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A “Dark Horse” Emerges - The Non-Cliche Among The Stereotypes

In any race, everyone looks out for the proverbial ‘dark horse’ to emerge from the shadows and wrest victory from what one would assume to be the predictable winner of a predictable race. 

The 2010 Presidential elections, prior to the death of Corazon Aquino was already in the bag. Villar was the strongest contender, with years of painstaking PR efforts to build a good reputation and positive image behind him. Mar Roxas (my personal choice) was highly unlikely to even make a dent, with the likes of Chiz Escudero also in the running. 

The hullaballoo surrounding Gilbert Teodoro’s selection as the Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer raised a lot of eyebrows. He was formerly with the NPC where he began his political career, and to date declines to comment about the reason behind his alleged ‘desertion’. He has, however, emphasized in interviews that it’s strictly a family affair. Governors mobilized to rally for his selection, while Lakas stalwart Bayani left the party in a huff for being ignored. 

“Huh?!? Gilbert Teodoro? Sino yon?” 

Just like a blind date gone wrong, Murphy’s Law intervened and made Gibo’s introduction to the presidential battle shaky. How? Ondoy and Maguindanao. Gibo was the Secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND) and concurrently the Chairperson of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) before he resigned to run as President - long before the Supreme Court made any ruling on the matter, if I may add. 

Stress Tests: Ondoy and Maguindanao Massacre

As NDCC Chair, everyone was furious with Gibo, whether it was his fault or not. My sister, Information and Networking Coordinator at the Asia Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) replied to my rants, putting to rest many of my own misconceptions about disaster preparedness and risk management. 

One thing I noticed early on about Gibo that earned my grudging respect was that he never made excuses for whatever shortcomings he had in handling Ondoy. In our country where blame is the name of the game, Gibo never lashed back at his detractors in typical defensive fashion. He didn’t make excuses. He didn’t say “Boo hoo, look at me. It’s not my fault.” He quietly did his job. On the day Ondoy struck, he rode the MRT and swam in murky flood water just to get to his office (I guess siya ang literal na nakalangoy sa dagat ng basura) - he didn’t make a big show of it. In a later interview with Al Jazeera, Gibo did not let the reporter bully or provoke him about Ondoy, answering his questions fully and emphasizing that the country’s response to the disaster met international standards - including the UN. He handled the problem admirably, quietly and with grace.

The Maguindanao Massacre in late November should have been another crushing blow to the aspirant. “What did he do to stop the Ampatuans?” many have asked. Gibo answered this in ANC’s Tapatan - as DND, the Ampatuans did not receive more than they were allowed, and Gibo rendered a proper accounting of this, but he quietly added that the DND has no control over the ‘discretionary’ issuances of guns and ammunition to CVOs directly from the Office of the President. 

It must be noted that it was Gibo who was the first to act decisively and demonstrate his outrage at what happened - he caused the expulsion of the Ampatuans from the party and he personally accompanied Mangudadatu to file his certificate of candidacy, together with his friend and former party President Sarangani Gov. Migs Dominguez. Gibo has earned the respect of Muslim groups, as articulated by Amina Rasul-Bernardo (director of the Philippine Council on Islam and Democracy) herself.

These two incredibly difficult situations would have easily broken a lesser candidate - add to that the ‘kiss of death’ of the current administration.

Whether you like Gibo or not, you would admire his extraordinary humility as a government official. Extraordinary because in our culture of blame and defensiveness, Gibo exemplifies what our public servants sorely lack - someone who will take the shit and still do his job, irrespective of praise. On a positive note, the Ondoy typhoon and Maguindao massacre became the ultimate stress tests and Gibo passed with flying colors.

Why I Am Not Voting for the Other Candidates

Moral Force and Integrity

Who has the monopoly of moral force and integrity, pray tell? Noynoy Aquino? Villar and his ads? We have other candidates running on integrity and the promise of a clean administration. We have Bro. Eddie - a religious leader, upstart JC De Los Reyes, we have Richard Gordon and we have Gibo. I’d count Jamby, too, if I were sure she was serious about running. 

