Jejomar Binay ‘should’ not be a presidential candidate in the Philippines. But of course. This, however, is the Philippines. And, yes, Binay is a presidential candidate. Not just a presidential candidate, but the leading candidate.
Bizarre as that may seem, that is the reality in the Philippines. The country is a democracy, and vocally “proud” of it. How could Filipinos not be proud of their so-called “democracy”? The concept of how their “will” is the final word has been shoved down their throats for decades by their politicians, by their broadcast media, and by their priests and pastors.
Target sighted!
Top presidential candidate Jejomar Binay
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See, the “baffling” popularity of Jejomar Binay wouldn’t be much of a mystery if certain pundits apply their memories properly to this matter. Back in 1998, another such man became president of the Philippines. His name is Joseph “Erap” Estrada. He was the unpopular candidate in discussions backdropped by the din of clinking china in the salas of the homes of members of “civil society”. Erap was, they sneered, just an actor and a womanising drunk. So he was not fit to be president. So though he won the election, he was eventually overthrown by what, at the time, were the first generation of mobile-tech-enabled “activists”.
Guess what. It is the same argument all over again today. Binay is “not fit to be president”. No, he must not be president. But like Erap, Binay is a seasoned politician. And like Erap, he was mayor of one of the most affluent municipalities of Metro Manila. And like Erap, he is one of them (at least in the eyes of the average Filipino voter).
Lest we forget, the Philippines is NOT the Makati Business Club, or the clique of bloggers and “tweetizens” who salivate over the next bunch of trophies up for grabs in the next “Blog Awards”, or the men and women of leisure who could spend the day taking selfies in Luneta rallies, or the panel of “experts” who pontificate about “citizen journalism” in social media conventions.
No. The Philippines are constituted by people who queue for dole-outs at politicians’ homes and offices, camp out for days for a chance to dance and sing in Wowowee, and cheer and trend their favourite love teams’ hashtags on Twitter. Their idols are not Jose Rizal, Nelson Mandela, or Rosa Parks. Their idols are #Jamich, #KathNiel, and Papa Piolo. They do not care if a man is convicted of plunder or rebellion. Erap was convicted of plunder. But he came in a close hairy second in the 2010 presidential elections. Mutineer-turned-‘senator’ Antonio Trillanes IV was convicted of treason after endangering thousands of Filipino lives over an entire decade of military adventurism. But he won an election and became a ‘senator’ — while in prison.
Jejomar Binay once won an election to become mayor of the country’s wealthiest city then another one to become Vice President of the Philippines. Today he continues to be an absolute winnable. Because of his domination of that one single criteria that shapes elections in the Philippines, he has a lot of enemies who accuse him of many crimes. But so far they have not been clever enough to bring these allegations to a proper court. Who’s fault is that? That’s a no brainer. Binay will become president because he can, and not because of any higher or nobler purpose, and certainly not because of any sort of intelligence applied to that eventuality.
This is not America sang the Pat Metheny Group with David Bowie back in the 1980s in the film The Falcon and the Snowman, a film about two ordinary men who betrayed their country for a bit of money. This, on the other hand, is the Philippines. It is where extraordinary men betray their country for a bit of money.
Only the weight of a top celebrity can tip the scales and stop a Binay presidency in 2016. Who will that celebrity be?
Abangan ang susunod na kabanata.
[Photo courtesy Philippine Star.]
benign0 is the Webmaster of GetRealPhilippines.com.
Looking for viable and visible 2016 Philippine presidential candidates at this time is like chanting the SIX BLIND MEN OF HINDUSTAN.
Almost all of our past presidents before 1986, were lawyers by profession. after 1986 we have had a former military general, a popular actor, economist and a son of a revered president.
The problems faced by the country remained the same since 1946 but grew in magnitude. These were the same problems faced and transcended by Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.
Mahathir and Lee Kwan Yew were elected and ruled their respective countries with so much passion, compassion and far reaching vision for their countries.
They were astute politicians and governed at a time when their countries were a critical stages of growth. Their governance also faced opposition but national interests won the day.
Do we have seasoned and aspiring local political leaders in the mould of of Mahathir and Lee Kwan Yew?
Yes there are but not from the ruling coalition in the Senate and House of Representatives. We have Red Cross chairman Gordon, the independent and feisty Sen. Santiago, Mayor Duterte and a few stand out party list Congressmen. We should also include the brave men who filed and won the Supreme Court case on DAP and PDAF.
We should encourage these people.
Have spent some time in the Philippines, i love the country and the people. However, I am having trouble understanding the real reason why this man is not fit to be president. During my time in the Philippines, I have learnt that most if not all politicians are corrupt, heck even the police. The current government does not fair that well either. I suppose what is missing in your aurgements is facts. I understand that he is darker than most Filipinos, is it possible that your dislike of him is more based on intolerance rather than facts? I was shocked to find out how intolerant some of the Filipinos really are, mainly towards darker complication. I do not want to generalize lest I am guilty of the same myself. I could not help to notice how many people bleach their skin in order to look white. Just wondering in a society that is trying to look white how a dark skinned president would be received?
Indeed you are right. All of them politicians are the same. Just as crooked as the next one. As I said, Binay just happens to be the most winnable of the lot at the moment, which is why everyone and her dog is going after his throat. Stay a bit longer in these islands and you will find that this is just a cycle that will repeat itself. Next time it will be another who will be the object of this sort of demonisation. If you have a friend who speaks Tagalog, ask her to translate the term “pana-panahon lang yan”. It is a term that encapsulates the answer to your questions.
The closest translation in English is the old saying ‘Every dog has his day.’
Manny Pacquiao can stop Binay…giving Binay a one-two-three punch. “Plastado na si Binay”. Besides, Pacquiao is an international celebrity.
Or Mama Dionisia Pacquiao; the best “sugar mommy” , in the world. She will go around Binay, with her Rosary and “mumbo-jumbo” prayers. “Talo na si Binay”…
We will then all live “happily” ever after..
It would only take a politician with connection to Smartmatic or a politician with IT expert to beat Binay for presidency. Remember GMA vs FPJ? It happened before, it could happen again…
Aquino’s HOCUS PCOS, elected him as President. He hired YellowTards Hackers, to hack the Smartmatic machine…
Si Erap!