What can you say about this guys? Is he really the one who will make the Filipinos rise from the dead? Maybe, maybe not...



Get Real
Manny Villar blameless?

By Solita Collas-Monsod
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:06:00 01/30/2010


WHILE the Senate is declaring a moratorium on the discussion of the ethics case against Sen. Manny Villar, here are some incontrovertible facts, presented in Q & A form. The source of the information is also given.

Question: What roadway projects are the subject matter of the Villar ethics controversy? Answer: 1. The Manila Cavite Toll Expressway Project (MCTEP), the original C-5 south extension project, linking SLEX with the Coastal Road; 2. the DPWH C-5 Extension project (CX-5), which together with 3. the Las Piñas-Parañaque Link Project (LPPLP), also links SLEX with the Coastal Road. Source: Senate Report (SR) 780.

Q: Is the CX-5/LPPLP project a realignment, as Sen. Jamby Madrigal describes it, or has there been no realignment, as Senator Villar’s allies insist? A: Technically there has been no realignment, because these are two separate roads linking C-5 from SLEX to the Coastal Road. But they are very close together and, in some areas, overlap, as can be ascertained from a site map. Source: interactive map available at www.gmanews.tv

Q: Are there any differences between the MCTEP and the CX-5/LPPLP? A: Yes. 1. The MCTEP is a joint-venture project between the government and a private Malaysian partner, with the government’s financial exposure limited to P2.68 billion for the purchase of the road right-of-way; the private partner is responsible for the construction of the project, for which tolls will be charged. The CX-5/LPPLP is a toll-free, wholly-financed government project costing P6.96 billion; 2. The CX-5/LPPLP is longer than the MCTEP, its extra length essentially covering the LPPLP portion; 3. The CX-5/LPPLP passes through more Villar properties than the MCTEP. Source: DPWH project documents cited as Exhibits A, B and TTTT in SR 780; site map from www.gmanews.tv.

Q: How large are the Villar company landholdings in the immediate vicinity of the questioned road projects? A: At least 50-52 hectares: 40 hectares in the vicinity of the LPPLP; 10-12 hectares in the area between Sucat Road and Multinational Avenue. Source: testimony of Anastacio Adriano Jr., senior vice president and general manager, chief operating officer of Adelfa Properties Inc. and other Villar-owned companies up to 2008; self-styled consultant and political officer of Senator Villar since August 2008. Nota bene: Senate employment records do not include his name. Nota bene: it is not clear whether the 50-52 hectares mentioned above include properties cited in SR 780—roughly 10 hectares in area—to be developed by Villar companies in joint venture with their owners.

Q: What is the involvement of Villar in CX-5 and LPPLP? A: 1. The Project Feasibility Study of the DPWH for CX-5 states: “The conceptualization of and the initial release of funds for the CX-5 Project was initiated by Sen. Manuel Villar whose same efforts also paved the way for the funding of the Las Piñas-Parañaque Link Road [LPPLP]”; 2. Various insertions and amendments (Priority Development Assistance Fund, read pork barrel) in the national government budget over the years 2002-2008 for CX-5 and LPPLP; 3. Adriano (cited above), in the office of and presence of Villar, dictating to the director general of the Senate’s Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office (LBRMO) Villar’s proposed amendments to the 2008 budget, including a P400-million appropriation for the CX-5. Source: documents submitted by DPWH, lawyer Yolanda Doblon of the LBRMO, testimony of both Doblon and Adriano, cited in SR 780.

Q: Were the Villar properties bought for road right-of-way overpriced? A: SR 780 argues for the affirmative; PSR 1472 (the resolution signed by Villar and his allies exonerating him from all charges) argues for the negative. This calls for a conclusion of the reader. And to help that along, I have—based on the documented prices and acreage of the lands purchased in connection with the LPPLP—computed the weighted average prices that were paid for the Villar and related properties, and those paid for the non-Villar properties. The results: The Villar/related properties, comprising 23,455 square meters, were bought for P168.1 million. The non-Villar properties, comprising 11,685 square meters, were bought for P22 million. That comes to a weighted average of P7,168 per square meter for Villar’s properties, and P1,880 per square meter for the non-Villar properties. That has to be a statistically significant difference.

Given the above facts—which no one can contest, since they are based on official documents, and not on a he-says-she-says set of assertions—it has to be reasonable to conclude:

1. Since there was already an ongoing project (the MCTEP) linking C-5 to the Coastal Road, it was totally unnecessary to build a second one.

2. Which means that there was a waste of scarce resources. Instead of using only P2.6 billion of government funds for the first project, the government had to spend an additional P6.9 billion for the second, which practically duplicated the first, except for the additional length which happily for Senator Villar, traversed his properties.

