Senator Mar Roxas--next VP?

If elections are held today, forty seven percent (47%) of Filipino voters will elect Senator Mar Roxas as their vice-president as against the 32% of Nacionalista party bet Senator Loren Legarda.

This is the result of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey held last December 2009.

This is contrary to the alleged “survey” released by the Issues and Advocacy Center or the “Center” of which it claims that Roxas’ lead is just four percentage points from Legarda’s. The alleged “survey” was released by the “Center” last night.

To all my media friends, junk this “survey” by the “Center” being run by a Publicist. This is definitely not a credible survey.

Sacrificing a personal ambition is never easy. It entails a great deal of steely will and courage to do so.

Honestly, I felt a tinge of sadness when I witnessed the event of Mar’s declaration at Club Filipino. When he dropped the bombshell, I felt that it was too early. Mar was affected by the treachery of organizations who once gave him his support. Mar may have felt betrayed by the promises of those political hangers-on and opportunists who see the glint of money what with a billionaire running for the top post.

Mar will be missed.

Previously, Mar gave Korina the “big rock”—a stunningly beautiful diamond engagement ring. It was not known where Mar formally asked the “big question”; but obviously, it was’nt publicly. That gives you an inkling into how Mar really thinks about his relationship with Korina. Despite what others think, that Mar is just using Korina as his “unofficial campaign manager” come 2010, I think that Mar is really dead serious about Korina.

I noticed that last year when we had a blogger’s night with the good senator in his “White house”. When somebody asked him about Korina, he was very protective of her. He said that ” you can all write what you want but just don’t write anything bad against Korina”. Pretty protective of his ladylove huh?

Mar is also introducing Korina to his family. Some video clips of Mar with Korina gracing a Roxas family reunion were purposely “leaked” to indicate how Roxas wants his family to accept his lovely bride to be. Of course, there are malicious insinuations of some family members objecting about Mar’s choice, but, as they say, you can’t teach love to a man. Mar just happens to love Korina in the purest way. And who will not love such a lady as Korina?

She’s beautiful. She’s sexy. She’s intelligent and most of all, she has a strong political will. I think she’ll be the perfect First Lady should Mar succeeds in his padyak plan enroute to Malacanang.

By the way, I hope you like this song I dedicate to Korina. It’s similar to the popular tune “Maria” included in the Sounds of Music soundtrack. Here it goes:

She grasps a mike and booms her might
Her dress is always a lovely wear
She waltzes on her way to the booth
And whistles on the stair
And underneath her wimple
She has curlers in her hair
I even heard her singing in the A-B-S

She’s always on time to air
But her patience is real
She’s always on time for everything
Except for Ted
I hate to have to say it
But I very firmly feel
Korina’s fit to be pasig’s First lady

I’d like to say a word in her behalf
Korina makes me laugh

How do you solve a problem like Korina?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Korina?
A flibbertijibbet! A will-o’-the wisp! An anchor!

Many a thing you know you’d like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say
How do you keep a wave upon the sand

Oh, how do you handle a lady like Korina?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?

When I’m with her I’m confused
Out of focus and bemused
And I never know exactly where I am
Unpredictable as weather
She’s as flighty as a feather
She’s a darling! She’s a demon! She’s a lamb!

She’d outpester any pest
Drive a hornet from its nest
She could throw a whirling dervish out of whirl
She is gentle! She is wild!
She’s a riddle! She’s a child!
She’s a headache! She’s an angel!
She’s a girl!

Why do you like a lady like Korina?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Korina?
A flibbertijibbet! A will-o’-the wisp! A broadcaster!

Many a thing you know you’d like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say
How do you keep a wave upon the sand

Oh, how do you approach a lady like Korina?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?

Learning from Professor and Senator Mar Roxas

I admit–I was a vocal critic of Senator Mar Roxas. Eversince he debased himself with that Mr. Palengke campaign, my high regard for the good senator fell. Among the bevy of senatoriables in his generation, Mar, for me, was the best of the best. Being an academic, for me, it’s utterly senseless for someone as brilliant as Mar to undertake a campaign that was too baduy and too cutesy for comfort. Yes, he landed Number One on the first try. Why? Because people wanted to give him a chance to show that beneath those Mr. Palengke suit lies a true, blue, brilliant leader wanting to spearhead the campaign for true change.

