By ELLEN T. TORDESILLAS
IS President Aquino that desperate that just to boost the chances of his “Annointed”‘ he had to insult Sen. Grace Poe and his mother, former President Cory Aquino?
In his speech endorsing Interior Secretary Mar Roxas for president in the 2016 elections, Aquino shared:
“Sa paghahanap nga po, kinausap natin ang mga taong maaaring magpatuloy sa Daang Matuwid at ang maraming mga sektor. Kinapanayam ko ang tatlong tao, na sa aking pananaw ay kabalikat sa Daang Matuwid. Maganda nga po sana, na ang mga kailangan pang magsanay ay talaga pong magkakaroon ng pagkakataong mahinog at maunawaan ang tunay na lalim ng pagkapinuno. Sa akin pong paniniwala, itong tatlo, kung magkakasama-sama ay talagang matinding tambalan. Doon po, sa ngayon, ay hindi pa tayo nagtatagumpay. Nagkaunawaan po kami; mukha namang iisa ang aming hangarin, pero hindi eksaktong paraan ang nasasaisip para maabot ito.”
(During my search, I spoke to those who I believe could pursue the Straight Path, as well as to many other sectors. I interviewed three people who, in my view, are allies in pursuing the Straight Path. The ideal situation is for those who still need experience to have the opportunity to have their skills and talents fully develop, and to understand all that is required of a leader. In my view, these three people could form a truly formidable team. At this point in time, success has eluded us in this endeavor. We reached an understanding; it seems like we have similar goals, but our means of achieving those goals are not exactly attuned to one another’s.)
He didn’t name Grace Poe but everybody knows how he tried to convince the lady senator in the three five to six hour meetings with Roxas and Sen. Chiz Escudero to be the running mate of the Liberal Party standard bearer.
He could not be referring to any other person but Poe with his “those who still need experience to have the opportunity to have their skills and talents fully develop, and to understand all that is required of a leader.”
Look who is talking!
Aquino himself is a shining evidence that the number of years in the House of Representatives and in the Senate does not translate to leadership competence.
It really depends on how a person carries out his or her job. In Poe’s two years in the Senate, she has shown competence and industry, which cannot be said of the person undermining her whose years as congressman and senator produced no notable legislation.
Reacting to the Aquino’s statement, Poe said, “‘di maikakaila na mas mahaba sa gobyerno si Secretary Mar… Sabi nga nila hinog na raw, pero ako naman kahit yung nahihinog pa lamang minsan pinipili rin ng tindera at ng mamimili sapagka’t mas tumatagal.”
(It can’t be denied that Secretary Mar has a long experience in government service. They say he is fully ripe but as for me the vendor usually chooses unripe fruits because they last longer.)
Aquino also insulted his mother, the housewife-widow turned president.
Teddyboy Locsin’s piece, “Idiot idea” on the suggestions that Poe should first gain experience and run for president in 2022 is a must read.
Locins said: “This idea is: No. 1, stupid and No. 2, presumptuous.”
In fact, Poe not succumbing to the entreaties of the President showed firmness which is a leadership attribute.
Aquino feels he owes Roxas for what the latter did for him in 2010. But why should it be Poe who should shoulder the burden?
Aquino’s solution to his problem with Roxas’s presidential bid that refuses to take off baffles blogger Caliphman who remarked in my blog: “Someone please explain this to me. When Aquino decided to run for President, Roxas slid down to be his VP candidate because he was way behind in the presidential polls and Aquino was way ahead. Now the situation is like before with Roxas being way behind and Poe being way ahead. Can someone please explain to me why in this case, it should be Poe who should be sliding down instead of Mar?”
Aquino appealed to the people: “Mga Boss, idinudulog ko po sa inyo ngayon: Sa akin pong opinyon, ang nagpakita na ng gilas at ng integridad, ang hinog at handang-handang magpatuloy ng Daang Matuwid: walang iba kundi si Mar Roxas. “
(To my Bosses, I tell you today: In my opinion, the one who has shown exemplary work and true integrity, the one fully ready to continue the Straight Path, is none other than Mar Roxas.)
Good luck!
