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.

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professional political analyst to explain why since the launch of his candidacy, Mar Roxas has led in all published and unpublished surveys without exception.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/

Maraming salamat. Sa sobrang init na dinaramdam ninyo, ayan, umapoy na bigla ang ating confetti. Palakapan ninyo ngayon ang sarili ninyo!

Mga kababayan, nandito tayo ngayon—di malayo sa kung saan milyung-milyun ng ating mga kababayan ay nagtipon para manindigan laban sa pang-aapi; para harapang hamunin ang diktaturya: “gawin na ninyo ang gagawin ninyo, pero hindi kami aatras sa inyo!”

“Give us back our freedom! Give us back our dignity as free men, and leave us to make the best we can of our country!”

Nandito tayo ngayon, naka dilaw: kulay ng tapang at pag-asa. Kulay ni Tita Cory. Palakpakan ninyo ang EDSA!

Nandito tayo ngayon, handang tapusin ang minsang sinimulan ng EDSA.

Malaya na tayo ngayon. Ngayon, gagawin natin ang tunay na dapat gawin para ang mamamayang Pilipino ang siyang manaig dito sa ating sariling bansa. Ito ay para sa inyo at sa ating lahat: mahirap at may-kaya, bata at matanda, ang OFW at ang na-iwan niyang pamilya rito.

This is our country and we will get it back.

Every generation has its EDSA, just as every pasyon and Calvary has its Easter Redemption. In our grandparents’ time, our countrymen, in the millions, gathered in smaller groups to fight the Japanese invader. It took lots of courage. They faced much bigger risks. But their spirit and their sacrifice laid the groundwork for our country’s liberation.

In our parents’ time, our countrymen tried to build a progressive nation, raising it up from the wreckage of war to the heights of progress. The Philippines—our beloved country—was better off than all our neighbours combined.

Muntik na silang magtagumpay. Ngunit parang kandilang hinipan at namatay, ang mga pangarap nila’y nag-laho nung nagka Martial Law.  Naging baril at dahas ang sukatan ng tama at mali.

Both our parents and we, our generation, jointly had its own EDSA.

Oh, it was something out of legend. With a cast of millions, our country played out a drama never seen in history – a battle between good and evil; giving and taking; between guns, goons and gold on the one hand, and plain guts on the other.

Hindi na kailangang ilista ang mga nangyari. Nakaukit na ito sa alaala ng ating lahi.

Hindi na kailangang idetalye ang kabayanihan ng mga nagtipon upang humarang sa tangke at harapin ang pang-aapi. No need to recall the countless, selfless deeds, big and small, of so many unknown, ordinary people who together achieved the extraordinary!

Together, we declared and we made happen the words first uttered by Moses to Pharoah, and Cory to Marcos: LET MY PEOPLE GO!!!

Ngayon, nandito tayo sa EDSA natin at ng ating mga anak. Ngayon, nandito tayo, upang sabihin sa mga desperadong maluklok sa puwesto; sa mga nagpupumilit na manahin ang trono para sa sarili nilang interes: Tama na! Sobra na! Hindi kami papayak! Lalaban kami!

Huwag laging kayo na lang: pagbigyan niyo naman ang tao.

Hindi natin ipinaglalaban na tayo naman. Ang ipinaglalaban natin: ang TAO naman. Let every Filipino taste the Filipino dream: Harinawa’y matikman ng bawat isa sa atin ang inaasam na pangarap ng bawat Pilipino.

Eto ang eksena sa aking isipan: sa loob ng isang bahay na gawa sa materiales Fuertes, si tatay, kakauwi lang galing sa trabaho. Si kuya at si ate, naka-uniporme, galing sa eskwela. Si lola/ masiglang nilalaro si baby. Buong pamilya, magkasama, masayang magkasalo sa mesang sagana sa pagkain, at sa tahanang puno ng pag-asa.

Basic to this is a government that is really of the people, by the people; and NOT for the cronies of the people in power. To them, we say: “give our country a chance, to be all that it can be, all that it was, and all it deserves to be – prosperous, proud and truly free.

