EAGLE EYES – Dean Tony La Viña: Stories of ambition, destiny and victory
Nolo Gregorio
EAGLE EYES – Dean Tony La Viña
12 July 2011, Manila Standard Today
Stories of ambition, destiny and victory
More than a year ago, while the presidential election campaign was still going on, journalists Chay Florentino-Hofileña and Miriam Grace A. Go came to me to discuss a book idea. Earlier, the two have collaborated with the Ateneo School of Government (AsoG) in writing a book that has become a classic – How to Win an Election: Lessons from the Experts. In April 2010, they came to me to know what I thought about their writing a book on the presidential campaigns. Immediately, I supported the idea and encouraged them. Such a book would not only be interesting but would be very useful for future campaigns and elections. Indeed, I thought then and think now that such a book would be a great service to a nation that does not learn its lessons well.
Hofileña and Go does not disappoint with Ambition Destiny Victory, which last Wednesday, in the Ateneo de Manila University, was launched in a program sponsored by AsoG, the Political Science and Communications Departments of Ateneo de Manila, and Newsbreak. Published by Cacho Publishing House and sub-titled “Stories from A Presidential Election", the elegantly designed book (available in AsoG, Newsbreak and National Bookstore) is a compendium of stories from the 2010 Presidential elections, giving readers an in-depth and fascinating look, at the innermost dynamics of the presidential campaigns run by the major candidates during in last year's elections. In particular, the authors bring us inside the campaigns of Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, Manny Villar, Joseph "Erap" Estrada and Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro, helping us understand personal and political decisions that the campaigns or specific individuals made. An added treat in the book is the behind-the-scenes account of the come-from-behind upset victory of Jejomar Binay against the expected winner Mar Roxas.
Using simple, story-telling prose, the authors describes how Noynoy, despite being a latecomer in the presidential campaign, still won the elections and why Villar gave up at the final homestretch after pouring in billions into his well-prepared and resource stacked campaign. The authors also probes the inner workings of the Erap campaign and how Erap’s core support was still intact despite being impeached, ousted and even convicted. In the words of former Senator Ernesto Maceda, Erap could have won again if not for two deaths – Cory's and Eraño Manalo (who, according to Maceda, would have delivered the Iglesia ni Kristo vote to his close friend). The book also tells the story of how Gibo ended up abandoning the Nationalist Peoples' Coalition, the party of his uncle Danding Cojuangco (whose family then accuses their relative of ingratitude to his erstwhile political mentor), and casting his lot with the Lakas-Kampi-CMD. The administration party was a formidable machinery in theory but was handicapped by the stigma of its association with the unpopular President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
What makes the book even more compelling reading is that the authors succeeds in bringing us into the minds and even the hearts of the protagonists, humanizing them and making us sympathize with them no matter our political inclinations. We see Noynoy uncertain and wavering as he is called to take on the mantle of leadership; the presidency is clearly both mission and burden passed on to him from his hero-parents. We sympathize with Manny Villar as the negative attacks against him accelerated and his campaign collapses, unable to respond. We sense the regret and sense of betrayal felt by the Teodoro followers (true believers – many of whom converted after hearing the candidate or interacting with them – that he was the best qualified to be president) as that campaigned faltered and Gibo could not shake off the burden of being the administration candidate. Many of us would have mixed feelings as we read about Erap and the increasing confidence of his camp as the election neared.
Likewise, the accounts of the Binay and Roxas campaigns give us a glimpse of their characters: Binay coming out very professional and systematic as a campaigner, what I would call a "happy warrior" who enjoy the practice and art of politics; as for Roxas, despite of the mistakes he and his campaign made that lost them the elections, the ultimate picture that emerges is of a man who loved his country more than his ambition.
For a taste of the book, of how at the same time the authors wrote history and biography, below are excerpts from its main chapters:
"During conversations with Noynoy, Roxas asked him directly if he wanted to run. He was also categorical in saying that if Noynoy wanted the presidency, he would not stand in the way. And when Noynoy finally told him he wanted to run for president, Roxas became reclusive and kept to himself for a short while". (From the chapter Torchbearer)
"I spent what, 2 billion? Kaya naman kitain iyan uli (That can be earned back.) Villar wistfully told one of his trusted friends. 'I like to build. I've built houses. I've built a foundation. I'm building a party. I thought I was building this nation . . . I'm very quick to move on. I will not spend the rest of my life thinking of this election." (From the chapter The Businessman as Politician).
"The plan was how to get Estrada on attack mode again, especially since they (Estrada's campaign strategists) knew that attacking Aquino's person was out of the question for their candidate. Estrada just had "so much love and respect for Cory" and he also admittedly had a soft spot for the young Aquino." (From the chapter Champion or Rogue: The Sequel)
"Hurt as he might have been, Teodoro 'still looked up to the President (Arroyo)', a member of his inner circle said. 'He was still grateful for the break she had given him. His thinking was, bahala na matalo, basta ang karakter ko, buo (Never mind if I lose as long as my character is intact.) (From Wrong Turn for Mr. Right)
To end, let me quote from the note of the publisher Ramon C. Sunico, whom I call The Bookmaker as he designed this book (disclosure: he also published my first book on environmental law 20 years ago) and Professor (as he taught me Philosophy of Religion, Plato and Children's Literature): "This book then leads out of the pointless convenience of demonization and the easy boxes of political expediency and shows how our leaders invested not only money or time or effort but their very humanity in our peoples' favorite form of both government and entertainment. Because it does that, it helps us realize that at least one way to win in the political game, is to step out of it and so, to learn." How true, indeed how very true.
Email: Tony...@gmail.com Facebook: Tony...@gmail.com Twitter: tonylavs
--
Antonio G. M. La Viña
Ateneo School of Government
Pacifico Ortiz Hall,
Social Development Complex
Ateneo de Manila University
Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights,
Quezon City 1108, Metro Manila
Philippines
Telefax: +632-4264279
Trunkline: +632-4266001 local 4620/4649
Email: tony...@gmail.com
cecil contreras
gud pm sir manolo. ask k lang po wen is our first mtg in Public Finance. I thought Nov. 5 is still our module break. My second concern is I cannot enrol dis week but next week pa po. Can I attend the class even if I am not officially enrolled should we have a class dis sat. ty
cecil contreras |