KBQ

Here’s the continuation of my conversation with a friend…

Why I Will vote for Gordon:

Active member of red cross for 40 years (burahin mo na lahat ng fantastic accomplishments nya below pero eto palang solb nako =) it simply means he has a kind and caring heart)

Friend: So was Annette Schücking-Homeyer, who kept quiet when she witnessed Hitler’s murderers in action.

Me: Again, 2 persons cannot be the same… Gordon chooses to be out there helping people rather than just sending money or goods

Friend: And some people choose to empower people through non-media covered microfinancing lessons and self-funded trainings that they might help themselves in the process.  

Me: And some who choose to empower the Aetas (from further north) by letting them study and instilling this value: “bawal ang tamad – pakainin ang sarili, bawal ang bobo – mag-aral tayo”

Principal author of Automation Law, Veterans Law, and several others in his 5 short years in service

Friend: So did marcos, so did erap, so did arroyo, and look where that got us: http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/former_senators/ferdinand_marcos.htm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erap_Estrada#Senator_of_the_Philippines,  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Arroyo#Senator,

Me: You cannot compare one vs. the other… sabi nga nila, maski kambal, may differences pa din… Gordon is not Marcos, Gordon is not Arroyo, nor Erap.

Friend: Exactly my point. You cannot compare Gordon and Aquino based on accomplishments alone. Factor in intent, honesty in all dealings, transparency, morally-attuned conscience to serve with or without affiliation, and the quiet conviction to stand against injustice not against one issue but ALL issues (impeachment case vs, arroyo, graft case against Mike Arroyo, graft case against Fidel Ramos, and the other times Gordon stood by people who took advantage of a system that made them who they are today).

Me: I am not… I based my choice on accomplishments, attitude, competency, and morality.

Led the Subic transformation despite:

• Mt. Pinatubo
• “Sin city”
• Cancellation of US Bases
• Government budget: Salary allocation for 300 people only

Friend: Uhmm, read pcij’s article on the expo pilipino graft and corrpution case, and you’ll see how much money went into and around subic’s transformation

Me: I will…

Crystal clear plans:

• Decongestion of metro manila
• Mindanao peace and livelihood
• Strict implementation of laws
• Salary increase for teachers
• Change IN men attitude

Friend: Again, plans are plans until they are in effect. everbody has them, even eddie gil.

Me: Yep but with plans, you see how serious they are at executing these plans =) For example, re Mindanao:

Friend: Again, kudos to gordon. but let’s also remember that it was ramos’ investitures to gordon that made this possible, because he was part of that administration. if he was with the opposition, would he have the same clout or impact he had then? again, taking nothing away from gordon, he was a competent manager. but you need to be part of a competent organization to utilize whatever skills you have so they can be put in good use.

Me: Sabi ko nga, budget for 300 workers lang ang inilabas ng gobyerno para sa mga manggagawa ng subic… kaya kinailangan ni Gordon manawagan for volunteerism.

He Walks the Talk

He was responsible for WOW Philippines’ success

Friend: Arroyo was responsible for GATT, which also promoted the Philippines the same way wow philippines was intended to.

Me: Yep, but without the same pressure that Gordon had to overcome:

“Through his “Wow Philippines” campaign, the country became well-known abroad, and tourists started coming. Despite the challenges of the times, with the removal from office of the sitting president, the SARS outbreak, the Oakwood mutiny, the Dos Palmas kidnapping, and numerous bombings, not to mention the global terrorism problem, Secretary Gordon kept tourism afloat. In doing so, he lived up to his mantra – “tourism means jobs; where tourism advances, poverty retreats.” 

Gordon surpassed the most difficult challenges with output =) Sino ba an leader na makakabangon after Pinatubo plus removal of US Bases in such a short period of time? He has proven that he can rise above adversities, yan ang kelangan ng Pinas!

Friend: Again, taking nothing away from Gordon, this indeed points to his credibility as a leader. meanwhile, this also points to the effectivity of ramos as a strategist. did gordon excel in a role presented to him? of course! but again, like you said, you can’t compare incomparable scenarios because Noynoy wasn’t in that situation. if he was and he failed, thumbs down to him. he wasn’t. the points go to gordon. but i don’t believe noynoy loses any, as well.  

Me: Agreed!

Friend: Anyway, in truth ang consideration ko lang sa presidency ay si Noynoy and si Gordon at muntik ko nang palitan ang desisyon ko ng mag-rap si Noynoy nang mukha syang tangang leche siya! hahaha!

