In other words, Noynoy is no more than a demagogue — good at appealing to emotion but utterly one-dimensional in his regard for any issue of consequence. So, yes, there needs to be a bit of a fighting-fire-with-fire element here to appeal to the same sort of sensibilities that appeal to those who latch on to his empty platitudes.

Noynoy had a headstart in the ‘cool’ department. That’s because Pinoys aren’t really known for their stoic edgeyness preferring instead the warm fuzzy world of cringe-worthy love-ins of mutually-assured niceness.

i just talked to someone who has interviewed Noynoy… perception is that he’s really a limp, wet, biscuit. I’m not going to defend him, but I disagree that attacking him on his personality and inherited credibility (no matter how annoying, and illogical this is) will not work on a broad scale because people will defend him using exactly the same things – perceptions are subjective after all and not all of us have first hand experience of what it’s like to talk to him and see for ourselves. Attacking him on his platform and achievements in a dispassionate and fair way i think will be more effective in the end because it will provoke less emotional reactions, and when it comes to an emotional arsenal Noynoy can out gun them all. He’s like an emotional war lord with a huge private army on his side.

To follow up on that though, emotional and cleverly written attacks on Noynoy do have their role… they pull the cynics and sort of intellectuals and give the anti noynoy camp a cool, rebellious edge. But the dispassionate, thoughtful criticism should also follow to complete the arguments and make a substantial point.

it is also NOT true, that a person who has as his sole ambition to be president, that he MUST have some big vision for the country. it is true he has PERSONAL AMBITION, but this doesnt mean he has a vision of development.

If that’s true about Noynoy, then he’s not the man for the job, plain and simple.

No ingrained vision because he was reluctant to run?

the implicit assumption — the ONLY reason not to run is the lack of said vision.

that betrays a misunderstanding of the costs/problems of the undertaking of a presidential campaign, not to mention being president itself.

sadly, that isnt true. one can have a vision, but opt not to run for a myriad of reasons (reasons that he himself explained, but that you conveniently forget!)

it is also NOT true, that a person who has as his sole ambition to be president, that he MUST have some big vision for the country. it is true he has PERSONAL AMBITION, but this doesnt mean he has a vision of development.

Reluctant because Originally no plans to run ergo No ingrained vision for the presidency and as such No personal conviction relevant to being President of the Republic.

It’s simple, really™.

huh? reluctant to run =no personal conviction? you are reaching, friend!

In that BarrioSiete article, Noynoy was actually referred to as “the reluctant” candidate. Classy. Personal conviction is not there not to mention all the already sufficiently-highlighted crucial ingredients to a credible term of office as top excecutive of the land — a vision, a plan, and a bit of character attributable to one’s own achievement. All non-existent in the most popular candidate of the land.

But he is popular, and he will probably win. Sad reality in a sad sad land.

I’m having a hard time deciding what it is about Noynoy: Is it lack of character to lead his followers, or is it a cynical, highly-trapo attitude towards politics wherein he believes it’s both possible and perfectly acceptable to let people push him into office? Which then frees him from having to take any sort of stand or responsibility — “I’m only here because you (in the case of the video, the you is represented by the Beautiful People) wanted me to be, therefore whatever happens is not my fault.” Far from being the nerdy, deferential good guy he tries to come across as, he’s actually displaying a huge messianic complex. But even most other would-be messiahs have some sort of plan, no matter how crazy.

1) as a man knowledgeable about marketing, you know that there are different kinds of ads. in fact, there are only 12 kinds of ads in the world…. http://www.slate.com/id/2170872/slideshow/2170932/fs/0//entry/2170933/

the noynoy ad here is “celebrities ad/user imagery ad”. there are 12 kinds of product/service ads, but i suggest far fewer kinds of political ads.

the nature of the medium (short, visual) places limits on the kinds of things you can communicate.

are you saying you are against anysort of imagery in TV ads?

there is also something about the nature of the philippine presidency that you are missing. in the philippines, there are no swing topics, topics that you can campaign on to swing public opinion to you. none, except perhaps one — attitudes toward the incumbent.

coz there are no swing topics, and no negative campaigning, that severely limits the kind of ads you can have even more.

2) i’m concerned about this: ““If you were in the shoes of the Aquinos, and these stars are offering their support freely, wouldn’t it be rude to decline knowing that their only intention is to show everyone what they believe in”.”

and you call this utang na loob. thats a hell of a logical jump.

also, you call the volunterism, contrived? why? what does contrived volunteerism even mean?

are you saying they didnt volunteer? that they are lying?

3) after quoting ai ai’s comment, you write: “…perhaps society would have been better off had these “opinions” remained “silent”.”

why? whats wrong with what she said?