An Open Letter to the 13 Million Filipinos who voted for Noynoy Aquino

[networkguy]

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Posted by Samuel Manlosa on MSUans Global Network

Congratulations! The yellow army has taken over! You now have, in your hands, the collective aspirations of 90 million Filipinos. Whether the rest of us should be thankful or cower in fear is something we'll postpone to 6 years from now. Just know that while we had somebody in mind who we felt was more qualified and was slighted due to our endemic and unique brand of popularity pageantry - the type where the death of one's esteemed mother earns you sympathy votes and a one-way ticket straight to the presidency - we are equally very much grateful that your collective will of 13 million strong managed to block the quest for power by one shrewd businessman who managed to mortgage half of his assets to buy the electorate and one former president who has been convicted of graft and corruption, plunder, and making bad movies but still has 8 million people who believe in his capacity to end poverty! Without your devotion to the ideals of all things yellow, we would have been more afraid today! We are truly grateful.

Now, I suppose all the petty arguments regarding Aquino not accomplishing anything while he was a congressman and a senator is now moot! There is now no reason to cry over what could have been because your actions have already brought us the future. We will now look to you to hold your bet accountable. We pray that like us, you will rehash in your minds over and over again the mantras "Dito tayo sa matuwid na daan", "Kayo ang aking lakas" and "Hindi ako magnanakaw." because we hold this to be new realities and no longer futile daydreaming. We implore you to wish with us that Noy learns the vagaries of political will fast because
there is so much to do and only 6 years to do it! We pray that he grows the balls to be decisive, not like his dilly-dallying prior declaring his intent to run for office. We hope he actually learns the intricacies of politics and governance, not just the guile to winning an election, but actually giving credence, justification, and validation to his constitutionally bestowed obligations, responsibilities, and mandate.

I do not wish to remind you that never in the history of the world has there been expectations as great as this (unless your name is Barack Obama) but I know I have to. Your campaign egregiously capitalized on that one calling - CLEAN GOVERNANCE - and in that your guy will be measured. He will be held against the most lofty of expectations. He promised to rid us of the things that ail us; he vowed to put the villains behind bars; we will put our trust in him. May his term serve as an example of how to succeed in office without compromising your ideals or giving in to the enumerable temptations that come with power, not another glaring testament to the harsh reality that come every election that only change we can ever expect are the methods by which politicians screw us and how the outcome remains the same - greater, deeper, more gripping poverty!

We will stand beside you, we the ones whose wishes were not heard this time around! We believed in the same things - the thirst for change, growth, clean politics, and more food on the table. But we placed our burdens on the shoulders of another man! Whether our now-snuffed-out choice was better, we will never know. For that reason, we have lost our prerogative to throw "I told you so's" and "This is in your hands" at you. And for that same reason, we will be vigilant. We will not rest! We will defend our rights and cry for the things that this government ought to provide for us. We will be aware and informed, more now than ever before. We will be staunch critics, but only because we want Noy to do better! We will pray harder that God keeps Noynoy's conscience clean at all times, and should he stumble and reach a crossroad where he will be forced to pick between a moral and a political choice, that his conscience will guide him. These are tumultuous times, none more than the 6 years that's coming! We wish us all luck!

There is nothing more to say. You know very well why we digress. Whether the power to galvanize the nation and the gift of a clean, spotless, near-blank track-record is enough to pull us forward remains a polarizing debate that will now finally be answered. Our only consolation, underrated as this may sound, is that your guy won over other, more dubious, personalities! If this were a pick between lesser evils, Noy certainly fits the bill! Whether that is enough, that is something we postpone for another time!

So here we stand; a new era, a new term, a new model of governance! May this yellow represent the sunrise, hope.. The start of something new! Not some other yellow we'd all rather not talk about!

[Romeojin]

Congratulation YOU WIN ! Saludo ako sa inyong katapangan despite a lot facts hurl at noynoy.

Lets support Noynoy he needs all the help he can get esp if mapildi si Mar.

Noynoy we love you but please dont screw up ....

[Seishiro]

The best that we Filipinos can do is unite and help our New President accomplish what we all want him to accomplish.

