“Brother Mike” and El Shaddai

   

Rising out of the shantytowns and fetid creeks of this Manila neighborhood are a giant neon cross and a technicolor rainbow so tall they dwarf the golden arches of the local McDonald’s. They mark the new home of El Shaddai, part of a broader Christian evangelist movement that’s sweeping this predominantly Roman Catholic nation.

Billed as the biggest center of faith and worship in Asia, the sprawling 10,000-hectare complex in Parañaque is El Shaddai’s global headquarters. A lay Catholic group, El Shaddai—God in Hebrew—is among the largest of the new-generation Christian movements in the Philippines. It claims a fast-growing membership of more than eight million, including many Filipinos working overseas in locales from Hong Kong to Dubai.

The ascent of popular Catholic groups like El Shaddai, along with scores of breakaway Protestant ones, is shaping aspects of Philippine life from making babies to making movies. Protestants are flocking to them, but so are an increasing number of Roman Catholics. They are increasing in size and power in a country where religion and politics have been intermingled since the times of Spanish colonialism. Sociologists say the upshot is double-edged: Often entrenching traditional social and political conservatism, while at the same time spreading the gospel of material wealth—unusual for the Philippines— which could help spur development of businesses.

via WSJ.com.

44 groups likely to get seats in Congress-ABS-CBN/Pulse Asia exit poll

   

MANILA, Philippines—Of the 187 organizations that participated in the party-list election, 44 groups are likely to get seats in the House of Representatives, the results of an ABS-CBN/Pulse Asia exit poll showed on Wednesday.

Applying the seat allocation formula set by the Supreme Court in its April 2009 decision, these groups will be able to send 57 nominees to the 15th Congress.

The exit poll, conducted by Pulse Asia for ABS-CBN, interviewed 7,296 voters and has an error of margin of +/-1.8.

Via ABS-CBN News

ALSO READ:

Religious blocs fail to deliver

MANILA , Philippines —The results of the 2010 presidential and vice presidential elections have demystified the supposed political clout of various religious leaders who have held candidates hostage in past elections.

The biggest flops were Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in Davao City , and Brother Mariano “Mike” Velarde of the El Shaddai Movement.

The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), under the fresh leadership of the late Eraño Manalo’s son, more particularly lived up to its perceived influence in the vice presidential race.

via ABS-CBN News Online Beta.

Knowing your candidates

   

Method To Madness
By Patricia Evangelista, Inquirer

These columns were collected as an attempt to contribute to the discourse of the 2010 elections. The opinions are my own, the responsibility mine alone. That I do not endorse any one candidate does not mean I am not biased, as my standards and perspectives in these pieces are subjective in themselves.

These pieces were written, with one exception, during the run-up to the 2010 presidential elections. Most were written after interviews with the men in question. Some were time-bound, and were edited to suit a reading today. Others are as they were, with only stylistic changes unless noted after the piece.

PART 1: Eddie Villanueva, Noynoy Aquino, Richard Gordon

PART 2: Gilbert Teodoro, Joseph Estrada, Manny Villar

How the new Iglesia leader chose who to endorse

   

MANILA, Philippines—The new executive minister of the bloc-voting Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), Eduardo Manalo, may have his late father’s conservative views, but with a twist.

Manalo—Ka Eduardo to his flock—pulled a surprise on Wednesday when he endorsed the candidacy of Liberal Party standard bearers Benigno Noynoy Aquino III and Manuel Roxas II.

The announcement came amid expectations by some INC elders and insiders that the sect would pick Nacionalista Party presidential candidate Manuel Villar Jr. Between Aquino and Villar, the latter courted the INC endorsement more avidly.

via ABS-CBN News Online Beta.

ALSO READ: Erap ‘saddened’ by INC decision to endorse Noynoy

Lakas disappointed by INC support for Aquino

MEANWHILE:

Religious endorsements: Half-truths, bloated figures, with strings attached

MANILA, Philippines—With the new Iglesia ni Cristo head endorsing an unexpected choice for president, Benigno Aquino III, and with the El Shaddai leader’s bet being closely watched by political players and ordinary voters alike, the real capability of their organizations to deliver supposed bloc votes is the subject of debates again.

Nine years ago, just after the senatorial and local elections, Newsbreak magazine asked questions related to bloc voting sects: How much of these religious groups’ supposed strength and influence is myth? Are they any close to holding Philippine politics hostage? Or are they peddling half-truths?

