Piercing Pens

Ang Kapatiran or Alliance for Common Good, a lesser-known political party that promotes “politics of virtue” and “politics of duty”, appears to be popular in cyberspace. Its website was not functioning properly when I visited it yesterday. Today, it reports that it has “experienced a surge in members wanting to register, and have run into problems with our new website.” (more…)

(March 13, 2007 update: While blog-hopping, i found this March 7 entry by The Purple Phoenix, and I was amused to find we noticed the same things, except for the Gringo part which I missed.)

Some observations in connection with the latest SWS survey:

• Kiko Pangilinan benefitted from the publicity generated by his then unclear status in the so-called Genuine Opposition. And of course, he is Sharon Cuneta’s husband. (I can’t help wondering if James Yap–if he decides to run for the Senate–will also rank high because of Kris Aquino.)
• Alan Peter Cayetano is on the fourth place. The publicity generated by the First Gentleman’s attacks on him must have helped.
• Francis Escudero is on the 6th-7th place. If only he were able to get Bamboo as endorser…
• Michael Defensor is on the 15th place. Does this mean Boy Abunda isn’t an effective campaign ad director?
• Migs Zubiri ranked 17th. I thought Boom Tarat Tarat could land him a Senate post!
• Richard Gomez and Cesar Montano are outside the Magic 12. It seems like the people prefer to see them in the movies than in the Senate.
• Prospero Pichay and Antonio Trillanes IV are both in the 22 to 24th place. And to think you see Pichay’s face almost every ten minutes on TV! Partida pa yan because Trillanes is in prison.

(more…)

Gemma Bagauaya, editor of the online newsmagazine Newsbreak, is being held at the Pasig Police Station after she was picked up about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday at Newsbreak’s office in Mandaluyong City.

Bagauaya may have to stay in jail overnight if the police refuse or fail to process Bagauya’s papers for her to post bail before the end of the business hours.

Bagauaya was arrested on a P100-million libel case filed by Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, a senatorial candidate in the May elections and a close ally of President Arroyo. (more…)

Our apologies for the long silence.

It’s election season once again. It’s good that the so-called Genuine Opposition finally dropped Kiko Pangilinan from its slate. Why force Kiko to join their group when he appears reluctant to be identified with them?

Let him run as independent, and his real stance will be noted.