I am happy that the highest office in the land has already been decided with a clear and overwhelming mandate. Binabati ko po ang aking standard-bearer, si President-elect Noynoy Aquino. Wala na pong duda sa kanyang tagumpay. From day one, the success of his campaign has been as important to me as the success of my own. Karangalan ko po ang maging bahagi ng isang matagumpay, tapat, at malinis na kampanya. Karangalan ko po ang patuloy na pagtulong sa tagumpay ng sambayanang Pilipino sa pamumuno ng administrasyong Aquino.

Taos-puso po akong nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng matiyagang pumila na nabilang na ang mga boto; sa humigit-kumulang 14 na milyong sumuporta sa aking kandidatura; pati na rin sa humigit-kumulang tatlong milyong Pilipinong hindi nabilang ang boto sa Congressional Canvass. Kahit kailan ay hindi ko po tatalikuran ang aking sagradong obligasyon sa inyo.

Utang ng loob ko po sa inyo na ipaglaban ang isang matapat at kumpletong bilangan, kasama na ang pag-usisa sa napakalaking bilang ng null votes sa eleksyon sa pagka-Bise Presidente. I have instructed my lawyers to gather records and evidence, and to study and prepare towards the possibility of filing an electoral protest. We have 30 days to do this. I owe it to our people to ensure that the electoral process will truly be an instrument of their will. Nananatili pong bukas ang pinto sa anumang pagkilos na hihilingin sa akin ng humigit-kumulang sa labing-apat na milyong Pilipinong sumuporta sa ating kilusan para sa makabuluhang pagbabago.

Beyond anything else, the Filipino people may rest assured that I stand firmly on the principle that has guided my entire political career: Country above self.

Bayan bago sarili. Para sa akin, hindi po ito campaign slogan lamang. Ito po ay isang batayang paninindigan. This principle will be my bedrock as I work to ensure that that the agenda for reform that President-Elect Noynoy Aquino and I painstakingly laid out will push through.

Let us all rally behind the leadership of President-elect Noynoy Aquino. It is my sincere prayer that the change our candidates swore to bring about in the campaign will be fulfilled. It is my pledge to continue to do everything within my power to support the people’s agenda under an Aquino administration.

Hi everyone,

A year ago, no one expected us to be where we are today. We expected a different fight with different candidates and different issues. The death of Tita Cory has changed all that. It’s turned into a wake-up call for all of us. We’ve lost a hero, yes, but we didn’t want to lose what she stood for: a Philippines with leaders who place country above self, who respect the rights of all; a Philippines where justice is not just an empty word.

Tita Cory’s death has forced us to confront how badly our country has been governed by the present administration of GMA, how far we’ve strayed from our dreams as a nation. I’m sure that you’ve seen our people’s helpless anger expressed in survey after survey. It’s as if the nation wants to cry out at the top of its tired lungs, “tama na, sobra na!”

It’s true that we’ve been forced to bury our old plans and to make sacrifices (and believe me, that was not easy!) But what do you do when you sense that the times, that the country demands it? So we did something new in Philippine politics. In just a few months, we were able to create a new campaign, a new tandem not based on electoral arithmetic like the others.

No expert would have advised this a year ago. Yet here we are: not by careful design, but because the people put us there. Now that May 10 nears, we once again place our trust in the people… in YOU, as you mark your ballot for the future of this country. Rest assured that when the time comes that an Aquino-Roxas administration is given the chance to serve, that trust will be returned a hundred-fold. We will work for one thing only: to make the years from 2010 to 2016 a time of change, a time of hope… a much desired time for renewal.

Ever thankful for your support,
M.

On the Eve of Election Day
I hope to make the right decision,
to think of my family and those of my peers but more importantly
to forget my enemies because tomorrow is not about me.

Palengkes and dampas across the country
Will chant their names into the ballots so honorably fought for.
Fought for by those who care to make a difference.
So one day the Pearl shines as it once did for the world to see.

We can be role-models again, not examples.
But we must remember a word I use a lot.
We must pray to make the right decision.
We must think of our families and those of our peers.

We must all gaze at the magnifying glass
examine the past as we once did in class.
Look at our fathers and our fathers fathers and notice what each have done.
The proven will stand tall as the corrupt grow small.

