14 November 2021

What Does Agriculture & Apolinario Mabini Have To Do With PH Presidential Candidates?

Surprise: Before choosing your presidential candidate, historian Ambeth R Ocampo says listen first to Apolinario Mabini’s advice!
(inset image[1] of Mabini as a law student from Abogado.com)

You may have already chosen your presidential candidate to vote for this coming May 2022, and your choice has been largely influenced by somebody (or nobody), by pronouncements or denouncements, in media, especially Facebook.

I, agriculturist & communicator for development, thinking of 5 million poor farmers, if the candidate hardly mentions agriculture in public, or says nothing about it, how can I vote for that one?

Differently, historian Ambeth R Ocampo quotes advice from a PH intellectual in history. He says (10 Nov 2021, “Qualifications For Public Office,” Inquirer.net):

As the circus leading to the 2022 elections has begun, we should take a hard look at the roster of presidential candidates and weigh each on a balance set by Apolinario Mabini in 1898.

I agree with “a hard look” and “weigh each on a balance.”

The President is the personification of the people and consequently his person is sacred and inviolate, and no liability can be required of him while he is in office.

I love that: “The President is the personification of the people.” Therefore, the best presidential candidate must be the “best” one there is among those running for the presidency.

The President is nothing else than the brother and the friend of all the Filipinos, and therefore he may be considered as the eldest whilst he is the first in honesty and civic virtues.

Being brother (or sister) and friend and honest and #1 in civic virtues are all welcome qualifications for a would-be President of my country, but I am looking beyond qualifications: I am looking for a Visionary!

Mr Ocampo mentions nothing about Mabini’s list requiring a far-sighted leadership of a President. So I keep looking far and wide.

Pia Ranada says Isko Moreno says (22 September 2021, “Isko Moreno Pitches 'Inclusive, Open' Governance In Campaign Launch[2],Rappler.com):

I will be a healing President. While ours will be a government of national reconstruction, it will also be a government of national reconciliation, based on justice and rule of law.

Andreo Calonzosays Leni Robredo says (07 October 2021, “Philippine Opposition Leader Eyes Presidency, Slams Duterte,” Bloomberg.com):

This lack of organized leadership is the root of many of our problems. This has to end. Corruption, incompetence, the lack of concern need to be replaced with good and capable leadership.

ANN says BBM says (Author Not Named, 06 Oct 2021, “With Dream Of Providing ‘Unifying Leadership,’ Bongbong Marcos Files CoC For President,” BusinessMirror.com.ph) – this is my translation from his Tagalog:

My desire is to restore a unifying kind of service to the country. Let us bond together and rise from the beatings of the pandemic, ascend from a debilitated economy.

They talk about leadership, but none of the 3 frontrunners has what I am looking for in my President: Vision. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no Vision, the people perish.”@517



[1]https://abogado.com.ph/legend-that-came-to-be-pup-law-looks-back-to-mabini-as-a-law-student/

[2]https://www.rappler.com/nation/isko-moreno-pitches-inclusive-open-governance-campaign-launch

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