Caffeine Sparks wrote earlier that she found nothing spectacular about Mar Roxas. As a vocal critic of Mar, that meeting last Friday made me realize one thing–we are asking too much and too many things for just one guy to actually provide answers and solve these societal problems which are monumental in the first place, that would require not just executive power to cure; rather, needs collective effort to finally put an end.

Why do we repose so much hope on just one person? That was my mistake earlier in my life. For those who know me, I advocate caudillo-ism. Caudillo-ism maybe contemptuous to many, but I find it rather fitting given the character of our nation akin to Latin America. However, as I delve deeper into systems study, I found that the solution lies on imposing collective leadership instead of personalistic leadership. The root causes of our misery are deep-seated and it needs a total re-engineering of the entire state superstructure to be able to cause substantial changes.

Before we say anything about any candidate, let me pose clarificatory questions: what is our leadership paradigm? What are the attributes we want to find in our presidentiable? Before we subject anyone to closer scrunity, let us first determine these attributes, then, subject each and every candidate to this criterion.

Caffeine said she was uninspired by the answers of Mar Roxas. As a part of the academe, Caffeine is probably expecting something like an academic answer to an otherwise non-academic question. This is one pitfall of those coming from an academic background (like myself) since we expect people to say highfalutin, academic mumbo-jumbo instead of actually hearing explanations as simplified as a PHD can get.

The measure of an expert is the ability to simplify reality. To be able to get to the bottom of things without creating a technical jungle first. I can definitely say, without battling an eyelash, that that was the first time I saw Mar up close and personal. I just read his statements in the newspapers. I just listened to his interviews over television and radio.

And I tell you–and this is my personal take–Mar Roxas got my vote. Surviving a DJB attack to my mind, is admirable. Parrying those blows from other bloggers, including those coming from Jester, Ding and myself is rather commendable. Is he fit to be president? To my mind, he is. I’ve talked with others, like Noli Kabayan de Castro, Manny Villar, Cheez Escudero and Loren Legarda and really, I found those conversations a waste of my time. No one came close to Mar Roxas, no one, in terms of honesty, integrity of answers and knowledge on the subject matter. No one.  

My leadership paradigm rests on just five things: First, strength of character. Is this person morally tough to reject  those juicy offers that the position entails? Is he exhibiting strong political will? Second, mental toughness. Can this person provide answers to certain problems without babbling through technicalities, rather providing simplified answers? Third, knowledgeable. Is he a wide reader? Fourth, principled. Does this candidate have a personal ideology that determines the quality of his decisions? Does he believe on something? And lastly, frankness and transparency. Is this candidate someone who practices transparency in his everyday life?

Let me pose a challenge to my colleagues who were there last Friday—please cite just one presidential aspirant who, in your mind, approximates the candidness, the knowledge, the moral frankness and imposing a steely will the way Mr. Roxas exhibited last Friday?

Caffeine, the person we need come 2010 is a person who understands the people’s needs and who will serve as their voice in Malacanang. If we expect an expert to occupy the highest post in the land, then, we can’t find that one. Are we looking for an inspiring figure? Yes. But our concept of an inspiring leader runs counter with that of the people’s. For the people, you are actually looking for another Erap.

Mar, I believe, is still a work in progress. In time, with nationalists in his team, expect a fresher, more amiable and a more stronger fighter out of Mar Roxas. I would rather go for someone who has a strong principle and a stronger viewpoint on issues rather than a veteran wheeler-dealer (like Villar), or a baritone useless (like De Castro) or an aimless damsel in distress (like Loren). Or worst, a pretending oppositionist who fools the people everytime he opens his mouth (Cheez). I see Mar like I see Senate President Jovito Salonga, the one I supported in 1992. It’s just up to us to recognize the futility of looking for someone like Jesus Christ with a mind of an Einstein and consider the chance of taking part in the molding of someone who’ll probably be the best president in our generation.

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