Why I am for Mar

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.

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