It’s less than 5 days before the elections. Up until now, many are still confused whom they should be voting especially on the derby arena of the presidential race. Many have tried to study each and every candidate; that… includes me, I think. We have 8 candidates for the presidency: Noynoy Aquino, Manny Villar, Dick Gordon, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Gibo Teodoro, Nick Perlas, Jamby Madrigal, and JC delos Reyes. Each and every candidate has his or her own abilities, flaws, and unique ways of leadership, that, I have found to be true.
I’m not an expert in studying politicians or politics per se. I have no degree of such that deal with political analysis and the like. I just try to read articles, listen to experts, and most of the time, “debate” through the web with other people with regards to their opinions.
Let’s loosen up and go straight to the point. I would first commend all the candidates for filing their COCs. In fairness to them, they had the GUTS to file them—knowing that they are going to enter a tarnished process of elections here in the Philippines. Think about this: it takes guts to be bombarded with insensitive, judgmental, illogical, and personal questions coming from nobody people. For these, I salute them.
Disclosing my personal bias, I’d be voting for Dick Gordon. Also, I won’t discuss about Jamby Madrigal, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Nicanor Perlas, and JC Delos Reyes, Gibo Teodoro, and Manny Villar simply because they do not fall under the 4 criterion that I have read and believed in in one of the blog posts: The 4 Cs—Competence, Consistency on issues, Character, and Context. (Sorry, I forgot where I saw this :()
Let’s first discuss the most popular presidential candidate: Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Cojuangco Aquino III. Well of course, many of us, or probably, all the registered voters know that he is the son of the late Ninoy and Cory Aquino. He is part of the political dynasty of the Cojuangco’s and Aquino’s in Tarlac. His family has been running our country for many years. Needless to say, his mother once became a president of this great nation, and His dad became one of the most influential senators in the country. Well, going back to Noynoy, he served as a congressman and as a senator during his early political careers. Many say that he is the sure-shot-winner in this race (well, based on the surveys.) But again, I’d like to discuss Noynoy as who he is and what he has done nothing more, nothing less. This means, I’d like to close the issue and fact that he is the son of two of the most influential people in our country, his parents.
Let’s sieve Nonoy with the first C—Competence. Once again, Noynoy served as a three-termer congressman in his hometown and has been part of the senate since the year 2006. Among all criticisms, I have to give him credit for passing, authoring, and signing bills that are IMPORTANT for the people and for the majority. For me, the quality and the value of one’s bills are far more important than the number of bills passed/ authored/ co-authored. I put emphasis on the “IMPORTANT” bills. He authored bills for the "minority" people, those who are vulnerable. We must remember that those who are known to be the "minority" are the majority of this nation (in terms of population). Many of Noynoy's bills have not been publicized since many of them are labor bills. And many of his bills have not been supported since some of which do not favor majority of his colleagues’ advocacies. A lot of people, including me, were not able to see and feel these because we (my circle of friends, my family, and my relatives) are not part of the “minority” group. We have to face the fact that we are not part of the “masa”. Good for you if you have felt this. But in general, we do not worry about what we are going to eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Those people, who felt this, are those people who fret if they even have food to be served on their tables or know these because they read and watch news, and see the perspective of what Noynoy sees. But again, to balance this, Tarlac has not improved that much. I’m sorry to my friends who are from Tarlac, that I may have overlooked the real condition there since I’m just basing my stand from statistics seen on books and articles. I’d like to throw the question: How many generations have the Cojuangco’s and Aquino’s been ruling Tarlac? How far has the family brought Tarlac to progress?
