“And nothing to look backward to with pride, and nothing to look forward to with hope.” — Robert Frost

Without constitutional revision, the Philippines will remain a weak Republic, uncompetitive internationally, corrupt like in many countries, with inefficient bureaucracy and police authorities, a Senate of ambitious men, and a stagnating per capita income due to persistently high population growth rate. But, there is always hope.

With these premises considered, the next president, elected under the same presidential system and under the same electoral process, albeit supposedly automated, will be hobbled by the same bureaucratic bottlenecks, compromises, legislative maze, red tape, and vested interest pressure groups between 2010 and 2016.

The country seeks a focused leadership, personal honesty, professional integrity pragmatism, common sense, charisma, and education.

It can be done, and it has been done before. Former President Fidel V. Ramos (1992-1998) had proven and demonstrated that one can successfully work within the system with reasonable success and relative peace. Unfortunately, he ran out of time.

Hence, what do we expect from the next president under the same circumstances and politics?

First, expectations are always high even if reality cannot be far behind.

Thus, while there are many “crazies” and scandals in the United States, the long arm of the law almost always catches up with the felons. This is the saving grace of American democracy.

In South Korea, its brutal justice system has indicted and incarcerated former presidents and business tycoons for their corruption or abuse of power, including public apologies and restitution of ill-gotten wealth.

Recently, in Taiwan, the immediate past president of Taiwan has been sentenced to life imprisonment for corruption in contrast to the velvet glove treatment of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, or the Marcoses who continue to enjoy the lifestyle of the rich and the famous.

Can the next president do a Korea or a Taiwan?

Second, the population mitigation issue, pursuant to U.N. population policies and prescriptions, calls for a president who can call a spade, a spade, and place the Catholic Church hierarchy in its place.

Can the next president set aside the fear of political retribution, and pursue humane population reduction policies, including legalizing divorce as in most Roman Catholic nations?

Third, can the next president rise above himself to pursue, notwithstanding the fact that he will have six years of unfettered freedom to enjoy his reign, a comprehensive revision and amendments to the 1987 Constitution?

In view of the existing oligarchic business and political structure of Philippine society, this is easier said than done without the political will to do it.

Last, as an acid test, will the next Chief Executive exhibit the firm leadership to cajole policemen on duty at traffic intersections to stay in their posts when it starts to drizzle, to unravel the traffic gridlocks and pandemonium that ensue with every downpour.

In brief, the challenges of the next president, under the same discredited system, will range from the most critical, such as, the economy, insurgency and terrorism, to the serious, such as, corruption and social injustice, to the petty and mundane, such as, street level extortions, illegal gambling, and others.

When all is said and done, the supreme test for the next president is to transform this nation from a gun-toting society into a gunless country like all East Asian nations.

These challenges are achievable, but they have defied previous administrations.

Do the presidential contenders, in your opinion, have the courage, the gumption, the experience, and the leadership to make a difference?

You be the judge. (For comments and views, please e-mail: chaff_fromthegrain@yahoo.com.ph)