CHAFF FROM THE GRAIN

HECTOR R.R. VILLANUEVA

“A President’s personality is an important shaper of his Presidential behavior on serious matters.” – James David Barber

What this country needs today is a game-changer of exceptional integrity and ability.

However, like all previous presidents, there is the risk and plausibility that the new President, whether he or she, will be devoured or swallowed, or hamstrung by the existing political system dominated by political dynasties, on the one hand, and on the other an existing economic system that is managed and ruled by powerful, exclusive and influential minority of oligarchs.

That is, a handful of oligarchs governing a population of 110 million Filipinos.

In short, if there will be no genuine and dramatic review, updating and revision of the 1987 “anti-Marcos” Constitution, there will be many physical changes and infrastructure but there will be only scant fundamental reforms in moral reformation, redistribution of wealth and honest elections.

In 2016 , Filipino voters had conjured the arrival finally of a messiah in the person of President-elect Rodrigo Roa Duterte who will effect widespread reforms and pro-people policies.

Alas, after five years, the bloom in the rose has faded.

Owing to his obsessive concentration on narcotics, drug trafficking and anti-corruption campaign, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte had sapped his energy and faltered on his reform agenda.

Thus, nothing profoundly fundamental has changed, and may not change.

As French novelist Alfonse Karr had surmised, “Plus şa change, plus c’est la meme chose”, or “the more things change, the more they are the same.” By the time this column finds print, the final configuration of candidates and the electoral race for the presidency is on.

As expected, there will be a deluge of motherhood statements, political cliches, rhetoric and mudslinging which are par for the course.

In a manner of speaking this coming national elections are a defining moment, unusual, and exceptional vis-a-vis future national growth.

The nation, and the Filipino people must decide whether the country goes parliamentary; no term limits; can land be sold to and owned by foreigners; will foreign investment be allowed in media, power and public utilities; will the death penalty be restored; and will the country take sides in the hegemony rivalry between growing China and the United States of America.

Hence, these are the issues and choices that then next President of the Republic will have to address and confront either in a new structure of society, or labor under the same and existing “trapo” political system, and oligarchy-controlled economy.

The search for a game-changing leader goes on.

You be the judge.

Hector Ronald Romero Villanueva

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