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.

Is Sen. Grace maximizing the moment? The answer is yes. Is it for her personal gain? That I could not affirm. Is it in her plans? Maybe not, but it is clear that she do have a plan in the field of public service. Is it in congruent with her principles? Given the fact that she did not formally join a Political Party, we could say yes, it is congruent with her principles. Given these set of questions, we could say that Sen. Grace is indeed an opportunist.

But it seems that Sen. Grace is being singled out, as the only Presidentiable who is an opportunist. Let’s look at the two Aquinos, who both became the head of state.

Corazon C. Aquino is a housewife and a mother of five, during the reign of President Marcos. When Corazon’s husband, Ninoy, a known opposition politician during that time, was assassinated, many Filipinos mourned. That moment, some people called on Mrs. Aquino to run as President. Did she maximized the moment? Yes. Did she run for personal gain? Well, you decide on that. Is it in her plans? No. She did not even hold any public position before that. Is it congruent with her principles? I could not really say, as she is a full-time housewife before her husband died. We don't know what her principles are. What if Ninoy wasn’t killed? We might never know. However, it’s obvious that we can say that Former President Corazon C. Aquino, is an opportunist.

Next is the second Aquino President, PNoy. A year before the May 2010 elections, BS Aquino have no plans of entering the Presidential Race. But on the first day of August 2009, her mother died from Colon Cancer. Some people called on BS Aquino to run as the next President of the Philippines. Did BS Aquino maximized the moment? Obviously, yes. Did he run for personal gain? Well, based on his speeches, no. But, never mind, next question. Did he have a plan? No. Inside the Liberal Party, it is Mar Roxas who is really interested in the Presidential Seat. Maybe BS Aquino do have a plan to be a President, but her mother’s death made it sooner. Lastly, is it congruent with his principles? Let’s just say, yes. Given these set of questions and answers, it is clear, that BS Aquino, is an opportunist.

To the detractors of Sen Grace, whether from LP or UNA, tagging her as opPOErtunista, is not only an attack on her, but to both Cory and Noynoy. Binay claims he is close friend of Cory. LP of course, will never attack Noynoy, on these time. To the detractors of Sen. Grace, avoid the issue of opportunism, it might backfire.