EDITORIAL: Salamat Miriam! How to say goodbye to a legend?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">In every street surrounding the Immaculate Conception Cathedral last night, thousands of people volunteered to kill their legs as they braved the long line on what looked like a meeting de avance of a frontrunner presidential candidate. Unfortunately, all were queuing up just to have a final glimpse of someone, a legend. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzXJ00a62dobF7nbj73ratTwn6mwyfhDH7dkl5AJp8EQeq8GetLxlyCu6dRW_9-PxSNFhwqaybssODAck4a8oujMsZ49FybTSV1pv-aBPKxuAelHKyhacHV2q02-G07mfGYtBLKWr73A/s1600/miriam-defensor-santiago-young-rmaf.jpeg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Former Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago." border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzXJ00a62dobF7nbj73ratTwn6mwyfhDH7dkl5AJp8EQeq8GetLxlyCu6dRW_9-PxSNFhwqaybssODAck4a8oujMsZ49FybTSV1pv-aBPKxuAelHKyhacHV2q02-G07mfGYtBLKWr73A/s1600/miriam-defensor-santiago-young-rmaf.jpeg" title="Former Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago." /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Former Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.</td></tr></tbody></table>Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, the life of the senate, walking encyclopedia and queen of pick-up lines has finally “fade into the night like Batman” last Thursday, September 29, at the age of 71, after two years of battling lung cancer.<br /><br /><b>Political career</b><br /><br />Miriam’s track record is unparalleled. Having served in all three branches of the government, it was her stint as the head of the then Commission on Immigration and Deportation that she started making a bang. Etching a trademark as the enemy number one of illegal aliens and corrupt government officials, Miriam was given a rare opportunity by young Filipinos who were thirsty for change that time – a ticket to Malacañang, the unconditional support to become another female president after Cory.<br /><br />A back-to-back female presidency will be a first in the modern world history if Miriam will win in the election that time. A Santiago presidency will bring the Philippines back again on the global stage, being the sole country upholding women empowerment at its highest level. <!--adsensemiddle--><br /><br />However at that time, God was developing a new strategy on how to create a new breed of legend, and she was handpicked by God to undergo that kind of experiment.<br /><br /><b>Tenacity to conquer adversity</b><br /><br />Nothing could be more heartbreaking than losing in the presidential race thrice – either being the second placer or the perennial cellar dweller, lose a seat in an international court due to cancer, and most of all, lose a beloved son while at the peak of becoming the finest legal luminary of your time.<br /><br />But Miriam went through all those tragedies and prevailed. God intended to make Miriam a legend, and she didn’t disappoint Him.<br /><br />Rising from the ashes of her failed presidential bid in ’92, Miriam became the queen of the senate for three times, having filed the most number of bills. She became the life of every senate hearings, actively lashing out against public officials and law offenders whenever they reason out any idiotic responses. And when everyone was clinging on to power, to save themselves, the legalist inside Miriam’s soul remained intact. For the feisty senator, the constitution must prevail at all times. She has ambitions, yes, but she’s willing to reconcile those for the greater good of the nation.<br /><br /><b>“Queen Mother of the Youth” and “Social Media Rockstar”</b><br /><br />She also became an author of must-read books including the recent blockbuster hits “Stupid is Forever” and “Stupid is Forevermore”. But it was not only through her witty statements, pick-up lines and being a social media savvy that made the “Iron Lady of Asia” as the universal best friend of the millennials. It was her firm belief to the youth that they have the capacity to harness great changes that made them embrace her ideologies, antics and flaws.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFZ3sL6FeydY7cCOJU5pB-9GopEwgeqcmPpPkYD9pcr_UBMzoqMt8DWRiUI6UKMHu_4kZf4AQOYhpq9PJZR0QXG_QdujR9uG3qbpLlAX0JePuh98pGBl3Vy_Qm3uIHFAqhgunTBzqhBY/s1600/miriam-santiago-university-of-cebu.