Vox Dei by Ronan S. Estoque (October, 2004)

A couple of weeks ago, I was able to witness the second round of debate between Senator John Kerry and President George Bush, Jr. The format of the debate was modified to suit the interactive element that is now very popular with the common mass media and I must say that the format of the debate really served its purpose.

The debate showed the grit and the determination of the sitting president and it also showed the presidential side of the contender, Senator Kerry. By the time this publication hit the circulation route, it is a certainty that the outcome of the November election of the next American President is long settled.

What bears telling however, is that there was an exercise to settle and showcase the brains (or the lack of) the candidate. Comparatively speaking, there was never an exercise similar to the American practice of showcasing to the electorate what the candidates can do and will not do for their beloved republic.

In the last Philippine experience, there was no presidential debate. With so many talk shows, so many pretenders (for the position of Chief Executive), there was no Presidential debate worthy of comparison to the American experience.

If my memory serves me right, FPJ did not want to debate with GMA hence the public pronouncement that if there was to be a debate among the presidential hopefuls, FPJ will definitely be absent. GMA on the other hand contends that if FPJ will not present himself in a debate, she won’t bother attending any presidential debate.

And because of this scenario, the Philippines was deprived of an enlarging experience that would certainly educate the Filipino electorate. By the virtue of cable TV, the world was able to witness how the Americans choose their Chief Executive. The envy of every civilized world is that though the American system tends to favor entrenched and traditional politics. The gruesome exercise remains bloodless. Yes, there is the usual mode of negative campaigning-but there is no precious blood that is being shed in the process.

It is precisely because of this cowardice that the republic is not moving forward. The courage to bite the bullet is lacking. The difficulty really is neither the identification of the problem nor the identification of the solution. The difficulty is the implementation of the solution. With so many difficulties besetting this republic, the adherence to the implementation remains the biggest load.

Let me close this piece by saying that the American debate illuminated Philippine politics with bravery and critical thinking. Though the Philippine politics still has a lot of learning and growing up to do. The benchmark is there to follow, to chase and to vie with.

The absence of a presidential debate in the Philippine setting was really a big eye opener. Never again, we must say. A candidate must be able to defend himself in a platform that is acceptable to the civilized world.

As sure as the sun will rise from the east and set on the west. In the next presidential elections in 2010. A presidential debate must be a pre-requisite for the exercise of choosing the next Chief Executive. For a presidential debate illuminates and educates the electorate while it eliminates and shows the unqualified and unfit candidates.