Finally, we have two candidates for presidency on 2010 that are worth our votes, Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Cojuangco Aquino III, and Sec. Gilberto "Gibo" Cojuangco Teodoro, Jr.
As we all know, Noynoy is the only son of the former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino and the former Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. while Gibo Teodoro is the only child of Gilberto C. Teodoro, Sr., the former Social Security Administrator and Mercedes Cojuangco, former Batasang Pambansa member. Noynoy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics degree from the Jesuit – run Ateneo de Manila while Gibo graduated from De La Salle University with a degree of Management of Financial Institutions. He also holds a law degree from the Univesity of the Philippines, and a master’s degree from the Harvard Law School in the US. Gibo topped the bar exams in 1989, becoming one of the youngest bar topnotchers in the country. He also took and passed the New York State Bar exam in 1997. Both of them served as Representative of their respective districts, Nonoy ran for congress as a representative for the 2nd District of Tarlac Province in 1998 and won. He won reelection in 2001 and 2004. During his time in Congress, he served on numerous committees: the Public Order and Security, Transportation and Communications, Agriculture, Banks &and Financial Intermediaries, Peoples’ Participation, Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, Appropriations, Natural Resources, and Trade and Industry committees (11th Congress), the Civil, Political and Human Rights, Good Government, Public Order and Security, Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Diplomacy committees (12th Congress), and the Banks and Financial Intermediaries, Energy, Export Promotion, Public Order and Safety committees (13th Congress). He was also the Deputy Speaker from 8 November 2004 to 21 February 2006. Gibo, was the Congressman of the First District of Tarlac for three (3) consecutive terms starting 1998. At the House, he assumed the position of Assistant Majority Leader (11th Congress) and Head of the Nationalist People’s Coalition House members. He was also a member of the House contingent to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council. Currently, Noynoy holds the position of Vice-Chairman of the Liberal Party, having assumed the post on 17 March 2006 while Gibo is presently the Secretary of the Department of Defense.
So what made me say that they are worth our votes? I’m sure, the reason is not only because of their impressive political careers that were mentioned above but simply because both are not “trapo” (traditional politician). They don’t have businesses to protect as far as I know of. They are not involved on any anomalies or corruptions. Most importantly they are not actors who, even though they are not qualified, take advantage of their popularity.
Noynoy or Gibo? Actually, in my own observation, each one has his X - factor that could change the game if use properly and could lead one of them to Malacanang . We can't deny the fact that one of the reason why Noynoy tops the recent survey because of “Cory Magic" . But Noynoy must realize that just like any magic, once you know the secret behind it, the excitement is gone. So it is up to Noynoy to accept this challenge and make his own “Noynoy Magic” in order to turn our hopes into votes.
For Gibo, his X-factor is obviously his political party. They control the majority of Legislators of the House of Representative and the Governors and Mayors of the different Local Government Units nationwide. In short, they have the money and the machinery to win the presidency on 2010. However, I’m sure all of you will agree with me that this same X-factor could make or break his candidacy especially if GMA will endorse him. Therefore, he should prove to us that he is his own man. Like what happened to US Sen. John McCain, who lost his bid for presidency against US Sen. Barack Obama, because he was strongly associated with President George W. Bush, the most unpopular US President in American history.
But I believed in the saying “history repeats itself". The death of Ninoy in 1983 united all of us to fight for our democracy against a dictator. On 1986, Doy Laurel gave up his presidential bid to Cory Aquino, as the standard bearer of the UNIDO-LABAN Party, which united the opposition and together ousted President Ferdinand E. Marcos. Recently, the death of President Cory Aquino, the mother of our democracy, awakened all of us to the sad reality that our democratic system is also dying. Few weeks after her death, our nation was shocked when Sen. Mar Roxas gives way to Noynoy to be the standard bearer of the Liberal Party for the presidency on 2010. Although it’s too early to say but for me, destiny is on Noynoy ' s side. So, may the best man wins.
First, congratulations for writing this blog. Though you are not a politician, you have proven to be a good political correspondent. hehehe!And indeed, readers can more or less decipher now of who's really who. But just to make a few comments of this. Yes, its a sad truth that a large percentage of the voters are making popularity as their basis to choose a leader and not on their knowledge and capabilities to lead. There are a lot of highly qualified leaders but can't make it because they haven't establish their names to the majority. Popularity wise, Noy will end up victorious. Gibo still have to double or triple his time to get himself known to them, proving that he is a worthy opponent. However, considering he is the administration's bet, comes also the edge of having that manipulative political machinery. Noy's party should not take this issue for granted. In addition to it, Noy's realization on presidency might still be snatched because of the Church's respond of Reproductive health bill of which he is the co-author,Cardinals are promoting him to be included on the 'no to vote' list. Another thing, oppositions are still not united at this time. Villar, Estrada and Escudero might still decide. As I had a glimpse on our Political history, I can say that leaders were chosen because of popularity. For instances, Cory won because of Noy's assassination, Ramos because of People power contribution, Erap being an actor, GMA because of his father, and now Noy because of his parents. History repeats itself? not very affirmative of this because its the people who wants to repeat the history. This is what we are used of. I really hope will not take advantage of being popular, rather, he must establish his own 'magic' by serving the people well. Only then, Filipinos esp. his parents will truly be proud of him. Just my viewpoint...Hehehe!
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