The Philippines’ “White” Obama?
November 11, 2008 by lisa
Filed under government & politics
AT the Dumaguete Airport with Louis Pawid III
We were in Dumaguete, triple sharing as usual, Baguio boys Louis P. and Nico C. and I, watching a proud moment in American history on all cable news channels from our hotel room from November 4-5, 2008.
The Americans have had very few proud moments, in my opinion, since George W. Bush became President of the United States of America, so it was wonderful to see a nation so flushed with pride, not so much at having elected their first colored President but at how they as a people were so engaged in an electoral process that was systematic, reasonable in its policies, and enviable even.
Systematic because they conducted polls spanning different time zones, and the results became known several hours after the last poll closed. Reasonable because they offered early voting to avoid lines, simultaneous registration and voting, and used malls as venues polling stations, because candidates could campaign until the last minute of election day.
Enviable because of the integrity of their political process, because the losing candidate conceded immediately and gracefully. In the Philippines they say no candidate ever loses — he was cheated! Enviable because the citizens were so engaged in the exercise from the time the party nomination process was started, long before the Presidential campaign. Enviable because they have real political parties, not mere political alliances like we do.
Thus particular electoral exercise proved that democracy was alive and kicking, with a high voter turnout, early voting, voting in malls, John McCain’s choice of a female running mate, thus ensuring that history was to be made regardless of the winning candidates.
I loved the way George W. Bush was rendered insignificant for the past few months, too.
Like bloggers all over the world, I wanted to write about the U.S. elections, especially what lessons the Philippines could learn from our former colonial masters as far as their enviable electoral process is concerned.
Louis P., who works in the office of Senator Richard Gordon in the Philippine Senate had a running commentary all night and all morning that we were watching the votes being counted and listening to the analysts dissecting the candidates campaigns about how Filipino politicians were going to try and adopt Barack Obama’s campaign strategies for our country’s electoral exercise in 2010.
Then I decided against publishing anything about the U.S. elections until I saw this post in Pinoy Business & Other Stories: A Filipino Obama.
A response to Alex Magno’s column, where he asked “Can there be a Filipino Obama rising to the challenge of 2010?” (Mr. Magno’s column appears below.)
Mr. Magno, there is no such thing as a Filipino Obama but there is a Filipino named Gordon. More than the First Black American President, I think it is more interesting to contemplate having the First White Philippine President.
Of course he is referring to Louis’ boss, Senator Gordon, who track record as a government official is pretty solid. Subic managed to preserve all that was good about the American-run base because of him, while Baguio, of course, has had all the Camp John Hay landmarks erased by Fil-Estate and substituted with the developer’s idea of beauty: Main Club, 19th Tee, Mile Hi, Halfway House, the Main Gate — and all this while refusing to pay rent, to which the city is entitled a 20% share.
Lisa,
Truly, the US electoral process is indeed enviable. Enough reason for our politicians to get excited for the 2010 elections as they hope to become another Obama. But sadly, none of our politicians possess the charisma that Obama has. But if we talk of a good and clean track record, Gordon is in. He has been a household name for the past years and Olongapo and Subic are his biggest achievements.
Names that has been circulating for presidency these past few months include VP Noli de Castro, Sen. Chiz Escudero, Loren Legarda and Bayani Fernando whose posters are all over Metro Manila as early as 2008.
De Castro is “pang masa” but he doesn’t have a good track record,.Legarda has become a traditional politician while Chiz Escudero as everybody claims is “hindi pa hinog”. He still has to prove himself. And of course Bayani Fernando is too good to be true.
So why not a White Obama in Malacañang? It’s too early to tell, but he is quite a good candidate to consider.
Hi Lalaine,
Like eveyone else I want CHANGE. But the kind of change that must be ’spelled’ out to the populace. A plan.
I would rather vote for the PLAN, and determine if it’s proponent is capable of carrying it out.
In the Philippines, we vote for the PERSON. Then allow them to do as they please, never holding them accountable to the PLAN as we never required one in the first place.
Wednesday’s PDI had Jojo Binay of Makati announcing his bid for the Philippine presidency calling himself “Jojobama!” This is getting too ridiculous already.
Why not? But please, let us not expect a miracle. Mr. Gordon has a lot of work to do. To start with, his “stance” regarding the fertilizer scam!
Do not support whoever supports the WTO’s intent to almost remove duties on agricultural produce. They will surely put our local farmers to misery.
And to whoever ruined the Intramuros with the pretext of blending the modern and antiquity.
Lisa,
There is a humorous quip that goes, “Once you go black, you never go back!” to which I now say, “Go for white and everything will be all right!”
Hehehe!
I wasn’t aware that you had posted portions of my blog entry in site till I googled my name this morning and I would like to thank you for your kind words about it.
I’ve been writing and posting blogs and comments on various blogs and websites as a way of telling people about Gordon.
It just occurred to me that I have been telling people just about his track record and not enough about the great ideas he has for the country.
When one talks about a Presidency in the making, one should talk about the direction it will take the country.
I’ll be posting something on http://www.pinoybiz.blogspot.com, will keep you updated.
Hi Paul,
The “White Obama” was very clever, not that Senator Gordon is positioning himself as that. I respect the man. I love his passion. Very few in this country are passionate about anything anymore. I find that we have become a very cynical people.
And, as I mentioned, he does inspire the folks who work for him, a lot of whom are volunteers.
Thanks for updating us on the goings on in the Philippines Senate. Keep blogging!
I like Gordon, he is very helpful.
He teams up with Batman to defeat the Joker.
We need people like Gordon.