Reaction Paper

Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino the son of former Sen. Benigno Aquino and former President Corazon Aquino is going to be the next president. He won in the recent election with a wide margin from his contemporaries. And no doubt about it, he is the most popular among the candidates. He has the support of most Filipinos and the hopes of everyone for a better country.

I agree with what Ms. Manlosa said that Mr. Aquino was a better candidate for blocking the shrewd businessman from taking power and a former President who has been ousted, charged, tried then later convicted of plunder. But I certainly will never agree that Mr. Aquino is the best candidate for the job. Everyone may deny it, but if we, the Filipinos would only use our heads for thinking and not for hallucinating things, then it is plain to see that Sen Dick Gordon and Sec Gilberto Teodoro are the only two qualified candidates for the job. However since, Mr.Aquino is already there by virtue of 13 million votes then might as well give him the benefit of the doubt and let him do his thing.

But what really struck me most is the second candidate tagging Mr. Aquino, who is the ousted President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, tried and convicted of plunder, with his 8 million votes. From this I could say that the Philippines is really pitiful because of the so many people whom we cannot say illiterate maybe uneducated but are surely foolish or dumb by nature. How could they even think of putting back a person in the presidency after he has been ousted, tried and convicted? And I repeat convicted. It only shows the kind of people we have and their pitiful shallow minds. Whence all they know is to cry when the milk is spilled.

Mr. Aquino on the other hand, remains to be seen. But from the way things are in the past, I could not see hope in this person; this person who hasn’t accomplished anything remarkable in all his years as congressman and as senator. This same person who wasn’t even sure of running and despite his calling from the people to run, still had to ask for some time alone to think things over and make the critical decision. If everyone could remember the day when Mr. Aquino announced his candidacy, it gave a clear picture of the kind of person he is. While delivering his speech, he doesn’t seem well to be confident, resolute, intelligent, passionate, and most of all he didn’t appear dignified. On that day as I was watching the television, it was just as if somebody out of nowhere just went up to the stage and said “hey, I wanna be the next president”.

But in the course of time, during the duration of his campaign, in all his interviews and presidential debates, there was a great improvement in his bearing and his speech. I did not know what caused this but I do am sure that this is not the time for learning, six years as head of government and head of state should not be charged to experience. Mr. Aquino was obviously elected not because of himself but because of his parents, most especially the death of his mother the former President Corazon Aquino. This two factors are the only reason that gained him his mass support and not of anything else. Had he ran with his mother still alive, I doubt if he would even have half of the votes that he gained in the recent election. And this again is where I see the pitiful status our country is in because of the many whom I cannot say whether they are shallow minded or that they are just plainly stupid.

Most of the Filipinos fail to see that a person should be judged as he is, not because of someone else. It does not mean to say that his father did great and his mother did great, that we could already presume that he would also do well, especially when his track record doesn’t speak remarkably of himself. Yes, it could be that he has inherited his father’s intelligence or his mother’s values but it should be noted that this is not enough reason for him to be considered a representation of his mother or father because no matter what trait have you inherited, in the final analysis it would all boil down to how did you use it? Or did you even use it? Therefore the assumption that most Filipinos placed on Mr. Aquino is based upon pillars of salt and sand.

Nevertheless, no matter how unconfident I am of his capabilities, I am in no position to judge Mr. Aquino even before he has assumed office and as I have said before “everything remains to be seen”. I hope what’s to be seen is something remarkable that at last would brighten up his track record and clear all the doubts that some Filipinos have for him. That, what remains to be seen, is as what he promised “Dito na tayo samatuwid na daan”, “Kayo ang aking lakas” and ”Hindi ako magnanakaw”. A Philippines that is at last blessed, peaceful, educated and prosperous.

GOD BLESS our country!!! 