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The meeting with four Liberal Party (LP) Senatorial candidates definitely turned out to be one of the nicest interview sessions we had up to that point.  Mainly because our guests were very warm and accommodating. Dr. Martin Bautista was so funny that it made the whole event very light and enjoyable.

We were not allowed to ask individual questions for each of the senatoriables due to time constraints, so we were left with one generic question to ask Juan Romeo Nereus "Neric" Acosta, Doctor Martin Bautista, Teofisto "TG" Guingona III, and Rozzano Rufino "Ruffy" Biazon.

I already have a partial list of senatoriables to support for this upcoming May 2010 elections and most of them are from the Liberal Party. So I asked:

"I support most Liberal Party senatoriables but I'm not convinced with your presidentiable.  Can you tell us why you are running under Liberal Party and why do you believe in Noynoy Aquino?"

Their faces lit up at my question-- they looked very eager to answer.  I could really feel their passion and their support for their Presidential standard bearer, especially Acosta.

The answers:

Ruffy Biazon

Number seven in the ballot, Congressman Ruffy Biazon served the lone district of Muntinlupa City for three terms. His hands have touched many of the bills that passed through Congress, many of which he authored and co-authored. He has been part of many Congressional committees, and has been at the forefront of such legislations as the Tobacco Regulation Act, The Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act, The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, The Cheaper Medicines Act, just to name a few. He has been cited by the Philippines Free Press as an Outstanding Congressman of the Philippines and by Philippine Graphic as one of the Top 100 Young Leaders of the country. HIs motto is, “Do the right things and do things right."

"Why am I running with the LP?

When I first ran for office in 2001, I was with the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP).  When the LDP broke up prior to the 2004 elections, I went to the only party that I saw that had a genuine ideology and was composed of people of good stature and integrity so I went to the LP.  I've been with the LP ever since.

Why am I supporting Noynoy Aquino?

Well, he's the only one who has been through the test of power.  Among all the presidential candidates, not one of them has been tested on how they would handle power when it is in their hands.  I'm referring to the presidential power, and we all know how a presidential son can abuse the power of his parent as a president.  Noynoy has been through that and he has shown humility and integrity in spite of being in access to such power within this country.  He has already passed it, I don't want to take a gamble with the others.  I want to support the guy who passed that crucial test.

People are questioning his competence.  Well, it's just unfortunate that people are relying on impressions.  If you've been given a chance to work with Noynoy, you will know that he is competent.  If you'll browse through the records of congress, the transcripts of debates, plenary sessions, committee hearings, you will see his intelligent participation in congress.  He acts as the fiscalizer.  They challenge him with the number of bills that he has filed but why do we look up at Joker Arroyo with high respects?  If we look at his track record in filing bills and passing laws, it's also comparable to Noynoy's.  But Joker Arroyo is performing a role that was also within his responsibility as a legislator and so with Noynoy Aquino.

The difference of Noynoy with many other politicians is that when he speaks, he does not look at the camera to speak to.  It is because he speaks to the record.  He does not want fanfare.  He does not want publicity because he just wants to work.  I've seen it first-hand.

In this presidential election, we've been through nine years of an El Nino of integrity. We're now looking for a spring of hope, a spring of character because competence is what will get you up there but it will be character which will make you stay there.  A lot of competent people have gone up.  They fell down badly because of character.  As far as Noynoy is concerned, I've seen that he has character which would let him handle power worthy of our trust and competence.  That's why I support Noynoy."

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TG Guingona III

Number 19 in the ballot, TG Guingona, despite being the son of the prominent Teofisto Guingona, Jr., the 13th Vice President of the Philippines, has himself been able to make an impact in public service.  He has had a great focus on economic development, and is pushing for the passage of HB No. 5255 establishing the Mindanao Economic Development Authority (MEDA). Aside from his great focus on Mindanao, his legislative focus continues to also center on a variety of issues such as budget reform, education, health services, food and energy security too. He has been a champion for good governance, and has been at the forefront as well in terms of Disaster Risk Reduction Management.

