Pinoy Power movement and the preparation of Noynoy’s 2010 battle

by Jerry Gervacio

SEN. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is leveling off Sen. Manuel Villar’s preparation for 2010 presidential election. Noynoy’s is also pacing with his cousin Sec. Gilbert Teodoro’s political machinery’s advantage.

Earlier, Noynoy and his supporters told that they will launch a citizen campaign. This is interpreted as people-funded campaign and anchored on citizen’s volunteerism.
Pinoy Power movement

The national campaign is few months away but Pinoy Power already kicked off its own version of national campaign for Noynoy.

Pinoy Power, as described on its website called Pipol Power, is a movement composed of individuals and cause-oriented groups who have come together to work for the advancement of a wide-sweeping reform agenda for the Philippines. There is no explicit expression of the group’s support to Noynoy’s presidential bid on its website but it’s header speaks for it.

Recently (November 14, 2009), Pinoy Power organized student forum in University of San Carlos (USC) and University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF). The group claimed during the forum that all of them are volunteers and that they all share common goals, change and reform.

Noynoy’s sisters

Noynoy’s sister, Pinky Aquino Abellada and her son Miguel graced the event. Pinky gave short talk about his father’s legacy and shared how their family cope with pains and struggles brought by politics especially difficulties they had sustained during Martial Law until Ninoy’s death. Pinky also answered students’ questions.

The Cebu Bloggers Society, as new media group, was invited to cover Pinoy Power’s Cebu fora. Together with CBS political and general interest bloggers, Kevin, Agnes, Sinjin, Mikyu, and Mark, I get a chance to get up-close to Pinky during the group’s lunch break. She has charm, a blogger observed. I noticed her warm attitude when she talk and her smart answers to questions.

The presence of Cebu’s political figures during the lunch and in the school forum seemed a green light for support to Noynoy.

From a reluctant sister of an initially reluctant presidential contender, Pinky Abellada emerges as Noynoy’s strong ally for Noynoy’s 2010 political battle.

But what motivates her, and the rest of the family, to support Noynoy? It was Noynoy’s showing of his commitment to serve and the call of the people for reform. She remembered the same episode when her mother, late President Corazon Aquino took the courage to run in 1986 Presidential snap elections.

Pinky described Noynoy as a leader close to his constituents. The senator served as Congressman of the 2nd District of Tarlac from 1998 to 2007, Noynoy’s profile in his official website reads. Pinky claimed that her brother also served as fiscalizer in the House of Representatives and now in the Senate.

Critics have opposite claims. Noynoy has not proven his worth as political leader which gives the Filipino people the idea on how he will lead the country if elected.
Noynoy, son of Cory and Ninoy

Before Cory’s death, Noynoy was not even imagined to run as president in 2010. Thus critics’ claim that he just stand behind the shadow of his parents has strong basis. But bloodline cannot be isolated from Noynoy, Pinky’s remarks suggested.

Noynoy’s pre-campaign activities are anchored on Ninoy and Cory’s legacy. Pinoy Power’s activity includes film showing of the life of the late Senator Ninoy Aquino.

Emil Jurado, in his Manila Standard column asked, should we, the voting public, settle for somebody whose only claim to the presidency are his famous parents?

In a recent conference of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), Manny Villar told that character and integrity are earned, not inherited Manila Times report reads. It was an obvious punch to Sen. Aquino.

The questions about (Noynoy’s) track record—or the lack of it, actually—will not go away anytime soon. Manila Standard columnist Jojo Robles concluded.

Next in line

Political mobilization is quite obvious. Election campaign has not yet officially started but various information, lies and truth, are storming us. Will these help us decide whom to vote? For sure, the kind of information we consumed has direct influence to our political decision.

The problem with Nonoy for President Movement

by Jerry Gervacio

Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III never get much attention until the much mourned death of his mother, former president Corazon “Cory” Aquino.

Right after the burial of the former president, supporters of Noynoy began to surface urging him to run as president in 2010 elections. Obviously, Noynoy’s fanatics foresee his victory based on the the number of people who paid tribute to the remains of Cory and those who were in funeral procession. This is often tagged as “the Aquino magic”.

Now, even Noynoy Aquino has not officially announced that he will run as president in 2010, Sen. Mar Roxas already announced his intention not to pursue his plan to run as president to give way on the candidacy of Sen. Noynoy.

Mar’s announcement was a big political surprise. We all know how Mar position himself to get into Malacanang in 2010. Mar has spent a lot of resources already – time, money, effort. His decision should not be very easy for him. We cannot ignore the reality that Mar Roxas got qualifications than Noynoy. I should not forget to mention that Mar has proven his worth with his accomplishments as DTI Secretary and as Senator. Noynoy, since he run for Senate, continue to live on the shadow of his parents. He had not done much to hint us once he become president. But why did Mar give way to Noynoy? If we can only read his mind, we’ll get quick answer.

These recent developments boost the Noynoy for president movement. The clamor to make Noynoy as president has become a hype.

This proves that Filipinos major basis to elect leaders is popularity. Competence is least considered. Now, would you still asked why we had elected an action star? Perhaps you have now understood why some people push Manny Pacquiao to run as congressman. No wonder a presidential aspirant did his marriage proposal on a noontime show. The reason is quite obvious why noontime host Willie Revillame is rumored to run for senator.

The problem of the hype to make Noynoy as president is that it is based on sympathy rather than an intelligent decision. The assessment that Filipino voters decide based on their emotion rather than reason is being proven. This happened before when Filipinos elected an actor with faith that the action star’s movie roles would lived well in national governance.

Noynoy supporters are so overwhelmed with the legacy of the late Aquino couple. They are so grateful to the so called icon of democracy that they feel obliged to give Noynoy an equal level of endearment. The only way to do it is by making him president. Isn’t it ridiculous?

Indeed, Noynoy’s fanatic supporters are blinded with over-excitement!

As the clamor to make Noynoy as president become more intense, the discussion on what we should look for our next president has been idled.

No one among Noynoy’s supporters can attest that he has the traits we need for a president - proven the track record, credentials, competence and integrity. Noynoy might have integrity. But is integrity alone enough? Sen. Aquino’s accomplishments as congressman and senator are not good indicators that he would be effective as president. Reality check, Noynoy’s only qualifications is his being Aquino.

Being son of Ninoy and Cory is not enough reason to lead this nation nor is enough basis in choosing the next president.

But Noynoy’s supporters insist that Noynoy, being honest and having integrity, can effectively institute reports. In fact some even claim that he is the only hope of this nation. These are misleading and funny thoughts!

Many of us are still believing that that electing less qualified president can never be a problem. The president can always consult his advisers. Noynoy can use this approach. Advisers can storm Malacanang when needed.

But wait, have we not learned something from this approach in Estrada administration? The result to Estrada administration was a disaster. Even in Aquino administration, the approach had many unhappy results with many fundamental issues like agrarian reform, economic reform were inadequately addressed.

The problem of Noynoy for president movement is its very weak foundation. It is only built upon intense emotions – sympathy, gratefulness. It is a fad. Nonoy gain an instant popularity and soon lost it. This too shall pass. With Filipino’s short-lived memory, what’s next when Noynoy’s theatrical effects to people expire?

There is significant difference when a movement is built upon reasons and dictated by brains. While we can’t live by reasons alone, we can’t survive by allowing emotions to lead our way.