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="“Queen Mother of the Youth” and “Social Media Rockstar”" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFZ3sL6FeydY7cCOJU5pB-9GopEwgeqcmPpPkYD9pcr_UBMzoqMt8DWRiUI6UKMHu_4kZf4AQOYhpq9PJZR0QXG_QdujR9uG3qbpLlAX0JePuh98pGBl3Vy_Qm3uIHFAqhgunTBzqhBY/s1600/miriam-santiago-university-of-cebu.jpg" title="“Queen Mother of the Youth” and “Social Media Rockstar”" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">A younger Miriam during her campaign sortie at the University of Cebu. Photo credit: Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago official Facebook page</td></tr></tbody></table>Political analyst and CHED Commissioner Prospero de Vera was right. It was Miriam alone who believed that a “youth vote” exists in the Philippine electoral society. Miriam’s epic political journey has been ignited and continuously fueled by the youth that came from different generations. The welfare of the youth has always been the core of her political capital. She cultivated the norm that young voters should emulate on them the highest standards when choosing their leaders. She made sure that these young minds will always have that kind of leaders to vote for as she continuously offered her brand of leadership.<br /><br />She set the standard, and then she became the standard.<br /><br /><b><i>Salamat</i> Miriam</b><br /><br />Salamat Miriam. Singapore has Lee Kuan Yew, the United Kingdom has Margaret Thatcher and you were given to us. Unlike the previous two, we never gave you the chance to govern this chaotic nation. We deeply regret it. We are sorry, your services were not properly compensated. But we promise that next time, if somebody will offer his/her service to the country, we promise to accord that person with love and support, things that we never fully gave to you after all that you have done.<br /><br /><i>Salamat</i> Miriam. As you finally made sure that you will no longer post tweets in your official Twitter account, this nation finds itself lost for words on how to say goodbye to you. Not because you’ve done so much for us, but because on how we took you for granted. But hopefully, your death will wake this sleeping race to compose ourselves and do what is right to make this country a better place as how it was destined to be.<br /><br /><i>Salamat</i> Miriam. For staying with us despite the odds and for believing that this country is not a lost case. Thank you for believing that the Filipino nation is a bunch of superior intellectuals, able to go head on head with the rest of the world. Truly, we are capable of doing greater things, and that we are not a poor country, we just have a mismanaged economy as what you’ve said back in 1992.<br /><br /><b>Salamat </b>Miriam. For the senate bills, pick-up lines and for giving us hope. There will never be any constitutional provision that will prohibit the Filipino people from being inspired by your character and brand of leadership. We will not just remember, but we will also take part in continuing your legacy to establish a culture of shared destiny among us. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9MgbiBiZw1YGXj4n8QriTcpwjjUL0GjvMqkxvuz8Zs8GnCqR1OorGwMEJVqKW3x3QlOTzonmMHZ0F0fj6vWG3p4yrKJfDvkKGYl71qNpUgL-FhVryfwW2Wg9aEDCZrkXJ3GtbzgM6Ys/s1600/miriam-meet-and-greet-proclamation.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Miriam Santiago farewell" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9MgbiBiZw1YGXj4n8QriTcpwjjUL0GjvMqkxvuz8Zs8GnCqR1OorGwMEJVqKW3x3QlOTzonmMHZ0F0fj6vWG3p4yrKJfDvkKGYl71qNpUgL-FhVryfwW2Wg9aEDCZrkXJ3GtbzgM6Ys/s1600/miriam-meet-and-greet-proclamation.jpg" title="Miriam Santiago farewell" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Until the very end. Miriam proclaiming her third and final attempt to run for the presidency. Photo credit: Ben Nabong/Rappler</td></tr></tbody></table>To the best president that this country never had, <i>salamat</i>! This is our ultimate hugot line for you.<br /><br />The Summit Express mourns with the entire nation on the passing of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.<br /><br /><b>-- Michael Santiago, The Summit Express</b></div>

EDITORIAL: Salamat Miriam! How to say goodbye to a legend?

In every street surrounding the Immaculate Conception Cathedral last night, thousands of people volunteered to kill their legs as they brave...