Some people think they have the right to take power and run this country to the ground. Well, there is no such right. The only right is the right of the Filipino-people to a better life.

May mga gustong ituloy ang kanilang ligaya, ang ligayang naggagapos sa atin sa kahirapan. Ang sigaw natin : Hindi kami papayag! LALABAN KAMI!!!

Ito ang ating pagkakataon. Ito ang pagkakataon ng ating henerasyon.

Hindi ito magiging madali. Hindi ito i-aabot sa atin. Kailangan nating ipaglaban ito. Ngayon ang simula ng ating EDSA. Ang EDSA ng ating henerasyon.

Iilang tulog na lang, maitatama na natin ang mali. Ma-i-tuituwid na natin ang baluktot, Mailalagay na natin sa ayos ang ating landas. It is time. It is our time. Our time to make a difference. It is our time to show what we are made of, to SHOW what being a Filipino is all about.

It is our time to prove: WE ARE WORTH DYING FOR.

May 10 is more than an election. It is our Revolution. Ito ang Rebolusyun natin: para sa totoong kalayaan, sa totoong katarungan, sa totoong kaunlaran.

It is our People Power Revolution for everything that our great country can be. Ito ang ating People Power para sa kadakilaan na karapat-dapat-lang para sa ating lahi.

Mga minamahal na kababayan, lalaban po tayo! Maraming salamat, magandang hapon, mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino.

I have been campaigning for Mar Roxas way before he made up his mind to run for higher office. I did this for a selfish reason. I needed an inspiration. I badly needed hope. I needed something to hold on to after being hopelessly disillusioned with the government and losing sight of the meaning of governance.

I needed to find something that would bring back the honour lost and regain the ideals of public service that were so corrupted by the present administration. It did not take me that long to find and know Mar Roxas.

Despite his exclusive background as a wealthy scion of the Roxas clan, his accomplishments in the field of politics speak of inclusion through equal access to education for all Filipinos, affirmative taxation in favour of the poor and the less privileged, balanced business opportunities for Filipino entrepreneurs, and dignified work and improved working conditions for the working Filipino here and abroad.

Mar is unblemished. Mar is extremely competent. Mar leads by example. Mar listens to the people. Mar genuinely cares for the people. Mar is both the man and the hope I was looking for. The man epitomizes the ideals of public service. Mar is who I needed to believe again in what Filipinos are capable of achieving.

Through Mar Roxas, I realized that governance can be an inclusive process and should be a liberating exercise of power, responsibility, and rights. Countless times I have settled for the lesser evils in previous election times. For the first time in my life as a Filipino voter, I am voting with full confidence and pride.

Far too long we have settled for someone less qualified and less evil. Far too long we have set the bar below the barometer of competence and excellence. Well, there is no need to do personal compromises now. There is no need to sink lower and then convince ourselves that the decision we made was the best we can hope for.

Today is the time we can be both proud and hopeful. Now we can campaign and vote with inspiration instead of trepidation. The urgency of now dictates we join Mar for true reforms to come to our country.

Most will see this as a testimonial to a politician; some will interpret it as an invitation to join Mar’s campaign. A greater number of Mar supporters may even interpret this piece as a duty calling to those who are obliged and ready and that I am one of those who have heeded the call with pride and utmost enthusiasm a long time ago.

May be they are right. But there is a simpler story behind this. A more selfish one I guess. I was lost and disillusioned and I found Mar Roxas who gave practical realizations to my aspirations as a Filipino citizen. More importantly, Mar and his brand of politics made me realize that we can be proud of our government and ultimately, of ourselves again.

Visit Pey’s blog here.

