In Defense of Noynoy?

A friend of mine, an English professor from the Ateneo shared with me this blog written by no less than Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao, former Finance Secretary, and a very devout Catholic (take my word for it). It was an interesting read from a very reputable person in politics and someone very active in the field of good governance programs.

I say interesting because he is in defense of Noynoy Aquino. He uses the following 4 criteria, and I quote:

“a)     Putting country and its interests above personal interests;

b)    Sacrificing for the long-term strength of our democratic institutions instead of weakening them;

c)     Having the character to face in a balanced manner many (not just one) inter-related issues that we need to confront as a nation;

d)    Having a strategy for moving our economy and society forward with citizen participation and meaningful involvement of all sectors at all levels of society.”

Using the same criteria, based on what I have read on the internet and what I would see on TV, Noynoy concretely fails in criteria #2 (lack of proof) and #3 (he behaved poorly against black propaganda against him). I am giving Criteria #1 away for him because he directly talks about it in his advertisements.

If we are really just limiting our choices with the top 3 (I can’t believe Dr. Estanislao believes in survey results!) presidentiables, then perhaps the former Finance Secretary is right. But the problem is, we cannot assume fully that the top presidentiables in surveys have the political possibility. All, but Jamby, JC, and Bro. Eddie, have political possibility of winning. Based then on the 4 criteria presented to us, Gibo fits the bill. If this is the case, then I should put my vote on Gibo.

P.S. I still cannot forgive Noynoy for instigating People Power if he loses because he assumes that he is cheated. I still cannot forgive Noynoy for directly putting Jocjoc Bolante into bad light in one of his advertisements. I still cannot forgive him for the “cult of Noynoy” he has created. I still think we need a more optimistic and positive leader who does not sling mud — that’s just trapo.

My shortlist of Presidential Candidates

Here are some links on my top 2 presidential candidates. My third is JC Delos Reyes. You can check out the CBCP Matrix of Presidentiables to justify shortlisting JC.

• Why Manny Villar?
• Clarification on Manny Villar’s alleged lies about himself
• Why Gibo Teodoro?
• Why not Noynoy Aquino?

I hope I get to decide soon. Let me know if you have the same shortlisted candidates for President.

National Candidates Profiles

Click on the image to download.

You will need Adobe Reader to read the PDF file.

CBCP Matrix of Presidentiables

Sharing the Matrix of Presidentiables prepared by the CBCP. Please read with caution. E.g. Teodoro has already rejected the RH Bill and already asked his wife to withdraw co-authorship status on the said Bill. Though he still has vague views on contraception. He has mentioned that we should leave moral choices to families.

And again, these are based on media interviews. These interviews may have been done several months ago so their views may have changed since.

Download the whole CBCP Monitor Issue where this is featured here.

7 Days until May 10 Philippine Elections

A week left and I am starting to become confused with who to vote. My faith is very important to me when voting at the same time I need to be realistic.

Last night in the news, the CBCP (Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines) celebrated a mass for candidates who do not support the controversial RH bill. Only JC Delos Reyes, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Jamby Madrigal and Manny Villar are present among the presidentiables. If I were to just limit my choice between these two, I’m sorry, but I’m not going to place my bet on JC and Bro. Eddie for their lack of experience and extreme idealism. As for Villar, I don’t fully trust his “pera lang ang katapat n’yan” philosophy (and so I heard from the very long grapevine). The latter shows very weak leadership skills. I want someone who can convince another intelligent human being through intelligent dialogue and not mindless monetary exchanges.

Among Gordon, Aquino, Teodoro, and Perlas, I don’t have much of a choice, or do I? I don’t want a leader who banks on surveys as a sign of success and would say that he’ll only lose due to failure of elections and will lead a people power. Egad. And I say with Cardinal Rosales on people power, it’s just crazy, crazy, crazy.

Seems like Teodoro has an edge over the rest, but I am now torn with Villar as well though he sounds as corrupt as he can be. I do appreciate Villar’s words in his latest TV advertisement, “Para sa akin, ang populasyon ay hindi pabigat, ngunit ito ay ang kayamanan ng ating bayan.” Now that’s a very bold statement and very humane. A corrupt galing at talino over a corrupt, lying, mudslinging pro-lifer.

I do believe that our leader should have a very good program for the family since we all know in our sociology classes that the family is the basic unit of society. Destroy the family, destroy the very foundation of society. We need someone who will uphold the family. But we don’t want a mudslinger either.