"The question is 'Why are you with Noynoy?' It's a shared experience. It's personal for me. We grew up together.

Looking around the room, I see that most of you were not around when Martial Law was declared in 1972. Those times were terrible. People were being picked up, tortured and at that time. We had no recourse. Noynoy and I grew up together. His dad and my dad were picked up by the Martial Law authorities. In high school, I do remember distinctly when Fridays came, our classmates would go to parties. Noynoy and I would prepare to go somewhere else to visit our fathers. He would go to Fort Bonifacio to visit Ninoy Aquino while I would go to Camp Crame to visit my dad.

Sometime in 1978, we did challenge the dictatorship. They called an election, Batasang Pambansa election. That's where Ninoy Aquino formed the Lakas ng Bayan (LABAN) to go against the dictatorship.  In fact, that's why we have the L sign. Hey guys, that's not Liberal ah. It's Lakas ng Bayan -- LABAN. It goes all the way back to 1978 against the original fight against oppression. We see that now in the past 10 years that Gloria has been in power. She already tried to declare Martial Law in 2005. They did ask permission from the United states but the United States government told them, “Don't do that, otherwise we won't support you." They did not continue with Martial Law, but we see it going there, we see oppression.

I grew up with Noynoy and I've seen him.  We've been together in the fight against the oppression of martial law.  It was a shared experience and it continued now as congressmen.  In the impeachment, during the 2004, 2005, 2006 impeachment and in the battle against charter change.

So really, why will we vote for Noynoy? Kasi ng tinatanong nila, anong nagawa mo? Ang tanong talaga, anong ipinaglaban mo? Nung panahon na kailangan tumayo, sino yung tumayo? Nung kailangan magsalita, sino nagsalita? (People are asking, what did you do? The real question is, what are you fighting for? When time came when someone was needed to stand for something, who did? When someone had to speak up, who did?) Who paid the price?

Noynoy Aquino was there. He was there in 1978 with his father. He was there during the congress of 2004 all the way to 2007. There was no blind ambition on the part of Noynoy to become president. As you've said, he did not want to become president originally so there is no hidden agenda, no blind ambition to become the most powerful of this land. I think this person is a person who has his heart in the right place. Ako mismo, si TG Guingona. I can vouch for him. I grew up with the person. We fought against the oppression of Martial Law and we fought against the oppression of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Siya nanindigan, siya ay lumaban. Kaya ako para kay Noynoy Aquino, all the way."

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Neric Acosta

Number one in the ballot, Neric Acosta joined the LP lineup with an impressive resume. His motto is "Kung kaya natin ISIPIN, Kaya natin GAWIN." He is known as "Teacher Neric" because of his focus on education.  In fact he is currently an Associate Professor at the Asian Institute of Management and at the Ateneo de Manila. Aside from education, Acosta has been able to focus on a wide range of issues and advocacies such as environmental protection, microfinance, science and technology, foreign relations, and human rights.  He was a principle author of The Clean Air Act.

"I'm from Bukidnon, Mindanao.  Long time Liberal, ever since I began political life in 1995.  I am tasked immediately as secretary general of the LP, presently the Vice President of Mindanao for the LP, concurrent secretary general of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (a regional Asianwide coalition of Liberal parties that includes National League for Democracy, Thai Democrat Party, etc.). That's why I'm born Liberal.  Originally Liberal, my mother was from Liberal. Jovito Salonga is our hero. Without going into all of that, I truly believe in it.  I represent the party abroad and a leading voice of the Liberals of Mindanao.

Why Noynoy Aquino? I will speak not only because we're friends and we served together in Congress for three consecutive terms.  I would like to begin by saying Noynoy is self-effacing. What you see really is someone who's painfully shy, who does not want to banner his accomplishments or his sense of duty and responsibility to the country especially even to his family & to his sisters. Growing up as he did without a father and the kind of sacrifices and struggle in the family.

