What would you do if the next president of the country turns out to be a disappointment?

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: I’m resigned to it. It’s going to be the biggest tragedy for all of us and for the country as well. This might lead to the further division of our people.

 Kelvin Casamayor, Ilocos Sur: Let’s be optimistic. I believe that Filipinos are wiser now in choosing the right leader. 

Grin and bear it

William Gonzaga, Marikina Ci: Nothing, except to just grin and bear it. If I were much younger, I would immigrate to another country and live away my frustrations and disappointment for the sorry turn of events. Unfortunately, in my senior years, I have no alternative but to wait for the end in our accursed land pillaged by the despicable Marcos-Erap-Arroyo trio los malos. y

I figure this is one thing that will make me sing the blues. What can poor people like me do? Maybe I’ll just bear it and go along with it and, as every Pinoy would say in times like this, bahala na. 

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: Just roll with the punches. If he had won the presidency fair and square, then I’d obey and respect him. 

Leonard Villa, Laoag City: I can’t do anything but to just patiently bear with it. I just pray and hope that the next president won’t be as big a disappointment as PGMA. God bless the Philippines. 

I’d pray for miracle

Migueito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: There’s nothing we can do but pray and ask for a miracle. Hope springs eternal that the next president will not be a GMA copycat. Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: I’d feel helpless, but I’d pray for God’s intervention to help us endure and cope with the predicament without resorting to calling “The Jackal” to neutralize the great pretender to the throne. God help us. 

Felix Ramento, USA: After the smoke shall have settled down and the next president turns out to be a disappointment, the new opposition will have an easy time exhorting a discontented people to perdition. God forbid, but I would rather pray for the success of whoever gets elected as our next president. 

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: What else can we do? Prayers can move mountains. Ipaubaya na natin ang lahat sa Kanya. We’ve done our part. 

Elmo Cruz, Manila: I wouldn’t be able to do anything but pray that God save the Philippines from further trouble and that the people manage to overcome their disappointment. 

Mandy Rillon, Cabanatuan City: If the majority elected a “lesser evil” again, only the Filipino people are to blame if the elected one turns out to be a disappointment. Let’s brace ourselves in prayer so this will not happen. 

Life must go on

Delfin Todcor, Quezon City: The nation’s credibility, stability and economy are on the line. We can’t afford to keep wasting our hard-earned resources during elections. 

Lucas Banzon Madamba II, USA: Nothing is perfect in life. Even people from other countries have their own disappointments. If the next president still turns out to be a disappointment, I pray that he will be enlightened and reminded to fulfill his oath of office. I will also do my part to remind him to do so. The main thing is to continue to move forward in the face of disappointments that hound our country. 

J.R. Mondonedo Jr., Parañaque City; I would just say, “So what else is new?” I will move on with my life and continue with what I’m doing try to survive, that is. The problem with Filipinos is that they always expect too much. If there is a change for the better, let’s all be thankful. As I said before, the President who can straighten up this country probably has not been born yet. So let us all just pray and, hopefully, the Holy Spirit will touch our new president. By the way, I would rather be wrong than right about my prediction. 

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: It would be pointless to blame anybody. I’ll just ease the disappointment with the thought that this nation survived the catastrophe painted by doomsayers. 

Dr. Jose Balcanao, Benguet: In past administrations, poverty was never abated. That’s why I concentrated on voting for local officials because at least they can be directly accountable to their constituents. It is easier for local officials to be removed by recall than to remove the President. 

I’d join a People Power revolution

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: If after the first 100 days, the next president turns out to be a disappointment. I’ll move for an unprecedented recall election or, if not, call for people power

Nothing, except to pray or curse. But if a people power revolt is convened, I will surely join. This is one problem we have in our poor nation; we have no performance rating and evaluation of our Chief Executive. If there is a massive collusion among our top government leaders, as there is now, then we, ordinary citizens, are helpless and powerless against their exploitation and the wanton use of their powers. 

Col. Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City: If the next president turns out to be a disappointment, then we can have another Edsa revolt. 

Loi Castillo, Davao City: If the next president turns out as a disappointment, I will join the people in the NCR to go to Edsa and declare the nth people power. 

Desuel Pardo, Mandaluyong City: If the next president was not my choice, I would be disappointed and I would blame voters in Classes D and E for their ignorance. Should my disappointment be proven right, as it was in 1998, I would join and support another people power revolution to oust the incumbent president. But if I am wrong, praise the Lord. I am only human to err in my decision. I have to accept that God is in control of everything in our life. Let us pray that whoever wins is the answer to our fervent prayers. 

