Will destiny or history decide the next president?

Last week, a friend hosted a private dinner with Manny and Cynthia Villar. The couple seemed to be so cool, calm and collected, and what struck me most was Manny’s confidence that he has already done everything to prepare himself for the presidency and now, it is just a matter of destiny whether he becomes president or not. Because both are seasoned business managers, they know what is to be done and have proven themselves to be savvy entrepreneurs, turning a small business into a multibillion peso enterprise over the years.

By now everyone must be familiar with the rags-to-riches story of Manny — which has struck a deep chord among millions of poor Filipinos who also dream of being successful through hard work and perseverance — or “sipag at tiyaga.” Supporters say this is the reason why the Nacionalista Party candidate’s message has strongly resonated, because it keeps hope burning in the hearts of many Filipinos.

With the local campaign period now open, the NP slate expects an even stronger presence down to the grassroots level, with more local candidates declaring their defection to the Nacionalista Party after the Holy Week. Filipinos want to join the bandwagon and they certainly love a winner - with the growing perception that Villar is “it” in May 2010.

But as I said in a previous column, history seems to be repeating itself because like Doy Laurel in 1985, Mar Roxas had to sacrifice his dream of becoming president because of the “Cory magic” spurred by a wave of emotionalism. Today, there seems to be the same kind of emotionalism against GMA, with calls for people to go out into the streets once again. It would be unfortunate if people repeated the same mistakes of the past because as we all know, we haven’t gone very far since then, not learning from the lessons of history.

Manny Villar believes justice must be served but not by fanning the flames of vengeance and hatred, but in adhering to the rule of law. Confirming this, the Nacionalista Party has opted to follow the process by filing a motion for reconsideration regarding the appointment of the next Chief Justice. This reminds me of the same kind of levelheadedness and sobriety which Doy Laurel was known for. That is why he had patiently wooed Villar (then a newbie senator) to join the party because he saw the same kind of levelheadedness in the young politician, and also believed that the infusion of “new blood” would revive the NP.  

The Nacionalista Party motto being “Ang Bayan higit sa lahat,” Doy put country and people first above all else when he agreed to slide down as vice president to unite the opposition. Sadly, hardly anyone remembers the sacrifices that Doy had made. For all that he has done, he was publicly ridiculed as a “bangaw” by Cory Aquino.    

Shortly before Doy Laurel succumbed to cancer in California in 2004, the mantle of leadership was passed on to Villar, who parlayed his organizational skills to build up the membership and expand the geographical presence of the party. From virtual obscurity after the 1992 presidential elections, the NP has metamorphosed into one of the most organized and most well oiled political machineries in the country today.

Manny believes that “politics is addition,” saying anyone is welcome to join the party as long as they are motivated by love for this country. Although his following largely comes from the lower and middle class because his authentic experience with poverty has convinced them that he is one of them, I could see a growing number of the upper class beginning to see Villar’s vision of uplifting the lives of the poor to hasten economic growth and progress.

Manny says he is running because he believes his qualifications, his experience and his track record both as a businessman and as a legislator have made him ready for the position. What you see is what you get, he says with candor, because he has no siblings who can lend him their celebrity, nor does he have an illustrious family name or a wealthy political clan behind him.

This is precisely why the NP wants to level the playing field through advertisements, because they want every Filipino to be familiar with the Nacionalista candidate, to know what he has done for ordinary Filipinos and what he can do if he becomes president. As for the campaign expenses - the Villar couple says they have no intention to “recover” it since win or lose, they have already made sure that the family is well provided for.

Manny says one cannot put a price tag to a dream — a dream of serving Filipinos, of helping the poor achieve financial independence and success. After all, he is the best proof that dreams can come true if one is willing to persevere and work hard for it, since no one would have thought that a shrimp vendor from Tondo would become one of the most successful Filipinos today.

So the question is, will it be history or destiny that will decide the next president? This will be answered on May 10, whether it will be Manny Villar or Noynoy Aquino. From the perspective of history, one should not consider the presidency as a right born out of a sense of entitlement or emotionalism. Rather, the presidency should be regarded as a matter of destiny.

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