New Politics Presidential Candidate Nick Perlas Suggests Better Noynoy Aquino Path to Presidency

I am enlightened by environmentalist Nicanor Perlas' assessment that a unity brought about by a common vision and strategic agenda for the Philippines is longer-lasting than a unity against a common enemy, which is what is actually happening now with the unification of some presidentiables giving up their candidacy to give way to Noynoy to bring down the Arroyo camp candidate.

His article also revealed to me why I am still apprehensive with Noynoy's candidacy. The questions which are at the back of my mind are: Is the Liberal Party trapo? Or, at least, are there LP members who are trapo? What is the assurance that if Noynoy would win as president, some LP members would not actually be "running" the Office of the President? What is Noynoy's vision and strategic agenda for the Philippines and how does he plan to lead the country to such goals?

Anyways, he had just recently made the decision to run for the presidency. Let us give him time to sort out his plans for the Philippines. One important thing with him is that he is the presidentiable with the purest of intentions.

Nonetheless, read Nick Perlas' sensible take on Noynoy Aquino's candidacy and the kind of unity the Philippines needs by clicking Filipino Voices...

Noynoy Finally Announces His Bid for the Presidency

As "The Son" rises, is there hope for a sunshiny brand new day for the Philippines?

Eversince Senator Mar Roxas vacated LP's seat for the presidential candidacy I have been in a dilemma, and I think many Filipinos share the same state of indecision with me, of whether or not Senator Noynoy Aquino fits the bill as the President of the Philippines in 2010. Given the choices in the presidential candidates buffet table, I had no appetite to feast on any of them.

But served with a new dish, relatively foreign, since he was out of the limelight prior to his good mother's death, I am considering waiting in the buffet line. But the question that keeps on nagging me is "Can he really do it?" Sans the favorable bias that he benefited from the deaths of his parents and listening to the apprehensions of his critics and other Filipino voters, I was in doubt.

The way I see it, his proven integrity (and that of his family) is what sets him apart from the other presidentiables. Is this integrity more important than the "proven track records" of the other candidates to redeem Juan dela Cruz from his misery? We can answer this by asking another question: What really ails Juan dela Cruz?

Without batting an eyelash my answer would be "moral decay", corruption in particular, gnawing at the moral fiber of the government and our society. You beg to disagree? Think: What really makes Juan dela Cruz poor? Is it really overpopulation? Or overpopulation of crooks and relatives in the government? Why is our educational system so flawed? What cracks our roads? The list continues... But the most interesting question is: Why do a lot of politicians scramble for low-paying positions in government, willingly paying millions, if not billions, of pesos just to become a lowly "public servant"?

Conrado De Quiros' Inquirer.net column today entitled "Yes He Can" seems to answer my quandary of Noynoy's capability to become the next Philippine President. The following paragraphs are snippets of his column that made me think:

What this country needs today is not someone to manage things, it is someone to clean up things. What we need today is not someone to make a business flourish, it is someone to make a dwelling place habitable, one whose previous tenant left it in a condition only cockroaches, rats, and real-estate speculators, in ascending order of predation, can appreciate. Who better to do this than Noynoy?

Or if you persist in using the CEO image, the job at hand is CEO, but only of a company that has been bankrupted by a bunch of crooks. Whom would you hire to revive it? An efficiency freak with a long résumé but who has business interests that compete with the company, who is a known tirador or beholden to people who are, and who therefore can only be trusted to efficiently pillage some more? Or someone you can trust?

...the question “Can Noynoy do it?” is a wrong one. The real question is, “Can we do it?” To paraphrase John F. Kennedy, what we need today is to ask not what the president can do for us but what we can do for the president.

The power of a democracy does not lie in a strong leader—or heaven forbid, strong republic—it lies in a strong people...

You have to read de Quiros' entire column though, and see for yourself if you can be convinced to believe that he can. No, we can! Here is the link to Yes, He Can.

Which Man of God is Serving Which God?

One of today's top stories:

Panlilio, Padaca offer full support for Noynoy in 2010

Throwing their support behind Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio and Isabela Governor Grace Padaca on Friday announced that they will no longer join the 2010 presidential race.

"Pagkatapos ng aming pagdarasal, pakikilahok sa mga kaganapan sa ating lipunan at pag-iisip at pagkonsulta sa aming mga taga-suporta, nagpasya kaming lahat na tugunan ang tawag ng pagmamahal sa bayan, sakripisyo at pagkakaisa na pinangunahan na ni Senator Mar Roxas noong...

