Noynoy can lead us to the ‘Cha-Cha’ we need

This is a reaction to former Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban’s column titled “Destiny and aspiration.” (Inquirer, 9/6/09)

I totally agree with him: the late President Cory Aquino did not chart her way to Malacañang Palace; she became president of our country by destiny. Man charts his own destination in life, but God charts his destiny.

The common problem with many of our politicians is that once they are elected into office, they eventually develop and adopt a sense of entitlement to their office, including the territorial jurisdiction thereof. Thus they become reluctant to relinquish the same. They start to behave as if they own their public office and, worse still, they make public office a “family affair,” subject to hereditary succession.

In the case of Noynoy Aquino, I, too, have my reservations on the prospect of his becoming president of this country. The conjugal heroism of his parents, Ninoy and Cory, is indeed admirable and deserves the gratitude and respect of the Filipino people. But such heroism is not genetic and therefore not hereditary.

In fact, if Noynoy runs for president and loses, he will certainly diminish the aura and awe around the two conjugal icons of freedom and democracy. However, if he does win, he will be motivated to equal or surpass the achievements of his now very famous and popular, though deceased, parents. His dad, Ninoy, fought and died for freedom, while his mom, Cory, stood for the victory of democracy and the peaceful and orderly transition of power. Noynoy, if ever he becomes president of this country, whether he is cut for it by personal design or by destiny, can work and focus his administration on good governance and for cha-cha—not the cha-cha in the ballroom, not the Cha-cha in the halls of Congress, but Cha-Cha for our country, that is, Cha-Cha as “character change.” For indeed, this is the kind of Cha-Cha we need for our country, a character change in our body politic. Enough blood has been shed for freedom. Enough elections have been held under the auspices of democracy. But not enough effort has been exerted for good governance and character change as a nation.

The next president will, indeed, have an arduous and formidable task ahead of him to handle a country like ours. God bless him!

—AMAY P. ONG VAÑO,
epov111@yahoo.com

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