Tuesday, April 30, 2013

No. 24 Ramon Magsaysay, Jr. – Philippine Senator


I personally know Ramon Magsaysay, Jr. In politics, that could be a double-edge sword. Either one knows him in a negative sense or knows him with all the attributes of a good human being in general, and of a public servant in particular.

I never experienced anything really negative. What I perceived are mostly positive traits that prompted my unconditional endorsement of his Senatorial candidacy.

4 H Club

In the 2010 Presidential elections I endorsed Noynoy Aquino based on what I called 4 Hs – HONESTY, HUMILITY, HONOR, and HOPE.

PNoy’s “Walang Corrupt, Walang Mahirap” and “Daang Matuwid” platform or programs reflected his “HONESTY is the best policy” anti-corruption campaign. The drive against the “Wang Wang” mentality reflected his HUMILITY and anti-impunity and arrogance in public service.

In less than 3 years in office, PNoy brought HONOR to the Philippines beyond expectation. Most recently, Time Magazine chose him as one of the 23 Most Influential World Leaders. The list included, among others, Pope Francis, U.S. President Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye, Somalia President Hassan Sheik Mohamud, Malawi President Joyce Banda, U.S. Vice President Biden, and North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.

Earlier, he was chosen as one of the only eight members of the steering committee of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) co-chaired by President Obama and Brazil President Dilma Rousseff.

For the first time in Philippine history the country is given an Investment Grade Rating Upgrade.  Fitch Ratings provided it.  The unassailable major factor noted is Good Governance and Transparency Practices that are strongly espoused under the Aquino government. HOPE is quite high for more investments, greater job opportunities, and a better tomorrow for the Philippines.

H.E.R.O.

Ramon Magsaysay, Jr. is the embodiment of PNoy’s “Daang Matuwid” (Straight Path) policy of good governance and transparency. Anywhere he serves his public responsibility, he does it with genuine public service always coupled with Honesty, Efficiency, Responsiveness, and Openness in Governance (H.E.R.O). This is the platform that guides him in public life.

If elected, he would set the standard for HONESTY, HUMILITY, HONOR, and HOPE in the Legislature as PNoy is doing in the Executive branch. He has been in the Senate before. In fact, when he ran for the Senate in 1995, he garnered the 3rd highest number of votes. He had a very distinguished career in the Senate for 12 years wherein he earned the “Most Outstanding Senator” award from Graphic Magazine.

He rested for a few years because of term limits but reinforced his technical skills as a Mechanical Engineer and business acumen having taken post-graduate studies in business administration at Harvard Business School and at New York University.

As a result, he earned the title “Father of Cable Television in the Philippines” having pioneered it and spread the opportunities nationwide. I had the privilege of working with him in introducing the latest technologies on cable TV programming at a critical period of the industry.

At the turn of the century, he again earned another title that should endear him to the Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants in this generation – “First Internet Man of the Year” from Web Magazine. If you are reading this column or blog from the digital edition of Asian Journal USA, the Google BlogSpot, or Facebook you should appreciate, advocate, and promote his candidacy for the Senate for he is the best candidate, bar none, who could ably represent the interest of users of social media, convergent communications, and/or multi-media. His proposal to install Internet broadband in every barangay and his authorship of the E-Commerce Law when he was a Senator should give you a clear indication of his progressive agenda for the country.

CAN

In this year’s election, former Senate President Frank Drilon and PNoy offered Jun Magsaysay a spot on Team PNoy. The latter accepted because, as he said, “Duty calls” and he wants to be part of PNoy’s good governance and transparency policies and undertaking.

Jun Magsaysay was given the opportunity to become a Senator again because, at this point in our history, he CAN – meaning, he has the Character, Achievements, and Name.

His Character shows a nice, decent, honest, and unpretentious genuine guy.  His Achievements in the private sector and most especially as a legislator reflect his advocacies and priorities. For the soldiers who risk their lives in defense of freedom and our way of life, he initiated an Off-base Housing Program; and authored the New AFP Base Pay Law (RA9166) and the New AFP Table of Organization Law (RA 9188) and initiated reforms in the AFP as well. For farmers and fishermen, he advocated the Young Farmers Program, and authored the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (RA 8435), and, to protect their interests, he successfully investigated the Fertilizer Fund Scam. For the poor he provided scholarships, livelihood opportunities, and health assistance.  For the elderly and retirees, he strengthened the Social Security System (RA 8282).  To attract investments, he authored the New Foreign Investments Act (RA 8179) and Amendments to the Omnibus Investments Code (RA 8756).  More importantly, he authored the Magna Carta for Small and Medium Enterprises (RA 8289) and the Anti-Money Laundering Law (RA 1980).

Like Father, Like Son

 The late President Ramon Magsaysay, Sr. was going after bandits and crooks in government, election cheaters, terrorists, and warlords. He identified with the “Common Tao” advocating that “those who have less in life must have more in law.” He espoused the Christian doctrine equivalent of “Preferential Option for the Poor.”

Unfortunately, the late President died prematurely in a plane crash ending what would have been a Straight Path or “Daang Matuwid” in his generation.

Filipinos should despair no more! In our midst is the only son committed to protect his name and legacy. His advocacies are the same as his father’s but adjusted to the needs of our time. He bears the same name with pride and honor. He wears it with no higher ambitions except genuine and better public service.

Ramon Magsaysay, Jr. is my guy! I just told you why. If you were my friend, “AYE” would be a good reply. Crooks must say goodbye; in hell they fry, the moment they die.

Filipinos roar as they check No. 24. Hopes would soar with Magsaysay on the Senate floor!

MABUHAY si MAGSAYSAY!

No comments:

Post a Comment