‘Gibo’ the next Manuel L. Quezon – Gonzales

MANILA, Philippines – The administration Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats party should worry more about its standard-bearer’s platform than his packaging.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD senior member and House deputy majority leader Neptali Gonzales II has been quoted as describing Teodoro as a rare political figure with the makings of the next Manuel L. Quezon.

Quezon was president of the Philippine Commonwealth from 1935 to 1944 and is credited by historians as taking large steps for independence from the United States.

Quezon is also regarded as a champion of the masses.

Gonzales said Teodoro has the integrity, leadership and intellect to launch the country into a glorious period of reforms.

But Centrist Policy Institute Executive Director Tonino Habana said the ruling coalition should be more worried about Teodoro’s exposure.

To repackage or not

“With due respect to those who are proposing this to Lakas, I don’t think Gibo Teodoro should be repackaged.  What they should do is expose him some more.  Why would you repackage someone who’s not yet well-known to the electorate, to the public?  Basically, the people should know his platform, know him as a person.  He has to go out more in media, speak to students, go around the provinces,” Habana told ANC’s Strictly Politics on Tuesday.

He added the comparison to Quezon may not even apply.

“I think the current problems of this country are very different [from the problems] during the Commonwealth era.  We were fighting for independence, we were leaning on America in a big way, we were worried about Japan invading us. Now, it’s quite different and we can’t say we need a president in the mold of a previous president.  We can take the good qualities of a previous president and find these in him (Teodoro),” Habana explained.

But Quezon grandson, Ricky Quezon Avanceña, a political analyst himself, said the situation may not be all that different.

A Quezon or a Magsaysay?

He believes though that Teodoro would be better compared to another former president.

“Iba ‘yung problema pero marami rin similarities.  We’re a very fragmented nation.  If you were to ask me, the mold in repackaging would be more, siguro, Magsaysay.  Action man and dating ni Gibo e, makisig na lalaki (There were different problems then but there are also similarities.  Teodoro should probably be repackaged in the mold of Magsaysay.  He gives the impression that he’s an action man, he’s masculine),” Quezon said.

Habana said Teodoro may not even need to be repackaged.

“He’s ok as he is. He just needs to reach out more to people, to talk to them, explain to them what his platform is because that’s his strength.”

Recent polls show Teodoro is still way behind Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III, Nacionalista Party’s Manny Villar, and ex-President Joseph Estrada of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino. –Karen Reyes-Caringal, ANC