Sen. Roxas appeals 'calmness' from Sen. Trillanes

Senator Mar Roxas appealed for 'calmness' from Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and former Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and other detained military officers when they walked out last Thursday from the Makati Regional Trial Court in the middle of there case hearing. He also shared his empathy on his colleague's frustations on the current administration.

Senator Roxas called on colleague Senator Trillanes to "be calm, and do not bring this to a point where our people's blood will be shed" as he told the latter that "we hear the frustration, the cynicism, the estrangement from the government that is in your voice and in your positions."

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Alfredo Rosario on Sen. Mar Roxas

In his column today in the Manila Times, Mr. Alfredo Rosario elaborates why Senator Mar Roxas is "a formidable contender for the presidency."

Here's an except of his column:

[...] Many believe that the senator possesses all the political advantages in seeking the country’s top post within the gift of the Filipino people. They see him as a formidable contender for the presidency.

First, he enjoys the advantage of name recall, being a scion of a well-known family. His mother, Judy Araneta Roxas, belongs to the affluent Araneta clan. He has a distinguished political record. In 1993, he ran for congressman in the first district of Capiz and won handily. Later he became the House majority leader and eventually Cabinet member as Trade secretary.

He surprised the whole nation with his extreme popularity in 2004 when he ran for the Senate and topped the race with an overwhelming 20 million votes, a record still unmatched in the history of the Senate.

Roxas has the political machine and the logistics to support a long and expensive campaign. The LP is one of the oldest political parties with grassroots organizations all over the country.

Above all, he has the integrity and passion for work. His educational, moral and leadership credentials have projected him as an articulate, intelligent and dignified person. He does not wear his social superiority on his sleeve and interacts with his fellowmen with humility and grace.

The central theme of his public life has always been the promotion of the national interest and the people’s welfare as evidenced by legislation he has authored and his innovations in job creation and consumers protection. His reputation has preceded him and earned him the recognition of the international community as “one of the global leaders of tomorrow” and “one of the young leaders in politics and business who will bring Asia and the Pacific to the forefront of world affairs.” [...]

Oras Na! Roxas Na!

(From left to right: Kevin Ray N. Chua, Senator Mar Roxas II, Councilor Peter Laviña and my dad Ronilo Chua)

Yesterday, I attended the once-in-a-lifetime election of Senator Mar Roxas as the new Liberal Party President, succeeding former LP President Franklin Drilon, in Club Filipino, Greenhills, San Juan City. It was a very stressful day for me actually. I woke up 4:00 AM together with my father. We ate our breakfast and hurried outside to ride a taxi. We arrived in the Mactan Cebu International Airport around 5:10 AM. Our flight was 6:15 AM. When we were in the plane, we slept a while to recover our energy a bit. We arrived in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, we went straight to the taxi area and rode a taxi to Club Filipino. When we arrived there by 9:00 AM, the place was still quiet with few guests around. By 10:00 AM, more and more people showed up thus increasing the crowd inside the vicinity. I met several personalities in the event namely: Ma'am Susan Ople, Ate Jenny Bugarin, Ate Thea, Prof. Danton Remoto, Mar's mom Judy Araneta-Roxas, Black and White Movement organizers Leah Navarro and Enteng Romano, Atty. Adel Tamano, Fr. Carmelo Caluag, former Senators Jovito Salonga, Bobby Tañada and Franklin Drilon, Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Cory Quirino, Senators Kiko Pangilinan, Pong Biazon, Noynoy Aquino, former Congressmen Butch Abad and Nereus Acosta, Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, and many more to mention.

The Liberal Party is carrying the slogan "ORAS NA!", which I think is the prelude campaign slogan to bring back the old glory of the party in the upcoming 2010 elections and place a Liberal in Malacañang. I was also able to met my fellow Mar Roxas for President in 2010 blogger Peter Laviña in the event. I was also able to talk with Senator Roxas and called me as his "inspiration." Wow! That was a great compliment from my idol! I said that it was a stressful day for me, but the event was worth remembering.

BTW, thanks a lot to the entire Senate staff of Senator Mar Roxas headed by Ma'am Susan Ople for accommodating us, from the one who gave me coffee to the one who guided us to the Senate session hall, from the one who gave us our merienda to the one who drove us to NAIA. ORAS NA!

LP-Atienza wing to reunify for Mar; LP-UNO team-up, OK with Erap

From http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=100319 and http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=100217

The Liberal Party (LP) will hold its national directorate meeting Sunday to reunite its various factions and rally behind Sen. Manuel Roxas II, who will be its standard bearer in the 2010 presidential elections.

"Senator Roxas will be the unifying factor of the party," former Senate president Franklin Drilon, the outgoing party president, said at the weekly Kapihan sa Sulo Hotel in Quezon City.

