Since the announcement of his decision to stand as candidate for president in the 2010 polls, Noynoy Aquino seems to be acquiring a public image that characterizes the optimism of a youthful politician earnest in his quest for his just cause.

This was particularly noticeable in the photos that appeared in the front pages when he announced his candidacy with his fingers making the Laban sign and a facial expression that showed firmness and new dynamism.

That was a departure from his usual blank smiles in the past that projected disinterest and total lack of real concern for anything. Now, they are fast disappearing, and many hope Noynoy is not just acting.

With diligence and consistency, he may yet succeed in convincing the public of his seriousness and capability as a top national leader equipped with the needed flair and genius to lead the country.

The news that his popularity soared to new heights as evidenced by the recent Social Weather Station survey that placed him on top of those seeking the presidency may be a sign of his growing public acceptability.

At least in the National Capital Region, in Central Luzon, and in certain areas in Southern Tagalog, Noynoy Aquino scored a big margin over the other presidentiables, including Senator Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party who consistently topped previous political surveys.

Even former President Joseph Estrada trailed him.

The same survey also showed the Noynoy Aquino-Mar Roxas tandem as the most favored pairing compared to the others such as Estrada-Loren Legarda, Villar-Francis Pangilinan, Francis Escudero-Jejomar Binay, and Noli de Castro-Ronaldo Puno team-ups.

Teodoro-Puno team

But what about the newly launched Gilbert Teodoro-Ronaldo Puno tandem of the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD?

The certainty of Teodoro’s nomination was made possible by his recent membership in the merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD followed by the endorsement by 49 provincial governors and additional 11 more members of the League of Provinces who pledged their support to the defense secretary.

Before last Wednesday’s selection of Teodoro by the Lakas-Kampi-CMD national executive committee, he had breakfast with some 100 administration congressmen and representatives of party-list organizations making certain their support to his candidacy.

It was observed that partisan support for Gibo Teodoro became inevitable when he announced early on his intention to run for president on two conditions: That he would run only under the administration party and only with the endorsement of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The implication was that in no way would he throw his hat into the political ring, so to speak, without such conditions being satisfied.

Teodoro also declared he would remain loyal to the party even if his nomination was rejected by the national executive committee.

It was no doubt an expression of candor and loyalty at a time when the President and her administration are being savaged and lashed out at mercilessly by her enemies.

Still and all, politicians should stand for what they believe in, and not cater to what they think appeals to certain mass of people at some particular occasion of time. But above all, they must be responsive to the popular will in consultation with their own conscience.

(zhern_218@yahoo.com)