Binay the audacious

JOJO BAMA. Quick to cash in on the popularity – and political success – of the US president-elect, supporters of Makati Mayor Jejomar “Jojo” Binay have arrogated unto their man the Obama name at the declaration of his intention to run for the presidency during the celebration of his 66th birthday on November 11.
Audacity – that which evolved as core character of Barack Obama in his campaign for the US presidenc – has also been appended on Binay. His presidential intention – in the words of the Philippine Daily Inquirer – “an audacious journey from the “Republic of Makati” to the Republic of the Philippines.”
The truth though where audacity is concerned, Binay is way, way ahead of Obama, having been into the game when Barack was still the gangling student Barry. Truly, Binay’s defining value is audacity.
Audacious, as only Binay can be, in standing up against the then-demigod of Makati, the political overlord Nemesio Yabut.
Audacious, as only Binay can be, in leading the assault on ABS-CBN – full battle gear and all – at the time of the Edsa Revolution.
Audacious, as only the indio Binay can be, in facing off the mestizos and illustrados that created and lorded over Makati and making them toe the line.
Audacious, as only Binay can be, in transforming Makati from a backwoods township into the bustling, premier metropolis of the Philippines.
Audacious, as only Binay can be, in providing the best health care for his constituents, free education to college for the youth and all that leisure to the senior citizens.
Audacious, as only Binay can be, in winning the Makati mayorship in 1988, 1992and 1995 and making his wife, Dra. Elenita, win in 1998 and then regaining his stranglehold to the post in 2001, 2004, and 2007.
Audacious, as only Binay can be, in trouncing the Bida ng Masa – Senator Lito Lapid – at the polls, ceding but less than nine percent of the vote to the former action star and governor of Pampanga in 2007.
Audacious, as only Binay can be, in opening Makati to the rallies of the Opposition calling for the ouster of the sitting President.
Audacious, as only Binay can be, in refusing that Makati be placed under the jurisdiction of the Metro Manila Development Authority in waste management and in the number-coding traffic scheme.
Audacious, as only Binay can be, in refusing the suspension order served him by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and holding out with his faithful at the Makati City Hall. If that is not the height of audacity to which Binay has risen, I don’t know what is.
In audacity, Obama pales in comparison with Binay.
Thus, it was to Binay’s long-time friend, the erudite Congressman Teddyboy Locsin: “You mean Obama is the Jojo Binay of Chicago? The difference…is that Obama has no achievement to speak of so he is (pushing) hope we can believe in, change we can believe in…Secretly, I believe Obama was watching Jojo Binay.”
Audacity has paid of. Not only for Binay but for the people of Makati. For Obama, and the American people, it has yet to.
Jojo Bama? For the name recall maybe. Barack O-Binay. For the proven performance, most certainly.