Five presidential aspirants faced the nation today via a live telecast of ABS-CBN's ANC Leadership Forum: Countdown to 2010. It's a very timely initiative even though the elections is still a year from now. The exercise provided a glimpse on the aspiring next occupant in that palace by the river.
To date, there are actually 16 presidential aspirants---that is if you count the new names in the list of presidential wannabes, two Manny, Pacquiao the boxer, and Pangilinan, the top business mogul.
One-by-one I will review their responses and at the end of this post, I will play judge and rank their performance based on content, straightforwardness, vision and yes---appeal to the audience. The last part plays a great factor in judging the how the aspirants came across in a live broadcast such as the one aired over ANC.
Oh yes---in a medium like television, it's all about performance and projection and how you connect to the audience or the viewers. It's not a talent show, it's a serious academic and political exercise of getting to know the aspirants for the presidency but then again, in the Philippines, a political exercise could also be one huge entertainment spectacle, ain't that so?
With a 20-year experience in the broadcast industry, having covered local and national elections from 1992, having interviewed and came face to face with all types of candidates, I believe I earn the right to say, when one comes off truthfully on cam, on live television and whether one comes across as a mere product of packaging and PR coaching.
Five came, senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero, senator Richard "Dick" Gordon, Pampanga governor Ed "Among" Panlilio, senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. For the first part, each was given a 10-minute airtime to answer questions from Tina Monson-Palma and Ricky Carandang.
The youngest of the aspirants, Escudero was grilled first by Tina, TMP to us who had the privilege of working under her as subordinates in the newsroom. TMP was the perfect choice to throw all those questions.
The youngest senator at 39 years old was his usual charming self. Speaking in Filipino, Escudero gave one-sentence, one thought answers that usually work in most of his interviews with media. Short, precise, what we refer to as soundbyte-perfect.
But Escudero's charm did not seemed to work wonders on TMP in a sense that she did not simply let him get away with his response to the question on what is his greatest weakness, vis-a-vis his greatest strength. His youth, according to Escudero is his greatest strength and also his greatest weakness as a possible candidate for president not according to him though, but according to his critics he stressed.
But TMP was persisted, "Leave what your critics say---what do you think is your greatest weakness?" In other words, what does Escudero think of Escudero?
It was easy to see, as television is a a very transparent medium especially if the broadcast is aired live, that Escudero did not expect that follow-up question. The "soundbyte-perfect" answers would have placed a period on that issue and TMP would have moved quickly to the next question, but TMP knew she needed to pursue the point and the answer Escudero gave was something that is unexpected, nice one really, but to me, not the right and truthful answer. I am not saying Escudero lied. What I am saying is that, I believe the suddenness of the follow-up question caught him off-guard and led him to answer the question this way, in Filipino he said, "Ang aking kahinaan ay hindi ako ipinanganak na mayaman." ("My weakness is that I was not born rich.")
This specific reason was the reason why I believe Escudero was a bit taken aback by that follow up question from TMP.
Maybe what Escudero wanted to say was that all his life, he lived a modest life, not wanting anything that is beyond the basic necessities and even the basics of human enjoyment and fulfillment. He could have lived extravagantly, but he chose not to. Maybe that's what he meant.
In saying that he's not born rich, Escudero maybe unwittingly channeling the message that he does not have a full appreciation of how poor really many Filipinos are.
Then it stuck me, maybe all he wanted to say was that, he was not born as rich and as affluent as the other presidential aspirants are. In Filipino he could have said, "Ang aking kahinaaan ay hindi ako ipinanganak na KASING-YAMAN ng ibang nais na maglingkod sa bansa bilang pangulo." ("My weakness is that I was not born as rich and as affluent as the other presidential aspirants.")
If he had said that, it would have put more weight on his argument that he doesn't need P2-3 Billion pesos to fund his campaign on 2010, if and when he pursues the take on the presidency. Citing what the law says, each candidate he explained is only allowed to spend P10-pesos per voter or roughly P400-million nationwide. The maximum election expenses, Escudero estimated should not exceed the amount of P600-million pesos.
