J.A. Carizo

I am a Politician

First they killed the Leftists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a Leftist.

Then they came for the drug users and addicts, and I did not speak out — because I was not a drug user nor an addict.

Then they came for the civilians and the innocent children, and I did not speak out — because I am not a civilian, nor a child.

Then they started killing politicians and I vehemently cried and condemned the act and called for public hearings — because I AM A POLITICIAN.

Source: @jacarizo

Political colors

Reducing the political discourse to mere color-coding is outright stupid. Yes, stupid and not even ignorance.

The concept of Dilawan to refer to the Liberal Party (LP) and Aquinos does not even hold water because LP members I know wore other colors, too. Even outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte even campaigned under the yellow banner in 2010. Was he a Dilawan? But he was seen raising hands with the members of the New People’s Army known as the Reds.

And the red color? Communists and even fascists wear red. Does that mean BBM is also an NPA member?

60% vs 16%: The battle of 2 meeting de avance

By: Gerome Sanchez

UNITEAM VS TROPA

Tonight ends the grueling, heart-wrenching, exhausting yet exciting 90-day campaign period for the national candidates – the presidentiables, vice-presidentiables, and senatoriables.

As it ends, the two frontrunner teams UNITEAM of BBM-Sara tandem and TROPA of Leni-Kiko tandem, gives all out for there respective meting de avance.

The problem with BBM’s economic platform

It seems that presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos is cramming in providing flesh for his economic platform. A few days ago, he made a pronouncement in one of his campaign sorties to lower the price of rice and peg it between 20 to 40 pesos.

Survey Sampling: Why are we not included?

Years ago, Lafayette Limited, one of the mining companies operating in the Rapu-rapu, Albay, had to open its gates for experts to conduct different kinds of tests to ensure that its operations are safe and does not harm the environment. Specialists were deployed including a team that collected water samples from a stream. During the collection process, one team member slipped and fell into the water that the rest have to wait for the sediments to settle down before completing the task. Just then, an onlooker residing near the area quipped: Why not just collect samples from the edge where the water was not disturbed?

The suggestion was practical, but the team leader just ignored the statement. Whether it was because of the “I am the expert here” attitude or he just didn’t care, nobody knew. What is clear is that one cannot just pick samples anywhere. There must be some standards to follow just like in judging the taste of an instant coffee. To judge whether the coffee is sweet or bitter, one need not drink the contents of whole cup. A spoonful would be enough, and that spoonful is what we call the “sample”. But of course, we need to stir the coffee first before we take our spoonful. Otherwise, we may just be collecting a wrong sample similar to the proposal of just collecting water from the edge of the stream.

The concept of sampling, be these in streams or in cups of coffee, is the same as in the conduct of surveys. But since we cannot literally stir the people to be able to get a “spoonful” of sample, we follow protocols on how and where to select the respondents. To determine the “how” and the “where” we go back to the “why” – that is, the purpose of our survey.