My statement on the Jolo bombing

The Jolo bombing, which happened on Christmas Day of all days, should serve as a stern reminder to government that the path to peace, even if fraught with danger, should nevertheless be pursued with greater intensity and aggressiveness. It should tell us that we must relentlessly confront the root causes of armed conflict and violence, which are poverty and discrimination.

The peace initiatives of the government must not be sidetracked by these acts of senseless violence. It must, in fact, strengthen our resolve to bring peace negotiations to a higher level and end decades of armed conflict and social unrest in the South.

With inspiring and determined leadership and a people inspired to get involved and see an end to war and violence in their respective communities, there is no reason why we cannot succeed in silencing the guns of war for all time.

The revenge of the voter!

It's time to reclaim our nation from those who have run it to the ground and have robbed us of our dignity and self-respect. The revenge of the voter!

Villar and Gordon shouldn't claim to know more than the voters

The presidentiables attacking Noynoy are missing the point entirely. They are misreading the public pulse. They claim to know better than the voters who are now demanding integrity and honesty in government. Voters want an incorruptible President; track record is no longer enough.

They who hit Noynoy for his alleged lack of experience are making a mistake by claiming they know more than voters. Voters are no longer dumb or blind to the empty promises and the rhetoric of politics. Voters today are more intelligent and more discerning. After being repeatedly betrayed by the trapos, they now know what they want and that is inspiration and integrity rather than merely experience.

GMA had the experience. She was former DTI Undersecretary, Senator, Vice President... yet where are we headed today? People know that experience per se has not changed out nation for the better.

The issue in 2010 is not about experience. It is about TRUST. We believe that people want change to take place and want to be able to trust their President not to abuse and enrich himself in office. It is Noynoy who has the track record for honesty and integrity in government. Who among the presidentiables can be trusted to ensure honesty in government? Who among them can inspire our people to go out and be involved in 2010 and beyond for real change?

Now, more than ever, people want honesty and integrity in their President. Noynoy will give them that and, together with a people committed to change, usher in a new direction for our nation.

A challenge to all reformists: LET US UNITE FOR CHANGE!

From my visits to various parts of the country I can sense a brewing political upheaval, a massive outpouring of people in their millions--all geared towards the 2010 elections. People want regime change, and they want it through our electoral process. The urgency of building a national consensus for genuine change cannot be underscored enough.

We urge civic groups such as Kaya Natin!, Ang Kapatiran Party, Movement for Good Governance, Akbayan, Bayan Muna, PAGASA, and Bangon Pilipinas--as well as religious groups such as the Iglesia ni Kristo, the El Shaddai, the CBCP, among others--to come together and unit for the sake of genuine change.

Our country is in a mess. We need to do our share and help free our nation from decades of failed leadership. We are headed towards greater political disasters unless something is done to help change the course of our nation.

Faced with these challenges, do we simply watch and wait? Do we throw our hands up in surrender? Do we just stand idly by? Do we stare at the mess and do nothing? NO! WE FIGHT! We struggle mightily against the old bankrupt order and this is how we will defeat it and help usher in real change for our nation, for our children.

Let us help build a national coalition for change!