People still ask why

This is how I describe the sudden announcement last week of Chiz Escudero of leaving his party, NPC, to become an independent candidate. NPC is a respectable political party. Most people, including me, would think that Chiz is lucky to be at the forefront and in fact, preferred to run as the party's standard bearer. His decision to leave the party, and therefore, the party machinery as his tool in his campaign for the highest post in the land, left a lot of wonder to a lot of political observers.

Of course he has his reasons. And it is his declaration that to be a true leader, one should not be influenced by party politics. One should be independent, loyal only to the Filipino people he serves.

The fact that days after his declaration people still wonder about the decision only means that such a reason is a lot of baloney. Chiz is like a college student trying to rationalize why a certain girl that he is wooing did not return his affection. Na-basted kung baga. He turned to thinking that he doesn't like that girl anyway to begin with.

The comparison is not surprising. Chiz has always exhibited the "youth" in politics, both idealistic, which is good, but also immature, which is bad. But what strikes me is the fact that one who is so young, idealistic as he projects himself to be, can actually play the deception game to the people he claims he wants to serve.

Only a fool would believe that what Chiz said in his announcement were actually the facts. It does not take rocket science to see the inconsistency of his reasons for leaving the party to the fact that he stayed in the party for 11 years. Chiz did not say the real reason for leaving his party. One can speculate that the most logical cause is the fact that he did not get the support that he asked from party leaders, specifically its founder, Danding Cojuangco.

It's kind of alarming that we would be used to the deception game in politics, even coming from so young and so idealistic as Chiz. This only points to the fact that his idealism is not what it seems.

In the end, Chiz is like a kid that shouldn't be taken seriously. He had made an almost political suicide in the decision he made. If he still ran for president as an independent, that would tantamount to finally pulling the trigger. Better for him to just shoot himself in the head.

The Circus is in Town

It has begun. The election fever. Even though it's still 6 months away. It has already swept the nation. More than the onslaughts of the recent typhoons.

Candidates are making their presence felt. Loyalties are beginning to shift. Intentions are beginning to show. Debates and arguments are already being heard around. The future of a country is now being written.

I feel that this election is an important one. Now more than ever. Not just politically, but for me personally. I'm at my point in my life that the decision I will make in my political life will be the most mature one. I'm at the prime of my intellectual and social self. I feel my vote has to be thought out very carefully and ethically, only with my love for my country as my driving force and nothing else.

And that is why I thought of dedicating a whole blogging space for my thoughts in this election. This is my thinking process leading to my vote. It is a serious vote. With all my passion for this country's future along with it.