The grower of the seeds need the sower of the seeds

On endorsing a Noynoy Aquino for President and Mar Roxas for Vice President tandem in 2010, I can only put it simply this way, "the grower of the seeds need the sower of the seeds."

To you Noy, I say: I began the campaign to sow the seeds para sa pagbabago at reporma. You must now be the one to grow them in the arena of leadership.

As Roxas said that unto Aquino, it can only mean one thing to me: Roxas should be Aquino's partner in pushing for reforms. I believe that with Roxas on Aquino's side as his Vice President, we can expect that what Roxas started will be continued by Aquino.

How will the grower of the seeds find it if not for the help of the one who sowed it.

Both men are carrying the platform of the Liberal Party, putting people first. The supreme sacrifice that Roxas did was worth commending. It doesn't mean that he's a coward. Instead, it displayed his courage. Even Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo can't do it.

With Roxas endorsing Aquino for President, I am rest assured that what Roxas started will not go to waste. But Roxas hasn't indicated yet his future political plans.

What should we do?

We must convince Aquino to get Roxas as his Vice Presidential candidate and so as Roxas that we must convince him to accept the challenge. These two men are the fruits of good trees. They're the products of good leadership. They did nothing that would tarnish the good image of their forebears. Yan ang serbisyo publikong TATAK AQUINO, TATAK ROXAS!

Tuloy ang Laban! Lalaban Tayo!

Coming soon, Mar Roxas for President in 2016!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009 | posted in campaign, corazon aquino, gerry roxas, manuel roxas, mar roxas, ninoy aquino, noynoy aquino, philippines, president | 0 comments [ More ]

Kevin Ray Chua's Official Statement on Mar's giving way for Noynoy

I blog this in a somewhat sad note. I keep asking to myself, "was my endeavor a complete failure?" When the word about Senator Mar Roxas' "major announcement" was buzzing around the internet and confirmed it with his staff, I was not feeling well. I didn't even attended my class on that time as more and more people are talking about it online.

(From left to right: Kevin Ray N. Chua, Senator Mar Roxas II, Councilor Peter Laviña and my dad Ronilo Chua)
The picture above with me doing a "Laban" sign, which I meant as "Liberal," might have been a sign that something different will happen.

But on that morning, before the "major announcement", I already said on my blog post that "whenever Roxas, coming from his heart, tells his supporters to support an Aquino-Roxas tandem instead for the good of the country, then I'm for it just like what former Vice President Doy Laurel did to President Cory." I was still hoping that a Roxas-Aquino tandem will stay in place with Roxas as President and Aquino as Vice President. But it seems that things were not going that way.

Many supporters have been e-mailing, chatting, plurking and twitting me if Roxas would give way for Aquino. I told them that I remain hopeful that Roxas would remain as the Liberal Party's standard bearer.

As I was watching Roxas delivering his speech live as aired in the television, I held back my tears. Together with my colleagues in our student government, we watched as this historic event unfold. When Roxas finally made it clear that he's stepping aside for Aquino, I can't help but give him a standing ovation and so did my colleagues. I must admit that I was disappointed with his decision, but I know that he also has been feeling what I was feeling when several people have already started to push for Aquino's presidential bid in 2010.

As a staunch supporter of Roxas, I find it hard to do what I said. Knowing that I have did my part, without pressure or dictate from Roxas' staff or even himself, I felt sad. The times that I spent on internet cafés just to blog for Roxas ended with this unfortunate event. But upon listening to his speech, I saw that Mar Roxas that other people didn't. He was a true statesman. Untainted with allegations of corruption, he has exhibited a true sense of leadership and selflessness by putting the country first before himself. Setting aside his personal ambition for the good of the party.

There's no shame in his act. His critics might hurl him the worst, but I stand by my support on him. He chose to lead in unity, not in division.

I vehemently believe that Mar Roxas will be a good president, a contrast to the present administration. Probably, it was not just his time and the Almighty One has a greater plan for him. With this, I throw my support, as what Roxas did, to Noynoy Aquino for President in 2010 and I ask everyone to do so. But here's the thing, Roxas still didn't said that he's going to be Aquino's Vice Presidential candidate. It's my and your duty to convince Roxas to push through an Aquino-Roxas tandem in 2010.

