Noynoy's discernment starts with Mindanao briefing

MANILA -Senator Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino’s period of discernment was off to a productive start on Thursday, starting with a briefing on the situation in Mindanao.

“In Davao, I talked to several NGOs on the intricacies of the problems in Mindanao… A very very productive day for me,” Aquino told members of media who waited for his arrival at Zamboanga airport.

In what could be seen as a marshalling of forces for his presidential bid, Aquino on Thursday morning visited former allies in Davao City before arriving 4 p.m. in Zamboanga City to consult a spiritual adviser and have a spiritual retreat in a monastery.

Aquino confirmed that he will seek the advice of Sr. Agnes Guillien, who was not only a spiritual adviser of his mother, but is one who “has already proven to be a friend, someone who has cared for our mother amongst others.”

“Ako’y manghihingi ng payo.. ano ang dapat maging pananaw, perspective, pagre-resolve ng conflicting na pangangailangan….Gusto ko nang mabigyan ng peace ang mga kapatid ko at itong papasukang responsiblidad sa taumbayan,” said Aquino.

Aside from Sr. Agnes, Aquino said he will also visit two more advisers, one of whom is Sister Mena from Bacolod.

“I still have to go to various others whom I promised my sisters to visit and prepare myself spiritually for this battle,” he said, when pressed by reporters if he will arrive at his decision after consulting Sr. Agnes.

He said he would stay overnight in Zamboanga City and visit Sr. Agnes on Friday. He would then return to Manila and then go to his hometown in Tarlac province.

Validating people power

What is equally important to Aquino during these out of town trips is to gauge whether the vaunted “people power” spirit, which catapulted her mother to power in 1986, could be revived for a presidential campaign.

“This is the first trip outside Metro Manila where I have been validating whether or not there is a people’s clamor. In Davao, it seems there is,” said Aquino.

Calls for Aquino’s presidential bid started after the death of his mother, Cory Aquino, last August 1. On Tuesday, the LP’s presidential aspirant, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, withdrew from the race in favor of Noynoy.

Aquino said starting a presidential run this late is very difficult considering that many of the aspirants started years back.

“This campaign only has one chance of success. All of our opponents have been campaigning ….for about two years. They have already prepared their war chests, their organizations, they are located in the 80 provinces of our country. And we are going to just start with our own building of all of these and getting all of the necessary logistics etcetera,” said Aquino.

Overtaking early birds

Comparing it to a horse race, Aquino said “they would already be in the last turn and I would just be coming out of the starting gate.”

Aquino explained why it was important to validate the spirit of “people power”.

“Why do we need to validate? If there are people who are really clamoring, who will be going that extra mile to advance the campaign and to advance the cause, then we can catch up with all of them and possibly overtake them or will probably overtake them,” he said.

“But that is why it is necessary to validate lest we just create more frustration for our people by getting them to hope and hope in a fight that is doomed from the beginning.”

Difficulties accepting challenge

He again gave a glimpse of what he earlier said was his difficulty accepting the challenge of leading the nation.

He said some supporters went to his house on Wednesday night and wrote a message for him on a cartolina.

“Nakalagay: ’Wala kaming iboboto kung hindi ikaw’ – addressed to me – tapos it says ‘huwag mo kaming biguin.’ Mabigat iyon – talagang inaasahan ka nila,” he said.

He also defended his sisters and other members of the family, and appealed for understanding from his supporters for not rushing his decision.

“I can’t expect of my sisters and the rest of my family to be this ready. Over a month, nagbabantay sa mommy ko, kami sa hospital taking turns then preparations for the wake and burial. We haven’t had time to sit down for like a day and maybe just think about her and pray and remember her,” said Aquino.

Still, he said that he and his sisters have been able to cope.

He said he would fulfill his promise to his family of going through the process of discernment, and the final say will be his to make. “It’s my decision,” Noynoy said.

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