Kaban ni D_BystandeR: TALAGSAON ANG HIYAS NI KANHI PANGULO RAMON MAGSAYSAY

This article is well-written and nobody can deny the truism of what my favorite author/columnist has strongly argued in his piece to only select or choose a man or woman who has the mental capability endowed by his academic qualification. But before we go any further, let me remind Atty. JBJ that governance is not limited only to those "bright boys." Look at the late Ramon Magsaysay who was originally called the "man of the  masses." He was only a "mekaniko" from Zambales but was endowed  with the natural intelligence that no other person, even those with truckloads of diplomas, can ever beat him when it comes to how he viewed the office of the president of our country. During his time, there was no news about  military authorities abusing the poor people. They were very careful not to offend "Monching," as what he was fondly called by his friends and admirers, because he makes it a point that the poor be respected. He was the man who coined this very unforgettable saying: "Those who have less in life should have more in law." At one time, when he noticed the prices of prime commodities were going up, he asked one of his trusted men in his Cabinet what caused the prices to rise and he was told it was because of the law of supply and demand. Concerned to be of help to the poor, he asked his close adviser if there was a way to revoke that law and he was told there is nothing they can do about it because that is the law in economics. Attending a very important schedule for him to be in Cebu, he was asked by Don Sergio Osmena, a well-known and famous Cebuano leader to spend the night in Cebu and to proceed only when the morning comes but he was determined to take the trip as scheduled because he has more things to do in Manila. But that was the last thing people could see him alive on that  fateful day because few minutes after take off in Lahug Airport in Cebu City, he died in a plane crash in Mount Manunggal in Cebu in March 1957.  Millions of people lined the streets in Manila and wept unashamedly to catch  a last glimpse of the most beloved President of the country as his cortege was  passing by on its way to his final resting place.

Footnote: This comment came out in connection with an article written by  Atty. Josephus B. Jimenez for The FREEMAN, entitled, "What makes these people think they are senatoriable?" It came out on November 6, 2015.