrupt.

How About Social Networking like Facebook?

The number of members in Facebook groups and fansclubs is not a measurement of popularity because many join a group just to "bulabog" and "hakot away" the members. You can check out the discussion groups, hindi lahat loyal sa fansclub.

Nevertheless, Facebook is a more effective medium of struggle for sympathizers. The more the membership of a particular group or fansclub, the more effective ang lawak ng "reach" ng mga hirit. Pag sumigaw o humirit ka sa rally, hindi hihigit sa 50 ka tao ang makakarinig sayo -- panay mga kandidato lang ang nagsasalita sa entablado. Pero sa Discussion ng Facebook, mahigit 200,000 kayang marating ng boses ng mga hirit mo.

Tingnan nyo rin ang mga Discussions sa mga groups, fansclub, and profiles ng mga candidato at ng mga political party nila. Diyan ka makaka-basa ng magagandang voting points at mudslinging. Of course marami ding mga walang kwentang mga hirit ng mga supporters at mge kontrabidas.

Erap has fewer facebook fans compared to Gibo because Erap's supporters are mostly poor which compose the majority.

III. 2010 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES PROS and CONS

Vetellano Acosta
Pros:
Cons:

Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III

Pros: Son of Cory Aquino and Ninoy Aquino

Cons: If I were Noynoy, I would have taken the opportunity to spend my years in Congress and Senate to do remarkable and noble acts to become SOMEONE GREATER than the combined greatness of Ninoy and Cory.

But Noy wasted his time. He never utilized his resources of being a son of a President to do great deeds, and never had a drive to become a better person. He only came out like a self-proclaimed shining star after his mother died.

And now, with the influential elite pushing him to yearn for power, he thinks he can just easily put around his neck the medals of honor of his parents. For Noynoy, he thinks that the Presidency at no sweat of character at all.

John Carlos “JC” De los Reyes

Pros: Association with the Catholic Charismatic Movement. Good interview responder.

Cons: Lacks wide outlook in governance. No political network.

Joseph “Erap” Estrada

Pros: This person's heart is 100% on the masses, and ZERO% on the Elite. Long experience as actor, but longer experience as politician. Overwhelming win in 1998. I have not met one person who supported Erap in 1998 who got turned-off with Erap after the great Aquino-Arroyo conspiracy -- the 11 Million voting masses supporting Erap is INTACT today.

Joseph Estrada is the real man of the masses. I can talk about a lot of Erap defects too as a human being, just like any other candidates. But the best things about Erap is that he is not power greedy, he said during EDSA-2 that he would rather let things happen than order the police and military to hurt a single person who protests against his political will.

I personally knew that Erap was ALL-OUT WAR against Jueteng and Private Armies. After Erap was ousted, these two evils florished like empires. Jueteng became untouchable specially in the North Luzon where Chavhitman is prominent and Central Luzon where GMA's close allies (Pineda). The Jueteng collection now in GMA regime is "Nationalized". Erap is the mortal enemy of the loose guns, both the politically terroristic and criminalistic. If Erap is President, he could have prevented the rise of the Ampatuans of the Maguindanao Massacre.

I personally attest Erap's Plans and Programs in 1999 are a lot more pro-poor compared to the others. This is based on my comparison on all Medium Term Philippine Development Plans of the Cory, Ramos, Estrada, Arroyo administrations.

Cons: Lacks support from the Elites. It is very difficult to undo what the Aquino-Arroyo conspiracy implanted in the mind of the people that Erap personally gained selfishly and unethically from favors he gave to his friends and relatives during his short term as Preseident.

Richard “Dick” Gordon

Pros: Extensive background a Red Cross volunteer.

Cons: I asked him in his facebook account, "do you have other citizenship other than Filipino citizenship?". His answer is, I am 100% Filipino Citizen. Very clever, but not as clever as a fox. Other citizenship will not make a candidate lesser than a 100% Filipino citizenship, but a candidate's allegiance to other nations will make him prone to "conflict of national interest". The other Cons about this candidate will only be written here after he answers me directly with a YES or NONE on my question: "Do you have other citizenship other than Filipino citizenship?".

Jamby Madrigal

Pros: Persistent

Cons: No concrete advocacy. Allegedly associated with the leftists.

Nicanor Perlas

Pros: Environmentalist

Cons: No Political Support Network.

Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.

Cons: The heart of this guy is a 100% on the ELITE side, and Zero% on the masses. His experience amidst and outlook about corruption is more of a TOLERANT type, typical elite lawyer who would go where the money is. He was given a chance to be chief of the DND from 2007 to 2009. The report of the existence of the private armies in Mindanao passed his nose, but his inaction is an act of toleration. Not only that, he also rubbed elbows with the local political gunlords such as the Ampatuans who are now charged with multiple murder on that celebrated Maguindanao Massacre where over 50 people were killed for the mere reason that they went out to file candidacy for the 2010 election. Unfit for the small job of impementing laws, therefore unfit for the big job of the super implementor laws. Besides, the personalities behind the political machinery of Gilbert Teodoro are the same faces behind the Arroyo administration that is perceived by many as the most corrupt administration of all times. His slogan should have been: "Business as Usual".

