PAINTING SCANDINAVIAN WINTER IN SUMMERY PHILIPPINES
By: Iris P. Concepcion

"Beyond anything else, the Filipino people may rest assured that I stood firmly on the principle that has guided my entire political career: country above self."---MAR ROXAS

I am quoting the man above since his people had started a genuine flexing of vision from within over the past year with not so much fanfare. He may had been stabbed from within but his words kept on rolling. Twice, he had subjugated himself to the larger calls of the times; his was a young campaign made to turn this country into a younger Philippines. I was impressed with him more than ever with the way he dispenses his info e-mails to his constituents.

I think I had dined on the streets with his people without me knowing it. Now that the campaign has ended, I can already write freely about my first road-walk interaction with this person.

He walked beside me over a scorching, sweltering heat one day, plying the length of a punishing road that seemed to end on a detour. I had been coyly stumped from his gatherings via misinformation that I sometimes end up stuck with the wrong people without any thought of why I was around in say, some campus, or alley, or a municipal hall.

I am sometimes bullied in these gatherings but I was there for some personal cause. Sometimes I hold my tongue in soft bites; oftentimes, I answer the hecklers straight ahead. He does not know me but his office headquarters sent me well-crafted letters that are never intrusive nor overtly solicitous of myself as a potential voter. He had shared some funny pictures about incorrigible babies. Some of his correspondences were not "political" in the truest sense of the word. It is a very Wiki-like handling of communication without suffocating my sense of comprehension.

I had followed him then, accidentally, since I was once misdirected to a different site in a gathering. I found instead his tsinelas strides when I headed home. He was wearing a shining backpack. I asked him absent-mindedly: "Where to, Sir?" His reply : "There," pointing at an educational structure for me to screech my feet on. That is enough (to me) as touching the real base. Going to an entertainment haven for smooches may be good but quality interaction is far more important. I keep the conversations that had transpired as deep experiences, etched and latently material, sometimes conducted under moonlit caves and nearby halo-halo eateries.

These are the nookies where true dreams surge.

It was never lost on me that he never introduced himself as a biggie; the realization only struck me while he walked ahead, faster than my own miniscule steps, him wearing less flashier attire than myself: denim pants, worn-out shirt, sandals and a huge grin. I had to keep up; he faded like a blazing haze when I last looked up.

I could not likewise forget that particular sensing on his educational platforms that had been laid in both Filipino and English. He signs these manifestos simply as M. Historians must collect these correspondences for posterity. They are worth the read. I am never aware that while I am talking or writing about my inputs to social discussions, they had been picked up knowingly by some people. I often tell myself, I do not have the money to offer for their (Noy and Mar) campaign kitty. I might as well just offer my thoughts.

His was always the brave, soulful, transparent face to counter the tirades. I still believe he is best fit for the second highest government post having had a wide legislative and executive expertise in his entire public career.

The reason is his active, moving, foresight.

When I was asking for his campaign materials, his aides sent me notebooks and pens instead for me to distribute to school kids. It was a fresh take on his educational stand, I thought, at the very least. June is nearing and school children do need school supplies. I gave them away to my niece and kids in our town. It gave me pride that instead of flyers, I am giving away stuff to people who could not even vote!

That is what impressed me with his organization. They had foresight. And they do not mumble lengthily about this. On hindsight, fourteen million people had banked their faith on this man, what is there to lose? I hope his unselfish, novel outputs will be taken appreciatively by the candidates who are already placed there to create and manifest these changes.

Having said these, I hope the newly elected leaders shall have the balls to implement things that must be truly done; prove to the world that theirs is a hardworking service that could go beyond personal patronages.

Much is expected for this country, more than ever.

The moment of divisiveness has already passed. Let them work according to the true beat of this nation.

God Speed To Our Nation! Move Forward!