Dear Divine (Aquino and Binay)

12 May 2010

Dear Divine,

 

I hope you didn’t vote, and I say this only because of my concern for your health. Kris Buntag (your JVP batchmate) waited for hours; I believe 10hrs, that wouldn’t have been advisable for you. I, on the other hand stood for 3 hrs and 15mins and still voted for GORDON. Even if the chances were very slim, I hoped that by some form of miracle he would win.

 

With the Automated Elections this year (of which Gordon was one of the principal authors), the results are out quite fast and the whole country (and most of the world) knows that it is an Aquino win for the Presidential Seat and most probably a Binay for the Vice Presidential Post.

 

A good number of my (our) friends voted for Aquino in the spirit of ‘change’ the he symbolizes mainly because he has inherited it from the work and sacrifices of his parents. They voted because his political career was not marked by any form of corruption. There were some standards to what a President is and should be that they had to forego in voting for him and believing in him. Some voted despite his lack of experience, passion and hardwork with the stronger belief that those behind him and will work for him are Experienced Leaders, Great Visionaries and Genuinely Good people. I know a number who voted for his advisers and not necessarily for him. And that is where my fear lies.

 

Not that I do not respect and believe his advisers, I actually admire a good number of people in the Liberal Party, but I fear how we never get over the spirit of ‘utang na loob.’ With a good number of people, donors, and sponsors to Thank for the successful campaign of Mr. Aquino, what will he give in exchange for that? (and those who dare say that he will not give them anything because he owes them nothing are Hypocrites)

 

The dependency on advisers scares me because much as I know a number of them, I also don’t know many of them – I do not know what their real intentions are. And I’m sorry to Aquino ‘fans,’ I said this before, I do not believe he has the right sense of passion and assertiveness to not be driven by the motives of others. in short he doesn't have the 'balls' that Gordon and Gibo have (or atleast shown us that they have)

 

The chances of Mar Roxas winning the VP seat is getting slimmer by the hour. I pity the man. I still haven’t forgotten how much of a traditional politician he is; his early electioneering with the ‘padyak’ advertisement (among others); and for marrying korina – but the man works and doesn’t have a corruption tainted name. Unlike that of BINAY, who will most probably be our VP.

 

None of my friends voted for Binay, perhaps a few acquaintances did. But if I show them factual information of his corrupt practices I doubt if they wouldn’t change their mind about him (because if they don’t, I will be the one to change my mind about being associated with them). And with Binay as vice president, who will most probably ask for the DILG cabinet position, I am very much afraid. I am afraid of how much more money he will steal and of how much influence he can have over our county. I am very much afraid.

 

 

I CHOOSE FAITH. In as much as there is some anger toward the turnout of the elections (Erap still being #2, of Binay, Pacquaio, GMA, Mikey Arroyo’s party list winning), the sense of loss in wanting for better leaders to win (Gordon, Gibo, Mar, Hontiveros, N.Acosta, etc) and a sense of dismay in the many controversies that surrounded this elections (PCOS konking out, procurement issues of those darn folders and UV ray lights that were never used,etc). I choose to have faith.

 

I choose to believe in better things ahead of us, because in a way, that’s what we ought to do. We have to move on in the spirit that at least CHANGE is going to come. And in as much as we have been vigilant during the election period, we are asked to become even more vigilant, even more demanding of the new National and Local Elected Leaders. That is how we should move on from loss – we are entitled to grieve a little, be angry for a while, but if our concerns are truly for the country - we work with the leaders that we have. Many have said it, it’s MAJORITY VOTE, not necessarily the RIGHT VOTE – that’s democracy and so work within the bounds of the democratic country we are in.

 

I would have wanted for the many good leaders who lost to be able to take on a seat in the Cabinet but the law will not allow it – at least for a year. And so I choose to be patient in the hopes that despite their loss, they will be there to help the country whether in a position or not but hopefully after a year in a position of great significance. This will re affirm my belief in them and my choice to have faith in this new President of ours. I will choose to have faith in Mr. Aquino’s genuinely good advisers. But note Divine that I will not stop from practicing a healthy sense of skepticism in their actions, for that is the faith that I know – not blind faith, but a vigilant one.

 

On that note, I WILL NOT FORGET TO LOOK AT CONGRESS. Because the long wait for new governance is well on its way, but the ‘old’ highest leader will be sitting in congress with some, if not most, of his allies. And we should not allow her to regain power and take a Prime Minister seat.

 

This election is not just about the President and the Vice President, there is change all over the country and we ought to be aware of those changes. I hope you do not forget that for I know I won’t. PILIPINAS KONG MAHAL! :)