A good beginning
MANILA, Philippines - This three-part series is a first person account of our experience with the 15th President of the Philippine Republic. Despite the chaos, rough sailing and dubious characters we encountered in the so-called people’s campaign, I firmly believe that our nation has been handed one more miraculous chance at grabbing our place in the sun, after nine years of merciless darkness.
This is an attempt to set a piece of history on record, even if admittedly the view is long but narrow, as seen only from my personal lens. Six years from now we may look back and hopefully earn the right to give ourselves a pat on the back because we did not squander our potential; that we were able to prevail over vast differences and vested interests; that we managed to climb Mount Nebo and have a glimpse of the Promised Land.
Like all testimonies, this account — with its analysis, opinions and assessments may be challenged. After all, there are as many views and interpretations of events as there are people. But there will only be one truth as was witnessed and recorded. Those afflicted with selective perception and reality distortion have the option to write a fictional version if they so please.
This story goes back to February 2007, when we were called in to help Noy’s bid for the Senate. It was quite late in the game, since he filed his candidacy on the very last day. He also went through a process of discernment and consultation, seeking the blessing of his mother and sisters before finally deciding. Initially, President Cory was cold to the idea of her only son entering national politics. She most likely feared that Noy would be in the crosshairs of a spiteful and vindictive administration. Remember that President Cory had audaciously asked the incumbent to step down after the Garci scandal. She had reason to be anxious. Almost immediately, GMA retaliated by reviving the Hacienda Luisita case.
True to form, as soon as she gave her approval, President Cory set out to campaign for Noy with her trademark tenacity, drive and determination. Butch Abad was also the campaign manager then, and Rapa Lopa was the candidate’s close-in, but there was little doubt as to who was running the show.
One of the most quoted lines of that campaign was, “ Lagot siya sa nanay niya!” which was inspired by a story that President Cory shared with us. Whenever someone asked her what she would do if Noy underperformed as a senator, she would joke, ”he’ll answer to me.” So that line became a hit, even if a few totally missed the humor and commented that it made Noy look like a Mama’s boy. Another pearl thrown to swine.
Even though Noy only had a ragtag team that got magically organized in the nick of time (the first week of the 90-day election proper to be exact), he ranked top six in that contest. His mom said that she hoped he would stay put and finish his six-year term in the Senate. That banished any thought of a Roxas-Aquino tandem for 2010. Yes, as early as 2007, the Liberal Party was dead set on its standard bearer and liked the sound of another prominent name for the number two post.
As soon as the 2007 election was over, our phones began to ring for the 2010 Presidential elections. The easier part was tactfully declining the candidates that we couldn’t support. The harder task was choosing “The One we could believe in”. By 2009, we were beginning to wonder if we should just sit this one out, like we did in 1998, when we foresaw that Erap would be as unstoppable as his jeep. But we said, we must participate. Choose the best from the lot and hope that he would grow into a great leader.
And so on February 2009, we chose to support Chiz Escudero. Many of our colleagues asked, “Why him? Isn’t he too young? Overly ambitious and therefore dangerous?” In two separate three-hour getting-to-know-you interviews, I asked him why he seemed to be in such a hurry, among other difficult questions. He gave straightforward and thoughtful answers. And to the issue of “too young, too soon” he said, “I hope to be the President while I am the way I am now”.
I thought about what he said. It triggered a picture of Anakin Skywalker at the crossroads. He could become Darth Vader or a Jedi like Obi Wan Kenobi. It was up to him, but it was also up to us, his would-be constituents. As James MacGregor Burns said “the leader shapes and is shaped”. The leader is only as good as his followers. In Chiz, we saw possibility, where we only saw liability in all the rest.
But on August 5, 2009, the earth moved. The death of our beloved President Cory Aquino ushered in a gloomy dusk that broke into a hope-filled dawn. While the presidential race was predicted to be a duel between Escudero and Villar, the political landscape became terra incognito. Out of the grief and loss rose the Chosen One. Destiny had intervened.
As the clamor for Noy to run grew louder, the perceptive Chiz was already anticipating that we would eventually support the people’s choice. But there was still a chance that Noy might not accept the people’s mandate. Or opt to run as Vice-President instead.
I asked my old friend Butch Abad, whether he thought Noy would listen to the people’s plea. He told me to ask Noy directly and not to worry about adding more pressure. So I did. Noy confirmed that he was praying for the right decision, and will most likely decide after the traditional 40 days of mourning.
On August 31, I met with Chiz in his favorite watering hole, Taste of LA. I was ready to confirm that if Noy made a bid for the presidency, we would have to part ways. But we were constantly being interrupted by phone calls from Mar Roxas. Chiz was being invited to meet Mar at the Antonino residence. Evidently, the power brokers were still exploring the viability of a Mar-Chiz tandem.
After that tête-à-tête, Chiz intimated that Mar had confessed that the Noy phenomenon was very painful. He said, “It feels like being chained to the shore while you see the tsunami coming but you can’t move.” Chiz surmised that Mar would throw in the towel very soon, probably in two weeks or so. He missed by 13 days.
The next day, September 1, Mar announced that he was stepping down as the LP standard bearer to give way to Noy whom he hoped would accept the mandate soon. “Bayan muna bago sarili” became his battle cry.
On September 8, we got a call from Rapa Lopa. He asked us to help in Noy’s candidacy. A triumvirate led the campaign organization: Butch Abad, as general campaign manager, Cesar Purisima as Head of Finance and Johnny Santos as Head of Communications. All were ex-Mar men who had been seconded from Mar’s downsized political machinery. Nonong Cruz succeeded as Mar’s campaign manager, with Danny Gozo as Communications Director.
On the same night, at 11:30 p.m., we met Chiz for the last time in Taste of LA, to formalize our resignation. He told us that he was not surprised and saw it coming. He was so gracious that goodbye was so much more difficult. Chiz and Noy were “kumpares” as Noy is Godfather to his twins. He quoted Sting’s song, “If you love somebody, set them free,” and added that if it is meant to be, “they will come back”. We both agreed that Destiny couldn’t be stopped.
On September 9, 2009, before the hour of nine, Senator Noy Aquino heeded the people’s call.
(To be continued next Saturday)