In Filipino he said, "Ang sinumang nagsasabing kailangan nila ng P2-3 bilyung piso para tumakbong pangulo ay malinaw na may intensiyong lumabag sa batas." ("Anyone who says that he needs P2-3 billion pesos to run for the presidency clearly has all the intentions of violating the law.")
But while Escudero may have faltered a bit on this point, from my point of view, as it was channeled to my consciousness as a journalist he managed to redeem that minor lapse and proved the fact that youth is really his greatest strength when he answered, "Ang kabataan ngayon ay gusto nang angkinin ang pamahalaan", ("The youth of today wanted to seize government now.")--in reference to the many ills and corruption issues identified with the present administration.
The greatest display of his evident edge, his youth, among the four other aspirants present in the forum held in Ateneo de Manila was when his response to the question on what was the last movie he watched. His response:"Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo" of Juday and Ryan was the last movie he watched, in DVD, (not pirated he stressed for effect) in the comfort of his home.
That simple answer represented the generation representing the biggest number in the present electorate in the 2010 elections. Escudero has exposed himself as an ordinary movie fan just like anybody else, a movie fan who may just be the next president of the Republic. What could be more "masa" than that?
Escudero's most memorable quote during the forum: "Hiling ko ang mas malawak na partisipasyon ng kabataan. Sabihin natin na inaangkin na natin ang pamahalaan, inaangkin na natin ang halalang ito." ("I appeal for the youth sector to make their presence felt in the coming elections. Let us claim the government, let us claim this election.")
Now we review Gordon's performance in the Ateneo Forum.
Gordon was his usual self. Confident, vibrant, engaging, inspiring. His responses to the questions always lead to things that inspire, that encourage and invoke change, "not of men but in men".
For Gordon, "nothing is impossible". For Gordon, "Filipinos should find their future in the Philippines and not in foreign country".
For Gordon, this could be a nation of people who "Aim High", a race who believes "Bawal ang Tamad" and "Bawal ang Tanga".
For Gordon, solving the countries problems is all about "changing mindsets and changing values."
Big words. And the truth is, he lives by these words. You have to know the man personally to be able to say, he lived by everything that he said in the Leadership Forum. I can say that for I have known the man since I was 11 years old, back in 1981 when he first became mayor of Olongapo City where I grew up.
Oh yes, you can say that what I just said is a biased statement but actually I am just stating a fact. The man really walk the talk. He was a dreamer then and he remains a dreamer now and dreamers are passionate and are naturally driven to higher purpose in life.
But the way I see it, Gordon's big talk may also be his greatest Achilles.
The big talk needs another ingredient to get all his points across. The specifics, the hows, the actual to do list.
Generally, Filipinos nowadays are awed by anything that points to changing visions and changing mindsets. They wanted all these to happen, believe you me. Who doesn't want to be inspired and to be swayed by a leader to aspire the highest and to dream the greatest?
But the sad reality of life of millions of ordinary Filipinos is that they live in poverty...extreme poverty. Social injustice and lack of opportunities are all around them. Perhaps what they need to hear first is how an aspiring president like Gordon intends to help them by articulating concrete moves and specific targets if and when he gets elected as president.
To be inspired to change hearts and minds is one thing, but to be informed as to how to get there is another bigger step that needs to be expressed and articulated by Gordon next time he faces the public to speak about his plan of governance.
The most memorable point of Gordon's airtime on the ANC forum was when he said, his father, the late James Gordon, an American by birth but elected to be a Filipino, is his greatest hero. Gordon is always soft and sentimental when it comes to anything about his father who was assassinated while in position as mayor of Olongapo. With tears in his eyes, about to fall, Gordon said, "You have to live your heroism. I hold my father in the highest respect."
Panlilio's message was simple. He doesn't want to be president he said, but "if the people want me to run, they I will run."
The same thing happened to him in Pampanga he said. There was no plan to run for governor, then the clamor came, and so he did run and won.
There was one question though that I expected Panlilio to say "yes, I would". But instead of a yes or a no, he did give an ambivalent answer. The question was: "Will you pursue investigation of anomalies and corruption allegedly committed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the first Gentleman, Atty. Mike Arroyo and her cabinet, when you become her successor?