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Duterte, Marcos and the Vindication of a Religious Endorsement

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Barely five decades ago, the Iglesia Ni Cristo's working class paved the way for the surge of modern Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). They were part of the pioneering force which opened a new portal for the economy to grow during the Marcos administration. It was during that time that the INC suddenly realized that its role isn't limited in declaring the word of God inside the walls of its "kapilyas" (chapels).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eaDEoUAd8wgMt43lMbZgTqlbHSmI6dtbkNEMfx4EGgbyhHKP2QgJjsj6a0ndbyToS1OPWE3Ftenv0QNhUMyoKV5LDx93lNmXi09rgVglnV0e9LYJoEECr7AzBPxjID6Hqv8dnr8Kt4Ry/s1600/inc-bloc-voting-election-2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="INC bloc voting election 2016" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eaDEoUAd8wgMt43lMbZgTqlbHSmI6dtbkNEMfx4EGgbyhHKP2QgJjsj6a0ndbyToS1OPWE3Ftenv0QNhUMyoKV5LDx93lNmXi09rgVglnV0e9LYJoEECr7AzBPxjID6Hqv8dnr8Kt4Ry/s1600/inc-bloc-voting-election-2016.jpg" title="INC bloc voting election 2016" /></a></div><br />From then on, it expanded its function as an influential economic propeller and political kingmaker. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilQnqlP0XYc_wnaWJYeWTteHX7iaWOyaMORsoGcgQH27TrfY1tZKmpI2rK2Zl_7GAF04D0SaTjxvxiy_vTrihFpSEskVnMnkBY44g3ki5gimFc22Tz7BAB_jPTRXMgs7qV9W-dAbFu6o4/s1600/duterte-fm-marcos.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Duterte publicly admits that he admires Marcos’ style of leadership." border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilQnqlP0XYc_wnaWJYeWTteHX7iaWOyaMORsoGcgQH27TrfY1tZKmpI2rK2Zl_7GAF04D0SaTjxvxiy_vTrihFpSEskVnMnkBY44g3ki5gimFc22Tz7BAB_jPTRXMgs7qV9W-dAbFu6o4/s1600/duterte-fm-marcos.jpg" title="Duterte publicly admits that he admires Marcos’ style of leadership." /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Duterte publicly admits that he admires Marcos’ style of leadership. Photo credit: Philippine Star online</td></tr></tbody></table>Even the late President Ferdinand Marcos recognized it as he forged a strong relationship with the Manalo-led church. Today, that tie with the INC managed to transcend the realms of time as it finally threw its support to Senator Bongbong Marcos, the late strongman’s namesake and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, the man who openly venerates the leadership style of the older Marcos.<br /><br /><b>INC’s Bloc-Voting Record</b><br /><br />Known for its almost solid bloc-voting practice, political analysts estimates that Duterte and Marcos can get as much as 80% of the almost two million registered INC voters. Just enough for their rivals to scramble in finding ways just to prevent their ascension to power.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fuzZTocFvOI5xDfuPuufyrS-vN9SgHc6GirOUVfgtKXX-1axHl-LSD05Xz7kkXCs7f24PXlT-rbIIhOxLMga1tJEsCKJEFTTlBV008rnFXGKnCzVRpiwanM2i50dvLK_4PynUc97qrh7/s1600/bongbong-leni-pilipinas-debates-vp.jpeg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Marcos will try to battle it out against administration bet Robredo on Monday" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fuzZTocFvOI5xDfuPuufyrS-vN9SgHc6GirOUVfgtKXX-1axHl-LSD05Xz7kkXCs7f24PXlT-rbIIhOxLMga1tJEsCKJEFTTlBV008rnFXGKnCzVRpiwanM2i50dvLK_4PynUc97qrh7/s1600/bongbong-leni-pilipinas-debates-vp.jpeg" title="Marcos will try to battle it out against administration bet Robredo on Monday" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Marcos will try to battle it out against administration bet Robredo on Monday. Photo credit: CNN Philippines</td></tr></tbody></table>For its detractors, it is nothing but pure blind faith that drives the INC brethren in following the decision of the higher-ups in their church. But among its believers, the blessing of Ka Eduardo Manalo, the third-generation leader of the country's homegrown church is a highly coveted one. His anointment is providential to anyone who receives it. For them, the consecration of the church's head honcho is the manifestation of God's will, without it, there will be no unity.<br /><br />In a populist and highly religious country like the Philippines, media mileage, lording over surveys and nationwide political machinery are essential but acquiring the nod of a religious group can also make or break a candidacy. An endorsement is a validation of a candidate's qualifications and provides an advantage to outplay other runners.<br /><br />Although the INC has a smaller electorate compared to the Catholics in the country, the latter does not have any obligation to vote unanimously. Looking back, the INC's voting power underwent a series of trials prior to its emergence as a critical player today. <br /><br /><b>Changing of Allegiance</b><br /><br />As Marcos tried to consolidate his remaining strength to remain in power, the INC remained with him during the 1986 snap elections but a number of its followers voted to help catapult a Cory Aquino to the presidency. <br /><br />INC’s electoral power evidently diminished as the next 1992 presidential elections saw a protestant Fidel V. Ramos winning the presidency. INC’s favored candidate, Danding Cojuangco only placed in a dismal third after the crowd favorite Miriam Defensor-Santiago.