He would always say one thing and one thing that I think is in many ways a moral guide for me. When we were deep in the impeachment and those dark days of the political crisis, Garci, the scandal, etc, Noynoy and I were key endorsers of impeachment against GMA. I was getting lots of pressure from the district, from my constituents,  "Wag na lang, mahirap na yan, kalaban mo Presidente, matatanggal kayo sa trabaho, sa mga chairmanships niyo, tanggal mga benefits niyo ("Never mind, that's difficult, you're going to go against the President, you'll get fired, no more chairmanships or benefits), etc., etc."

I would come to Noynoy, and say I'm young here and this is really the crossroads I never thought I get into as a Congressman.  He only said one thing and that is the guide I'm talking about.  He said, "alam mo Neric, isa lang naman habilin ng tatay at nanay ko eh".  I hope you really understand, I am in the position to say this having had a father imprisoned for eight years, assassinated, coup d'etats, struggling democracy, etc. Noynoy said, "Gawin lang ang tama at maging tapat sa tao. Bahala na ang Diyos sa atin. Kung lulundag tayo sa ganitong mga decision ng pagpasya, gagawin at gagawin natin. (Do what's right and do what's right for the people. God will provide. If we're going to make these decisions, we'll do what we have to.)"  And to me, you don't think of yourself.  You don't think right away, what will I lose?  How will my district suffer?  I will lose this position, the benefits.  It was Noynoy who provided me a clarity of that guide.

It is always like that in politics and we don't want to be melodramatic about this.  Truly it is about taking the difficult right over the easy wrong.  It is easy to balimbing (jump fences), it is easy to just say luluhod na lang tayo sa music room ng Malacanang para hindi na tumakbo si Garci (we'll kneel in the Malacanang music room just to prevent Garci from running in the elections) because he ran in my district as congressman, para hindi na lang tayo guluhin at para magbulag-bulagan at magbingi-bingihan sa katiwalian (so we won't be bothered, and be blind and deaf to corruption).  But that's the easy wrong but it's wrong!  It was always Noynoy who would tell me there is such a thing, as my parents have lived and our family has lived all of this.  That is what it's all about -- to take the path of the difficult right.  That is the kind of leader we need in this country.

You may talk competence all you want but competence flows from integrity. You must restore first and foremost, balance, in this order of things in this country.  With this brokenness that we have all over the land, you must have a leader who will restore that.  Simply because nandun manunumbalik ang pagtitiwala ng tao sa mga leader at sa mga institution (people will again have faith in leaders and institutions).  I hope you will consider that.  It is more than competence.  You can hire the best economic team, environment team, education, etc teams but you can only have a leader who truly will have following because he can be trusted, he has integrity and honesty in his heart.  That's why I'm for Noynoy."

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Martin Bautista

Number five in the ballot, Martin Bautista is also known as "Dr. Balikbayan." He is a graduate of the University of the Philippines-PGH, has come back to the Philippines in order to push for health care reforms.  He has practiced his chosen field of medicine at Guymon, Oklahama, in the United States. He came back in 2006 to give back to the Philippines.  Being an "Iskolar ng Bayan", he continues to remember where he came from.

"This is the culmination of a dream come true for me. [I am a] 47-year-old, wealthy, good looking doctor with five children (all daughters), the youngest of which I only saw once a day, and then I left her [in America] because I had to come here. Because this happens only once in your lifetime. This is my generation's call to do something good for our country.  This is the reason why compared to the other presidential candidates running out there, there is no question in my mind that given the same life circumstances that you were given like me.