I saw and heard Senator Mar Roxas and the other candidates in GMA channel 7 Vice Presidentiables forum. I may honestly say I was biased in listening to the answers of the vice-presidentiables because I’ve already made up my mind: I will vote for him (and Noynoy) in May 2010 election. It was easy to discern how the other candidates seemed to have responded and projected generalizations and quick solutions; others missed answering the point in the question. They blindly projected  their ambitious desire for the position but lacked the purest of intentions. Simply said, they just want to get elected but did not possess the willingness to work and be as effective when elected. Senator Mar Roxas, on the spot, convincingly answered those challenging questions point by point with ease, meaning, and depth. I overheard Mon, my office mate who also watched the late show, make the same comment. He said “Bukod tangi, madali at mahusay sumagot si Mar Roxas, wala kasing bahid ng dumi sa politika.” That really means something for us,.Senator Mar has consistently maintained an excellent and clean reputation in public service. Mar Roxas Tunay Kang Maasahan at Kaibigan ng Taong Bayan. Maraming salamat.

Speech during the Liberal Party’s 64th Anniversary

Malaking karangalan po para sa akin na magsilbi sa ating partido at magsilbi rin at ang ating mga kababayan sa pamamagitan ng aking pagsisilbi sa ating partido sa panahong ito.

Makasaysayan po ang panahong ito. Nararamdaman po natin na ang ating partido, masigla, malakas. At kitang-kita ang puwersa natin: hindi puwersa ng pulitiko pero puwersa ng pagbabago.

We have new faces: young, dynamic, new leaders who could have chosen all other parties. Ang iba diyan, nagsasabi sa kanila, dito kayo sa amin, marami kaming pera, bibilhin natin ito. Ang iba diyan nagsasabi, dito kayo sa amin, nasa kapangyarihan kami, kami ang may poder, kami ang nagdidikta. Mananalo at mananalo pa rin kami. Pero itong mga lider na ito—bata at idealistic—sila ang nagbibigay ng pagiging makisig ng ating partido. Sila ang nagbibigay ng sigla sa ating partido. Pero hindi lamang puros youth. Meron ding “age and experience.”

My friends, we see that our party, as we celebrate or 64^th is vigorous and full of vitality. Vigor and vitality, parang inumin iyan a. Nakikita po natin, masiglang-masigla po, makisig na makisig po, at iyan nanggagaling hindi sa pera. Yan nanggagaling hindi sa kapangyarihan. Yang kasiglahan na iyan dahil ang bawat isa sa atin dito, alam natin na ipinaglalaban natin kung ano ang tama para sa ating bansa.

There are so many old and familiar faces, as well as so many new faces. But as I look out across the crowd, I can say one thing: you are all winners. Panalo na po kayong lahat.

Pero pukod sa pagiging winner, alam natin na katangi-tangi po, kakaiba po ang ating partido at ang mga miyembro nito, dahil nandito tayo ngayon sa isang napakalaki at napakatinding laban. Hahatulan po ng ekelsyon na ito ang landas na tatahakin ng ating bansa.

Kadalasan po, sa okasyon ng aniberasaryo, lalo na tayo—64 years—pinag-uusapan ang tradisyon. Subalit, sa konteksto ng pulitika, ang “tradyson” medyo mapait ang dating, dip o ba? Kasi ang tradisyon malapit sa “trapo,” traditional politics. Iyan po ang nilalabanann atin. Yung pangongotong, yung paglalagay ng tongpats, yung pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan upang kumita sa kanyang panunungkulan. Nilalabanan po natin iyan. Yan ang trapo.

Ito po ang tradisyong itinatakwil po natin at ng ating Partido Liberal, dahil mayroon po tayong sariling paninindigan. Ours is a record of sacrifice. Ours is a record of staying on the straight and narrow path of truth and integrity, of being for good versus evil, of being for right versus wrong, and for being straight versus the crooked.

Pinatunayan na po ito ng ating kasaysayan. Sa bawat yugto ng ating kasaysayan, ang ating partido, front and center, nandiyan, unang-una, tumatayo, naninindigan lumalaban para sa ating pambansang interes.

Magmula noong laban on the bases, it was a Liberal Party-led senate that cast a vote for independence, for our absolute freedom, na wala nang base militar na dayuhan sa ating bansa.

