FPJ could be a potential time bomb

When Fernando Poe Jr. announced he would run for president of the Republic of the Philippines, his advisers, and perhaps even he himself, could not believe the adulation and overwhelming response he received from ordinary people. Thousands upon thousands flocked to the Manila Hotel to witness the event. In fact, recently, when he arrived for a scheduled dinner, almost the entire neighborhood went out to greet him, preventing him from getting out of his car. "Dinumog siya!" as one witness said. Even Erap admits his own popularity pales in comparison with that of FPJ. "Da King’s" followers are not only euphoric, their devotion is almost cult-like. This could be a scary situation.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel was right when he said the drawing power of action star Fernando Poe Jr. is like a typhoon. He may win out of popularity, but what happens next? Senator Pimentel is strongly suggesting that FPJ and his advisers draft a political platform that would clearly show how they intend to address the complex problems of this country. His advisers should realize that winning is not the end-all and be-all. What they will do next is the question they must ask themselves.

Take Brazil, which has similarities with the Philippines. This country is one of the most densely populated areas in the world, with a large majority living in abject poverty. For many decades, this predominantly Catholic country has suffered a lot under the hands of some very corrupt government officials. Rampant tax evasion in Brazil made it difficult for the government to sustain basic services. Wealth is focused only on a few people, forcing the population of the poor to grow daily. Military unrest, high cost of education, population explosion, and too much politics only compounded the problem of rampant poverty. At one point, the South American region’s inflation rate reached a staggering 2,000 percent. It’s desperation has gotten to the point that in one tourism office in one of the poorest towns of Brazil, a promotional banner reads, "Visit Brazil before we all starve to death." This is not a joke. Homes in this country are forced to cook using firewood because propane gas has become so expensive since government privatized the industry. Elections were held on a regular basis and the people tried to look for a leader who will put their interests first.

Tired of tradpols, they recently chose a former newspaper boy-cum-metal worker to become the next president of Brazil – Luiz Ignacio "Lula" da Silva. He is a man of very little education, finished only up to elementary grade five, but is very popular among the masses. He’s a radical leader of the left-wing Brazil’s Workers Party. Today, the Brazilians are tired of the usual, traditional politicians and voted overwhelmingly for Lula. To most of Brazil, Lula is a symbol of change. Before he took power, investors and local businessmen were already cautious because Lula may not be able to pull the economy together. Even when Lula got elected, some investors are still shying away because of his leftist leanings. He did not keep quiet about his platform, though. Lula promised to introduce better land reform programs for Brazil’s farmers, create investor-friendly policies, and wiser government spending on national priority programs. He even pledged to even out the national debt. So far, nothing really significant and earthshaking has happened since Lula took office. One good thing about his presidency is that the radical Left has virtually quieted down, making it easier for Lula to focus on his job. He is, however, being criticized for his constant travels. He is now known as the Viajero of Brazil. Businessmen and investors are already getting restless, while the Left and the Military are getting a bit apprehensive. They are all waiting for "the miracle to come down from heaven." So far, nothing. Is the popular Lula just another traditional politician or a real reformer? That, they say, remains to be seen. Analysts predict that if Lula fails to show his constituents the necessary changes within the next two years, Brazil may fall headlong into a very violent civil war. The very popular Lula sits today as president, virtually, a potential time bomb.

There are perhaps a little over 20 million people that are expected to support FPJ’s candidacy. Many have never seen anything like this – the masses putting their collective trust and faith in just one man. Many foreign analysts say his phenomenal popularity is simply unbelievable. We can continue to turn a blind eye, but this is reality: the system allows for popular candidates to win. As we have seen in the past senatorial elections, celebrities dominate the political scene. What was once seen only in the movies is now a reality. In fact, FPJ’s fans in Mindanao could no longer differentiate between fiction and reality. In one movie where their idol got killed, they shot the movie screen. That’s why, they say, FPJ makes two versions of his films – one where he doesn’t get killed, the other following the normal story line. God forbid if anything fatal would happen to FPJ. It would create a "firestorm" that would be difficult to put out.

That’s the kind of faith the masses have in FPJ. Their expectations are extremely high. These people are expecting miracles to happen – food instantly on their table. For many, they believe their lives would instantly change once FPJ sits as president. His advisers better make sure on what their candidate can deliver, because if FPJ fails them, this could turn into a potential time bomb.

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