Hell yes.
Something amaaazing has happened. It’s one of those choices that are so obvious and right, we can’t believe it was actually made.
US President-elect Obama has named Steven Chu his Energy Secretary. He picked an expert for the job.
Chu is the head of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1997 for his work on supercooled atoms. He has pushed for research on solar energy and biofuels. He advocates controlling greenhouse emissions. And he’s an employee of the US Department of Energy!
Critics note that Chu is not a politician, so he might not survive Washington. What, you think someone can run a government laboratory without political skills?
Given that amaaazing things are happening, let’s allow ourselves to think that someone with all the necessary qualifications plus a well-developed conscience can become the next President of the Philippines. (Naturally we are assuming that the 2010 elections will go on as scheduled.) Who would you nominate for President of the Philippines? Someone qualified and viable—we’ll worry about “winnability” later. Yes, you love Manny Pacquiao, but he’s done enough for this country. No, seriously, you can’t nominate Pac-Man. Name your candidates.
Look at the nominations so far. Hope ticket, or Despair ticket?
December 12th, 2008 at 02:02
Mar Roxas. Young, bright, forward-looking, untainted by corruption, with the professional expertise and worldview we need to compete in the global marketplace. If Richard Gordon were to shed some of his ego and agree to serve as VP, he would be the ideal partner — to be Roxas’s action man and straighten out this sorry mess we call a country. If we need a ‘disciplinarian’ in the mode of Lee Kuan-Yew, I would rather it be Gordon than, heaven forbid, Bayani Fernando.
December 12th, 2008 at 09:00
I’ll nominate another Manny. Manny V. Pangilinan. He’s more than qualified for the job and his so-called “Midas Touch” may work wonders for this country.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:40
Jovi Salonga’s too old, so maybe Teddy Locsin, Oca Orbos, Winnie Monsod…but none of them will win. Sige na nga, Mar Roxas nalang ’cause we’re both aswangs from Capiz (He’s half and I’m full-blooded! Haha).
December 12th, 2008 at 13:31
BF, because I think he’s capable of bringing about significant changes.
December 12th, 2008 at 14:06
Karina Constantino-David
Topnotch academic (Social Work and Community Development, UP), well-respected government executive (awarded by the World Bank for her successful reforms as Chair of the Civil Service Commission), a stalwart of the civil society movement, musician and artist (Inang Laya).
She was able to defy her boss (PGMA) on key issues without being ineffective.
Brilliant and creative mind, unassailable integrity, fantastic communicator, wife to Randy David, she provided those who worked for and under her with equal amounts of shock, awe and inspiration for her no-nonsense leadership.
KCD (my boss for 8 years) is change I can believe in ;)
December 12th, 2008 at 14:17
Also, she does not need to spend taxpayer pesos for a speech writer (she writes her own) and advisers (she has Randy David).
KCD has the track record of translating lofty principles and ideas into pragmatic and workable policies and programs.
Walang sinabi si Hillary Clinton kay Karina.
December 12th, 2008 at 14:23
MDS. i know she seems kinda crazy but still I don’t think she will tolerate corruption.
December 12th, 2008 at 15:32
M&M &(M)
Manny Villar – a camella house and lot and a free ticket for every OFW
Mar Roxas – if he’ll give in and be VEEP to MVP.
Manny Pangilinan – PLDT – free dsl for every filipino.
December 12th, 2008 at 18:37
Si Ate Vi! Ang babaeng may dalang bato, kaya lagot kayo!
December 12th, 2008 at 20:01
I have two candidates. Both would serve as good presidents, but both could serve well ith the other as vice as well.
Panfilo Lacson
Rodrigo Duterte
Both of the two are known for their, should I say, ruthlessness.
Lacson was involved in the Kuratong Baleleng issue, which makes it impossible for him to be a puppet president. Imagine, a former man in uniform (an alleged gang leader) leading the country. That’ll boost our image!
Duterte (for those who don’t know, he’s the current mayor of Davao) has been dubbed by Time Magazine as “The Punisher.” The crime rate in the Mindanao capital has drastically decreased, supposedly because of the secret organization named Davao (or Duterte) Death Squad (DDS).
Basically, I believe that this is a country of whiners, and we need a good and strict leader to get us going, kinda like Samuel L. Jackson in Coach Carter.
December 12th, 2008 at 21:52
I’ll go for the other M – Miriam Defensor-Santiago.. I believe that behind the cuckoo-ness is an excellent leader and a public servant.
