...Reflecting on my Next President...

Who's your president?

I am 29 years old, turning 30 in May 2016. In my lifetime, I must have been part of two presidential elections, and five local elections. However, to date, I have only voted once.

In 2004, I wasn't too keen on voting then because I was young and couldn't care less. However, I did wear a Ping Lacson costume to a TV show and a gala dinner during the campaign period. The said costume was a superman-like mascot with "SP" as the emblem and an oversized Ping Lacson head. Though I didn't vote, I liked Ping and what he stood for, and my dad knows him as a person because they worked together in the past. We all know how that election turned out.

Though I lived in Cainta practically my whole life, I never felt local politics. It's probably because I lived inside a village, and didn't feel the government projects growing up. As a result, I didn't register to be a voter in 2007. 

In 2008, one of my uncles was put on the national spotlight because of his involvement in the National Broadband Network deal. It was a crazy time for the family, and though I abandoned my plans of pursuing law and politics at that time, the events helped me become interested to follow politics again. Those events only reinforced my reasons to abandon my plans to pursue law and public office. I met some politicians, I learned, from my uncle, how they are perceived in public and how they are behind the scenes. The craziness may have ended, but the connections he made from that time lived on with him. 

In 2009, former President Cory Aquino, who was a constant presence on my uncle's side during masses, succumbed to a terminal illness. The public's support for Tita Cory was so overwhelming that shortly thereafter, some of my family members were knocking on their family's home in QC, imploring for her son Noynoy to run for president. I believed that though he was not as accomplished politician, he could be the start of something good for our government. There were wiser choices, but I stuck to my belief, and registered for the 2010 elections. I even wrote a lengthy blog post in 2010 about my support for Noynoy. 

Fast forward to 2016. Barely a month away from the national elections, I have yet to have a firm choice. Six years after assuming the presidency, Noynoy has remained Noynoy to me. I feel that calling him "PNoy" is an insult to "Pinoys" all over the world. I don't want to make the same mistake in the next election. 

I don't regret voting for him, because I voted on my own terms. That is not to say I am not disappointed with his performance. For the most part, I think I voted for the right president, based on the reasons I argued with. I hoped that he would be the president that people trusted enough to update the constitution. However, I acknowledge that people were right in saying that he didn't have the competence to lead the country as he surrounded himself with idiots and corrupt officials. I defended him in his first two years of blaming the previous administration, but in his final SONA, he was still able to put some blame on the previous admin. I understand that six years isn't enough to change the country, but come on. 

Social Media and The Presidency

Heading towards election day, I think social media has become more powerful than it was during 2010. I think people are more informed and misinformed now than before. My Multiply blogsite reached new heights during Uncle Jun's episodes back in 2009 until the issue died down. If that happened during these times, I might have been an internet superstar already.  

These are the times when absurd news like a rat in a frappe makes it to international news, and an online automobile magazine is the Batman of Philippine traffic and parking. When before, news about stuff become viral on the internet, these days, local and international news get their news from viral stuff on the internet.  

The power of social media is not lost on the candidates and their supporters. The result is rather entertaining:

Grace Poe and "praying"

Mar Roxas, the comic book hero

Digong Duterte and the "Canadian Nurse"

Jojo Binay and the alleged "money distribution"

Those are but a few examples of things that made the news about the candidates. Whether they signed off on it or solely acted on by their supporters, we probably will never know. Information like these make some believe they have a new perspective on the person, but for the diligent, they may uncover some truths that they may or may not like - as in the case of Duterte's nurse and Binay's money distribution. 

These said, I take viral news about candidates as works of fiction unless proven otherwise by the people themselves. 

Change, Then and Now

While social media has evolved, I daresay that the country's needs have not.

The problem with the Philippine electorate is that they think that a change in presidency means a new beginning and instant results. If anyone can point me in the direction of a country that changed over three to six years, please educate me. As far as I know, six years is and will never be enough to change the mess that we have.