Pros: Gilberto “Gilbert” Cojuangco Teodoro, Jr. was the youngest Secretary to hold the Defense portfolio at the age of 43, when he assumed the post in August 2007.

Before he became the Secretary of National Defense, he was Congressman of the First District of Tarlac for three (3) consecutive terms starting 1998. At the House, he assumed the position of Assistant Majority Leader (11th Congress) and Head of the Nationalist People’s Coalition House members. He was also a member of the House contingent to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council.

This guy is the favorite nephew of tycoon and Marcos cronnie Danding Cojuanco. So, he farly got lots of money compared to his peers. Shortly after he completed his secondary education at the most expensive school of his time, Xavier School, he was elected President of the Kabataang Barangay for Tarlac in 1980 and concurrently assumed Presidency of the Kabataang Barangay for Central Luzon until 1985.

He also became a member of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan of Tarlac from 1980 to 1986. Gibo successfully completed his Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Major in Financial Institutions at the De La Salle University in 1984 (which explains why his supporters call themselves GREEN TEAM).

In 1989, he completed his Law studies at the University of the Philippines where he was awarded the Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence. In the same year, he topped the Philippine Bar exams (while his auntie Corazon "Cory" Cojuanco Aquino was then President of the Republic and almost all top brass members of the judiciary were her appointees).

For seven years, he worked as a lawyer in the famed EP Mendoza Law firm. Then he went to the Harvard Law School in Cambridge (paying student) for his Master of Laws and completed it in 1997. He was also admitted to the State Bar of New York during the same year. Gibo who holds distinct memberships in the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, UP Alumni Association, UP Law Alumni Association, Harvard Alumni Association and the Harvard Law Alumni Association, is also a licensed commercial pilot (wow only rich kids can afford this schooling) and a Colonel in the Philippine Air Force Reserve.

Eduardo “Eddie” Villanueva

Cons: The turn-off point of Eddie is his strong affiliation to the organization of the Church and makes him "potentially" violable to the Article 2 Section 6 of the Constitutional provision on the separation of the church and state.

Pros: The hand sign means "Victory" during Marcos time. When Bro. Eddie was asked about he hand sign, he said (for him) it means "For the Greater Glory of God and Country".

His program for the first six months of Presidency is to establish a strong Republic, internally, via hands-on management of the Dept of Defense. When all is set, he will then give 24 hours ultimatum to the crooks (syndicated gunlords, druglords, gamblinglords, armed rebels) to stop their activity or else they would face the full strength of the law.

This guy was a fan of the young and good Ferdinand Marcos. At the very moment Marcos started abusing his power, this gut "right away" turned back at Marcos and fought him in the streets as an activist. Unfortunately, he was jailed for rebellion, perhaps. In short, this guy is NOT A TOLERANT type, unlike Gilbert Teodoro.

Regarding my criticism about this guy about him "potentially" violable to the Article 2 Section 6 of the Constitutional provision on the separation of the church and state." His response is: he is aware of it, that is why he already resigned his ecclesiastical office before he filed his candidacy as President. The only thing I can say is, this guy did resign out of his own initiative without someone telling him -- this is a good sign of a high moral and ethical standard imposed on oneself -- a perfect picture of sacrifice.

I can't see any Elite Families and TraPoliticlans lurking around behind this man.

Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr.

Cons: Manny Villar owns Real Estate Development firms that is very "noted" in (1) employing unlicensed real estate agents colorum, and (2) transacting businesses that is disadvantageous to government. He became super rich "allegedly" and "suspiciously" from these unethical practices in real estate service industry. His campaign strategy is similar to what popularized the Wowowee of Willie Revillame -- appealing to the emotions of the poor, dole-out economics, and heart-warming TV campaign ads. This candidate has visions, good slogans, but no plan of action (yet).

Villar cannot fool the Masses on his clain that he is an opposition to the Arroyo Administration.
(1) Villar helped the EDSA-Dos Conspiracy who stole the Erap presidency.
(2) Villar is a fake who claimed that he is the true opposition at harap-harapang niloloko ang masa sa kanyang TV Ads. There are many colors and slogans Villar can choose, but he made a wrong decision to steal the color and pro-poor slogan of the true and original man of the masses Erap.
(3) Villar is a close ally of the Arroyo Administration for three proofs. (A) The Administration of GMA made it easy for Villar to get budget for the infrastructure of C5 and made billions of money from it. (B) Pacman is an ally of the Administration (c/o Lito Atienza, Chavit Singson, etc) and his alliance with Villar is the strongest proof that Villar is a secret ally of Arroyo Administration. (C) Ang campaign resources ng GMA Administration ay binuhos kay Villar imbis na kay Gibo -- si Gibo ay decoy lang.