He said the LP secretariat has invited members of the breakaway group led Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza.

Drilon said the invitation was sent directly to former Manila congressman Miles Roces, a leader of the Atienza faction.

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Erap open to LP-UNO merger

Ousted President Joseph Estrada is ready to admit the Liberal Party faction of former Senate president Franklin Drilon into the United Opposition (UNO).

In a telephone interview, Estrada, titular head of the opposition, said Drilon’s LP wing can join the UNO, although it is too early to conclude who will be fielded as the opposition standard-bearer in the 2010 presidential elections.

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Photo of Sen. Roxas with Vis-Min local leaders

Photo courtesy of Philippine Senate Website

VISAYAS-MINDANAO DEVELOPMENT AGENDA: Senator Mar A. Roxas II and local government executives took the cudgels for a Visayas-Mindanao Development Agenda that would come from the people themselves through a series of consultations starting December. In an unprecedented meeting in Davao City this Sunday, Roxas, (L-R) former Presidential Adviser for Regional Development Paul Dominguez, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Cagayan de Oro City Vice Mayor Vicente Emano and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes all agreed that as Visayas and Mindanao has contributed greatly to the national wealth, the ongoing neglect of the South in the national development plan must be reversed.

Sen. Mar Roxas joins Sen. Noynoy's disappointment on Martinez' pardon

From http://news.balita.ph/html/article.php/20071123191937541

Senator Mar Roxas on Friday backed up the disappointment expressed by colleague Sen. Noynoy Aquino in granting clemency to M/Sgt Pablo Martinez, a self-confessed military officer who had allowed the late hitman Rolando Galman to enter the airport tarmac on the day Ninoy Aquino was assassinated.

He said it is confusing to the Filipino people the honor bestowed by the Philippine government to Ninoy's heroism at the height of dictatorial regime, yet it allows one of the murderers to go free.

"Martinez admitted that he helped Rolando Galman enter the airport tarmac on that fateful day when Ninoy died. Even his fellow inmates point to him as the one most knowledgeable about the plot to assassinate Ninoy Aquino. His role in the killing of one of the country's heroes is undeniable. The full retribution of society is called for one of the most heinous crimes of the last century. The justification of old age to accord clemency simply cannot hold in this case," Roxas emphasized.

Roxas said that he strongly supported and even lauded the administration from granting pardon to former President Estrada, but he totally disagreed with the clemency extended to Martinez.

"Plunder can be repaid in cash and lifetime political stigma, the murder of a national hero must not be so easily forgiven. The timing of this pardon is also questionable. It comes a few days before Ninoy's birthday. It betrays insensitivity, if not a certain degree of callousness, on the part of the administration," the senator stressed.

Sen. Mar Roxas reaction on the WB loan deferment

Senator Manuel “Mar" Roxas on Tuesday said the World’s Bank’s decision to defer its $232-million infrastructure loan package to the Philippines was “a huge national embarrassment."

Roxas, in a statement, said he supported the bank’s suggestion of creating a “road watch" group that would be led by members of the civil society. He said the group would assure transparency and integrity in the bidding of the bank's infrastructure projects in the country.

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Sen. Mar Roxas on Vis-Min agenda

Senator Mar Roxas and local government executives of key cities in Visayas and Mindanao took the initiative for a Visayas and Mindanao development agenda, which has been neglected in the national development plan.

Roxas, together with Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City, Mayor Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City, Mayor Jonas Cortes of Mandaue City and Vice-Mayor Dungkoy Emano of Cagayan de Oro City, announced the beginning of consultations to formulate a focused and sustainable plan and “checklist” for the people of Visayas and Mindanao, reported the Philippine News Agency.

“Visayas and Mindanao has a lot to offer our national development, which makes it imperative that these two regions get a fair share of these developments,” Roxas said.

The senator announced that the first salvo of consultations for this development plan will happen in December in Cebu City, with Osmeña’s efforts to conduct consultations with all sectors on two key questions: What they want Cebu to be after 10 years, and what obstacles are there to achieving this goal? This will eventually be rolled-out to other communities in Visayas and Mindanao.

Read more... and more here...

Alleba Politics asks: "Mar Roxas in 2010?"

This is just a re-post. Click here to see the original page.

Months ago, Davao City Councilor Peter Laviña started a blog entitled A Liberal in Malacañang in 2010. It is an unabashed campaign to have a Philippine President from the Liberal Party (LP in 2010. The blog zeroes in on Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas II as the best possible option. Another blogger Kevin Ray N. Chua also maintains a blog campaigning for Roxas.