3. This unnecessary, wasteful project was certainly Villar’s idea. It is specious to argue that it is a DPWH project. As the DPWH feasibility study states (in black and white), both the CX-5 and the LPPLP were conceived and initially funded by Villar.

4. Villar benefited tremendously from the second project. Certainly, his companies were paid significantly more per square meter for the road right of way (which were mostly bought from him). But that pales into insignificance compared with the tremendous increase in the values of his real estate holdings in the area—at least 50-52 hectares.

Is he blameless? Is the Pope protestant?

Source

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MANILA, Philippines - A total of 52% of Filipinos would have picked Sen. Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III while 44% would have chosen Sen. Manny Villar had a two-man presidential race been held last December 27 to 28, according to a special Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey commissioned by the Villar camp.

The survey, disclosed by the SWS on Thursday, asked 2,100 respondents the question: Among the names found in this list, who will you probably vote for as President of the Philippines if elections were held today?

The survey has a plus/minus 2.2% margin of error.

The SWS said it disclosed the results of the survey on Thursday after the sponsor authorized its release.

The same question was asked in an October 1-4 SWS survey. The results showed that 65% would have chosen Aquino, while 28% would have picked Villar.

The Villar camp said the survey results showed that Villar had significantly cut Aquino's lead from 37 percentage points in October to 8 percentage points in December.

Other scenarios

Aside from a list that contained only the names of Aquino and Villar, the respondents were also asked to choose from lists that had more names of presidential candidates, namely: former President Joseph Estrada, Lakas-Kampi-CMD's Gilbert Teodoro, Brother Eddie Villanueva, Sen. Richard Gordon, Jamby Madrigal, and Ang Kapatiran's JC de los Reyes.

The SWS said four other scenarios were also tested in the December 27-28 survey. From a list showing 7 names without Estrada, Aquino got 49%; Villar 38%; Teodoro 6%; Villanueva 2%; Gordon 1%; Madrigal 1%; de Los Reyes 0.3%.

From a list showing 7 names without Teodoro, Aquino remained on top of the survey with 45% followed by Villar with 35%, Estrada 14%, Gordon and Villanueva 2% each, Madrigal 1%, de los Reyes 0.4%.

In a 3-way race, 50% chose Aquino followed by Villar with 40% and Teodoro 7%. A separate 3-way survey, meanwhile, still showed Aquino leading with 47%,Villar 37%, and Estrada 14%.

Source

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Elections beat to sound of familiar tunes
Pocholo Concepcion Cora Lucas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

December 13, 2009

MANILA, Philippines--It’s beginning to sound a lot like the election campaign period: From Sen. Noynoy Aquino’s melodramatic “Hindi Ka Nag-iisa,” sung by Regine Velasquez to Bro. Eddie Villanueva’s upbeat “Eddie Ako,” performed by rapper Gloc-9 to MMDA chief Bayani Fernando’s catchy “Macho Guwapito.”

Aquino and Villanueva are running for president; Fernando has slid down to vice president but this has nothing to
do with his choice of political jingle.

Sen. Manny Villar picked the music of Parokya ni Edgar and 6cyclemind for his TV commercials.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno—before he officially backed out of his candidacy for vice president—had his own TV ad which used the song “May Bukas Pa” from the popular teleserye that starred the child character Santino.

The TV commercial of former Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.—who was supposedly running for president until he also bowed out—featured the song “Nobody” by the South Korean group Wonder Girls.

A senatorial bet, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., currently has his own TV ad that features the song “Tuloy Pa Rin Ako” originally by the group Labuyo.

Some of these candidates paid hefty sums to use the music of contemporary bands and artists. All of the advertisements are competing to establish image and identity through songs that would move hearts of the TV audience and hopefully, capture the votes to win the 2010 elections.

Just business

For some of the songs’ composers, it’s just business.

Chito Miranda, vocalist of the pop-rock group Parokya ni Edgar, told the Inquirer that the band has collectively decided not to endorse any candidate. “I don’t care about the politician. I did it for the money,” he quipped—referring to the use of his song “Akala” for the first of Villar’s series of TV commercials.

The song’s original subject—a lighthearted look at taking chances and mistaken notions and which Miranda said he wrote on a whim—was replaced with lyrics that debunk critical perception of Villar’s reputation and character.

Richard Tan, Parokya’s manager, said permission to use the song was coursed through the band’s record label, Universal Records. “The fee paid to us was not that high; it was based on standard rates for publishing rights (which is P15,000), multiplied by 10, as negotiated by the record label,” he said.

But Miranda, the song’s composer, said he was paid a hefty sum, the amount of which he requested not to be published, so he won’t be forced to have a standard price for his other tunes.