Because on the eve of Election Day
we will be united.
Together we can make this country more beautiful and honorable than our forefathers
could have ever dreamed.

To do this we must come together and vote together.
Let us look well at that magnifying glass
and remember yesterday then apply it to today.
Who can give you food to feed your family?!
Never mind that!

He or she who teaches us how to earn it ourselves is what we need!
Now is the time to get it right. Educate ourselves!
Realize what kind of people have proven to be beneficial to this country and
Realize when enough is enough. Our Philippines cannot afford to be wrong again.

Remember, we will not be told who to vote for. We will be shown things.
Who is the richest? Who is the smartest? Who can afford the most stuff for us?
All unimportant. Realize who can help you earn your wealth.
Whether it be spiritual, or financial is unimportant, let it be earned and not donated!

Realize these things so that on election day we are left with no question that luster is never lost, only hidden by the rust.

“The inquiries into Senator Mar Roxas’ loyalties border on the absurd. He has long been part of the true opposition, and is no less than the President of the Party that is the most vocal critic of the corrupt Arroyo regime.

“Mar is the last person whose agenda and alliances should be subject to scrutiny. He served when he was asked to serve, and his intentions and actions have always been for the people, above all else. Ang taumbayan ang tanging boss ni Mar Roxas, at hindi niya kailanman pinalagpas ang pagkakataon na makapaglingkod.

“Ito ang dahilan kung bakit isinantabi ni Mar ang kaniyang planong tumakbo bilang pangulo at nagbigay-daan sa pagtakbo ni Sen. Noynoy Aquino. Nakita ni Mar ang pagpapatuloy ng laban nina Ninoy at President Cory ay higit na maipapagpatuloy ni Noynoy. Dahil dito, mismong si Mar ang nagsilbing daan sa pagpapatuloy ng laban para sa tunay na pagbabago. Iyan ang palatandaan ng isang tunay na lumalaban para sa bayan.

“This is in stark contrast with so-called oppositionists who have served only their own selfish interests, or who have secretly formed alliances with the administration in order to prolong the status quo of horse-trading and transactional politics. Kung oposisyon ka lamang sa bukambibig at hindi sa gawa, para ka nang gobyerno ni Gloria; nililinlang mo ang taumbayan.

“There is no doubt that Sen. Mar Roxas, along with Senator Noynoy and the LP, shall continue the legacy of democracy and genuine reform.”

Hi all,

Previously, I wrote about some experiences I’ve had during our recent rallies. Though each rally is a highlight by itself, there are two other aspects of the campaign that I’d also like to share with you: the first is the observation that the youth are more involved today than any other election we’ve had in recent history and the second concerns the random, unplanned conversations I have with different people and their effect on me.

Youth getting involved – When I ran for Senate in 2004, di pa uso ang Twitter, haha. Six years later, the youth seem to have invaded the online space and are actively campaigning for one candidate or the other. I am particularly heartened by Noynoy’s growing number of supporters in Facebook which show him to retain the top spot among the presidentiables online. Along a related aspect, have you noticed the number of universities that have conducted local surveys of their own? More than our previous elections, there seems to be an active push by both students and the academe to participate, if not influence, the 2010 vote. We also see it in the number of young people who are volunteering to campaign. The youth can no longer be said to sit idly by as corrupt leaders plunder the coffers of this nation and further erode the trust of its people. They will fight, in their own capacities, either in their schools or online, to take this country back, to fight for its future, which is their future.

Random unplanned meetings and conversations – Whenever the opportunity presents itself, I like to talk to people from all walks of life to get a sense of what they do for a living and what their problems are. I remember talking to waiters and cooks, farmers and fishermen, teachers and students, OFWs, street vendors, and even businessmen. Sometimes, I give advice. Sometimes I just listen, grateful that they are sharing a tale they feel strongly about. Minsan, pagkatapos ng kanilang kwento, they’d want a picture and I happily oblige. I think I gain more from the exchange though. While they receive a photo, I’m able to gain a different perspective on things that matter to different people. Sometimes, it reinforces my anger at the way we’ve allowed things to slide, at how a badly-run government continues to burden the people and deny their rights (eventually failing to protect them against predators). On the other hand, sometimes their stories help me see how government could do better to address their problems. The people I meet in these random encounters may or may not vote for me but they have shared their lives with me, even for the briefest of moments. And I’m thankful for that. What shines through is the courage of our people to battle the odds, to maintain a spirit of hope and dignity, and a quiet determination to do their part to change this country’s future.

