The Problem with Noynoy

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The 2010 Presidential Elections

• 2010 Presidentiables and Surveys
• Choosing the Palace Successor: Philippine Presidential Elections 2010
• What The?! Obama of the Philippines? Please.
• 10 Reasons Why I’m Not Voting Noli de Castro for Philippine President in 2010, and Why I Think You Shouldn’t Either
• Philippine Presidential Elections 2010 Amidst Economic Crisis — The Boon and the Bane
• And My Vote for Philippine President Come 2010 Goes To…
• Podcast: Whose Game Is It Anyway? (On the 2010 Elections Survey Results)
• Behind Frosted Glass: Uncovering the “Man” in Manny Villar
• Manny Villar: The Usual Villain?!
• Because Every Filipino Just Needs A Break
• Anyone But Willie Revillame, Please.
• Withdrawal of Support to “Manny Villar for President in 2010″
• Podcast: A MARvelous Day for Liberal Party: Roxas withdraws presidential bid in favor of Aquino
• Panic In Hell’s Kitchen: LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD may not be as smug as they portray re: 2010 elections
• Who Will Win in the 2010 Presidential Elections?
• Jose De Venecia III is running for senator after all
• Getting Paid for Writing Crap (and disclosing it)
• Dear SWS, re: 3rd Quarter survey results released October 14, 2009
• Just How Ready Are We For Elections Automation in 2010?
• The Problem with Noynoy
• In Response to @Cocoy re: Noynoy
• DILG Sec. Puno, are you for real?
• Dumbing our kids down, damning their future
• Dissecting Gibo Teodoro and his viability for 2010
• Gibo should bolt out too
• Arroyo is resigning from Lakas-Kampi
• It’s Gibo-Edu in 2010 for Lakas-Kampi CMD
• Going for tried, getting tired
• So is the glass half-empty? Or half-full?
• Mutations
• Gibo is on a roll. But is he getting anywhere?
• It’s Manny for Manny
• Here come the Yellow Army
• Manny Villar’s “Naging Mahirap” TVC Campaign Lyrics
• Gibo Teodoro’s “Sulong” informercial aka “Posible” lyrics
• That abstract concept called “poverty”
• Who among the presidentiables will be bad for the economy?
• Have a Little Faith
• Nacionalista’s Manny Villar kicks off campaign in Calamba, Laguna
• “Lipad” lyrics and video: Gibo Teodoro’s new TV commercial
• Screw the Surveys
• How’s Your Blogging?
• Gordon Dropped it Like it’s Hot
• Winnie Monsod’s “Why I Will Vote for Noynoy” article is a hoax
• While You Were Busy Bickering

The Problem With Noynoy becoming Philippine president in 2010

The drawbacks of a Noynoy Aquino presidential win in 2010 are being downplayed right now. Amidst the festive mood of a "people's campaign", let's pause for a moment and think things through.

And so it is that the weary people have finally stopped drifting on this piece of log called "Philippine politics". And so it is that the apathetic are suddenly waking up, coming out and "organizing" this and that. And so it is that the elites are seemingly coming together this time. And so it is that the vote-rich "masa" are finally catching up on that so-called "yellow fever". And so it is that "volunteerism" and "hope" has become this year's catch-phrases.

Everyone is teary-eyed (at least inside), wearing their modern day armors in the form of technology, pop culture and all those hip n' cool stuff that makes you wish you were in college all over again because it'd be so cool to wear "freedom" tees and "pinoy" pins. Everyone is suddenly "running for a cause", "partying for a cause", even "tweeting for a cause" and shouting their "cool" battle cry of "change" "anti-trapo" "governance of morality" blah blah blah while they bask in the glory of their newfound or newly-built "Noah's Ark" -- the perceived salvation of us all from this deluge of a doomed country on the brink of political extinction.

Even the surveys are favoring "change". All seems well and good. But really,in this country, how sure can we be of anything?

How sure can we be that the memory of an icon will last 6 years and beyond? How sure can we be that never again shall we attempt to bring down an incumbent administration? How sure can we be that the one we put our trust to will never fail us? How sure can we be that we are finally doing it right this time?

The Filipino people is such a credulous herd. And I say that with both affection and repugnance -- with affection because I love this country and the thought of the possibility of making such wonderful people act as one can benefit us -- with repugnance because such gullibility can backfire at us and hurt us even more.

The problem with Noynoy is that he is, at this time, nothing but an empty vessel of our hopes. He has not much to show for but a wonderful pair of parents whose names he may carry but not necessarily their character. There isn't so much problem in here if only every Filipino understands this basic premise -- that Noynoy is neither Ninoy nor Cory. Sadly, at this point in time, tears of grief brought by the death of an icon blurred our objectivity and vision. With Noynoy, we do not see the Philippines through rose-colored specters, rather, we see the future misty-eyed and broken-hearted. And mind you, people in grief do not make the best decision-makers.

