MANILA, Philippines - If Marcos did not impose martial law in the Philippines on September 21, 1972, the assassinated Philippine senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino who was then the most popular opposition leader, should have been elected as the next president of the Philippines. What happened during the Marcos dictatorial regime and after is now part of the revolving Philippine history replete with drama, melodrama, comedy, and tragedy.
Philippine media reported that incumbent Philippine senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, son of Ninoy and former President Cory Aquino, has declared his candidacy for president yesterday, September 10th after a series of consultations with political and religious leaders supporting him. This is history repeating itself. But this time, I believe, nobody would play the role of another Marcos.
There is no other way to paint the recent death of Cory Aquino and the accompanying funeral and burial procession attended by so many Filipinos as a sign, perhaps from heaven, that it’s time for the bad guys to retire and let the good guys take over the Philippines. As the Holy Scriptures say, there’s always a time for everything.
Though I may have predicted in one of my previous columns that Sen. Manny Villar would be the next president of the Philippines, I am not a prophet. I’m just a simple newspaper columnist and political analyst prone to committing mistakes.
In short, speaking from my senses, I call on all opposition candidates to unite around the candidacy of Noynoy Aquino for president of the Philippines next year for he would be a very good version of the Filipino Barack Obama shouting “Yes, We Can.”
(Jun Policarpio is a prominent member of the New York Fil-Am community and was once a Republican Party candidate for New York State Senator.)
* * *