By Harvey S. Keh
Contributor
FOR the past months since Kaya Natin! was launched, I have met and talked with several groups and organizations all asking if Kaya Natin! will be fielding its own Presidential candidate for the upcoming 2010 National Elections. These groups include organizations of farmers and peasants, civil society groups, socio-civic organizations, business groups, religious leaders and student leaders.
Rumors have been circulating that Kaya Natin! leaders, such as Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio, Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca and Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo are considering to make a run for the highest position in our land. When I asked them about this, they simply laughed because they feel that it’s such a far-fetched idea given their lack of national awareness and say that their personal preference is to go back to their private lives after they have served out the remainder of their present terms, Panlilio as a priest while Padaca as a practicing certified public accountant.
Yet, in almost all of the more than 60 colleges and universities that we have visited in our Caravan of Good Governance, the students who attend never fail to ask the Kaya Natin! leaders to strongly consider to run as alternative and reform Presidential candidates for the 2010 polls.
In a recent discernment session we organized in Nueva Ecija, majority of those who attended said that they can’t seem to choose who to vote for among all the current Presidentiables since all of them seem to represent the same values and ideals that have brought our country to where it is today.
This then begs the question, is the country actually ready to elect an alternative and reform candidate in 2010?
Many of those whom I have talked to also mention the names of Chief Justice Reynato Puno and JIL Leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva as other alternative candidates that will reflect the right values that we need in our next President.
Some political analysts and public relations practitioners have also warned me that fielding a reform slate in 2010 would be useless given that the reality of Philippine politics was that one would need money and political machinery just to be able to put up a decent campaign.
One of them even told me that a viable Presidential campaign would need at least P2 billion! She told me that if you can’t raise that money, don’t even bother to make a run at the Presidency since it will just be a lost cause. Not to dampen the hopes of many idealistic Filipinos here and abroad but I tend to agree with these political analysts that good intentions are not enough and the issue of having enough resources is very crucial if we want to finally elect a God-fearing, morally-upright, effective and ethical leader for our country in 2010.
However, I’d like to also believe that there is still enough time for us to work together and support an alternative and reform candidate whether it will be Panlilio, Padaca, Robredo, Puno, Villanueva or any other reform leader but we have to be united and we have to act now.
I still believe that the spirit of people power is still alive in Filipinos everywhere in the world. There is a silent majority of Filipinos especially those who are living abroad that are now longing to see change in our country especially in the 2010 elections.
Imagine if all the overseas Filipinos would just decide to chip in at least $5 each to support a reform candidate then that would give the candidate at least $30 million or P1.5 billion to help him or her in putting up a good and decent fight against the ruling oligarchs and traditional politicians in our country.
Another thing going for us is that majority of the voting population of our country are young people aged between 18 to 40 years old. Thus it is imperative for all of us to support initiatives such as the Movement for Good Governance, YouthVote Philippines and IamChange2010 that are encouraging the Filipino youth to register for the upcoming polls.
The energy and idealism of these young Filipinos can also be tapped as we have seen in the Presidential campaigns of Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Raul Roco, both of whom almost made it despite meager resources due to the support of the Filipino youth.
Padaca and Panlilio showed that people power in the polls can happen in the provincial level but whether or not it can happen in the national level is now up to all of us. Will we allow ourselves to have another President that is beholden to the interests of a few elite families and oligarchs? The answer lies in your hands.
Harvey S. Keh is the Director for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship at the Ateneo de Manila University-School of Government. Comments are welcome at harveykeh@gmail.com.
April 19th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
The answer is no unless the reform candidate happens to be from the major political parties. That’s the reality but we can imagine as what you said about OFWs. Imagine them chipping in $5 each to support a reform candidate. That is if all of them believe in the reform candidate or if they are really interested in participating. There are about 7 million OFWs all over the world but not even 10% voted in the previous election. Voting is free but they didn’t even bother how much more if money is involved. The fact is if only all of them will vote or just half then 3.5 million votes could already make the difference and perhaps install a reform president.
You might be asking the reasons for the OFWs lack of interest. It is apathy because our perception is that no one cares for us beyond lip service. From Marcos to Arroyo, the most that we can get are rhetorics that we are the modern day heroes.
The fact is many OFWs are suffering economically, emotionally and psychologically and yet no one seems to notice. Take the case of seamen held hostage by pirates in Somalia. Or the numerous victims of abuse in OWWA shelters all over the Middle East. Or the victims of human trafficking in Hong Kong, Macau and Malaysia. Lastly, what about those victimised by illegal recruiters.
Unless the government or the reform candidate you are talking about address
the problems of OFWs, we will remain apathetic to the problems of our country and just send money to our families. Whatever benefits are derived for our country are nothing but collateral in nature. Hypocrisy aside, no OFWs send money for the country. They all remit money for their families.
March 25th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
My previuos comment is just my humble but somewhat realistic anlysis.
Though my point is for Fr. Ed and Padaca will be aiming for the senate, I do appreciate the Kaya natin movement’s strategy. I do salute the members for aiming so high for change sake. Congrats. Who knows that this strategy not only encourage the PAX and some farmers but also allow the followers of El Shaddai, JIL, devoted catholics, intellectuals, idealist youths to unite themselves into a strong united movements to back up their electoral campaingn. Also, having not enough logistics for the task ahead, might encourages the majority of OFWs to support at least an hour of their salary, might some idealists businessmen share their resources and possibly with the peso peso of the poor might reach one billion pesos before November. Then, its a great sign to continue the campaign like Obama and his followers were doing.
Anyway, there is no harm in trying. Nothing to loss but always something to gain.
thanks for the great initiative and leadership. Kaya natin!
March 25th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I do appreciate all of the Kaya natin movement members for having that idealism. It presupposes tha Kaya natin lives its meaning.
This dream of change is always come in our society. I still remember way back 1992 where then Judge Mariam Santiago tushed up by the youths and idealists in those time. Also, last 2002 elections in late Sec. Raul Roco where the idealists and some of the youths were supporting then of his candidacy. But what had happen after the election? Where is the idealism?
I consider myself as idealist too but we have to be realistic enough to make change possible.
In my opinion, Its better for Fr. Ed and Padaca to aim for the senatorship. In that position, they have the big posssibility of winning and be far of losing. From that position, they have to prove their worth to make policy for the country. Then, thats the time to aim for the presidency and the vice presidency.
It may sound reasonable and possible and our hope will not lost this 2010 election.
Thank you.
March 25th, 2009 at 8:52 am
@ Rico Baltazar
“And above all Billionaire but still want to join the govt. to serve & not to get rich.”
- and to post his picture around the metro, put his name on every bus and other public utility vehicle
March 24th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
we have already started organizing group in Dubai for Panlilio/Padaca tandem for 2010.We are also willing to help interms of financial support..let me know where & to whom we can give our F/support.Let us start now.Pls let me know also their platform.thanks harvey