Destiny and Credibility, Looking for an Alternative Presidential Candidate

Tisay is an apolitical person, she is not interested with politicians and political parties. She is interested with performance. As an HR specialist and a management trainor she has her own yardstick of performance. I know she had been tapped before to conduct strategic planning and management audit for government offices. 

But I am glad she is no president of the Philippines, and never in my dream have I wanted her to be so, or else she should have appointed Britney as the Trade and Industry Secretary, and Banong as the Executive Secretary. I know this is next to impossible but for the sake of argument I asked her, “what is your basis on appointing this two ordinary village folks from holding sensitive government post?” But she gladly answered me, “at the rate we are going, even a janitor can serve as the president of the country.” What? No way, not in my own system I rest the future of my children to a Janitor. But knowing Tisay argumentative as she is, she explained to me why. Itong her cousin never finished high school and worked as a janitor for years all of a sudden became a millionaire. He put up his own business in janitorial services and made good at it. “But this is Philippines Tisay, not some kind of comfort rooms, hallways, and function rooms to be cleaned,” I told her. “Why, isn’t this country and government some needed cleaning as well?” She retorted back. 

My wife doesn’t give up easily on people. Not even those “pompous jesters” in the government. Being a trainor, she sees opportunities in everything including mediocrity. Her usual expression, “do not listen to the voice of judgment.” Probably this is the reason she selected me instead of Atty. de Kililing to be her hubby. I know there were so many discouragements she received from her friends when I was courting her. But I am glad with her creed, “not to listen to the voice of judgment.” To date I am still figuring it out why she married me, is it because of love or an opportunity to develop one nitwit like me for a life time?  But for my own sanity I’d rather think it was because of love not for anything else. 

Tisay’s framework for effective leadership goes outside the box, not the traditional line or boundaries of relegating to politicians political boundaries. She does not believe that the politicians have the monopoly knowledge and experience to lead this country. She goes for alternative leaders. Not the trapos or traditional politicians but men of great intellect, unblemished reputation in public service, people who could exercise sense of fairness and justice, transparent, sensitive to the needs of the people, have control of themselves and their environment, courageous, not easily dissuaded nor influenced by the pressure of peers, etc. 

“And what do you have in mind,” I asked her. But she did no categorically answer me. She just said many. “How about Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, is he one of those you have in mind?” Again she threw back to question to me, “did you not set a criteria? Does he pass those criteria?” I just smiled; Tisay is so witty enough to avoid being trapped. 

Even the chief justice himself had no categorical answer when asked if he would consider becoming the next president of the country during his private visit in Puerto Princesa. All he said, it’s a destiny to be president.   

But if you ask Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn, Chief Justice Puno has the credibility and a track record in the judiciary to run as an alternative candidate for the presidency. He will be retiring by 2010 and very much qualified to become the next president.  Hagedorn said, “I just could not see anyone with sufficient credibility. Not until the Chief Justice came, especially after deciding the corruption case against the Court of Appeals Justices.”