Back to two parties – the NP and the LP? (by: Ducky paredes)
THE way that things are moving, we may be on our way back to
more halcyon times when we had only two political parties. Back then,
one was either a Nacionalista or a Liberal and being one or the other
meant something. My grandfather was a dyed-in-the-wool Nacionalista
and, although he would usually think deeply before making decisions, in
politics, he would only always go Nacionalista.
For now, even before the campaign has officially started, the choice
seems to be between the Nacionalista and Liberal presidential and
vice-presidential candidates.
Manny Villar, NP, and Loren Legarda, NPC, are the Nacionalista bets for
president and vice president. It is a strong team. Villar has what it takes
to win an election – deep pockets; and there is a sense in the electorate
that we owe Loren the victory that she was cheated of in 2004 when she
ran as vice president to FPC and someone stole that election.
While Villar is currently in second place in the presidential polls, he could get
a big boost from Loren’s presence on the ticket. She has been, after all, an
acknowledged vote getter; she topped the slate in the two times that she ran
in 1998 and again in 2007 for a Senate seat.
For now, Social Weather Stations and other pollsters have the Liberal Party’s
Noynoy Aquino on top with Villar in second place and the other three
contenders -- Joseph Estrada, Chiz Escudero and Gilbert Teodoro trailing far behind.
Villar himself seems confident that the gap between him and Noynoy will
continue to narrow. Villar dismisses the first surge of Noynoy to "emotions"
following the funeral of Cory Aquinio, Noynoy’s mother. Villar believes that
this "emotionalism" will soon fade and the voters’ realizing that they
must, after all, choose the pair that can ultimately save them from
poverty, despair and instability.
As the Nacionalistas see it, members of the administration party, Lakas-Kampi-CMD,
seeing that their candidate is going nowhere will be looking to join either the NP
or the LP, with most of them (the NPs hope) going over to the NP-NCP alliance
of Villar and Loren.
According to a Nacionalista, the Manny-Loren tandem is a powerful attraction
to voters who want a real change in the country’s directions. They are tired of
voting on the basis of personalities, especially for traditional elites, who are
mainly responsible for the poverty of the great majority of Filipinos.
He says that Manny and Loren were born of poor and middle class families
that represent the great majority of the voters. They both know how it is
to be poor and to struggle for existence, and therefore have a natural
sympathy for the lower classes, even after they have achieved success in life.
Because of his success in business, Manny clearly has the managerial
expertise that could turn the economy around and provide more jobs,
while Loren, an ardent environmentalist, whose advocacy for a green
and protective environment, would improve the quality of life and protect
the people, especially the poor, against harsher natural disasters.
Both are ardent protectors of OFWs, recognizing their sacrifices and
contributions to the national economy, while Loren is known for her
advocacy for the rights of women and children. Because of this Loren
is expected to bring in the women’s vote.
The Manny-Loren tandem is a powerful combination and could well
be the team to beat in the 2010 elections. In fact, although they
got together primarily due to chance and circumstance the Villar-Legarda
doesn’t look like a hastily made decision.
Villar himself has said on more than one occasion that they were
not in a hurry to find a running mate and would just wait for the
political dust to settle. And as the fourth tandem to be officially
announced–after Noynoy-Mar, Erap-Binay, Gibo-Edu -- Villar-Legarda
does not disappoint.
What distinguishes the Villar-Legarda tandem from the others is
that they both come from humble beginnings. Villar grew up in
Tondo. At a very young age, Manny helped his mother by selling
shrimps in Divisoria Market. Legarda traces her roots to perennially
flooded Malabon. But both their parents realized the value of having
a good education. Thus, they were able to enroll at the University
of the Philippines. Villar graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business
Administration, while Legarda finished AB Broadcast Journalism.
After college, both became successful in their careers.
Villar started a small gravel-and-sand business using borrowed money.
This later became Camella Homes that focused on building low-cost
housing, with clientele consisting mainly of OFWs. Over the years,
Villar’s Vista Land has emerged as one of the biggest property
development firms in the country, earning him a place in the
ranks of the world’s billionaires.
For her part, Legarda found work after college in ABS-CBN, the
largest television network. She built a reputation as a conscientious
journalist, and hosted her own news and public affairs show.
Having built successful careers–Villar as an entrepreneur, Legarda
as a broadcast journalist–they realized that they could help more
people if they ran for public office. Villar ran and won as congressman
in Las Piñas, while Legarda succeeded in snaring a seat in the Senate
in her initial foray into politics in 1992.
But there’s more than a common background of a steady climb
in their chosen careers. There’s also a convergence of advocacies
and ideas.
Villar is banking on his experience as a successful entrepreneur
through "sipag at tiyaga" to bring the country to the path of
sustained economic growth. He has also been very visible in
assisting OFWs in distress, dipping into his own pocket to have
them repatriated after their traumatic experiences abroad.
Early on, Legarda became well-known for her concern for the
environment. Today, she represents the country in many international
conferences on climate change. But as a senator she has also tackled
a host of economic issues as well as women’s concerns.
Back to two parties – the NP and the LP?
Originally Posted by batigol192002
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