The bigger losers are the survey groups

The recent surveys, widely different from each other, speak for themselves. The electorate cannot rely on them as a measure for the popularity, much less the acceptability, of the candidates among the public. What should be a tool to measure the response of voters to the campaigns of the candidates, has been debased into a partisan political tool. It is well known that using proper scientific techniques, some degree of objectivity can be obtained in such surveys but the same scientific techniques can be manipulated to the advantage of the paying sponsor. The owners of these survey outfits must take their job more seriously, or retreat into being inconsequential. I know from first hand sources, at least in the case of SWS, survey groups could resort to unacceptable tactics to push a particular political agenda like releasing old surveys to divert the public’s attention from the findings of new surveys. SWS did that with a survey on constitutional change.

It does not help that Manhar Mangahas, who I am told is respectable, is also the first cousin of FPJ. Given the political atmosphere in which these surveys are conducted, it is the responsibility of media to give limited importance to these surveys. If media is to help develop more politically aware voters, it should not make these surveys the subject of headlines or front pages when it is intended to mislead the public. It may be useful to examine the role of media in this respect. It has a special and unique role to play. Unless it wakes up to evolving Filipino politics, it will also lose relevance. Admittedly media, whether print or broadcast, are commercial enterprises and have to make money but unlike other commercial enterprises the product it sells is also a public service and is seen as a public service. Like surveys, the people or the market to which they sell their products know when they are being shortchanged.

But I am not surprised that the opposition cannot believe President GMA surpassed FPJ in the Pulse Asia survey. The entire rationale of the politics of our opposition is that "actor popularity" is invincible and they would use it without compunction to seize control of government from the incumbent. Pulse Asia’s survey which puts President GMA ahead, though only marginally, attacks the fail-safe assumption of the oppositions’s reckless enterprise. Never mind if their insistence on FPJ as a presidential candidate insults the intelligence of Filipinos or that it is bad for the country. Elections may be central to democracy but the contest must be about governance, not movie popularity. So the scandal here must be blamed on persons behind FPJ who use his movie popularity for an otherwise legitimate democratic exercise. Instead of rejoicing that the survey implies Filipinos were indeed growing up politically, they are despondent that their know-nothing, no-talk presidential candidate should be less than invincible. True, Filipinos want change but not for the worse. The Arroyo government is not perfect, it has drawbacks, some more serious than others, but voters have to think hard whether these defects can be overcome by a Poe presidency.

Weak leadership in the Senate. It was good to have met up with UP president Francisco Nemenzo at the good-bye party for departing and much loved Korean Ambassador Son Song Ha. Nemenzo’s recent letters to the editor finally exposed weak leadership in the Senate. Sen. Franklin Drilon came up with all kinds of excuses on why he was unable to bring a plenary debate on constitutional reform and there were many who fell for those excuses. But with the way he acted with the UP charter change,which would have pushed the university forward, it is clear it was consistent with his weak leadership.The irony is that Senate Chief Franklin Drilon was awarded ‘top alumnus of the university". Another alumnus, senatorial candidate Heherson Alvarez remarked: "The non-passage of the bill has denied UP its best opportunity to achieve the status of a university of global caliber."

Till we meet again, not good-bye to a well loved ambassador. Speaking of H.E. Son Song-ha, Filipinos will remember him as an eminently successful envoy of his country. He may have said it jokingly but Korean tourists are coming to the Philippines in droves despite advisories against travelling here.Why? They don’t listen to me, he sighs. What is true is that Koreans know and respect the views of the ambassador who never fails to remind them that Filipinos fought with them in their fight for democracy in the 50s. As if this were not enough success he also made sure his country would contribute to the Arroyo-de Venecia proposal for a comprehensive railway system for the Philippines. Korea will fund and construct the railway from Alabang to Calamba as part of the southern commuter system.

‘Filipinos and Italians are blood relatives.’ It seems Europeans are working overtime to prove they will help the Philippines, especially in strife-torn Mindanao. Italy seems so far away to be interested in our country to help push agrarian reform with some $30 million and a visit from no less than Deputy Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Margherita Boniver. But as one member of the Italian party told me – it came about since the visit of the Italian speaker with a big group on the invitation of Speaker JDV last year. From then on, the Philippines was on the Italian map. But as Boniver, who received the medal of achievement from RP Congress said, "more than friends" because of the "thousands of Filipinos who are respected for the work they do in my country. And of course, we now have more Filipino-Italian families. We are blood relations." On a lighter topic, host JDV said, "Madame, you speak very well." Secretary Delia Albert who sat next to me, another fiery woman speaker if given a chance, said, "She is a woman." Just then another woman called no less than President GMA calling from Mindanao to make sure that the Italian party would meet up with her the next morning. As British Ambassador Paul Dimond said "the Europeans are really focused on Mindanao."

The French and us. Not to be outdone, the French Government also honored Oscar de Venecia and Antonio del Rosario for their active work in promoting cooperative ventures with French groups in the development of the energy industry in the Philippines. It was good of Oscar to mention Louie Heussaf (a real blood relative married to my first cousin) of Supply Oil Services in his acceptance speech. Louie has been behind most of the efforts for a more active French presence in the Philippines whether in business or culture. Antonio del Rosario is chairman of the prestigious international body, theWorld Energy Council The awards were presided by Amb. Renée Veyret, another accomplished woman who dutifully attends all functions that would enable her to expand Filipino-French relations. She hosted a luncheon at the Tower to enable senators and congressmen to meet and directly hear from her about the French parliamentary system.

* * *

E-mail:[email protected].