Noong martial law, ang ating mga kapartido ang siyang tumayo at nilabanan, kahit anu-ano pa ang mga pabuya, ang mga temptasyon  na ibinibigay ni Marcos, hindi po bumigay ang ating Partido at tumindig at lumaban. Hanggang ang ating secretary-general, ang ating dakilang bayani na si Senador Ninoy Aquino ay pinaslang, nagging martir at ngayon pambansang bayani na po natin.

In contemporary history: sa NBN-ZTE, sa fertilizer, sa 464, sa executive privilege,  sa bawat pagkakataon na nakikita natin na inaabuso ang kapangyarihan, na pinagsasamantalahan ang ating mga kababayan, nandiyan po tayo, unang-una, tumitindig at lumalaban para sa totoo, para sa tuwid at para sa tapat.

Ito po ang kinakatawan ni Senador Noynoy Aquino. At sa ilalim ng bandilang iwinagayway niya, magtatagumpay po tayo. Senador Noynoy: hindi po sinungaling. Hindi po madaraya. AT HINDI PO MAGNANAKAW.

Sa kanyang mahabang panunungkulang, at kahit pa noong siya nasa pribado bilang anak ng Pangulo, ni minsan wala tayong nadidinig na kahit anong anomaly na pinagsamantalahan ni Noynoy Aquino ang kanyang pagiging malapit sa poder, o ang kanyang kapangyarihan noong siya ay naging kongresman na at senador. Ni minsan, walang anomaly na dumapo sa kanyang pangalan. Itinuloy niya ang magandang asal, ang magandang pangalan na ipinamana sa kanya ng kanyang mga magulang. Masasabi natin, that at this time when corruption, when abuse of authority is at the core of the issue facing our people, Noynoy Aquino possesses the one true character trait that marks him as the next best leader of our country.

What is that character trait? The ability to say “no” to one’s self.

Marami sa inyo, incumbent governors, mayors, congressmen, councilors, board members. I’m sure alam na alam ninyo po iyan. Pagdating na ninyo sa puwesto, wala na sa kapaligiran ninyo ang nagsasabi ng “no.” “Kahit anong gusto ninyo,” “gawan na lang natin ng paraan,” “ok na lang iyan chief.” Nagkakarera pa ‘yan para kung sino muna na makagawa para lamang mapatuwa kayo. The one most important character trait na talagang kahanga-hanga kay Senador Noynoy is his ability to say “no” to himself, and “yes” for the national interest.

Ito, konting question and answer. Simple lang po ang sagot. Check o no check. Okey?  Meron na bang tao na ginamit ang kanyang posisyon para magka-kalye sa kanyang lupa, check o no check? (Audience: Check!). Simple lang po ito. Kung ano-ano pang isyu ang hinahain. Meron bang kalye, check o no check? (Audience: Check!) Siya ba yung Senate President at Senate Finance Committee Chairman na nagsulong ng kalyeng ito, check o no check? (Audience: Check!) Siya ba ang may-ari ng mga kumpanya na nagmamay-ari nitong ekta-ektaryang lupain na dinadaanan ng nilihis na kalyeng ito, check o no check? (Audience: Check!) Hanggang ngayon, siya ba ay hindi pa humaharap sa taumbayan dito sa mga alegasyon na ito, check o no check? (Audience: Check!) 100% kayo!

Alam na ninyo, iyan po ang pinaglalaban natin. Hindi po personal ito. PInaglalaban po natin ang malinis.

Mga kaibigan, mga kapatid sa partido. We are embarking on a historic crusade. Maitatama ba natin, mailalagay ba natin sa tama ang ating bansa? Mahaharap pa natin ang ating mga ninuno at masasabi sa kanila, noong panahon ba namin, inilagay namin sa tama, ipinaglaban namin sa tama, ginawa namin ang lahat para sa tama? “Check” din iyon.

