Last January 6, the entire world saw the United States Capitol Building suffer a violent attack by supporters of the former U.S. President. What was once a symbol of democracy to the Western world became the victim of the product of months of election conspiracy theories. As a mob of fanatics of the former President breached the grounds, one couldn’t help but think that the violence was preventable.

Do we not face the very same threat? Instead of months of conspiracies and refusing to concede, the Philippines has their own billionaire spending years on his own campaign to refuse defeat. Now that we have seen the worst possible effects of crying fraud, will we finally say enough is enough?

Bongbong Marcos has lived in an alternative reality for almost five years now and, for the sake of our own Republic, this issue must be laid to rest. With only a few months from the start of the filing of candidacies, and a little over a year until the next election, the Supreme Court must continue to do everything in their power to stop this blatant attempt at undermining our democratic process. They have done an admirable job of remaining independent in the face of vicious political attacks to move for inhibition, but it is now time to remove all semblance of doubt from the minds of the BBM supporters.

For sometime now, the Marcos campaign to undermine the 2016 election has been centered on invalidating the votes of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which they believe would give them the lead in the long-declared Vice Presidential race. As COMELEC has already verified and repeatedly upheld the elections in ARMM, the results remain to be valid. But attempts to invalidate ARMM votes, and undermine the entire region’s electoral process, takes on the consequence of subjecting all positions to scrutiny (from President to local councilors), opening up the floodgates for doubt in our elections – and unrest. The potential for this process to invalidate the local positions is enough for us all to take heed of the warning that the US Capitol insurrection had on all democratic states. We have had a long history of tense, and even violent, local elections. Declaring the ARMM vote has invalid should not be seen as an option, lest it create even more opportunity for violent power struggles.

However, there is the preverbal monkey wrench: if the Court believes there must be an answer to pacify the BBM camp, they may instead set aside the ARMM votes and order a recount. Though we can maintain certainty that Marcos would lose again, this option can only validate any feelings of doubt as to the legality of the 2016 election. If the Court decides to give into the idea of a recount, it would unfortunately grant legitimacy to their claims of fraud. We hope, instead, that they remain standing firm and independent, dismissing the baseless claims outright – to prevent any doubt of fraud from lingering.

The Court must resolve this issue as soon as possible. Otherwise, by continuing to allow room for doubt in the minds of the BBM camp would, in effect, be to the benefit of the current administration. Malacañang has said nothing on BBM continuously undermining the Office of the Vice President, and has yet to condemn the camp for its fishing expedition, allowing him to save face in the years following a crushing defeat. Though it is obvious to everyone living outside of the Marcos’ alternative reality that the 2016 elections reflected the intent of the electorate -and that Congress rightly proclaimed Leni as the winner in the Vice Presidential race- it is best to settle the issues at hand.

If we continue to shove their claims to the side, it opens up a new landscape for the 2022 elections, where a BBM Presidential run is viable. Or even a Sara-BBM ticket, where the tandem would be carried by the inaction of the fraud claims; creating an atmosphere of anger and distrust among their supporters. I hope we will not let this come to fruition, and instead see the entire country recognize the legitimacy and strength of the current Office of the Vice President. Ultimately, the Supreme Court’s attempts to settle the issue over the past few years is entirely admirable, and they must stand firm and remain independent amongst the overwhelming pressure from all sides. It is only with this, coupled with a united opposition against one (or more) candidates hand-picked by the administration, that the truth will be illuminated for the Filipino people; ahead of an election that already promises to be full of attempts to mislead the public.

As the year comes to a close, 2020’s series of unfortunate events had a new chapter named Typhoon Ulysses. In the days following the subsiding of the floodwaters, Filipinos were once against asked to be resilient, in lieu of risk reduction or social amelioration programs – it seemed that our hope for recovery was tied to individuals who raised funds and called for donations for the victims. Indeed, it is in the darkest of times that the light of humanity seems to shine the brightest. However, one of the volunteers had her motivations brought under the scrutiny of the national spotlight.

While Vice President Leni Robredo attempted to coordinate with national agencies and willing individuals, it was the head of the Executive branch that assumed she had done so in an effort to compete with him. As his weekly tirade prioritized politically-motivated insults rather than relief programs, the families still picking up the pieces of their wrecked homes could only watch as their leader seemed to think the biggest crisis was the threat to his ego. Our duly-elected President used his immense influence to fabricate stories about his second-in-command and issue threats against any potential future campaign. Instead of issuing directives to the heads of national agencies that may assist in future risk management, or to thank the individuals who came out to support the Filipinos who lost everything, he used precious airtime to make lewd remarks and false claims.

What else would we expect from the populist leader who constantly resorts to ad hominem arguments? Civil discourse went out of the window in 2016, and one can only hope we will escape the echo chamber by 2022. Though the Office of the Presidency commands a certain level of respect, the one in the office has consistently denigrated it by peddling fake news and refusing to debate on merits, rather choosing personality politics. The latest attack on the Vice President has only shown that his anger towards her stems not from a refusal, but rather an inability, to match her leadership skills. If in the debate, the goal is not for your opponent to lose, but rather for your points to be substantiated, then how come we only hear about the alleged shortcomings of his adversaries and not the benefits of his programs? Even worse, his attacks on Leni came in the form of gendered insults, belittling half the population in the process.

