WHO DESERVES YOUR VOTE? Exclusive Interview With JC Delos Reyes (First Of 5)

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Cosmo: So why run for president?

JC Delos Reyes: As a long time adherent of Kapatiran, I would say my politics has been formed by the Kapatiran party and the alliance for the common good, the movement, and as a graduate of Theology from one of the most conservative Catholic universities in the world (The Franciscan University of Steubenville). [I was] blessed to have studied in the School of Public Administration in UP, I got my law degree, [and] I taught in the University of Asia and the Pacific.

Para bang the only way for this country to rise up again is if those people who have been blessed materially, educationally, physically, [would] really give their time, talent, and treasure to renew politics. The Philippine society has so much talent to offer and, you know, the problem is, graduates of good schools focus on making money and connections, maintaining the status quo. We have to sacrifice and get into the political mainstream...but not allow the kind of politics that prevails right now, [and instead] offer something different to our people.

It's really the opposite; [we're] simply correcting what the previous generation has done. They have failed to really do things right. We have failed the nation and so, Kapatiran party is staking what they stand for on the youth. That's why if you notice our tarpaulins, imagine a standard bearer for president being the youngest, and the vice president [at] 66 years old; [he's] a very accomplished lawyer; he has impeccable credentials, including the senatorial slate [which consist mostly of] lawyers. Why are they assenting that a young 39-year-old (turning 40) [should] become the standard bearer of the party? Because they also believe that if there's one big problem in this country, it's the hopelessness of the young people.

I mean, if 3,000 people leave the country at a minimum, everyday, and their main reason is because nakakainis na, 'yung politika ang dumi-dumi na, and they're just so suya, and they want to find greener pastures abroad, then there's a really big problem. And if you could find any bigger problem than that—the hopelessness, the helplessness, the apathy of young people--tell me, because talagang they really don't care anymore.

So what is the solution to that? Well, [we should] get the spirit of the heroes during the revolution, who were young people, who really laid down their lives for this country. Imagine, Emilio Jacinto was only 24, Bonifacio was 29, Rizal died at 35, [and] Gregorio del Pilar died at 18 as a general. Most of the heroes that time were less than 40, and the only way talaga for this country to get back on its feet is for young, able-bodied Filipinos to fight for their future. That's the only way. And, siguro dagdagan natin, for our politics to have a fresh start again, for our politics to have a new beginning.

May I add, I think if people [say] that "Ay paano nanalo 'yun, walang pera, di kilala, bata, walang infomercial" [to that candidate who wins], [you can see how] it's really a shocker, it's a destroyer of paradigms. And you know we will begin to see that it's not only money pala, it's not only popularity, it's not only position. There's a good side to the Filipino; they stick [to], they bet on--not naman nobody--but somebody who they perceive to have moral values, to come from a political party that's fighting for a new kind of politics.

'Di mo na pala kailangang magpaka-payaso, to be a clown in politics; you could see it all around e. Putting up tarpaulins and billboards showing your face, where's the honor there? I mean, if we are called honorable then let's act honorable, hindi 'yung you'll do things so that people will vote for you. It should be the other way around. You do things because the subjects of your service are Filipinos. And it's good to do things, it is satisfying to your soul; it's not because of the vote, it's because it is virtuous to do good things and to serve your neighbor. So these things people don't care [about] anymore: the Japanese, the samurai, they would die for honor. The Filipinos, especially the politicians, they practice the politics of witchcraft almost. They steal from the people, yet they show the people that they serve. And until we break this cycle, this country is going to the dogs.

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