Change is For Real This Time With Dick

“What this country needs is not just a change of men, but a change in men.”

I am just turning eighteen this December, so there is really no chance that I can vote for the May 2010 Presidential Elections. Although I am still not qualified to participate in this year’s most awaited national episode, that does not mean I am incapable of justifying who is the next most deserving president for our dear country.

The official candidates are already in, giving us a total of 99 Filipinos who desire to sit in Malacanang. For so long, I have tried so hard to assess at least the nine top candidates (apparently the more serious contenders) among them, but I have to admit that the pickings are not as slim as in previous elections. It seem that it is no longer a question of choosing the lesser evil since there are enough good men running. But this person, whom I have barely noticed at first, successfully catches my attention. Because of this man’s effectivity as a leader, the humane yet well-defined visions he willingly extends for the country, as well as the guaranteed change that he can do, I can proudly declare that Dick is and will still be the country’s best pick.

But the question is, how come he is the one?

Richard Juico Gordon, commonly called “Dick” by the people around him, was a proven transformational leader, the real action-man. He made possible the seemingly impossible, and was simply best known for overcoming great odds. His intellectual ability could never be disputed as he completed his elementary education at Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila; his secondary and tertiary education at the Ateneo de Manila University with a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Government in 1966. His quest for knowledge did not just end there as he still pursued his Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Philippines in 1975.

Topping a certain field has never been the sole standard of one’s intellect. In fact, the real gauge should be in terms of his prolific application all throughout his experience in the said industry. Dick Gordon has held many positions in the government, and succeeded beyond expectation at every single one of them. He started out as the Mayor of Olongapo City for about 13 years. He brought order not only to the streets of this city as he established strict traffic rules and color-coded jeepneys, but also to the lives of his people. During his term, he relentlessly rebuilt Olongapo from being a “sin city” to a “model city” for peace and order, as well as for good governance. In the long run, his slogan “Aim High Olongapo” was realized after imparting the people a better picture of themselves. If through him Olongapo became urbanized and independent, what more for our country?

The next remarkable transformation he has done for the country fortunately materialized in Subic Bay Freeport. He was admirably the man behind Subic’s success. As a founding Chair and Administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in 1992-1998, he was actually able to inspire a fleet of young volunteers to turn Subic Bay into a leading investment hub, bringing in investments and creating more jobs. In fact, leaders from across the globe (Thatcher, Clinton and etc.) just came to see how this seemingly miraculous transformation ensued. By the time he left in 1998, investors such as Federal Express, British BICC Cables and Taiwan’s Acer computers rushed in Subic to arrange new ventures and investments with them.

Furthermore, while he was the author of the SBMA success, there was still a call to serve more people. Knowing that when tourism advances, poverty retreats, he placed the Philippines in the international tourism map through his “WOW Philippines!” campaign after being appointed as the secretary of the Department of Tourism.

After all, the road has led him to the senate. Although he was just known for being a man of transformation, he still never failed in distinguishing himself as a productive lawmaker. Because of his evident competitiveness within the walls of the senate, he was also known for being an “advocate of legislation” who truly seeks the upliftment of both the people and the country. Biofuels Act of 2007, Tourism Policy Act of 2009 and Automated Election Law were just a few products of his hard work. Through these bills, Senator Gordon hopes to leave our people with a clean, honest, and fair standard of living. As you can see, his experience in the executive branch has been long and impressive. As a legislator, he was not over the top, but he has
been consistent.

Within his past years in government service, several unproven issues were thrown upon him. In a dirty world such as politics, I guess no leader has been totally free of accusations. One thing that made some people hesitant with Gordon’s ability to lead was his alleged dictator-in-the-making disposition, proven by how he has executed his previous plans. Some criticized him because of the effects of his actions on the surface; but because of the longer-term results of those actions, he has still nailed his efficiency for many.

Yes, he may at times be a very demanding leader, or perhaps a brutally frank person, but why don’t we ask this to ourselves: is there anyone who never gets disgusted when disciplined and corrected by an authority? Actually, I am an advocate of equality. But in time, I will submit to and be “enslaved” by the right king. Sometimes, the Filipino instinct to always look for defects that do not even exist even sabotages progress and worse, encourages downfall.

On the other hand, we still cannot say that he is a perfect person but he is the one that everyone needs. He may be energetic but really, he is not that charismatic. Perhaps we do not need a leader who has all the charisma to make ladies swoon and men bow. As a matter of fact, he is the type of man whose tail does not go between his legs when his decisions cross party lines. He is not afraid to generate a number of oppositions because of his nature as a principled man. He stands for what he thinks is right – and admirably, he stays firm on that. “Firm but fair; serious but sincere” (Ang Presidente Ko, 2010). He is a leader who truly cares – a captain of a ship who treats all of his men as his own children. He is an effective statesman who considers life worthy of every effort, attention and compassion. These are just proven in his platform towards a new and better Philippines – towards a developed Bagumbayan (Gordon, 2010).

As a president, he will be a leader with a clear vision and strategy for the future of his people. He believes that the key to Bagumbayan is education. He envisions giving Filipino children an excellent teacher. In fact, he already has a plan. According to Gordon in a forum held at De La Salle University, “Stick to the vision. Set aside 10 centavos out of every text messages. And if there are two million text messages sent a day, that’s P73 billion a year. Right away, you can pay all the teachers. But build schools first. Create a corporation for a Health, Education, and Acceleration Program for this purpose. Also assign a doctor rotating around the schools so the kids can have access to health care.”

Other points in his platform chiefly promote respect, self discipline and responsibility of the people to their selves and the country. He also includes the strengthening of laws and the reinvention of the government with emphasis on creating more jobs for the people.

The only thing that seems to bother some of Dick’s supporters is his frustration over the press. Gordon, on the other hand, proves that people need not to worry for surveys do not really speak of his ability. “You’re right, I don’t rate even with my record – I don’t rate because I don’t fool the people. All I can offer is my record,” he mentions.

Gordon knows what, where and how he will achieve success because he has been there, and he has done it, not once, not twice, but too many times already. Leadership by example has remained to be his strategic tool to build his ultimate vision: a Country of Character (Dalisay, 2010). His dignity and hope as a man of transformation has motivated and inspired a lot of people to go with his direction because of his good governance. Still asking everyone to break free of their limitations just to step into light and grab their own future, he still believes that if we want change, then we must be that change.

I am sure we have punished ourselves enough with bad and corrupt leadership. With that, Philippines cries for a strict discipline and a total rehabilitation. In this time of confusion, it is best if we vote a person who has the experience, the integrity, the intelligence, the vision, the compassion and the discipline to become our next president. What this country needs is someone with proven track record of political will, and a clean heart to transform himself and the nation. “What I’m offering is an experience of a lifetime,” he ends (Corpuz, 2010).
No one fits the right position other than Richard Gordon. For me, I have made my pick. Change is for real this time with Dick.