Noynoy for President

I used to like Mar. He was not your traditional politician. He was respectable unlike others who hold the same job. He had class.

Then he decided to take a shot the presidency and slowly my regard of him to take the high road in his campaign peeled away. Who wouldn't when he aired those ill-conceived TV ads? When he proposed to Korina Sanchez on national TV? When his 'traditional' pamamanhikan gets media coverage?

Even with those PR stunts, he was still trailing miserably in the national surveys to Villar and Estrada. Then Cory died and the political landscape changed.

There was a growing clamor for Noynoy to run for higher office. Not long after Cory's burial, Mar dropped out of the race to gave way for Noynoy. His move was called heroic, statesmanlike. Mar really had no choice. His dreams for the presidency had gone kaput.

Noynoy gave in to the clamor and officially announced his candidacy on on the 40th day of his mother's passing. The first thought that came to mind when I heard the news was "Where can I register?".

Yep. I will be rooting for Noynoy, exhibiting the same passion I did when I rooted for Raul Roco. Others have said, including some I personally know, that Noynoy is too young. He is too raw. He needs more experience. He has been a politician for 11 years - 9 in Congress, 2 in the Senate. How many more does he need? 15 years? perhaps 20?

Until when is one ripe to run for higher office? Until one is snarled by dirty politics? Until one is indebted to so many people politically he has lost count of them? Until one has made a noisy dissent on a political scandal? Until one has amassed millions that he could not possible want more when he ascends the presidency?

If not Noynoy, then who? Villar? The one who is so atat na ata maging presidente with his TV ads? I wonder how he would recoup his investment. Surely, he must get that money back and more when he wins. The cost of those ads could possibly be in the hundreds of millions and the campaign has not yet officially begun.

If not Noynoy, then who? de Castro? That news anchor who had a field day exposing politician's dirty tricks in MGB many years ago but has been mum on the blatant lying and cheating that the administration he now serves is doing?

If not Noynoy, then who? Erap? That ex-president who used Malacanang as his playground? And who was driven out of office by sheer incompetence?

If not Noynoy, then who? Legarda? I like Legarda but she is not cutout to be president. She should stay put as a legislator. I like her there.

If not Noynoy, then who? Escudero? That senator who, according to Elena Francisco, did not support the impeachment of Luzviminda Tancangco and Erap? That senator who initiated the impeachment of Chief Justice Davide? That senator who is associated with Estrada and his ilk?

If not Noynoy, then who? Lacson? Remonde? Puno? Nograles? Teodoro? Bayani? Gloria?

I completely agree with this tweet from meilarnee "Our long-standing battle against corruption can never be won by credentials but by character."

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Two of my favorite columnists, Condrado de Quiros and Patricia Evangelsita, has written insightful pieces in their respective columns on Noynoy. You can read these through the links below.

1. The Aquino son
2. Noypi ako
3. Destiny
4. Yes he can

The Lady in Yellow

I was too young when Ninoy Aquino was assassinated and EDSA 1 happened. As much as I tried to rack my brain of EDSA memories from 23 years ago I could not. Maybe because Mama was a Marcos loyalist and discussing EDSA 1 would mean reliving the last days of her idol.

When I grew older and became more politicized after voraciously gobbling editorials from PDI, Philippine Star, Today and opinions from the likes of Max Soliven, Randy David, Conrado de Quiros, Amando Doronila I learned who Ninoy Aquino was and why he was assassinated. I learned who Cory Aquino was and how she came into power.

She was, as the media put it, an icon of democracy and the nation's moral compass. So when she died on the early hours on Saturday after more than a year of battling colon cancer Jolina wept without respite. The Filipino mourned. And so did the heavens.

What made Cory endearing to Filipinos is not because she had Ninoy Aquino as a husband or Kris Aquino as a daughter but because she was not the traditional politician you see on TV and read about on the news. She was sincere, decent, honest, and good. The outpouring of sympathy that she has received from all social classes since her death is a testament that the Filipino appreciated these traits that we seldom see in our present crop of politicians.

Today when she is finally laid to rest at the Manila Memorial Park I will be watching it on TV. The first time in many weeks that I will be tuning in to Philippine TV. Manny Pacquiao could not make me do that. Nor Michael Jackson. Corazon C. Aquino did.

