The choice before the people

Title

Creator

Bigay, S.P.

Language

English

Year

1969

Subject

Elections

Elections--Philippines

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Abstract

[This article provides brief introduction of known politicians who ran for presidency and vice presidency during 1969 elections. Marcos and Osmena seek for the president position while Lopez and Magsaysay wish to be the vice president at that time. ]

Fulltext

HP r THE CHOICE BEFORE THE PEOPLE T HE political season is here. The presidential contenders are veteran politicians. Their teammates are heirs to prestigious names in public service. Marcos and Osmeiia aspire for the presidency with badges of their own, although in different shades. Lopez and Magsaysay aspire for the vice-presidency, the former on the strength of his performance in the office, the other on that of promises and a magical name. Marcos has a wartime and peacetime record that speaks well of the Filipino spirit to overcome difficulties and obstacles in pursuit of the noblest motive, Jet alone the fact that he has already shown an august capacity to make things happen in the presidency. Osmeiia couples his political savvy with a past and present that, as these are now being raked by his opponents, are disturbing and annoying the sen, sibilities of right-thinking Filipinos. Lopez, as city mayor, senator and vice president, had rendered the public service great dedication and honesty, and among his achievements is the increase of the country's rice production to self-sufficiency level. Magsaysay, as a congressman and senator, has gone around the country in pursuit of followers to his soci~l justice cult and, alas, has still to fulfill the sterling promise of leadership that attaches to his name. Marcos, and the Nacionalista Party which he represents, stands for nationalism. Like Quezon, he feels the Filipinos must run their own affairs, live and progress within their own means. Osmeiia, and the Liberal Party which he represents, stands for foreign capital. He feels the Filipinos could be put to their feet with the help of others, to the extent of giving up part of the country's pride and patrimony. No doubt the elections will turn out winners in the end. Whether the winners are the kind of leaders the Filipinos want, leaders the people can depend on in times of peace and unpeace, is the question to resolve. Fortunately, both presidential contenders are standing not only on their personal popuh1.rity in· the forthcoming polls. Aside from personal acclaim, they each stand on a principle of government that gives the people a choice. The other related issues, like graft, peace and prices, can be laid aside for the larger consideration of who of the two leaders, using their past and present pronouncements and performances, love his country and people more. The campaign has, of course, two months more to go. Many things could still come up to suggest a c1ear choice for the people. But as the old saying goes, the sound you hear will be a=strong as the knock you make. In politics, your past determines your present. S. P. BIGAY PAGE 2 I THE PHILIPPINE MAGAZINE I AUGUST 31, 1969 AIL THE BETTER MAN May I say that your exposition of the crucial issues in the coming elections and your portraits of the presidential contenders have been very illuminating? For one in my position, a public school teacher in a far outpost in the rural areas who relies mainly on magazines and newspapers for a perspective view of the nation, your articles on the presidential contest have contributed greatly to the task of choosing the better man. CELSO ABARCA Barugo, Leyte - - 0 - CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS Your feature on the coming constitutional convention and its import had shed aome light on the real questions anct issues involved. I do not believe that the public at large up to now really understands the real stakes inherent in the coming convention, how much of their lives in the future will depend or be determined by its decisions, and how far it will go in determining the national destiny. I hope that you will continue to run articles on the matter, with the same incisiveness, the same sense of historical import. ANTONIO CUESTA Valenzuela, Bulacan - 0 0 - KICKING THE HABIT Was it Marx who said that "reJigion is the opium of the people!" From what I have read in the papers and in your magazine ("Crisis in the Church,") some Catholics are trying to kick the habit. Rufino Cardinal Santos is apparently not a very good dope pusher. NELSON ARRIETA University of the Philippines Los Banos, Laguna PHILIPPINE MAGAZINE is published twice a month by The SPBA and said as supplement to provincial newspapers throughout the country. Address all. oommunications, manuscripts !'JMd photos to The Editor, PM, CCP Building, Magallanes Drive, lntramuros. Telephone 40-81-01. PHILIPPINE MAGAZINE ass_umes no res!=)Onsibility for loss or damage to unsolicited contributions. Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Editors of PM. Registered w ith the Bureau of Commerce 8 :lanuary 1969. Reproductions in part or in full allowed provided proper credits are given. Postal permit second class mail still pending. S. P. B)gay, editor & publisher / Nonilon P. So, business & circulation manager.

pages

2

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