Zach and I just got home from a relatively uneventful day. I mentioned I wanted to start blogging again, and Zach says, do it. I say I don’t know what to say. He tells me exactly what to write about, and I reckon it’s more than enough reason to start blogging again.
No, this is not a political blog, but these are pivotal times, and there are only thirty days to go before the tenth of may. It will take another six years before we can make a stand.
Six years, if the one who wins doesn’t decide to push for charter change.
Pre-election campaign mayhem, we read an article by a writer we greatly respect: Conrado DeQuiros. Before any choices other than the obvious were laid out, he made his stand: Noy Noy Aquino, why? He said we do not need a great manager, just a janitor to clean this mess of a nation up. We needed, he said, a candidate whom people would rally behind; someone, whom if cheated would spark an uprising.
Noynoy Aquino
For some time, Zach and I felt that this was the way to go–that Cory and Ninoy’s legacy uniting the people would be the thread that just might hold this nation together, and that their son (God forbid, their daughter), would be the most apt for the job.
It was a half-assed “choice” if you could call it a choice at all, but we felt he was all we had. It was difficult to feel inspired, though, by a man whose action plan was so simplistically put as kung walang corrupt walang mahirap.
Great, the best bet we have for the presidency is Captain Obvious.
Then the weather changed.
It all started with a meeting with Jose Villanueva III (Musician, Producer, Mover, Worship leader) who did not ask who we were voting for, but went ahead to tell us who he was going to give his vote to– Senator Richard Gordon.
To sum up what Jose told us that day:
- I wrote a song because I believe in the man so much. I volunteered.
- Senator Gordon has concrete plans for this nation– Raise the salary of public school teachers to Php 40,000 a month to attract the best and the brightest to the lifeblood of this nation– education.
- A kindle for every student– no cutting costs on books, this will hold all the material they will ever need for school.
- He has concrete plans to achieve his concrete plans
Stand for Change.
We did our own research, chanced upon Mike Enriquez’ interview with Senator Gordon. The show may have been heated at times, but overall, he was passionate– a visionary who very clearly, will not take the rape of this nation, or its citizens lightly. We were listening to part 1, (1 of 6) at past midnight.
Senator Gordon on DZBB
In spite of ourselves, we listened to all six– it gripped us. Where this man wanted to take this nation, we wanted to be a part of it. The show aired twenty minutes past its cutoff airtime.
After that, we made a decision. This was not a time to be lukewarm. And yes, sticking a candidate’s sticker on your vehicle might make driving nicely a necessity, but we were going to do it.
We started tweeting about the things Gordon has done, plans to do. And we’re sure we’ve probably become “that hardcore Gordon couple”. And truthfully, we’d rather be that than be a half-assed “supporter” of anyone else.
And while I have always read DeQuiros, and while I agree with the fact that this nation DOES need a janitor to clean this mess up, I beg to differ.
We do not need JUST a JANITOR– cleaning the mess of a third world incredibly corrupt nation can NOT be done by JUST a JANITOR.That Janitor has to be one who has done it before. He will need to wage an all out war against the deeply rooted perils of this nation. He needs to have the balls to get it done– we all know the system is eat or be eaten-– he needs to be passionate, and yes, ABRASIVE when it is necessary. He needs to know the system inside and out. And he needs to do more than just move away from something (kahirapan man o korupsyon) he needs to have a big enough vision to MOVE US ALL TOWARDS something. What he needs to be is both: Janitor and leader. a MAN not afraid to get his hands dirty, a man who will lead and inspire.
As if all this were not enough, we met him. For a realer effect, here’s the tweet (via twitlonger) that documented it:
On Monday 8th March 2010, @zachandrinka said: Past midnight,he was leaving the HQ.We hadn’t gotten to speak to him.His daughter saw us sheepishly waiting to meet him. He was already by the exit, on the way out when she yelled “Papa!They want to meet you”.
As if not weary from the campaign,he lights up,walks toward us and shakes each of our hands,his tiredness leaves his face,as if it were first thing in the morning and he just had a great breakfast
He asks for our names and repeats them twice,makes conversation with each of us. Tells us that above all, all he wants is for people to THINK. To not let anybody rob us of the right to choose who we believe is fit. We pray over him as he leaves for Davao and Jose mentions “May you make this man the greatest president that the Philippines ever had” He shakes his head as we pray. As we end he says “not the greatest president the Philippines ever had,the president who made the Philippines the greatest it ever was”
No teleprompters, no audience. Just us. the length of the day,the frantic rush to the HQ,the stress of productions suddenly insignificant as we stand in the presence of greatness
Gordon at the height of the storms
Surveys— we all know they are being paid for. They attempt to condition our minds, to narrow our choices to the winnable, making us believe that the best we can do is SETTLE. To cast a vote so that ANOTHER will not win.