Through the use of suggestive remarks about the Vice President’s love life, he attempted to shame her. For a person that often brags about his multiple girlfriends, and made light of his intimate desires, it seems awfully hypocritical that someone else who allegedly engages in a consensual, monogamous relationship should be insulted for it on a national stage. It appears to be that the only time romantic relationships (supposedly) speak volumes on one’s character is when his target is a woman.

The President’s comments on the Vice President’s (alleged) romantic relationships insinuated that it is something she should be degraded for. Juxtaposed with his own bragging of his numerous mistresses, it seems he believes that women should be shamed for their intimate relationships, while men should be celebrated. By directing this lewd speech towards a woman on live television, and especially one who should be afforded the respect of a Vice President, he has effectively normalized shaming women for their personal relationships. Haven’t we, a country that has had women presidents long before most of the Western world, moved past these attacks on women? Shouldn’t we also think of our mothers, sisters, and daughters before we embolden such views?

One would think that it is finally time for strong women to shine, and for young women all over the world to see themselves in the faces of world leaders. With Vice President Leni Robredo and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris taking center stage, it appeared that little girls -of all ethnicities- could see their faces reflected in high-ranking members of their country’s Executive branch. Considering that both the Philippine and US political scene is dominated by older men, the pivot towards leadership by younger women was long overdue. Though they were voted in for their achievements and platforms, one cannot deny that they have both made history on the basis of their gender.

For the next generation of women to gain confidence in their leadership abilities, and to contribute their insights in their respective fields, women that shattered the glass ceiling should be recognized. In politics, it is even more essential that they are properly represented, considering that gender-based legislation is often spearheaded by women. By seeing strong, capable, and intelligent ladies at the forefront of issues that matter to them, young girls will not feel like they are limited by their gender. It is that positive representation that gives the next generation of women the confidence to break down barriers.

What, then, do the little girls who see themselves as the next Vice President think when they hear lewd comments about the woman currently holding the position? Personally, I do not think they should believe that Leni’s leadership ability is connected in any way to her love life, lest they believe that their own capabilities are somehow diminished once they begin to date. We can no longer deny the attempts to push these incredible women leaders out of the table. In the White House, President Trump is refusing to concede and, in Malacañang, President Duterte resorts to public threats and falsehoods. The lack of harmony in the Executive branch only reflects poorly on the Presidents, for choosing to politicize the office and refusing to let the Vice Presidents do their job in service of their countries.

Perhaps President Duterte has heard the chant “Let Leni Lead”. While she certainly does not need anyone’s permission to do her job, the country could certainly “Heal As One” if the public attempts to undermined her finally stopped. Stoking division between “reds” and “yellows” never made for fruitful discourse and the ongoing attack on women is all the more telling of the leadership skills coming out of Malacañang.

On January 21 2021 Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will start her work as the new Vice President of the United States. In our case, Vice President Leni has been unapologetically doing her job for the past four years, and it is time that she is allowed to continue to do her job and serve the Filipino people without gendered insults.

By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios

Mindful of some challenges that Filipinos encounter in during this pandemic, Amway Philippines live up to one of their corporate social responsibilities by providing relief during times of emergencies and calamities.

Just like in the past calamities such as the Mindanao Earthquake and Taal Volcano Eruption, and other noteworthy endeavors such as the Brigada Eskwela (School Brigade) and Livelihood Training for women, Amway PH endeavors to do their share.

As the country continues to deal with the COVID-19 crisis, Amway Philippines has partnered with the Office of the Vice President Leni Robredo (OVP) to distribute over P300,000 worth of care packages to frontliners and communities in need, and 2,000 hot meals to locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and street dwellers for its Share-a-Meal project.

According to Ms. Leni Olmedo, Country Manager of Amway Philippines, this initiative is living up to their commitment especially in this time of the pandemic.

“Our commitment to helping individuals lead healthier and more empowered lives is not just for our customers and partners, but to all Filipinos especially those who need it most,” Olmedo said.

The beneficiaries of the Share-a-Meal project include LSIs waiting for a trip back to their hometowns, stranded seafarers, and street dwellers from Manila North Port, Sta. Cruz Manila, Paco Manila, Delpan, and Quezon Memorial Circle. The OVP identified these recipients as those who have little to no access to food due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The OVP has been actively running initiatives since March to provide assistance to hospitals, health centers, clinics, checkpoints, shelters, LSIs, street dwellers, transportation groups, and other communities in need. With the help of donors and volunteers, the OVP has mobilized almost P12 million worth of food resources in and outside Metro Manila.

Aside from the Share-a-Meal project, the partnership between Amway Philippines and the OVP will also distribute over P300,000 worth of care packages of various Amway products to frontliners and communities. These packages include daily essentials from the Amway portfolio such as G&H body wash, Glister toothpaste, and sugar-free XS energy drink to help frontliners stay active without sacrificing health.