Today, LP announced that a new president will take over LP by November 26, and Roxas is the most likely candidate. This is in preparation for his candidacy in 2010. This despite the on-going rift between the Drilon and Atienza factions of LP.

Roxas has remarkable credentials as a Senator, backed up by a prominent family ties. And influential former President Joseph Estrada is reported to be considering lending his support to Roxas. Add to this Roxas’ relationship with high profile broadcaster Korina Sanchez. Roxas definitely has what it takes to win the 2010 elections.

The more important question is will he make a significant difference to our ailing country and our impoverished citizens?

Mar Roxas to lead LP starting Nov. 26

Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II is poised to take over the leadership of the Liberal Party before the end of the month on high expectations he will lead one of the country’s oldest political parties back to the forefront in the 2010 elections.

The LP’s policy-making body, National Executive Council, is slated to meet on Nov. 26 to decide who will take the mantle from the incumbent president, Franklin Drilon, a former senator, whose term as party president ends on Nov. 30.

Roxas is affiliated with the Drilon wing of the party which has been split into two factions -- the other one being led by former Manila mayor Lito Atienza -- over the two leaders’ conflicting stance on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the height of the “Hello Garci” scandal in 2005.

Drilon and those allied with him joined calls for the President’s resignation.

Read more... and more here...

Senator Roxas urges gov't to provide more info on JPEPA

Senator Mar Roxas called on the Executive Branch to get its act together in providing the Senate with sufficient information on the clear benefits and potential drawbacks that the country would face in relation to the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).

"The Senate is not in the business of data-extraction. That is the job of the executive branch and it makes us wonder how come baseline data regarding tariff lines and well-defined programs for safety nets are not being properly presented in all of five hearings," Roxas said.

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Growing support for Mar Roxas for President in 2010 draft

After 103 days of existence in the blogosphere, I had been very thankful to all the people who had helped me in this ongoing campaign (not early election campaign) to draft Senator Mar Roxas for the Philippine Presidency in 2010.

First of all, I would like to thank Davao City Councilor Peter Laviña for helping me in my initiative through his A Liberal President in 2010 Blog and his wits. We unknowingly launched our 2010 blogs on the same day (July 29, 2007) but he let me claimed the "first blog in 2010" tag. Thanks Peter!

Thanks to Mrs. J for supporting my initiative. "Go Mar Roxas," she said to me. I hope to see you blogging about this Mar Roxas for President in 2010 draft someday.

Thanks to Nick Villaruz for inviting me in the Capiz Forum, a forum of Capizenos residing in different parts of the world. As a member, I can post there anything on Sen. Mar Roxas. Now, I can be able to spread the message better to the people in that forum. Thanks Nick!

Thanks to Danton Remoto for being one of the Mar Roxas for President in 2010 online petition signatories. He has expressed his support to the "best and the brightest."

Thanks to all the people who signed the online petition and promoted it to their friends. And lastly, thanks a lot to the visitors of this blog.

Mar Roxas 2010 Blog: 100 days have past

Today is the 100th day of Mar Roxas for President in 2010 Blog! Thanks a lot for making this blog successful. As what our motto says, "Together, all becomes possible!". Hoyhoyhoy! Hoyhoyhoy! Please tell us about your comments and suggestions on how we can improve more and serve you better.

Don't forget to subscribe to our posts through e-mail and sign the Mar Roxas for President in 2010 Online Petition!

Will Mar Roxas Run in 2010?

Is Senator Mar Roxas running for President this 2010? That's the question that bother his core of supporters.

Will Mar Roxas run in 2010? Why can’t you guys take “no” for an answer?

As of this time, he has never said "NO", thus giving us the wider opportunity. He reiterates that 2010 is still far away and who knows what would happen.

I am not a protégé of Senator Mar Roxas nor I know about his plans for 2010 whether he would run for President or launch a re-election bid as senator. Thus, I can't surely tell you that he will run for President in 2010. But, I must tell you that he never said that he won't run for President in 2010 -- only that he has "no plans" to run in 2010 right now. Maybe he's still soul searching.

I admit that 2010 is still far away but change and hope can't be long enough. Starting this early doesn't mean that it's already final. Who knows what would happen now up to 2010. I trust that when he does run for President, he will make an announcement to the Filipino people considering his dedication to service as House Representative of Capiz, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary and Senator of the Republic. I believe that he’ll answer the call to service of his people and run for President.

What are the goals of this blog?

1. We hope to demonstrate to Senator Mar Roxas the groundswell of support he enjoys among the Filipino people down to the grassroots level;
2. We'll present him the signatories of the online petition that urges him to run for President in 2010 so he can hit the ground running should he declare his candidacy;
3. We hope to persuade him that it's a moral imperative that he run in 2010.

