My Vote Goes To Dick

The May election is just around the corner and it appears -- from the TV ads to the SWS survey results to the ABS-CBN TV Patrol features -- that the battle for the country's highest executive position is only between self-made entrepreneur MannyVillar and goody two-shoes Noynoy Aquino.

This is perhaps the reason why people revert to the old method of voting which is, choosing the so called lesser evil. I personally do not buy into this idea at all for choosing the lesser evil (if there is such a thing) means limiting the choices between Villar and Aquino alone. I am not voting based on winnability or popularity but on platform and vision and on an unbiased evaluation of each candidate's past performance.

So winnability and popularity aside, my choice for President is Senator Richard Gordon. I personally think he has proven himself worthy of the presidencial seat through his performance as Olongapo City Mayor, SBMA Chairman, Tourism Secretary and now Senator. Unlike his contemporaries for the presidency, Gordon has experience in both executive and legislative branches of the government, and with above average results on both.

He authored 185 bills, 13 of which are enacted into law, among which are bills on sin tax, biofuels and the abolition of the death penalty. He has made Subic the economic force it is today and he has promoted the Philippines in the international tourism market through his brainchild WOW Philippines.

He does not rely on lineage like Noynoy Aquino, but on his past accomplishments. He does not horde radio and TV airtime like Manny Villar, rather, he rests on frugal advertisements and relies on word of mouth. He may not have the impeccable academic standing as the bar topnotcher Gilbert Teodoro, but they both graduated from the same law school and let's face it, while it helps boost your own ego, you really don't need be the Valedictorian in order to be the President.

Above all these, what was most striking for me was the time he cried in national television when some foreign Red Cross volunteers were hostaged by the Abu Sayaff in Mindanao. The issue hit home and I think Dick Gordon fared well in handling the situation.

I am not saying here that Dick Gordon is the saving grace of the Filipino people as what the masses are looking for in a President. All I’m saying is that in my opinion, among the candidates, Dick Gordon is the next best thing we got.