I will not lie and say it is not scary. It scares us because not only do we want Dick Gordon to win, there are a few in the race we REALLY DO NOT WANT TO WIN. Hearing the survey results scares us even when we know their methods do not hold water. But at the end of the day, I will sleep soundly knowing that I campaigned for, and will cast my vote for a man I believe is the best man for the job.
Senator Richard Gordon
A man who took the city ravaged by no less than a volcano, and didn’t just help them survive it, get past it– he brought them up out of the ashes. Formidable. Renewed. Whole.
That is precisely what this nation needs. To test your candidate, put them in that situation– what would they have done? Where would Subic have been had they been in his seat?
This nation deserves (needs) far far more than a vote cast because “his mom and dad were cool”,” he’s winning the surveys, “kasi may sticker yung taxi ko”–actual reason, I kid you not.
Jose in taxi: Kuya sino boboto mo?
Taxi Driver: Si Noynoy!
Jose: Ah talaga? Bakit?
Taxi Driver: Kasi ayan o, may sticker ako eh. Ikaw ba, sino presidente mo?
Jose: Kay Gordon Ako, kuya.
Taxi Driver: Ayyyy si Gordon! Si Gordon. Yan ang makakapagbangon sa bayan natin. Pero boboto ko si Noynoy, tiga Tarlac ako eh!
This just might very well be the longest post I have ever written, and I will probably not write one this long ever again. I write this in the hope that what Jose did for us that fateful lunch meeting, this post will do for someone else.
Gordon has been a Red Cross volunteer since he was 17.
http://www.facebook.com/votegordon
To check out the video we made, click HERE
Here’s an unusually serious video interview with Moymoy Palaboy
Another blogger steps out for change: Dick Gordon is arrogant. http://kitchenbq.com/dick-gordon-is-arrogant/
But if there’s anything worth clicking, it’s this: His DZBB interview.
Vanillawalking. 
Awesome blog! I’m glad that more and more bloggers are showing their support to the Gordon-Bayani ideal.
The Pinatubo challenge of Olongapo was not just the only crisis he won against. There was also his stint in Department of Tourism – can you imagine what state our local tourism was in prior to his tenure in it? Foreigners were scared of the rampant kidnappings. We were viewed as a terrorist-friendly nation. And that was just the nicer features you can see on the Philippine travelogue.
We all know what happened with his WOW Philippines campaigns.
We all know also how he acted when Ondoy left the Metro Manila’s top politicians silent and paralyzed for days before they snapped out of their shock, and started doing something like giving food rations with their names on it.
We all know how he handled the Red Cross hostage crisis.
And there are lots of more stories that countless blogs and news articles will continue telling of how much we don’t know yet about this humble leader.
I pray that your blog will continue to reach out and make him known, so that people will wake up to the right choice. More power and God bless you two! ^_^
@theradical6 Exciting times, no? I guess this is what political analysts have been talking about: Gordon’s support is the silent majority. This was our effort to make it a little less silent haha. Thank you for the pat on the back!
No problem! I personally am trying not to make my own personal (albeit amateurish) blog into a political blog – but I also can’t help become a bit too passionate when I think of Gordon-Bayani and what they can offer us.
As I retorted in CDQ’s Facebook Fan Page – it’s not enough for leaders to inspire; they need to motivate us. And so far, only Gordon-Bayani has been able to do that, especially among the bloggers :p
Again, keep up the good work! ^_^
This blog will touch many hearts! I am a GORDON fan. This made me cry.
Thank you for writing about him.
Thank you so much Monique for taking the trouble to message us 🙂
I hope you were able to convince the taxi driver to think otherwise and vote for the right candidate.
@lancasoy Oo nga eh, I’m sure Jose tried. It’s hard to reason with people like that. He was given food for thought, and I’m sure he heard himself say it. haha.
excellent post Rinka, I couldn’t have said it better. Gordon actually cured me of my political apathy. Hay. I’ve been mentally crossing my fingers soo hard to the point of breaking already. He is the only choice that makes sense!
@luanne That’s the best part, he is a mover of those who’ve written this nation off. 🙂 Thanks for being such a big help 🙂 Ali loves you haha!
thanks so much for writing this blog. it has truly touched my heart, gave me goosebumps and made me a bit teary-eyed.. we have been campaigning really hard for him. HE IS what this country NEEDS. i pray every night with tears in my eyes for him to win. his VICTORY is the victory of every Filipino.. we can do this.. let us be persistent in our campaigns to educate every one we can… GORDON for the WIN! for the Glory of God and for our country’s genuine SUCCESS! Amen!