To read the rest of the report by MARK D. MERUEÑAS and JOHANNA CAMILLE SISANTE, please click here GMANews.TV
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Meanwhile, on one side of the multi-sided Philippine political fence, another "Ed of God" vying for the Philippine presidency made a differing announcement to that of the on-leave priest. The report by Dennis Carcamo of Philstar News Service follows:
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Villanueva pushing through with presidential bid

MANILA, Philippines – Jesus Is Lord leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva said he will pursue his presidential candidacy and will not follow the move of Sen. Mar Roxas, who two days ago gave up his 2010 bid.

“The only way to achieve Bangon Pilipinas’ vision of a new Philippines and platform of righteous governance is to stay in the race,” Villanueva said in a statement.

Although he respects Roxas' decision, Villanueva -- also the head of the political party Bangon Pilipinas – said the Liberal Party head's move will not dissuade him from pushing through with his plans for the country.

"The Liberal Party’s move does not influence Bangon Pilipinas' own plans,” he added.

Roxas earlier withdrew from the presidential race to give way to partymate Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

In a radio interview, Villanueva said Bangon Pilipinas offers voters a “true alternative” in the 2010 polls.
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In one of the previous front-page reports of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, a comment to this effect was written: GMA must be so bad, several "Men of God" want to run for president. It is part funny, part exasperating, and perhaps partly true.

But another thing that is both funny but exasperating is the propensity for disunity of Filipinos, especially among different organizations, despite the commonality of their professed good intentions.

Take for example the several separate group or cause websites for Cory Aquino, or for the Philippines (not just Definitely Filipino), or for Cebu, popping up in Facebook. More or less they share similar objectives, why can they not volt in as one big ultra electromagnetic machine, like the five special earth defense agents of Voltes V, to effect a greater impact.

In like manner, the Philippines is in dire need of a consortium of opposition parties and candidates which carry the banner for reform for the restitution of the moral fiber of the now decadent Philippine political system and leadership.

While Noynoy discerns for a big decision, perhaps the biggest in his life, many Filipinos contemplate whether he is already The One, or not. But in the meantime, with the turn of events, we get a glimpse of who to cross out in our list of our presidential bets, thus, making the decision process less difficult. If we read between the lines quoted from the other opposition parties reacting to the foregoing of Mar Roxas' presidential bid in favor of Noynoy Aquino, there are hints of how their professed messianic intentions for the Philippines tilt toward the deliverance of their respective parties rather than for the entire damned nation.

I beg of you, always be on the lookout, Pinoys!

Mar of the Hour

Senator Manuel Roxas II is definitely the Man of the Hour for his gentlemanly act of vacating and offering the seat for presidential candidacy to his partymate Senator Benigno Aquino III. This is one move I had been waiting for from the other presidential wanna-be's preaching reform and change. Almost everyone is appreciative and full of praise for what Korina Sanchez's fiance' did, save for the negative and vague comment from Malacanang. Well, this unity is, afterall, intended to dismount this administration's pack of wolves'greedy grip to power.

For some reasons, I was a Mr. Palengke fan. But after months of seeing Mr. Palengke-transformed to Mr. Padyak TV ads everyday, he lost me as part of his voting market. But his recent move probably gained him my vote for his vice presidency.

However, one point running in my mind that keep on nagging me all day long is people's comment about his "sacrifice". In the first place, if the intentions of those running for president are really pure, it would already be a sacrifice to run for presidency, if indeed, the real intention is public service. But if it is just political ambition, and he stepped down from his candidacy to give it to Noynoy, now that is sacrifice. To give up his candidacy is not really that great a sacrifice.So the question is, was his intention to run only a personal political ambition considering that he sees his stepping down as a sacrifice? Or is the sacrifice he is referring to is the humongous cost of his premature politcal ads? I also hope that this sacrifice is beyond the sacrifice for the unity of the Liberal Party only, in the same manner that I wish opposition candidates would be selfless enough to forego their candidacy for the welfare of the Philippines and not just for their respective parties.

What would be a greater sacrifice, giving up a political ambition the realization of which is yet very uncertain? Or giving up a relatively serene political life after all his family had gone through in the previous years, cutting short the grieiving period for a lost beloved mother, and perhaps postponing a possible forthcoming tying the knot with a loved one?

If our presidential candidates see the Philippine presidency as a royal throne, then foregoing an opportunity to sit on it is ultimately a sacrifice. But if our presidential candidates see the Philippine Presidency as a humble public servant's workbench, then stepping down from candidacy would not be that huge a sacrifice.

Whatever their original intentions for running are, I hope that the other opposition candidates, especially those clamoring for reform, will set aside this desire to sit on the royal throne and selflessly roll out the red carpet for the one they think our country badly needs. Mar has already set the stage...