Consistency on issues. If one had studied Noynoy’s program, I believe that you would be encouraged to vote for him because of his “beautiful” programs. His prioritization of needs is far way more impressing than that of other candidates. But then again, we cannot totally lobby this as correct and infallible. We can put into context that these programs can be analyzed and be written by the experts. As a scenario, experts put it into paper-- submit it to Noynoy--Noynoy does a press conference and publishes that these things are really his advocacies. Then again, I would be vouching that this would be also true to other candidates; but I guess, the ultimate thing to be answered here is: can he possibly do these? Was Noynoy able to prove this before? Is he capable of materializing all these? Well for me, my answer would be simple—No. I said earlier that he has passed bills for the “minority” those “vulnerable” and for those “with no voices”. I congratulate him for this. But just like in IV lines, sometimes, there are side drips. Consider the Central Azucarera massacre a.k.a. Hacienda Luisita Massacre. The people affected here were farmers. They are part of the “vulnerable” people. Why have they been affected with such misfortune? Again, maybe, Noynoy was not part of this, but as a human person, one cannot really remove the fact that he is part of the family that “did” this horrible event. (Fact: up until now, the issue is still in courts). Also, his programs cater to the poor. I guess, above all things-- blatantly promising that he would end poverty, he should first focus on the economic progress of the country, which, in his past rulings, he wasn’t able to prove. He focused on small, meticulous, time-consuming programs. I don’t say that these are bad stuff. But what I’m driving at is, he lacks the perspective of viewing everything from the top.
Character and Context. Many say that Noynoy has the character of a good leader. He is religious, righteous, and kind. He is diplomatic, and he is careful with his words. I agree with him when he says that we, the people, are the ones that would end the problems of our nation. In my own perspective, given the fact that our country is dwindling, I don’t think that we need a person who is careful with his words, I don’t think that we need a leader who is too “democratic”. Yes, I believe that democracy is the best way of governance and it should be led by leaders who are... democratic. However, we have to face the fact that the Filipino people have abused our democracy. We need a leader who can control us, who can influence people, and who can lead by example. A leader who can be man enough to show that he has control.
I’m done with Noynoy Aquino. Let’s talk about my favorite candidate, Richard “Dick” Gordon. Well, he is the perfect candidate for me. First thing, Dick Gordon is a civil servant, an environmentalist, and a lawyer. He was part of the delegation when the 1971 constitutional convention was held. He was the Mayor of Olongapo City from 1980-1986; then he was re-elected in that same position and place in 1988. He became the chair and administrator of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in 1992-1998. Of course, who would forget that he was the secretary of tourism in 2001-2004 that paved way for millions of people to have jobs. Lastly, he became a senator in the year 2004 and would be ending his term this year.
He in my opinion is the best since I believe that one can only lead by example. He did things and have proved to people that he is a man who can lead a certain community to another pedestal. A community which is better than it was first found. Take a look at Subic Bay. I have been there lately and I saw how wonderful Subic has become. I strongly believe that his leadership during the times Olongapo was at its worst was effective that he transformed a devastated land into something that is productive.
Let’s slice him up. Competency. Richard Gordon can be said to be competent for the position like Noynoy; but, Gordon proved things far better than Noynoy. Richard Gordon transformed Subic bay as what we can see Subic bay now. Fact is, he started from scratches. He proved that with the kind of leadership he possesses, people can transcend to another level. That’s what I’m most convinced of. That’s why I would vote for him. He leads by example and there are a lot of proofs.
Consistency on issues. If Noynoy thinks that ending corruption would be his priority, Gordon on the other hand focuses on economic growth. More investors, more jobs; more jobs, increased productivity; more productivity, more opportunities for the Filipinos. Well of course, hindi lang to yung kanyang program but he wants to start from this. I believe he is consistent with the current issues facing our country. He addresses them one by one. He has programs for them. He has specific ways on how to address them. He once said that he will do what he has already done. The only problem with Gordon’s past leadership is his labile alliances. As an example, he gave way to different bills even if at first, he agreed but since many thought that what he did was wrong, he later withdrew his stand or better yet, he remained silent.
I’ve been listening and watching different debates and/or forums. Noynoy sees that the major problem here in the Philippines is corruption. I don’t see it as the main problem of this land. I give it once more to Gordon who views that the major problem in our country is demoralization and lack of spirituality. I break into the horizon with Gordon because I think that even if you have controlled corruption but you still have demoralized people, then nothing was and will ever be solved. Empowerment, as what I believe in, is the key to success. If each and every Filipino has been empowered, then, people would learn how to change. A leader, as what I have said must set the pulse to each of his or her constituents. A leader must lead by example.