Tan pointed out that the agreement stipulated that the band would not sing the song in the commercial. The advertising agency DM9 wrote the revised lyrics that starts with “Akala mo trapo ’yun pala mali ...” (“It’s wrong for you to think he’s a traditional politician ...”

Tan added that the band agreed to perform in Villar’s campaign sorties, but not to directly endorse him and “Akala” would be performed in its original version.

For the OFWs

Another pop-rock band, 6cyclemind, has two songs, “Sandalan” and “Walang Iwanan,” also in Villar’s TV commercials.

The songs were written and recorded several years ago, but were apparently chosen for the touching lyrics (“Iiyak mo na ang lahat sa akin;” “Walang iwanan kahit sa’n ka mapadpad”) that matched Villar’s special concerns: OFWs.

The band’s members and manager believe it was Villar’s eldest son, Paolo, who pushed for the songs to be used in the ads.

The deal—including the making of the commercials themselves—was likewise handled by DM9, which paid song publishing fees to Music R Us (MRU), the firm that oversees the publishing rights to compositions by artists signed to Sony Music Philippines. 6cyclemind is a Sony Music artist.

“There are no fixed rates,” said MRU president Merwin Tee. The song publishing rights for such ads “is a little less than P2 million” per song.

Tee said the money was usually divided between the composer and the interpreter. But since 6cyclemind is both the composer and interpreter, the band collected everything.

Asked if 6cyclemind also agreed to endorse Villar when campaign season starts, 6cyclemind manager Darwin Hernandez said: “We actually started performing last Nov. 23 … And we believe in what [Villar] is doing. There’s nothing wrong with being identified with him.”

Before he decided not to run for president, Sen. Chiz Escudero had a TV commercial that featured the song “Bagong Umaga.” It was performed by singer-composer Bayang Barrios, who co-wrote it with husband Mike Villegas. The song was first performed in 1996 for Fernando Poe Jr.’s TV ad for the 2004 presidential elections.

Barrios said it was Escudero’s wife Christine who first inquired about “Bagong Umaga.” Barrios added that she and Christine are friends, so it was not difficult to negotiate.

Asked how much she was paid for the two ads, Barrios hinted that the fee was quite substantial when Escudero used it.

Grand production

Senator Aquino’s TV commercial disguised as a music video has a running time of more than 3 minutes. The grand production features a new song, “Hindi Ka Nag-iisa,” with a powerhouse cast of more than a dozen show biz celebrities.

Pop singer Regine Velasquez sings the theme that was composed by singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid.

Alcasid admitted that he didn’t charge anything for the song. “I wrote it as a gift to the Aquino family.”

The making of the music video itself was all done free of charge, according to TV host/talent manager Boy Abunda, its producer.

He said he and Kris Aquino—a close friend, TV co-host and the senator’s sister—handled everything, talking to the talents and the entire production and post-production team—who all readily agreed to work without pay.

Noel’s commitment

Singer-songwriter Noel Cabangon, who has lent two original songs for Aquino’s presidential campaign, expressed a commitment “to carry him all the way to the polling place.”

One of the songs, “Ako’y Isang Mabuting Pilipino,” has been adapted as the theme of Mabuting Pilipino, a volunteer group for Aquino whose name was inspired by the song.

“When I give my song to a candidate, I have to believe in him and join his campaigns,” said Cabangon, who said his appearances in Aquino’s campaign are free. “It’s not just selling your song and then leaving it. The song and the composer-singer are one. You cannot separate them. The song is a reflection and soul of the person.”

Hip hop for God

Just last Thursday, Bro. Eddie Villanueva’s TV ad was launched in between the early evening newscasts. Like Senator Aquino’s ad, it is a full music video and uses a song specially written for Villanueva’s campaign.

The song, “Eddie Ako,” was composed by Pol Armasin, a member of Villanueva’s Jesus Is Lord (JIL) religious community, and features Pinoy hip hop’s hottest artist, Gloc-9.

“I’m not a member of JIL, although I’m a [born-again] Christian,” Gloc-9 told the Inquirer. “When I was asked to appear in the video, I felt everything finally fell into place because there were other candidates who wanted me and I kept saying no to them.”

Gloc-9 said he was paid an honorarium to sing in the video, “a small amount compared to the rate I would charge for such a project.”

Does it matter?

Another singer-songwriter, Gary Granada, has reportedly turned down offers by some candidates to use his music for their media campaign.

Asked by the Inquirer to comment on the proliferation of political TV ads, Granada wrote in an e-mail: “The fact that ‘jingles’ play a significant role in elections further emphasizes the role that media and the ‘arts’ assume in shaping society ... Cost-wise and sense-wise, public interest is better served if political ads were banned ... Do [musicians] have to believe in the candidates they sell? The correct answer is yes. But considering the crap and incoherent platforms that we hear from the crop of candidates we regularly have, does it really matter?”

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