LOREN LEGARDA

Friends in media, and her staff, texted me about Loren Legarda's planned declaration of candidacy at the Luneta Park last Friday. Loren right now stands to be a lone voice on the issue of climate change. That of course may change with the kind of "awakening" that we got from Ondoy and Pepeng. Candidates may now find it a worthy way to get more votes, especially in the hotly-contested and Ondoy-devasted Metro Manila.

So let's give Loren five green point for the simple reason of thinking ahead of the pack.
Come to think of it, this means she has the foresight, the vision if you may, compared to other candidates whose campaigns are still anchored on cheesy messiahnic message of "lalaban tayo." Eh sino lalabanan mo?

Thousands gathered at the Luneta: not the kind of mob that televangelists usually gather, but impressive nonetheless as these are people she's been with in the past post-Ondoy weeks: the people of Potrero, Malabon; Lupang Arenda in Rizal - whose houses are threatened to obscurity by the overflowing Laguna Lake -- and the Moslem community of Quiapo. People from her political bailiwicks Batangas and Ilocos were also there.

Loren did not do what was expected of her during her speech. She did not reveal her intentions for 2010 during her speech but admitted later - in a press conference - that she is gunning for the vice presidency.

Many thought - me included - that she would still insist on running as president of the country which she stressed is the best platform for pursuing preparations for climate change. She may have probably realized that she has a better chance of getting what she wants done by pairing with a stronger candidate, who has the same vision.

That is something we will eagerly await for. Who will be Loren's number 1 and will the environment be a crucial part of his platform?

I've requested my friends involved in Loren's campaign for a copy of her speech. I wish to see it in detail, although I have a general idea of her platform.

Anyway, in that same morning, Loren came to witness the signing of the Climate Change Act in Malacanang. While Ondoy and Pepeng made these bills more urgent than ever, let's give Loren five more green points for the kind of work she put to get the bill passed. It is not easy to get a bill passed if you're a big opposition name and a serious presidential contender.

So that's 10 green points for her: 5 for vision; 5 for getting things done.

THE GREEN VOTE

I'm one of the many victims of Ondoy. I live in a middleclass subdivision along Marcos Highway. I'm one of those you can consider to be environmentally-conscious. I read a lot about climate change and I share the global fear of the kind of devastation global warming could do to us. I advocate climate change not because it is the current advocacy vogue. I believe it, but still there's a part about the "threat" that remains as mythical as the powers of the green lantern.
But on that fateful morning, I saw the face of climate change.
A virtual river of water flowed in the inner roads of the subdivision, dragging with its full powers anything on its way: from the big clay vases of our rich neighbor's landscaped lawns to cars parked on the street. When the water receded and as I began the ardous task of cleaning the house, I saw that the waters brought with it what I'm certain of are soil from the mountains.
The face of climate change has finally been revealed to me.
Right there and there, I promised to myself, at this juncture in the Pinoy's political life, I will search and campaign for a candidate with a clear advocacy of the environment.
Thus, this blog I now call "THE GREEN VOTE."