As a plain citizen and a small landowner, I’ve been in search of the presidential candidate my family will support this coming 2010 presidential elections. Being one of the tens of millions of small landowners “completely destabilized” by Marcos’ land reform 36 years ago, I am now in quandary as to whom to support for president in 2010.

Since Edsa I four presidents have “come and gone,” but not one has shown concern to ease the sufferings of the millions of landowners impoverished by the Department of Agrarian Reform. The assumption of Tita Cory to power gave hope to all landowners, but then her unchristian Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program “devoured” what Marcos’ Presidential Decree 27 left of the land they owned. It was the worst nightmare for all landowners—not to mention the Hacienda Luisita.

Of course, we honor Ninoy Aquino’s heroism. But even without Edsa I, the Marcos regime would still end. Enough is enough for the Aquinos. The Manila International Airport, the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, the P500-bill and many other landmarks in the Philippines have been named after him, although there were lots of other Filipinos who were martyred yet remain unknown and unremembered.

—MEL BEBITA,
5 Ilang-Ilang St.,
St. Miachael subdivision,
Mecauayan, Bulacan