Missing a Great Man

A candidate makes a solemn pledge in a political ad: "Pangarap kong tuparin ang pangarap nyo" 

WTH!  o_0

"Magtanim ng ____ sa Senado!"

Oh Lord, restrain me from throwing this chair at my TV set.

*Sighs* 2007 elections are here. I can see the beginnings of  the campaign fever all over the Metro from campaign posters to political ads on TV.  And I grit my teeth as I watch, listen and read those empty promises of traditional politicians a.k.a TRAPOS.  Yes, call me a cynic.  Call me apathetic. But like most Filipinos, I am sick and tired of that filthy world of Filipino politics. Sick and tired to the core that it is only my innate love for my family and country that is preventing me from packing my bags and leaving this country. 

Somehow, a part of me lost hope for the leaders of our government. I have lost hope that they will EVER have the political will to turn this country around and prevent it from sinking further into the grime and filth of poverty and hopelessness. 

Yes, I lost that hope, that one fervent hope that a true leader with a true vision will ever lead this coutry…A leader who will inspire us to move forward…a leader who will make us proud to be Filipinos again.

I LOST THAT HOPE WHEN RAUL ROCO DIED.

The first time I heard of Raul Roco was during the 1995 Elections.  I was a freshman at law school and he was campaigning for his bid to the Senate. He was campaigning in his Alma Mater.  ( We graduated from the same law school ^___^ ) 

I was at the library then, buried in books. I suddenly noticed people around me started buzzing and then later talking boisterously.  Turned out Senate candidates were visiting the campus. I can't remember who thrusted the campaign flyer into my hands but I found myself reading a profile of a candidate whose picture bared a resemblance to Ninoy Aquino.  From the flyer, I learned Raul Roco was a Congressman from Naga. One glance at his curriculum vitae and his list of accomplishments, I took interest.  As a congressman, he authored several laws mostly benefiting teachers and women.  I was impressed.  I thought to myself : "Here was a congressman who was ACTUALLY a lawmaker, who ACTUALLY did his job! IMPRESSIVE!" I was interested to see him in the flesh but unfortunately I only had the chance to meet Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.  (She didn't leave any lasting impression on me notwithstanding the fact that I actually got to talk to her.  The only thing I remember from the encounter was how short she was.  I was actually taller than her with my five-foot flat frame, wearing sneakers, while she had on shoes with chunky heels that didn't go well with her fuschia suit.)

I voted for Raul Roco and he did not disappoint me when he was in the Senate.  He lived up to the title "Solon", who, in case one is not aware was a great lawmaker in Ancient Greece.  According to Wikipedia, he authored a number of important laws such as Women in Nation Building Law, the Nursing Act, the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law, the Anti-Rape Law, and the Child and Family Courts Act. I remember he was christened by women's groups as an "Honorary Woman" because he championed women's rights in the Senate.He authoured banking laws that reformed the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Securities Regulation Code and the Intellectual Property Code.  Again, like a true solon, he was a lawmaker.

When he ran for President in 1998, I voted for him. Even if people commented he cannot beat Joseph Estrada. Even people said he was not "winnable".  I knew he would not win, for Erap then was immensely popular.  But I voted for Roco.  It was MY vote.  My vote was my small voice, my piece of sovereignty.  And I wanted that voice of citizenship to speak his name.

He lost, obviously. But he remained in public service. He was appointed Secretary of the Department of Education. Wikipedia described his short stint there in this wise:

"Roco imposed a department-wide transparency policy which also held employees accountable for the purchase of textbooks, which had been a major source of the department's corruption. This allowed the department to purchase textbooks for a much lower price, and after just eight months under Roco's leadership, the Department of Education gained a 73% public approval rating and became the most trusted government agency in the Philippines.

"During his tenure in that position, Roco allowed free public education (through high school) as required by the Philippine Constitution. He also enacted a reform of basic education curriculum in order that children would focus their studies on reading, writing, arithmetic, science, and Makabayan. In addition, he made sure that teachers were paid promptly and ended the 3% "service fee" that the department had long been deducting from teachers' pay."

I graduated from law school in 2000. And it was joy to learn that he was the guest speaker at our graduation.  Finally, I will get to see and listen to him speak in the flesh!  I cannot remember what he said at that time but I remember the feeling of being AWED in every sense of the word as I watched his speech.  After the ceremony, I remember myself, dressed in cap and toga, inching my way into a crowd of fellow graduates, and waited for my turn to shake his hand.  I tried to think of something brilliant to say to him but I got tongue-tied and ended up saying: "Idol ko po kayo!". Geez, how lame was that! But he smiled and said thank you and wished us good luck in the bar exams.  Good thing a classmate of mine had the thought of getting a group photo taken with him to which he obliged.  I have that photo for posterity. ^___^

When I became a lawyer in 2001,  I wanted very much to join Aksyon Demokratiko especially when he was gearing up for his bid for the presidency in 2004.  But alas, I entered government service the same year which prevented me from engaging in electioneering.    

During the 2004 Elections, without a doubt, he was the ONLY ONE qualified to run this country. He was the only one with the intellectual capacity and the good name to be president. Unfortunately, health reasons marred his campaign in 2004.  But I voted for him still. 

He was the only political figure I ever admired.  I realized that my admiration was deep-seated because when I learned that he succumbed to cancer on August 5, 2005, my heart was broken. Truly broken. Gone was the man who could have transformed this country. Gone was the man who was not a politician but a STATESMAN in every sense of the word.   

To my mind, he was the BEST PRESIDENT this country never had.

It's election time again.  And here I am finding myself missing this great, great man.  How I wish it was his face I see in those political ads.  How I wish his name is what I read in the papers. 

I am now in a quandary on who to vote.  I am sure though on those who I am NOT voting! TRAPOS! You know who you are! If I get any more pissed, I may not even exercise the right of suffrage this coming elections. 

I can only heave a sigh.  Sigh at this present state of affairs..My heart silently disappointed and still broken.

THE GREAT RAUL S. ROCO….You are truly…deeply…sorely missed.