It is with great pride and great honor that I serve as president of our party at this historic time. It is our opportunity to do what is right: para mabuhay tayo sa ating bansa ng marangal, ng mapayapa, ng may magandang ekonomiya, may pang-hanapbuhay sa lahat, at masasabi natin na nailagay natin sa maayos ang ating bansa noong tayo naman ay nanungkulan.Kaya ang taumbayan ay nasa sa atin.

Sinusuportahan tayo ng taumbayan dahil nakikita nila, nararamdaman nila ang ating sinseridad. Hindi tayo pababayaan ng taumbayan. Kaya sagradong obligasyon natin na hindi pabayaan ang interes ng taumbayan.

Sama-sama po tayo. Lalaban po tayo. Kung walang korap, walang mahirap. Mabuhay ang Partido Liberal! Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino.

When Mar signified his intention to run for President in 2010, I immediately became a fan and supporter.  Becoming President is not only a matter of having the experience in government to run the country. Preparedness, for me, is how one’s heart earnestly wants to serve his country, and in the case of the Philippines, how this heart can bring renewed hope that our broken land can see a brighter tomorrow through genuine public service.

I felt sad when Mar gave way to Noynoy. But here comes another inspiration! We can look forward to two great terms – Noynoy in 2010 then Mar in 2016! My family and I have committed to be self-appointed campaigners for Noynoy and Mar. A crossed yellow ribbon cut from yellow self-adhesive sticker stuck on the rear of our Ford, a yellow Noynoy and blue Mar print on a plain white tee designed by my daughter in UP Fine Arts… I know we’re just a couple of folks brimming with the spirit of volunteerism through sheer belief in these two men whom we pray will shape our history ….

It’s always just been me and two of my classmates who’ve been interested about politics, the upcoming elections and society, in general. It’s pleasantly surprising that, in the past few weeks, this has changed. From talking about the smallest of things, conversations with everybody else have gone deeper, wider. I think that this can be thankfully attributed to the dynamic promotion by the different media outfits and the emphasis, or should I say “pressure”, on us youths to be active participants in the upcoming elections because we make up 40% of the electorate.

The first thing on the conversations obviously was who to vote for president and vice-president. My classmates and myself are, to put it mildly, thrilled because it’s the first time that we’ll be exercising our right to vote. We’ve weighed the pros and cons of voting for the aspirants. But to this day, in so far as the best presidential candidate is, we’ve ended up with different choices.

We are, however, in agreement one thing. Had Sen. Mar Roxas not given up his bid for the presidency, deciding on who to put our trust on to lead this country in 2010 would have been much, much easier. He’s perfect for the position.

Having a good political background, coming from a respectable family (being born to an affluent family is an advantage for us since it means he won’t need to take money illegally), a young blood with a long list of bills passed from health (cheaper medicines) and economics (call centers) to labor (tax exemption for minimum wage earners) and education (the Roxas law). Being students, the last item makes Senator Roxas the “man” for us. And more importantly, he has not broken the trust of those 20 million voters who elected him to the Senate. He has proven that he can sacrifice personal ambition for the unity of the country.

Because of these factors, our votes for vice-president in 2010 are guaranteed for him and we’ll just have to wait another six years to see Mar Roxas leading this nation to greater heights.

For many months, we have believed that we will serve our country best by helping elect Mar as president of our Republic. We still hold that belief because we did not embrace it without ample evidence of Mar’s great capacity to lead our people. We know that Mar has the heart, mind and disposition to become the president our country never had thus far.

We still believe Mar is our country’s best chance for a great president, but maybe not in 2010.

I had wished that Mar decided differently. However, I am beginning to realize, through the pain and disappointment, that in fact Mar’s decision is simply consistent with what we know of and admire in him. First, he took the pro-active responsibility of directly grappling with the issue of another potential presidential candidate within the Liberal Party. Second, he decided to act, not as the LP candidate for president, but as president of the LP. Third, he decided to give way at the cost of his own candidacy to someone he is convinced is the best candidate at this time of our nation’s life. This is the kind of self-less and visionary leadership we have always believed were the stuff that made us all Mar-tians. No good deed is ever wasted and Mar had done a good deed for our nation.

