in my most honest opinion, i can only think of two words: free loader.

care to expound, comrade?

he only ever became a big name after the (rather conveniently timed) death of his mother.

if he were already a competent enough politician, his name would have been notable way before "tita Cory" died.

again, just my two pesos' worth of thought

Ayaw ko ng presidenteng walang buhok at hindi gwapo. AMP. Sabaw answer. But yeah, he's just riding with the heat of his mother's timely

death.

FX, i think you're highlighting a very important point: how the campaign sprung out of a moment of cultural euphoria

But can we really attribute Noynoy's magic to simply the entire Corymania? Or is there something more hidden underneath it?

Meaning, what is it with Noynoy that people aspire for in their politics? What are they after when they say they will actually vote for him?

nakikiepal: the intriguing life of Kris Aquino and Shalani Soledad.

To make it brief: CACIQUE DEMOCRACY REDUX. We still view democracy as something heralded by persons and not communities. True, the Aquino

myth is what sustains Noynoy, but then again are not almost all our campaign sorties boiling down to that? Perhaps it is quite difficult to

disassociate myth-making from our electoral process, but then again are not all nation-building myth-making as well? Noynoy for all his irks

embody our statement of democracy is, and our desire to maintain it. The entire Liberal campaign is the former stable status quo mangled by

Arroyo's technocrat-legalistic stranglehold, coming from Erap's transmogrification of existing patronage systems. A vote for Noynoy might be

seen as the "cleaning-up" step we need for token liberalization before genuine reform and democratization take place (remember our 194?).

Of course I can be wrong, with their permeable structures and administration cohorts jumping ship. No wonder: NOYNOY, HINDI KA NAG-IISIP.

my two centavos' worth: I'd rather a presidentiable who at least seems clean, and is riding a wave of whatever it is that at least you can

get behind without feeling like your soul's already got a reserved spot in the Ninth Circle. Kaysa naman yung naligo sa dagat ng basura.

Or yung mahilig sa pink fences. Or yung mahilig humalik ng pwet ng Amerikano.

ikei: Remember Hacienda Luisita?

yes, I remember very clearly. Which is why I said "seems" clean. I don't know anything about his involvement in it though, so no comment.

my point being: at least, of the current crop of presidentiables at least one person seems interested in being perceived as clean.

I realize how politically immature this sounds (I am not a polsci major), but hey, if someone can inspire feelings of unity without being

named Erap Estrada, it would seem like a good start. Flaws notwithstanding.

Don't worry; we do not discriminate, and the moment we begin using labels political discourse is lost. But to answer you, isn't that

perhaps our very problem? We always want to be squeaky clean to the point that we no longer inspire discussion? If any, Noynoy is trying to

actually break that image of being "squeaky clean kuno," acknowledging his weaknesses yet is trying to act politically. His hardline stance

on banning Arroyo from appointing the next Chief Justice can be a good start, but we have to watch him, lest he be another Mabini who can't

maintain and sustain this fragile national coalition. The challenge to Noynoy is to bring back the dignity of politics, while simultaneously

preparing it for the long-delayed (pardon the chauvinist euphemism) CIRCUMCISION.

Mike: the clean-slate factor indeed plays a poignant role in the Aquino campaign, and we can actually say that he is banking on this element

to provide what seems to be the "moral alternative" to our politics. Oh, and I believe you've met Hans.

Hi Leiron, hindi ka active moderator ng mga topic mo

dacanay eh, sorry.

Wenks. We have Benjie on Wednesday Good luck!