Because I am writing about Gibo, I will not go into the gory details of Hacienda Luisita or the C-5 controversy, and all the other sensationalized demolition jobs that have little relevance to my concerns as a voter.  

Morality/integrity is not a birthright you can claim, it can’t be glossed over with ads and it’s easier said than lived.

Political Will

If anyone has the capacity and will to implement CARP with respect to Luisita, then Gibo would be in the best position. He has the strength and will to do it, he is in a unique position as well, being a Cojuangco. Just read up on Hacienda Luisita issues and watch videos to know more about it. He may be a Cojuangco, yes, but he’s on the other side of the fence, one that doesn’t depend on Luisita. Now, as to what he will do with his own uncle’s numerous legal battles as a former Marcos crony, well, he is bound by his duties as Danding’s former lawyer to act on it personally. 

As for GMA and even his political opponents, Gibo has stressed many times that as President, he will not engage in the politics of vengeance and he will not interfere in any way (for or against) in the prosecution of PGMA, among others. In other words, he will not exacerbate any further the problems with an already politicized justice system. I infer that he will do his part in ensuring the independence and integrity of the courts as well, corollary to his commitment.

His swift and decisive action on the Maguindanao massacre when others dilly-dallied, as I have earlier stated, have earned him the respect of no less than the Muslim community. The fact that Mangudadatu himself has stayed with Gibo and Lakas-Kampi when the more logical choice would have been to move to LP is telling. Why is he staying? Because of PGMA, who is believed to have benefited from the Ampatuans’ ruthless rigging of the elections? Highly unlikely. On the other hand, Andal Ampatuan Jr. is courting the yellow and orange camps - he probably thinks it’s the “in” thing to do.

Track Record 

Gibo is not running on “Galing at Talino” for nothing. He is a Bar topnotcher (number 1, in 1989), a NY Bar passer, a UP Law and Harvard Law School graduate, and a friggin’ pilot for crying out loud. He is the youngest DND secretary. 

If we go by legislative accomplishments, Noynoy has passed zero bills while Gordon’s is the most impressive.  

I have gone over Gibo’s legislative record. Many of the bills he filed are of local application - often related to building roads, schools and hospitals (in particular, he was actively pushing for the institutionalization of the teaching of forensic medicine, among others). His other bills are related to the administration of justice (establishing PAO as an independent and autonomous office, procedure for the removal of Sandiganbayan justices, etc.), human rights (prohibiting the public display of persons arrested, abolition of death penalty), and tax measures, among others. 

I will not wax poetic about his legislative record and successfully enacted laws, lest I be accused of doing what NA’s PR spin team is doing to make mountains out of molehills. On this score, Richard Gordon’s achievements as Senator are far more impressive.

I will say, however, that if we were to analyze Gibo’s legislative record, then it’s clear that for his term as Congressman, he focused on the improvement of his district and his province, which is more than I can say for his cousin and fellow Tarlaqueno. I can also glean from the record that as President, he will start on the fundamentals of nation-building: education, infrastructure development, health and justice. 

As DND Secretary, I will just refer you to this. Parenthetically, I will add that among PGMA’s much-maligned Cabinet, only he and Sec. Cabral are widely respected for their hard work and integrity by allies and opponents alike.

I have no reason to doubt Gibo’s intelligence and capacity to formulate and implement policies, and thus, I believe that while he may not have a particularly impressive legislative record out there, he has done good, solid work wherever he went.  

Loved by his friends and allies, admired by his opponents

Who commands respect even from opposing camps and various personalities? Gibo. Anyone who has met him or worked with him speaks of him highly. 

Jinggoy and Erap Estrada themselves told the public, if you don’t vote for Erap, vote for Gibo. Granted that it’s not exactly a shining endorsement coming from our deposed ex-President (and his son), but the fact that Estrada not only respects but admires Gibo is something.

