FilAms enthralled as presidential campaign comes to town

Posted: April 3rd, 2016 ˑ Filled under: Politics ˑ No Comments

The panel of presidential surrogates at the Kapihan-Know Your Candidates forum, from Left Jesse Arteche, Arturo Garcia, Sani Guillena, and Loida Nicolas Lewis. Moderator is Ricky Rillera, president of the Fil-Am Press Club of New York. Photo by Lambert Parong/Balitang New York

By Cristina DC Pastor

More than 200 people packed the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center on March 30 to listen to representatives discuss their presidential candidates’ proposals to fight corruption, address criminality, and introduce social reforms.

Management consultant Jesse Arteche argued that a vote for Jojo Binay is the “solution” to the corruption and greed in the Philippines, a remark that prompted ripples of laughter across the hall. Binay, 73, is facing a mountain of corruption charges, including the alleged overprice in the construction of a Makati carpark building.

L.A.-based community organizer Arturo Garcia said he is supporting Grace Poe, 47, because she is principled, intelligent, experienced, simple and because “she will continue Daang Matuwid.” Some in the audience wondered if it was the right message because Daang Matuwid (meaning ‘straight path’) is a phrase associated with President Benigno Aquino III and his handpicked candidate, Mar Roxas.

Rodrigo Duterte, 71, was represented by former newsman Sani Guillena. He spoke passionately of the Davao City mayor’s vow to quit as president if he is not successful in eradicating crime and “streamlining the justice system” within 3 to 6 months from taking office.

For her part, CEO and philanthropist Loida Nicolas Lewis chronicled how “corruption entered our very soul” in the nearly 20 years dictator Ferdinand Marcos was in power. The leaders who came after him have made some progress, some have stumbled, but efforts to rid the government of graft practices began in earnest during the Aquino presidency when he sent powerful politicians behind bars. She said her candidate, Mar Roxas, 58, who has been a loyal member of the Aquino Cabinet is in the best position to continue his road to reforms, known as Daang Matuwid.

“The Philippines, which used to be known as one of the corrupt countries, is now the new tiger economy in Asia,” she stressed.

The audience, divided into four partisan camps, applauded their favorite panelists and groaned the other speakers they did not agree with. Some wore party T-shirts, carried banners, and sat together as packs of devotees cheering their candidates.

The event, billed as Know Your Candidates-Kapihan forum was jointly organized by the Philippine Consulate and the Fil-Am Press Club of New York. Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. said the large turnout affirmed the community’s “desire to be involved in civil engagement.” They want to know, he said, the candidates’ positions on key issues so that “they are more confident in their choices.”

Arteche denounced the charges against candidate Binay as baseless “black propaganda” drummed up by his political foes. He said Binay is the most qualified and is ready to run the government on Day One with “no need for on the job training.”

Candidate Poe, according to Garcia, respects the law and the process. “She went through the process (as the Comelec determined the constitutionality of her candidacy),” he said, admiring her simplicity, integrity, and principles. If there is one candidate who will sign the Freedom of Information Act into law, it would be Poe, he said.

Guillena said candidate Duterte is “not vindictive,” defending his statement supporting a hero’s burial for Ferdinand Marcos. He said Duterte is “incorruptible” and will not condone corruption even if they are committed by people in his Cabinet.

Lewis said candidate Roxas is the most qualified to deal with the international community. He has the educational attainment, the experience as Trade and Industry Secretary under two administrations, and “has an idea of how America thinks.” She disputed allegations that Roxas misused funds raised for Typhoon Yolanda, saying some of the funds were pledges and “were actually not given.” She defended his record as Transportation Secretary who is widely blamed for the massive traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

“He reviewed (Metro Rail Transit) contracts and terminated those he found detrimental to the government,” she said.

The well-attended forum ran for more than two hours and got the crowd hyped up, some said they wouldn’t mind seeing a “second round.”

“Hope there will be a second round,” said Duterte follower Ernesto Pamolarco, an NYC public school teacher. “The format (should) give each speaker time for rebuttal and the audience to ask and make follow-up questions. Lahat ng mga speakers magagaling, at behave naman kaming mga audience, pero nabitin kami.”