Saturday, September 19, 2015

Opportunism and Presidential Election: Poe and the two Aquinos



Opportunism and Presidential Election: Poe and the two Aquinos
Marc Valenciano

When Sen. Grace Poe-Llamanzares announced her bid for Presidency, Netizens from different Social Media Networks labelled her as an Opportunist. Different reasons are given why she is an Opportunist. Some say she is maximizing the current result of social surveys, wherein she places first. Even the result of the last Senatorial Election, wherein she also places first, wasn’t spared. Another is her usage of the family name Poe, instead of her husband’s last name, Llamanzares.

People can give hundreds and thousands more of reason why Sen. Grace is an Opportunist, but first, let’s consult the dictionary. Merriam-Webster defines it as “someone who tries to get an advantage or something valuable from a situation without thinking about what is fair or right”. Oxford defines an opportunist as “a person who exploits circumstances to gain immediate advantage rather than being guided by consistent principles or plans”. With this two definition, one thing resonates, an opportunist maximizing the moment for personal gain, regardless of plans and principles.