Money, machinery and message: keys to Malacañang

The three Ms needed to run for president are Money, Machinery, and a powerful Message. Lots of money, a minimum of two billion pesos, a strong political machine, and a very catchy message that hits the hearts and minds of the masses with strong impact. You may add to the three Ms; Manners, Morality, and "Masa" touch. The one who has all these will be the frontrunner in the 2022 presidential derby. There are many competent, qualified presidentiables but they don’t have the money and machinery.

Manny Pacquiao has the money but his PDP organization is being taken over by interlopers who are not even party members. Leni Robredo has the message, the morality, and the masa touch, but she has no money or machinery. The Liberal Party has been weakened by many mistakes committed by the PNoy administration. Bongbong Marcos may have more money than Pacman and may have the machinery, but what would be his message? Isko Moreno is very good at messaging but he has neither the money nor the machinery. Grace Poe may have money but she has no more machinery and her message has lost impact. Trillanes is a joke and Alan Peter has reached his Peter's principle. In management, that is a dangerous point where the next stages are increasing irrelevance.

Inday Sara may be the only one who has all the Ms; money, oh yes, you never know how money pours like Niagara Falls if you are number one in the survey. Taipans are lining up to bring sacks of moolah to Davao disguised as aid for the war against COVID-19. She has the good sense to organize Hugpong, so that she could just coalesce with PDP, or with NP, or even with NPC. Inday Sara has a strong message as The Better Duterte, More Humane, More Decent and Less Talk, More Action. She has manners and a moral sense. Her name has not been linked with summary executions or extrajudicial killings. She is more cariñosa but with a subdued firmness and strength. And her husband is a nephew of 1Sambayan convenors, Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales and Justice Antonio Carpio.

Messages are very important. Marcos used to rally the Filipinos with his "This nation shall be great again". Quezon was daring: "Better with a Philippines run like hell by Filipinos, than run like heaven by Americans". President Carlos P. Garcia's mantra was "Filipino First". President Ramon Magsaysay's message was very effective: "He who has less in life should have more in law". FVR's was "Kaya natin ito". Erap was "Erap sa mahirap". President Cory had "People Power" and PNoy was resonating: "Kayo ang boss ko" and "Walang wangwang". Inday Sara may wish to try this message: "Healing the Philippines" as a new mantra at the height of a health crisis and an economic devastation, as well as to unite a fragmented nation.

No one else among the hopefuls has the many Ms of the lady dragon from Davao. The advantage of Inday Sara over Pacman is that she has superior credentials, she is a lawyer and an experienced local executive with full grasp of the nuances of the country's socio-economic and political problems. Manny has no grassroots experience. The advantage of Inday Sara over Bongbong is that she is a member of the Bar, and knows international law. She can argue with De Lima or Robredo, Trillanes, or even Drilon, and can even stand up to Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping. She is a level-headed, no-nonsense decision-maker, and she is tough. Even her father fears her. She has all the positive attributes of a Duterte; decisive, bull-headed, bold, and determined. And she has none of her dad's weaknesses; she has no vices, does not curse, and has a healthy respect for women. She does not talk nonsense or repeat the same hackneyed tales over and over again.

Yes, there are many Filipinos who are qualified but none with the complete wherewithal. Running for president of this archipelago with 7,107 islands and 111 million Filipinos is no joke. This is tougher than a boxing fight and more demanding than climbing Mount Everest. You must have the Message, the Money, the Machinery, and the Masa Touch, the Manners and the Moral Values. Entering Malacañang is one hell of a hard and arduous ascent to Calvary where you will be crucified every moment of your stay. And you will be surrounded by thieves masquerading as saints, and traitors who shall watch you die in ignominy and pain.