EDITORIAL - Knock knock! Who's there? Perlas. Perlas who? Perlas ng Silanganan.

Nicanor Perlas announced last Wednesday his bid for the presidency in the 2010 elections. If you are staring blankly at the preceding line, rest assured it is due to no fault of yours. We do not know him either.

Perlas has been described in the accompanying news stories as an environmentalist. Ah, so that is why. People in Cebu hardly know of any environmentalist, with the exception perhaps of one Antonio Oposa. But then again, it is still necessary to qualify Oposa first as a lawyer.

So, does Perlas really think he has a chance? Not just a chance, he insists, but he is certain he will win. Oh well, who are we to stand in the way of anyone's erection. See you after the polls, buddy.

At this point we ask the forgiveness of our readers, and especially of Mr. Perlas, if we sounded demeaning. But we cannot, in all honesty, take the sincerity and honest intentions of Mr. Perlas and bring it into context with everything that is happening right around us.

Perlas will be devoured alive by the political environment which we honestly believe he absolutely has no experience and preparation for. In this polluted land of ours, you do not run for office solely on the strength of lungs full of fresh air and expect to win. That's naive.

Indeed, no sooner had Perlas made his first mistake by announcing his candidacy this early (most of the grizzled veterans are still just going through the motions even if it is clear what they are all up to) than he followed it up with another by challenging the windmill.

Emboldened by the sound of his own voice, Perlas promised to unleash fire and brimstone against President Arroyo when he snatches the presidency away from her in 2010. Now, there is no shorter route to political squishing than a promise like that.

Of course, as had been said at the outset, nobody knows who Perlas is. But one thing is certain about him. He is definitely not the son of God. So do not expect any miracles from him, even in this land of the preposterous.