Pros: Published by Oliver Pablo Dela Pena (25 Feb 2010, Facebook)
The public life of Manny Villar straddles both the worlds of business and politics. He is one of the few who managed to excel in both.

1.Working Student: Hard work, persistence, and perseverance became his guiding principles in life. This earned him the title “Mr. Sipag at Tiyaga.”

2.Entrepreneur: So with an initial capital of P10,000 in 1975, Villar purchased two reconditioned trucks and started his sand-and-gravel business in Las Piñas.... See More

3.Housing Innovator: Manny Villar became the housing industry leader, and the biggest homebuilder in Southeast Asia, having built more than 100,000 houses for the poor and middle class Filipino families.

4.Awards and Distinctions: For his business achievements, he was made cover story in the Far Eastern Economic Review. And his life story was also featured in Asiaweek, Forbes, AsiaMoney and Asian Business Review.He garnered various awards such as the Ten Outstanding Young Men Award (1986) by the Philippine Jaycees, Agora Award for Outstanding Achievement in Marketing Management (1989), Most Outstanding CPA by the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (1990) and Most Outstanding UP Alumnus (1991).

5.Political Career: In a stunning political debut in 1992, Villar won with the most overwhelming mandate among congressmen in Metro Manila.

6.Champion for Entrepreneurs: In 1995, Manny Villar ran for re-election and won an unprecedented 142,000 votes, the highest number of votes for a congressman in the entire country. Winning media acclaim as an outstanding congressman as well as the respect and recognition of his peers, he was elected to chair the Committee on Entrepreneurship.

7.Speaker of the House: It was no surprise then to those in the know when he gained the remarkable acclaim of 171 of 220 congressmen as the Speaker of the 11th Congress of the House of Representatives.In a time when the country is slowly recovering from a host of economic and political crises, the election of the ‘brown taipan’ at the helm of Congress signaled a watershed event in the Philippine political history.

8.Senator of the Republic: In the national elections held last May 14, 2001, despite being a relative newcomer in national politics, Manny Villar posted one of the most impressive showings in the national polls. On his first day in office, he filed 204 bills covering a comprehensive legislative program of action— the first among neophyte senators and the third highest filer among the senators of the 12th Congress of the Philippines.In February 2004, he was elected as President of the Nacionalista Party—the country’s oldest and grandest political party. He was also named the Most Distinguished UP Alumnus—the highest recognition given by the UP Alumni Association—for his exemplary public service and achievements.Senator Manny Villar, despite his numerous accomplishments and heroism, has remained simple and unaffected. A true family man, he is a devoted husband to Congresswoman Cynthia A. Villar (Lone District of Las Piñas), and a loving father to sons Paolo and Mark and daughter Camille.

PARTING NOTES

So for you po what is an ideal presidential candidate? (Analyn G. Carlos, Facebook)

Marami nang nagtanong sa akin kung ano ang ideal na presidentiable ko. Habang tumatagal ako sa kaka-isip at kakasulat ng article ko na Nine Types of Voters and Voting Guides, dahan-dahan nabu-buo ang preference ko sa isang presidentiable. Sa ngayon, ang mga eto ang nasa-isip ko.

1. Only one citizenship -- FILIPINO citizen. No other citizenship.

2. In the positions he/she occupied in the past. He/she never had a history of TOLERATING irregularities in the organization that is within his control.

3. Presents himself as a stand-alone individual. Does not use the name of God or his Popular Relatives to attract voters.

4. Has a clear Political Manifesto in a form of Action Items. You give him a situation, he can tell what he will DO instead of just telling you his vision.

5. Makes a promise to implement the Law without hesitation, exemption, and toleration.

6. Modesty in campaign expenditure and methodology.

7. Transparency. Publish the names of his/her relatives, friends, and campaign fund contributors and promises to the public that he will not appoint nor tolerate the appointment of these people in any appointed position in government.

8. You can personally ask him questions through the internet, he personally answers questions, and maintains a Frequently Asked Questions website.

9. Follows the campaign rules of Comelec by the letter.

10. Not a Trapo (I defined the parameters of TraPo in my article Nine Types of Voters and My Ultimate Guide for Voters (this article at http://petalcorin.blogspot.com/2009/12/voting-guide.html).

Walang candidato na PERFECT. Titimbangin ko sila lahat base sa criteria na eto. Ang iboboto ko ay ang the one na pinaka-konti ang kasalanan. Hindi factor ang "winnability". At ang pipiliin ko ay mananatiling secreto sa puso ko.

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