There is a name being overshadowed by other front runners on the presidential race of 2010 Philippine elections. He may not have the last name of a famous parents nor a campaign budget as enormous as some candidates are pouring out but JC de los Reyes has all the good intentions of restructuring his home country into a progressive one. The youngest among the presidential hopefuls, de los Reyes’ experience in public governance came solely as a local legislator in his local town of Olongapo City. He became a councillor in the 1995 local elections took a rest, then ran again in the 2007 local elections where he placed second overall as a city councillor once again. Aside from being a local legislator that pushed the poor and youth’s empowerment, he is also a practicing lawyer that spearheaded a local project of offering legal assistance to Olongapo City citizens.
A stark Catholic who believes in everything that his religion stands for, he adheres to issues that naturally lean to the Catholic Church’s beliefs. With his vice-presidential tandem, Dominador Chipeco and the rest of his parties, they run under the Ang Kapatiran Party considered as the smallest party to participate in today’s presidential elections. AKP’s ideologies and visions more or less leans and abide the principles of Catholic Church believing that “seeking the Kingdom of God” runs side by side with political aspirations and strategies. The AKP is proudly backed and supported by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) among others.
Some of his political platform lists the abolition of gambling, death, penalty and nepotism which he believes that the country is plagued with. Although he is clear on his drive to eradicate nepotism most especially in political arena, many people can’t help but doubt this idea after all he is the nephew of another presidential runner Dick Gordon both of which started their political careers in the city of Olongapo. But de los Reyes is quick to respond that he never used his uncle’s name and fame for his own political means. He is running as a president out of his own beliefs and principles, his uncle never encouraging him to walk the same path.
With the election nearing, most Filipinos will agree that they still get blinded by media hypes and political stunts that every candidates are pulling. They are charmed by the popularity of the presidentiables and their supporters, get sidetracked by surveys coming out from left and right. Admittedly, this is where many people sees JC de los Reyes will fail – his lack of popularity. Ratings often list him at the bottom rank claiming that most Filipino voters has not heard of de los Reyes’ name before owing possibly for his minimum voting expenses unlike other candidates . What de los Reyes lack in popularity though he certainly make up for his consistency in making the public aware of him and his political platforms by participating in presidential debates and network guestings and standing firmly on his principles.