With the Presidential Elections skated on May 9, 2016, there are many speculations and surmises about the State of the Nation, at this point, even while P-Noy is pressured to announce his Anointed One.
Will P-Noy’s endorsement matter? Well, it depends on who you are talking to, as the President has stated that he is open to all possibilities, including choosing one who is not a member of the ruling Liberal Party.
His only criteria is that the next President should continue his agenda to eradicate corruption, and to promote nation-building.
When highly-respected businessman Washington Sycip singled out Sen. Grace Poe as his favored nominee for President, there were a lot of surprised comments and suspicions among commentators.
Senator Poe is very close to her Ninong Erap, the former President Estrada who was convicted of plunder and was later pardoned by the former President GMA.
From the very start, the frontrunner in previous surveys was VP Jejomar Binay, noted as a Sure Winner.
But Sen. Grace Poe, who always came in second, has been fast catching up.
Interior & Local Government Sec. MAR Roxas, probable bet of the Liberal Party, is still seventh in ranking in the surveys for President.
P-Noy has had conversations with Senator Poe on the offer of the ruling coalition, but the position offered is still to be announced by June.
Can Senator Poe beat Vice President Binay?
Many people are saying that Senator Poe is the only one who can put a dent on the popularity of Vice President Binay. The allegations of corruption against VP Binay, notwithstanding, have not diminished his popularity especially in the Visayas and Mindanao. In fact, all the exposes are seen as politically-motivated.
But what about MAR Roxas? In several instances, the common impression is that he is not a down-home guy; he seems over and above the level of the common man. His background shows it, as he is more prone to say things as they are, dressing down local leaders (even mayors) when developments do not go as planned. He is honest to be point of being blunt.
But Philippine politics is all about perception. And so his image-makers better do a make-over quick.
Rome was not built in one day, and there will be more challenges ahead. P-Noy is trying his best to make sure that reforms are carried out beyond his term, but he can only do so much.
The moment he steps down at the end of May 2016, a new President will carry out his/her own agenda; there is no such thing as carrying out the agenda of the previous administration.
It is the botante who will exercise his right to elect a President, the national officials, and the local officials. Ninoy Aquino once said: “Pity a nation who is in need of heroes!”
For the post-2016 scenario to be positive, each botante is called upon to be a hero! Otherwise, the choice of the bobo-tante in our midst will prevail. Fuera buyag!
_______________________________
Author’s email: [email protected]
