‘But to get there, we should be ready to admit that we can’t have more of the same…’
ONE of the songs of my youth was a love song of this title, sung by I don’t remember who and don’t have the energy to Google about. I just remember the tune because all of a sudden, I could hear it playing in my head but maybe it’s related to two short but separate exchanges I had with friends lately which had something to do with combinations.
Before I continue, let me just say that once in a while, when I am typing away, I get this feeling that “this piece will get me into trouble.” And this is one of them. Hehe. Heck. You only live once yes?
Anyway, some time back an old but dear frond from high school messaged me out of the blue because he was sorting through old files and came across a few notes I had sent him during the many UP student council elections we were involved in. During the exchange he asked me: have I committed to anyone for 2022? My answer was this: what are the plans of Candidate X (who I knew he was close to)? He said they were organizing for X but were also thinking that Y might be the one to run. And then I said that I was okay with X but may need to think about Y.
I said I was also still considering the idea of voting for someone who I believed in, chances of winning aside.
But we may need to support Y, he said, just to defeat Z. I understood that, I said, but felt that it was early days anyway and maybe as the months progress things will get a bit clearer.
Which is why the song Perfect Combination began to take special meaning to me, politics wise. And I started playing around with scenarios in my head with that song running in the background.
And that’s when I stumbled upon a combination that, to me and to me alone (at least as of this writing), make sense as a “perfect combination.”
My criteria was simple. I was looking for two people I knew, whose principles and track record were clear to me, whose aspirations I was aware of, and with whom I could have honest-to-goodness (no BS) conversations that many leaders often despise because they only want to be flattered more than to be told the naked truth. And that’s how I came up with two names, two individuals who have never met each other, but whom I know personally. Two individuals who in my book are men of action, men of character and men of principles – the very reasons why I like them, but maybe also why they may never ever win. Haha. By the way none of the two have any idea that this piece was coming.
I wrote this piece despite being conscious of the fact that time and again the general populace has shown that it doesn’t seem to care much about what I care about in leaders.
Which makes me a very bad political wind vane, and a highly opinionated one, I must admit. So this combination is mine alone; let me reveal it and explain why.
In my mind I was thinking of the left field combination of a Dick Gordon for president (no surprise there yes, given my long association with him?) with a Dennis Zamora as vice president.
Now before you ask “Dennis who?,” read on.
My wild pairing starts with Dick at the top because given the names that have been bandied about maybe only one (if at all) has a track record that can rival Gordon’s when it comes to executive leadership. Long before Duterte as mayor was considered a presidentiable, Dick had established a track record in Olongapo that made it “the” model of firm but fair leadership, not without critics of course (remember Fr Shay?). That track record he carried into SBMA, which he parlayed into our version of Shenzhen quite successfully – that is, until Erap took him out. Now SBMA is a shell of its former self.
Throughout his career, Gordon has firmly shown his dedication to the public interest – whether it is when he orchestrated the evacuation of IPs in Zambales at the height of the Pinatubo eruption, or rushed to Cabanatuan with US Navy engineers to help extricate victims of the earthquake, or now as head of the Red Cross where he has time and again been exposed to the virus that has taken so many lives and sidelined millions of others.
Admittedly, one will always find something in Gordon’s politics to pick on (the common ones being too pro US, flirted with Duterte, sobrang malakas ang dating) but given that everyone has a chink in his or her armor, all things being equal, I’d put Gordon ahead of the pack.
For vice president, my choice is even more controversial. Dennis (real name is Martin Antonio) has no previous record of engaging in politics and has not shown an interest in it the way his father has. His background is business school and business. His expertise is in getting an organization to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible. His immediate family shuns the limelight and I am sure one of those who will skin me alive for this piece is his wife. At 48, he is from that age range in which to seek out the next generation of leaders, and seek out now. And the fact that he is young, has no political baggage, hates BS and will bring a whole new perspective to the OVP is why I’d choose him to be the other half of my “perfect combination.”
I can see Dick and Dennis interacting and I think each will bring out the best in the other.
But again let me be clear. In the few moments when my mind is not consumed by loving thoughts of Secretary Duque (my favorite Cabinet minister), they go to imagining an ideal Philippines which I believe is still attainable. But to get there, we should be ready to admit that we can’t have more of the same; we must begin a transition to a new consciousness of public service and of citizenship, of civility and decency and of course of effectivity and efficiency in public service that we will never achieve if we don’t embrace change.
Dick and Dennis I’ve known for years now, and as I said previously, I like the idea of them working together; I see them working well as a team because they have values, they have vision, they have passion, and they very clearly have the decency we need to bring back to public service. Are these what the public is looking for in elected officials? Maybe not. But I thought I would take a stab at it and lay it all out here today because I am frankly dead tired of seeing how our country is splintering at the seams and believe in my heart that the way out of our death spiral is to take a path radically different from what we have trodden for years and years now.
And honestly? My perfect combination excites me the way none of those being proffered does! It excites me and gives me new hope!
