Left lolling with an empty look

Should memory serve right, one of the early birds to catch the presidentiable worm, was lady Senator Loren Legarda. In fact, her point man in Cebu – a local radio figure – had long dropped hints about Loren’s lofty ambition, aside from her office sending out some email about certain legislative advocacies.

There had also been earlier vague interest to have the election of VP Noli de Castro who won over her in the VP 2004 election put under protest before the presidential electoral tribunal. However, it petered out leading some kibitzers to comment why she had to bother about it when she could aspire later for the Palace Holy Grail instead.

Much earlier memory lane sidetrip had also touched some poignant chord inre Senator Loren’s teary embrace of a colleague after the so-called “second envelope” had been turned down unopened by the Senate as impeachment court of Pres. Erap Estrada’s aborted impeachment. And this became part of the warp and woof of that dramatic precursor leading to the EDSA II revolt.

Even as the life of Senator Loren later got mired over a marriage gone to the rocks, her political career seemed unaffected. Her strong potential for the presidency then, could be aptly described by the Cebuano term as “humot”, which nuanced bright and positive promise and prospects.

Later came a time when Loren got involved in risky ventures, like, bravely working for the release of a captured military or police officer by the NPA in Luzon. Much later, she squeaked in a role in the release of tv colleague Ces Drilon from Muslim kidnappers for ransom.

Lately, when the 2010 elections fever started to heat up but, the lady solon seemed imperturbable by saying “trabaho muna tayo”, like Kabayan also did, none also got perturbed for Loren’s interim wear or “ningas cogon” worry.

Could it be overconfidence, or of off-timing, or missed opportunity? Whatever it be, when many presidentiables started filling the air with “infomercials” that apparently dictated the tempo and standing in poll surveys, the lady solon consistently, too, lagged poorly.

Meantime, in the frenzy of alignments and realignments, especially on the heels of Tita Cory’s death and Ninoy Aquino’s death anniversary, Noynoy Aquino suddenly emerged like the proverbial phoenix from the pedigree of his parents’ ashes.

Where did these and other related political developments cast Senator Loren Legarda? Tersely put, only in the almost obscure footnotes at the bottom heap, as it appeared that she took no personal interest at all. Or, that she had no more available and viable political wagon to latch on.

Like Kabayan who also dilly-dallied to catch up with some Palace aspirants, Loren belatedly seemed to have taken her cue. Both colleagues in their tv career where timing is the essence, found themselves left behind.

With major possible political camps filled up – or about to be in the case of Senator Manny Villar – for the two highest tandem posts, Loren appeared to woo the NPC with Senator Francis Escudero who also has an eye for the presidency.

Like Kabayan now in limbo… Senator Loren Legarda with no options available obviously, has come to a disappointing and pathetic end when she gave up her quest for the Palace Holy Grail. Suddenly giving up the ghost for any presidential run for it, she now consoles herself by preferring “humanitarian work”, rather than waste money and time campaigning as a candidate. The old Spanish gentry used to regard it as “consuelo de bobo”.

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