Last week, Isabela Governor Grace Padaca went to my school (where she graduated) and talked about good governance.

She spoke of her past uphill election battles with the powerful Dy Dynasty of her province, and how she is trying hard to bring about change in Isabela. She draws from her experience a profound optimism about the future of the country. Which is why she has joined the ranks of many reform-minded local government leaders, including Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio, in an effort to spread the trend of good governance throughout the country. She says her group plans to tap good leaders to run for the 2010 elections in localities throughout the Philippines.

Her optimism is good. But the question is, what’s the gameplan? I mean, we can all talk about hope, but without a concrete plan to bring about the kind of change this country needs, the talking would be useless. Like where would their group get the money to face the mighty machinery of the dynasties, for instance?

The elections of Padaca and Panlilio surprised the trapos. But I believe they know better now than to dismiss reformist candidates as mere nuisance. They have the resources. And they would use them to prevent the likes of Padaca and Panlilio from gaining power come election time.

2010 is just two years away. We who love this country should get our acts together and formulate a doable course of action to oust the bad and to elect the good. And we must start doing so now.

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