(Author’s note. Part 2 of “Riot Ruth” is deferred to prioritize this urgent Christmas message.)

Let’s face it. We have a first-class leadership crisis. There is no one visible to lead the country. Duterte and Marcos-endorsed candidates are both unacceptable as the next President. They will both bring the nation down—an evil to the nation’s true destiny.

We need a THIRD OPTION, a THIRD CHOICE to lead the country in these days of uncertainty-–one who is MAKA-DIYOS (God-fearing), MAKA-TAO (pro-people), MAKA-BAYAN (pro-nation).

The pessimist will say: WALA, NADA, NO CHOICE BUT DUTERTE OR MARCOS. Of course, most of them are just “positioning” themselves to be with the winner, for their self-centered interest. They do not care about the nation, just themselves progressing by siding with the perceived winner, and stepping on others and the nation.

But the optimist, the Filipino who has hope to help shape the nation’s destiny is saying: MERON, THERE IS A CHOICE. It is up to us. The key is a unification of the non-Duterte, non-Marcos forces to defy the traditional corrupt politics. If this is unattainable for now, if we are not yet ready, if this is hard to achieve, let us start with a good President, who can start cleaning up the government. 

If we cannot instantly, for now, solve the crisis of a nation corrupt to the bone, we can start with a true leader to clean things up. If the top is corrupt, the entire government hierarchy will be corrupt. A corrupt leader induces a corrupt government. An honest leader is the beginning.

But honesty cannot solve all our problems. Our next President must have the WISDOM to have a vision, a creative strategy to cleanse and rebuild, the HEART to change things in a sea of corruption attempting to bring him/her down, and the BRAVADO to defy evil forces, especially in Congress, the epicenter of today’s runaway corruption. It is a big job.

Earlier, I wrote a StarGazer column saying that perhaps we need a BENEVOLENT DICTATOR. 

That is the last resort when we are desperate. For now, we must focus on solving our leadership crisis the hard way, namely, by: 1) identifying a THIRD CHOICE, a leader who is honest, charismatic, wise, and brave all rolled into one—there is someone out there; 2) uniting fragmented forces into a powerful entity; 3) finding the funds to pedestal him/her, even just a fifth or a tenth of the funds of a Duterte or a Marcos candidate is enough if our choice has the charisma.

Of course, they will try to buy the votes of the hungry poor, but we have to counter that with a massive awareness program. It is not easy but it is doable, if we acquire the bravery and wisdom to persevere, we can overcome the hurdles.

The Geopolitical Factor

Let us not be naïve. There are mammoth outside forces that will destabilize us if our interests do not coincide with theirs. They have their own geopolitical agenda—both America and China—that is easily in conflict with our national agenda. Pro-US Marcos and pro-China Duterte are giant forces to reckon with. But we should overcome and prevail by sheer political will. We are victims of an emerging proxy war.

Finally, let us not forget to pray. The Lord and the Virgin have to be on our side. What we are helpless to do is doable with heaven backing us up. We are requesting the CBCP to launch a massive prayer campaign. Lord, we surrender the nation’s destiny to Your Divine Will. AMDG (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam—For the Greater Glory of God).