Not going to address the black propaganda against Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo, because those have already been debunked (only to be revived a million times, sadly). Look outside your anti-establishment groups on Facebook for a second to find legit sources that disprove the cheating and stealing allegations going around (which have no legit sources, on the other hand, if you look hard - just angry fellow citizens trying to stop RoRo’s belated upward swing). If it’s too much work to research before choosing your country’s next leader, though, message me and l’ll find it for you. c: (No, really. Snark aside, I’d just be grateful that you’re open to reading it.)

So obviously I’ve decided for RoRo. They’re not only an intelligent duo but a duo with heart, values, and the industry/work ethic to get things done, not to mention the macro (Roxas) and micro (Robredo) experience to properly run a country - and take it to greater heights instead of running it to the ground. All respect to MDS (though I did lose a bit for her when she chose the Marcos spawn for a running mate after all our people went through under Ferdinand Marcos’s reign of terror, sans Bongbong’s revisionism the past few years, but I digress) - but the rest of the candidates pale in comparison, all thievery or motherhood statements or rape jokes that can’t fly in both the domestic and the international spheres.

Which is why it confuses me to no end why people say about Roxas, “Well, he’s not perfect, but…” “Eh, he’s the lesser evil, I guess.” “I don’t really have a choice…”

You’re right. The facts show that he is a better choice than everyone else. But what exactly is the standard that he’s failing to reach here to make him more than just? What do you need to make him an acceptable candidate on his own or more than just a “lesser evil?”

He stepped down for PNoy in 2006 because he knew the stakes and decided that his pride (if any - he has consistently shown himself to be a humble man) or having the presidency was nothing compared to a chance to lift the country from the corrupted slump it had been in for decades. He loves his country and his countrymen - no, he didn’t eat lechon or chippy with PNoy or whoever when he visited Tacloban and other storm-ravaged areas when Yolanda struck. He was there not only to survey the situation with other cabinet secretaries or to look good for cameras (I don’t see him posing for any of them, he seems busy genuinely talking to locals) but to find a way to assist and plan for the recovery of the typhoon victims in the short- and the long-term. These plans are reflected in the statements which show what’s been done and what’s being done with the Yolanda funds.

The last presidential debate showed us just how much he understands the country’s situation. Everyone was informed of the general topics of the debate, guys. Roxas was the only one who studied extensively on the subject matter. Why should that be taken against him? This guy will learn and understand the issues he needs to deal with as president, no matter how much work it is. And he’s a good guy, well-spoken, intelligent, but if you push him - as Duterte did - he’ll call you out on your bullshit. He’s a gentleman, but he isn’t a coward.

He’s meticulous down to the smallest details in DILG programs (as he was with the bills he pushed as Senator a while back) - and maybe that’s why people find him boring and lame. He can’t sell himself to save his life, the poor man, but that’s not what we’re looking for in a president. Domestic and international relationships don’t run on personality politics - what we need in a leader and what other world leaders look for in an equal is someone who will do his job, hold his ground, and say no to temptation. Anti-corruption is the oldest call to arms in Philippine election history, but as ‘gasgas’ as it seems, it’s still important. Please don’t be naïve and say “the admin already had its chance - time for 'change’.” 6 years isn’t enough to remove institutionalized corruption from the government, but it’s a start - and it has started, along with other programs that have improved the standard of living of many. I agree when people say NOT MANY ENOUGH - but that’s the point. There will be MANY MORE. Give Roxas another chance to continue the good that’s already been done.

And so what if he’s rich? Yeah, I’m kinda jealous that he could be off vacationing all throughout the world if that’s what he wanted to do - but he isn’t, and it isn’t. He left the country to study in a prestigious university, yes - but only to return to the country to serve using that knowledge instead of making himself richer doing practically anything else. Despite what some politicians may claim, public office does not a rich man make. Yes, to the chagrin of his detractors, he is clean. That’s just the kind of man he is. He has made errors in judgment - everyone makes those. Any public officer who hasn’t hasn’t been in office long enough to have accomplished anything. Of course, it isn’t acceptable anymore when all a public officer makes are errors, but that isn’t the case with Mar. He’s done a lot of good in his own right, more than mistakes or wrongs, and he will continue to do even better. You can see that if you look past “rich admin bet” to read up and listen to his platforms.

Lastly, what drew me most to Roxas (and Robredo who I won’t be discussing here because that woman is amazing and doesn’t get as much hatred anyway and good thing too) is that if (fingers crossed on 'when’) he becomes president, he’ll know all too well about the sword strung above his head. I don’t think he’d forget that for a single minute. For Mar Roxas, the presidency isn’t a line he can add to his résumé or cross off his bucket list. It’s not about him getting to stick it to his critics or his opponents, or about getting to stay in the Palace, or about making himself richer. If you just read up on his history, he’s never been about that life. The presidency for him is a labor of love - it’s about giving back, rendering service to the country that raised him.

So - guy is disgustingly rich and yet humble, has the experience and the accomplishments, the knowledge, the brains, the discernment, the heart, the honesty, the values, the courage, respect for his fellowmen and the respect of international peers, love for his country, honor - what am I missing?

What more do we need from Mar Roxas so that the man isn’t just the lesser evil, or the 'only okay choice, I guess?’

The answer is a resounding nothing. Not much. Short of being super-human, that is, if that counts? No, the government he serves under isn’t a perfect one. (Has it ever been?) No, he is not a perfect person and all that entails. (Pretty sure that’s better left to whichever God you and I praise.) But he is the perfect candidate, and I think that under the leadership of a man like him, the only way this country is going is up.

It’ll take a while, and in the future we’ll have to make more decisions as a people to keep that goal in sight, but for now - the best and only way to do that is to vote for Mar Roxas.

So please, guys, vote wisely! And for the country. If you don’t believe me, I get it. I’m a face in the crowd, what do I know? But facts will be facts - and they point to Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo. (I’m a broken record, but I accept that. I haven’t had this much hope for our country and candidates since ever.)