Early thoughts on early presidentiables

This early, the race for the 2010 top electoral derby is getting limited to a few hopefuls. Of the many who signified, thru an unbelievable myriad of image building gimmicks, their intention to run for the presidency of the land, the field seems to be trimmed down. The number will still reduce, I am sure, but, in the meantime, let me try to figure out three of these viable aspirants. They are Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro, Sen. Benigno Aquino III and Sen. Manuel Villar.

The defense secretary is, arguably, the best prepared of them all. His academic credential is most impeccable. I could not detail them here without being construed as his propagandist. For the record, I am not, even if I have always been biased in favor of the intellectuals. To me, there is a better chance of a bright man leading successfully his flock than say an ordinary breed like I am.

This brilliant former congressman is also a pragmatist. He realizes that the administration of Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo commands a large share of elected local government leaders. It is a given in our political paradigm, although this is not necessarily correct, that the success of local leaders is always measured in terms of delivery of projects. Malacanang controls the gate valve of all pipelines of funds needed to undertake any project. He who does not toe the president’s line does not get any. So, understandably, most local officials are beholden to the sitting president.

This explains the appearance of Lakas-Kampi as a huge political structure. Most politicians want to stay under the political umbrella of the president. Sec. Teodoro surmises that when all party members begin hitting the campaign trail, his presidential ambition is expected to gain a head start.

Yet, for all his seeming brilliance, there is something that Sec. Teodoro is, perhaps, unwilling to consider. This is the perception that the government of Pres. Arroyo is not the epitome of honesty. There are just too many issues of graft and corruption associated with the palace. Until today, this perception has remained largely uncontested. The question that casts a shade of doubt on the scholarship of the secretary is his inability to steer free of the corrupt. By his association with the administration that is tainted with dishonesty, he may also be thought to be similarly minded.

The best asset of Sen. Noynoy Aquino is the perception of honesty. Many among us, not excluding me, think that this senator is driven to preserving the heroic image of his parents. We are made to believe that he was brought amidst the most honest of public servants and by extension, he is expected to lead an equally honest leadership.

This is important to us considering our peoples’ expressed desire to chart a new regime. We have seen that the singular cause of all our national woes is the greed and corrupt ways of our leadership. How many people have I met who have grown so tired of a dishonest leader that they profess to yearn for a man of Sen. Noynoy’s perceived honesty.

However, there is also no denying that maybe, the least prepared presidential hopeful is to be Sen. Noynoy. I have yet to scrutinize his scholastic record in order to find out if, in campus, he already demonstrated admirable depths of understanding and leadership qualities. His production, as a lawmaker, does not inspire awe. Until his face was thrust into the limelight following the death of his beloved mother, he was just like any regular guy who happens to carry a revered family name.

Sen. Manny Villar appears to be an achiever. His “infomercials” do not fail to reckon his humble beginnings and for which reason, he emphasizes the readiness of his hand to help the needy ones. Why do I think that the senator hopes to show that his achievements in his private enterprise propel him to seek the leadership of the land, not for him but for his people?

Behind this thought is a nagging reality. People I know believe that the profit orientation of men in the corporate world is supreme. Between now and election time, we have to look for signs if it can be far different in Sen. Villar’s psyche.