In his first years, Mar Roxas did’nt disappoint the people. He spearheaded the Young Turks in Congress. Exhibiting integrity, Mar was the epitome of a fine leader we never had before. In my mind, he was the prime example of a maginoo, a true patriot.

However, in the last few months, especially when he announced his desire for the presidency, Mar turned out to be a letdown. His stand on issues sometimes ran counter to what the people feel. There was this disconnect from Mar Roxas’ thoughts and political philosophy with that of the people’s. As one observer noted, Mar is showing his true colors as a brilliant technocrat instead of showing his populist robe. To win, you need to be a populist. And most of those who support him, wants him to be a populist.

That was my expectation last Friday, January 9. Along with fellow bloggers DJB, Ding, Jester, Flowell, Marck, CaffeineSparks, and a host of others, I was expecting to talk to a veteran politico. I was expecting that Mar Roxas will mouth platitudes, and a ton of generalities on questions about the economy, etc. the way politicos do.

I was proven wrong.

Mar Roxas showed exactly the opposite. He was frank. He showed brilliance in his answers, especially that animated debate with DJB on the Bangsamoro question, on the issue of lingua franca and the Reproductive Health bill. I was expecting a politico, but I met a professor.

I also expected someone without any ideological platform. Again, I was wrong. Analyzing him and observing his demeanor when he was talking with us, showed me that this person has strong principles and strong opinions. He knows what he’s talking about and he can defend it to high heavens.

I liked what he said when Ding asked him about his relationship with Korina. Mar told us straight and without battling an eyelash—that’s (marriage) a personal decision between Korina and him. Ergo, whatever people think about his thing with Korina, he does’nt care. He loves Korina, period. And he does’nt give a damn whatever people think about it. A true maginoo.

Very presidential, don’t you think? It shows that Mar cannot and will not be influenced by any outside view. Mar is his own man. He has his own take on things and simply, his views is as rock-solid as steel. Yet, beneath that veneer, I also sensed that Mar is also a man who can take the blows, and accepts countrary views. He can take a punch. Yet, he’s magnanimous enough to accept comments and synthesize good views with his views.

Mar Roxas exhibited the finest character of a statesman, an academic, an ideologue and a doer–traits which I expect for my future president to have come 2010.

More than this though, I find him to be a gentleman. When asked about his future intentions on marriage, he said that he must be excused this time since his personal relationship with Korina should be best left to him and Korina. Good answer.

In my entire life, I voted just once—in the presidential elections of 1992 when Liberal Party and former Senate President Jovito Salonga ran. I’m not a Liberal by the way. I just thought that Salonga is better than Fidel V. Ramos.

Now, I definitely see the prospect of a good president in the likes of Mr. Mar Roxas. Mar is a work in progress and truly, Bobby Capco and the rest of the nationalistic staff of the good senator will definitely have their hands full in the coming weeks and months.

Mr. Senator, you have my vote. And I’ll try to convince others to follow you. You have the potential of becoming the best president of this generation.

Roxas says the people should be alarmed since Verzosa seems “too kind” to his classmates. Verzosa’s nonchalant way should be a cause for worry, since Verzosa has a tendency to favor the caprices of his mistahs instead of thinking about the national welfare.

Roxas said if Verzosa already demonstrated how disinterested he is in safe-guarding public funds in his office, the public should ever be more vigilant since this reflects a very serious flaw on Verzosa’s administrative style.

I agree with the good senator. The fact that Verzosa did not know about his mistah’s acts and that he allowed the release of the funds with just one phone call from dela Paz, shows that Verzosa’s priorities are somewhere else.

These mistahs should be reminded of their Honor Code. And lest they also forget is–they owe their careers as cavaliers to the people. If they show or exhibit arrogance when called upon to account for their actions, they are no different from their enemies who defy the law.

Government officials should be reminded that they are accountable not to Gloria but to the people. The Filipino People deserve officers that respect the Filipino People, not those who “cavalier-ly” act in deference to their true masters.

