Ability to sacrifice, ability to lead

With the 2022 presidential elections now just about a year away, and with Filipinos being incurably too politicized, it would come as no surprise if a number of names are now being seriously considered for the various positions on tap in the political exercise, especially those for national positions such as for president, vice president, and for the Senate.

The problem with Filipinos, however, is that no won term is ever good enough to finish without some of us clamoring for change, often as early as in mid-stream. There is never any acquiescence for the decision of the majority. Disrespect for electoral results are at best stayed no longer than the usual honeymoon period. Beyond that is open season for open political hostilities.

Given this fact, it ought to be best if, say, the winners in the presidential and vice presidential races come from the same party. At least some sort of unity and cooperation may be expected between the country's top two elected leaders. Without such cooperation, we will see a repeat of the unsavory political spectacle that marred the tenures of President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo.

Coming from different parties, Duterte and Robredo only had a very brief period of open public civility to each other. Before long, out flew the need to work together. Not even the pandemic can stop the two from public bickering that did not do anything to shore up hope and confidence in a time of such a grave health and consequent economic crisis.

But the possibility that the two top officials of the country would again come from different parties and send the country again into deep political division cannot be discounted, especially in an election where multiple parties would be fielding candidates. Hopefully, for as long as hoping itself has not become futile, maybe we can elect top officials willing to sacrifice interests in favor of country.

I could almost laugh at myself, hate even, at having said that. It is as if I have not seen the national interest given up in favor of the personal, the common good for the self-gratifying. It is as if I was born yesterday, that I did not know what eventually befalls the Philippines each and every time after an election.

Aside from hoping for a unified and cooperative tandem, it is also hoped that a vice president elected is someone who can be a president as well. It is never enough to consider a vice president as just a spare tire. A vice president must be someone ready to be president at a moment's notice for as long as necessary.

A vice president must be as qualified and as ready to be president as the president himself. It is not enough to pick just anybody just to complete a slate. In a world of endless possibilities, why is it so difficult to make that possibility a reality? Right now we must start looking for a president in both the president and vice president.