That said, I think that this election will not see the president who will be the "savior" of our country. He or she will not instantly end corruption, crime, traffic, or public transport. What we need is to want our country to be better. Change must happen within us, rather than be caused by someone we elected president. Unless our people understand that, I don't think we'll ever move forward as a country.

For all the shit thrown at Noynoy, I believe that his presidential win against Erap Estrada (who, by the way, did not top surveys on the days and months leading to the elections) gave a glimmer of hope that the voting population was getting more informed. While I maintain that Erap didn't steal the people's money (he was tried for his involvement on Jueteng money, not taxes), I didn't think he deserved to run the country again. Noynoy's win prevented Erap from doing just that.

Noynoy's mistake was trusting the wrong people. He may not have had the intellect to steal billions as GMA did in her years as the president, but he allowed people working for him to do so. He gave positions to inadequate individuals that led to an inefficient government that blamed all his failures on a previous administration while claiming the said administration's successes that only came to fruition during his tenure.

Thoughts on the Candidates

All these said, let me share my thoughts on each presidential aspirant, trying as best I can not to be influenced by obvious political stunts. I'm not an expert on politics, but I do care for the future of my country.

Jejomar Binay

Running on the same tag line as he did for VP

Why I Would Probably Vote for Him: I voted for him as Vice President because I thought he had enough national leverage to beat political butterfly Loren Legarda and whatever Mar Roxas wanted to be. Bayani Fernando was the wise choice, but he made a lot of enemies as MMDA chief that made it difficult to believe that he had a chance to win. Binay was the constant name in Makati for the longest time, and I believed that someone who could stay as long as he could in one of the most important cities in the metro says something about his leadership. He made all the right moves in his political career, hanging around with the right people until he was given a chance to make a name for himself. After establishing his name, he went on to pursue the crucial, but mostly useless, Vice Presidential seat. 

Why I Don't Like Him to be the Next President: While I laud him for being the mayor of Makati for as long as he has, I don't think everyone in Makati has a great life. In my years of driving around the metro, I've spent time getting lost in Makati. During these times, I've seen squatters and glorified squatters in Makati. I think there's a reason why the progressive part of Makati is called "Ayala," and for him to claim that it was all because of him is laughable. His tag line "Gaganda and buhay kay Binay" was the same one he used when he ran for VP. In one of the debates, he admitted that the VP doesn't have much function according to the constitution. While I didn't vote for him because of his tag line, I did expect him to act on fulfilling it. Not only did he fail (sino ba gumanda buhay dahil naging VP siya? Please raise your hand that I may be corrected), but he also spent most of his tenure avoiding questions about his wealth and flaunting his power (interestingly, videos on spot.ph and GMA news don't have the videos available). He appeals to the public's sympathy too much that it makes me sick. 

Rodrigo Duterte

After much drama about his candidacy, he declared using the lamest possible reason

Why I Would Probably Vote for Him: The guy seems brilliant and has a penchant for cracking jokes. He's mostly credited for Davao's rise, unlike Binay who needs to claim the rise of Makati. His popularity now makes me believe that Ping Lacson was ahead of his time when he ran in 2010. With his leadership in Davao, people believe that he can emulate that success in the national stage. He doesn't mince words when he speaks, but he looks like he's a guy with a plan moving forward. During the second debate, he said he is offering leadership, and went as far as saying that if he wins, he will probably look at the programs from other candidates and continue them if they are good. He's the president I would have wanted to be.

Why I Don't Like Him to be the Next President: His claim of eradicating crime in 3-6 months upon assuming the presidency is ridiculous. Detractors will not stop finding ways to make crimes happen in the first year of his presidency should he win. While he established an empire in Davao, he may not have enough influence on the national stage to lead an effective government. While he speaks his mind, he sometimes forgets to filter his mouth, cursing and arguing like a child sometimes, especially when up against someone who seems to throw tantrums at times. Ironically, some of his supporters are not only liking his brash demeanor, but are also actually emulating it. It almost feels like he's running a Donald Trump-like campaign with his effect on people. 

