‘Vice President Leni Robredo has turned out to be the
vivid antidote to the chaotic
mishandling and incompetence
of the government’s
COVID response.’
NEW Year resolutions this year are likely bundled up by the coming national elections, with most everyone reeling from the consequences of the pandemic and intently looking forward to better governance through a deep economic, financial, and social uplift.
Sen. Manny Pacquiao would have stood a better chance in his presidential run if times were normal, with the people remaining enthralled with his international legendary image and his record-breaking boxing career. He genuinely identifies with the poor and marginalized with his abundant generosity, a real plus for a non-traditional politician like him.
Sen. Ping Lacson happens to be the more accomplished presidential candidate, his long years of fruitful legislative work and strong political independence rarely seen in the Senate. He would seem to be the most qualified, except that his disappointing authorship of the dreaded Anti-Terror Law may have reawakened many people’s distrust in him.
Objectively, the country is looking for to a truly selfless and earnest performer in the people’s battle against COVID and neither Lacson nor Pacquiao fits the bill.
Vice President Leni Robredo has turned out to be the vivid antidote to the chaotic mishandling and incompetence of the government’s COVID response. During a national crisis that brought doom and despair, it won’t be easy to downplay the real meaningful contributions of public officials who mattered and made a huge difference.
Trolls had to be employed from around the world to carry out a demeaning and incessant demolition against Robredo and her family. One OFW in Dubai has confessed on FB that he was being paid P75,000 a month to fabricate fake negative news and personal insults against Robredo but felt disgraced, could not take it anymore, and resigned.
The vilification campaign online has produced an equally intense counter offensive by the Opposition party along with the alumni and students of numerous prestigious colleges and universities that seemed to effectively disrobe presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos and his vice-presidential bet Sarah Duterte-Carpio.
Unlike Robredo, Isko Moreno is hamstrung by his limited leadership reach, despite his sincere efforts to help more people outside Manila.
***
Twice, I met with F. Sionil Jose at his La Soladaridad office on Padre Faura and I recall those moments when he egged me to keep on writing. Although I didn’t think I deserved his kind gesture, I was, of course, deeply flattered and gratified. That was the time when I started writing for this paper.
I had started as a columnist in the now-defunct broadsheet ISYU published and managed by the veteran and highly esteemed journalist Jarius Bondoc. Korina Sanchez, Arnold Clavio and Ted Failon were fellow columnists. Only F. Sionil had accorded me such encouragement which I rarely received from my peers.
He was delighted after I prayed for him the last time we saw each other. It was a thanksgiving prayer for his multi-awarded and essential work and, also that God take him on a spiritual journey even in his latter years to know and embrace the eternal truth in Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