Even Manny Villar’s wife, Rep. Cynthia Villar, sings Gibo’s praises. Outspoken PGMA critics respect and admire Gibo for his intellect, professionalism and integrity. 

If we go by his untarnished record of public service, we can thank his father for setting a good example. We can also rely on Gibo’s word on this - he has not given us reason not to, in any case. 

Why I Am Not Voting for Gordon 

(Note that I will not even bother including Noynoy here because I don’t consider him qualified or competent for the post. As for Villar, he is a creation of his amazing ad agencies - but he is admittedly more competent than Noynoy, in my opinion. Still, among the candidates, the only other one I considered was Sen. Richard ‘Dick’ Gordon.)

As Francis Maynard S. Maleon put it, “In a better world, it would be Gibo v. Gordon,” and I wholeheartedly agree. If people were more discerning, it would be obvious from the beginning that only the two are legitimate options for our next President. 

Both are competent and credible leaders. Gordon is truly formidable, with years of legislative and executive experience that he never fails to remind us about. He is also known for his integrity and independence.

It wasn’t easy choosing between Gibo and Gordon. Both have the potential to bring significant improvement to our country’s worsening political and economic situation. 

After watching debates, reading interviews and articles, various authorities have pointed out that Gibo has a better grasp of issues. He is more specific about his platforms and agenda. In the Choices and Voices 2010 forum in Cebu, for example, Gibo impressed the audience with the depth of his knowledge about Cebu, down to the city’s infrastructure and his specific proposed solutions to problems and concerns raised by them. Gibo likewise displayed a commanding grasp of issues, even in the area of tourism, where presumably Gordon is more knowledgeable. (In saying this, I’m quoting the observers who attended the forum and said that Gordon gave more general answers compared to Gibo’s specific, credible ones) Gibo also won the mock polls in that forum.

Gordon’s attitude and abrasiveness - trivial as it may seem to others, has likewise put off other people. (His recent breakdown on national television doesn’t help, either) From personal experience, Taytay councilor and mayoral candidate Joey Calderon recounted to us during our relief mission his own Ondoy encounter with Gordon. He called Gordon for help, desperate because Brgy. Sta. Ana was not receiving much-needed aid for supplies and food because of the difficulty reaching the evacuation center (waist-deep in flood water). When he finally reached Gordon by phone, begging for help from the Red Cross, Gordon answered, “Wag kang makulit!” and hung up. Contrast this to Eastern Samar Gov. Evardone’s account of how Gibo left his father’s wake and personally delivered relief goods and medical supplies to his typhoon-ravaged province in 2008 when no one else wanted to go because travel there was dangerous. (I’ve read somewhere or watched in an interview that Gibo flew the plane himself, because the pilots didn’t want to since there was no adequate landing area for the plane)

Unlike Gordon, Gibo is dealing with the pressures of the campaign with remarkable cool - something I’d like to see in my future President when he takes on bigger problems. Gibo also has greater potential for pushing for national unity. He is the only one who has vowed not to engage in vengeance and retribution after he wins, and offers an olive branch to his political opponents.

I also believe that the two will work together well, should the other win, and their synergy will do wonders for our country. I believe that any Vice President under Gibo should expect fair treatment from him as well.

A Positive and Principled Campaign

One would expect that as PGMA’s anointed one (with kiss of death, too), Gibo would be spending most of his time thrashing it out with opponents who insult his intelligence and call him a puppet. Gibo, who is far more intelligent and educated than his opponents is being painted as a man without a mind of his own.

The easiest way out for him is to sever ties with PGMA - stand on the pulpit and call her names. Many people I’ve talked to have told me that his association with PGMA is the only reason they are not voting for him.

Of course, better than anyone else, Gibo would know the implications of joining the general ruckus. Being Anti-GMA would very likely win him a lot of votes whether he stays with the party or not. Being Anti-GMA would certainly save him the trouble of coming up with a platform of governance - all he has to do is to mouth anti-GMA, anti-corruption slogans and motherhood statements, and people will love him. 

