it took me awhile to choose my candidate for the next Philippine president. mostly it had to do with the process of elimination based on standards i set for myself: (1) competence; (2) leadership qualities; (3) intelligence; (4) compassion; (5) a good representative for the country in the international arena.

at the outset, though, my eyes were already drawn on Gilbert Teodoro. he was like a whiff of fresh air from all the familiar names and faces that presented itself to me.

before i detail why Gibo fits my bill for president, here's a rundown of where i am coming from:

my government exposure/work experience has brought me from the sangguniang kabataan (pioneer batch) to a presidential assistant's office (Visayas) to the supreme court and to the senate. i have a legal background and i've been around politicians and celebrities to know how power, in its many forms, works. i've also met local, national, and international figures and i know how much authority one should muster to get some action or at the very least get your message across. i've seen good ones; bad ones; rotten ones. i've run the circles from the executive branch of government to the judiciary and the legislative. i've talked to victims, oppressed people, disenfranchised individuals and communities, stakeholders, proponents, visionaries, leftists, bureaucrats, yuppies, the rich and the famous, the poor and the poorest of the poor. i can say that i have more or less have encounters with the marginalized sections of the country and more or less have an inkling, if not informed knowledge, of each and everyone's pain and desires. with all these tucked in the deepest recesses of my brain and each one ensconced in the caverns of my heart, i have more or less an overall concept of what we need as a people in general.

and, so my quest for the next leader of the land begins.

first, competence.

is he qualified to be the next president of the country? albeit the philippine constitution only requires that one can just read and write and run for president, we all know that this is not telling. and probably one of the reasons why we should change the constitution. don't you think that this is quite an affront to the demands this position requires? literacy is not enough. one should have the ability to perform a task. and what is this task? to head the nation, stand his ground and give wise decisions.

which brings us to the second criterion, leadership qualities.

what to you is a definition of a good leader? is it all about wielding power to get results? or, is it having the requisite title that defines you as a leader? if you've read lao tzu's "tao of leadership," you will understand that one of the characteristics of a good leader is to be like the water - strong but yielding. you must muster enough command from your peers without being an authoritarian. you respect the opinions of your advisers and the people around you but without compromising your own take on the issue. you listen, you weigh, you ponder, you decide. your wisdom will make you a good leader and will warrant obedience from your people with the least resistance.

intelligence comes third.

in my study of early childhood education, i have learned that there are multiple intelligences of a child. our old concept of intelligence is only anchored on achievements in school. this is not so in the present concept espoused by howard gardner. as we are all created uniquely, we all have different fortes, so to speak. i am generally verbal/linguistic and musical/rhythmic intelligent than my husband but he has displayed a superb mathematical/logical and bodily/kinesthetic intelligence than i have. who is more intelligent? it depends on where you are placed in this world. in my world where words, music, and art reign supreme, i excel. put me in his world of sports and mathematical equations, i falter. thus, in a world of politics, leadership, command, good decision-making, and authority, i want someone who fits this world perfectly. to a T. :)

fourth is compassion.

more than just being all mind and brains, a good president should also have a heart. technically, it's still in the brain where the hypothalamus, the seat of all our emotions, is located, but let's wax romantic and use the heart as a symbol of compassion. more than just empathy or feeling for someone, one is compassionate when he or she goes out of his or her way to do more than just feeling for something or someone. it is a call to action - not confined in your thoughts, your hopes, your dreams, your ideas - but manifested in your actions.

last, good representative for the country in the international arena.

we live in a world where world leaders fraternize with each other to address global issues. brilliant minds attract like minds. we should not fall short in this department. we need someone who can make us proud in a sea of nations. in a UN convention, for example, our president should be able to hold his/her ground well and have the power to influence and be an effective catalyst for change. it's not even a bad idea to pitch in someone with good looks, regal bearing, and a commanding presence.

if you've read F. Sionil Jose's Philippine Star article on Gibo as well as many other relevant articles about Gibo, you will know that based on his roster of work experiences as well as educational attainment and personal background that he is all these and more.

why not the other candidates? it's not my intention to irk anyone. i believe that you do not have to put down others just to gloss over your candidate's qualifications. just focus on what he has to offer and leave it at that. i just want to let it be known how i came to my decision and chose him over the others. he passed my standards with flying colors. i saw him for the person he is and the vision he has for the country and not for the party he is carrying. in the end, one' s loyalty to a party ends when loyalty to your country begins.

this coming May 2010 elections, one thing is sure. i am voting for a better Philippines in the able hands of Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro. i pray that he will steer the country to greater heights.

God bless the Philippines!