THE RACE for the presidency is turning out to be not a contest of which candidate is the most qualified but who would have the best first lady. Perhaps stung by the excesses of Ferdinand Marcos? first lady, Imelda, and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?s first gentleman, Mike Arroyo, people are now scrutinizing the potential first ladies more closely than they do the candidates themselves. And if the candidate?s partner is less than ideal, woe to the presidential wannabe.

?Gusto mo bang maging first lady si (the name of the candidate?s partner) kung maging presidente si (the candidate)?? is a common question.

The usual answer is, ?No, no, no!?

So far, the favorite is Councilor Shalani Soledad of Valenzuela, Bulacan, the beautiful fiancée of Sen. Benigno Aquino III, LP presidential candidate. But Shalani is not yet married to Noynoy, and it looks like they won?t be for sometime yet. So the people are afraid it may be Noynoy?s talkative and pakialamera sister, Kris Aquino. ?Oh no, not her please,? is the common reaction when her name is mentioned.

Shalani and Kris are a study in contrast. While Shalani is modest and low profile, hardly calling attention to herself, Kris is the exact opposite. Kris is far from modest and likes to call attention to herself, stealing scenes even from her older brother. She called his taste in pants ?so baduy? and said she would spend for his wedding (as if Noynoy can?t afford it) and then turned around and said she didn?t think he should get married, prompting some women to say, ?Who is she to decide whether her brother should marry or not? Imagine what she will do if she becomes first lady.?

While Shalani is the favorite, Rep. Nikki Teodoro, wife of Lakas-Kampi standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro, is at the opposite end. Asked why, those who don?t like her reply, ?Mayabang.?

The representative from Tarlac turned off many voters when she said, early on, when Gibo left his party, the Nationalist People?s Coalition (NPC), to join the administration party, in so many words: ?If Lakas-Kampi does not make (Gibo) its presidential candidate, we will leave it and join another party.? What loyalty!

?At least Congresswoman Teodoro is pretty,? say some women, ?but we cannot say the same for Manny Villar?s potential first lady.? How catty!

?That is why he took a beautiful No. 2 in Loren Legarda,? said another.

?Pero unlike Imelda, mayaman naman si Cynthia,? said another. ?She is the richest member of the House of Representatives. Without Cynthia, Manny might still be selling shrimps.?

With Erap?s first lady, the argument is not who but which one. Would it be Loi or somebody else? ?When Erap was mayor of San Juan, his first lady was not Loi,? some said. ?But when he was in Malacañang, it was Loi. And look what happened to him. He may not want to go through that again.?

?Why not the wife of Sen. Chiz Escudero? She is pretty, modest and low profile,? suggested somebody.

?But Chiz has not decided yet whether he will run or not,? another said. ?How can we make her first lady??

It?s a good thing Sen. Mar Roxas is no longer running for president, otherwise they would be talking about Korina Sanchez in the same vein.

Anyway, who would you like to be our next first lady?

* * *

If Noynoy does not handle the Hacienda Luisita case correctly, it could blow up in his face and derail his way to Malacañang. It is definitely an issue in this campaign and his rivals would surely hammer at it. ?How can he run the Philippines properly and do justice to every Filipino when he can?t even do that in his own turf??

Noynoy?s answer is that he does not own Hacienda Luisita. He owns only 1.1 percent of it. He said he would dispose of all his shares. And anyway the clan is talking about what to do with the hacienda.

Not good enough. Here is a chance for Noynoy to show his leadership qualities. He is now the leader of the Cojuangco-Aquino clan. If he is a good leader, he should be able to make his relatives follow. If he cannot make his relatives obey, how can he make the rest of the Filipinos obey?

In the same way, Noynoy should exercise his leadership in his campaign organization. Former Sen. Serge Osmeña is reportedly bolting the LP to protest the inclusion in the party of former Sen. Ralph Recto, a former GMA Cabinet member, and his wife, actress and Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos. If Noynoy cannot solve this particular problem, it would be a big loss to his party and his campaign. Serge is a member of the Osmeña clan of Cebu which gave GMA one million votes in the 2004 presidential elections and made her president. On the other hand, Vilma and Ralph are a boost to his campaign. Noynoy needs the wisdom of Solomon.

* * *

It is spring in the political landscape and flowers are blooming, so political butterflies are flitting from flower to flower to get the most and sweetest honey. There is an exodus from the administration party Lakas-Kampi. That is because any association with GMA, the most unpopular president in the history of the Philippines, is seen as a ?kiss of death.? Note that GMA did not raise the hand of Gibo Teodoro during his proclamation as the administration standard-bearer, as is traditionally done. That was to spare him the onus of being associated with GMA.

* * *

KAPIHAN NOTES: Presidential candidates will be the guests at this Monday?s Kapihan sa Manila. Former President Joseph Estrada and former Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane have confirmed their attendance. Also invited are Senators Noynoy Aquino, Manny Villar and Chiz Escudero, and former Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro.