Noynoy for President

The prospect of Benigno Aquino III running as president for 2010 Philippine national elections – at first – caught my fancy.  After all, it appears that now he’s really the only one who can be a unifying factor for different factions of political forces.  And, as events unfurl day by day, we are indeed seeing political parties throwing their support for his candidacy (even before he officially declared his intention to run) and various groups being formed precisely to support his campaign.  By and large, his association with his parents is very robust and strong; and the death of his mother, in particular, was just forty days ago.

At first, too, he appears to me as a “clean” politician.  A comparison will do (of course, without intending to demean Noynoy for this): Mikey Arroyo is currently being suspected for corruption following the Vera files expose about his SALN and his purported house in the US, while Noynoy – for his three terms as Tarlac Representative and one term as Senator – has not been subjected to ethical doubt even by his critics.  He’s also not known for outlandish living or fancy for expensive dishes, and gives an impression that he knows how to live within his means.  And, a politician with moral integrity is what the country needs today – after having a president who’s outdone her predecessors in terms of multiplication of wealth while serving her constitutional mandate which deprives her and her family of business opportunities.

In further consideration, though, and if we were to look at the process – and not the outcome – Filipinos are in at present in anticipation of the 2010 elections, I am having my apprehensions.  And this is captured by Nick Perlas’ phraseology: Noynoy can stifle the growth of new politics.

Every election – at least, after the Edsa I – is battle ground for the traditional politics and the new politics.  Traditional politics is what we still have in the Philippines now.  Prof. Randy David says it is patronage politics.  And the opposition is no different, for opposition politicians are promoters of the same patronage politics.

And, so, what is this new politics all about?

For one, it is which brings about strategic unity among Filipinos.  There is strength in unity, the cliché goes.  And, indeed, we knew it from our recent history.  We joined forces together against Marcos and Estrada.  Now, political forces are uniting behind Noynoy against Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.  Noynoy might win.  Then, we again go our own separate ways.  Not only is this unity that Noynoy symbolizes going to be short lived.  Already now, it won’t bring us any father than 2010.

Now, a step could have been taken towards this strategic unity through a participatory process of setting up a people’s vision and strategic agenda.  I remember reading about the intention of the so-called non-traditional-politicians – this was before the death of Cory Aquino – to hold what they called primaries.  These primaries, as we know, are part and parcel of the US electoral practice.  It’s the Americans way of ensuring that people are consulted; and statesmen heed and follow the people’s voice that are made known through this mechanism.

But, political events swiftly happened and Noynoy is now set to contest the presidency.  A casualty in this instance is the institutionalization of selection  process and agenda setting by the people – which is undoubtedly the right step to take if we are to start a new politics.  The masa  as consequence is again given its customary place and role. 

Explaining further our previous point, we need to consider that traditional politicking is personality-based.  Noynoy was egged on to contest the presidency because of his big chances of winning.  He carries the name of Aquino’s.  Never mind if his performance in the Congress was not as bright as his father’s.  Never mind if until now he’s still to sit down and draw his visions and plans for the Philippines.  For Filipinos, what matters first is the “who” and not the “what”.

Today, Kris Aquino says she’s going to “make over” her brother.  She’s reportedly going to do something about his brother’s thinning hair.

Can anyone tell Noynoy that he needs more than that?