2010 elections: Choosing the “safe” choice

I was at the grocery buying some stuff when the idea struck me. In the shelves there are a lot of products, relatively new and needless to say, still untested items on display and beckoning consumers like me to try them.

In its efforts to entice customers to buy, the new products are bombarding the markets with their advertisements, how it is much better than the leading brand and how it is reasonably priced than the others. With their agressive marketing approach, it will literally make your eyes pop in amazement, “can it really do that?”

But as a wise buyer, I rather stick to the tried and tested brand. If this brand is good for me, then I stick to it. Nowadays, its hard to do some experiments on your choice. Take a chance and you might waste your money and regret later on.

The same thing goes to the coming 2010 Philippine Presidential elections. A lot are offering themselves to become the next President of this country. Like the grocery products, I mentioned earlier, this wannabes are investing in huge commercials in advertising themselves, trumpeting their capabilities in the hopes to convince voters to vote for them. In the process, many are proclaiming lofty goals and ideals. Many are mouthing again the oft repeated a promise for a better tomorrow thing; of bringing this country to new heights. Most of the presidentiables are picturing themselves as economic messiahs who will bring the country to promiseland.

Still, some are packaging themselves as visionary leaders, emphasizing on their extraordinary brilliance and intelligence, believing these qualities alone are sure fire ways of ensuring a successful presidency.

Too many new comers, too many promises. I dont think our country need these kind of leaders right now. After falling into the sweet talk of the present administration, whose diminutive leader was packaged as an economist president, her utter failure in turning this country around and and who, instead was link to several scandalous controversies,  makes Juan de la Cruz head shake in frustration.

We dont need to experiment a leader in 2010. We dont need to take our chances again and choose an untested candidate. What we need is an assurance. That is why if we just base our choice on that perspective, Noynoy Aquino would turn out to be the logical choice.

Noynoy Aquino would assure us that no shenanigans in the scale of NBN ZTE deal, Fertilizer scam, and Hello garci scandal will be committed. Noynoy Aquino will assure us that he will not entertain the idea of tinkering the provisions of our Constitution either to extend his term as President or change the system to another form where he can become the Prime Minister. I am not saying that Noynoy Aquino will be a Saint-President. What I am assured of is that he came from a family who suffered under a corrupt system and who eventually restored it to its present relatively democratic state. Noynoy is the son of Ninoy and Cory. That is the most reassuring thing of all. “Kung maganda ang puno, maganda din ang bunga.”

Noynoy’s term may not be a bed of roses. But it is a regime where everyone can sleep at night with the assurance that tomorrow this country is still a democratic one where every one is given equal opportunities for improvement and that no one is allowed to abuse power for their own benefit and the benefit of their favored allies.

In contrast, the other candidates, are already linked with anomalies even before it can hold on to power. Manny Villar continuously snubbed the Senate hearings on the controvery of the C5 road project which increased the value of his property. If he can snubbed a Constitutional body like the Senate while he is still a Senator, one can just imagine if he eventually will become a President. He will treat the Senate the same way Gloria is treating it now. Aside from that Villar has this populist stance, eager more to please the crowd than to make strong and firm decisions. Villar seems to invest more of trying to make himself too pogi for the voters. Thats a typical Gloria Arroyo trait. No wonder administration allies are attracted to the Nacionalista Party candidate like swarming bees because he bore similar qualities with that of Gloria Arroyo.

On the other hand, Gibo Teodoro for me might be the most risky choice. That guy might be trailing in the surveys as of now. But in the remotest possibilities that he will win the presidential race, one can just imagine what could be the possibilities. Gibo is very intelligent especially in the matters of law, perhaps too intelligent for comfort. The last time we have a President as brilliant as Gibo, he declared Martial law, extending himself to power in the process, accumulated wealth and practically abused himself to power. As Gibo is very eloquent in law, like Mr. Marcos, he might be tempted to tinker with our Constitution again to make himself overstay in power. This could be in a form of a Constitutional Amendment to change the system to parliamentary from presidential to allow him to become a Prime Minister.

Another risk factor for Gibo is that his connections within the military, being the Defense Chief. That is a very sensitive position for someone who might be tempted to implement martial law. Again Ferdinand Marcos, because of his brilliance and strong connections with the military, was able to get away with martial law and ruled the Philippines by Presidential Decrees.

Being a legal luminary with strong military connection is a  very worrisome combination as what was proven in the 20 year Marcos regime.

Now,  I am not saying that Gibo will definitely follow the Marcosian path. I am  hoping that I will be proven wrong. But I am just trying to put it on the table so that people will have a clearer mind in making their choices. The lessons of history should not be ignored or it might be repeated again. This premise while explaining we should be wary of Gibo also explains why Erap Estrada is no longer worthy of our votes anymore.

We have tried him already and we saw for ourselves the result. We should not commit the same mistakes again.

2010 is not a good time to jump the uncharted waters again. 2010, like 1986,  is a transition. In transition periods, the need to stabilize everything is the primordial consideration. We need a rehabilitating president. A president who can rehabilitate this nation from the ravages of corruption, despair, apathy, cynicism, unaccountability and irresponsibility brought by an administration trying to stay afloat since 2005 amidst the scandals of corruption and election cheating. We need a “safe and sincere” choice.

No one is qualified than Cory and Ninoy’s son, Noynoy Aquino.