@Marose Aww, thank you! Let’s press on, we won the facebook mock elections! Good things are on the way!
I love this post! I hope you can speak to the rest of the Filipinos out there. Yes I full agree! Many people have indeed been taunted to vote for the ones who paid for the surveys released. I don’t like another Cory, we’ve been there and we’ve done that. I want a leader who has the balls to really be saluted. As a teacher I wanna hear my students say “I wanna be the prexy of this nation”, “Proud to be Pinoy” and really believe everything our president says. True both top candidates CANNOT clean-up this mess they have to clean their own backyards before they come rushing and cleanse this country. Such a pity we all fall for the Jingles and the endorsers, and for almost the last 30 years it had led us nowhere. And I am sick of it. I Hope and pray that a miracle comes down from heaven, may God Bless us all… (”,)
@Ramlaurenz True both top candidates CANNOT clean-up this mess they have to clean their own backyards before they come rushing and cleanse this country. –could not have said it better 🙂
@Rinka Thanks!
Thank you for posting this, very well said =) It easily brought me to tears.
@kat You know what, after our encounter with him, we were all so moved and burdened to share about it. Imagine: a leader that can make us Filipinos feel this way? Like Dr. Seuss says: Oh, the places we would go! hehe Thank you for stopping by!
Hi Rinka, I had a similar encounter sa taxi driver:
Kat: Manong sino boboto nyo?
Driver: Si ERAP!
Kat: Bakit po?
Driver: Kasi si Erap bobo so mga Pilipino lang kakausapin nyan di gaya ni Gloria. Saka di naman nagnakaw si Erap eh.
Tsk… the pains of our day to day lives 😉
Oh I remember there’s another one sa Going Straight Salon in MOA:
Kat: Sino boboto mo?
Hairdresser: Ah, si Manny!
Kat: Bakit naman?
Hairdresser: Malay mo mabigyan ako ng bahay diba? Lagi kaya cyang namimigay ng bahay, baka swertehin ako.
Rinka, after meeting him once in 1994 I transplanted myself (many others did, too) to Subic to volunteer. The journey to today (still a volunteer) has been nothing short of wondrous under his leadership. He is at once inspiring, hard working, visionary, sincere and brilliant. Never have I seen another leader come close. I count myself fortunate to work under his high ideals which he never fails to fulfill. So pleased of your conversion and hope that more experience what you have seen. Let’s spread the word til we’re blue in the face!
I cried while reading this blog.
Gordon, is indeed the man.
Can post a link of this blog entry to my facebook?
@iamforGordon Of course! Please share, that was our purpose, writing this. Please feel free to repost and share 🙂
@Kat Gah There are no words haha. @Marvs Kudos, volunteerism is the new political machinery, right? So exciting, and yes, til we’re blue in the face!
Thank you2x!!! Inspiring.
@Sony Thank you for dropping by!
Great blog, indeed! I just want to share with everyone a conversation I overheard while passing by several tricycle drivers.
Driver 1: P’re, sino boboto mo?
Driver 2: Hindi ko pa nga alam, eh.
Driver 3: Si Noynoy boto n’yo!
Driver 2: Si Noynoy? Bakit?
Driver 1: Kasi anak ni Cory.
Driver 3: Kasi ‘pag matalino ibinoto mo, magaling magnakaw sa bansa. Doon na ‘ko sa bobo para hindi marunong magnakaw!
Driver 2: Oo nga, no?
Driver 1: Pa’no naman mga nakapaligid ke Noynoy? Magnanakaw din mga yun!
Driver 3: Kahit pa’no nabawasan ng isa, hahaha….
This is the kind of thinking that brings our nation down. Though hard to admit, these drivers aren’t the only ones who have this sentiment. The existing system in our country isn’t that much different from a starstruck competition — popularity contest. We need radical change and the man for the job is someone who has the balls to give this country a much needed overhaul.
@Lyndon Jimenez Mike Swift, NYC-Filipino rapper is a Gordon supporter as well, and he documents these conversations on video. He says in fact, we can go all day documenting stuff like this, it doesn’t run out. Hopefully we can do something to make a dent.
Wow, this gave me goosebumps and close to tears. I hope our countrymen will realize how important their votes now.. our country is sinking and we don’t just need a man who will promise hindi sya magiging corrupt and then what? We need a man who has action plans, has done it and will make a 180 deg. turn for our country.