On the contrary, Gibo, by his own choice is forcing voters to stop and reassess the situation. Why would an otherwise good guy, the best man for the job, even, stick it out with the reviled administration? Why can’t he just do what is expected of him?

Gibo doesn’t shirk from the responsibility of being the guy who is being backed by the most unpopular President to date. He answers questions/allegations about his GMA connection without hesitation - even if people think his answers are unpopular. He avoids retaliating with mudslinging and demolition jobs even when many of these are directed at him.

His overall conduct of the campaign is a good indication of his moral bearings.

Gibo’s positive campaign draws on the force of the formidable party machinery but the truly amazing phenomenon people should be aware of is the massive and organized youth-led national volunteer movement that tirelessly campaigns for him. 

Whether or not it was a sound idea, politically, for Gibo to resign as party chairman, his move certainly purged the party of opportunists and trapos (Chavit, Salceda, among others) who will stab him in the back anyway. 

Palabra de honor (word of honor) and delicadeza are shockingly new words in our political vocabulary but Gibo and the public are holding fellow politicians accountable for their actions. Instead of saying - “It’s acceptable, it’s politics,” people have begun to question the motives behind defections, the principles (or lack thereof) of politicians seeking an easy and convenient win by jumping on the bandwagon.

Gibo is walking the talk, and at least he can proceed with the campaign without looking over his shoulder, waiting for the next betrayal. Meanwhile, these defectors have been welcomed with open arms by the other parties desperate for votes but political defection is not what it used to be - now you have to answer to the people. 

More importantly, while media outfits trumpeted the collapse of the Lakas-Kampi merger, it was the overwhelming show of support of Green Team movements scattered all over the country that countered these highly sensationalized defections.These volunteers rallied behind Gibo and in a superior show of strength, demonstrated that Gibo is truly the people’s candidate. 

Gibo leads by example; his volunteers are constrained to follow and resist mudslinging just to get ahead. In the Gibo Facebook fan pages, you will find volunteers gently reminding fellow volunteers not to wage word wars or say derogatory things about other candidates. Try to visit other fan pages/blogs/sites of other candidates and you will see the difference.

Gibo has never resorted to gimmickry to draw attention to himself. No celebrities, no patronizing ads or slogans to pander to the masses. He assumes that every Filipino is an intelligent voter who will vote according to reason, platforms and not propaganda. On his part, he is certainly doing his best to engage on issues, platforms and advocacies.Likewise, he does not complain if media reports are biased against him, if there are biased moderators in debates, if he is only given a short period of time to talk about his views and stance on issues. He doesn’t pretend, mince words or conceal his feelings about the likes of Nograles, and you can’t accuse him of being ‘plastic’ about it.

For volunteers, that means engaging other detractors/undecided voters/hardcore supporters from other camps in principled debate. Green Team volunteers can’t just come up to someone and say, “Vote for Gibo - basta, hindi siya magnanakaw.” No, volunteers have to be knowledgeable about our candidate - his platforms, agenda and positions on various issues. We have to follow his example and not resort to fighting, name calling or cheap, bandwagon methods just to get people to vote for our candidate. 

It’s so easy to engage in negative campaigning, to dish out creative insults and to point fingers, say mean things to other supporters. What about your self-respect and how can you admire or believe in your candidate who does it himself?  

A Presidential candidate who not only tolerates mudslinging but practices it is not worthy of respect. How will he even lead the country?

A candidate who respects himself also earns the respect and pride of his supporters. A candidate who keeps the campaign clean and principled is admired by allies and opponents alike. We Gibo supporters and believers wear that distinction like a medal, because no one else can claim that - and believe me, it’s harder to actually practice integrity than just talk about it. 