But.. all things considered, i’ll vote for him not because of his (yes, very thin) resume but because of his ability to stoke people’s imaginations of and desire to participate in making a better tomorrow for the country, not merely manifesting as volunteerism but genuine political participation. with Noynoy, you feel you have a stake in this – in his decision to run, in his possible victory, in his governance, in the correction of our political framework. a vote for Noynoy is a vote against Arroyo and what she symbolizes. A vote for noynoy is a vote against Manny Villar and his very damaging corporatocracy and against all politicians who invest money in elections only to profit in office. a vote for noynoy is a vote against traditional politicians who prepare for the presidency and its rewards since day 1 in public office. most importantly, a vote for noynoy is a vote for the genuine interest of the people.

Noynoy will not solve ALL our problems. he might even create some more while in office. But his victory will be a reminder to future arroyo wannabes that you can’t get away with everything every time; that there is a day of reckoning; and that there can be retribution for a people served unwell.

Gordon, Villanueva, hell even Delos Reyes, can lay claim to the same points – but only Noynoy came to the presidential picture not of his own plans but because of the people’s faith in what they consider the best alternative to the present. Noynoy is merely (and, might i add, a worthy) symbol of the people’s revulsion to the current administration. It isn’t Noynoy we’re putting in office – it’s our collective call to right this country, the same call that he knows he will answer to if he strays away from that contract. Noynoy understands he will answer to the people. None of the others understand that as much.

Me: Ang sa akin lang:

• Dati wala akong paki, dati pakiramdam ko hopeless na ang lahat at wala nang magbabago pa sa Pinas pero all of that changed when I got to know Gordon (2010 lang yan!) Nung kinilala ko cya via research, I realized na hindi pala totoong lahat ng pinoy tamad, lahat ng pinoy hopeless, lahat ng pinoy walang disiplina, and walang someone na pedeng magbago nun.
• Ang sarap basahin ng mga sinabi mo in violet, if I hadn’t done my own readings, I would’ve chosen Noynoy just for the heck of it, kaso napagtanto ko na really… “voting is more than a feeling”

…But then again, I might not have voted at all.

• Kasi nga sabi sayo wala nakong paki at na-hopeless-an nako.
• And sa totoo lang, kahit dati pa man (wala pa akong nababasa at wala pakong alam sa politics and all that) I feel that … ehem ala Ted Failon… “With all due respect”… he’s too lame (malamya) for presidency. Sabi ko nga sayo, mas bobotohin ko pa si Kris kasi si Kris, nag uumapaw ang personality, tapang, and all that.
• Just like how you expressed your thoughts on Noy, ganun din ang pakiramdam ko kay Gordon… dahil sakanya, nagbabakasakali ulit ako sa future ng Pinas… I think ang root cause ng mga problema natin is lack of discipline that is why I am all for iron fist, self-reliance, good leadership, thinking highly of oneself, and nakita ko kung pano nya I practice ang mga tinuturo nya and that is the kind of leader we need.
• Red cross – kanina ko pa inuulit ulit… di dahil sa popular tong organization na to kaya ako bilib. The reason is, aminin nating mahirap maging volunteer. You are working not because you are being paid, you are working because you want to help people.
• And yes, I really think he is very very qualified to become our next president kasi pinag-aralan nya ito (history and law courses) and ni practice nya (chairman, mayor, cabinet member, senator, etc.)
• Last but not the least, manalo man cya o matalo, at least nagpakatotoo ako sa sarili ko at ginawa ko ang sa tingin ko ay tama at hindi dahil sa survey o dahil sa may ayaw akong manalo.

Mahal tayo ni Lord so kung ano man mangyari this election, di nya tayo pababayaan.

Friend: As long as hindi si Villar, magkasundo na tayo dun! okay na sakin yun! And, as long as you have the right reasons, you can’t go wrong with your vote. Ganyan din ang rason ko when i voted Roco last time, even though there was virtually no chance of him winning. The value you put in your vote is what’s important, the consequence of that may not lead to your candidate winning but it leads to your betterment as a person and as a citizen.

A Gordon or Aquino presidency is better than a Villar corporatocracy or an Arroyo oligarchy. Dahil dyan, you have my respect. i’m glad when people like you prove this right:  “The Wasted Vote by Conrado de Quiros, Inquirer: 19 Feb. 2004″

Me: Well, I proclaim red as my color. Ikaw wla ka bang balak magbago ng isip? =D

Acknowledgement:

http://antipinoy.com for the Mindanao table above.