The answer is, yes, they peddle half-truths, the estimates of the votes they can supposedly deliver is bloated, and their endorsements always come with strings attached. Even the candidates they supported in the past are downplaying the weight of the Iglesia ni Cristo support, for instance.

Via ABS-CBN News

AND: Noynoy on INC’s nod: Nothing asked, nothing promised

Iglesia Ni Cristo endorses Noynoy Aquino, Mar Roxas

   

Ending the suspense over the choice of one of the countrys most coveted command votes, the Iglesia Ni Cristo has endorsed Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Noynoy Aquino and his running mate Sen. Mar Roxas. The INC can deliver as many as two million votes.

GMA Networks Unang Balita reported the Iglesia Ni Cristo INC local church in Quezon City announced its decision at a liturgical service around 4:45 a.m.

Under its late patriarch Eraño Manalo, the INC was allied with ex-president Ferdinand Marcos in the 1986 snap elections against Aquinos mother, Cory Aquino, who would eventually become president after the fall of Marcos.

The INC has since endorsed the past two winning presidential candidates, Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Since the elder Manalo died last year, his son Eduardo Manalo has led the secretive, highly disciplined religious group founded by his grandfather Felix in 1914.

via GMANews.TV.

‘Iglesia’ set to endorse Noynoy, Mar

   

THE Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) is set to announce the names of the candidates they are endorsing in the May 10 polls either today or tomorrow.

A staff member who requested not to be identified said the announcement will be made during worship services. In this case, the endorsement will be made tomorrow, since no worship services are scheduled on Wednesdays.

Yesterday, reports circulated that the INC, which has some six million members and is know to vote as a bloc, will endorse the team of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

via Business Insight Malaya.

MORE NEWS ON THE PRES’L CANDIDATES:

Comelec reaffirms Estrada’s qualification to run

MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Elections on Tuesday reaffirmed its decision to allow deposed president Joseph Estrada to run for President in the May 10 elections.

At the same time, the Comelec also upheld earlier rulings disqualifying actor Richard Gomez and Palawan Representative Abraham Mitra from running for representative of Ormoc and governor of Palawan, respectively.

The Comelec, in dismissing the appeal of Evillo Pormento to kick out Estrada from the race for the presidency, said Pormento presented no argument that would make the poll body change its mind.

Via Inquirer.net

19 party-list groups endorse Gibo

MANILA, Philippines – A coalition of 19 party-list organizations including thousands of urban poor residents in Tondo, Manila declared their support for administration candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.

Former Interior secretary Rafael Alunan also joined in support of Teodoro.

Their endorsements came after Davao-based Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ picked Teodoro on Sunday.

via Phil. Star

Villar vows to bring home stranded OFWs on Day 1 of presidency

MANILA, Philippines – Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar has reiterated his vow to bring distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) back to the country and provide them with jobs and livelihood opportunities.

In his speech at his campaign rally in Vigan last Sunday night, Villar said this policy would be set into motion on Day One of his presidency.

He promised to establish a country that can provide opportunities to Filipinos so parents do not have to leave their families and children behind in order to work abroad.

Via Phil. Star

Quezon City court won’t stop poll surveys; denies Gordon’s TRO request

MANILA, Philippines – Citing lack of jurisdiction, a Quezon City court denied yesterday a petition of Bagumbayan Party standard-bearer Sen. Richard Gordon for a temporary restraining order to stop the release of survey results on presidential candidates by pollsters Social Weather Stations (SWS) Inc. and Pulse Asia Inc.

Judge Bayani Vargas of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 219 said it is the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that should determine whether the conduct and publication of surveys on voters’ preference violate the Fair Election Act.

“Considering that the authority to enforce and implement the said law pertains to the Comelec, to the court’s mind, the jurisdiction to rule on the issue brought before this court also belongs to the said body,” said the three-page order dated April 30.

Via Phil. Star

Race down to two, says Noynoy

   

•Says survey shows it’s time for others to withdraw

Aquino made the statement in Mabalacat, Pampanga, President Arroyo’s home province, following the release of the March 21-28 Pulse Asia survey showing him with 37 percent, or a 12-point lead over Nacionalista Party’s Sen. Manuel Villar.

Former President Joseph Estrada’s rating stayed at 18 percent while administration bet Gilberto Teodoro Jr. remained in fourth with 7 percent.

“Natural consequence yan. Parati naman pong yung No. 1 at No. 2 ang talagang magbabakbakan,” Aquino said.

via Business Insight Malaya | National.