<br /><br />However, INC took back its position as a kingmaker after supporting the eventual winner Joseph Estrada in a short-lived presidency. Anyway, Estrada was too popular that even in a crowded presidential race he managed to pull off an impressive number wherein with or without INC's backing, will still make him the 13th ruler of the land.<br /><br />2004 was truly the comeback of INC’s bloc-voting power when it chose to go with Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who narrowly won against action star Fernando Poe Jr. with an approximate 1.1 million or 3.48% vote margin. Taking note from the exit poll conducted that time by ABS-CBN and SWS, the members of Iglesia Ni Cristo comprised three percent of the voters that day. Had Poe’s camp managed to persuade Panfilo Lacson to withdraw to get INC's support and prevented the cheating in Maguindanao, Poe could have been the winner.<br /><br />INC was helpful for the INC to seal its stature as a must-have force after being instrumental in helping Aquino to extend his lead against Joseph Estrada and Manny Villar, solidifying his hold as the perennial winner.<br /><br /><b>Will Bloc-Voting Work on Monday?</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADiuOKRER3KhxmoG1pradAtkpKyMW4_BwYcbWEwleTQZrJP3lnqg1mrwzaGAUXgH8wBUSs5E2dClGICGJCu3iTDJSXX0Pdc_NhA3iS6K86eSM7TJlN0migxWEaNlF_t_nB49lrawMXMvV/s1600/duterte-manalo-inc.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Duterte meets with Iglesia Ni Cristo’s leader Ka Eduardo Manalo." border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADiuOKRER3KhxmoG1pradAtkpKyMW4_BwYcbWEwleTQZrJP3lnqg1mrwzaGAUXgH8wBUSs5E2dClGICGJCu3iTDJSXX0Pdc_NhA3iS6K86eSM7TJlN0migxWEaNlF_t_nB49lrawMXMvV/s1600/duterte-manalo-inc.jpg" title="Duterte meets with Iglesia Ni Cristo’s leader Ka Eduardo Manalo." /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Duterte meets with Iglesia Ni Cristo’s leader Ka Eduardo Manalo. Photo credit: Eagle News Twitter account</td></tr></tbody></table>But the upcoming Monday showdown will be a different one. Duterte and Marcos will be banking on the support of an Iglesia that is yet to recover from the stigma of controversies that it has been trying to hush since last year. If the INC was able to deliver 74% for Arroyo and 84.8% for Aquino before, Duterte’s camp should expect a lower turnout.<br /><br />But despite this, the endorsement will surely bring greater momentum for Duterte’s supporters for the next two days as it just came right in a time where the mayor finally broke away with his rivals in the surveys. The INC’s declaration of support to Duterte can be taken as a confirmation that the mayor satisfactorily met the moral parameters and that he's the most qualified to do the job and will shield him from the final round of blitzkriegs that his opponents will try to be able to snatch votes from him. However, INC's support may or may not help Duterte to acquire the undecided and the swing voters depending on how these people see the INC in a post-Menorca exposé era.<br /><br />In the case of Marcos who is popular among the millennials, there's certainly no room to be confident. Because aside from the ten to twenty percent who doesn’t follow the bloc-voting style, not all INC voters are coming from the youth sector as some of them lived during the dark ages of his father’s regime which might go for other candidates or worst, vote for his closest rival Congresswoman Leni Robredo who is now the survey frontrunner. Take note on how the Roxas-Binay 2010 faceoff was concluded where Roxas was the frontrunner in the surveys before Binay took over and eventually staged a come-from-behind win. At that time, Roxas successfully got a commanding 86.4% of the INC votes whereas Binay only managed to collect 8.8% from the non-conformist INC voters. Binay's Cinderella title run can be repeated again by Robredo as the history of her performance in the past surveys mirrors that of the vice president.<br /><br />To those four who failed to get Manalo's precious "yes," there's still alternatives like Mike Velarde's El Shaddai and Joel Villanueva's Jesus is Lord Church. But undeniably, INC offers the most solid reputation in delivering hundreds of thousands to more than a million votes. <br /><br /><b>Vindication of the oppressed</b><br /><br />If there’s one thing that Duterte, Marcos and the INC has in common is that all of them are being perceived as the oppressed in their respective battles. Dutere’s foul mouth, the shadow of martial law following Marcos and the countless allegations of corruption inside the INC worked effectively to vilify them to the public, which could have been the deciding factor for the century-old church to back the two to whom they can relate their situation the most. With no record of betrayal from Marcos and Duterte, it was a flawless courtship indeed. