Often, I write articles where I tell you how things here are a bit different from what you might expect. Life here is not the same as what you might be used to, and that is true in almost every aspect of life here.
Recently, I’ve written a couple of articles talking about how the elections are coming up here in the Philippines. In May 2010, every elective office in the country is up for grabs, from the President of the Republic right down to the Barangay Captain! So, 2010 will be an interesting year.
There are lots of people who have filed to run for President, some of them are relatively unknown people, some are very well know. Of course, if there are lots of people running for President, there are also lots of people running for Vice President as well.
Some of the better known President/Vice President teams in the running include:
- Noynoy Aquino for President; Mar Roxas for Vice President
- Gilbert Teodoro for President; Edu Manzano for Vice President
- Richard Gordon for President; Bayani Fernando for Vice President
Of course, there are many other tandem teams in the running, but I am just pointing out a few, for the sake of discussion.
Now, hold on Bob… the title of the article says “something a bit different.” What’s different about this? You have people running for President, and they have running mates who are running for Vice President. In what way is this different?
Well, you are right. At first look, it would appear that this is just the same as it is in much of the world, and particularly in the USA. I mean, in the US, just last year you had:
- Barack Obama running for President; Joe Biden running for Vice President
- John McCain running for President; Sarah Palin running for Vice President
So, how is it any different?
Well, my friends… here in the Philippines, even though these people are running as teams… you don’t vote for the team. You see, you can vote for one person for President, and a different person for Vice President! What I mean is that you could presumably vote for Noynoy for President, and vote for Bayani Fernando for Vice President!
Whoa, Bob.. what do you mean? How could you do that? They are from two different parties!
Indeed, they are. You see, when you go in to vote, you have one election going on for President, and a totally different election for Vice President!
And, I imagine you are wondering if it ever actually happens that the President and Vice President come from different parties. Well, yes, they do. For example, in 1998, Joseph Estrada was elected as President of the Republic, while Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was elected as Vice President. These two are from rival parties! In 2004, Arroyo was elected as President. Her running mate was Noli de Castro. Both Arroyo and de Castro won the elections. However, the Vice Presidential candidate of the main rival party’s Vice Presidential candidate was Loren Legarda. Legarda nearly won the election, and an election challenge went on for years before Legarda conceded defeat when she decided to run for Senate again.
So, not only is it possible, it is somewhat likely that the new President next year will come from a completely different Political Party from the new Vice President.
Now, don’t you agree that his is a bit different from what you might expect? I sure do!
This happened before in the U.S. History. Aaron Burr was from a different party than Thomas Jefferson. He also killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel as a sitting U.S. Vice President….and you thought politics was only wild here!
Hi Miguk – Yes, it did happen… but the way it works now, the two offices are jointly elected, so it could not happen again, unless a sitting Vice President resigns and somehow a person from another party is nominated to replace him. Interesting parallel, though!
Hi Bob – Oh to have some differences available in the local political scene. As it is, it will me more of the same in 2010 here, “Up North” 😉 . Being a mere observer, I fear I’ll miss out on more “spirited” debate & campaigning.
Last minute annoucements/filings bring the “nuclear” Marcos family back into the picture. Ms. Imee will even run against her cousin incumbant governor. BBM moves toward Senate, the Grand Lady toward her son’s seat as representative, and a former crony turned opponent and now returned crony (and “like sibling”) toward the other seat as representative. All in the name of a solid North and taking care of its people, mind you. 😉
Of course, I must remind myself that the last time this “nuclear” family was in power, the roads were paved, electricity was distributed and provided, water works worked, and moneys from the national coffers found its way North past the current roadblock in Tarlac/Pampanga! 😆
Ah, but the Marcos family has remained in National power through the Congress and other elective offices for years, though. We’ll see what 2010 brings. But, today, I am more wanting to talk about the ability to elect President and Vice President separately, not really local politics.
Just being a “little bit different”! 😆
I’ll have to wait for BBM to run for president with another family member for vice president. Maybe then we “North” types might experience the difference of a split election result. (The rest of the country wouldn’t stand for it!)
As is, the Marcos family is merely employed (unfortunately), not in power! 😉
(The spirit of Diego Silang stirs.)
What’s in the water up there, Paul? You feeling OK?
Not to be pedantic, but while the 12th Amendment made the presidency and vice presidency a ‘joint ticket’ as it were, there is nothing to actually stop the electors from voting one person as president and someone else entirely as vice president. Would it ever happen? Probably not…but it is possible.
Hi Miguk – Without a doubt, the Electoral College makes such things possible, but highly unlikely.
