Filipinos need unity. And when we are united we do great things. We were united against the Japanese invaders. We were united against the Marcos dictatorship, and united against the Erap scandals. We may be united against GMA. But as Mr. Perlas, one of the presidential aspirants, points out that being against somebody or something is not enough. After we took out Mr. Marcos then we scattered in a hundred directions. We need to plan a positive search for the common good. Can we be against poverty, against corruption? Still it is not enough to be against. We must be for something. Ours is a very fortunate country with abundant resources of nature and excellent people. We have one misfortune in that we do not have external enemies, so we fight among ourselves. We must educate our people that each one must work for the common good. And this should extend to helping others. We have to think beyond our shores.

We watched on TV as Noynoy Aquino accepted the challenge to run for the presidency of this country. He has a steep road ahead. And it is his burden to work it out. He asked for guidance and the Lord’s blessing which he will definitely need. What I did not hear him say was the warning to our people that he is not an angel and that he will make mistakes and even willful transgressions. That is the fate of human beings. He has the vestiges of a fallen nature. We have to try our best but be not surprised if we fall. The important thing is to pick ourselves up and move forward. We have been over demanding of our leaders. We have to forgive if we want the Lord to forgive us. We don’t condone wrongdoing or mistakes but we should not be surprised if we fall.

Mr. Abaya said he asked Noynoy what he would do about VFA, Hacienda Luisita, the leftist if not the communists, the corrupt politicians, the militarists, the rouge backers, et.al. These are tough decisions that have to be made and the decisions will not always be right (at least in each one’s estimate). This is what I mean that the next president will not know everything nor even be a Solomon. Neither will he be an angel. Therefore . . . . This does not condone moral sloppiness ahead of time. They said of Cory that she did not have experience. She was able to turn it around to say that she did not have the proper experience in corruption. Some people have lost hope in our situation. So much so that they are willing to forego needed expertise provided the next president is not corrupt and will not tolerate corruption. Alas he will not have this prowess but at least he should try or be seen to be trying. I may sound as though I am endorsing Noynoy Aquino. But I hope I am only endorsing an honest president, perhaps like Truman or someone like Lee Kuan Yu. May I repeat we are fortunate and will be even more fortunate if our next president tilts at corruption and poverty. He must be for honesty and build a middle class. That will be a tough thankless job in a field littered with land mines. <emeterio_barcelon@yahoo.com>