Grace Poe

FPJ walked to Antipolo Church during Holy Thursdays, I wonder why Grace hasn't continued that

Why I Would Probably Vote for Her: Like her VP, she speaks eloquently. She seems like the person who could study up and to be ready for any question. She knows how to handle herself in front of the public, and doesn't lose her cool too quickly. She can be a very down to earth person if she wants to. 

Why I Don't Like Her to be the Next President: I'm not sure how Fernando Poe Jr. helped the Philippines apart from making blockbuster movies. He may have been cheated out of the presidency, but would the Philippines have been better off with FPJ than GMA? Given these, I don't understand what Grace is fighting for. She may be the Noynoy Aquino of this presidential elections. For a relative newbie in Philippine politics, she's very much a TraPo with her manner of speech and her actions. She may very well be a good person, but she lacks the political clout to effectively lead the country. She's also running with a very manipulative VP, who I think will have no hesitations on overthrowing her the first chance that he gets.

Mar Roxas

One of the oldest names in politics, claiming a "new" Philippines under his watch

Why I Would Probably Vote for Him: He's from one of the oldest political families in the country, and has a business degree to boot. He's been in the national scene since the Estrada administration, and had excellent projects during his time as the Department of Trade and Industry Secretary. He is an accomplished senator and made the gallant sacrifice of stepping down from the presidential nomination in 2010 to give way to Noynoy Aquino. 

Why I Don't Like Him to be the Next President: I don't think I can vote for someone who can't even be trusted by the very same people he sacrificed his political ambitions for. When he lost his VP bid to Jojo Binay, people expected him to be the secretary for the DILG in order to maintain his presence on the national level. However, they gave the job to Jesse Robredo until he met a fatal accident in 2012. Upon assuming the position, he botched handling two tragedies in typhoon Yolanda and the Mamasapano operation. While his past speaks volumes of his capabilities, his most recent exploits seem to show that he crumbles when it matters. Nobody talks about his past accomplishments precisely because he did it in the background. However, when all eyes are on him as the DOTC and DILG secretary, he didn't seem equipped for the challenges. Additionally, if he can't keep his cool on a presidential debate, what kind of president would we have if he won? For a guy who has the most exposure in the national government second only to Miriam Defensor-Santiago, it's disappointing that he doesn't have a firm grasp on his political clout. 

Miriam Defensor-Santiago

She's come a long way from being the crazy lady of the senate

Why I Would Probably Vote for Her: She's intelligent, she has grace, she has political clout, she's an excellent speaker, she knows the law, she has no known corruption issues, and she's been here before. She's funny and lovable, far from the crazy person she was painted out to be some years back. 

Why I Don't Like Her to be the Next President: During the first presidential debate, there were moments when it felt like she was crying. Her health makes me doubt that she can finish the whole six years of her term. I'd like to be proven wrong, because I think we need people like her in the government, more than the Tito Sottos and the Lito Lapids. 

Who Will You Vote For?

All the candidates have legitimate reasons why they should be there, and I don't think voting for any of them would be a waste. As I mentioned previously, what our country needs is change from its people more than a new leader. 

I think that I'm leaning towards voting for Duterte, because he seems to be the only one open enough to let his fellow candidates serve the country in a different capacity where they could be effective. He knows what he's good at, and makes claims based on what he's already done. Granted that it is magnified a hundredfold on the national stage, he doesn't seem like the person who would be rattled easily. He knows the law, and doesn't have a record of corruption. He has some shit he needs to get together, just like everyone else. Apart from his zero-crime claim, I think I can live with his flaws more than the other candidates. Miriam is the wise choice, but a vote for her must mean I must be very confident of my vice president, which needs a much harder deliberation. 

Six years will not transform the Philippines, but choosing the right president could be a good step towards the right direction. Who do you think deserves the position?