GMA, Erap leadership styles analyzed

By Gonzalo Duque

ALL this hullabaloo about President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s low acceptability ratings should cause us to reflect.

Is it a must for our President to be popular — or to do the right things for the country?

If we take a long view about how things are going on in our country, it looks like our diminutive lady president is about to be swallowed up by an angry mob.

Well, of course media is partly to blame, Sabi nga ni Benny Antiporda, ang butihing presidente ng National Press Club, press freedom in this country is freer than that in America, the mother of press freedom in the world.

But, it’s not just the press that we would blame for the president’s negative press; we blame also if not more the president’s political detractors who have never stopped throwing mud and brimstone at our dainty but super-brilliant president. But did anyone of you bother to see what in God’s name has she done for the country?

While we decided to write this, we opted to use the newly opened Tarlac-Subic Highway, and what did we see? A brand new 33-kilometer highway that cuts travel time to Manila by about 20 minutes.

Very few people have used or seen it. But it’s a heavenly drive we had there last Wednesday.

Back to Dagupan, you should also use that newly opened Dawel-Lucao diversion road. These two new infra projects are just a tip of the massive new infrastructure achievements that the Arroyo administration has done for the country.

In fact, what Gloria Arroyo has done in barely 6 to 8 years has eclipsed all the infra accomplishments that previous presidents have done singly or collectively.

Now, tell us, what has Erap done for the nation? Kaibigan ko yan, but we are not talking of friendship here, but leadership. Erap is super popular, right, but what kind of a leader is he?

Ate Glo is not popular because she is not the backslapping type of a leader, But she delivers, does the right things right.

Why do you say she couldn’t be good leader because she doesn’t satisfy the whims and caprices of the majority? You see, we hate to hurt the many of you, but what kind of leaders do our majority vote for sometimes? We have reservations in our democratic way of life because elections are often bought. We need to change this lifestyle. That’s why we need a leader who, even if unpopular, but does the right things right. Right?

* * * *

We were asked about Congressman Joe de Venecia. Well, we always say, he miscalculated his math when he courted a vote showdown in the House which he thought was in his palm.

Manong Joe has had his days of glory, but the times are changing, and there are new leaders who may be better equipped than the first ones.

But we wish to say this. Hindi pa tapos si Manong Joe. We are sure babalik yan, he’ll bounce back into the big league in Philippine politics, maybe not as president or prime minister but in a field that he is most at home with — foreign affairs. Watch for it. He has tremendous talents and the country needs him yet.

If you ask us, huwag na siyang magtestify sa NBN ZTE case. Magugulo lang siya. Bercause GMA, if we know her, will not take any umbrage sitting down.

* * * *

Two mayors who have impressed me no end are Nestor Pulido of Anda and Hermie Romero of Mangaldan.

Did you know that the pocketbook-addict Nestor was a close associate of Joe Ma. Sison during their college years at UP? Na preso rin yan tulad ni JunVelasco nung nag martial law. But he is a decent, brilliant LGU leader. He, along with his beautiful wife Alice, who is a board member, has lifted the island town from the backwoods.

Slowly but surely, the town has metamorphosed into a modernizing municipality, thanks to the Pulidos.

In Mangaldan, the town’s sleepy nature has been converted into a sprightly LGU that at times you’d mistake for a city — parang extension ng Dagupan.

Gifted with an ability to carefully manage resources, Mayor Hermie is loved by the masa because of his humility and unmatched skill in delivering basic services to his constituents.

Thumbs up for these two mayors, Nestor and Hermie.

(Readers may reach columnist at punch.sunday@gmail.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/playing-with-fire/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

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