ALSO READ:

Bro. Eddie likens presidential bid to fight vs ‘Goliaths’

As a televangelist who has yet to hold public office, Bro. Eddie Villanueva of Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Movement is aware that he is up against political “Goliaths” in his quest to become president of the country.

But like the biblical hero David, who defeated the giant Goliath despite his diminutive size, Villanueva is determined to win in the first ever nationwide automated elections on May 10 despite his poor performance in various presidential preference surveys, where he ranks only sixth among nine candidates.

Click GMANewsTV

Velarde endorsed winners

   

MANILA, Philippines—El Shaddai leader Mariano “Brother Mike” Velarde endorsed winners Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 1992, 1998 and 2004 elections, respectively.

In 1992, Velarde showed his support for Ramos by standing on his side of the stage during a prayer rally.

In 1998, only days before the elections, Velarde endorsed his choices for president and vice president with the use of a password.

In a prayer vigil attended by presidential and vice presidential candidates, El Shaddai members had been informed the candidates to be endorsed by Velarde would utter the password, “Tiyak ’yon (That’s for sure).”

Click INQUIRER.net.

ALSO READ:

El Shaddai leader not yet endorsing presidential bet

MANILA, Philippines — The top candidates came a courting, but there was no sweet answer yet from influential TV evangelist Bro. Mike Velarde of El Shaddai.

Velarde, who leads a Catholic charismatic group with a membership running in the millions and whose blessing is coveted by politicians, insisted that he has not made up his mind on whom to support in the May 2010 elections, and said he would decide a week before the polls.

“Many are running for the presidency and vice presidency… Up to now, we are still studying and looking for what will do us good and will not harm us,” Velarde said during the prayer vigil in Parañaque.

Click Inquirer.net

More bishops back JC for president

   

CBCP chief warns clergy vs partisan politics

MANILA, Philippines – While other presidential candidates tap celebrities to boost their campaigns, one of their rivals scored a coup of sorts after getting the endorsement of 6 Catholic bishops without really trying.

John Carlos 'JC’ delos Reyes, standard-bearer of Ang Kapatiran Party, has been described by the bishops as “the conscience vote for 2010.” (Read: Profile: John Carlos 'JC’ de los Reyes / JC de los Reyes’ first 100 days if elected)

Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles said the entry into the race of Delos Reyes and Ang Kapatiran Party, whose platform of government hews closely to Christian doctrine and principles, might provide the trigger for political change. (Read: JC de los Reyes: Sex know-how for youth is instinctive)

“They are the only candidates who speak their mind, speak what is truthful and what is honest and idealistic,” he added.

Click ABS-CBN News Online Beta.

Aquino arrives at El Shaddai Easter vigil

   

MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Benigno S. Aquino III was the first aspiring president to arrive at the El Shaddai Easter vigil in Paranaque Saturday night.

Aquino arrived at 9.50 p.m. with sisters Pinky, Ballsy and Kris.

Also present was Aquino’s running mate Sen. Mar Roxas and Kris’s husband, James Yap.

Aquino told reporters he was invited by Bro Mike Velarde and was going to talk with the group’s leader.

Click INQUIRER.net.

Bro. Eddie not eager to join protests

MANILA, Philippines – Unlike some religious leaders who have said that they might join a revolt in the event of failure of elections, Jesus Is Lord (JIL) founder Bro. Eddie Villa-nueva said he is not eager to join the bandwagon of protests.

Villanueva, presidential candidate of the Bangon Pilipinas Party (BPP), told editors of The STAR that he would rather exhaust all democratic and peaceful means instead of joining revolts.

Villanueva, a former student activist, has had his share of street demonstrations and was even arresyted twice during the martial law years.

Click Philippine Star.

ALSO READ:

A day in the life… of Bro. Eddie

MANILA, Philippines – Since joining the presidential race, Bro. Eddie, founder of the Jesus Is Lord Church worldwide, has sacrificed sleep for more time on the campaign trail. These days, four hours of sleep is about all he gets.

He woke up at 4 a.m. last Thursday so as not to miss the two-and-a-half-hour ferry ride from Sorsogon to Masbate.

A friend lent him and his Bangon Pilipinas Party (BPP) ticket for a private plane to get to the island province after a problem in the booking for passenger seats arose.

Click Phil. Star

Briefly

Hagedorn: Bro. Eddie open to endorsing another bet
• But Bro. Eddie denies allegation

PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines – The camp of Bro. Eddie Villanueva is open to endorsing another presidential candidate if there’s very little chance of him winning in the May 10 polls, according to a member of his Jesus Is Lord (JIL) religious group.

Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn, who is supporting JIL founder Villanueva, said there’s talk the TV evangelist may just endorse another bet if he sees that he won’t be able to win the presidency in his second attempt.

“May mga ganoong usapan. Pero siyempre, lahat naman ng kampo, nakikipag usap din kay Bro. Eddie. Maraming puwede pang mangyari. Medyo very fluid pa yung takbo ng ating sitwasyon ngayon,” Hagedorn said.

Click ABS-CBN News Online Beta.

Erap on pardon: I don’t owe Arroyo anything

This was the statement of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo despite the presidential pardon given to him three years ago.

“Siya ang may may utang na loob dahil inagawan ako ng puwesto (She’s the one who owe me because she stole the presidency from me),” Estrada said when he took the hot seat on GMA News’ election show “Kandidato,” which was aired Wednesday night.

He said Malacañang had asked him to issue a written apology in exchange for his pardon, but he declined it. He also denied that he asked for his pardon.

Click GMA News.TV

Gordon sings, dances with comic duo on YouTube

MANILA, Philippines – Bagumbayan presidential candidate Sen. Richard Gordon can be seen dancing and lip-synching with comic duo Moymoy Palaboy on popular video-sharing site YouTube.

The YouTube clip titled “In The Jungle Version 2,” uploaded last Sunday, has 37,499 hits as of yesterday morning and has drawn 516 mixed reviews. The video runs two minutes and 43 seconds.

The video clip shows Moymoy and his brother Roadfill performing their 2009 lip-synch video “In the Jungle “ featuring the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens. Gordon joins them in the middle of the song. The video opens with “Moymoy Palaboy for Sen. Dick Gordon” and ends with “To be continued.”

Click Phil. Star

Danding still mum on supporting Aquino

On Saturday night, Cojuangco, chair emeritus of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), said he would rather not be involved in politics anymore.

“Matanda na tayo, ayaw ko na makialam sa pulitika (We’re already old. I don’t want to be involved in politics anymore),” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Asked if the support of his daughter, Liza Cojuangco-Cruz, who had joined Aquino’s campaign sortie in Iloilo, and his brother, Henry, for Aquino was tantamount to his endorsement, Cojuangco said: “They are free to choose, bahala sila (It’s their call).”

via INQUIRER.net.

ALSO READ:

Noynoy patches up crack with televangelist

“What I heard is that Pastor Quiboloy was said to have expressed that he was touched by the humility of Noynoy,” said former agriculture secretary Butch Abad, general campaign manager of the Liberal Party.

“Noynoy sought out an appointment and Quiboloy granted that. Their talk was accompanied with a dinner,” he said.

Aquino was accompanied by his running mate, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas.

Click BusinessMirror.>

AND: Kris Aquino says she’s fed up by constant criticisms

Bishops warn voters vs overspending candidates

Sixteen members of the Catholic prelate led by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales called on voters on Saturday to beware of overspending candidates, saying that lavish campaign expenses in the past did not prove beneficial to the country.

“Excessive campaign expenses in the past did not augur good and responsive governance,” Cardinal Rosales along with 15 other bishops belonging to the Manila Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Province said in a pastoral statement on Saturday, excerpts of which were posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines news site.

Click GMANews.TV

ALSO READ:

Pastor getting mixed messages from Cory, ma

DAVAO CITY—HE’S GETTING there but even the divine may be having a hard time discerning the candidates.

Evangelist Apollo Quiboloy on Friday said he had had “initial visions” about whom to support for president.

But while waiting for “divine intervention,” he said he was torn between Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar.

Click Inquirer.net

AND: CBCP head reminds clergy to stay away from politics.

Religion and politics

By DUCKY PAREDES/Malaya

IF someone told me that he was the “appointed son of God,” that would be the end of our conversation. To me, there can be no meeting of the minds between a sane person (me) and someone apparently delusional and a certified nut case.

So, why are the majority of the presidentiables attending the presidential forum dubbed as Sukatan 2010 scheduled for tomorrow at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ The Name Above Every Name main headquarters?

This will be beamed live all over the world to be watched by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s six million followers. Quiboloy’s Sonshine Media Network International says that the presidential forum will “not be a debate, not a competition, not about grandstanding nor sweet talk. The contenders for the country’s top spot will sketch their blueprint, bring real solutions, outline their plan for building this nation.”

Click DUCKY PAREDES.