The Filipino people already know very well what to do. I just hope that the next president will exert his best effort to serve our interest as Presidents Magsaysay and Ramos did. Let us pray that our next president would be guided by the Holy Spirit. Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City

Simple. Let’s impeach him for his crime of omission, which is a great disservice to our country. If he cannot be impeached by virtue of his tyranny of numbers in Congress, then let’s have another Edsa. Dante de los Reyes, Bacolod City

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: If I voted for that president, I would curse myself. If I did not, I will join rallies to oust that president. y

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: I hope that a disappointing president doesn’t win otherwise this time, I might join a people’s action against him. 

Elpidio Que, Vigan: If we didn’t vote for the next president and he turns out to be a disappointment, we’d shout, “We told you so, yokels!” to those that voted for him due to foolishness or dirty money. But if it’s Noynoy and he turns out to be a disappointment, we’d howl, “Look at you, Noynoy. Your parents will rise from their graves!” We’d be in the streets, calling for his ouster. 

Let’s give him a chance

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: Life should go on. We should keep on moving. This would not be the end of the road. He can probably make miracles for us in the first 100 days of office. I believe that he needs the support of the nation. What we can do for now is to give all our faith that everything will be working fine in his hands. Let’s give him a chance. 

. Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: Instead of blaming ourselves, let us get down and pick up the pieces and try to help the new president do his job. We are very good at making suggestions and hard comments, aren’t we? Now’s the time

Wait for the next election

Abelardo Abilay, Laguna: As we’ve grown in experience and wisdom, we have also learned to wait. So that is what I am going to do. I will wait for the next presidential election if the next president turns out to be corrupt or incompetent. Having done our best, we may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future. We know that God is in charge. 

Luisito Vallo, Pangasinan: Nothing I can do but wait until he finishes his term. He was elected into office through Constitutional means, so there’s no need to resort to extra-Constitutional measures to oust him. 

Ernesto Oliquiano, Las Piñas City: I don’t think I or anybody can do anything if the next president of our country turns out to be a disappointment. It’s the people that elected the wrong candidate, kaya sorry na lang tayo. Anyway, we will only know that towards the end of his term so we can always elect another one in the next election who might do better. 

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: Wait for another six years, what else? RP, being ruled by peninsulares, insulares, burgis and subservient cobardes, this would mean that we elected another lemon! 

Rose Leobrera, Manila If that happens, can we still do something about it? What usually happens is we will just bear him until the end of his term and we will let him enjoy his stint in Malacañang with all the perks that go along with his position. As we are basically the submissive type of people, nagtitiis na lang tayo. 

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: As they say there’s always a next time. We Filipinos never learn, especially the less privileged. Pangakuan lang na maaahon sila sa kahirapan, ayun. Di ba nakakainis? 

I’d feel sorry for my country

. Imee Aglibot, USA: I would feel very sorry for all my countrymen should the next president turn out to be a disappointment. While I am now enjoying a life that I never imagined, I couldn’t help worrying for all my relatives who have no choice but to accept their fate. Even if the president turns out to be different, he still wouldn’t be able to do much to help uplift the lives and the system that has been there. I don’t see any hope at all

Jae delos Santos, Muntinlupa City: I’d grieve for the lost future of the younger generation. 

Ed Gulmatico, Bacolod City: If you did not vote for him, no need to feel disappointed. Just look with sympathizing eyes at those you knew voted for him. If another people power arises, be part of it. If you voted for him, pity your growing kids or grandchildren for their directionless future. If your conscience could not take it, hara kiri would be suitable. 

United we stand

The president alone does not make the government. We ordinary citizens can do a lot. We should be law-abiding citizens. We can help improve the living conditions of our people, but we have to start with ourselves first. People all over the country, from north to south, must be united so there would be peace and order. If people help each other, nothing is impossible. Deo Durante, Camarines Sur

Let’s not be negative

The best thing to do is to continue with our daily activities and enjoy life, because disappointment gives us a negative outlook on life. Life must go on, whoever wins in the presidential elections. Jimmy Donton, Puerto Princesa City

This question is so negative. It’s as if we’re losing hope for our country. Ayokong magpaka-nega. Next question, please. 

Call for Cha-cha

Railey Verzosa, Metro Manila: There are no quick fixes; we must reform the Constitution. Our present system has not worked. We have too many laws yet not enough justice. We are reaching breaking point and cannot just laugh at our mistakes. We must act now. 

