Kaban ni D_BystandeR: SI PACMAN MAHIMO NGA BAG-ONG MAGSAYSAY???

Perhaps only a few of the young generation of today knows about the life of President Ramon Magsaysay, known as "The Man of the masses" and Monching to his close friends. Of all the presidents that our country has, only Magsaysay ranks below par when we talk about educational  attainment for he was not a lawyer by profession like FM, who declared martial law and became a dictator for 20 years; he was not an economist like GMA, whose reign was riddled with unbridled graft and corruption and human rights violations. In short, he was only an ordinary guy who was  known during the early days as a guerrilla leader during WWII and as the "Mekaniko." But he has a big heart that understands the life of the poor and who tries to share with the poor the kind of justice that normally would  have only been available to the rich. During his time, Malacanang was open to the poor and the unwashed. And police officers and military men were careful in their dealings with civilians because Magsaysay would not tolerate them to maltreat the poor, he wants the poor respected and treated like human beings. 

He coined the popular saying, "He who has less in life should have  more in law." When he died in a plane crash in Cebu in Mount Manunggal in 1957, more than one million people lined the streets in Manila and wept unashamedly to witness and see a final glimpse the hearse of their beloved President in his funeral. Magsaysay, I'm afraid, could have a reincarnation in the person of Pacman if it materializes that he will be ultimately elected to the presidency in the Philippines in 2022 and that will finally give justice to the lofty dreams of Pacman to one day serve his country to be able to help the poor who are mostly neglected by several administrations in our country.

Footnote: This comment came out in connection with a news item in PDI, entitled, "Pacquiao running for president - Arum." It came out on 04/16/15.