“Our frontliners risk their lives every day to keep us safe, so it’s just fair that we do our part in helping them stay in good shape, too,” concluded Olmedo.

Read related stories:

https://thephilbiznews.com/aspiring-women-entrep-receive-support-from-angat-buhay-coca-cola-spark-ph-triumvirate/

https://thephilbiznews.com/amway-ramps-up-opportunities-to-enterprising-filipinos/

https://thephilbiznews.com/amway-ph-brandishes-diverse-product-portfolio-remains-bullish-in-the-midst-of-pandemic/

We are all equally and similarly situated. Whether you are rich, poor, middle class; a billionaire, a prince, or a pauper; a CEO, a mid-level executive, or a janitor. We may be dealing with the traumatic effects of this pandemic individually. But we are all experiencing it together — collectively.

Some may be coping a lot better than others. But nonetheless, we will all be experiencing some form of grief, anger, sadness, and isolation at one point. That’s inevitable. In fact, some may even have experienced them already; others may even be experiencing them now.

But one thing is set in stone, and this I know for certain — we all will come out of this together. Because as one country finds and approves an effective COVID-19 vaccine, other countries will have no choice but to follow suit.

“This too shall pass” is not a cliché — it’s a fact. Nobody knows when. But it will.

Whatever malevolent, malicious, malignant forces may be conspiring to delay the release, concoction, or approval of a vaccine, the funding of test kits, know this: There are already some brave, good public servants, who have already risen to the occasion, stepped up to the plate, and are going above and beyond the call of their duties.

And if history is any indication at all, there will always be more people whom these brave, good public servants will move, empower, inspire, and embolden into participative action.

Here’s the thing, a baby doesn’t recognize the color of the skin of anybody. It smiles back every time someone — anyone — smiles at them — regardless of race, gender, nationality, creed, religion, politics, and melanin count.

If we just all remember that every human being’s default nature is goodness, then, we can eventually muster the courage to stop this evil virus that has gone viral, plaguing us, taking us hostage, and having us all under lockdown.

Evil can go viral. But so can goodness.

No matter how many Psychos and TraPos try to make us forget our humanity, there will always be many Vicos, who will always make us remember.

If nobody in the Gov’t will provide mass testing, somebody else will. If nobody in the Gov’t will provide ayuda, somebody else will. If nobody in the Gov’t will raise funds for frontliners, somebody else will. And if nobody in the Gov’t will provide for a vaccine, by hook or by crook, somebody else will.

Perhaps those two superladies called Leni Robredo and Angel Locsin can.

Because, you know, if I may be brutally frank here — eventually, all CoviD-ictatorships will have to come to an end!

It’s a shame that the Philippines celebrated as Asia’s “First Democracy”, received a lecture about freedom of speech from a tiny island-state like Taiwan.

The issue: Labor Attaché Fidel Macauyag of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Taichung pressed for the deportation of Filipino caregiver Elanel Ordidor for expressing her disappointment at the Duterte administration’s response to the pandemic.

POLO even threatened the OFW of three years with a cyber libel case if she did not post a video on social media apologizing to President Duterte for her “nasty and malevolent” statements that “maligned and discredited” the Chief Executive, and “destabilized” his administration.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Ordidor’s deportation, saying that workers enjoyed “citizen treatment”. It meant that even overseas workers’ rights and interests were “protected by relevant laws and regulations, including freedom of speech, which should be respected by governments of all countries”.

It added that “no person or institution, in this case, has the right to pressure her, her employer, or broker, nor shall she be deported without consultations held between both governments.”

Really, it’s sad to see a foreign government protecting the rights of a Filipino worker, which should have been the role of our own democratic government.

Macauyag is no different from the bootlicking Manuelito Luna, the commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, whom the President sacked for pushing an investigation against Vice President Leni Robredo’s relief efforts during the coronavirus outbreak.

The attache took it upon himself to press for Ordidor’s deportation even though, according to Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Chairperson Lito Banayo, there was no request for such from the government.

Both Macauyag and Luna were overzealous in sucking it up to Duterte.

The President should let Macauyag keep Luna company.

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And here comes returning Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque making matters worse when he mentioned Taiwan is part of China in a statement relating to Ordidor’s case.

“We leave that wholly to the decision of Taiwan and China. Taiwan is part of China,” Roque said.

“My country expresses strong dissatisfaction and high regret over Philippine government officials wrongly accusing Taiwan as part of China,” Taiwan foreign ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou stated as the ministry instructed the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines to protest the matter with Manila.

While it is true that the Philippines, like other countries, follows the “One-China policy”, which considers the Republic of China-controlled Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic of China, the loquacious Roque should have been smart enough to remain silent on this aspect.

Would it have hurt if he said: “We leave that wholly to the decision of Taiwan,” period?

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SHORT BURSTS. For comments or reactions, email firingline@ymail.com or tweet @Side_View. Read current and past issues of this column at https://thephilbiznews.com