Interesting 2010 Presidential Race

Right now, the Philippines is struck with a confluence of events leading up to the May 2010 general elections. Formal announcements of major politicians aiming for the top post of the land -- the Presidency -- always hug the front pages of leading dailies in the country. Mike Velarde of El Shaddai has intimated to his flock about his desire to enter the presidential race. He in effect is conducting a feedback survey, asking his more than six million members if they are in one opinion with him to run as a presidential candidate. One reason steering Mike Velarde to run -- if the members will support him -- is his belief that there is no other worthwhile candidate currently vying for the top political post that will lead the nation to prosperity. Meanwhile, Mr. Velarde also told President Arroyo that he will only support her till her term ends in June 2010. This is one glimmer of hope in the sense that there is a possibility that 2010 presidential elections will push through and a new President will take over the control of government from Arroyo. Indirectly, Mr. Velarde is hinting that he and his millions of El Shaddai flock will not tolerate any "shenanigans" from President Arroyo and his minions like declaring martial law or pushing through with the Constituent Assembly leading up to Charter Change. Still, one cannot but nurture suspicions that there might be another alternative that the Arroyo regime is planning to implement to cause the extension of her term beyond 2010. The fact that Arroyo herself was very stingy with words to clarify in black and white her intention to leave her post after June 2010 keeps the Filipinos in a state of puzzlement. Anyway, the surge of patriotism that is evident in every Filipino right after the grand burial of the icon of democracy -- President Corazon Aquino -- is a source of comfort for everyone and a warning perhaps, to those who would create political chaos and place the country in the precipice of another political emergency. Right now, the only emergency that the people would want to face is the holding of the 2010 general elections. This is the only way that will put the Philippines in the map of real economic recovery and true political transformation.