Happy New Year to all, and may this year bring joy and prosperity to all. 

Now that the May 2010 is fast approaching, the upcoming national elections becomes a stirring topic in conversations.  Particularly, the matter on the presidential elections is a hotbed for debate and engaging discussions.  And in the middle of the hoopla, one name continually emerges among the rest: Noynoy Aquino.

A lot of people are thrilled about Noynoy running for president.  Being the only son of the prominent and illustrious Aquino couple, Noynoy is being primed to rise to the occasion after the late president Cory Aquino’s death.  Apparently, people saw Noynoy as the one who will carry the torch and continue the legacy that his parents left.  The Noynoy buzz, in fact, wrestled Mar Roxas’s bid for the presidency.  As a result, Roxas, also coming from a renowned political family himself, stepped aside and chose to run as Noynoy’s vice-president instead.

A columnist for the Philippine Daily Inquirer even saw Noynoy as the Philippines’ version of US President Barack Obama, as well as this generation’s Cory.  “He is the Cory we’ve been waiting for.  He is the Obama we’ve been waiting for.  He is the Good that will do battle against [President Gloria] Arroyo’s Evil.”  It seems the newspaper columnist saw Noynoy as shining beacon of idealism, youthful optimism and love for country.

But what, if I may ask, did Noynoy really do to deserve such accolade?  From what I have “gathered,” Noynoy has these accomplishments:

1.) Worked at Nike as a retail sales supervisor and assistant for youth promotions;

2.) Personal bodyguard for his mother during the 1986 coup;

3.) Security detail for his showbiz sister; and

4.) Worked for a particular rich Cojuangco uncle.

Not to downplay his achievements, Noynoy also served as congressman in Tarlac for three terms, in addition to being a senator.  But then again, what has he done to justify the accolades?

Unlike President Obama, Noynoy never started from scratch and rose to where he is now.  Rather, Noynoy gorged on his family name and his parents’ legacy to reach the pike of his political career.  He is no Barack Obama.  He did not break down barriers and hurdle the obstacles.  Instead, he rode on Ninoy and Cory’s heritage, and ran on his showbiz sister’s endorsements.

Nevertheless, Noynoy is a moral, honorable, proper and upright person, in my opinion.  But as Philippine president, I don’t know… I have my doubts.