Senator Mar Roxas is being called back by popular demand now as a presidential candidate and we're giving a voice to that demand.

Do you communicate with Senator Mar Roxas or his office?

Yes, I admit. His chief-of-staff Susan Ople noticed this blog and right away, gave me a call. But, I must assure you, that this blog is not backed or funded by anyone connected to Senator Roxas. The creation of this blog was solely my decision to air the outpouring support among people of all political persuasions at the grassroots level.

Is Senator Mar Roxas aware of your efforts and if so, what's his response?

Yes, Senator Roxas is aware of this blog and its efforts. I have already talked to him through cellphone and he has been very thankful of my support.

He has encourage my efforts in any way ranging from using blogging, Friendster, Youtube, Eventful, Petitionspot and etc. But he has also consistently declined to object, comment, or stop my initiatives. That in itself is a positive response.

One poll shows Senator Loren Legarda in the lead. What chance would Senator Roxas have to edge her out?

His odds would be very excellent. Pulse Asia's survey that was conducted between June 28 and July 10, 2007 with a total of 1,800 respondents nationwide showed indeed that Senator Legarda had a net trust rating of 71% but don't discount Senator Roxas because he had a net trust rating of 58%. That's a difference of 13%! Poll numbers don't increase sharply overnight. As days, weeks, months and years past, these poll numbers would change dramatically.

As what I have said again and again, 2010 is still far away and who knows what would happen. Senator Legarda might just give way to Senator Roxas and run for Vice President instead. The voters know him, support him and understand that he's the most electable potential presidential candidate.

What are your odds of success? How will you change Senator Mar Roxas' mind when powerful politicians could not?

Like his late grandfather former President Manuel Acuña Roxas and his late father former Senator Gerardo Roxas, Senator Mar Roxas is a patriot and a populist. He is more likely to heed the genuine show of support from the people than request from politicians.

I know that we, together with his supporters, are fighting against difficult odds. There is an increasing list of potential presidential candidates like Manny Villar, Ping Lacson, Loren Legarda, Dick Gordon, Noli de Castro and more to come. But history will tell us that no big or significant movement ever started with good and easy odds.

We need to persuade him to run for President in 2010 for he has the vision, leadership and strength to do it not because he is rich but because he is the right man for the job. We also need to persuade the people to institute change and have an impact on this election by encouraging Senator Mar Roxas to run for President.

Update on the Mar Roxas 2010 Online Petition

As of this blogging, 95 people have already signed the Mar Roxas for President in 2010 Online Petition, which I think is still few given the time of existence of the said online petition. But with your help in spreading the word, we can be able to gather more support from the people. Please tell your friends about it, if you have a blog then make an article about it, or send the online petition link to your friends through e-mail.

Here are the thoughts of some signatories of the online petition:

Architect Rene G. Caldeo said...

"Sen. Mar Roxas is a Potential Candidate, yet he may or may not win for 2010 as history will repeat between FPJ."

Flor Beramo said...

"We need a young, dynamic, brilliant, economic and management wizard in the person of Sen. Mar Roxas to lead our country to a better, livable tomorrow. Sen. Mar also possesses a unique, strong warm charisma by which he can easily establish rapport to our people including the aged, the middle-aged, and the young citizenry. His advocacy, focus and special concerns not only on the agenda of trade and industry but more so on the down-to-earth day-to-day economics known to and are relevant to the common tao - the economic condition in the market place -is what make Sen. Mar Roxas set apart from all the rest of the lot in the politics at large in our country. His vision is not to reach the unreachable or set down a package of high sounding technical programs which our people cannot relate to in terms of saving some pesos and centavos aimed at improving their economic life. He is a simple pragmatic man whom every Juan de la Cruz in all the rural and urban byways and highways would direly need and want to deliver our country and people from their never-ending woes."

Mabel A. Toledo said...

"I really admire Mar ever since he was not yet in the senate. He is a man of dignity and wisdom that the Philippines needs. Senator Roxas is worthy to be called the next president!"

Eilene Chavez said...

"Mar Roxas will be the best President since he came from CLEAN politician family."

Lee de Leon said...

"No other one qualified to lead us to better times ahead. Only MAR Roxas can improve the lives of Filipinos. Please support him."

Rosy Yotoko-Valencia said...

"Fellow Capiznon, let's unite and support Mar Roxas to be the next President of the Philippines. Mabuhay si Mar!"

Estelle Osorio said...

"He's the only one I'd entrust the position to. :) MAR ROXAS FOR 2010!"

Gerry Eusebio said...

"May iba pa ba tayong pagpipilian para sa 2010? Mar Roxas na - Mr. Palengke na!"

To sign the online petition, please visit www.petitionspot.com/petitions/marroxas2010