I was glued on the news when GMA7 opened with Mar Roxas’ press conference in Club Filipino in Greenhills, the same venue where the late Cory Aquino had her inauguration as the President of the Philippines in 1986… After the brief intro about the political legacy and history of their fathers (Benigno Aquino Jr. and Gerry Roxas were both senators and friends during the Martial Law regime), Mar immediately broke the news: He would give way for Noynoy Aquino in the Presidential Race.

Roxas however fell short in saying if he will run as Noynoy’s Vice President but an intriguing line on his statement says “Hindi kami maghihiwalay ni Noynoy”. This however gave a big hint that the Aquino-Roxas tandem would be a big possibility in the coming 2010 elections.

Asked for clarifications by the hundreds of Media People present in the press conference, Noynoy and Mar said that all will be further clarified tomorrow’s press conference to be hosted by Noynoy Aquino.

Mar Roxas has been campaigning for several months in preparation for his Presidential Candidacy until Noynoy Aquino’s popularity soared when her mother, former President Cory Aquino passed away last August 1 of this year. Since then, there were so many calls and initiatives to push Noynoy to run for President, mostly coming from moderates and middle class who also supported and believed in his mother and father’s sacrifices for the country.

A few weeks before today’s Press Conference, the Aquino family announced that the family’s decision regarding Noynoy’s fate would be public after the 40th day of their mother’s death. But as history repeats itself, a hesitant and unprepared Noynoy Aquino was catapulted to the Presidential race as a result of the People’s Clamor.

After 17 years of traditional politicking without any alternative leader, the opportune time to choose has finally come. Mar Roxas decision to give way is very commendable. If before I hated his guts in promoting himself, this time I gained a newfound respect for him. His gesture was very stateman and unselfish, an act very rare seen among Filipino Politicians who are hungry for power and drunk for fame.

Noynoy Aquino has been low profile in his political career. He is neither seen grandstanding nor mediocre in his positions as Congressman and Senator. Mar Roxas however has been in the limelight for quite a while, quite a while that perhaps the people got too tired of him because of his over exposure. No matter what the flaws of these two, it is undeniable that they have never been into any kind of corruption and scandal laden news. Their names are as clear as the sun and as pure as their very own fathers.

In my own opinion, I think this will be the very first time that in my life as a voter that I will vote for both President and Vice President, given of course the consideration that these two will show more of what they are made of in the near future.

Photo courtesy of Far From Neutral.Com. For blow by blow and up to date follow up news about these new development in my country’s political arena, please visit my beloved Barrio Siete for more of Mar and Noynoy news.