Until Victory

There have been a lot of black propaganda against me, most recently in the recent months that 
I have withdrawn because of my cancer. 

I have already shown you that I am what I am now. 

I am what I was today, and what I will be tomorrow. 

We are not looking for an ordinary leader, or an ordinary manager or administrator. 

We are looking for the president of the Philippines. 

So, I think that the first qualification should be international stature. 

That would be a great help to Philippine foreign and domestic policy. 
But most importantly, I repeat, there are three qualifications to become a president: 
academic excellence – 
ako may doctorate ako in juridical science from America. Tsaka valedictorian ako sa lahat ng klase ko. Hindi naman pwede na yung mga naupo sa likod yun ang magiging presidente ng pilipinas.
 Pangalawa, professional excellence. 
Binigyan ako ng prestigious Magsaysay Award for Government Service, “for bold and moral leadership in cleaning up a corrupt government agency.” Meron ba silang ganun? 
Third, moral excellence. 
Maliban pa sa dalawang excellences na yon, meron pang moral excellence which is the most important. 

Unfortunately there is no machine that you can attach to a human being so that you can tell whether that person is honest or not. Maaaring bolero lang, maaaring magaan ang bibig, maaaring kung ano anong sinasabi basta kung anong unang dumating sa isapan niya. 

Kaya pag-isipan niyo mabuti itong ginagawa natin. Nagpipili tayo ng ating maging leader sa loob na sunod na anim na taon. Hindi tayo pwede mamili na base lang sa kursunada or dahil uso doon sa mga gang ninyo or sa mga tribes ninyo sa eskwela. 

We are all united in this endeavor to improve and reform the Philippines. 

Akala ng iba palaging ganito na lang tayo? 

Hindi! 

Lalabanan natin itong kurapsyon na naging bunga at sanhi ng ating kahirapan. 

We can fight corruption. 

I have shown it in immigration commission. I have not allowed my words to overcome my deeds. 

At for those who think that I should withdraw because I have once been a cancer patient. 

This is what I'll say, I am now normal. 

I can think. I can act. And I can pray. 

Ngayon, gusto niyo akong mag-urong? Biro mo, ang lakas pati sa radyo, ang sagot ko sa kanila: 

I will never quit, I will never stop, I will never withdraw! 

We all want to change the world for the better.

 But the person who prayed should be emulated. 

He said, “God, preserve this country, and begin with me.”

- Miriam Defensor-Santiago, 2016

*****

I don't usually voice out my opinion on politics as it is a very complicated matter and we would all end up debating over so many issues that go with it. That and the bad connotation that politicians in the Philippines actually have (most of them are really like that, though). But I do look up to a few.

I remember voting for Richard Gordon on his bid for the presidency back in 2010. I was the lone believer, at least in our place. He tallied 1 vote all in all from our humble barangay and it was me. He did not win, apparently but the satisfaction of voting for someone who shares the same principles as you do and of whom capabilities are fit for the role of a leader has made my vote not go into waste. 

Fast forward to 2016, I am rooting for another underdog candidate though she is not really an underdog considering all of her credentials (of which she's leading by a mile). She may always be on the bottom of the surveys (with criticisms that are mostly because she's been ill with the big C and might die without having to finish the six-year term) but eff that all. She still is, in my honest opinion, more suitable for the presidency than any of the other candidates. I also admire her exuberance and wit at any given situation. Most of all, I like the fact that she is not only about the change that her presidency would bring, but she is more into encouraging people to start the change from within themselves. Should she not win in this election, it would not be her loss but our country's. If only more people could see that. 

I am for Miriam. Until victory.

April

Italized opening sentences are the transcript from Sen. Miriam's closing statement at the Luzon leg of the Presidential Debates.

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