On the eve of the official start of the campaign period for national positions, eight of the 10 presidential candidates again came face-to-face during a forum at the University of the Philippines-Diliman last Monday to expound on their platform of governance and their takes on pressing national issues – and other trivial matters.

Former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada of the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) and Vitaliano Acosta of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan failed to show up in the presidential forum organized by a Metro Manila-based newspaper.

Reports from radio station DZBB quoted Estrada’s spokesperson Margaux Salcedo as saying that the former president did not show up in the forum since he felt that the newspaper has always showed bias against him.

Those who attended the two and a half hour forum were Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the Liberal Party; Sen. Richard Gordon of Bagumbayan; Sen. Ma. Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal, independent; former defense secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro, Jr. of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD; Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar of the Nacionalista Party; Councilor John Carlos “JC” de los Reyes of Kapatiran; evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas; and environmentalist Nicanor Jesus “Nicky” Perlas, independent.

Panelists threw questions ranging from law and politics, social issues and economics and budget. To the delight of the audience, there were also trivial questions that changed the atmosphere of the forum – from serious to laughter-filled moments – from time to time.

The event also became the opportunity for the so-called “survey bottom dwellers” to shine by articulating their platforms with equal media coverage vis-a-vis the survey frontrunners.

Perlas, considered among the “bottom dwellers”, was asked who among the past presidents of the country he considers the best leader and why.

“My choice is (former president Fidel) Ramos,” the environmentalist said.

Claiming that he worked closely with Ramos as the former President’s co-chair of the Philippine Council for Sustainable Development, he praised Ramos’s good habit of soliciting advice from various groups before making a critical decision.

Dean Raul Pangalangan of UP for his part asked Teodoro regarding his change of heart over the proposed Reproductive Health Bill he once supported.

“With such sensitive issue, you have to work with a consensus. You cannot implement a law with such massive opposition,” Teodoro answered.

In changing the forum mood, journalist Fe Zamora asked Teodoro who among the three – President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, businessman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. (his uncle), and Mary Beth Lopez de Leon (mother in law) – he would help first should they face possible imprisonment.

“Of course, it would be the mother-in-law. Without the mother there is no daughter. Without a daughter there is no wife (Rep. Monica Prieto-Teodoro),” he replied in jest.

Teodoro said that agricultural development would be his chief priority to ensure the country’s food security and spur its economic development. He said he would launch a program to modernize agriculture to boost food security. Both are vital links in the national effort to push the country’s economic development, he said.

Asked about the country’s mining industry, Teodoro said any extraction activity of the country’s mineral resources has to have the consent of the affected communities before it could be undertaken. “It makes no sense to make large investments, including security, only to face a hostile indigenous community; we would only face trouble," he said.

Madrigal, after complaining about the supposed exploitation of the poor by some presidential candidates, was given a dose of her own medicine when she was asked how much a kilo of galunggong or a salted egg costs.

She answered: “Sorry I am a vegetarian and I don’t eat fish. I also don’t eat salted eggs.”

Madrigal was also asked if there was anything good she can say about her nemesis, Senator Villar. She replied: “The color of his hair. He looks good with it.”