These two aspects of the campaign – the stories I’ve heard coupled with the active participation of our youth – tell me the same thing: people want change and they want it now. In a few weeks time, we will hopefully see this happen. Malapit na po. As we go through these last few weeks together, I’d like to thank those who continue to support, who continue to work 24/7 to make a Noy-Mar tandem a reality after May 10. Your friendship, your trust, and your participation in this campaign will make the stories we’ve heard meaningful and will ensure that the next government will address the frustration of the youth, will listen to its demands of fairness, and give them what they want the most: a government without corruption, a government it can finally trust.

M.

Hi all,

As a gesture of distaste against all the black propaganda on the news (especially those directed against K.), I thought I’d take a step back and write about the good things the campaign has shown me – particularly what I’ve experienced during the rallies in recent months. It always feels good to know that, despite the sweltering heat of summer, the events Noy and I have attended have been a constant sea of yellow volunteers and supporters. Here are just a few interesting anecdotes among the hundreds worth sharing:

In Bacolod, a girl asked me to sign her hand-held Nintendo with a felt-tip pen! I think that’s the first time I’ve ever signed something like that, haha. Whenever Noy and I get requests like these, we feel flattered and deeply honored that people believe that we can make a difference. Make no mistake that if we get elected, we certainly will.

In Naga, an old man, without saying his name, gave me an envelope and simply said, “para sa kinabukasan ng aking mga anak.” Without knowing what it contained, I smiled, accepted, and he left right after. A few days later I opened the envelope to find a P100 bill. I wish that he had left contact details so that I could, at the very least, say thank you. It means a lot to me that people are contributing their time and money to help our government move away from its current system of corruption and deceit. One time in a rally, even a street vendor came over to give me packets of great tasting chicharon!

It’s hard to explain the sheer number of people who attended the recent San Carlos City rally in Negros Occidental. As soon as we entered through the backdoor, we were shocked to see so many people! After walking around for 10 minutes seeing so many happy faces, hearing the chants, and smiling at the people taking pictures, we were suddenly asked to stop. Yun na pala yung dulo ng stage… at sa sobrang dami ng tao, maski yung stage mismo puno! Amazing!

These touching and humbling moments of the campaign show that, despite the black propaganda being waged on the web and outside of it, there are better things to talk about. And these are the things that matter. These stories show that an election campaign takes us out of our routine and forces us to make a choice. Each of us makes this choice not just for our own sakes but also for the entire country. Out of these individual efforts and sacrifices do we build our democracy and ultimately our nation. Seeing people make these choices and going out there with us to change the course of this country is an inspiring experience! That, for me, is the hallmark of this campaign.

Maraming salamat po.
M.

Hi everyone,

By now you’ve heard of or have seen the VP debate we had recently. Before anything else, I’d like to thank everyone again for the overwhelming show of support via Twitter, SMS, Facebook, and even ABS-CBN’s very own voting system. Nakakatabang puso. One of the tweets that I was able to read when I got home was something like this: “Mas matindi pa ang #harapan sa laban ni Clottey at Pacquiao.” Hahaha. I’m glad that many of you watched and commented on the issues and the things that matter.

Which brings me to this article. One of the issues raised during our “very heated” debate was the Cheaper Medicines Law – a law which, even Senator Legarda will agree, benefits both the rich and the poor. An example of this is an anti-cholesterol drug called Lipitor which many take 3x a week to keep healthy. The cost of this drug is now down to P50.00 from its previous price of P100. That’s savings of P7,800 a year! Even rich people can appreciate this. But for the poor… it’s an incredible amount of savings equivalent to 17 kilos of rice, or 85 cans of sardines, or 120 packs of noodles!

And that’s just for one drug. In a few days time, the prices of 97 medicines will also be slashed down, with some by as much as 80%. And this is just one part of the Cheaper Medicines Law in action!

