Don't take surveys as gospel truth!

We got a deluge of e-mails about the column where we wrote that the buddies of the late Sir Max Soliven were supporting Lakas-Kampi bet Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. which really tell me that so many of his readers still miss his columns even three years after his death. Unfortunately, these e-mails were all lengthy, but we also got other e-mails as well and it has been our style to give some space for our readers. Here’s the latest:

“Hi, Bobit… I don’t understand how Noynoy and some of his partymates and propagandists can boldly say that the only way they can lose this election is if they are cheated. Such arrogance and simple-mindedness is one sure proof that he does not deserve to become the next president of the Philippines. If the surveys were indeed infallible, then why the hell are we still holding a multibillion-peso election!!!

“Unless and until SWS and Pulse Asia reveal to me the names of their respondents and addresses, names of their sponsors, methodology (including the description of the sampling method) I will not trust their results. I have asked Dr. Mangahas several times to divulge the names of the respondents and addresses, but he conveniently refused due to confidentiality. But how else would one be able to check whether a respondent was indeed interviewed or not?

“How else would one be able to verify whether the respondents were asked the question the way they were worded? How else would one be able to determine whether a respondent indeed gave the answer that was reported by the field reporter? Finally, how else could one check if they are using the same set of respondents again and again in all their surveys? They simply want us to take their word for it. But why should I?

“When after all, surveys have been proven to be wrong several times in the USA, UK and even here in the Philippines. I do hope the court forces the survey firms to disclose the above information to Senator Gordon. I am sure there will be many experts in marketing who will volunteer to help the good senator analyze the info for free. And as far as the publication of the poll results. I am totally against it.

“The voters do not need to know who is winning in order for them to vote wisely. Winnability should never be a factor in one’s choice for the presidency. The only thing the firms are achieving is conditioning the minds of the unintelligent voters who think the election is one horse race. They are not helping in anyway promote the sanctity of the electoral process. Of course, the huge money their companies earn is just too tempting to refuse to publish poll results, regardless of the damage and harm these do to the electoral process.

“In fact, Noynoy’s latest statement to Bloomberg as printed in the newspapers, to quote, ‘Presidential candidate Benigno Aquino III said only fraud could stop him from winning the May 10 elections, and any such attempt would trigger unrest comparable with EDSA I’ shows the danger of publication of poll results. Just as ads on cigarettes were banned because smoking has been found harmful to health, I strongly believe poll results should be banned from being published because these have prostituted the country’s electoral process. It is, in fact, banned in several democratic countries. They should respect and dignify our country’s electoral process and refrain from publishing the poll results. The election, I repeat, is no one horse race! Cheers! Bobby Tordesillas, Quezon City, [email protected].”

 I fully concur that surveys are not gospel truth!

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Pambato ng Bayan: Volunteers’ Party and Free Concert Para Kay Gibo! For the first time in the history of Philippine politics will a presidential candidate be given a “miting de avance” by a big group of volunteers. Such is the love and respect of the thousands of youth for Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. All supporters, of all ages and from all walks of life, are invited to this party and free concert today, 6:30 p.m., at the CCP grounds in front of the World Trade Center along Roxas Boulevard. These volunteers are collectively known as the GREEN TEAM.

There are almost 80 chapters around the archipelago and numbering more than 100,000 registered volunteers. These youngsters first fell in love with Gibo during his whirlwind campus tours and their passion was fueled online as they promoted and defended Gibo Teodoro on Facebook, Twitter and blogs to anyone and everyone who would listen. First formed in early November, they have followed Gibo as a virtual “unknown” to the “rockstar presidentiable” that he is today. They have staunchly stood by him on his quixotic hero’s journey as champion of new politics. From virtual voices to actual warm bodies, they have campaigned and championed for Gibo in their neighborhood streets and markets, forming a solid groundswell of support for Gibo. There will be a motorcade originating from various parts of the city and unlike the traditional “miting de avance,” it will be a giant party and concert for Gibo with the Rivermaya and indigenous tribal drumming. See you there!

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For e-mail responses to this article, write to [email protected] or [email protected]. Avila’s columns can be accessed through www.philstar.com.