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'Ready Eddie'

“MIDWAY, I suddenly felt a little dizzy when I was reading a version of my SONA,” Bro. Eddie Villanueva confided to newsPinoy over lunch at the premises of Jesus Is Lord Movement in Blacktown. Was it because the country had too many problems? I asked. “No, it wasn’t that!” he laughed. “I think it was fatigue or something that I ate,” he explained. “But then perhaps it was ...” the fiery evangelist gave a sheepy smile. Bro. Eddie was in Sydney early this month to attend a congress of the JIL in Australia. Yes, perhaps the real state-of-the-nation may be hazardous for ones health if one may read Bro. Eddie’s SONA which he delivered a day before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Some lines from what he called the ‘true SONA’ read: "... The official data tell us that there were about 4million more poor Filipinos in 2006 than in 2003, or about 700,000 more poor families. “Data also show declining school enrollment rates, rising school drop-out rates, and worsening nutrition among children in many parts of the country.”

By Titus Filio

The realities may indeed be dizzying. And Bro. Eddie believes something has to be done. So close to the presidency five years ago, Pastor Bro. Eddie Villanueva is back among the most watched figures seen to be a contender for next year’s elections. Villanueva, the professor-turned-Marxist-turned-Pastor may indeed be close to reach the Palace in pursuit of ideals of good governance, social justice, and equality. The country is so far from achieving that, Bro. Eddie said, but the country must begin with something concrete, somewhere, somehow if it indeed wanted change. He could see some good sign. The events in Manila since the August 1 death of Cory Aquino, Bro Eddie believes, has become the spark that is awakening the Filipinos’ sense of discerning what’s good in politics. And that’s bad. “The death of Cory somehow rekindled that faith among the Filipinos. The Filipinos have been awakened anew to the importance of working for the good of the contry,” said Brother Eddie Bro. Eddie remains the full-blooded Christian reformist with a conviction for justice shaped out from his days as a young professor and the days he leaned towards the radical Marxist movements during the Marcos era. Now he advocates for a change in non-violent ways, in ways where people can participate and have a say in the country’s state of affairs. At the helm of the new Bangon Pilipinas, Bangon Pilipino movement, Bro. Eddie is not just about to give up a long crusade for good governance. He calls it righteous governance. He is vocal at his criticism of the current administration. The day before President Arroyo delivered her SONA, the media, non-government organisations, and equally like-minded reformists were hearing Brother Eddie’s “true state-of-the-nation message”.“The people should know,” he said. In that message, he took a swipe at the efforts of Arroyo and her allies to extend the President’s hold on power - particularly through a charter change.“The natural question to as is: What has she done all of this time to justify inflicting herself and her minions on all of us for even more time to come. What would justify her staying one minute more in power beyond noon of June 30, 2010.” But it was not just about bombast. His version of the SONA drew attention of political observers because he was asking the right questions and presented the real state of the nation. He advocates for good governance and a ‘Basic Needs’ approach to governance (adequate housing, food, job, health, security)The professor that he was, and apparently he is, Bro. Eddie outlined a five-point quiz, actually an exhausting essay test, to gauge governance in the country.“Are you and your family able to provide for your basic needs better now than in 2001. Are you feelin gmore healthy, safe and secure now. Do you have greater trust and respect now for our government and its leadedes and their capability tohelp uplift your family’s wellbeing? Do you have better confidence in the future of your children now than in 2001? Are youprouder of our country and of being a Filipino ow than you were in 2001?He labeled the controvesial HR1109 as “grossly immoral”. HR 1109 was a resolution pushed by pro-Arroyo congressmen to convene a constituent assembly without the Senate. “That’s a glaring arrogance in the highest order,” he said. To Pinoys in Sydney and around the world, Bro. Eddie reminds of the expatriates role in nation-building - first through participation in the electoral process. “The OFWs should take extra efforts to be represented, to register and exercise their right of suffrage. But then they should be vigilant too in guarding their votes,” he said.For him, there should come a day when Filipinos need not have to leave country to work. He laments that labour migration are breaking the families. “If our resources are harnessed, properly developed with equitable distrbution , we need not see Filipinos leaving to work in other countries. Families are broken, many Filipinos are exploited abroad, as of now we have seen five Filipinos beheaded. “We save one and the government blows this up - in the first place that Filipino worker should not have left the country in the first place if we have the jobs for them.”Back in the public view, many people though have one question for him and it is the FAQ: will he run again for president? It is almost a yes. “I am availale to run for President. I am prepared to offer meaningful, realistic change to the Filipino people. If they are ready to fight for change, I am ready to consider running fo rthe highest elective positionin the land.” And what does he have to offer?“I am offering the Filipino people my heart and my soul for a government that stands for righteousness and justice while pursuing competent and modern approach to political governance. His is an ‘e-platform’ - emancipation, empowerment, education, energised economy, elevated level of living, eradicated bad governance, and establishing peace in the land.He is persevering and tireless. He was so close in 2004 - it will be up to the people if they would want to close that gap and hand him the presidency.

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