Her name is Miriam

I'm gonna cry for Miriam. I'm gonna cry for Miriam, not because she's dying, but because the people already have a choice. And it's clearly not her.

I'm gonna cry for Miriam as I would cry for the right stuff that we so often ignore but wished we didn't. I'm gonna cry for the sake of crying because that's what I'm good at. Because I am a cry-baby. And because I'm an idealist and I have this ideal that political will combined with civility is actually possible. That it is possible to disagree with others without compromising international alliance and security, or without totally severing them. That it is possible to cure social ills without killing the sick altogether--just the root cause, and with the right tools. That it is possible to change the system without the threat of destroying it. That it is possible to strongly govern the nation--with an iron hand, even--but still with the firmness of the intellect and the strength of will. Yes, these two can perfectly go together. And compassion. Yes, compassion for the people and the nation, matched with respect for human life and dignity. Ah, too idealistic...pretentious even! Specially when ideals like these are not taken seriously anymore. So it seems. Because they're just ideals and ideals don't necessarily win elections. Because things change, they say. Because this time we want more. Exactly. Exactly. Exactly.

That's why I'm gonna cry for Miriam because she was all of these and more but we still just didn't want her. For the third time she has given us a fighting choice, and our choices have been her curse. And ours, too. 

Her name is Miriam. And she's the best president that we didn't want.

No, she's too good for us we just didn't deserve her.

*Posted as a Facebook status at the height of the campaign period for Philippines elections 2016. Miriam finished last in a five way contest. That speaks much of our national sensibilities. Sad face.