Manang

With how things people and events came undone and unraveled in the past few weeks, only one major personality seemed to have taken the worst of the fallout. She, who once stood out for being fearless and truly unshakable, seemed to have lost her footing. And as events slid and shook, she went on a freefall.

To be honest about it, I also began having second thoughts about supporting her candidacy and voting for her again, as what was I wont to do since she first became a candidate for governor. A popular political pundit loves to call her actions as “namamangka sa dalawang ilog,” a direct dig at her being at two political camps—that of her brother; and that of the former president. It was not a good portrait at all. Even Ilocanos, her main support base, had taken notice of it and had began questioning her loyalties. Apparently, for a Marcos loyalist, loyalty should never waver and should never change; which to a point they have proven, and which culminated in 2022, when a Marcos returned to Malacañang.

So, what is happening here? It would have been the easiest way for anyone and everyone to just not focus on the issue and just follow raw emotions. Personally, it was not matter of “will I still vote for her” but more of “why should I vote for her”. But doing that would not only be turning my back on her, but more so, on the country as a whole.

The current crop of our senators are quite far from the past iterations of the august body. They seem to be more focused on personal interests more than anything else. Only a few really cares for the country and its people, and it is shown by their forthwith actions when needed. The majority belongs to political clans that just seemed intent on protecting their interests above all else and microblading those who would oppose them.

Most of those running for the 12 Senate seats this elections are not a great source of hope either. The Senate is not the place for entertainment and comedy; neither is it a place for lackeys and jokers. It is a place where the future of the country is shaped; and to do this we need people who knows what they are doing, and who will never hesitate to do what is always right for the country and its people.

For  all the criticisms—undeserved or not—and the flaws—perceived and real—Imee is still the best bet for the Senate to really make the changes needed by the Filipino people to further improve the country towards greater progress. Amid the political noise, Imee has focused on what the country needs to achieve the development and progress we all need. Among the laws she authored that made a lot of differences in the lives of the Filipino include:

The New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which condoned all the debts of those who were given their own lands to farm through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. This ensured that those farmers can concentrate on producing food and not worry about the financial woes that hounded them before this law was passed. This new law ensures food security and the continued agricultural growth in all parts of the country.

The Expanded Centenarian Act. As a way of acknowledging and honoring those who paved the way for the present, Imee sponsored this act that ensures those aged 80, 85, 90 and 95 will receive PHP10,000 cash incentives wherever they may be in the country. This is on top of the PHP100,000 given to those who reach the age of 100.

The Expanded Solo Parents Act. This greatly helped solo parents from the redefinition of the term to include those who were previously excluded to being given priority for telecommuting program in their work, allowing them to work where it would be most convenient for them. Solo parents were also given additional work benefits as well as cash subsidies for those who are qualified. Aside from these, they were also automatically covered under the National Health Insurance Program and are given preference in low-cost housing and liberal terms of payments. For Imee, giving support to solo parents are a top priority and they should not be the subjects of lewd jokes.

Imee may be a lot of things to different people; but she has always been who she was: she stands her ground and fights for what she believes in. We can criticize her in all ways possible, but she is who she was and who she will always be. She remains fearless, unshakable and on solid ground, in her own right.

And in this elections for the Senate, she is still the best of the lot—political warts and all.