To fellow Roxas supporters, to Roxas' Senate Staff (which a lot of them I have met and became friends with), to myself and to Mar Roxas: Tuloy ang Laban, Lalaban tayo!

What will happen to this blog? I will still continue to be blogging and will start to encourage Roxas to run alongside with Aquino as Vice President. In that way, I will do my part for growing the seeds of reform and change that Roxas has planted.

Coming soon, Mar Roxas for President in 2016!

NOTE: If you have a friend from the media, please tell him/her that this is the official statement of the blogger who created a blog supporting Roxas' candidacy for President.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009 | posted in campaign, corazon aquino, gerry roxas, mar roxas, ninoy aquino, noynoy aquino, pgma, philippines, president | 8 comments [ More ]

Tuloy ang laban, Lalaban tayo!

Below is the transcript of Senator Mar Roxas' speech he delivered in Club Filipino to give way for Senator Noynoy Aquino to run for the 2010 Presidency. I will be issuing my official statement on this one later. To all Roxas' supporters, "Tuloy and laban, Lalaban tayo!"

Country above self. Bayan bago ang sarili.

Iyan ang habilin ng aking lolo, President Manuel Roxas.

Our nation is in trouble. Leadership is bankrupt. Institutions are in disarray. People are hungry.

Noynoy Aquino and I share the same outrage over the mess we are all in, the same way we share the solution-clean, honest, selfless public service.

Marami at matindi ang mga problema ng bansa. Kailangan nating ayusin. Matindi ang kalaban. We need a determined force for good far stronger than the festering evil around us.

We need to fight just as our own fathers fought dictatorship, and just as both died believing that good will conquer evil.

Noynoy and I want to make a difference, but we also know that we need to unite to achieve what we want.

I am the President of the Liberal Party.

It is within my power to preside over a potentially divisive process or to make the party a bridge for the forces of change. I choose to lead unity, not division. Bilang pinuno ng aking Partido, magdedesisyon ako.

Mahal ko ang Partido Liberal. My grandfather founded it. My father led it during the most difficult times of Martial Law. Sa harap ng peligro, sa kabila ng napakaraming tukso-hindi siya sumuko.

He inspired me-to stay the course, to fight the good fight, to pass the test of true character. To believe.

Over the weekend, Noynoy and I had many long conversations... Masinsinang usapan. We agreed: Let us forget about ourselves for a moment. This is not about us, this is about our people and our country. This is about our common dream. The dream of our parents.

But let us not remain a country of dreamers. Tama na ang pangarap. Gawin na natin, ngayon.

Today, I am announcing my support for the candidacy of Noynoy Aquino for President in 2010.

Noy has made it clear to me that he wants to carry the torch of leadership.

The passing of our beloved former President Aquino has reawakened a passion among us. I acknowledge this as fuel to bring us to the realization of our dream: Good will triumph over evil.

Ito na ang pinakamabigat na desisyon sa buhay ko. Maniwala man kayo o hindi, ginagawa ko ito para sa bayan, para sa inyo. I do this for unity in support of change. And if that means that somebody must make the sacrifice, it must be me. Ako na.

To you Noy, I say: I began the campaign to sow the seeds para sa pagbabago at reporma. You must now be the one to grow them in the arena of leadership.

Hindi kami maghihiwalay ni Noy. I will stand with him.

At sa aking mga kababayan, sa mga nagtiwala sa akin: Mahal na mahal ko po kayo. Mahal na mahal ko po ang ating bayan. Hindi rin tayo maghihiwalay. Itutuloy natin ang pagbabago sa ating bansa. Itutuloy natin ang laban para sa reporma!

Kay Noy, at sa aking mga kababayan: Country above self! Bayan bago sarili!