Allow me to end this paean of mine by quoting a few lines from Howard Chan-Eoan's article on Aquino in Time Magazine.

"Whenever the country appeared to be in a crisis, Cory Aquino rose above the bureaucratic procrastination that had always bogged it down, reminding her people that they once astonished the world with their bravery — and that they could do it again. But Filipinos must now take stock. Whom will they march with now that their saint has gone to meet her God?"

OBAMAnia

Condrado de Quiros' There's The Rub - Nov1008. "I myself roared my approval last Wednesday in the quiet of my neighborhood when CNN projected Obama the winner. When I saw that image of Jackson, I felt the hair on my body stand on end. Few images have moved me to the depths of my soul. That one did." Read more...

Scott R. Garceau's The X-Pat Files - Nov0908. "One of the unexpected benefits of Barack Obama’s historic victory last Tuesday: I, as an American, earned a few extra pogi points.
It’s true. Even walking around in Manila’s malls right after the US elections were over, I felt a little lighter. Happier. Less like a war criminal. Even received unsolicited smiles from people. It was like people instinctively recognized: hey, you Americans can get something right after all. Even here, people seemed to recognize that democracy can work. That’s got to be inspiring." Read more...

Jessica Zafra's Emotional Weather Report - Nov0908. "There are moments that you know will go down in history. Most of them happen when you’re looking the other way, or too engrossed in your own life to be bothered. This one had the advantage of having a broadcast schedule so we could make the necessary preparations. My friends and I agreed weeks earlier that we would watch the election coverage together. I suggested a restaurant with cable TV, but none of the sports bars appealed to us. Joey’s brilliant idea was for us to rent a room at a videoke lounge, watch CNN, and between reports, perform election-related songs, such as Noel’s rendition of Meryl Streep’s rendition of ABBA’s The Winner Takes It All. Unfortunately the nearest videoke place had no cable TV, and the other one didn’t open until 3 p.m. So we ended up in Ricky’s apartment, which has a flatscreen TV, Wi-Fi, and a fridge full of sweet corn." Read more...

Rahm Emanuel

Here is a profile of President-elect Barack Obama's newly appointed Chief of Staff. Isa lang masasabi ko. Wow!

Scud's Random Thoughts: Part I

America voted its first black president, Barrack Obama, in yesterday's elections. I have been enthralled by this year's presidential campaign starting from the Obama-Clinton race for the Democratic nomination. That was historical - a woman and a black man battling it out. Then Obama won. I wasn't completely sold on him (although he is much, much better than the other alternative) until I saw his speech on CNN a day (or hours?) after her grandmother died. It was an emotional and terrific speech. I hope he delivers what he promised in his campaign - CHANGE.
Every morning when I tune it to CNN while eating breakfast, I often wonder why we don't do campaign/elections that they do. The focus is always on the issues and not so much in personality. Dito sa Pinas we focus too much on personality and charisma and not so much on issues.
Will I get to see that happen in this country in my lifetime? I doubt it.

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The Philippine Daily Inquirer Opinion section talked about Obama's win here, here, and here.

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Michael Crichton lost his battle with cancer and died on November 4. He was 66. I have read and own most of his books including Timeline, Disclosure, State of Fear, and Prey. In my opinion, Jurassic Park and Lost World are one of the best science-fiction thrillers out there. Crichton was also the creator of the long-running hospital drama ER which is currently airing its last season in the US. RIP!

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I watched the Quantum of Solace last night at G4. Although not as great as Casino Royale, this latest Bond movie is far better than Pierce Brosnan's Bond movies. What I like about Craig's Bond is that it doesn't rely too much on high-tech gadgets to impress viewers. Guns and hand-to-hand combat is fine with me. And his Bond movies are gritty too. Too bad the themesong sung by Alicia Keys is forgettable. Watch out for the fight scene reminiscent of the famous bathroom scene in The Bourne Ultimatum.

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I finally finished reading Joe Hill's Heart-Shaped Box about an aging rockstar who buys a suit haunted by its owner online. It is a good read and Hill injects suspense, horror, and surprising tenderness in his debut novel.
I am now currently reading Sebastian Junger's A Death in Belmont which I bought at Booksale for 30 bucks.