Mar reminds self: Smile, smile, smile

MANILA, Philippines - Amid notions that he is a wealthy snob, Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II has a reminder to himself: smile more often.

Roxas thinks the perception that he is a snob or unapproachable is a misimpression.

“I’m passionate. I care about my work. I care about our country. These are real problems. These are serious matters that need serious attention. But if it is light note, I can also engage,” Roxas said in an interview with editors, reporters and columnists of The STAR yesterday.  

Roxas is also apparently doing something to dispel the notion that he is a snob.

“By the way, I even made a reminder for myself: smile, smile, smile,” he said.

“You had two hours with me. Am I not charming or amiable?” he said in jest during the interview at The STAR’s office in Manila.

Roxas explained that his seriousness has something to do with issues hounding the country. He likened the Philippines to a patient who moved from an emergency room to a regular room.

“P-Noy (President Aquino) is an excellent doctor who stabilized the institutions,” Roxas said.

“Now we’re in a regular room, the problems we have are different from the problems in the emergency room. Now that the patient is stable, you talk about stability,” he added.

Roxas also said the need to maintain the recovery is what makes him “very serious” and “passionate.”

Impressions that Mar is a snob and has a hot temper are not new. During a Makati rally in 2008, Roxas used an expletive to express his opposition to the Arroyo administration’s attempt to amend the 1987 Constitution. His supporters, however, believe his use of expletive was justified because he was very angry with the administration allies’ attempt to protect their interests and to perpetuate themselves in power.

Last year, Roxas was suspended for two months by the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club after he got involved in a confrontation with the club’s employees over the payment of green fees for non-players. Roxas has apologized for the incident.

Even his supporters are aware of the impressions that he is a snob.

When Roxas filed his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections office in Manila last month, a supporter’s placard read “Suplado man tignan, may malasakit naman sa bayan” (He may appear snobbish, but he cares about the country).