Truth to tell, I personally didn't care that much who would be our next president. For as most people tell us when you ask around, "pare-pareho lang sila" (they're all the same), in reference to the presidentiables. It's but a popularity contest as you would have surely seen in their media campaigns and in the various leaders' fora that have since been held.
Wala kang mapili. (You can't really choose from them.)
Until Cory died. And Noynoy stood out. More, when he handled with dignity GMA's unwelcome visit. In fact, Noynoy was truly presidential. GMA on the other hand looked more like a party-crasher missing out on a historic event that also eclipsed her much ballyhooed U.S. junket. Poetic justice.
Unlike the so-called presidentiables who have long been campaigning on TV and other media, Noynoy has shunned the limelight, quietly doing his work through the years as Congressman and now Senator. Even when Cory was already dying in the hospital, Noynoy slugged it out with his official engagements. Of course, Cory would have scolded him anyway if he skipped "classes" - Senate sessions.
That's exactly the Ninoy-Cory legacy of sincerity for service even at the great cost of personal sacrifice, which we need in a president or any public official for that matter.
I had been privileged to witness Noynoy at work for the 11th Congress during his first term (1998-2001) when he was Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Political and Human Rights. In the many hearings of that committee I assisted in as a law reform specialist for the UP Institute of Human Rights then, I found Noynoy as one true solon-in its original definition of a "wise lawmaker"-who did his homework, asked intelligent questions, and gave insightful views on pending bills from the minute details to the big picture. His keen interest made your time and preparation for each hearing truly worthwhile. He did no politicking and meant business all the time.
Noynoy is also one gentleman who doesn't have any airs at all. He exudes an aura of humility and willingness to help. Of course, this is no surprise to many actually.
Now, after everything that has unfolded, an office colleague asked me if I had tears, too. I said yes. Not just for Cory, but for People Power-our euphoric Camelot. And more, it was also truly heartfelt since EDSA was the liberation Papa (former NBI Director J. Antonio M. Carpio and FLAG Bikol region coordinator during the Marcos Dictatorship) and our entire family also fought for and for which he was detained twice: in 1972 upon proclamation of Martial Law and then in 1981 while leading the protest march against the infamous Daet Massacre.
But again as Papa wrote in his poem "Cory and the Bumble Bee,"
EDSA was but the coming of the dawn
Upon a people longing to be free.
We struggle on with courage and constancy.
So, Noynoy, RUN for President!