Wednesday, January 16, 2008 Antalan: President for 2010 By Roger P. Antalan Dateline IGaCoS
"THE Race is On" declared the banner headline a few weeks ago. And there is still a full two years before the 2010 presidential elections.
Presidential hopefuls are revving up their parties and their electoral machines and are coming out of the closet to smile at cameras and shake the hands of the people.
The political operators are even looking for and are drawing up various combinations of President and Vice President hoping to hit upon an attractive partnership that will tickle the voters' fancy.
These are the early birds at the starting block: Mar Roxas, Manuel Villar, Ping Lacson, Loren Legarda, Richard Gordon, Bayani Fernando, and Jejomar Binay. Mention is also made of greenhorn Francis Escudero and the veteran Aquilino Pimentel. Disgraced (but pardoned) former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada has even stirred political waters by making noises about a return bout, and the followers of FVR say, Ramos may run too.
Many people are worried about the here and now. Our leaders should devote their time to the present problems that are dragging the country downwards.
It's too early to talk about 2010. Well, politics is our favorite preoccupation and this time it is the presidential election that is being talked about. A grizzled politician once said: "Everyday is election day." Also, a columnist said: "We are at our liveliest when we are in the state of perpetual campaign."
In the local scene, people love it when the campaign perks up early and when there are many candidates fighting it out for a few positions. "Maayo kung daghan ang modagan, Alegre ug buhi ang tanan." (It's great when there are many candidates, it's going to be lively and we can make a living.)
Davao City Mayor Duterte came out early with the statement that he is not supporting any of the early candidates. That's a wise move. Many things can happen between now and May 2010 that will change the political landscape.
This is wishful thinking. If only we have some sort of primaries like what they do in the USA, where people all over the country are first given the chance to choose who will be the candidates. The voters are given plenty of time to study the pros and cons of each of the presidential candidates. A new and exciting face may turn up.
Take the case of Barack Obama. He was an unknown, a neophyte senator from Illinois. Now they are talking about the Obama phenomenon. Obama's message of hope, healing and change drew thousands to the primaries to stand with a man who is not only running for president but also trying to build a new type of political movement.
Obama may not end up as president, the process of selecting the presidential candidates for both the Republican and Democrat parties in the US is still going on. Our point is that we should have other choices aside from the traditional line-up of politicians.
We don't have to go far. In Pampanga, the miraculous victory of Fr. Among Ed Panlilio against Lilia Baby Pineda, wife of alleged "jueteng" lord Bong Pineda and Lapid, the lackluster incumbent during the last elections, is already part of political lore. Last week, the reluctant Governor was chosen Filipino of the Year 2007 by the Inquirer "for his inspiring election victory, his surprising political savvy, and his initial success despite great difficulty."
This is not a direct endorsement of Governor Ed Panlilio, but the Pampanga experience tells us that Filipinos can rise above the depressing reality of Philippine politics, above entrenched political dynasties, the politics of personality, and deep rooted patronage abetted by "jueteng" money and other corrupt practices.
For 2010, we are looking for a president that possesses "integrity, competence and independence." Someone who has the capacity to make people feel good about their country, a unifying figure without the usual political baggage that accompanies veteran political experiences, a conciliatory figure that can bridge the gap between the forever warring factions of Philippine politics, a breath of fresh air in the dusty and polluted corridor of power.
As the late President John F. Kennedy once said: "It is time to find a torch bearer to put this nation back on the right track and make the citizens proud of their country again."
Is this wishful thinking? Sometimes, miracles happen.
