Showing posts with label corazon. Show all posts

A Call To Leadership

Posted in aquino, corazon, cory, filipino, noynoy, president

Destiny. Or a really compelling feeling of deja vu.

The idea of Senator Benigno Aquino III running for the country's highest electoral post has been one of the most widely discussed news items these past few weeks. Many Filipinos believe that the son of former president Corazon Aquino would be able to continue in his mother's footsteps and lead our nation to true democracy; freedom from greed and corruption that threaten to bring our economy to its knees.

Senator Aquino, more popularly known as "Noynoy", has been in the hotseat ever since news of the possibility of him entering the presidential race in 2010 came out. The people immediately took to the idea and clamors of Noynoy's potential run spread like wildfire.

It can be recalled that before Mrs. Aquino became president, Salvador "Doy" Laurel was favored to become the country's chief executive. He withdrew his candidacy in favor of Laurel ally Ninoy Aquino's widow and slid down to running for vice-president. It became a double success for the United Nations Democratic Organizations political party as Aquino and Laurel became president and vice-president in 1986 respectively.

Today, it may be less of a coincidence that similar circumstances are apparent in Senator Aquino's political career. For months now, Senator Mar Roxas has been slowly building his campaign to become president. Liberal Party chairman emeritus Jovito Salonga has been pushing for a Noy-Mar tandem in 2010 with Aquino being Roxas' running mate.

Public opinion may soon change that as more and more "Noynoy for president" signature campaigns have been initiated. Calls for Senator Aquino to run for president have been at an all-time high. Talks of him leading our country have been widely proposed even in the far reaches of the Philippines.

He has also gone on a spiritual retreat in Zamboanga, as he seeks guidance just as his mother did during her time, in making this very important decision.

Senator Aquino is expected to announce his decision on whether he will take on the biggest challenge of his political career or not on September 9, which marks the end of the 40-day mourning for his late mother.

Okay so enough of the snotty serious journalist. I personally believe in Noynoy. I think it was destiny that Mrs. Aquino met our Master when she did and that calls for Noy's candidacy came out. I think it would be a real challenge for him because he has to live up to his parent's legacy, but at the same time this will be an opportunity for him to bring about change to our country. What better time than now, when Filipinos are thirsting for a fresh start away from leaders whose reputations have been stained by corruption or issues of morality?

Senator Aquino, heed our call. Turn this ship around. Run for president.

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Yellow Ribbons

Posted in aquino, corazon, cory, filipino, president

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Today we bade farewell to one of the architects of Philippine democracy. At 3:18 AM today, President Corazon C. Aquino suffered cardio-respiratory arrest while being treated at the Makati Medical Center and lost her long-fought battle with colon cancer. She was 76. She will always be remembered as an inspiration to many Filipinos.

I was but a kid during the first EDSA people-power revolution. Back then I hardly knew that it was a political turnaround that tested the resolve of a country that was oppressed by a 20-year dictatorship. Brave Filipinos stood arm-in-arm throwing themselves in front of tanks and heavy artillery, eventually overthrowing the Marcos regime. The country sorely needed a change in leadership. Mrs. Aquino was at the forefront of that change. Only years later, after having read the history books, did I truly realize the triumph our nation had achieved on that peaceful February day in 1986.

Apart from being a great leader and despite her political inexperience, President Aquino became a source of pride and inspiration to her countrymen. Being the country's first woman President, she was simultaneously admired for her strength and dedication, and looked down upon because of her lack of political experience. And despite the military insurrections from 1986 to 1987, she handled the pressures quite gracefully and led the country to a time of relative peace until her term ended in 1992.

We have suffered a great loss today. May the life of the late President Aquino continue to inspire us to become better Filipinos. Let her be a reminder to us that we are a nation worth dying for.

And as we tie the last yellow ribbon, I offer my prayers for the repose of the soul of a truly outstanding Filipino.

Thank you Tita Cory, and farewell.

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