Pinoy Big Brother
I never figured out why Noli de Castro remains loyal to Gloria Arroyo until I saw the reality show Pinoy Big Brother, a celebration of Filipino sadomasochism at its finest.
In December 2003, Gloria Arroyo asked Noli de Castro to become her vice president. She imposed him on Lakas, her adopted party, despite the fact that there were two loyal and eager Lakas men, former-Rep. Robert Barbers and then-Marikina City Mayor Bayani Fernando, who wanted to be her running mate.
Gloria had nothing but praises for Noli.
“Noli’s entry into the team enriches it tremendously in terms of professional competence and political weight.
“He draws his broad constituency from the millions of Filipinos who track his sharp investigative journalism and commentary.
“He is a media educator and communicator without par, in search of truth and justice for the poor and downtrodden.
“He has touched much more lives than anyone of us, myself included, by advocating social and criminal justice through the broadcast media.
“My administration has the proven clout and experience to run the economy.
“Noli will give it an indispensable boost in terms of broadening popular appreciation and understanding.
“We respect him as a senator and leader, and we know he will be a good Vice President.”
She promised him the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) portfolio prior to the start of the campaign and then she reneged on it right after the election. Noli did not protest. He acquiesced.
He said, “After consulting with the President, I have decided to politely decline her offer. . . [U]nity and cooperation is what our government needs. It will take a measure of self-sacrifice from everyone to achieve our national goals. This is what our people deserve.”
A year later, when the clamor for Mrs. Arroyo to resign was at its loudest, and despite pleadings from the Opposition and a Pulse Asia survey that showed 30 percent of Filipinos believed him to be the best alternative to Mrs. Arroyo, Noli remained a loyal vice president. His only comment regarding calls for him to take over the presidency was, “I am pleased that the people have reaffirmed their trust and confidence in [my] competence as a national leader.”
Noli has stood by Mrs. Arroyo through thick and thin, through broken promises and the most insulting propaganda line ever devised against a vice president: “Who’s your alternative to Gloria?”
Noli has been waiting patiently for his turn and it will come if he picks the right party, the one that can convert his popularity into votes. Consequently, he’s made himself available to all suitors.
“I am not closing my doors… I have not joined any party as of the moment. I am still an independent. I will make an assessment and study carefully the vision and mission of the party that I will join,” he said.
It’s the right move. Unfortunately, I think it’s the wrong thing for a presidential aspirant to say. In this country, the presidential candidate is the party. It will follow his “vision and mission” and not the other way around. Noli needs to assert himself if he wants to sit at the head of the table. But that’s just my opinion.
There’s also Pinoy Big Brother, a reality TV show very popular with the masa and where the contestant who exhibits the best “go-along-get-along” qualities wins.
Maybe Noli is on to something. Remember the answer of the masa in 1998 whenever the illustrados would raise the issue of Erap not being educated or intelligent enough? They said, “We’re tired of being outsmarted.”
Maybe this time around the masa would rather lead than be led. Maybe, after living under Ate Glo’s thumb for so long, the masa want to become Kuya.
Buencamino writes political commentary for Action for Economic Reforms (www.aer.ph).
on January 9th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
MB,
Don’t you think it’s about time “party vision”, “party ideology”, “party platform”, or whatever you may call it, trumped personality? We have been complaining about how our elections have been all about personalities and not much about principles and platforms of government.
Come to think of it, maybe what Noli is really trying to say is that let’s choose parties, not personalities. Maybe he wants to see what Lakas, Kampi, Liberal, Nacionalista, NPC, and, yes, Ang Kapatiran, want for the people and choose what he thinks is best for them.
After all, if someday we would want to become parliamentary, we might as well start getting comfortable with choosing party platforms rather than personal attributes.
Just my personal opinion.
on January 9th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
i don’t disagree with you shaman. Although I would say it’s better if, on top of a party, we also had the right personality, meaning a leader who possesses all the right qualities.
Also, i meant this to be a light hearted piece at the expense of punditry and news organizations because I think it’s premature and stupid to handicap the race this early.
At this point I can say practically anything because the pie on my face won’t be baked until 2010.
That’s why I brought that the show that celebrates Pinoy sado-masochism into the picture. Para magulo ang usapan, ika nga.
on January 9th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Yes, MB, you’re very correct about having the best party platform and the right person to make it happen.
I’m aware of the light-heartedness of your piece. I just wanted to highlight that perhaps Noli, wittingly or unwittingly, has sent out the message that party platforms matter. For all we know, he might choose the best plan but he may not be the right person to execute it.
on January 9th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
the problem with being open to entering many “doors” is this — the possibility of having these doors slammed shut in one’s face is likewise multiplied.
on January 22nd, 2008 at 1:44 am
[...] Uniffors has an advice for Vice President Noli de Castro. Cheftonio’s B log is supporting the chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority. The Equalizer highlights the seven keys of leading candidate Senator Mar Roxas. Two politicians known for exemplary leadership at the local level is contemplated as a possible tandem too. [...]
on January 22nd, 2008 at 11:33 am
I agree with Shaman of Malilipot… that its time for Philippine political parties to turn themselves into an ideology-oriented political parties rather than being personalities-centered populist political parties that tainted Philippine politics for more than a hundred years….
Noli might not run for President and may end up as the running mate of Manny Villar (both members of the informal Wednesday Club)… or possibly, the other way around (Noli as President and Villar as VP)…
As for political parties…. Lakas-CMD, Kampi, Nacionalista and Liberal Parties are good options although the latter two already have their own candidates (bot officially)… any of these political parties (especially the ruling Lakas-CMD) can provide him political machinery for 2010…
on July 5th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
What I can say is that, the important only to him is his personal ambition. Balimbing