Some of you might be wondering why I am openly declaring support for the candidacy of ATTY. GILBERT “GIBO” TEODORO, JR., the standard bearer of the purportedly tainted administration party. Some of you might even wonder if I am in the right mind by doing so.

To tell everyone frankly, I’d say I’m out of my mind if I declared support for either MANNY VILLAR, NOYNOY AQUINO, or ERAP ESTRADA (Refer to my “Why I Will Not Vote For <NAME HERE>” series of blog entries).

I am for GIBO because, unlike those who claim that they can “fight corruption” or “eliminate poverty” through their supposed “principles”, “integrity”, and “experience”, GIBO IS REALISTIC AND OBJECTIVE. He remains with the administration party because he acknowledges that the present administration has accomplished significant achievements worth noting and recognizing, despite the controversies and the bad things. Kinikilala niya ang katotohanang bawat administration, simula sa administration ni Quezon up to the Arroyo administration, ay may mga problema at pangit na bagay, pero mayroon din namang mga magagandang nagawa. GIBO believes that we should focus and carry on the good things, while recognizing the bad things as lessons to learn from. Ang problema kasi sa karamihan sa mga Pilipino, makikitid ang utak, mas nagpo-focus sa mga maling nagawa kaysa mga magagandang na-accomplish ng isang tao. Kahit may mga magaganda kang nagawa, basta may ibinatong mabigat na paratang, mababalewala na yung mga magaganda mong accomplishments.

Yes, the Arroyo administration may have been among the most controversial, most tainted administrations in Philippine history. Pero hinahamon ko ang lahat na mag-identify ng isang administration, from the time of Quezon up to the present, na talagang walang graft and corruption hanggang sa level ng local government at panay magaganda lang ang nangyari sa bansa. I’m sure that graft and corruption was present even during the Magsaysay administration, although most probably not involving President Magsaysay himself. The point is, all administrations from past to present have been plagued one way or another by the festering malignancy of graft and corruption. Ang problema lang kasi sa atin, mahilig tayong mas pagtuunan ng pansin ang mga mali at pangit kahit mayroon din namang mga mabubuting bagay na nagagawa at nangyayari.

Another reason for my choice of presidential candidate: GIBO IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE I KNOW WHO RECOGNIZES THAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS NOT MERELY WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN POWER BUT IN THE WHOLE SYSTEM ITSELF. Magkatugma kami ng paniniwala ni GIBO na deeply rooted sa sistema at structures ng society natin ang problema*, kaya hindi sapat na konsensya lang at integridad ang pairalin. Pareho kami ng paniniwala ni GIBO na lahat ng mga problemang dinaranas ng lipunan natin ay manifestation ng mga problemang napakatagal nang nariyan sa lipunan natin na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin talaga nasosolusyonan. Pareho kami ng idea ni GIBO na para magkaroon ng tunay na pag-unlad at pagbabago sa lipunan natin, ang kailangang ayusin ay ang sistema at hindi ang palitan lamang ang mga taong nakapuwesto sa pamahalaan*.

Aside from that, GIBO HAS SOUND, REALISTIC PRINCIPLES. Naniniwala siya na ang solution ay dapat long-term at nasa macro level, hindi yung short term lang at nasa micro level. Hindi niya sinasabing pag naging presidente siya ay siya ang mag-aahon sa atin sa kahirapan, o siya ang mag-aalis ng corruption, o siya ang magbibigay ng lahat ng bagay na nagkukulang sa atin gaya ng pagkain at bahay. Hindi siya nangangako ng mga bagay na ibibigay niya para lang bumango ang image at pangalan niya sa mga botante. Instead, inilalahad niya kung ano yung kailangang i-provide ng pamahalaan, gaya ng murang health care at accessible education, na posibleng makamit sa pamamagitan ng macro-level programs na kasama sa ipino-propose niya sa kanyang platform. He also has the most realistic plans on how to minimize (yes, minimize, not eliminate because given the current structures and system prevailing in our society IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TOTALLY ELIMINATE GRAFT AND CORRUPTION) graft and corruption in the government.

Anyone who claims he/she can eliminate graft and corruption in the government is either naive or just weaving false promises to take advantage of the gullibility of most Filipinos.

When he visited my workplace, the Technological University of the Philippines, last January 7, I was able to verify and confirm an impression: Among all the presidential candidates, GIBO MAKES THE MOST SENSE AND EXHIBITS GENUINE SINCERITY IN WHAT HE SAYS. He acknowledges that he is indebted to the Arroyo administration because it was the present administration that recognized his potential as a leader, but dismisses the possibility of becoming a puppet of PGMA just because of that debt of gratitude. He does not promise the moon and the stars to guarantee that he will not do anything wrong as president, but instead banks on his word of honor, his youth, and his integrity. Tama nga naman yung sinabi niya sa TUP, if ever palarin siyang maging presidente sa 2010 elections, after his 6-year term, nasa early 50’s pa lang siya, may buhay pa siya (figuratively) after his term. At sinong tao ang nanaisin na habang naglalakad ka sa mall ay duduraan at lilibakin ka ng mga tao dahil sa ginawang kabalbalan, di ba? Unless after his term ay retirable na siya at magpapaka-secluded na lang siya. Or unless uber kapal ng mukha ng tao. At kapag nagkaroon ka ng pagkakataon na marinig at makasalamuha mo in person si GIBO, least likely na magkakaroon ka ng impression na plastik siya o makapal ang mukha bilang tao. Confident, yes, pero hindi makapal ang mukha.

Lastly, I commend GIBO’S POSITIVE CAMPAIGN. He recognizes the bad things from the previous up to the present administrations as lessons to learn from, but does not focus his campaign on them. Hindi siya nagpapasaring sa ibang kandidato, sinasagot lang niya nang may sense ang mga tanong sa kanya tungkol sa ibang kandidato kapag tinanong siya. For instance, in the TUP student forum with GIBO, one student asked (in Filipino) something like: “Given that other candidates claim that they are ‘tunay na mahirap’, how can you say that you can really relate to the poor given your affluent background?” To which GIBO answered (in Filipino), “Does a doctor need to be sick or have experienced an illness in order to treat the sick of that illness? If one follows that logic, then priests should be prohibited from officiating weddings, because as celibates they may not be able to relate to the situation of a married couple.” Panalo ang sagot niya, suwak na suwak. Hehehe….

I know that given NOYNOY AQUINO and MANNY VILLAR as the consistent frontrunners in surveys, it is highly possible that GIBO’s chances to win the 2010 presidential elections are not that good. Nevertheless, I will place my vote on him, because I believe my vote should go to the candidate who I think is most capable and most deserving to become the next president of the Republic of the Philippines, regardless of how he is ranked in the surveys. If people would only be objective, set their biases aside, think critically, and judge a candidate for who he/she really is, without a doubt GIBO would be recognized not only as the most capable but also the most deserving candidate.

I am for GIBO TEODORO because I am in the right mind.

I am for GIBO TEODORO because I am using my God-given mental faculties as I believe I should.

I am for GIBO TEODORO because I believe that the candidate who is most capable of leading our country, as well as truly empowering our society, deserves my vote.

‘Nuff said!

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