Credibility, Moral Ascendancy and Competence

We are at a crossroads of a new beginning. A dawning of a new era where only the brave once have survived – in a country long forgotten by the rest of Asia and perhaps, the world. My work brings me closer to how our Asian neighbors view the Philippines in the yesteryears, in our glorious days. Fast forward, things have changed. We are an “easy-to-manipulate, cheap, unpatriotic, corrupt and chaotic society.” Often our people don’t realize we live in confused society. We are a “rich nation pretending to be poor.”

But more than this, we are the only country I know of where people with university degrees, like our teachers, engineers, accountants, midwives, and nurses are cleaning other people’s toilets to make ends meet. Like our mangoes we are a sweet people. And way too similar we tend to rot. In fact some would say we are rotting. Luckily our mangoes are still the best in world but I can hardly speak for our people.

Sen. Mar Roxas is the most qualified and prepared Vice Presidential candidate this country ever had. He holds an economics degree from Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania), arguably the most prestigious business school in the world, the sought after location for Wall Street bankers and financiers. His education and economic platform are beyond compare, which I am tempted to believe he would pursue. Along with Sen. Noynoy Aquino, they create a formidable team. They will sow the seeds of hope in this rotten government. They will heal this land. They will make this country great, as it was once before.

Both their track record in upper and lower Houses of Congress can speak for themselves. We can not entrust the future of this Country to people whose conviction and purpose we doubt. We can not allow the moneyed to direct our people’s future, lest to plunder their soul.

Somewhere in 1998, Congressman Joker Arroyo (unrelated to the rotten mango species that occupies Malacanang) said of Sen. Villar, “So in the case of Speaker Villar, it is simple. If he wants to continue in business and deal with government financial institutions, he can do so but he cannot also be a congressman. If he wants to be a congressman, then he must not be in business which deals with the government. We have to pay a price.”

Now, he is gunning the Presidency, not of any random company, but the Philippines. Forbes.com estimates his wealth at close to a billion US dollars in 2009. Like Joker Arroyo, I surely would say, the people might pay the price.

And like my personal hero former Senate President Jovy Salonga, I surely would say this country shall be great once again if it is ruled by the concerted effort conscienced mortals. This nation, I fully believe will be in good hands of Senators Mar Roxas and Noynoy Aquino more than any other in this critical moment of our history.

Insist on the best fruit on the table. Not the rotten ones.