Voting for a president

I read “The Oracle Corner” (April 21, 2021) where Mr. Masigan published an open letter to Sen. Manny Pacquiao. As it is classified as an open letter, the public is privy to reading it and comment upon it. In this regard, as one of your regular readers, kindly allow me to share my thoughts.

We’ve had several presidents. I am just wondering, have you ever voted for somebody who:

• Solved unemployment

• Solved abject poverty

• Solved joblessness

• Created right conditions to thrive

• Solved our uncompetitive tax structure

• Lowered our national and local taxes

• Compelled investors to choose the Philippines

• Solved our eroded educational system

• Rebuilt our broken educational system from the ground up

• Solved the stunted growth of children

• Solved ease in doing business

• Streamlined the bureaucracy

• Reformed the justice system

• Fixed expensive power cost

• Built upstream and downstream supply chains

• Ensured that our logistics chain is seamless

• Has curbed corruption

• Has reformed our political system

• Solved the problem of China’s escalating territorial grab.

• Passed the Anti-Dynasty Bill

We had a mechanic as president (Magsaysay), a poor boy from Lubao but a Bar topnother (Macapagal), a Bar topnother (Marcos), a housewife and graduate of St. Scholastica (Tita Cory), a soldier (FVR), an actor (Erap), an economist (GMA), son of a popular president and college graduate from the Ateneo de Manila (PNoy), an experienced mayor and lawyer from San Beda College (Digong). Did anyone of these past presidents fulfill all your requirements? I don’t think so. And surprisingly, to this day, they say that the best president we ever had was the mechanic, Magsaysay.

I understand your concern and I share your frustration. Obviously, no president has passed the bar you have set for a “good president. Allow me kindly to give a one-liner advise in return. Let’s try voting for a world champion boxer, philanthropist, a 10-year national legislator and pastor, all in one person. He might be able to knock out a substantial amount if not all the problems in your long list. After all, a simple mechanic had done it before. – Willy Villarama, Pilipino