By the way, thanks Jessica.. I got the DVD you sent. And thanks for the cryptic message that went with it.. Hehehe!
December 12th, 2008 at 22:07
Dickie Gordon — no-nonsense Subic and Red Cross saviour!
December 13th, 2008 at 00:19
I’d probably go with either Miriam or Bayani. Too bad (AFAIK) there aren’t any scientists or engineers like mr. Chu here in the Philippines. We could really use fellows like those.
December 13th, 2008 at 04:07
I can’t think of anyone!
And when you can’t think of anyone, you realize that this country is really deep in shit.
(And elections my ass. What we need is a revolution! An internal revolution.
As long as the power is held by the elites, nothing will happen in this country [which is still stuck in the age of feudalism], no matter who the president is. )
December 13th, 2008 at 04:48
Damn, if Obama truly wanted advancement in alternative energy he could’ve picked Al Gore. Imagine a scientist dealing with lobbyist.
December 13th, 2008 at 09:09
I will go for Joey Lina former MMDA chair, Senator, Governor of Laguna,
Secretary of DILG and at present President of the Manila Hotel.
As youngest senator he authored many laws
As governor, Laguna was number one in income
As secretay of DILG, for transparency he made NGOs a voting member of the bidding process and made savings and returned the same to the national tresury.
Since his exit from govt before the garci tapes he entered the hotel business and improved the it’s income.
This is a person with experience in governance and given a chance to lead will be best one.
December 13th, 2008 at 20:35
One fresh face would be from local government – Naga City mayor Jesse Robredo. That’s my idealist pick.
If the Ayalas were to allow either Jaime or Fernando to run, I would vote for either of them, but I doubt if they will ever involve themselves in politics that directly.
My “pragmatic” pick would be Panfilo Lacson, though he represents the extreme end of the spectrum for which the current administration already stands. It makes me shiver, but yeah, I’ll go for him.
But if Danding Cojuangco were to throw his hat into the political ring, I might as well go for the whole shebang. You’ll be hanged for a lamb as well as for a sheep, so they say.
Richard Gordon would be the ideal Vice-President – though he has been playing safe the past few years (perhaps to save his political stock), he is a complement to any President by having served at the municipal, Cabinet-level, and senatorial levels. His hands-on style would also play into his favor. I don’t see him as presidential timber right now, but in any case, he will be a good replacement President if the incumbent fails.
December 14th, 2008 at 00:26
Mayor Tommy Osmena of Cebu City.
December 14th, 2008 at 00:36
Winnie Monsod!
I love to read her column in the newspaper…and if you read it…you’ll know she’s exactly what we need to change this country. She’s has a no non-sense and tough ways, but then she also has a heart.
Too bad she didn’t win the last time she ran for the Senate…we could’ve used someone like her.
December 14th, 2008 at 15:43
I nominate…myself…we are faced with stupendous problems, thus warranting a new take on Philippine governance.
But seriously, the names that are currently emerging as possible 2010 Presidentiables are unacceptable, I believe that we would need a candidate with a good record and of good moral footing. Governor Grace Padaca of Isabela is one person who has those qualifications, and it is high time that we start to redefine politics in our country.
December 15th, 2008 at 16:14
unfortunately, i don’t see an alternative candidate who is winnable.
of all the names coming out for presidentiables, i don’t have any choice. most of them are either traditional politicians, politicians who are ruling dynsties in their home turf, gloria kiss-asses, human rights violators, and a some a new breed of trapo themselves.
i would love to see a lot more of the karina david types though.
December 15th, 2008 at 20:32
conrado de quiros
or
lav diaz
we need someone who knows our country and looks at it in a different light
April 25th, 2009 at 13:11
Duterte may be perceived negatively nationwide but he is doing very well in Davao.
Actually, his constituents love him. The city may not be as progressive as the
nation’s capital but it is safe or secure for the people residing here. Taxi drivers are
honest. You don’t fear of having your cellphone being snatched. The mayor patrols
the city proper with the police every now and then. When he catches you doing bad
stuff (stealing, violating traffic rules), he will bring you to the station himself. He is
very strict and straightforward. He does not give a damn about cursing on his local
tv program shown every Sunday morning whenever some rich and influential
persons go against or attempt to bend the law.
This DDS issue has been going on for a very long time in Davao. It has only been
known throughout the country just lately. People are not happy with his alleged
involvement with this group but, ironically, they are not exactly saddened as well.
They have realized that this controversial group has made the city “peaceful”. The
people, particularly law violators, are afraid of him.