Approval rating of Philippine president at historical record low in 22 years

Thanks for the comment, Bob.

I've almost always based my Arroyo and Estrada articles on independent surveys or other telling evidences, such as the Hello Garci tapes. I don't know if you're really missed my article Gloria Arroyo at the Helm Seven Years Later: The Sorry State of the Philippines under the EDSA 2 President but the first graph I show in this present article is also foundin the earlier article (although the data were only up to 2007).

My calling Arroyo the Most Corrupt President in Philippine History is far from slander as it was first collectively voiced by majority of the Filipino people through the Pulse Asia's Special Report on Corruption-Related Issues made in October 2007.

Even the basis of my article Filipinos Welcome Estrada Pardon, Maintain Reservations About Arroyo
come from an SWS survey, which I pointed out in the comments section. I made a mistake of not incorporating it in the Filipinos Welcome Estrada article and instead published it as a seed. I should say thank you for you inspired me to merge the seed to the main article just now. This is what I added or fused to the article:

Earlier, a nationwide survey showed that an overwhelming majority of Filipinos believe Estrada is innocent of the Plunder charges, and should he be declared guilty, should be pardoned. According to the survey conducted by the Social Weather Station (SWS) 62% of Filipinos do not believe "Erap" Estrada enriched himself nor committed corruption while he was President; a total of 84% think he should be pardoned if convicted. The SWS, the most active social survey institute in the country, conducted the survey just before the promulgation of the Sandiganbayan decision declaring Estrada guilty of the charges.

That's my style of writing, Bob. I'm not really so personal and it's a sort of SOP for me to support my articles with rather objective data because in the first place, my writing emanates from what I objectively gather and observe. In as much as I have passion, I have commonsensical objectivity that I take pride in.

Bob, you should really let independent surveys more into your heart and mind because they can uncannily reduce the prejudice out of anybody open-minded enough.

Babel & Jesusa #2
I like to see the truth such as seen within this independant survey. Propaganda is one thing I hate to see its better to shame the devil and tell the truth and nothing but the truth.

Don't you think you're asking for too much from this world, Babel!?

I actually think Babel's professed love for "truth" is such a good thing for this world. Now, if he can only perhaps live much longer in the Philippines so that hopefully, his mind can discern the naked truth in the Bogus incumbent president. Not sure but is his "truth" Arroyo's propaganda?

Blimey! And then you accuse me of wrongly comparing Iran to Phillipines. I swear these two are the 2 ends of the same stick.

I don't fully understand Iran but in the sense that religious characters interfere or have a hand in governance, I think so too. By the way, aren't your writings censored from where you are?

Everything sucks in the 3rd world, Babel. Every damn thing.

So truthfully mundane. Even the 1st world ain't spared. I mean, in the UK you had this Mad Cow disease, in which there are fears that many more British cases of exposure to the disease prion are yet undetected or still in the incubation stage. Then there's the controversial death of Princess Diana (I'm a "fan") believed by some to have been royally perpetrated. Then the US has a Bush character as president. Really, the whole world sucks at one point or the other.

People survey's however can tell how the slanderous accusations without solid proof of corruption are being listened to and believed by the people.

You got a good point here, Bob. You know the saying: "You can't fool all the people all of the time." SWS (and I think Pulse Asia )also did a surveyson the Filipinos perception of allegations of corruption against Erap beginning around 2000 until 2007. You know what--the survey graph begins with many Filipinos believing the charges but ends with majority believing in his innocence. Overtime, majority of the people more or less gradually learned got to filter the truth from the propaganda machinery of Edsa 2 and Arroyo, thus concluding the plunder charges are all trumped-up.

Food for thought, Bob.

Here, we can also see how the Philippines rank as one of the most corrupt country, thereby, confirming or strengthening the perception that indeed Gloria is undeniably a corrupt President of this country.

So true. Even the analysis of the international surveys somehow point to how Gloria Arroyo is the Most Corrupt post-Marcos president, not just corrupt. If I can refer you to my article Gloria Arroyo at the Helm Seven Years Later: The Sorry State of the Philippines under the EDSA 2 President, there showed that the TI and Political and Economic Risk Consultancy surveys showed the worsening corruption grade level during Arroyo's time compared to the presidency of Joseph Estrada.

I think the so-called 100 day honeymoon period with the media has something to do with said phenomenon. Initially, the media refrain from criticisms and then 3 months later, ACDC for some.

Thanks for pointing it out, hircus. Got confused there. :)

Their strategy's to cut your throat bit by bit by silently depriving you of all your basic privilidges and rights so there's no room for you to protest. The mystery of how I made it through all these years (30) lies in the miraculous antedote that's been mercifully bestowed to me by mother nature. That should explain everything.

I'm not sure if you were already born during the Shah's time but if you were, any recollection/comparison?

No doubt about it. However, your principle of "relative goodness/badness" applies here too. :-)

Indeed. Relative to whose interest and/or which operating paradigm or principle.

#2.2
SWS is a independent body but I wonder how independent they are and the influence of outside political pressures this is a Filipino organisation. I wonder how many of the officials are related to political clans?

A reasonable point to consider before making any judgement. As with the picture in Iran, they're all as corrupted and politically biased as the government itself.

SWS and Pulse Asia survery research firms are widely acknowledged to be independent institutions. Those who make them up are political scientists from the academic community. I'm sure they've made mistakes at some point because we all learn from our experiences but overall, they are respectable and genuine political scientists noted all these years for their integrity and fairness, Ntq and Bob.

Sorry to crack your ear but you asked for it yourself! :-)

Not at all, ntq. In fact, I find your story really colorful. I mean, would you consider writing a mini-book or something about your experiences? Perhaps, you would need to be less involved or try to operate from a more detached paradigm but it would be an interesting book. I further suggest that you use a pen name or something, for safety purposes.

Why I make the suggestion is because from a historical viewpoint, your country is truly interesting, what with its perhaps partly immoral but nonetheless magnificient ancient history. A book with Shah- and present-day Iran as setting continuum would add to your country's documentation, ntq.

My country!!? My country is my family and my countrymen/women are all the good guys & gals around the world

This shows you're an internationalist, my friend!

In a world where no one cares to learn from ones mistakes (let alone other people's experiences), I suppose that'll just be a waste of paper and ink.

I understand the moral frustration. I have to fight the same feeling constantly, if I'll continue writing here. BUT, documentation, ntq, is always important. You don't need to publish it if you wish, but for the reference of your kids and future generation, and even you in the future for whatever purpose parts of the data might serve, it pays to keep records. The rewards need not be political--we'll never know what purpose records can serve. Just an advise from someone with "history" inclinations.

rcqemanes and ntq:

I agree with your point Jesusa. In fact, that's the reason why until this time we learned many things from the past because of the records and writings of our ancestors and the ancient civilizations.

We might have read many things from the past but certainly not learned anything. Reading and learning are as comparable in concept as hearing and listening

Ntq, I understand where you're coming from, understand the frustration when we wish things will be more moral and orderly. Your statement, however, is a generalization. There are many indeed who choose not to really listen but there are also others who do, or at least learn to listen from the lessons of history at some point in their lives.

There are those who misuse history's lessons while others use knowledge gained from the past to uplift humanity or parts thereof. If the past won't be documented, and properly so, nobody--good or bad women and men, few they may be--will learn anything. And so the evolution of human "advancement" stops.

The question is: Is the present better than the past? There was slavery back then. Now, slavery perhaps come in a different form. Oh well, I have newly developed a personal rule: the more confused I am, the more I should document in the hope that clarity comes later. It's very hard to make records when one is confused or frustrated but we should try.