Tita Cory had a gift. She was able to move many to act according to their best lights, to rise above their habits and limitations, and to embrace the higher calling of serving the country, particularly at moments of national crises. This gift gave us the snap elections in 1986 and the people power revolution that it spawned. Amazingly, Tita Cory’s death last August 1 became another showering of this gift to move people to rise above indifference, cynicism and confusion and once more embrace engagement, hope and clarity. Tita Cory’s passing awakened the dream of servant leadership within Noynoy. And Tita Cory’s passing made Mar an even bigger person than he is by giving up his own dream of a Mar presidency for a much greater dream of restoring the virtues of Tita Cory’s good governance to our country ravaged by GMA’s 9 years of abuse and corruption. Tita Cory’s gift keeps on giving as hundreds, thousands and eventually millions of our fellow Filipinos, including ourselves the believers and followers of Mar, rise and restore the blessings of good government to a country that hungers and thirsts for it.

We can now begin to see the big picture that Mar saw last week. Noynoy has the potential to galvanize the many different circles that Mar’s campaign had been laboring to lead. Noynoy can reach the broad, true and committed anti-GMA opposition, defined by their principled resistance to GMA’s bad governance rather than their partisan disaffection with being shut out from patronage of that bad government. Noynoy has also the potential to move many dedicated reform communities that have not yet recognized how crucial 2010 will be to their important causes and advocacies. And most important of all, Noynoy can galvanize the large segments of our country that long for the virtues of Tita Cory in our government, the enduring virtues of integrity, sacrifice, simplicity, and sincere dedication to faithful public service. These are virtues that Mar upheld, but in this time and place, given Tita Cory’s recent passing, these virtues may be more easily recognized and affirmed by our people in a Noynoy presidency.

We are all deeply disappointed that this belief in the goodness of a Mar presidency, which we have held for many months, we will now have to hold on for many more years before its eventual realization. But we are also heartened by the recognition that our trust in Mar was not misplaced, and we derive much satisfaction in sharing with Mar this sacrifice of setting aside our common dream for the sake of a larger dream for the nation we all love and seek to serve.

For many months I had this dream of 6 years of Mar’s presidency leading a resurgent Philippines. I am not giving up that dream but I am trading up to 12 years of a resurgent Philippines, first under another Aquino presidency, and then under another Roxas presidency. The best dreams always take much longer to realize.

Country above self. Good versus evil.

These are not mere catchphrases, nor marketing tools to sway people to vote this way or that. This is the simple truth that cannot be clouded by layers of lies and unfulfilled promises of a government that now is known as the most corrupt that we Filipinos have ever had.

As you know, a few weeks ago I made the most difficult decision of my life. It was certainly heart wrenching and painful to tell family, friends, and supporters in Club Filipino that I was going to give way to Noy… but I believed then, as I do now, that it was the right thing to do. Not just for myself or for those who supported me, but for a country eagerly waiting to be united against a familiar foe. Of course, I speak of graft, corruption, and the many evils that follow in their wake. I know that most of you may see these traditional lines as motherhood statements or the usual words politicians use to gain votes, pacify the crowd, and continue this ruinous cycle. I tell you now, with what conviction that I can muster, that these are not abstract words; that they exist in the highest offices of the land; and that the most opportune time to fight this evil is May 2010.

And this is where Noy comes in. People are beginning to believe again. As recent events have shown, he captured the passion of a country and united it against this overwhelming sense of paralysis. Stepping aside, though a hard decision on my part, is a small role to play in this struggle.

A movement has been born. I ask you to join it and reclaim a government that is rightfully yours. A few weeks ago I took the first step towards this direction. I intend to take many more steps in the near future. Let this serve as an invitation to you, reader, activist, scholar, and friend, to do the same.

Hindi ko kayo pababayaan. Mahal na mahal ko kayo. Lalaban tayo!

M.