NoyNoy Aquino and his advantages

In a circumstance already written by destiny, the death of democracy icon, Former President Corazon Aquino, on the month of Ninoy’s assassination, sparked a national call for her only son to continue the fight and rescue the Philippines from the disgracing shadow of the present administration, deliberately setting the stage for him to join the Presidential race.

It was a difficult challenge for an almost impossible mission. But Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, the last link to the fading legacy of political icons that helped shape modern Philippine history, went on to accept the complicated task entrusted upon him. Suddenly, this simple man, whose conservative lifestyle made him to be contented just in the background, devoting his entire life protecting his mother and sisters, thrust in the limelight of power through a popular demand. But others are skeptical, largely denounced him as unprepared and incapable to govern. But are they vindicated to crucify Noynoy?

In a country where people adored gossip and mudslinging, flaws and political accomplishments treated also as part of the showbiz gossip. But Noynoy is not everybody’s idea of a modern matinee idol nor fond to dip himself in controversies. During his mother’s term in the presidency he managed to keep a very low profile and would just appear in the scene during official engagements. Media observers often compared his attitude to his late mother—simple, low key, protective, conservative but courageous.

Ever since he joined politics, Aquino sets himself apart from other aggressive politicians strutting like peacocks in the House of Congress or in a Senate hall, either pushing reforms or defending certain issues or simply creating controversies among themselves. He doesn’t even have any thundering accomplishments that send people’s nerve quivering in awe. His presence always left unnoticed in the line-up of “noisy” senators scrambling to stand in that ludicrous pulpit in the senate floor, dishing out humiliations to one another. Some of them made it a career, spending the whole session exposing controversies while their colleagues’ eyes rolled in amazement and dismay, worried if they are next-in-line to be roasted in the next privilege speech, turning the once-revered house of senate into a cockpit arena instead of a dignified hall occupied by gentlemen of the States.

But most of them (except those who really take their job seriously and exceptionally) are just fond of creating noise, but they too could not think of better and concrete alternatives how to solve the worsening conditions of the national economy. His inconspicuous presence from those wrangling, made his detractors stormed to their feet and nailed him as incompetent and unprepared for the “great battle”. So what are the qualifications then? Wealth? Intelligence? Experience? What about other Presidential contenders? Are they all qualified? Are they saints and Noynoy is a sinner?

History taught us that intellect and experience do not usually produced magic. For more than 60 years, Philippines saw almost all qualities of a supposed ideal President. There’s an intelligent lawyer, vigorously picked up by Filipinos, thinking he was the “Moses” of the 20^th century who could bring the Filipinos to the promise land, but he gone too far with his intelligence and ended up ruling the country in terror and largely looted the economy for the next 20 years, leaving the people hemorrhaging in misery and oppression. Then there’s a fine economist who is most-experienced in the political scene, another version of the so-called intelligent and accomplished but ended up dragging the country into messy controversies putting it into the shameful map of being one of the most corrupt nations in the world, leaving the Philippines reeling in international humiliation.

Of course Noynoy is not a resurrected prophet or a God’s messenger of hope for the country’s faltering economy, mounting insurgencies and escalating statistics of poverty, but the man has a unique charisma evidently entrenched in his personality that could counter-act the quandaries the country endured in recent years. With his high moral standard, sheer disposition and strong commitment for transparency and good governance, his dream to uphold the dignity of democracy and freedom, invested by the blood of his father and fiercely restored by his politically inexperienced mother, he can make a difference.

Though political skills and popularity are not hereditary, most often than not, the values a person exhibit later in life, are always traced back the way he brought up by his parents. The fact that he is running for a specific purpose, he is very much aware he cannot afford to go wrong and he has every reason to do the right thing in public service. Among the presidential aspirants, it is only him who was called up by a popular demand to bring back the dignity of the country shattered by the last two regimes, and this is quite a heavy load for Noynoy because of too much expectation, but a good motivation for him to do every decision free from anomalies and dust of corruption.

His 12-year stint in the actual political scene is a good training ground already because he was able to see the true picture of the job, how everything runs and what to do with the lapses. Skills can be acquired and learned but not good values, because these are innate. His critics’ constant comment that he never had any achievements is simply rubbish and a lame excuse. In his interview in one of the leading newspapers in the country, Senator Aquino answered the criticism “If I wanted to have statistics, I can have many bills filed in my name, and that would be easy. But how does that help anyone in Tarlac or the country?”, he added, “I don’t trumpet my achievements and that perhaps is one of my mistakes. My main thrust is to make the system work. I am very conscious about making something work. I promised to serve [and I don’t need to be praised constantly with my purpose]” he declared with conviction.

Aquino’s entry into the presidential race is not merely a coincidence, but a calling he is already born with. As a scion of the country’s political stalwarts, this possibility had been hovering in his horizon ever since. The circumstances occurred there after, are mere formalities of his destined life. He has all the making of a good leader: strong conviction of good governance, nobility of purpose, commitment to nationalism and his motivation to do what is right. Furthermore, he provides the continuation of the missing link of history to which the country’s modern identity largely defined, a period of Philippine history almost forgotten by the present generation.