I was born in 1962. In 1978, Ninoy Aquino, the father of Noynoy, ran under Laban.  He was up against Imelda Marcos.  The situation that time was hopeless and yet he said you know I'm going to run if only to get interviewed by this man named Ronnie Nathaniels from Sri Lanka to show to the world that Filipinos were ready to fight even against impossible odds.  But that's what I love in life, impossible odds!  No chance of winning whatsoever but you never enter into anything with a certainty of winning.  You only enter it not really only when you are sure of winning. In this case, I cannot imagine myself in any other place right now than being with these honorable men and women.  Remember, it's Sonia Roco, General Lim, Neric Acosta, myself, Alex Lacson, TG Guingona, Yasmin Lao, Serge Osmena, Ruffy Blazon, Risa Hontiveros, Ralph Recto, Frank Drilon.  Of course, Mar Roxas and Noynoy Aquino.  Honorable people.

I don't think I can convince you. It's like St. Bernadette asking you know, how can I convince you to believe in Our Lady?  To those who have faith, no explanations needed.  To those who don't, no explanation is possible.  The point is, I want you to understand like Edmond Rustan said, there's only one time, when one is face to face with beauty. This time, one is face to face with saving a nation. This is not a campaign.  This is a mission to save a nation and according to Edmond Rustan and God help those who let this moment pass. You think I'd be happy in America where there's snow, where there's prosperity and with my children?  The stakes are too high for us to stay in our homes and become passive once again.  The fate of our nation is at hand.

Why am I not going to vote for Villar?  in 1992, Villar became congressman of Las Pinas with net worth of P75.43 million. In 2009 October, Villar's wealth is estimated by Forbes magazine at P40 billion.  Remember 1976, President Carter became president of the United States. After 4 years, he came out poorer.  Don't tell me, Villar after becoming Congressman, Speaker, Senator and Senate President multiplies his wealth to P40 billion.  I mean, you do know it takes 1,000 millions to make a billion. This guy has P40 billion! That is the exact anti-thesis of my candidacy again. Tayo ay pumapasok sa pulitika para hindi maging hanapbuhay (We don't go into politics for the money).  You can tell me whatever explanation you want but in America, this guy would have been torpedoed day 1 on the primaries.

Because kumita siya, there is no question in my mind.  Yumaman ka, there is no question about that.  Res ipsa loquitur (the thing speaks for itself). Ako'y kinakabahan tuloy. Ano kaya kung naging president ka, magkano kikitain mo?  Hindi ko alam kung nanakawin mo yun o gagamitin mo ang iyong kapangyarihan upang yumaman.  Kaya ako naawa sa bayan natin. Dahil Diyos ko kung hindi natin kukunin si Noynoy Aquino na napakamarangal na tao at mabait, ayaw tumakbo bilang presidente.  Yan yung maganda kay Noynoy. (I'm worried.  What if he becomes president, how much will he earn? I don't know if he'll steal the money or if he'll use his power for personal gain. That's why I pity our nation. Because, my God, if we don't get Noynoy Aquino, an honorable and kind person, who didn't want to run for President. That's what's good about him.)

This is the last thing I need in my life, loss of income, loss of family time, lost of everything.  Bakit ko to ginagawa? (Why am I doing this?)  Because I consider it a once in a lifetime privilege to run with people like Biazon, Guingona and Acosta.  Karangalan ito sa akin at dapat mapuna niyo rin na isang karangalan ang maging kasama sa isang movement na makikita po natin ito na ng ating nagiisang pagkakataon.  Ito na ang ating nagiisang pagkakataon upang mabalik, upang mabawi ang karapat dapat na nasa sa atin. (This is an honor for me and you should know that it's also an honor to be part of a movement where we can find our only hope for the future. This is our one chance to get what's rightfully ours.)"

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Am I convinced with what they passionately answered?  I won't tell you now but you'll be able to find out soon who my chosen presidential candidate is in Blogwatch and in my personal site, HeaRty's Haven.

You can see with their answers how they look up to Noynoy Aquino and how loyal they are and how they believe in Liberal Party.  Shall we vote straight Liberal Party then this coming May 2010 elections?  I'll leave it up to you to decide.

 

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Photos by author. Some Rights Reserved.