[darkwing]

I hope Noynoy took this letter to heart

August 25, 1973
Fort Bonifacio
11:30pm

"You are my only son. You carry my name and the name of my father. I have no
material wealth to leave you. I never had time to make money while I was in
the hire of our people. For this I am very sorry. I had hopes of building a
little nest egg for you. I bought a ranch in Masbate in the hope that after
ten or fifteen years, the coconut trees I planted there would be yielding
enough to assure you a modest but comfortable existence. Unfortunately, I had
to sell all our properties as I fought battle after political battle as a
beleaguered member of the opposition. And after the last battle, I had more
obligations than assets.

The only valuable asset I can bequeath to you now is the name you carry. I
have tried my best during my years of public service to keep that name
untarnished and respected, unmarked by sorry compromises for expediency. I now
pass it on to you, as good, I pray, as when my father, your grandfather passed
it on to me.

I prepared a statement which I intend to read before the military commission
on Monday at the opening of my trial. I hope the commission members will be
understanding and kind enough to allow me to read my statement into the
record. This may well be my first and only participation in the entire
proceedings.

In this statement, I said: Some people suggested that I beg for mercy from the
present powers that be. Son, this I cannot do in conscience. I would rather
die on my feet with honor, than live on bended knees in shame.

Your great grandfather, Gen. Servilliano Aquino was twice condemned to death
by both the Spaniards and the American colonizers. Fortunately, he survived
both by a twist of fate. Your grandfather, my father was also imprisoned by
the Americans because he loved his people more than the Americans who
colonized us. He was finally vindicated. Our ancestors have shared the pains,
the sorrows and the anguish of Mother Filipinas when she was in bondage.

It is a rare privilege for me to join the Motherland in the dark dungeon where
she was led back by one of her own sons whom she lavished with love and glory.


I ended my statement thus: I have chosen to follow my conscience and accept
the tyrant's revenge.

It takes little effort to stop a tyrant. I have no doubt in the ultimate
victory of right over wrong, of evil over good, in the awakening of the
Filipino.

Forgive me for passing unto your young shoulders the great responsibility for
our family. I trust you will love your mother and your sisters and lavish them
with the care and protection I would have given them.

I was barely fifteen years old when my father died. His death was my most
traumatic experience. I loved and hero-worshipped him so much, I wanted to
join him in his grave when he passed away. But as in all sorrows, eventually
they are washed away by the rains of time.

In the coming years, I hope you will study very hard so that you will have a
solid foundation on which to build your future. I may no longer be around to
give you my fatherly advice. I have asked many of your uncles to help you
along should the need arise and I pray you will have the humility to drink
from their fountain of experiences.

Look after your two younger sisters with understanding and affection. Viel and
Krissy will need your umbrella of protection for a long time. Krissy is still
very young and fate has been most unkind to both of us. Our parting came too
soon. Please make up for me. Take care of her as I would have taken care of
her with patience and warm affection.

Finally, stand by your mother as she stood beside me through the buffeting
winds of crisis and uncertainties firm and resolute and uncowed. I pray to
God, you inherit her indomitable spirit and her rare brand of silent courage.

I had hopes of introducing you to my friends, showing you the world and guide
you through the maze of survival. I am afraid, you will now have to go it
alone without your guide.

The only advice I can give you: Live with honor and follow your conscience.

There is no greater nation on earth than our Motherland. No greater people
than our own. Serve them with all your heart, with all your might and with all
your strength.

Son, the ball is now in your hands.

Lovingly,

Dad"

[edgeknife]

i will give noynoy a benefit of the doubt... pero kung wa jud siya maayung mabuhat si noynoy for 6 months as president, then i will support any moves against him... if naa impeachment against noynoy, i will support it...

[boyq]

i hope he can manage our country well with the help of the people

[rowlinzzz]

As of now,yellow nata tanan but still looking forward for Gibo running for the senate this 2013 and for presidency this 2016.

[peewee_toot]

^^it's not gibo's loss jd...

[jeff_bonz59]

noynoy needs a firm and wise decision from now on in all the undertakings he has to make..

He is rumored to be a 'weakling' ra ba jud... I hope this time he stands up firmly on his commitments....

[tummyache]

i will support whoever the new president is. with the state of the country, he needs all the help he can get. Go, Philippines!