The Yellow Umbrella

I saw a nice yellow umbrella in one dingky corner of the Redemptorist church in Baclaran. I saw people milling around the yellow umbrella, some signing a document with their names and signatures. There was a noticeable line of people, from all walks of life, patiently waiting for their turn to sign. And I saw a familiar face. It was Ed Roces, a friend and a colleague.

Like his patriot father before him, Ed is spearheading the call for Senator Benigno "NoyNoy" Aquino III to heed the call of the times and lead the nation as its president. In 1985, his father, the late Alejandro Roces, went all around town to gather signatures for Cory. Now, twenty four years later, Ed is doing what his martyred father did. As what Salonga says, like father, like son.

Curiously, what motivated Ed and his group to launch a signature campaign for Noynoy? Hindi pa ba sapat sa kanila na may isang Mar Roxas na tatakbo sa ilalim ng Liberal Party? Obviously not.

Why? Why is it that Mar Roxas does not satisfy the ideals of some people and supporters of the Liberal Party? Let's be frank.

1. People are saying that Mar Roxas belongs to an aristocratic family and that family allegedly robbed some people of their properties. Yet, for me, Mar is somewhat like his father, the late Gerry Roxas, who once dominated the Philippine political scene. What Mar lacks however, is the same tenacity, the same leadership prowess and the same inspiring aura that Gerry had when he was still alive.

Is NoyNoy different? No.

Noynoy is a Cojuangco, the family who used the treasures of the Katipunan to expand their estate and establish businesses that makes them one of the richest families in the Philippines. Yes, he is an Aquino, but that bloodline includes a Benigno Aquino who conspired with the Japanese during the occupation. The Aquino bloodline is politics at its best, and the Cojuangco bloodline links him to the best cacique class.

2. People are saying that Mar lacks the leadership abilities unlike his father who commands respect from his partymates. Many see the same thing in Noynoy. Noynoy is different from his father, Ninoy, since Ninoy commands utter respect from his partymates. Noynoy is more of a Butch Aquino rather than a Ninoy.

3. People are saying that Mar does not inspire allegiance. Ah, that's the difference between Mar and Noynoy. Noynoy inspires not just respect but allegiance simply because he does not show desire for the post, unlike Mar, who is perceived to be like Villar, who will do everything and spend every penny, just to get that desired post.

Yes, both belong to the same landed class that for millennia, has been enslaving the Filipino farmers. Yes, both belong to the same big bourgeouis class which has been enslaving the toiling worker class for centuries. And yes, both are unlike their fathers who carved their names in the annals of History by being different, by not being blue-blooded members of their class.

Noynoy, honestly, is still not the best leader to lead us away from the immorality of this regime. Neither is Mar.

Yet, if we compare him with Mar Roxas, Noynoy stands out because he does not desire for the post and he's not salivating to sit in that wicked chair in Malacanang. People say that Noynoy does not represent his landlord class, but in some instances, he did. For the record, Noynoy did not sign the Genuine Land Reform law, an obvious act which shows that he's more of a Cojuangco than an Aquino. Or, like I said, he is more of a Butch rather than a Ninoy.

But, I understand my friend, Ed Roces. Like the rest of us, Ed is looking for someone who'll inspire us, who'll lead us to the right path and who'll represent not the interest of their class but the interests of the toiling masses.

Better a Noynoy than a Mar. At least that would awaken those in the middle forces who are leaderless now. Better a Noynoy who can probably stand out against an Erap. And better a Noynoy who might just prevent a restoration of immorality in a Villar administration or illegal activities under an Erap.