I AM A SUPPORTER OF KIT BELMONTE, the congressional candidate in Quezon City?s second district whom Conrado de Quiros commended in his May 10 column. To our great sorrow, Belmonte lost to Winnie Castelo by 15,000 votes, in a district with well over 500,000 registered voters. It was a close and fierce fight. Belmonte was leading in the earlier half of the count but was overtaken later.

But I?m not writing to gripe about our loss, like most losing candidates and their supporters are wont to do. I?m writing because after the results came in and it was clear that nothing else could be done, Belmonte did something so mind-blowing, heart-wrenching?something which fully restored our faith in humanity.

He didn?t cry foul, he didn?t raise hell about being cheated. He didn?t lock himself in a room to brood. He didn?t just concede, even. Instead, he went to the canvassing center where his fiercest rival was about to be proclaimed, walked up to the winner and shook his hand. Shook the winner?s hand! Simply, quietly, all alone, without fanfare or entourage.

Not even his closest supporters knew that he was going to do that, he had told no one. We caught sight of the incident and tried to spread word of what happened. Not to gather public praise for him, not to convert the gesture into a face-saving propaganda trick or a ?graceful exit.? We tried to get the news out because this was how a politician should behave. Nay, this is how a leader should be, this is how a Filipino and a human being should be. Belmonte fought a good fight. He fought tooth and nail against all odds, afforded no quarter to his adversaries, and when it was over he chose to look the winner in the eye?without bad blood or bitterness. Just with honor.

To us who supported Belmonte, how could our hearts not be cleansed of rancor? How could we not be hushed, how could we not be stilled, when the one who had led us, the one who fought the hardest, the longest and always on the frontlines, had displayed such nobility of spirit?

It is strange to feel fierce joy?fierce joy!?in the face of the anguish and defeat, but this is exactly what we supporters of Belmonte felt at that moment. Belmonte is the real thing. Kit is a gem of the Belmonte clan, and an inspiration to us all.

One last word. When Belmonte learned of our attempt to spread the news, the man groaned; said he wanted no circus. For sure he?s going to groan some more at this letter. But the story needs to be told, and we hope that De Quiros picks it up for another retelling. Because the Filipino people need to know that there are Filipinos of his ilk; that this country isn?t going to sink into the bottom of the ocean after all; that there is hope.

There is hope.

?RIO SANTOS,

santosrio78@yahoo.com