I was sure I would hear a resounding "Yes" from Panlilio but I was wrong. Panlilio had a very long response to that question, explaining that evidence is primordial in pursuing any case against the outgoing president and her cabinet. "We should be a country of law. We should prosecute based on evidence," Panlilio said. Nothing wrong with that response, except, I was expecting, he would be the first to respond he will pursue the investigation, for the sake of the truth and for the sake of justice.
I was wrong in expecting I would be right in expecting Panlilio would give a positive response.I forgot, he's a Cabalen. I forgot he's a priest, a priest and a politician at the same time, a union that in the first place should not have happened in the first place. But what can I say--he was elected.
There's also irony in the way he seized up Pacquiao's political ambition. "Gusto siya ng tao bilang boksingero, bilang pulitiko, ayaw sa kanya," ("The people wanted him as a boxer, but not as a politician"), he said in response to the question, "Will you form a coalition with Manny Pacquiao's political party?" A priest can be a politician and a boxer cannot?
If you ask me, while there seems to be an avalanche of opposition on Pacquiao's political ambitions, I say, let us not stop the man from fulfilling another personal goal. Pacquiao has proven his decisiveness and determination to attain excellence in his chosen craft. From the boxing ring to the political arena, why not for the Pacman? Well, this is not about Pacman, although it was clear that his inclusion in the questionnaire only proves that Pacman is not a potent force in Philippine politics.
Now, next, we examine Teodoro's answers during the ANC Leadership Forum.
Now Teodoro took a gamble when he practically defended the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He said, "History will be the final judge" as far as the Arroyo-Administration is concerned.
It was clear that Teodoro, in his presidential bid for 2010 is aspiring for the support and machinery of the present administration. A very risky answer considering the fact that the president, now just a year shy on the end of her term, remains very unpopular as shown by the results of various survey groups.
Teodoro made it clear he doesn't need the backing of Danding Cojuangco's NPC but clearly, he cannot say the same as far as the present administration is concerned. This could backfire, but then again, maybe not. The success of a presidential candidate is largely dependent on the resources and pool of machinery available and right now, Teodoro has that.
Let us not forget however, the fact that the resources and machinery we point here are actually out of the people's fund. One glaring example is the on-going, now showing Disaster Preparedness Advertisement Teodoro headlines, a production funded by government.
Now, will you really bite the hand of the person who allows you to enjoy this kind of advantage?
Teodoro gave a truthful answer when he said, "Hindi ko ikinahihiya ang bahay na sinisilungan ko. Naniniwala ako sa bahay na sinisilungan ko."
He was also truthful when he said he would pursue charter change via constitutional convention (CON-CON) and not through Consitituent Assembly (CON-ASS). "Ayaw yan ng taongbayan," he acknowledged.
If and when he becomes president, he offers a change in the system of government which he believes would be acceptable to the majority of the Filipino people: PRESIDENTIAL UNICAM.
"Ang Filipino, hindi talaga papayag na ang presidente, hindi nila halal," Teodoro said.
The other thing that I noticed about the Defense Secretary during the forum was his aura, a face that seems to smile all the time, a face that conveys positivity, answering the most difficult and intriguing questions with an almost permanent smile on his face.
I find it charming and at the same time disturbing. Charming the first few minutes, but disturbing and almost annoying in the next minutes that followed. It was like watching a poker face reversed. It's very clear that Teodoro is following an image-consultant or a PR consultant, since his projection on air as I saw it, comes off as something that was rehearsed and acquired.
Whoever is handling his public-image should learn from the very successful campaign of US president Barrack Obama who went through the campaign exposing very real human emotions, reacting differently to every situation, every question, smiling, frowning, angry sometimes, and sometimes, even made fun of himself, at his own expense just to prove and relay a message across.
The point is, Teodoro must understand that he cannot project charm in public all the time. But then again, I would not be surprised if someone points to me that, that Teodoro's natural aura, charming and full of positivity.
Now, what about Roxas?