God bless Rinka and Zach!
Hi Ellen! Yes, only Richard J. Gordon can do it. He’s done it before. Nobody else has what it takes. He will do whatever it takes to lead this country, and if it means stepping on people’s egos and feelings then so be it. God bless you too.
This blog put into words exactly how I felt. I shared this in my facebook profile, and I can say, it made people think. Now I feel certain that I’m voting for the right person. Thank you for sharing this.
@raissa Thank you so much, and thank YOU for sharing this with your friends.
doing the same here
Gordon is a man of action and an ideal man for the young and old. He has helped people for years and years and you can see it in the eyes of the people from Olongapo or Zambales and he goes whenever and wherever you need him. He’s a unique man who is doing his best for his Country and people. He deserves to be our Country’s President, and our people deserves someone like him. For the future of our country and people, let us all work together.
@Menchu, one of his action plans is to keep Malacañang open 24/7. While your mayor might be sleeping, your President will be ready to take your call. We’ve heard countless stories of people calling, texting him. And he responds. During Ondoy he was at the forefront of rescue operations. And while we were celebrating Christmas with our families, Gordon was out to rescue people struck by calamity http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wFL3q5pO4U
Thanks for your blog, I’m also spreading your blog via Facebook. I hope people read it and realize the potential of their vote.
@Cocoy Thanks for spreading the word about Gordon. We need all the help we can get!
Thanks for your blog, wonderful … I felt inspired to continue helping Sen. Gordon, I want to spread the good news to almoste everyone i know … I am so excited visualizing the great change that will happen if ever Sen. Gordon will win. I hope and pray we will all prevail in our quest for Bagumbayan’s success. “sana magising na lahat” o isang himala para kay Sen. Gordon & Former MMDA Chair B. Fernando … a surprising landslide win!
Thank you Romulo! Yes it really is exciting! He was asked about the change that would happen when he is elected, and he said ” You will feel it on the first day.” Wow.
Hi, it’ll be my first time to vote, and I’m rooting for Gordon, despite some contradictions I’ve received here. Haha. I just want to say thank you for making people like me know that the first vote that he/ she will cast will be because it was well- thought of. And not, as you put it, half- assed. 🙂
I’ve posted the link on Facebook, I hope you don’t mind.
God bless!
Hi Valerie! Congratulations on having been able to register! I heard it was a zoo this year 🙂 Sure, you can post it 🙂 That would definitely help his campaign 🙂 We are his political machinery!
I and my husband are a hardcore Gordon couple too! How I hope and pray that he wins.
Can I re-post and quote Sen. Gordon on his statement “not the greatest president the Philippines ever had, the president who made the Philippines the greatest it ever was” on my facebook?
I think this shows his desire to make this country a greater nation and gives everyone a glimpse to his heart. I would want everyone to hear!
Thank you for this blog. I hope millions of other Filipinos would read this and be enlightened.
Ces
Ces! Another hardcore couple yay! Haha! Definitely you can repost that. I think you should pero maganda if you put that there was no audience there, it adds to it talaga, that it was just five people around him! 🙂
Whenever someone says “kanya-kanya lang yan” when asked why they want to vote for a specific candidate. It makes me want to slap the brain out of their heads because it is not being used anyway.
I really appreciate you blogging these details about Dick Gordon. I know that he and bayani would make this country the best place to live in.
Hi Ms. Rinka, I hope you wont mind, May I re-post your blog on my FB account?
Sure Jing! Go ahead, repost as much as you want! The more the many-er hehehe!
can’t help myself but to comment also, tnx zack and rinka for this post. we need more posts of this kind that the silent intellectual majority needs to read to kindle their heart and to know more about Dick Gordon.
@Danny Amen. We just need the people to think, more and more are already thinking. Sabi nga ni Tado, “Perseverance and good sleeping habits.” hehe. Come election day, they will. Gordon for the win.
“Pre-election campaign mayhem, we read an article by a writer we greatly respect: Conrado DeQuiros. Before any choices other than the obvious were laid out, he made his stand: Noy Noy Aquino, why? He said we do not need a great manager, just a janitor to clean this mess of a nation up. We needed, he said, a candidate whom people would rally behind; someone, whom if cheated would spark an uprising.”
NO! WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER UPRISING! THE SAME WAY THAT WE DO NOT NEED ANYONE IF CHEATED WOULD SPARK AN UPRISING!
WHAT WE NEED IS SOMEONE LIKE GORDON WHO CAN LEAD US TO A BETTER LIFE AS FILIPINOS IN OUR OWN COUNTRY, WORKING AND LIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND PROUD TO HAVE DECIDED TO REMAIN IN THE PHILIPPINES.
