TO BE OR NOT TO BE

TO BE OR NOT TO BE A CANDIDATE. This seems to be the quandary of Noynoy Aquino, now very famous as a possible candidate to unite and lead all the opposition groups to counter administration-led candidates for 2010.

Maybe from the point of view of those who have been in Philippine politics, seemingly forever, Noynoy represents their hope to rise and gain leadership again and no longer be that fly in the ointment so-called who is always critiquing every move of the administration which has brazenly committed one corrupt act after another from the time of its assumption into power.

Yet there are many kinds of political vultures - those who day in and day out think of nothing but politics and power. It is very difficult to dissuade those people from not thinking about politics because for them it is their bread and butter, their only raison d'etre for existence. For Noynoy to even rest for a while and experience grief over the loss of his mother they would consider such a luxury.

That's it. That is how I view the issue of Noynoy's entry to the presidential or vice-presidential race. At this time, only 25 days since the death of Cory, it is too soon for the family to think of entering politics again. I believe that Noynoy would gain more dignity and respect if he could tell the people that he wants peace and quiet. Then he and his sisters could rest from the rigors of having taken care of their mother and from her very painful demise -- to them and to the whole country as we have lost an icon of conscience for all government officials and employees, a model of extreme sacrifice for the country.

It is actually not something strange to allow a person to grieve. This is actually a custom among us, Filipino people, to allow sometime to pass before resuming or starting a new life upon the death of a relative. Even widows are not allowed to marry right away but to skip a year or two before marrying again. Relatives even fold the things of the departed and keep them in heirloom baggages so that they could be opened now and then for remembrance of things past, whether good or ill.

In the same way, I think we should hold the Aquino family more protectively. We must guard them against any untoward happenings so that they could remain intact as that conscience for the whole nation -- heirs to icons who sacrificed their whole lives for the return of democracy in the country.

And so grieving after a year or more, then they could take on more prominent roles in the country should they want to.

What am I saying here? That we should, as a people, respect feelings. Feelings are important for a normal existence. If all we do is cover them up and say, "No, I have to get up and go after the funeral..." I think that we could turn into political robots or vultures, who eat anything in order to survive. That could turn us into unfeeling people whose only mission in life is to aspire for political power at all costs.

The ascendancy of Cory and the support she got in 1985 when the snap elections were held was an unusual period -- her husband had just been assassinated and the people knew who did it. And so, when we prodded her to run, it was, besides the larger objective of booting out the dictatorship, a retribution for the loss of her husband. No such similar situation exists at this time for Noynoy to be supported, except as an heir of the Aquinos. No sentimental reason exists except that Cory had left the children to their own resources now to be with Ninoy. (Well of course, to Buddhists, souls live on and could assume another body to live in.)

Hence, Folks, let us not push the agenda too much and just relax. November 30 is the last day for filing candidacies. We need not hurry to come up with the right individuals for the top posts. In fact, what we need do is emphasize to the people that they or we should be the ones, to select, campaign and vote for our candidates, not any party, not any other political offical but us, rich or poor,regardless of sex, race, creed and age.

To Noynoy, and all the children of Cory, we respect your feelings of loss, and give you space to allow these to subside.


JOHN EVERREIT MILLIAIS - "OPHELIA" PAINTING