“Boldness, and again boldness, and always boldness.” — Georges Jacques Danton

There are two undefined vested groups in the Philippines who prevent the country from achieving freedom from want, liberation from poverty, economic independence, and prosperity.

The first group, the political oligarchy, sees to it that every president is kept on a short leash with a fixed term without reelection.

These elitists resist every attempt at tampering with the Constitution that will lift the term limits and allow multiple reelections, and any revision of chauvinist economic provisions of the Charter.

In this age of globalization, the secret of success is continuity of leadership, administration and progressive policies without which failure is certain/or as Shakespeare had written in Julius Caesar, “There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries.”

The second vested group, the economic elite sees to it that the Philippines does not industrialize or modernize in the way that Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hongkong, Singapore, Thailand, and now China in their early emerging days had struggled to get out of their bondage.

This business elite group sees to it that the Philippines remains the purveyor of cheap OFW labor, oil dependent, import dependent, without engineering-based industries, and without an export manufacturing capability.

The same minority controls every nook and cranny of the economy.

Thus, while the Philippines has been spared from the global recession, the poor in this country consider “recession” as a permanent way of life for them.

Hence, the next president cannot afford to be a laid-back “cosmetic” president toiling under the same political system.

It goes without saying that 2010, a critical crossroad of history, and the beginning of a new millennium expect that the new president will be an iconoclast, the slayer of icons and vested interests.

When presidential aspirants talk of wanting to make a difference, iconoclasm is the difference if they dare.

What are these challenges?

There are too many to list down. Suffice it to say that the more contentious and ponderous issues that the next president must address without fear or reservations are: The Church and population reduction policy and divorce; (2) revision of the Constitution introducing a parliamentary form of government, and abolition of the Senate; (3) the political “de-toxification” of the AFP and PNP; (4) reversal of the image of the Philippines as one of the most corrupt nations; (5) overhaul of colonial policies, e.g. why plant rice in typhoon-prone regions of Luzon, but grow typhoon resistant coconuts in typhoon-free areas of the South?; (6) why persist on school opening in June at the beginning of the typhoon season?; and (7) why do we need party-lists in Congress?

When all is said and done, the next president, if he wants to be different, should focus on population reduction policy, Constitutional reforms, a gunless society, discipline down to street level, and an independent foreign policy.

All the above are easier said and done.

On the other hand, why would they want to become president unless they believe that they can make a difference?

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