The 1st Presidential Debate 2022 sponsored by SMNI at the Okada Manila raised the standard of debates with the caliber of UP Professor Clarita Carlos among others asking tough questions which a shallow mind will find hard to fathom. I patiently watched the 4-hour debate so I can determine who among the four aspirants present really got the acumen and intellect to serve as Chief Executive of the Republic.
Without going into the details as the same had already been exhaustively discussed by various political analysts and critics, I would say that it was a very successful debate. I admire the guts and balls of the gentlemen-aspirants for showing up and answering confidently the grueling questions from the panel. Watching how Prof. Carlos grilled them is like watching the Law class of Prof. Analise Keating in the Netflix series “How To Get Away With Murder” – intense, tight, penetrating.
As I reviewed the questions asked by the panelists, I started to realize the importance of having a platform-based presidential debate. It brings out the best and the worst in a contender. It allows the audience to see the true color of each speaker. The might of the question cannot be discounted. It is the basis of all human progress, according to the ‘Iron Lady of India’ Indira Gandhi. Of course, in any argument the questions must be sensible, well-crafted and relevant to the contemporary era.
There would be other debates that will surely be organized by the media and the COMELEC before the election in May and I expect them to be conducted at par with the one sponsored by SMNI. They must also invite panelists like UP Prof. Carlos and Manila Times President-CEO-Executive Editor Dante Francis “Klink” Ang II. SMNI set the standard so high that it would be boring if the tempo of the planned debate was like the defunct TV comedy show ‘Battle of the Brainless’. The other presidentiables missed the chance to participate in the said event for some personal reasons I heard from social media. Had they attended, I’m sure it would be fun.
The post-debate analysis from various social media outfits is more amusing to watch. Atty. Trixie Angeles of Luminous who was among those invited to watch the debate at Okada was too kind to say that everybody did well. Others were too excited to praise their bet while some were brutally frank to say their honest-to-goodness observation about the demeanor of some participants. What is important is everybody – the aspirants and the panelist exhibited to the world how a good debate should be done. Though the argumentation was intense, there were no personal attacks and no badmouthing but a dynamic exchange of ideas. I guess that’s the beauty of democracy.
Melinda Bagsic Evangelista
I was born to write and I believe that’s my calling. I love writing because it brings me to the realm exclusively of mine. It is also my opinion that “immortality” can be achieved not by searching for the Holy Grail and drinking from it but by living your life worth-writing or writing something worth-reading. Since I cannot promise you a life worth-writing, I keep myself busy writing something worth-reading. I am thankful to God for giving me the talent and skill to see life in different perspectives not seen by many and the courage to share it to my readers. This first ever Tutubi Digital News Magazine is a perfect avenue to bring you the many facets of life that you can ponder upon in this time of the pandemic. Enjoy reading all the articles.
