Friends have been asking me who my candidate for President is, and most of the time I don’t give a straight answer, The reason is simple: I am a journalist, and I don’t want to give the impression that I am biased for any candidate. But since there are only a few more days till election day – assuming it actually pushes through – then I think it’s safe to reveal my choice.
It’s Noynoy.
All the other candidates proclaim their qualifications like they were the be-all and end-all of the presidency. Noynoy, however, has been transparent and has never claimed to know all the answers to all our problems. But what he has is something the other candidates don’t: the trust and confidence of the people.
What we need is a leader who can inspire us to greatness, not one who promises to solve all our problems for us. If we believe in the line “the Filipino can,” then the leader we choose must be the one who can tap into that innate ability – not one who we will expect to do all the work himself.
Besides, what have the other candidates’ qualifications done for them? Senator Manny Villar used his “sipag at tiyaga” to amass a fortune – but apparently through unethical means. Former Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro may have “galing at talino,” but it proved no match for the onslaught of typhoon Ondoy when he failed to mount a decent rescue operation as head of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).
How about Senator Richard Gordon? Forget about it. Bro. Eddie Villanueva? I supported him in 2004, but I think his time has passed; 2004 was his year to be President, but his group failed to translate the massive support of the people into actual votes. Nicanor Perlas is certainly qualified, but he hasn’t really sparked the imagination of the people. I don’t trust Senator Jamby Madrigal because she tried to pay me and other Davao City journalists after an interview when she first ran for the Senate. JC delos Reyes is too religious; I don’t want my President to impose the Catholic church’s laws on the country.
Noynoy may not have had a stellar career, but he is clean, he is honest, and he commands respect. If he can get us all to work together, then half his job is done.
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This is quite interesting…and I must say convincing. Simple and yet profound. Two more days to think and pray…then act.