I watched and listened to him at the health forum at The Medical City. That moment I made my decision that it will be Gordon for me. He has concrete plans while Gibo had suntok-sa-hangin answers. I watched him last night in DZMM and the more I am convinced that he really is the MAN.
@Angel Sure feel free to re-post!
@Ofelia: Maddening, isn’t it, that these are the reasons we would choose. Thank God for the internet, for the free sharing of interviews and information that we can make informed decisions today.
Can I post it in my facebook account?
http://www.gmanews.tv/podcast.php?candidate=gordon
Thank you so much for this link! Much less tiring than the youtube link 🙂 Here’s the DZBB interview with Mike Enriquez thanks to pinoytvi! http://www.gmanews.tv/podcast.php?candidate=gordon
Thanks Zach and Rinka for this inspiring post! Indeed, Senator Dick is the only man fit to lead our country to greatness. Would you happen to know where I can get paraphernalia (i.e. stickers to put in my car?) I believe this can boost my campaign in addition to posting stuff such as your posts in the networking sites.
Thanks and More Power!!!
Transformers for a New Philippines!!!
@Paolo Pareja Hi Paolo! Sure you can just go to the headquarters, 5th floor Quad Alpha Tower along Pioneer, or you can text the numbers published on facebook.com/votegordon Thanks so much for your help!
This post is really magical! After having several relatives and, who were supposedly voting “half-heartedly” for Mr. Aquino, read your post, it was like the waves of realization (and tears) washed away the “yellow hues” in their brains. Amazing, we have made several new converts! =)
More and more people are going for Gordon, we just have to help him and spread the word, and so we could bring those waves of realization to bring our president to victory!
@i_am Wow. That was exactly what we wanted to happen from this post. That’s awesome. Thanks so much for doing your share by having them read it!
I see.. I think Gordon would make a good difference.. He does have good governing records.. I wanted to vote for Gibo before because his wit really shows.. But I also appreciate a person who makes things, build things, not just talk about things.. although people do go far with just an intellectual talk.. but I think I change my mind for my presidential bet.. I can’t vote, coz’ I’m not in the country anymore.. But I will support Gordon
That’s so good to hear. I know other people who aren’t registered to vote who have heard about Gordon and have become his active campaigners, they multiply their one vote, turn it into ten, even more. We’re all Filipinos, this isn’t about what color or what team we are on anymore. It’s about needing a leader, a visionary, a warrior who will not back down until this country gets back up and back on track.
Hi,
Thank you for saying what needs to be said. I am fed up with people who agree but just say that their vote will be a waste since no one else will vote for Gordon and Bayani.
I think their combination is good, they are the only ones who have the experience, vision and political will to make anything happen.
When I was in high school (back in 1996), Bayani Fernando visited our school. My Social Studies teacher (a self professed trapo-hater) was so mad, because instead of taking time to shake everyones hands and kiss ass, Bayani went straight to work and went about his business.
She was mad because he did not take time to shake her hand. She hates trapo but bad mouthed him to the rest of the class for doing his job efficiently.
That, and the story of your taxi driver, makes me worried for our future.
Sad what makes us decide to NOT vote for people, sadder still the reasons we DO. There is hope yet, though. We were in Tuguegarao, and while we were checking our luggage in, they spotted Zach and I wearing the Gordon baller bracelets. One of the ground crew said “Ma’am, Gordon pala kayo! Kami din!” we gave them the last of our campaign loot. On the cab on the way home from the airport, the driver asked us who we were voting for President. The other guy said “baka si Noynoy hindi ko pa alam”. The driver said “WAG!” haha then he said he was voting for Erap.
Zach said “Si Gordon, ayaw niyo?” and he said “Ahhh si Gordon gusto ko nga yan si Gordon pero baka sayang lang boto ko eh” So we of course saw this as our cue. Told him everyone we’d spoken to thinks he’d be great but “baka sayang ng boto” sabi namin sayang naman kung lahat ng gusto siya ganyan mag isip. Napa-oo nga naman siya. And he told us pa before we got off the cab na, talaga, gustong gusto daw nya talaga si Gordon, at bobotohin daw niya. Sana lahat ng sumakay makausap niya!
Let us all wear RED today and tomorrow. Let’s make our voices be heard nationwide in support for Pres. Dick Gordon. Anyone is capable of doing it. People are just a text away. We can also broadcast over the internet. Change starts with us. Pagbabago, Sigurado!www.gordonbayani.com. Spread to Family and Friends! Thanks!
Agree! Hurray!