Dear PGMA (An Unsolicited Letter )

I know there’s a little chance that you will read this letter but I will write anyway.

Twelve years ago, back when you were still a senator, you were such an inspiration to me. How I admire that poster with your photo taken while you were in the fields perhaps, wearing a Filipiniana and a salakot. Your smile was so real.

You were such a superb senator. I never heard any negative news about you or if there would be some, I did not mind listening to them at all… and so when you ran for a vice presidential post, I became addicted to Manila Bulletin just to track your standing. When you were finally proclaimed VP, I had my own celebration… You showed the world that a woman is not just a woman, but someone who can also lead, who can equally compete and who has also potentials… and so I looked up to you the more.

Three years after being a VP, the nation was torn between opening and letting go of the controversial brown envelope of President Estrada. I had nothing against him but when I saw that history was about to unfold, I never left the TV set and almost cried when finally, you took over. I knew it was never an easy task for you. I don’t know if it was true that everything was really planned and that there was a conspiracy or something, but no matter what I heard, I still stood beside you. I remember when you said that you would not run for presidency, I told myself, this lady is such a very humble leader. All of a sudden though, you changed your mind and proclaimed that you would run. It was my first time to vote then, and yes, I did vote for you.

I was sort of heartbroken when I heard that you won because you had to use your “machinery.” I told myself those were just allegations… and when finally, I listened to a Garci recording, I had to accept that somehow, there was something wrong but still, I believed in you. And with all the ups and downs that this country had gone under your belt, I never failed to believe in you and pray that you would be guided and that you would be a better person and a leader.

I don’t want to write about how you made some lives broken because I know you have read a lot about it. I would like to focus more on the things that I really like about you.

First, you choose some good people in your cabinet. You placed Bayani Fernando in MMDA and I love it when I commute. Manila is better… and safer especially when I have to use the overpass. You also placed Dick Gordon in Tourism and so WOW Philippines was born which generated more for the country. And even Secretary Dinky Soliman who had to fight for what she believed is right and left you. Look, she is now being considered as part of President Noynoy’s cabinet.

Second, you have the vision to make the 7,107 islands be more accessible to everyone. We were under foreign oppression long, long ago because of the DIVIDE and RULE strategy. One datu against one datu but your farm to market roads and other bigger roads made transportation better than before.

Third, you don’t say that you are just a human being when you fall short of circumstances. Instead, you would apologize, in front of the national TV. You said you were sorry when you had lapse of judgment. Recognizing that you are at fault is one of the hardest things to do. So Kudos to you!

And lastly, you have reminded me that sooner or later, we will all fade away… from this world. You said in front of a hundred of soldiers that “you will just fade away” as their commander-in-chief. You really made me cry. I know it was just a news article to some but that article helped me explain to my Sunday School students that we all need to focus our lives to the Lord and serve Him in every way we can because we will never know up to when we can serve the Lord. So while we are still strong, while we can still see things clearly, while we can still run and sing, and dance and play, let’s use our strength to reach out and do good…

Anyway, like what I said, I don’t know if this letter can reach you but I hope whether you read this or not, you continue all the positive things that you’ve done and try to review all the negative things that are said about you. This can be your source of strength too and a point of reflection…

P.S.
You will be in my prayers. Thank you for inspiring me.