“The people are the only sure reliance for the preservation of liberty.” – Jefferson, 1787

AFTER all these years, it is now beyond the shadow of doubt that Imperial Manila, the trapos and filthy rich tremble at the thought of a Mindanaoan running the country. It is precisely because they know only too well that the time has come for a Mindanaoan to be President of our country that the enemies of the poor in governance are doing their worst to change the tide, as a matter of saying.

But we all know as well that no matter what the President, the Liberal Party and all the trapos do, they can never stop or even postpone the idea that has come of age. Certainly, after all those long and excruciating agonies, the people of Mindanao-Sulu-Palawan-Tawi-Tawi are now prepared to do battle against oppression of whatever name or calling. No amount of either sweetening or plain and brutal threats can change the truth that BBL is no more than “Bahin-Bahin Lang” among the greedy in Imperial Manila, the trapos and the filthy rich at the expense of “lasting peace” in Mindanao. And ecause we, the poor people of Mindanao and the rest of the country, have reached the bottom, there’s no other way but up.

In the presidential elections of 2010, Mindanao had 12 million voters with the Visayas having 10 million. While in that last count, Luzon had 25 million voters––60 percent of them were in Metro Manila––some 80 percent of those living in greater Metro Manila are Cebuano-speaking poor, whether they like it or not. Hence, we have the numbers. Most importantly, we have the man, Mayor Rodrigo “Super Digong” Duterte of Davao City, the only leader in the country today who is wellespected among the Muslims, the Christians and the Lumads.

While tagged as a “human rights violator to the hoodlums,” he is untainted to this day of any crime, and is the man responsible for making Davao City the second safest place in all of Asia, and the 9th most liveable city in the world. Sobra ka na, Imperial Manila. Sa Mindanao na sab ta.
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“God must have loved the plain people: He made so many of them.” – Lincoln

Undoubtedly, the poor people of our country is not only the sovereign; we also have the numbers to make or unmake presidents and all public officials, especially city mayors.

Last week, I wrote about the undeniable fact that since Martial Law, no one knew or thought of People Power. But everybody knew then that the spark that ignited the revolution did not come from Imperial Manila, the trapos and the filthy rich. It came from the obscure––three talented lawyers with uncommon valor and love for country: former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., former Assemblyman and Governor Homobono “Bono” Adaza, and former no-nonsense Mayor and Assemblyman Reuben “Ben” Canoy. Because history repeats itself, no doubt about it, all that the country is now eagerly waiting for is for these three wise “PACmen” to re-group and prove to one and all that their love for country and Mindanao is beyond their own personal limitations.

Because it is also a truism that unless we do our best, God will not do the rest, we, the poor people of Mindanao are, since last year inching our goal of securing the necessary number by Oct. 2 to convince Mayor Duterte to become the father of our country on May 9, 2016, or there will be an Independent Federal Republic of the Mindanao-Sulu Palawan-Tawi-Tawi, an idea that is eagerly awaited by the New World.

The second day of October, this year, will be the most appropriate day to have our three wise PACmen graciously offer the poor people’s petition to convince Duterte to become the father of our country because 147 years ago on that day, lawyer Mohandas Karamchang Gandhi, the father of India, saw the first light of day. So on that day, Duterte could start to drive his big bike all the way to the presidency, either for the country or the Independent Federal Republic of Mindanao-Sulu-Palawan-Tawi-Tawi. Kami na pud. Kamo lang diay pirmi? Tsada di ba?
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“In God have I put my trust; I will not be afraid what man can to do me.” –Psalms LVI.11

Thank you Lord for everything. And Lord God, kindly implant in our leaders honesty, humility and transparency in their solemn task as our servants-leaders because those who have less in life are the sovereign and very source of their borrowed power and wealth. Finally, Lord, enlighten our leaders to see the light that greed is a flawed way of life. For truly, there is more profit in giving than in taking. For it is in giving that we receive. Truly, love begets love. Amen!

(Call or text 09188030197, e-mail to bagabuyos@yahoo.com, and check out iluvmindanao.net)