I like the symbolism used by Roxas in describing the present leadership in the country, like a house built on sand and not on the rock. In Filipino Roxas said, "Ang plataporma ng pamahalaan ngayon ay nakatayo sa buhangin na dapat ay sa bato. Hindi matibay na bato ang moralidad at katarungan sa bansa" ("The government's platform sits on sand and not on solid rock. The morality and justice in the country is not founded on solid rock").
The senator hit it bulls eye when he said, many of the countries problems are internal and nature and that the off-shore economic and geo-political problems only magnify the ones we have from within, as one country, as one nation, as one people.
The question about his advertisement, the "PADYAK-LALABAN TAYO" campaign was a given considering that nowadays, you won't miss it, not a single day without it, not once, not twice, but many times. The money spent on ad placement for precious airtime spots gives us an idea that this man, just like the other presidential wanna be, the LUMUWA ang BUWA ad, is prepared to spend their millions just to remain in the public's consciousness and to maintain exposure, early and long enough until the very day of the 2010-presidential elections.
To be president really could cost one aspirants billions of pesos to dispose.
It's a good thing that the Filipino people are aware of the inherent status in society of the Roxas-Araneta clan.
From Mr. Palengke, Roxas took his image and political pitch to the streets, choosing the padyak boys, the trisikad drivers as representatives of the sector he wanted to help if and when he becomes president. Of course, that's not mentioned in the ad itself but we all know, it's all about the presidency. I am not comfortable though with the choice of padyak as representatives of the poorest of the poor and in reacting to the question about his advocacy ad, Roxas failed to expound on why he chose the padyak boys as his symbol for those in dire poverty. The choice of padyak boys to represent those in poverty could also be interpreted as a misguided take on how to help the poorest of the poor.
If you ask me---Korina Sanchez' TSINELAS CAMPAIGN in her program Rated K on ABS-CBN is more representative and more responsive in portraying how poor many Filipinos are in this day and age. I will never forget one episode when one girl uses a slipper that was already so old and over-used that it only covers half of her feet! She cried and gave real emotions of gratitude when she finally received that gift, a new set of ordinary slippers from Korina. There was magic in that episode, one for the ratings, but undeniably, one that truly touch the issue, solve the problem and through a simple act, provide hope.
Maybe in their private moments together, Mar should listen more to Ate Koring's ideas for they truly work magic on air and in the ratings game.
Now that Korina's name is mentioned, no doubt that it was the highlight and most memorable answer that came from Roxas. True he said, he will pursue investigations on PGMA, her husband and members of her cabinet, if and when he becomes the next occupant in Malacanang. True he said, he believes, the senate committee of the whole should pursue investigating fellow senator Manny Villar, also a clear aspirant to the presidency.
But the one answer that was retained in the public's mind and hearts was that answer he gave to the comment, "Ginagamit mo lang daw si Korina..." ("They say you;re just using Korina...")
To this he responded, "Laking tuwa ko na tinanggap ni Korina ang aking proposal na kami ay ikinasal. Mahal ko si Korina, 5 taon na kaming magkasama, may pangarap kami sa isa't isa. Sa mga nagsasabing ginagamit ko lang si Korina---INGGIT LANG SILA!" ("I was so happy when Korina accepted my proposal for her to marry me. I love Korina. We've been together for 5 years now, we have dreams for each other. To those who say, I am just using Korina, they are only envious!")
The "kilig" reaction from the audience elicited by that remark alone proved that it's a major issue about Mar that is part and parcel of how the public sees him.
A personal note on this one, you cannot fake a relationship with the Korina Sanchez, either you're an enemy or you're a friend. Either you're in or out. How much more when it comes to the affairs of her heart?
Now---my verdict based on the criteria I mentioned above, on that Leadership Forum alone and not necessarily my personal choice---let's make that clear here: ROXAS, GORDON, ESCUDERO, TEODORO AND PANLILIO---Roxas on top because of the audience impact of his response on his love life and soon to be marriage to one of the most popular broadcasters in the Philippines.
If only the support for their love story translates into actual votes by May of 2010---I say, Roxas, with Korina on his side is just a few steps shy of possibly winning the presidency. (end)
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