Hijo, itabi mo

Today, I am announcing my support for the candidacy of Noynoy Aquino for President in 2010.

Noy has made it clear to me that he wants to carry the torch of leadership.

The passing of our beloved former President Aquino has reawakened a passion among us. I acknowledge this as fuel to bring us to the realization of our dream: Good will triumph over evil.
(read transcript of Mar Roxas' speech at Club Filipino, September 1, 2009)

I had the good fortune of being introduced to Noynoy Aquino at a gun show, a week before the good President succumbed to her illness. Far it was from my imagination that in six weeks, the president of the Liberal Party who worked so hard and claimed an early stake at the 2010 presidential race, will step aside to push Noynoy to run - poetically similar to his pedicab TVC.

Noynoy wants another week to decide. Good move. Prudence is the better part of valor.

Even if the whole nation cried for days, and for eleven hours walked at the procession (or stayed glued to the ABS-CBN coverage), there is danger in the emotion of Cory's legacy because it is just that - emotion.

I will not judge Noynoy's ability to lead the country, although I'm concerned of how he had been under the radar, even as a lawmaker. His popularity now is driven only by romantic stories of the heroes of an oppression and a bloodless revolution against a now-forgiven dictatorial family, stories which next year's first-time voters did not even live through.

Remember how we easily forget (irony?). We exiled Marcos then elected his wife and children and worshipped his grandson on media. We did an encore on Estrada, and his wife and sons.

Some questions: Is Noynoy winnable? Will the flame be sustained in his hands? Is there even a real fire, in the first place? A hundred yellow ribbons might not be a good indicator.

I've never voted for a president who won.

I'll stay on the bus
Forget about us
Put the blame on me
- Tony Orlando (Tie a Yellow Ribbon)