Hindi ko kayo pababayaan! Lalaban tayo!

| posted in campaign, corazon aquino, gerry roxas, manuel roxas, mar roxas, ninoy aquino, noynoy aquino, philippines, president | 0 comments [ More ]

Tita Cory's dreams live on despite death - Roxas

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas expressed deep, personal sadness over the death early Saturday morning of former President Corazon Aquino as he relayed his and his family’s condolences to Mrs. Aquino’s children and family.

"Tita Cory, personally and through her husband Ninoy, underwent so much pain and abuse but she never surrendered. Today, even in death, her dreams live on and they will never be defeated," Roxas said in a statement released after learning of the former President’s death.

To honor the former President, Roxas called on Filipinos to "pray as one nation" and on political leaders to tone down partisan and political statements and activities.

"Tita Cory stood for the unity and reconciliation of our people. The least that we can do today is to set aside our partisan interests, tone down our partisan voices and pray as one nation for her peace and the peace that she dreamt for all of us," he said.

Roxas and his family are close personal friends of the Aquino family. The senator’s late father, former Senator Gerry Roxas, was also a close friend and political ally of President Aquino’s assassinated husband, former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., who with Gerry Roxas and former Senator Jovito Salonga formed the Liberal Party’s triumvirate especially during the martial law years.

Mar Roxas returned to the Philippines in 1985 after nine years of working in the United States to help in the presidential campaign of Mrs. Aquino.

His full statement is as follows:

"Tita Cory, personally and through her husband Ninoy, underwent so much pain and abuse but she never surrendered. Today, even in death, her dreams live on and they will never be defeated."

"At no time did an ordinary housewife like her exert an extraordinary influence in the course of our recent history. As she cared for Ninoy and her family during the days of his brave struggle against the dictatorship, she nurtured the nation in its brave journey from darkness to freedom.

"Her leadership was a bridge between the long era of rebellion and strife in the seventies and eighties, and the restoration of democracy towards the nineties. It was a leadership steeped in pure selflessness. For Tita Cory fought dictatorship with the same fervor that she loved our nation. Through her, we were able to live out and show to the world, our own patriotism.

"We saw how the EDSA revolution that was sparked by Tita Cory reverberated globally. It inspired peoples all over Eastern Europe and Latin America to bring down authoritarian rule without violence, to the extent that even the Berlin wall was torn down three years later. The whole world owes much to her shining example.

"Tita Cory joins the ranks of the greatest freedom fighters of the last and current century— Ghandi, Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi, among several others who have devoted their life and being to principle that there is nothing more precious than the liberty and dignity of human beings.

"Tita Cory stood for the unity and reconciliation of our people. The least that we can do today is to set aside our partisan interests, tone down our partisan voices and pray as one nation for her peace and the peace that she dreamt for all of us.

Sunday, August 2, 2009 | posted in corazon aquino, gerry roxas, jovy salonga, mar roxas, ninoy aquino, philippines | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas searches for life's meaning in presidency

I'm sharing to you an article with a video interview made by Inquirer to Senator Mar Roxas about his run for President in 2010. Below is the article and video made available to you by this blog:


Nothing can stop Senator Manuel Roxas II from running for President in 2010.

"What other meaning can my life have other than that?" said Roxas during a dinner with Inquirer editors and reporters in which he categorically declared that he would pursue the presidency.

"I am ready to serve. I am prepared to make it happen. I think I'm the best qualified, competence-wise, value-wise. And I owe it to my country to try what I can and fix it," said the 54-year-old senator.

Roxas, grandson of the late President Manuel Roxas, said it would be a great disservice to the Filipino people if he did not offer himself as a presidential candidate.

He said people should be given a chance to pick him, saying: "What higher calling can there be than try to fix your country?"

Roxas was not disheartened by his low ratings in the surveys--he ranked fifth in the Social Weather Stations survey of presidential preference in February.

"May 2010," he said, when asked by Inquirer editor-in-chief Letty Jimenez Magsanoc at what point he would throw in the towel and just support a candidate who would put this country back on track.

Roxas, president of the Liberal Party, said the single most important element in the presidency was trust.

"One way of analyzing the ills of the country is there's no trust -- every man for himself. People in fact trust the reverse. They don't trust that if I fell in line, and followed the rules and did what's right, then I will get ahead," he said.

