One thing’s for certain. Susan Roces, wife of Fernando Poe, Jr., displayed one qualification of a First Lady: she can shed tears before TV cameras at the drop of a hat. Unfortunately, I can’t help believe that that’s just one ploy of the smoke and mirrors campaign launched by FPJ’s handlers.
So far there’s nothing real about FPJ except for his last name. The Fernando and Junior are fictitious. Even wife Susan carries a fictitious last name. Sure, these are screen names it can be argued, but they’re still fictitious.
Popular? Not a chance! Surveys continue to show FPJ a far fourth in ranking even with the question, “If elections were held today and these were the candidates running (including “Da King”), who would you elect?” Survey respondents represented all walks of life.
FPJ’s reasons for running may be true: “I’m sincere, dedicated and I love my country.” But a majority of Filipinos can themselves lay claim to these. To make these seem as belonging only to FPJ and reasons enough to make a good president is akin to a magician using smoke and mirrors. Or the Wachowski brothers employing special effects to make Keanu Reeves look invincible.
Indeed, when you have a candidate who has no qualifications and who has been pressured to run, a lot of special effects are needed. So it’s not only an actor who is being brought into politics, it’s a whole movie outfit led by producers Tito Sotto and Ed Angara. Even their claim that FPJ can unify the nation is unreal; it can’t even begin to belie their obvious thirst for power. They tasted it with Joseph Estrada. Then they lost it. Now they want it back with “Da King.”
The thing is, I doubt very much FPJ really knows what he’s getting into. It’s almost as if he was told, “Just announce your candidacy and we’ll go on from there.”
I can only wonder how, if FPJ gets elected, he’s going to fare in an APEC meeting where he’ll be all alone to face other world leaders. His handlers won’t be able to bring special effects there. He won’t be able to hide behind dark sunglasses either.
The presidency is not just about alleviating poverty as the masses are made to believe or focus on. It’s also about me. It’s about every Filipino rich and poor. It’s about the Philippines as Filipinos look at themselves and as the world looks at the Filipino. It’s about effective, inspiring, KNOWLEDGEABLE and gutsy leadership that can move every Filipino to do and be the best he can be.
The fact that Ronald Allen Poe aka FPJ can succumb to the likes of Sotto and Angara already tells me he can’t be that leader.
