The Lighthouse that Brought Darkness

Mr. President, Distinguished colleagues:

Today, I rise on a matter of personal and collective privilege.

Two years ago, the country was caught in a political maelstrom brought about by revelations arising from voice tapes taken of a man and a woman, the identities of whom have since been laid public.

It all started when on June 6, 2005, no less than Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, in his office in Malacañang itself, bared two compact disc recordings, one probably real, the other obviously doctored, where a man and a woman’s conversations were quite audible.

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Legacy of Corruption

Only last Friday, I was here in Makati joining tens of thousands of our countrymen who represented tens of millions of other Filipinos who thought enough is enough of corruption and cover-ups yet unprecedented in Philippine history.

The government’s response is, the economy is doing great. That the peso is relatively stronger is a fact. That the economic indicators show good numbers is another fact.

But the numbers are still leaving a lot of us out.

Everyday, public transport drivers, factory workers, vegetable farmers and even office workers complain that they do not earn enough to meet even their most basic needs. A great majority of our people has remained poor by the lowest of standards.

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Meeting the Challenge of Political Governance

(Speech before the Negros Press Club delivered April 5, 2008)

The former Japanese ambassador once told me there are three most prominent lies on earth. One, when a delinquent American tenant tells his landlord the check is in the mail. Two, when a Japanese lover tells you he is more romantic than a Frenchman. The biggest lie of them all is when a Filipino politician tells you he is about to deliver a very short speech.

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Sponsorship Speech on the RESA Bill

Mr. President, it is an honor to present before this chamber Senate Bill No. 2963, under Committee Report No. 232, entitled ‘An Act Regulating the Practice of Real Estate Service in the Philippines, Creating for the Purpose a Professional Regulatory Board of Real Estate Service, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes.’

 

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