The Philippine Online Chronicles

Gibo Teodoro was never on my short list until I wrote How to select a candidate to vote for president in May 10, 2010.  I removed the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) factor in my criteria.   Why? I believe that GMA acted the way she did during her term because her legitimacy as president is a big question mark.  I should have added the evil GMA factor but I didn’t think it was important as long as there is no cheating in the 2010 elections.  Just because a candidate is politically opposed to GMA does not mean he/she is the better candidate who is efficient and effective and able to spur the economy.

I asked my assistant whom she liked among the presidential candidates. See, I bring her along to Blog Watch presidential interviews. I thought she'd choose Dick Gordon or Manny Villar but she preferred Gibo. She liked that Gibo does not stall during the questions and answer portion.   Though Gibo is impressive and eloquent, some of his answers left me wanting more.

I decided to get another perspective from someone who is already a Gibo supporter. It was easy to spot a Gibo Teodoro supporter in twitter. There is a small green banner proudly embedded in their avatar: "Gibo 2010."  @noypi_bai willingly gave me the reasons for his support. He explained, "Mr. Teodoro is definitely not perfect - he never said he is - and I may not always agree with some of his views on minor issues - but the reasons below assure me that he's certainly the best fit for the job." He lists them down:

10 reasons why I'm supporting and actively campaigning for Gibo:

1. Because I love this country and as they say, we would always want what's (who's) best for those we love. I'm not supporting him out of fanaticism but patriotism. 

2. Because of his competence - no questions on this I know, no need to expound. What separates him from the also-competent Mrs Arroyo? All the other items below.

3. Because of his integrity & character. There's not even a hint of corruption in his many years of public service (he must have gotten such values from his father). He's not the perfect speaker but I can always sense his honesty and sincerity every time he answers questions during forums and interviews. He also didn't drop his affiliation with PGMA just to please the people who wanted him to join the PGMA-haters-club - though I'm not a supporter of Gloria I still think that such act of Gibo is very gentlemanly and commendable.

4. Because of his clear vision and dreams for the country. He definitely knows what he's talking about... he knows his facts & figures to back up his suggested plans. He doesn't promise heaven (unlike others) but feasible reforms to help the country soar high. His records show that he has always been an achiever - I believe he can and will do the same for our country.

5. Because of his first-rate platforms of government. 

6. Because of his new kind of politics, not our usual trapo -- proof: his positive campaign strategy. He is a very positive person, not a member of the Mudslingers' Club. He doesn't retaliate when his opponents put him down or throws black propaganda at him. And what's more amazing is that this kind of attitude cascaded to us, his supporters, reminding us to consciously avoid mudslinging, no matter how tempting it is at times. We need a leader like him: humble, prudent, one who has the attitude that builds up, not tears down.

7. Because of his sensible and SPECIFIC approach in battling corruption in the government. The other candidates promise total eradication of corruption but they don't present any systematic and specific plans on how to do it. He has already started this anti-corruption culture in DND (i.e. transactions with transparency and accountability to a third party from the business sector).

8. Because he is a realistic leader - no messianic syndrome. He doesn't give false hope to people. He doesn't give the "no-more-corruption" and "no-more-poverty" motherhood statements but is honest enough to tell the people: we will be heading there but it may take time.

9. Because he can NEVER be a puppet president. It's funny that they envision Gibo to be a puppet of Gloria... if there's gonna be a possible puppet president among the top presidentiables, that's certainly NOT Gibo. He knows where he stands, his loyalty is to the people.

10. Because he's the kind of leader who can heal our country's problem of divisiveness (especially in politics) - this is his goal and I think he's starting this move through campaigning positively - avoiding possible conflicts as early as now. He has asked his supporters, "If I also put hatred and negativity in my heart, and practice mudslinging, how can I unite the nation when I become the president?"

Pat Mangubat added that it is rather unfair for people to judge and tag Gilbert Teodoro as a Mrs. Arroyo lapdog since his ideas are rather dissimilar to the incumbent president’s ideas. "Teodoro perceives power as a tool for change; Mrs. Arroyo salivates for power for her ego. Teodoro wants real change; Mrs. Arroyo wants nothing more than to get more than loose change. Teodoro has enormous faith in people; Mrs. Arroyo uses people."

Are you already supporting Gibo Teodoro? Is he in your short list or not?

Photo by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado. Some Rights Reserved.