Loren’s leap

E·N·Q·U·I·R·Y
DEMAREE J.B. RAVAL

Loren’s leap
Sunday, 10 12, 2003

Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda’s declaration of independence from her political party caught the Lakas lackeys off-guard – and groping for a plausible explanation on why a stalwart such as she would dissociate herself from the party. How can the hacks of Lakas discredit a speech about political civility and decency without sounding like mindless political attack dogs as they go about it? Loren’s resignation was without bitterness or rancor, without a dog-eared list of carefully nurtured personal grievances that beg to be aired at last. It was a quiet and sober statement about the need to speak freely and objectively, without being “encumbered by partisan interests.”

The short speech invoked deeply-held ideals and nurtured principles, and the duty and obligation of a public leader to go against what is convenient and pragmatic whenever these ideals and principles are threatened. Echoing a quote from one of the Kennedys – about sailing against the wind but holding the rudder true – she thus separated herself from the main fleet under which she sailed and set a course after her own heart, choppy waters ahead notwithstanding.

The Lakas people came out with a very lame and pathetic reaction. They claim that since Loren has gone on record as intending to run for vice president, and that she could not fit into the Lakas strategem, she decided to leave the party. Lakas cannot sell a two-woman tandem, they added, obviously referring to an Arroyo-Legarda team in 2004.

Loren invoked principles and core beliefs; the Lakas lackeys spoke of “selling a team,” as if politics were strictly a piece of merchandise that the public could be gulled into buying because it is “new and improved,” or because it contains “simply the best” choice there is. And like the commercials on television, the insistent attempt to these explanations to sound credible only spoke of the self-serving agenda of Lakas, which, it is now apparent, has no real agenda except winning the elections.

In a milieu of partisan servility, Loren’s courageous proclamation of her emancipation is deserving of our admiration. Her courage at this point becomes not simply one of her virtues, but the avatar of every one of her virtues subjected to the test.

It is a grave mistake to dismiss Loren as just one of those whose pretty faces are the only qualifications that got them elected into public office. Behind the “glamour” of this petite granddaughter of the late Joe Bautista, the legendary editor of the pre-martial law Manila Times, are the virtues of integrity, discipline and competence that has characterized her 25 years in public life.

Loren’s years in journalism have been spent looking into – and often affecting – the issues, the personalities and events that shaped the course of the country. Of recent memory is her courageous trek to mountain redoubts of the Mindanao rebels to work out the release of hostaged military officers. In that instance she wasn’t even courageous, if by courage we mean having power and control over fear. She was – as she still is – fearless: Fearless of physical danger, fearless of criticism, fearless of people. Was she not described as the “only senator with balls” after a particular crucial vote on the Senate floor?

And it doesn’t hurt any to discover that behind that pretty face lies a cranium brimming with brains. Loren graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines and emerged at the top of her class in a master’s course at the National Defense College of the Philippines.

The reaction to Loren’s emancipation proclamation drew multi-partisan support and encouragement. Her Senate seatmate, Juan Flavier of Lakas, went to the extent of saying he will support whatever future political decision Loren might take. Gov. Joel Reyes of Palawan said also. Many non-government and people’s organizations all vowed unconditional support. Minutes after the resignation from Lakas, LDP Sen. Rodolfo Biazon joined Loren at the Senate Public Information Office, and said she is most welcome to join the LDP.

Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. resigned as president of Lakas a day after Loren’s declaration of independence – another ominous foreshadowing for the fate of that party. Right now, there are several Lakas members in the House who are contemplating on doing the same thing. The true face of what was once perceived as the Lakas colossus is now being stripped of its embellishments, and it is becoming apparent that it has feet of clay, after all. The handwriting is now on the wall as a grim reminder for the party: mene mene, thekel, phares – “Your days are numbered, you have been weighed and found wanting, your kingdom is divided.” It looks like it will be but a matter of time before this colossus comes crumbling down.

At the moment, Loren is enjoying every minute of her political independence and emancipation. She is actually on a soul-searching stage; I am sure that she did look before she leaped. And I am equally sure that whatever move she decides to take – for instance, the presidency, with Noli de Castro as runningmate – many (make that millions) will be behind her.

An amusing story about Loren, probably apocryphal and concocted by her colleagues runs thus: In her TV days, Loren was said to often speak a little too fast as she broadcast the news that the teleprompter could hardly keep pace with her.

In the 2004 elections, if and when Loren decides to steer her own political ship to the presidency, it will be a happy event to see her sailing against the wind but holding the rudder true – and leaving that other lady candidate swamped by the wake that she, Loren, will leave behind. I kid you not; that’s no apocrypha.


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