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9lQVUvw5qmXm11mdSs_ktFuvvyFBjFYRu1K5_72EUk7GwVJNrO-aDf9NSCZsOeILdiBpBMPyOS1VVf7Qr2Jyy0KRTukP4AooA0MLZ12uKQr4Bdf_rD5kN2FukQ2QmGraIaQTIAdMfCap/s1600/duterte-marcos-interview.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Duterte and Marcos graciously entertains the press." border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9lQVUvw5qmXm11mdSs_ktFuvvyFBjFYRu1K5_72EUk7GwVJNrO-aDf9NSCZsOeILdiBpBMPyOS1VVf7Qr2Jyy0KRTukP4AooA0MLZ12uKQr4Bdf_rD5kN2FukQ2QmGraIaQTIAdMfCap/s1600/duterte-marcos-interview.jpg" title="Duterte and Marcos graciously entertains the press." /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">All smiles. Duterte and Marcos graciously entertains the press. Photo credit: FHM Philippines online</td></tr></tbody></table>For Duterte, should he win, it will be a vindication of his character. A win will justify his shrewd boldness and frequent dropping of curse words in front of the media and large crowds. It will give him the authority to perpetuate the principles he thinks will quickly solve the country's woes, regardless of the consequences and dangers it may pose to the democracy and the people.<br /><br />For Marcos, it will be a vindication of their family name. A win will help their family to clean their tainted image. The Marcoses may use this opportunity to overhaul their reputation, to start anew, and bring a new Marcos leadership that will dismantle the remaining vestiges of dictatorship they were notoriously known for. Or they may use this to navigate themselves towards restoring ostentatious and corrupt governance that their enemies are claiming they are guilty for.<br /><br />The INC puts emphasis on its members to join together in the same mind and in the same judgment. The doctrine of unity serves as the cornerstone of its bloc-voting practice. This has been the prime justification that the INC members have been able to defend well over the past elections. Regardless if in full or not, INC’s support will play a significant role in this very tight race and will somehow aid it to restore order among its confused brethren.<br /><br /><b>--Michael Santiago, The Summit Express</b></div>

Duterte, Marcos and the Vindication of a Religious Endorsement

Barely five decades ago, the Iglesia Ni Cristo's working class paved the way for the surge of modern Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). Th...

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Duterte presidency: How far is it now from reality?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">In 2004, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo won against the late action star Fernando Poe Jr. for the seat in the Malacañan with just a margin of merely one million votes. Fast forward 2016, FPJ’s daughter, Senator Grace Poe is now on top of the game after unseating the long-time frontrunner in the surveys who is Vice President Jejomar Binay. But this doesn’t call for a celebration, as Poe is not alone at the top. Alongside him is Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, the two-decade ruler of Davao City, who is tagged as the dark horse of this year’s presidential race.<br /><br /><b>"<i>Kabahan na kayo</i>," One Cebu promises 1-million votes for Duterte</b><br /> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwRpQRhD_3dKeZds3q7OzrnOEF-1BEhRD_nq4qMV-QYc4HVHFkaqdplr3KpqTvGhUTs4kKdBo94a5CDTBREzCMMjgS7kTK-vi9EUGCLE3CJULlnWQyfxx63bTl6zvgvhRXK3mYBRjAMQ6/s1600/duterte_EDITORIAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwRpQRhD_3dKeZds3q7OzrnOEF-1BEhRD_nq4qMV-QYc4HVHFkaqdplr3KpqTvGhUTs4kKdBo94a5CDTBREzCMMjgS7kTK-vi9EUGCLE3CJULlnWQyfxx63bTl6zvgvhRXK3mYBRjAMQ6/s640/duterte_EDITORIAL.jpg" width="560" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Photo credit: Sunstar news online</td></tr></tbody></table>This was uttered by a jubilant Duterte after learning that the Garcia’s One Cebu party placed him as their bet upon dumping Vice President Binay. Who couldn't be happier indeed? After all, Cebu is the richest vote province in the country that can give any candidate a huge advantage in this very tight road to replace Aquino.<br /><br />With an approximate number of 2.7 million registered voters, the Garcias, one of Cebu’s influential political clan is very much able to play a vital role in discerning on who will be the 16th ruler of the Philippines. <br /><br />The endorsement of the Garcias to Duterte is a big blow to Binay and Roxas. The endless accusations of graft and corrupt practices against the vice president and his family pulled Binay’s position down in the recent surveys as he now ranks either from the 2nd and 3rd spots. Roxas’ campaign on the other hand will become more fragile after failing to secure Cebu’s support.