Above all, we volunteers are spending out of our own pockets, contributing to the campaign creatively on a budget (wallpapers, stickers, etc.) - whether it’s transportation fare to regularly visit the Gibo HQ or a small-scale production of materials to distribute. Some use internet bandwith to constantly post about Gibo news and updates, others have devoted their blogs on cyberspace for Gibo. These are things being done by other supporters as well, but you will have to admire the sheer determination, the good vibe and the unity behind the Green Team movements. 

Gibo’s supporters and volunteers are striving to make up for what dubious party loyalties cannot do for him. Of course, party machinery is important, but what truly moves the people is the outpouring of support and sacrifice, of volunteers mobilizing all over the country - winning over voters with their sheer earnestness and belief in Gibo and what he can bring to the country. All this is done by volunteers without asking for or receiving anything in return. Whether it’s the media or pollsters talking, greenies are recognized as an important factor in Gibo’s campaign. Greenies are walking credible advertisements for Gibo, more important and influential on people than the ads you see on TV.

He is firm on his commitment to a clean campaign, and he is even more firm about his commitment to forging national unity. I believe him.

The Future Beckons

… And it’s not a rosy one if we do not get our act together. But six years is enough for a good president to put us back on track. I will quote Gibo directly:

I believe the country, more important than needing a strong leader, needs strong leadership. This is the difference between what I perceive to be contemporary viewpoints, the failure to distinguish between the person and the institution. Oftentimes, strong leadership is built around an individual and stays that way, while I believe in creating lasting institutions with the clear position that my participation will be temporary.

A leader who is development oriented and who is humble enough (more importantly, not deluded at all) to center his administration around himself alone deserves my respect. He is thinking of the future, of setting the stage for us to work together to confront the problems confronting our nation.

I don’t want b.s. from my future President - he is not going to end poverty overnight. I just want him to roll up his sleeves and get to work. We Pinoys should follow his example, too, and make nation building our responsibility and not just our head of state.

I Think Therefore I Am For Gibo

Gibo never asks people to vote for him just because he says so. As I earlier stated, he doesn’t rely on other influential people (celebrities, actors, whoever) to sing his praises and use their clout and appeal for regular folks to vote for him.

He encourages every voter to be critical and informed about their candidates and should they find him the best one for the job, then he welcomes the support. Gibo’s ads have been branded as abstract and elitist (especially the sulong commercial) simply because there are no celebrities, no perpetually exploited images of poverty and despair or anti-corruption slogans (so popular in our jaded political landscape) and no unrealistic promises. Gibo is likewise out in the cold because he doesn’t want to the join the Star Wars like battle of good versus evil that simplistically defines the 2010 elections. Pragmatic voters who are polarized into batting for Noynoy and Villar only are weighing their options based on winnability. 

Yet support grows for Gibo with each passing day. Don’t be fooled by the surveys. Don’t vote based on popularity alone, or misguided illusions. Ask why the media is intensely focused on reporting on black propaganda instead of educating and informing the public about issues the future President should be prepared to handle. Look for other sources of information and opinion - a little research goes a long way.

There are three things I never thought I would do for any Presidential candidate, I have done so far in my earnestness to persuade other people that Gibo is the best man for the job: 

1. I finally decided to become a registered voter just so I could vote for him. I tried to register twice, and was successful on my second try last December. It dawned on me that I was actually doing something concrete and embarrassingly, long overdue. I was doing it for my candidate; I was doing it as a responsible citizen. 
2. I am doing my part, no matter how small, to contribute to Gibo’s campaign. 
3. I am actually going to pray (I don’t pray) as hard as I can for the success of Gibo’s presidential campaign.

In our popularity and personality-driven politics, it’s not “in” to be green. They have painted the battle as narrowed down to two candidates only - to the exclusion of a third candidate who has inspired many of us by his word and deed.

We see through the smoke and mirrors and we are not deceived.

Don’t be fooled, a silent majority is supporting Gibo. 

Like Gibo, even in the face of serious doubts about the capacity of Filipinos to vote based on platform and not popularity, to be rational instead of emotional, to vote based on conscience and not convenience - I know that Filipinos will make the right choice. Mark my words, he will win.