Elfren Sicangco Cruz
Business World
May 3, 2010


An unfortunate side effect of the riveting attention paid to the presidential and vice presidential races is the lack of attention given to senatorial candidates which has led to name recognition as their biggest campaign assets.

In the 2007 elections where the senatorial candidates were the main attraction, celebrities and entertainers failed to make it. This time movie stars and reelectionists are dominating the surveys.

How important is the Senate? Next to Malacañang, it is in the halls of the Senate where we have witnessed historical events. This is where a Philippine president underwent an impeachment trial that led to EDSA II and the resignation of the president. This was where all attempts for charter change were stopped and the systemic corruption in this administration was exposed.

Like many, with only one week left, I have just started putting together my personal senatorial ticket. In the last two elections, my problem was deciding which name to discard. Now, I find I have difficulty completing my senatorial ticket.

On top of my list are three women who, if elected, will keep the Senate as the bastion of democracy, a check on any abusive and corrupt administration, and who will be strong advocates for human rights and poverty alleviation.

Risa Hontiveros Baraquel is the present party-list congressman of Akbayan, a moderate left-of-center political group. A product of St. Scholastica’s College, she is a brilliant, articulate, and courageous advocate of feminist and pro-poor causes.

Gwen Pimentel is not just the daughter of Sen. Nene Pimentel, who is retiring from the Senate after this election. She is a lawyer and a family and child rights advocate. She has also served in the Senate as the chief of staff of her father. She comes to her position, if elected, with a wider and deeper knowledge of the inner workings of the Senate than almost all the other candidates.

Sonia Roco is the widow of the late Sen. Raul Roco. But when I first met her, she was the brilliant student activist from St. Joseph’s College and already considered as one of the country’s national youth leaders.

Fortunately, there are three former senators who, after resting for one term, have agreed to run again. Their experience and knowledge is such a contrast to the other reelectionists whose only strength is their celebrity status.

Serge Osmeña became a national hero when he escaped, together with Geny Lopez, from Fort Bonifacio where he was imprisoned during the Marcos dictatorship. He has always been independent minded in and out of the Senate.

Frank Drilon was secretary of Labor and executive secretary during the presidency of Cory Aquino. He has also been Senate president.

Ralph Recto deserves special mention. He lost in the last elections because of his support of the E-Vat law. But I have always felt that his support of the law was his belief that it was necessary to swallow this bitter economic pill to prevent an economic debacle that could result from an overwhelming budget deficit and debt crisis. After witnessing what is happening in Greece, there is no question that Recto’s act was a case of political courage.

There are two candidates who may be underdogs in the surveys, but I continue to admire their idealism and "never-say-die" spirit in trying to transform Philippine society. Alex Lacson is famous, in some circles, for the book he wrote on how ordinary Filipinos can become good citizens. Then there is Dr. Martin Bautista, who came back from a lucrative medical career in the United States, to give time and effort to help his countrymen.

I strongly believe that the Muslim Filipinos deserve a representative in the Senate. Right now, I have yet to decide whom to vote for. But again, any senatorial ticket should have at least one Muslim Filipino.

For whatever its worth, I want to also list some names of non-candidates who I wish were running for the Senate. The list would include Naga City Mayor Jess Robredo, business leader Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, former Chief Justice Art Panganiban, columnist Conrad de Quiros, economist Dondon Paderanga, newscaster Mike Enriquez, and perennial activist Mother Mary John Mananzan, OSB.

My list is still not complete. But it is still five days before elections and I have time to add a few more names. I am open to suggestions.

Elfren S. Cruz is a professor of Strategic Management at the Ramon V. del Rosario Sr. Graduate School of Business, College of Business & Economics, De La Salle University. E-mail comments to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

View original post on Business World Online