Nony de Leon, Malolos City: Unless he is able to unite our fractured nation and amend the Constitution for the better, I do not expect the next president to achieve much. 

Dr. Napoleon Allones, Iloilo: Call for Cha-cha to change our form of government from a presidential to a parliamentary system. A Prime Minister can be replaced anytime by a mere vote of no confidence by the Parliament without having to wait for the next election. 

He can’t entirely be a disappointment

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: Whatever disappointment the next president turns out to be, he will stand out in some way by showing where he has an advantage. There will be hope for unity and progress as long as he does everything to make our country progressive. Johann Lucas, Quezon City

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: In fairness to all our presidentiables, nobody is a “disappointment”. Whoever wins will have to be respected and honored. We should rally behind him or her for the benefit of our country and countrymen. 

Move to another country

Erwin Espinoza, Pangasinan: I’ll just pack my bags and go to Timbuktu. What for na tumira dito kung psychotic naman o kaya’y sinungaling ang Pangulo nating nanalo? 

Romeo Caubat, Masbate: Then, I’d surely go to US as an immigrant if the next president turns out to be palpak again. 

Grace Patricia Yap, Makati City: First of all, if the next administration is a disappointment, this would mean that we did nothing constructive as ordinary citizens after the elections. If we do nothing about our situation and let our lives be run and led again, then we have not really learned the hard lessons from the GMA administration. If we let bastards run our lives and our government for us, they will run it to the ground. To answer your question, if we, in fact, did nothing and the next administration turns out to be a disappointment, I’m leaving! Well, either that or I will embrace the dark side and become the biggest pirate you have ever known a robber baroness that’ll make GMA look like an amateur sidekick. My only excuse is that I’ll do it with much better style. Besides, I am destined to reclaim Sabah anyway!  

Pray for a different ending

Cris Rivera, Rizal: If he is a disappointment, it will be the work of his political rivals who are trapos, oligarchs and people with the vested interests. I believe that in eliminating the clout and influence of the elite few, any president will not be a disappointment. If things remain as they are, the social volcano that has been predicted for decades now will eventually erupt violently. What I will do is to pray that it will not. Rey Onate, Palayan City

Poor performance and willful acts to defile the laws of the land are reasons enough to terminate the presidency. All I can do is pray for a credible ending. 

Filipinos are politically stupid

Ferdinand Rafer, Cavite: It’s alright. Don’t expect too much from the next president. In his school days, he was just ordinary. In Congress and Senate, he was mediocre. Why expect much? Ferdinand Rafer, Cavite

I will condemn his failed governance

Ishmael Q. Calata, Parañaque City: Honestly, I do not know what I would do if the next president turns out to be a disappointment. If he were my choice, I wouldn’t smash my head on the wall for the mistake of choosing him. I would not blame others for voting him to the presidency because it is a democratic exercise. I wouldn’t think of another Edsa as people are now tired of it because we have seen the results of the first two people power spectacles. Instead, we have now occupied the tailend of the sisterhood of nations under many norms because of our undoing. But, definitely, I will relentlessly condemn his failed governance and the anomalies he is involved in, in the Inbox World whenever the questions to be answered give me that opportunity. 

If that happens, i-check ko ang mali. It may come too late to those who voted him wrongly to know its work ethics and past achievements. Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte

Elizabeth Oximer, Negros Occidental: We, who voted for him will be vigilant and not become complacent. 

What can we do?

Marivic Fisher, California: Considering our current situation, we cannot do much. The situation of our country is spiraling down so quickly that if the next president and his administration do not cause a 180-degree shift, we as a nation will become the next Africa. What choice do we have after the elections, if simple matters like these cannot be resolved? But it’s one thing to close our eyes to something and it’s another thing to swallow just about everything they shove in our mouth. 

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City:  can only sigh in frustration. We heaped it upon our collective selves to elect a leader under a Constitutional mandate, so we suffer the fate if we did not get what we longed for. Not all of us can leave the country and choose to forget that they are Filipinos as some countrymen did in utter disgust of our democratic system where corruption thrives. Now what? We go out in the streets again and kick some ass? We become a Banana Republic again; Asia’s basket case. 

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City; If the next president of this country is again another clown, it’s hopeless. It will be time to think of filing a divorce. If the small island of Sabah was able to separate from this country, there is no reason for Visayas and Mindanao not to declare themselves as separate republics. 

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