Sulong!

The highest office of the land calls upon us to apply the highest standard of selection - not genetics, not wealth, not even popularity - just good old-fashioned virtues for which we selected our presidents in the past and made them heroes in out national history. -Gilbert Teodoro

What I look for in a leader can be condensed into three things: competence, effectiveness and integrity. I believe that it is as important to consider a person who is by a good measure moral as much as he/ she is capable, for a healthy and intelligent mind will be resistant to evil and ill logic. Being a student of science and reason, I just cannot forgo irrational thoughts such as false conclusions based on assumed relationships and its causality. I know that there is no perfect candidate and so I will choose based on personal merit, character and true potential not to be blinded by money, popularity, celebrity or peers.

The Philippine national elections is within ten days. With my said criteria, I narrowed down my choice for president to two viable candidates: Richard Gordon and Gilbert Teodoro. It wasn't easy to decide between two very qualified candidates, who were excellent performers in fora and debates as well. It is well known that Gibo is a bar topnotcher, what more do you need to conclude that he's got the wits to run a country? Not to be outdone, Gordon is also a lawyer from UP Law. Basing from experience, one can say Gordon has the 20-year advantage: he's been a senator, an administrator, a DOT secretary, a Red Cross chairperson. On the other hand, Gibo's stint as DND secretary, as NDCC chairperson or as three-term congressman is not to be trampled on.

What sealed the deal for me was that Gibo had the qualities and accomplishments to inspire, coupled with a clearer and more specific platform. He is leading a very good campaign, not driven by hate or black propaganda. He is setting a good example despite all the negative associations made around him. He is admired by people from all sides. I think these made him the better leader, for a man who can inspire will surely catalyze mobility to whatever endeavor he goes after. And for a country hungry for growth, a leader who inspires hand in hand with an effective blueprint can be a huge factor for faster development.

I will vote according to my conscience and clear reason. I will vote for Gilbert Teodoro.

(Photo taken from his Facebook fan page)

My Vote For President

I am very much excited about voting in May. Yes, I am a first time voter. Now, I get to have a say on who runs my city, my province, my country. :)

We have such an interesting pool of wannabe leaders, but more so is the lot running for president. A mama's boy, an entrepreneur, a bar topnotcher, a seasoned administrator, a plunderer, an environmentalist, a city councilor, an angry senator and an evangelist. Unlike in developed countries where the choices are limited to around three candidates, we have enough to form a basketball team with a few to spare.

Elections cement the claim that we are in a democracy. It is the only time, at least that I can think of, that everybody is deemed equal. Every of age citizen gets a vote, regardless of gender, age, social standing or academic achievement. I will not waste this opportunity and give my vote to the popular or "winnable" candidate, but give it to the best.

I have always believed that one should get what he deserves, that a person must earn things he wants. Following this line of thought, I can only give my vote to someone deserving and qualified.  A  president must be a natural leader, must be a thinker, must be exemplary. I cannot stress this enough, because in my opinion this is really why we elect someone.  Why expect less from a person who must head a nation, and a troubled nation at that. There is absolutely no point in giving a position that entails so much power and responsibility to a fool, or worse, a tool. We need someone competent to steer this nation into progress and stability.

My vote will go to someone with a good and clean track record. Clean pertaining to unbiased and effective, not the lack thereof. I will pick someone conscientiously, someone of good morals and integrity. For me, being moral is a lot like being sensitive and responsible for your actions; you do something  because it is the right thing to do and is within the bounds of the law and society. To me, integrity is a sense of consistency and truthfulness; a man who is true to his words irrelevant of whatever puddle of associations or allegations. These cannot be not inherited, bought or implied because of having done nothing at all. They must be earned.

We are a developing country, a cushioned term for a third world country, and we have problems in whatever direction you look at. There is energy, education, competitiveness, agriculture to name a few. I want a president who sees the problems eating up our country clearly, and looks forward with solutions and cures that will aid the nation. I do not want a president who is undecided, because that will only lead to faulty solutions and additional presidents disguised as advisers. It is important that my president be of independent thought, because I voted for him to lead and not to adhere to someone else.

Sadly, our country is among the most corrupt in Asia. Even sadder is this bandwagon of anti-corruption banners instigated by trapos themselves. I hate hypocrites and disillusioned people who think they will champion corruption just like that. I have to clear that I'm not for corruption nor just plain negative, I'm just being practical. I hate that so many candidates use this trending anti-corruption issue to their advantage, creating null heroes of themselves. Still, this issue has to be addressed, because this is a big hamper to society's progress. I want my president to be transparent, he must be able to see corruption as it is and be firm in battling it.

Politics gets dirtier as you move up the ranks, I want my president to play clean and fair. Sorry, no hate-driven politics for me. I agree that PGMA has not lived up to everybody's expectations, but let's also cut her some slack. It is not easy to be president, and many decisions are not easy to make for something that will concern 80 million people (exactly why I put competency first). Many are campaigning and getting pogi points for dissing PGMA, which is fine at first,  but many candidates are using  this as their claim to fame and not really for their platforms.

The elections today are the most complex in history, there are so many forms of media to reach out to the people, particularly the internet. We should be skeptic and filter facts from  useless information. I am a fan of political debates because it is more spontaneous and real, and you can gauge who knows what he's talking about. Try to watch a few debates and you can see if someone is  struggling answering and who is clearly in tune with his platform and his mind. This for me is a good measure of how good a candidate is; because after a few fora you can see who's consistent. It's as simple as doing your homework, if you have a solid plan from the start there is no reason to fail in giving concrete answers. I am appalled that some candidates are dodging these fora, I find it utterly stupid and inconsiderate. People want to be informed, and it is an insult that they'd rather feed the public exaggerated and meaningless advertisements than step up to the plate.

I believe in my country and countrymen, and I have high hopes that we can rise up from the slums that we are in today. Electing a good and very capable president is a start, but if we want change we must begin with ourselves. Our government can only do so much, and we cannot progress if all we do is complain and argue. I am urging every Filipino to think positively and objectively this May. Hate will bring you wrinkles, I tell you.