"For me to get ahead, I must make suhol (give bribes), I must make singit (budget insertions) and I must find a different way. That has become the most corrosive, dangerous development--the acceptance that that's a fact of life here. If you have that, you really have a broken society," he said.

He said a system abetting corruption and "subterfuges," and where "having connections is the norm" was not a democracy.

"You just have the elite back--scratching each other and protecting each other's interest. The elite screwed us up over the last four generations."

Told that he was part of the country’s elite, he replied, "But my record, my father's record and grandfather's record speak for itself. It's not like at anytime they stole or took advantage of their position, or in any way used their position to enlarge their economic interests," said Roxas.

The influential Roxas clan owns the Araneta center and vast tracts of land in Capiz. In fact, Roxas City, provincial capital of Capiz province was named after the clan's patriarch.

"Why is it that Cubao is only doing call centers today when I was the guy who started it? Because as the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry secretary), I'm the guy who awarded eco-zone status, which means no tax and (you have) incentives. And Cubao was not allowed to apply with PEZA," said Roxas, who was concurrently chair of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority at the time.

When he was DTI chief in 2000, Roxas developed, conceptualized and wrote the PEZA rules that now grant incentives such as duty-free importation of capital equipment to IT locators and businesses.

Roxas said he didn't allow it so as not to be accused of conflict of interest.

When he saw that office spaces in Metro Manila were empty as an offshoot of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the then trade secretary harnessed the potential of the country as a global electronic-services hub.

He then launched "Make IT (information technology) Philippines" and organized the first IT-enabled services to the US which inevitably led to the biggest global industry names to invest in the country, thereby creating 400,000 jobs for call center agents and Filipino IT workers.

Roxas also said that last year, he raised $3 million from the private sector to fund a McKenzie study to take the industry to the next stage.

"The industry needs a new strategic plan that was credible... to pay for a professional business development team that will continue to keep the Philippine present in the international arena," he said.

Roxas finished economics at the Wharton School of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania in 1979. Before entering public service, he worked as an investment banker in the US.

He began his public service life in the House of Representatives in 1993.

After his congressional stint, he was appointed secretary of trade by then President Joseph Estrada, and was re-appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

In 2004, he won a Senate seat with 19.5 million votes, the largest ever obtained by a candidate in any Philippine election.

Roxas said he began to see "how lucky I am" while in the US.

A Cuban friend, Roberto Goizueta, asked him about then strongman Ferdinand Marcos' decree to hold snap elections in 1986. Goizueta was then the chair of Coca-Cola Corp. based in Atlanta, Georgia.

"What are you doing? Marcos declared elections." Goizueta asked.

When Roxas retorted that he would go home and find work, the Cuban said: "I am Cuban. I have no country to go back to. You have a chance to do something for your country. It's a real story that reminds me what else is there. I've been very lucky in my life," he said.

He recalled his late father, Gerry, a former senator, teaching him about "deep sense of duty and responsibility to give back."

"You were born with a ladder. So after you climbed your ladder, don't pull it up. You have to leave it there to allow others to come up," he said, recalling Gerry's favorite metaphor for public service.

Thursday, April 30, 2009 | posted in campaign, gerry roxas, korina sanchez, manuel roxas, mar roxas, pgma, president | 0 comments [ More ]

Happy Father's Day!

In behalf of my blog readers and subscribers, I would like to greet everyone a Happy Father's Day. Today, we honor our heroes we call father, papa, dad, daday, itay, tatay and so much more. We thank them for having us in this world.

We would like to extend also our posthumous greeting to the late Senator Gerardo Roxas, the father of our beloved public servant Senator Mar Roxas. Thanks Sir Gerry for having Mar with us.

Also, I would like to extend my greetings to my one and only father who supported all my endeavors in life and never bothered to guide me to the right path, Ronilo N. Chua (the one wearing an olive green polo shirt). If not for him, I would not be a political-minded person. Naks! He's my hero and he's my father.

Sunday, June 15, 2008 | posted in blog, gerry roxas, mar roxas | 0 comments [ More ]