Frankly I think they need to do away with that last vestige of undemocratic, 18th century elitism.
Hi Miguk – I can’t argue a bit with you on that!
perhaps i should pack my “Black Hawk” ceramic BP vest for this years vacation……
Hi Brian – Just stay away from the political rallies and you should be OK! 😆
Hi Bob-That’s a piece of information regarding presidential elections in the Philippines that I wasn’t aware of, and I guess it has the potential to add some spice! The idea is intriguing, if only because I’d hope to see more parties and voices heard during such an important election..in our lifetime? God only knows! That’s pretty cool stuff, and can see on the surface why Philippine politics can be lively!
Hi Wade – It is different, no doubt! 😉
Morning Sir Bob. Just back from the Uk afeter buring my mother. Come on to your blog after a 2 week break bang everything has changed . Sorry i am a pain but i am struggling a bit. Will the usual writers still be donig their write ups or is thisn being dropped in favour of a forum. I am really lost on LIP now.
Thanks.
Frank
The way I see it, the LiP magazine is primarily a business venture designed to generate income for the owner through advertising first, a source of information for expats second.
The discussion forum section of LiP you speak of hardly attracts participants, whereas the main draw of LiP as far as I am concerned is the magazine section where readers from all over the globe are invited to comment on the articles.
Comments made in response to the articles have a natural tendency to branch out to other topics that may or may not be relevant to the article presented because some comments are made in response to a portion of a reader’s original comment that has nothing to do with the article. Many lurkers who generally are content in remaining in the sidelines are oftentimes drawn into the conversation by what another reader may have said that affects them but has nothing to do with the article.
If you officially disallow comments that are not relevant to the article in discussion, you run the risk of greatly reducing the number of readers’ comments which are automatically registered by a counter located in the home page. The comments counter is the prime indicator the LiP website’s popularity. The more popular the website, the more advertisers it will attract and the more money it will generate for the owner. Correct?
John – If the purpose of the site were to make money, I would have quit a long, long time ago, my friend.
My goal is to keep the discussion on the Magazine on topic, not straying off on all kinds of things. That is why I set up the forum some time back, so that people who want to just chit chat can do so there, instead of taking the magazine discussion off topic. That is why sometimes I try to tell people to stay on topic here, so that we can have a meaningful discussion. For stuff that has nothing to do with the blog post, frankly, go talk about it on the forum instead of on the magazine.
I hope that someday LiP makes a nice amount of money, but if you look at what it makes now, it is not worth my time to mess with it. I do stick with it because I love it. Not for the money, which is virtually nothing given the hours of work. The income here is much better than it was 6 months ago, but it will probably be a couple of years before the site makes enough money to care much about.
Frankly, this particular discussion is not really a matter for site readers. I would prefer to keep this type of discussion off the site, and I would thank you if you can observe my wishes on that.
Hi Frank – The forum has been here for almost a year now. The site has not changed at all in the past 2 weeks.
Sorry Bob. First time i have come across the forum. Its ok now i am finding my way around so no problems I think this not drinking is affecting me. maybe i get back on the beer and help Paul Thompson drink his fridge dry of beer.
Regards to all
Hi Frank;
My condolences on your loss!
As for drinking my “Fridge” dry, I’ll take that Challenge, as you’ve not seen my storeroom! (LOL)
Hi Bob;
No doubt, the President/Vice President system here is different. As is the 24 Senators who are nationally elected and not by areas, unlike the Philippine Congress who are locally elected. But then every country I’ve been to is also different in their form of government. So if I understand it or not, it works for them, and after watching what the U.S Senate and Congress have not been doing for the last 30 years, I would be hard put to judge some other country.
Hi Paul – Yes indeed… I had not thought about the Senate, but of course you are correct on that too! Down here where I live, in Mindanao, the people always feel pretty unrepresented, or at least under-represented. I believe that are 2 Mindanaoan Senators that I can think of at this time, so it’s a small number.
BTW, I just want to say that I was not really “judging” the Philippines, just mentioning or pointing out a difference. 😉
Hi Sir Bob;
I’m sorry if my wording gave you the impression that I thought you were judging. My point was that I felt “I” had no right to judge, as this is not my country.
Hi Paul – No problem. I didn’t think that you were saying that I was judging… I just wanted to add that to clarify for others who might have come to that conclusion, though! 😉
How could anybody ever think that? (lol)
Paul my love of beer is so critical to me that i have even shaped my body like a beer barrel.But alais age catches up with is all and as i am 59 tomorrow i now must restrict myself to approx 1 1/2 gallon a day.Now in my younger days i could really drink beer.Keep that fridge full i am coming to lingayan next year.