These two fundamental and historical omissions – true revolution and welfare socialism – have left the Philippines, so to speak, without a "soul," or solid foundation, or a point of reference from where great passions originate, and giant leaders emerge.

Therefore, in the absence of firm moorings, the Philippines has been condemned to a life of boom and bust cycles; the modern-day "diaspora" of Filipino overseas workers, and the "Curse of Sisyphus," that endless toil of pushing a rock up a hill, in Greek mythology, only for the rock to slide down again, and again endlessly as punishment of misdeeds; brought about by the curse of corruption and absence of honest and visionary leaders.

Hence, the continuing odyssey in search of a great leader, and the need for an ideological infrastructure, are not incompatible with democracy with India as a good example where (1) Socialism is a way of life and enshrined in fundamental statutes; but (2) India has also the world’s largest working, and deeplyrooted, democracy despite the bloodshed of Partition and lingering border disputes; and (3) private capitalist enterprise thrives in India pari-passu with pronounced social consciousness and responsibility towards the underprivileged classes as India approaches one billion in population.

For these reasons, unlike in India, Britain, France and elsewhere, Filipino politicians are politically amoral and change allegiances as frequently as they change their socks since political parties, bereft of any ideology, are indistinguishable from one another other than their labels and platforms which are but motherhood statements and objectives.

It goes without saying that a righteous leader and a touch of "socialism", as an ideology, the greatest happiness for the greatest number, are the prerequisites of greatness and social equality both of which have so far eluded the Philippines as the country remains mired in petty politics, corruption, political patronage, votebuying, restitution of political debts, elitist supremacy, unbridled population growth, feudal agriculture, backward manufacturing, and shameless turncoatism which is what reforms are all about.

In brief, this coming national elections will be back to a traditional and conventional selection process from a short list of Presidential candidates under a traditional political system that is increasingly discredited and counterproductive which system is expected to remain unchanged in the immediate future.

Thus, the fundamental questions for the candidates are the following: Will the Filipino people suffer more of the same as the victor settles down for the next six years under the same system with paying political debts as priority?

Will the next President pursue Constitutional changes and effect far-reaching reforms within her or his sixyear term or perish?

When all is said and done, anti-corruption platforms, poverty alleviation, food selfsufficiency, industrialization, and full employment and other wish lists are mere targets and objectives that do not constitute an ideology, or basic philosophical structure, that every nation must possess upon which a great leader builds his foundation towards a strong republic.

Hence, will President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, or Fernando Poe, Jr., or Bro. Eddie Villanueva, or Sen. Panfilo Lacson, or Raul Roco, be the visionary and strong leader that the Filipino people have always prayed for?

You be the judge.

Vote wisely with your conscience.

(E-mail: hrrv@edsamail.com.ph)