POLIBIZ
Is Noynoy his own man?
The newly anointed Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, a namesake of a fallen hero known for his immortal declaration: “the Filipino is worth dying for,” should prove to all and sundry that he is really his own man.
The anointment of his party mate Sen. Mar Roxas is no guarantee for a sure win in the forthcoming presidential derby. Mar who hardly got a good constant rating at the survey has to give way and make a noble act for the sake of the party.
For his sacrifice Mar should be given the sole credit and nobody else. At least he is man enough to admit his fate is in limbo. It’s neither going here nor there. To be blunt his dream remains an elusive one.
As we all knew, he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, small wonder he could waste a fortune for his political commercials for months not hurting his pocket a bit but his ego.
Come to think of it, a lot of factors may have contributed to Mar’s failure to incite public sympathy in his desire to become the future president of this republic.
For one he doesn’t have the charisma. He appears flat and hollow in his characterization as Mr. Padyak. His manner of delivering his lines sounds monotonous which reflects in his poker face. Our very own local theater people would artistically best describe it in their own linguistic form, “kay man kulang guid sa utog kon maghambal” (well he lacks the orgasm when he speaks).
Unknown to Mar, our local media in Iloilo is not too enthusiastic of his wish to grab the throne from the sitting president.
Mar committed an unforgivable blunder in his political career when he uttered a foul language directly cursing Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the height of his anger in a public rally held last year. He unmasked himself to his own detriment. He could have said it in a subtle way without resorting to vulgarity. Oh, had he only consulted the old guards of the Liberal Party…
Take the case of Corazon Aquino when she was threatened by late Pres. Ferdinand Marcos a month before 1986 Snap Elections; the Dictator said to her, “isang bala ka lang” (you are only good for a single bullet). On which Cory without batting an eyelash readily replied, “isang balota ka lang,” (you are only good for a single ballot). That single phrase made a historical value which eventually catapulted Cory to presidency. The rest was history.
See the difference Mar of the beauty and art of rhetorical oration?
Mar should learn from the past and from his elders. A true leader is measured by the choice of his language, and the manner of its delivery even when one is put under-pressure.
Thinking back, this writer is also a witness to Mar’s unreasonable hospitality at the time he was still contemplating to join the senatorial race in the mid 90s.
A female peer one time gathered us for a press conference with Mar Roxas at one of the function rooms of Sarabia Manor Hotel.
Mar appeared satisfied while enjoying his cup of brewed coffee as we watched him in glue anticipating for an invitation out of courtesy being the host. The said interview lasted for an hour or a little more. The press left without sipping a drop of coffee. What a shame.
That incident left a lasting impression of the kind of person Mar is.
Other similar related stories then spread like wildfire experiencing the same tale with Mr. Palengke.
And the guts he would run for the presidency?
A coffee tale is something petty and insignificant but also a reflective of a whole of Mar. Hospitality my dear begins at home and definitely we cannot expect something productive and progressive from someone who won’t even dare to invite his guest for a meal sitting beside in a dining table.
Mar’s decision then to abandon the presidential race is the wisest decision he could have offered to his beloved country profusely bleeding from endless corruption. Putting it simply he is doing us a very, very big favor.
At the outset, can we see a bright light at the end of the tunnel would Noynoy make it to presidency?
If I were to give Noynoy an unsolicited advice, I would dare tell him to:
- hire a professional public relation man to package him as a man to beat
- listen to your siblings for a sound advice but not necessarily follow them
- buy Kris a plaster strong enough to glue her big mouth
- consult Mr. Webster for the definition of diplomacy
- cease from further spiritual gimmickry; it’s an old plot used by the departed
- be your own man and never, never be a clone of Mar
(For feedback email to: roblesnelson@yahoo.com)