The problem with Noynoy is that he has been achingly passive the whole time -- a stark contrast with his dad's highly-emotive character demonstrated in fiery speeches I wish I was old enough to understand or even care to listen to. People call it "fire in the belly". While it sounds so cheesy and romantic, it is not something one can just pretend to have. One must be a dragon to be able to breathe fire.

There is nothing wrong with passivity if you are a mailman whose job is mainly to deliver mail. Nothing wrong with passivity if you are customer service representative who takes in "complaint calls".Nothing wrong with passivity if you are, say, a barber, whose job is just to cut hair according to customer specifications.

The presidency, on the other hand, it cannot be denied, is one job that is not for the faint of heart. It is not for a man easily subdued. It is not for someone with a broken heart still in the process of mending. For how will you mend 90M+ hearts, if you haven't been given time to mend yours first.

The problem with Noynoy, one which is universal to all presidential aspirants, is his play on rhetorics -- of highly-romanticized intense and sweeping catch-phrases of "change", "new politics" -- of a "people's campaign" similar to that of Obama in the States, which is, by the way, a pipe dream in a bureaucratic and horridly corrupt country as ours. When he quoted a customs guy saying "Pwede na uling mangarap." ("Alas, we can start dreaming once again!"), I can't help but doubt such a statement, not for what it is but for the circumstances surrounding it. It is just not common for Pinoys to speak that way to a politician. That seems too romantic, one easily taken from any movie script. It just sounded so unnatural. So instead of pulling my heartstrings,that statement registered and raised more questions logically -- and you and I know how critical thinking spoils drama. While I do not question the accuracy of that statement, I question the talent of the speechwriter. We all know, considering how emotional and excited everyone were that time, that speechwriter could have done it better. Instead, that one story ruined it for me.

The problem with Noynoy is that he is slowly fading from being that "simple congressman" to average senator to whom we've long been apathetic to -- neither worshipped nor hated, to becoming that "trapo" of a guy we loathe. We all know how easily the evils of politics can turn anything pure to rotten to the core. Again, sadly, the people around him -- the very same people who put Gloria Arroyo in power in that now regretful EDSA 2 are the ones telling us that they want "change". Isn't that the most laughable thing right now? Oh, you want f#$%ing change you say? Then get the hell away from our politics!!! Stop pretending you give a damn because we all know you don't. What is that phrase?  "Mind your own f#$%ing business!". That seems apt.

I have had enough of these Pontius Pilates frantically washing their hands clean of both guilt and traces of high treasons of yesterday and today!

But you know what, the truth of the matter is this (at least, the way I see it), -- the problem with Noynoy is not so much about Noynoy himself or the sentiments of the people around him. It is neither his pedigree nor his political party. It's not even his controversial girlfriend Shalani (who is by the way contemplating on running for congress) or his well-meaning and often misunderstood sister Kris. And no, it is not his receding hairline either.

The problem with Noynoy is that he's coming in way too early -- and I do not mean the campaigning -- I mean the whole idea of him deciding to run on short notice backed with nothing more than this euphoria and nostalgia of the one and only legitimate EDSA.

I would love to see him rule this country one day, but not yet, at least, not in 2010. Noynoy may have the makings of an upright president and yes, moralists may have found a leader in him alright. But the timing, the timing my friends could not be worse than this.

Coming from years of corruption and mismanagement, tragedies and this endless abyss of foreign indebtedness, we would need someone who can stomach the worst criticisms and never give up or give in. We need someone whose strength will never waver. We need someone aptly described by an ASUS brand tagline: "Rock-solid, heart-touching". Someone who is strong as steel and yet is able to inspire and leave us in awe with every line delivered matched with concrete and incontestable achievement. Do not ask me who this is because I do not have a ready answer. I am looking for one myself.

Noynoy, to me, seems like a good man. But right now, I feel he would do best in NGO work or spearheading anything untainted by political interests.

That kind of cult following he is currently enjoying is best-suited for short-term projects than in running the government. His influence, buoyed by support from mostly the young population must translate into something tangible in the short-term and to promising "out-of-the-box" concepts/solutions feasible in the foreseeable future.

I have nothing against Noynoy winning. But I have everything against another political swindle. As the popular saying goes, "You fool me once, shame on you! You fool me twice, shame on me!"

Suggested Further Reading:

• In Response to @Cocoy re: Noynoy
• 8 Reasons Why Political Rallies Have Become Overrated
• Let’s Behave, Shall We?
• BMI or MARINA? Does It Even Matter? I Say NO!
• Gibo should bolt out too

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