It took a very long time for us to get this bill signed into law. But despite the trapos and the big pharmaceuticals (we were even brought to court by drug companies who wanted to maintain their monopoly), I’m very happy that our version of the law is here to stay: a version that establishes clear accountability to the President instead of the vagueness of a board. But we can and should do more. There are other provisions of the law that, when implemented properly, will lead to better quality and more affordable access to medicines for all. You can be certain that with an Aquino presidency, we’ll quickly see even more drugs with lowered prices! For now though, here’s a graphic of how much we can expect the prices of certain types of meds to go down starting at the end of March:

Thank you for reading, thank you for your support.

M.

It doesn’t take a professional political analyst to explain why since the launch of his candidacy, Mar Roxas has led in all published and unpublished surveys without exception.

The reason is simple. Filipinos from all economic and educational strata recognize the qualities of mind and heart which anyone aspiring for public office must possess. In a word, character.

If you compare the viable vice presidential candidates with Mar Roxas, you see a stark contrast.

1. Loren Legarda is a talented woman with a great deal of energy. But her personal and political history shows that she is totally unprincipled. She turned her back on her Catholic faith and embraced Islam for a marriage of convenience. In the Senate she led the fight against President Erap, shed tears at his impeachment trial and then joined him as FPJ’s vice president. Only months ago she denounced Senator Villar as a corrupt politician and is now running as his vice president. This is blatant opportunism.

2. Jejomar Binay has no moral credibility. He recalls the poverty of his boyhood, how he raised pigs in their backyard and poked for coins under the ashes of their burnt house. Now he is a multi-millionaire, which is impressive, except that he made his fortune while he and his family controlled the Makati local government. Hardly a sterling example of unselfish dedicated, service to the people.

3. Edu Manzano is a professional actor who opposes nothing and proposes nothing. He is shockingly unfamiliar with the nuances of public policy and relies chiefly on his movie star charm. It appears that in the campaign he himself is not convinced that he should be taken too seriously.

Then you have Mar Roxas. His credentials as a worthy candidate for the presidency are beyond question. Yet when faced with a crucial decision that would affect not only his future but the future of the Philippines, he distinguished himself. With a single act he demonstrated his core political beliefs- that personal aspirations must be subordinated to the needs of the nation, that elective office no matter how high is not a business enterprise that must be gained at any price, and that an inordinate desire to win an election to public office by any means is by itself a moral disqualification to hold such an office.

This is what Mar Roxas showed the Filipino people when he gave way to Noynoy Aquino. He valued the nomination for the presidency, but not at the cost of a principle he valued even more: the opportunity to transform the political environment of our country and render authentic, effective, ethical service to the people he truly loves.

Filipino voters have seen this act of self sacrifice and patriotism and they have not forgotten. They have affirmed it in their positive response in every survey and it is not likely that they will soon forget.

To see more blog entries from Dr. Balikbayan, visit http://mbautistamd.blogspot.com/

After reading the papers, I did some reflection on what I had read about what’s going on in the country. In Facebook, I posted what was on my mind—“God, family, country. In that order.”

My Facebook contacts posted their own reactions, which varied although most agreed with my statement. Some posted their own beliefs, such as “God, Country, Family” and one even included his “Fraternity” after “God, Country, Family”. A true fratman, if I may say so.

With the varying responses, I wouldn’t dare to say who is right or who is wrong. I cannot be the judge of that. We all have our own value systems and I don’t think we are in a position to judge each other on that.

But I do believe that we should be accountable for those value systems we have and in my case, my accountability may be seen from the statement I made. Above anything or anyone else in this world, I am first accountable to God. Everything else comes and follows after that. Judging by the responses of those who reacted to what I posted, it seems that that is one thing everybody agrees on.

So why did I say that it’s “God, Family, Country. In that order”? Why doesn’t Country come ahead of Family?

As stated, I first hold myself accountable to God because as a believer, that is the direct offshoot of my faith in Him. As my creator, I believe that my purpose is live my life according to His desire and standards.

