As a citizen of the Philippines, I did my obligation and registered for overseas voting.  Up until now, I’m still waiting for the elusive voter’s ID.  The last time I voted was 1998.  I know I’m not being a good citizen but before I got the chance to vote in the previous elections, I saw myself uprooting myself to another place and it’s such a hassle to just vote knowing that the candidate I wanted to win, won’t win.

For overseas voters, we are advised to vote as early as April 16, if I’m not mistaken.  Hopefully, by then, I won’t see myself moving to another location and lose my chance to vote.  So.. who are the presidential candidates?  Here’s the list I got from COMELEC.

• Vetallano Acosta for KBP
• Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III for Liberal Party
• John Carlos “JC” De Los Reyes for Ang Kapatiran
• Joseph “Erap” Estrada for PMP
• Richard “Dick” Gordon for Bagumbayan
• Jamby Madrigal as Independent
• Nicanor “Nicky” Perlas as Independent
• Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. for Lakas-Kampi
• Eduardo “Eddie” Villanueva for Bangon Pilipinas
• Manuel “Manny” Villar for Nacionalista

Of the 10 candidates, I only know 6 of them.  Don’t shoot me for my opinion but for the 4 that I don’t know, you better have a good campaign manager to get people to at least recognize you by name.  Of the 6, here’s my take on them.

Joseph “Erap” Estrada

After being asked to leave the office in 2002, Erap’s appeal to the lower classes remains strong.  I remember the time when he was the President, our agriculture sector flourished under Sec. Ed Angara.  He was surrounded by good and able candidates but his womanizing ways was his downfall.

I’m not sure if he will win this election but he surely would put up a fight.  I hope he doesn’t win or else we will be the butt of the jokes again with his English skills and his lack of education.

Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III

Coming from a prominent political family, with a former President for a mother and an assassinated father, this guy doesn’t need to promote himself any longer as from his parents alone, he is already popular.

However, this isn’t just a popularity game.  My impression of him is someone who is soft and can’t stand on his own.  He is single and somehow riding at the coattails of his parents legacy and his sister’s notoriety.

I hope he can show his strength and character because right now he doesn’t stand out as someone who can rule and can lead the country.  He looks like a follower and not a leader.

Richard “Dick” Gordon

Now this guy is a leader.  He’s got the will to rule and the strength to enforce what he wanted.  He has a track record of being a good manager and someone who is not swayed by the opinion of others.  He’s educated (but so is Arroyo) and charismatic but he’s only downfall is his lack of followers.  He’s not very popular as others but he’s got followers from the educated sector.

As my friend said, he would like Gordon to win but he knows that he won’t.  Well.. I hope those people who already lost hope will keep on voting him.  Who knows, maybe he might win.  Everybody loves the underdog right?

Manuel “Manny” Villar – “Mr. Sipag and Tiyaga”

A man who was born poor and rose from poverty.  A person who is known for his helping hand and business acumen.  He’s got a midas touch in business and I hope it will transcend to the entire country if he wins the election.  He started his venture into politics in 1992 as Congressman of Las Pinas, he then aimed for a higher position as senator and to highlight his political career, hopefully a win as the most powerful man in the country, “The President”.

Will he be able to do it?  As election nears, so is discrediting your competitors.  Right now, he’s being put down by the media.  His well known in Manila, but I doubt the countryside.

Jamby Madrigal

I don’t know much about her but I know she’s a senator and comes from a family of politicians.  When she entered the political scene in 2004, I was already living in China and have not kept in touch much with what’s happening in the country.

She strongly supports the environment, human rights and is well known as a pacifist.  She’s quiet and I don’t know if I heard any bad news about her.  I know she can be vocal if people really hit on something she believes in.  I doubt she will win.

Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.

I remember last year when I was in the country, a hot topic at that time was Typhoon Ondoy and how Gibo failed to be the leader in times of a crisis.  At present, he’s gaining a lot of followers from the student sector.  He’s young, charismatic and educated.

Educated both here and abroad.  He’s graduated with a Commerce degree at De La Salle University.  His sense of justice made him pursue a law degree at University of Philippines.  If that’s not enough, he went to pursue a masters’ degree at Harvard University.

If you think he’s not man enough, he’s also a licensed commercial pilot and a colonel with the Philippines Air Force reserved unit.

Who shall I vote?

I really don’t know who will I vote.  From the little or a lot of things I know of the candidates, I can’t make a firm decision on who to vote.  I’m currently tossed up between Gordon and Gibo.  More on Gordon and less at Gibo.  The others, I don’t even want to think about them.  I better talk to my friends in the Philippines or maybe yet, maybe you guys can share on who you’re rooting for.  April is just two months away for overseas voters like me and I really need all the info that I can get to make an intelligent vote.