How many times one stumbled but rose again to achieve great things? Stories of that theme abound: within your family, community, friends, school, and even in the what appears to be destitute places such as the dumping areas where squatters scavenge for the detritus of modern cities , much like the dogs do.
But unlike dogs, human beings, particularly Filipinos, they have hope that springs eternal. So we thought. And so we have just proven. President Nonoy, or P-Noy as he wants to be called, was swept to power breezing through the strong wind of hope.
Gibo certainly eclipsed P-Noy’s academic credentials. Manny Villar has stellar records both in the corporate and political landscapes. Other pretenders to the throne were weighed but found wanting.
Yet the people pinned their hopes in Noynoy, he who was born to power and wealth but never showed any symptom of intoxication of either. His mother was once the president, his father secured a famous niche in Philippine history as a hero. His siblings inherited the wealth from their forebears.
His status was already a complete recipe that can result to braggadocio.
Fortunately, P-Noy is all GMA is not. Yes, the two were born to riches and power. Yet P-Noy in his political career has not been involved in corruption issues, nor is there a hint of arrogance of power. All these however, GMA is not.
The 14 million and more votes for P-Noy are not necessarily an affirmation of his achievements so far because he can offer none. His election is a collective hope that he will be a president GMA was not. Which translates to people expecting that his administration will be corruption-free, human rights respected, the military de-politicized, and the rule of law upheld.
Above all, the people expect food in their plates.
These are the marching orders and more, for P-Noy.
Fortunately, P-Noy can learn lessons from her mother. Cory led a simple if not austere life. She was not involved in any corruption controversy. After her term as president, she yielded to her successor, without flirting with charter change. Unfortunately, Cory was in the snake-pit. She was surrounded with the “Kamag-anak Incorporated” and allies who were out to appropriate for themselves the spoils of war against the dictator Marcos. The parliamentarian of the streets, and the yellow technocrats from Makati dashed the hopes of the people who catapulted Cory to power.
Now the people pin their hopes on P-Noy. His election was hugely a product of the sacrifice of the volunteers who campaigned for the banner of hope that was foisted by the people themselves. The victory is not Noynoy’s; it is the peoples’. We keep P-Noy close to our hearts because his triumph or failure is ours to share.
Hopefully though, ours would be a history of plots and sub-plots of having been beaten several times, but eventually emerging triumphant.