Anyone who has read that best-seller “A Purpose Driven Life” knows the logic of the Creator’s Purpose— that a thing is created with a specific reason and purpose, therefore it is necessary for that creation to fulfill its purpose. For myself, believing in my Creator necessitates that I know His purpose for my life and for me to pursue that purpose.

Why does the family come before country?

As a public official, I am guided by the purpose set out by God for me, as stated in the Creator’s Manual for Life, the Bible. In that reference, it is clearly stated that before one leads over others in the community (or country), one must first be able to show leadership and good governance over one’s family.

1 Timothy 3:1-5 says: “Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?”

The importance of the family is emphasized even in our own Constitution which recognizes that “the family is a basic autonomous social institution” and the State “shall protect and strengthen” it.

It is my belief that the obligation to govern over one’s family first is not just an obligation of those who lead the community or country but of each and every person who considers himself a faithful believer and loyal citizen. The foundation of the country is the family, therefore, it is imperative that we all take part in firming up and strengthening that foundation on which we will build up our country.

To illustrate, which is preferred, a good leader with a bad family life or a good leader with a good family life?

As far as I am concerned, it is incumbent upon me to strive to be a good father and husband in order for me to be a worthy public official. It is definitely a difficult challenge given all the obstructions and temptations along the way, but acknowledging that obligation is the first step towards fulfilling that commitment to God and family.

Perhaps some see it as self-serving or an unpatriotic act to put family first before country. One who reacted to my post raised a question: “Sir, if I may ask. What if what’s good for your family isn’t good for your country? Or what’s good for your country wouldn’t be good for your family?”

A good point, indeed. But he left out one aspect—God. The three should be taken together, not singly. Above everything else, living according to God’s laws and principles. It doesn’t matter if what one does is good for his family and not good for the country or one does good for the country and not for his family if what one is doing is not right in the eyes of God.

For example, if a person steals from the country for his family, it doesn’t make it right in the eyes of God. Or if one devotes all his time in the service of the people but he does not even have time to raise his child as an obedient and respectful son or daughter, it doesn’t make it right in the eyes of God.

Therefore, all three aspects—God, Family, Country—must all be taken together and not separately.

Living your life to be an ideal believer, family member or citizen is not an easy task. There are many obstacles and challenges that pull us down or block our ways, but that’s what makes it more precious and fulfilling to achieve. If it were that easy, then it wouldn’t be an accomplishment at all.

Ruffy Biazon is a senatorial candidate under the Liberal Party. The original blog entry of this post can be found here.

The internet has a key role to play in this election. I for one am excited about it – not just because I’m a bit of an internet junkie, haha – but because it’s a great way to communicate directly with all of you who share our passion to change the country. It also gives you the opportunity to be more involved than in the past elections. Make no mistake that this election will determine whether or not we can turn our country around.

Many of you have already come forward and I’m very thankful to those who’ve e-mailed me or tweeted in the past asking for posters and baller tags to help support Noy and myself. Change in this country won’t come from TV ads. Change will come from people who fight for it. Your passion and your conviction are worth more than 10 spots on TV. If you’d like to be a more active participant, please e-mail volunteer@marroxas.net. You can also invite more people to share our cause via the info-graphic in this note.

No matter where you are in the country (or even outside of it), you can be a part of reforms and good governance by signing up, by giving us feedback, by collecting contact details for our lists of supporters. I am thrilled that the internet allows us this medium of campaigning: one based on a shared passion for change rather than a passion based on making money from power; a campaign based on a character of a people taking their country back from those addicted to money politics, to trapo politics.

Just recently I was in Davao and while I was eating lunch, someone asked me a question about my blog entry on educational reform. Her name was Iris. She didn’t completely agree with some parts of our Senate Bill but she liked the general direction of our plans to improve the education sector. She wanted to know how she could help… not with regard to the bill itself but in getting Noy and myself elected. Without asking for anything in return, she asked to volunteer and be a part of this movement for the simple reason that she wanted things to change in our country. It’s always very moving when you realize you’re not alone in a fight… when people show their belief in you and join you not because they want something out of it but because they feel it’s the right thing to do. Our only chance lies in this: that many consider reforms and good governance a vital goal for this elections.

For the many Iris’es just waiting to help, thank you. We will not let you down. Lalaban tayo!

M.