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by PAM
As the national elections approach... within a few hours now, there is "silence" as the "undecided" contemplate their options. While I have not expressed my preference in writing yet (at least, not here), I have been wearing my choice for President-VP on my wrist - and it's the Roxas-Robredo tandem, the Liberal Party's bet comprised of Sec. Manuel "Mar" Roxas II and Camarines Sur 3rd Distict Rep. Leni Robredo. And, mind you, my choice has nothing to do with the incumbent President, Benigno C. Aquino III, and his endorsement of the Roxas-Robredo tandem!
As I am in the Education Sector, and I firmly believe that the bright future of any country lies in how the national leaders make use of education to serve as the lifeblood of the country, the education and human resource development program of the candidates for national office is very important to me. As the nation's 'lifeblood', the education system should be 'healthy' and 'flowing without 'obstruction' to 'deliver oxygen' throughout 'the body', and maintain healthy 'bodily
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| Sec. Manuel "Mar" Roxas II, discussing his education and human resource platform to the members of the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) in February 2016. |
So far, the Roxas-Robredo campaign is clear in expressing the candidates' belief that, in ensuring "inclusive growth", the national government must put in place and prioritize a Program that provides "equal opportunities in health, education and other human development outcomes" across the population. In making sure that all Filipinos have access to these opportunities and that they are actually able to take advantage of these, they are enabled to be productive citizens of the nation and to effectively contribute to nation-building and to sustained progress. While other President-VP ticket would echo the same, none of them is as clear as the "RoRo2016" tandem in their proposed strategy to achieve this: with the national government as mere enablers and the provincial governments as anchors and implementers of such Program.
The Presidential-VP campaign of the Davao City Mayor, Rodrigo Duterte, and Sen. Peter Allan Cayetano, kept on mentioning their plan that favors "Federalism", but it is not clear how they wish to accomplish this. Perhaps, they are hoping to propose similar platform as that of #RoRo2016 tandem, but have no clue how to do it, and are more concerned to utter the "soundbites" that voters who prefer to be entertained by catchy phrases rather than be informed want to hear, hence the vague "federalism" utterance... and their supporters cheer like there was no tomorrow! Mind-boggling, indeed!
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To be ruled by a strongman? Never again!
Speaking of things that boggle the mind, sometimes it exasperates me how we, Filipinos, think. We always say, we want "change"... and yet, when there is opportunity to actually change, we make a "U-turn" and dash towards our old ways that, in the first place, made us wish for "change"!
Obviously, Mayor Duterte does not only have the makings of a "strongman"... he, in principle, admits to being one! And, while Mar Roxas does not posses a strongly compelling track record for a sterling performance in public office, just some brilliance that is always-up-there, but never the gold standard in leadership, he is the better choice. Roxas has been very much the gentleman from the perceived "aristocratic class" in the Philippines who walks away from brawl whenever he can and
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| A new day dawns upon us as we take off to a bright future... ...let's stay on our wings and soar. #roxasrobredo, #RoRo2016 |
In his six-year term as President, Aquino went on to exact revenge on his political enemies, and left governance to his cabinet, with Roxas always taking the "political bullet" that was meant for Aquino: in crossing swords with the Catholic Church on Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 ( or "RH Bill"), on balancing Aquino's political vendetta on the Marcoses and Romualdezes and responding to the needs of Typhoon Yolanda victims, on the plight of the Fallen 44 soldiers in the Mamasapano clash, and on the high irregularities and massive corruption at the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), just to name a few. Aquino used "Cory's yellow EDSA shield" and the public attention demanded by the excruciating noise of his youngest sister, Kris, to protect himself while exposing Roxas to the onslaught of brutal criticisms. And yet, Roxas went on quietly and patiently about his job... eyeing 2016 as his way of finally leading this country to the glory that it so deserves.
Alongside Roxas in this election is the woman whose husband, the late former Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Jesse Robredo, who also took the "political bullet" meant for Aquino, and went on to serve with integrity and humility: Rep. Leni Robredo. The late Sec. Robredo had it worse than Roxas because Aquino himself could have stopped that "political bullet" from hitting Sec. Robredo then, but he did not - in favor of his callous friends. Fortunately, Sec. Jesse Robredo's track record as a public servant was so sterling in quality and unassailable in integrity that the "bullet" went ricocheting on Aquino and his favored friends. Throughout Sec. Robredo's ordeal, his wife, Leni, silently stood by him, serving the people in the grassroots in Naga City where Sec. Robredo was a beloved six-term mayor before serving in the Aquino cabinet. When Sec. Robredo was killed in an accident, Aquino was stunned by the overwhelming grief of the nation. It was a great moment for the Filipinos: in silence, they watched the political circus, but when the time called for it, they showed that they favor and value integrity in public service. It was Roxas who ran and stood side by side with the Robredo family in their grief.
Like Roxas, Rep. Leni Robredo is a quiet worker. But, unlike Roxas, Rep. Robredo is in touch with and understands fully the sentiments of those in the grassroots. This makes her the ideal partner for Roxas. She works on the ground while Roxas works the drawing board and fuel the development think-tanks. Both are intelligent and honest public servants who serve with unassailable integrity. If Roxas has yet to demonstrate fierce decisiveness in going after thugs in the government, it is because he has never had the opportunity to be on the helm. As member of Pres. Aquino's cabinet, he always had to do a balancing act between what needs to be done and what the Aquino core circle desires. And, he is too much of a gentleman to overstep the bounds of his authority. His time to demonstrate his leadership has finally come, and Filipinos are contemplating to give him this. However, he has to make sure that the vengeful Aquinos do not influence him in any way because if he does, he, too, will lose sight of what the nation really needs.
Pres. Aquino leaves a prosperous, thanks mostly to Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's robust economic long-term plan and Roxas's economic platform used by Aquino, but morally disillusioned country; and his endorsement of Roxas and Robredo, especially Roxas, is clearly a "kiss of death". But this is the time when Filipinos have to wield collective wisdom, and recognize the sincerity in Roxas's
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| A leadership in bloom... a country moving on to greatness. #roxasrobredo |
Mayor Duterte's campaign has been "entertaining" - that much is true - if not exasperating for the morally upright and ardent believer of democracy and human rights. However, it's time to make a decision: do we march on forward under the leadership of the true architect of this economic progress that we are experiencing now, and bring it further to the grassroots for true inclusive growth; or do we make a U-turn and go four decades back to be ruled by a strongman in chaos and fear?
To be ruled by a strongman? We've been that road before... NEVER AGAIN!
Therefore, the choice is clear: we move forward! But we move forward with a leadership that is not colored by the "vindictive yellow"... because, when colored as such, it would be impossible to actually move on. Cory Aquino's color was yellow... that yellow of defiance with integrity, that yellow of spiritual resilience and hope, that yellow of justice but with healing and reconciliation, that yellow of joy in honest service to the nation, that yellow that meant faith in God. It was NEVER a vindictive yellow! Otherwise, there could never have been an EDSA revolution in 1986... 'people power' - peaceful and no bloodshed. It's a pity that Noynoy Aquino, of all people, does not get this... and now, he leaves office, happy for rounding up his enemies... but he lost most of what matters most - the 'borrowed' principle that he could've owned. Where's the joy in that?
God bless us all!
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