<br /><br />With Duterte almost securing a million vote from Cebu, Roxas’ presidential ambition may be in grave peril as his campaign has the Visayas region as its core. Although still the top player, it cannot be deny by the camp of Poe that the Garcias support for Duterte will spell a difference on the upcoming surveys being the presidential frontrunner prior to Election Day.<br /><br /><b>Duterte shares the limelight with Poe on Laylo survey</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FwuBFdCz8JppmRg5DhVy-Js2hMN-9HugXV7USOpLBn-FXGHI_TuSYSkPiTEg1Xx5oyNzQjNkyFapEIFbwHgU-skMF05lrPpOqxeXYHolRcRpr1RTxtbw_BOChJGna8Xy_q3C46EXEtII/s1600/elections-2016-banner.png" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Elections 2016 candidates" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FwuBFdCz8JppmRg5DhVy-Js2hMN-9HugXV7USOpLBn-FXGHI_TuSYSkPiTEg1Xx5oyNzQjNkyFapEIFbwHgU-skMF05lrPpOqxeXYHolRcRpr1RTxtbw_BOChJGna8Xy_q3C46EXEtII/s400/elections-2016-banner.png" title="Elections 2016 candidates" width="400" /></a></div><br />Statistically tying for the top spot, Duterte received an overwhelming 30 percent share in the recent survey conducted by the Laylo Research Strategies. Following him is Poe with 27 percent.<br /><br />Roxas, Binay and Santiago only obtained 21%, 18% and 2% in the survey which has a plus or minus 1.8% margin of error.<br /><br />Although Poe’s camp remained confident that she will ultimately bag the presidency, the result of this latest poll should be an issue of concern. The survey was done from March 26 to April 1, just a few days after the second round of the presidential debates in which Duterte proved to be a crowd-stunner with his antics and answers on various issues.<br /><br />Now that Duterte is exemplifying himself as a true alternative to replace Aquino’s Daang Matuwid governance, the possibility of his camp to receive swing votes next month aside from acquiring new entrants to support his campaign now is becoming more than possible.<br /><br /><b>MBC-DZRH survey names Duterte as top choice</b><br /><br />Aside from his striking rise in the Laylo survey, Duterte scored another victory from the public after emerging as the preferred choice of the public in the latest survey commissioned by the Manila Broadcasting Corporation and its radio broadcast arm DZRH.<br /><br />With a larger base of 7,490 respondents nationwide (the Laylo has 3,000), Duterte won by registering 36% preferential points against Poe (28.2%), Binay (15.3%), Roxas (15.2%) and Santiago (3.5%).<br /><br /><b>The components of a Duterte presidency</b><br /><br />From Binay to Poe, now a sketchy vision of a Duterte presidency is materializing. Digong’s eminent rise to the game was not exponential as Poe, or meticulously planned as Binay but rather, it was an organic growth which was nurtured by the contagious spirit of his supporters from the grassroots sector clamoring for real change and those from the middle income which have become more discerning than the previous seasons. Add to that is the experimental nature of some of the biggest names in the business sector who are interested to see on how a Duterte-style leadership will make the Philippine finally a roaring tiger economy.<br /><br />The final stretch of the campaign already opened as the nationwide campaign for the local positions has just begun. The machinery of LP and UNA of Roxas and Binay will surely pour out all their resources to catapult their bets on top.<br /><br />Poe will try to bank on the unfinished business of his father and keep the interest of the public to her by pointing out on how to solve the issues that the incumbent administration will be leaving behind to its successor.<br /><br />Santiago, as what she said in one of her campaign rallies during her 1992 run, will eventually try to prevail or perish on her most likely final attempt to clinch the presidency with her millions of social media soldiers.<br /><br />But Duterte’s strategy is different, he may not have Binay and Roxas’ machinery, he only spent a hundred million pesos as of this moment for his campaign, nor he came from a celebrated line of popular stars but his colloquial way of expressing his opinion and flamboyant demeanor whenever he presents his self to public, the way he adds his own touch in addressing public issues and his ability to dismantle any forms of mudslinging against him made him more reachable to public. <br /><br />And when they see him embodying their aspirations, the more he becomes real to them and the more they put their trust on him, regardless of how he will deal with the snatchers of Recto or how he will punish the thieves in our convoluted bureaucratic system. <b>- Michael Santiago, The Summit Express</b></div>

Duterte presidency: How far is it now from reality?

In 2004, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo won against the late action star Fernando Poe Jr. for the seat in the Malacañan with just ...

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