Possible wedding photo?

SPEAKING OF WEDDING BELLS, MY SOURCE TOLD ME THAT THERE’S GOOD NEWS BETWEEN ABS-CBN ANCHOR KORINA BALUYOT SANCHEZ AND SENATOR MAR ROXAS.

REPORTEDLY, THE TWO WILL TIE THE KNOT POSSIBLY IN THE FIRST OR SECOND  QUARTER OF 2009.

MAR WILL ANNOUNCE THE WEDDING EITHER DECEMBER THIS YEAR OR JANUARY OF THE NEXT. (HE ALREADY DID LAST JANUARY 2009 IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER) 

I know this is not entirely a shocker. Korina and Mar are two lovely lovebirds with just a formality of a marriage between them. Both are very good friends. Both love each other. And both deserve each other.

It is not a secret that some members of the Roxas family hate Korina’s guts. Some of them don’t want Mar to marry the ABS-CBN anchor. I don’t really know the reason why. One of them, a close associate of mine, said that the family heard that Korina scolds her staff. Korina daw has a serious temper. 

Seriously, I don’t find that disturbing to say the least. Korina, if you don’t know, is a perfectionist. She wants everything done in an excellent manner. Korina belongs to a very upright family and being Catholic-bred, she’s accustom to seeing everything done in the manner that’s world-class. For me, that’s a plus instead of a minus.

So what if Korina has a temper? Mar can take it. Mar is man enough to take the punches so to speak. Korina accepts whatever past Mar has (Mar admitted having a child with another woman). 

The prospect of First Lady Korina Sanchez? Very good. Is it good for all of us? I think so, yes. If Korina, indeed, becomes First Lady, that’ll be the day. We will have a combative First Lady. We all need that.

Oh, before I end, there are talks also that Ted Failon, Korina’s co-anchor over at ABS-CBN Channel 2, is being groomed to run as Senator. Good luck sir! Ted is a Kababayan of mine. He does not have any serious controversy as a Congressman, never took bribe money and did his job in an excellent way in the Lower House.

Another ABS-CBN talent as Senator seems better rather than electing a vegetable in the Senate.

(NOTE: IF YOU WANT SALACIOUS AND JUICY TIDBITS ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, VISIT this site: ChiChing. Just click on this and you’ll be diverted to the site. It’s worth your while, I tell you. Guess who’s the one being alluded to in the last entry at Chiching.

(by the way, I’m actually one of the original members of this blog conglomeration) for dinner and coffee at Annabels. I received a text from Ding Gagelonia (a good friend and former boss over at DZBB, GMA 7) asking me if I’ll come. Since I have’nt opened my email yet, I don’t know what’s the fuzz. It’s only now that I learned that we’re meeting this legislator.

Since I don’t want to antagonize my colleagues over at FilipinoVoices, I deemed it inappropriate to identify him here. But, since I saw over at the site that Nick already revealed who he is, then, Senator Mar Roxas is now fair game.

First, I have nothing against Mar Roxas. He seems to be a great guy with a sincere and honest heart to help the Filipino People. Like I told Kevin Chua, one of the young organizers of MarRoxasfor2010, I’ll probably consider helping them in the elections. 

Like Nick though, I have a few questions which I want Mar Roxas to answer. I expect a comment from him in this site and in the other sites which I maintain (Newphilrevolution.blogspot.com, RedBluethoughts, SpinBlaster and Pinoy Youth Rage). I expect him to answer this and post the answer in this post within the next few days:

1. Will he marry Korina Sanchez?

2. Will he abolish VAT from oil products?

3. Will he welcome suggestions that government should integrate a Council of State setup instead of the present one?

4. Will he break or subdivide Meralco’s franchise?

5. Will he help the survivors and the victims of Sulpicio Lines?

6. Will he allow the MILF to govern the BJE (Bangsamoro Juridical Entity)

These are some of my questions which I hope the good senator will answer. If he does’nt answer within the next few days, then, I’m sorry but I need to beg off. This early, the people need to know the people they’ll be voting for or against.