Country above self.

Heeding the signs of the times, Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas announced Tuesday that he is sacrificing his presidential ambition to give way to his Liberal Party colleague, Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, whom he endorsed to become the party’s standard bearer in the May 2010 elections.

Roxas, who has long been anointed by a faction of the divided party to become its presidential candidate next year, made a formal announcement at the historic Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan early Tuesday night with Noynoy in attendance.

Roxas said he made the decision in support of change, and called on Aquino to carry on the legacy left by his parents.

Roxas accepted the inevitable and growing clamor for Aquino, only son of martyred former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and the late President Corazon Aquino, to seek the highest position in the land.

Roxas' announcement implied that he is willing to become Noynoy’s running mate, which will open up the possibility of unification between the two Liberal Party factions – one led by Roxas as president, and the faction of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jose Atienza Jr.

Atienza last week called for Roxas and the Liberal Party to call a convention to select its standard bearer, saying Noynoy could be a strong candidate who can unify the Filipino people as Noynoy’s parents have done.

Roxas’ decision also came a day after another party mate, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, called on Roxas to sacrifice and give way to Noynoy for the good of the nation.

Pangilinan’s call came after Aksyon Demokratiko, the party founded by the late Senator Raul Roco, announced it was drafting Aquino as its standard bearer in the 2010 elections as support for the latter’s presidential run continues to snowball.

Pangilinan said Aquino should set aside his own reservations and seek the presidency to unite all pro-reform forces in the country.

Pangilinan said he himself was prepared to give up his bid to become vice president if only to support the growing clamor for Aquino to run for president.

 “I, too, am more than willing to sacrifice by giving up my VP bid if this is necessary to unite and rally all forces committed to genuine change behind Aquino’s presidential bid,” he said.

 “I know Mar and his family had given up so much as well in preparations for 2010, and this, too, will be a huge sacrifice on their part,” he said.

“But nothing is more important than sacrificing for our country and for the change we desperately need as a nation.”

He said the Liberal Party should take on the challenge of providing the country a viable standard-bearer that would lead the coalition for change and other forces of reform.

“Magkaisa tayo at magsakripisyo upang mabigyan ng alternatibo ang mamamayan sa 2010. Hindi ito laban ng LP lang. Laban ito ng puwersa ng pagbabago. Hikayatin ng Partido Liberal ang lahat sa reform bloc na itaguyod ang kandidatura ni Noynoy, at ipagpatuloy ang laban at mga nasimulan nina Ninoy at Cory,” he said.

Pangilinan said the party should act immediately as the deadline for the filing of the certificates of candidacy with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is near.

“We do not have the luxury of time. The deadline for filing is fast approaching. We cannot waste a minute longer in political intramurals. We need to build a ‘people’s army’ that will wage an electoral revolt against ‘trapo’ politics,” he said.

“The reformist forces must unite at the earliest possible time. Only when the nation’s leaders show a willingness to sacrifice will the people in their millions be inspired to do their share for the cause of genuine change,” he also said.

Calls for Noynoy to run for president mounted following Mrs. Aquino’s death last August 1 after a battle with colon cancer. The call was initiated by another former Senate President, Jovito Salonga, chairman emeritus of the Liberal Party.
 
Roxas had earlier said he is willing to “heed the voice” of the public when making any political decision.
 
Aquino also said earlier that he was waiting for signs for a genuine clamor from the people for him to consider running for higher office. A campaign aimed at gathering a million signatures asking the senator to run as also been launched, and Aksyon Demokratiko said it would support the signature drive.