Friday, March 16, 2007 Speak out: If these seven things should happen By Harvey S. Keh
PEOPLE who know me know that I love the Philippines very much and that I am not really one who rants and complaints to high heavens about what is happening to our country.
In fact, I feel that at my relatively young age of 27, I have done much service to the Philippines.
I have set up Pathways to Higher Education, which has sent more than 500 poor but deserving students to college, and Ahon Foundation, which has already built two public elementary school libraries that have benefited more than 3,500 students.
Yet, after seeing how events in our nation have transpired and talking with some ends, I feel the urge to share with you my own thoughts and feelings.
We have seen the setting up of two major political alliances for the senatorial polls. We now have two political forces with familiar faces.
On one end, you have Tito Sotto and Tessie Aquino-Oreta, stalwarts of the opposition and the Fernado Poe Jr. campaign in 2004, hobnobbing with the woman whom they claimed cheated FPJ in the last presidential elections.
On the other side of the fence, you see Manny Villar, the former house speaker who was actually responsible for impeaching Erap, now part of the Genuine Opposition, which is led by no less than Erap himself.
Now if you don't see anything wrong with this picture then you must be one of the many Filipinos who have accepted this very sad reality that there are no permanent ideals that our government leaders stand up for.
It is because of this kind of politics that I no longer wonder why good people like Ramon Magsaysay awardee Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga City or outstanding Bulacan Gov. Josie de la Cruz will find it hard to get elected to national positions.
1. If former Comelec commissioner Virgilio Garcillano of Hello Garci fame wins in his bid to become congressman of Bukidnon, wee would really be the laughingstock of the whole world.
2. If Dancing Queen Tessie Aquino Oreta reclaims her seat in the Senate...But let us make sure that people like her never make it to the Senate again.
3. If Richard Gomez becomes a senator, what does he know about making laws?
4. If Gringo Honasan wins again…Have we not learned our lesson?
5. If Manny Pacquiao becomes congressman of General Santos City...Well, everybody loves Manny the boxing champ, but Manny the lawmaker?
6. If Lito Lapid wins for mayor of Makati City... I don't like Jojo Binay, but Lapid as city mayor of the country's finance and business center?
7. If Chavit Singson becomes a senator…But illegal gambling equals Chavit. Enough said.
Now if all of these seven things happen during the coming elections then don't be surprised if I leave this country that I love dearly.
Like I said during the first part of my letter, I feel that I have done much for this country but I think it’s time that we Filipinos become more vigilant and critical in selecting our leaders for the sake of our future and the generations that will go beyond us.
So I appeal to every Filipino: Choose and vote for the right people in the coming elections.
Huwag na tayong magpaloko sa mga kandidatong maganda lang ang jingle o gwapo lang sa mga poster.
Let us choose leaders who have a good track record for service and who are genuinely committed towards serving our country.
Manindigan naman tayong lahat para sa ating kinabukasan at para sa kapakanan ng ating Bayan.
