Dick Gordon

I'm sure most of you have seen the debates on TV and have noticed how superior Dick Gordon is over all the other candidates, but are afraid to vote for him because of his dismal ratings. We are afraid that if our vote is wasted on Dick Gordon, the other corrupt candidates (we all know who they are) will win. That's why we are willing to settle for someone who appears strong enough to defeat them even though he does not have the same sterling track record of Gordon. But do we really want to be influenced by these surveys, when our conscience is telling us that this country's best hope is Dick?

You may be wondering why I am so involved in this. Why am I wasting time writing and trying to convince you to vote for Senator Gordon? My selfish reason is that I am in the prime of my youth. The next six years will probably be the most productive years of my career. Therefore, I want a President who can run this country well so that my efforts to earn and save for my family will be maximized within a secure and productive society. It is also my wish that my son will no longer look abroad to find his fortune. I dream that one day the Philippines will be as prosperous as Singapore or at least Malaysia. So please indulge me by allowing me to enumerate my reasons why I think Dick Gordon is the best man for the job:

1. His knowledge of Philippine history is greater than the knowledge of all the other candidates combined. If the other candidates really cared about this country then shouldn't they care enough to at least learn about its past? Gordon's knowledge of Philippine history shines in the debates. I learn knew things about our proud past every time I hear him talk. Doesn't this tell us how passionate this man is about our country?

2. He is the only candidate who has changed the behavior of Filipinos. Gordon could not have transformed Subic alone. But, he was responsible for inspiring thousands of volunteers to make Subic work. Today, Subic continues to be the engine of growth for Central Luzon employing more than 200,000 Filipinos. No other candidate for President has inspired people to volunteer and offer their talents in the achievement of a Great Cause in the same magnitude as Subic. Sure, Erap and Villar may have captured the hearts of the masses, but what have they really done about it? Did they rally the masses towards anything good at all? If Gordon was able to do it for the thousands of volunteers in Subic, I'm sure that he can do it again for the rest of the country.

3. Senator Gordon was present in all the relief efforts for all the calamities that hit the country. He was in the middle of the action during the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, the earthquake that devastated Baguio, the flooding of Ondoy and countless others. A lot of politicians tried to get