January 05, 2003

The Philippine STAR, Opinion Page

Unity: Key to GMA's Success

By Babe Romualdez

Shortly before December 30, I saw PGMA at the US ambassador’s residence in Baguio for a small Christmas gathering. She seemed pensive and deep in thought. I told myself this is probably the worse time ever to become President. But then again, if she just sets aside politics, she could seriously begin to solve the country’s many problems. Little did I know she did more than that: she decided not to run in 2004. Like everyone else, I was surprised and stunned. I was so impressed that right after her radio interview with Korina Sanchez, I put a call through to her and told her “Madam President, you just made history.” She replied matter-of-factly, “Deciding not to run was easy. The hard part is unifying the country.”

PGMA hit it right on the nose. No one can dispute the fact that this country is so fragmented and divided, everything seems to be in disarray. People, for the most part, do not agree about many things. There’s the Left, the Right, and the Center. There’s the MILF, the MNLF and the NPAs. Incumbent officials and the opposition are always at each other’s throats. Even at the Senate, I am told, there is a demarcation line between the opposition and administration senators. We know of large families that are so divided by politics that they haven’t spoken to each other in decades. This increases the feeling of anxiety and desperation in the air. As such, many believe that if we do not unite soon, an impending disaster could occur. PGMA was right. Divisiveness is our number one problem, and from where she’s sitting, she knows more than anyone else what is happening to the country. Many do not realize the enormity of the problems that are plaguing the country today. But most of these are solvable through a unified political will. The work is not easy, unless the majority of the people rally behind her.

The President’s initial agenda is to boost the economy and have a credible and honest election in 2004. As I have said time and again, 2004 is critical because it will set the country’s fate for the next decade. If PGMA succeeds, she could stand as a king-maker and anoint her successor and continue her roadmap for a real strong republic. History may just repeat itself just as in 1992 when Mrs. Aquino chose FVR and there was a perceived political and economic stability.

Of course, there are a few cynics, doubting Thomases, and detractors who think the president is still playing politics with her decision. Perhaps, PGMA could borrow and paraphrase the line of George W., and tell these people “Either you’re with me and the country, or against us. If you’re against us, then ship out.” There’s no doubt her success depends entirely on how she will be able to unify the country, and the kind of support she will be given.

The biggest advantage about PGMA’s decision not to run in 2004 is that now she can do what needs to be done because she has set herself free from all political ties and debts. She can now be a good president as she has said from the very start. She has gotten rid of the first plague – the first P – which is politics, and the rest of the other Ps that plague this country – poverty, population and pollution – can now be addressed. With the little time left for this term, if she accomplishes only 50 percent of what she set out to do, then she will have made her mark in history. There is probably nothing more gratifying for a president or any leader for that matter than to be recognized by your own people and by the international community. Even in Hong Kong, PGMA’s decision got good reviews, with the South China Morning Post saying, “With her decision not run in the 2004 elections, the Philippine president now has the single biggest opportunity to make meaningful changes her country badly needs. She now has no problem stepping on anybody’s toes. She can do what she needs to do to move the country forward so it can finally catch up with its Asian neighbors.”

To many, the mark of a true statesman is to know when to give up power when the time comes. Lee Kuan Yew knew when it was time for him to go. Suharto did not. Mahatir’s timeline is nearing its end. PGMA, perhaps with the help of Divine guidance, has decided that her role should be that of a transitory President, to heal the nation and show the way towards a new kind of politics, one that pursues the national interest above personal ambition. All these years, this is what people have been longing for.

As the saying goes, all good things come in small packages. She may just be that. Let us all hope that PGMA succeeds in making history because her failure would mean that she, together with all of us, will become history.

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