Ready, willing and able

The coming election is really very crucial to the future of our country. It will determine the kind of government we will have. Looming large to darken the political horizon, however, is the grim face of the corrupt, rapacious, deceitful and tyrannical martial law regime as embodied by the scion of the ousted and deceased dictator who dares to run for president. Then there is also the possibility that we may continue to suffer the post martial law governments of several presidents succeeding Marcos characterized by inept, dirty, traditional politics where political dynasties, cronyism, corruption and inefficiency still predominate.

Fortunately, however, there is also a sure and very positive sign that we may still achieve the change we are longing for and have an entirely new and sincere government of the people, for the people and by the people “where public service is a public trust.” This is because there are also aspirants for national positions, particularly for president, vice president and the Senate who are undoubtedly espousing such change, with the qualifications and ability to perform and achieve it. They are not the incumbent traditional politicians, “trapos” backed up by big business who contribute to their campaign chests, spending tremendous amount of money to win elections. They are new and young faces who present themselves as the alternative to the “trapos” and political dynasties still ruling our land and perpetuating themselves in power by using the money they have amassed.

A cursory glance at the list of candidates running for president, vice president and senators readily show who among them are the “trapos” and who belong to political dynasties. It is so obvious that most of them are incumbents, particularly those running for senators who want to be re-elected. But there are also a lot of fresh, new faces, capable and qualified aspirants who dared to challenge them and decided to run despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles they face. Most of them are idealistic young men and women who firmly believe that the desired changes in our political system can still be achieved by running for office and plunging into unfathomable waters of politics, instead of just remaining and watching on the sidelines. The electorate is indeed still lucky that they have alternative choices. Most of them feel that change is coming by replacing most incumbents who will just maintain the status quo.

Just ten days before the elections, I cannot resist the urge to write this piece mainly because my eldest son, Joseph Peter (Jopet) S. Sison, is one of those aspiring to be a senator of the Republic. He is candidate number 56 in the ballot. I wholeheartedly agreed with his decision despite the overwhelming odds because I know he is one of the idealistic young men who want a brighter future for our country and for the youth of the land. And most of all, I believe that he is qualified to become a senator because of his extensive experience in public service, particularly in the field of legislation promoting public interests and welfare of the people.

He studied at the Ateneo de Manila University from grade school to college where the Jesuit tenet of being “a man for others” was deeply ingrained in him. Hence, even as a young student he already visited the poor and marginalized people, trying to promote and improve their spiritual and material welfare. While still studying, he was already elected as Kagawad of Barangay Pinagkaisahan, Quezon City, where he lived. Later he was elected councilor during which he authored 100 ordinances and introduced 170 resolutions. While sitting as councilor, he served as assistant majority leader, vice chairman of the committee on Laws, Rules and Internal Government, chairman of the Blue Ribbon committee, Committee on Police and Peace and Order, Revision of Ordinances and Consolidation of Proposed Legislative Measures, Public Information and Communication, QC Tricycle Franchising Board, and Labor Conciliation.

He also had a stint in the House of Representatives serving as the political officer of the majority floor leader and as chief of staff of the minority floor leader.

In the Executive department, he served as assistant general manager of the National Housing Authority which is the housing production arm of the government in charge of putting up relocation sites for informal settlers and upgrading slum communities. He also became president of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. which establishes secondary mortgage market in the Philippines that launched the country’s first securities backed by residential mortgage known as the “Bahay Bonds” which were twice oversubscribed and awarded as the Best Securitization Deals of the Year by the Asian Assets Awards.

Even when he was no longer in government service, Jopet still rendered public service by co-hosting the legal drama anthology “Ipaglaban Mo” where he helped in sharing basic knowledge of the law as contained in Supreme Court decisions. He also served at the ABS-CBN Tulong Center giving legal advice to people with legal problems.

And so we really hope that you help and support Jopet Sison to be a senator, and the other candidates of the Aksyon Agad aspiring for president, vice president and senator in order to achieve the changes that the people are all hoping and longing for. Jopet is ready, willing and able to be a senator.