Back to the future of a two-party system

For our very first interview for the Year 2009, Straight from the Sky brings you a postscript on what has been happening in the investment and financial world for the Year 2008 and we’ll take a peek at what to expect for the Year 2009. Our special guests also opened our Year 2008 show last year because they are always focused on what’s happening in our economy, especially here in Cebu. Once again, we bring you Mr. Joel Mari Yu, Managing Director for the Cebu Investment Promotion Center (CIPC) and Mr. Ruben Almendras of the Cebu International Finance Corp. (CIFC) who will share with us their thoughts especially on what to expect in the Year 2009. Watch this very interesting show on SkyCable’s channel 15 at 8:00 pm tonight.

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This is actually our first column for the Year 2009 as the columns that we wrote on Jan. 1 and 2 were advanced columns written a few days before the Year 2008 ended. First off is the huge difference between the New Year’s Eve revelry from the past years compared to the one we had this New Year. In the past, the sky is lit with all sorts of pyrotechnics from 11PM and increases in intensity by midnight. Last New Year’s Eve, the intense fireworks began 10 minutes before midnight and while it was still as intense as before, it died out very early, less than 10 minutes after midnight. The mood of the New Year’s Eve celebration depicts the optimism or pessimism of our people.

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As we said, the second half of the Year 2009 is the official start of the Presidential campaign for the 2010 elections. Last Saturday, The FREEMAN came up with a great editorial entitled, “Winnability vs. character and ability.” I won’t allow such a good editorial to go without commenting on it. Allow me to reprint parts of this editorial.

“...But martial law, more than silencing the opposition to the dictator Marcos, succeeded more ominously in transforming the political character of aspiring Filipino leaders, in a way that did not inspire good leadership but instead cultivate bad politics. Before, brilliance and character formed the basis for leadership and good governance. Voters looked for these qualities in a man and made their choices accordingly. The lack of resources was not much a hindrance as was the lack of ability and personality.”

Very well said! Let me add that the reason why we had very good leaders was because we had a functioning two-party system, where future leaders were molded and trained in the art of argumentation and debate and the best of them pitted against the best that the other political party can come up with. Indeed, as the editorial suggests, Martial Law destroyed more than our civil liberties, it threw away our two-party political system. When the Marcos Dictatorship was thrown out, the new occupants of Malacañang - Tita Cory and her Yellow Army - didn’t restore this tried and tested political system and instead, turned the entire nation into a political playground!

The editorial adds, “In today’s political world, it is no longer about ability and character but everything about chances of winning. A person is assessed on the basis of his or her ‘winnability.’ If he or she can win, he or she has a shot at an office even without knowing a thing about it. This is the scenario that faces this country in 2010, when we will have to elect a new President. Sadly, as we make our choices then, we are reduced to choosing candidates selected by parties on the basis of ‘winnability’ instead of on the basis of character and ability.”

No too long ago, I wrote about Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, the second most powerful man in this country when Martial Law swept throughout the nation. Enrile was a name reviled during those dark days because when he signed your Arrest, Search and Seizure Order (ASSO) you’re toast! You’re better off bringing with you a “banig” so you have a place to sleep in jail.

After the EDSA Revolt, Enrile ran for the Senate. The second most powerful man in this country was reduced to dancing to the tune of “Lambada” in order to get the votes of the people. That was the meat of last Saturday’s editorial! Let’s go back to the future and advocate for the return of the two-party system, which I know will bring back political sanity to this tired and weary nation. It is time to promote party ideology and rid our nation of ugly and selfish personality politics that has only ruined our economy, our politics and our nation!