Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote. ~George Jean Nathan
- Noynoy Aquino, running for President of RP, 2010
When I registered as an absentee voter in August last year, I knew who I was going to vote for — Noynoy Aquino. Not because he is winnable but because I believed that he can change how democracy works or does not work in the Philippines. He might not look so “presidentiable” as Barack Obama but he has something Barack in him. By “something Barack”, I mean fresh (not the traditional politician whom you see), teeming with promise and vision.
Teamed-up with Mar Roxas, who is actually my original bet for president, Noynoy just won my voter’s heart right away. I knew that someone like Noynoy is someone whom we need to run RP. He has a clean politician’s record, is aware of the problems of the country and shares the same conclusions with the Filipinos about the need for a better governance. He even showed that he is a real gentleman. Did you see how he faced Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during his late mother’s wake?
Unfortunately, Noynoy, just like all of us, has his flaws. Fortunately, we are not all running for the highest office of the land.
Born with a silver spoon
Noynoy was born with a silver spoon. He belongs to the very rich and aristocratic Cojuangco clan. He and his family owns Hacienda Luisita which is, until now, brimming with intrigues and bad PR.
During our last visit to the Philippines, one of my trusted journalist friends presented this question to the table, “will he be able to set it right and pull away from his birthright?” (okay, not literally, but to that effect) To which I quickly replied, “Is it Noynoy’s fault to be born to his family?” And I remain adamant to that belief.
I think we should not not vote for Noynoy because he was born to his family. Indeed, he has a lot of sympathy supporters because of his parents, Ninoy and Cory. But is it not so that in the Philippines, you are your family? And if it is so, while Hacienda Luisita is laden with bad news, Ninoy and Cory brought only good news to Filipinos — with Ninoy’s death ending a 20-year dictatorship and Cory, until her death, the morality compass of Philippine politics.
Obviously, Ninoy and Cory cared more than being rich and belonging to aristocratic families. They raised Noynoy. If one is raised by parents like that, you do the math. But does that make Noynoy his own man?
- Noynoy’s running mate, Mar Roxas also comes from an aristocratic family
The shadow
Being the only man in a brood of four, one would expect that it is not difficult for Noynoy to be popular. But that is not so with him. That has long been the throne held by his sister actress and television host Kris Aquino. Even their parents and democracy heroes Ninoy and Cory cannot compete with Kris. Albeit most of the time irritating, it is a known fact that if Kris hosts it, people watch it. Noynoy was most of the time just a shadow of his parents and sister. Always fading into the background.
Whenever he would be voted for public office, it is always a question of sympathy vote or payback. Payback to his parents’ contributions to Philippine history and democracy.
If Noynoy was able to make a name for himself alone, I was not aware. Even his performance in public office cannot be counted as stellar. Come to think of it, if you heard the name Noynoy before all the presidential hullabaloo, will it occur to you that it is Noynoy Aquino who is being talked about? Or is it the Noynoy who distributes the paper in the morning?
At the very least, his more popular sister did that. Which is why people can’t help but like Kris. She has character and has shown it in more ways than one. She is her own self and has shown it in many different ways than one.
What about Noy? Is Noynoy his own man? Where is the character of the man who is running for president and deserves my vote? Or is fading into the background when the ladies want to hug all the limelight not a show of character? Is facing the archenemy of your dead mother very politely during her wake not a display of good breeding and personality? Are these events not preparing Noynoy to the true test of integrity and good disposition, that is, by virtue of leading the country?
Obviously, I have more questions than answers since my registration as absentee voter here in the Netherlands five months ago. The more you think, the more difficult it is to decide. Especially that now that there are other players in the field.#
Pingback: Chared VerBal