Erap, please read this speech

The new, improved Erap is like the version 2.0 of the former President Joseph Ejercito A.T. (After Tanay). This edition is “more and less” of the original: more confident of his English mastery (never mind grammar and syntax), less slurred in enunciation; more alert and on-the-ball, less bleary-eyed and incoherent; more agile and surefooted, less limp and wobbly; more sprightly and active, less weight and bloating; more smooth, firm skin, less facial wrinkles, sagging and lines; more unworldly and introspective, less carnal and self-indulgent; more forgiving, less belligerent.

His political character, on the other hand, has transformed into “more”: more ambitious, more driven, more statesmanlike, more willing to debate in public fora, and more eager than ever to test if his appeal with his fans, the masses, has ebbed through the years in confinement.

The 72-year-old ex-matinee idol is once again auditioning for the biggest comeback in his career. He wants a second chance for a smash-hit presidency. Five years of courtroom drama for plunder and betrayal of public trust and a total of seven years of restricted freedom and relative isolation can change any man, more so a former multi-awarded reel hero who has made a good living getting in and out of various characters.

 And so, two years after conviction and pardon, the freshly minted Erap has emerged with a sequel in his mind and a freshly rewritten, intended-for-vote-winning script that has had the benefit of seven years of rehearsal. He is in dire need of affirmation and approbation, not unlike movie greats whose worst fear is faded oblivion. Time will tell if the Erap Part II movie in his mind will be a comedy with a happy ending, a tragedy with a sad denouement or a “dramedy” with equal parts laughter and tears.

First he launched the “pilot” show, gingerly dipping a big toe in the steamy waters of politics. As early as December 2008, the spin was in play. Former Senator Maceda, Marcos’s ex-crony and now Erap’s loyal, personal cheerleader, avowed that, “Five of six opposition presidentiables are willing to give up their ambition and allow Estrada to run again in 2010. Estrada is the only person who can motivate the opposition presidentiables to unite with him as the candidate. This will be especially so if surveys show him ahead of them. At the moment, after only two surveys, he is on top of them,” Maceda added with pride.

At that time, the opposition candidates were in abundance: Escudero, Villar, Legarda, Roxas, Binay and Lacson. Maceda envisaged that Estrada would eventually decide to join the run-up as “this is the only way there can be one opposition candidate.” That statement was the prequel.

By May 2009, emboldened by the warm reception from his provincial sorties, Erap himself was ready to test a few lines from the script. “I will definitely decide in July or August. The presidential hopefuls of the opposition may slide down to vice president, like what I did in 1992 where I ran and won as vice president. It is still everybody’s guess. But I’m doing my part for the opposition, that is why I am doing the rounds all over the country to feel the pulse of the people and to thank them for their unconditional support for me and my family.” And so the die was cast. Erap was now wading waist-deep into the presidential pool. The surveys put him in a dead heat with three other oppositionists.

By July 2009 forces antagonistic to an Erap bid were unleashed by unknown sources. A certain Virgilio Pascual had written the Sandiganbayan to revoke the 2007 pardon granted by President Arroyo. Erap lost his newfound equanimity as he lashed out at Pascual, whom he claimed was a “paid lackey of another presidential candidate,” whose name he refused to divulge. “He is planted by other presidential candidates who are afraid of me. My pardon is unconditional.” He continued his harangue: “It restored my civil and political rights. I was able to vote in the 2007 elections. I can vote and I can be voted upon also,” Erap insisted. He further claimed that a study conducted by two former Supreme Court justices, two law deans and a bar topnotcher, concluded he could run again.

And then Cory died. It seemed like the proverbial rug was pulled from under all the presidentiables’ feet. Noynoy Aquino was suddenly being mandated by the Filipino people to pick up where his parents had left off. The bereavement and grief over Cory’s demise re-ignited the spirit and hope of an apathetic citizenry. Suddenly there was hope in their hearts once again as they trained their sights on Cory’s only son and begged and prayed that he would step up to the plate.

A thoroughly surprised and reluctant Noynoy was besieged and overwhelmed by the mourning that quickly turned to euphoria as the people chorused, “He is the one!” All the presidential contenders watched with a sinking feeling. Could this really be happening? Even Erap, still brimming with vindication from the memory of Cory’s jovial apology for her role in ousting him, was suddenly filled with generosity and magnanimity. In one godly moment, he insinuated that he would be willing to step aside for Noynoy.

Alas, the illumination was fleeting, the generous moment has passed. Three weeks later, at an Iloilo sortie on Aug. 25, Erap announced, “It seems impossible now that the opposition will field only one presidential candidate. There is a 99.9 percent chance that I will be running for president.” But the unexpected clamor for Noynoy produced a flurry of reaction and repositioning from the invested candidates and their supporters. Even before Noynoy agreed to accept the people’s mandate, Mar Roxas shocked his party-mates and supporters with his hasty decision to step aside as the proclaimed standard-bearer of the Liberal Party. Loren Legarda and Jejomar Binay have both announced their willingness to slide down to vice president.

One day after the historic 09-09-09 acceptance speech of Benigno Aquino III, former President Joseph Estrada was touted by Maceda as having no choice but to run for president in the 2010 elections. “Aquino’s decision means that the opposition will be fielding several candidates. I don’t see them withdrawing in favor of one another.”

 As the political quicksand swallows the hopefuls and spits them out reconfigured mostly into less ambitious contenders, what climax and conclusion will this Erap sequel hold? May we propose the following script? This will be the toughest role you will play, the hardest lines to express but your greatest chance for eternal stardom in Philippine history. For your soulful consideration...

“Ito na yata ang pinaka-mahirap na papel na gagampanan ko sa aking buhay. Ang pagsuko ko ng sariling ambisyon para sa ating iisang bayan, para tayo ay magsama-sama na sa isang tunay na bukluran at tumahak sa iisang landas.

“Tama na para sa akin na maramdaman kong muli ang inyong pagmamahal at kapatawaran sa anumang pagkakamali ko.Sapat na ang inyong pagtaguyod sa aking pamilya. Di ko na inaasam ang kapangyarihan. Nais ko na lamang suportahan ang kandidatong itutuloy ang mga naudlot kong mga pangarap lalo na para sa mga mahihirap.

“Napakabigat ng hinaharap ng ating bansa. Siyam na taon tayong nagdusa sa kagat ng dilim. Ngayon sisikat na muli ang isang bagong araw. Kahit ako’y lulubog na sa likod ng kandidatong karapatdapat. Yung tunay na lalaban sa tukso ng mga lalapit na may mga maruming balak. Susubukan ka kaya uulitin ko: Dapat walang kaibigan, walang kumpare, walang kamag-anak. Alam kong kahit hindi na ako makakabalik sa pwesto, hindi ako malalaos sa inyong pananaw, at lalong hinding-hindi kayo papayag na pupulutin ako sa kangkungan!

“Ito na ang hinihintay na bagong umaga. Walang tutulong sa Noypi kundi kapwa Noypi.”

And so, we hope and keep on hoping that another former president will bury his dream and rise to greater glory. That is the blockbuster movie in the Filipino’s mind. We hope it will be showing soon.

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