Character and Context. In our country, in our current situation, what we need is a democratic leader who can control people—not in its underrated term. People would elect a leader whom they trust. However, if we solely leave it to trust, we aren’t sure if there would even be a forward movement. Okay, fact is, I trust Noynoy as much as Gordon. However, Gordon has proven to his people that he can “transform” the views, the ways, and the means to upscale our moral.
Talk about character. Many question Gordon’s character because he talks so tough, straight to the point. However, be reminded that what he says are honest things. Morally speaking, who are we to judge his personality? Should we be basing things as we see them? I believe that there are always two sides of a coin. One that can be said as “good”, and one as “bad”. We cannot say that one person is bad because his acts are bad (well, in the context of stereotypes). A person's totality will never-ever be absolute. What we must remember is that everyone has their own ways on how to mask their own faces. People make façades to make them more acceptable to others. This is just natural. If you believe in the saying: “there is always a good side in a person”; then, you must also believe that there is an inner bad in one person. What I believe in Gordon is that he is true to his own character. If ever his intimidating stance offends you, then at least, give him the benefit of the doubt that he also has a “prim-and-proper” way of facing people that you might accept wholeheartedly.
As what I have said earlier, I won’t discuss the other Texas chickens. Two reasons: first, they don’t qualify to my personal standards. And second, this whole damn article would be very long.
Just like intelligent people will say, what’s far more important are the things that you learn along the process. So, I’ll be ending this with: Things that I have learned during the election season. Here goes:
(1) Winning a debate, a conversation, or a thread in a social networking page doesn’t necessarily prove that you are smarter or better than the other person. It just proves that you are more prepared with your ammos and he/ she isn’t or, his choice of candidate isn't that qualified.
(2) Choosing a leader is difficult given the fact that many of the candidates are really good. What matters most is on how you evaluate the leaders based on the 4 Cs (Competence, Consistency on issues, Character, and Context)
(3) Choosing the next president doesn’t solely depend on critiquing the leaders. It involves self-knowledge, self-awareness, and reevaluating your own personal values and principles. Many would end up literally or figuratively killing other people just because their values aren’t at par with them. As I have learned from my leadership classes, one must master one’s self first before one decides. This decreases the probability of making erroneous decisions.
(4) Sorry for the term, but surveys are bull cr*p. Well of course, statistically speaking, it is important and it serves as records. Just like what my dad said, "masarap ang feeling pagkanasa top ka ng survey at malalaman mo kung kailangan mo pang mangampanya pero, sana hindi ito pinu-publish." Surveys set the pulse of the elections here in the Philippines. Sometimes, because of this, people would not vote for another candidate because they do not show good numbers in surveys. Furthermore, people tend to choose the less evil well in fact, there are candidates who are GOOD. I’m coming from a perspective that I have noticed that the SWS and Pulse Asia surveys do not release the methodology of their sampling. I checked their page but I can't understand a sh*t. How would then I trust their results? Well, I’m guessing, maybe, they might be correct with their releases but I’m not throwing the possibility that cheating might have been involved. My point is, one should not be dictated or influenced by surveys. One’s personal judgment is FAR more important than the surveys.
(5) Whoever wins the presidential race, let’s support him or her. In the end, we would be the ones who would make our destinies.
I’m not an advocate of convincing people to vote for whom I think is the best candidate. I’m simply here to let others feel the need to stretch their brain cells during elections; and, to let them vote, come Election Day.
Reminder: whoever wins this presidential race, let’s just support him. Here’s my prediction: Noynoy Aquino would be our next president and he will only lead by a few margin. VP would be Mar Roxas. (I hate it when my candidates do not win. :() By the way, I’m for Bayani Fernando for VP. :D
Happy and Honest Elections to all of us. May God be with us! MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS!
