T he MabuhayRadio.com congratulates Sen. Benigno S. Aquino, III, for winning the May 10, 2010, presidential election of the Republic of the Philippines. We, therefore, pledge to honor the traditional 100-day honeymoon period that the Fourth Estate gives an incoming President. During this period, we will hold our horses, to use an idiomatic expression, and not criticize any action of the Aquino Administration.

In observance of the time-honored 100-day honeymoon period with a new President, we have unpublished all the articles about Sen. Noynoy Aquino that we printed in our website during the campaign. We have unpublished even the columns of Jesse Jose that were highly critical of Senator Aquino’s person, demeanor and qualifications for the highest office of the land. We will not also post in any e-forum or e-newsgroup any statement critical of the new Aquino Administration during the honeymoon period ending Oct. 8, 2010. But . . .

B ut as we speak, we are now negotiating with the New York and Los Angeles chapters of the BAYAN-USA and hopefully with the American chapters of other proactive organizations like the Media Breakfast Club of Los Angeles, California, and other progressive-minded entities into forming an “Overseas-Philippine Emancipators’ Rainbow Alliance (OPERA),” which will eventually carry into fruition the pro-people agenda that we suggested to then-presidential candidate, Manuel B. Villar, Jr., whom many of the prospective members of the OPERA chose to endorse for the May 10, 2010, presidential elections.

We will wait for the expiration of the 100-day honeymoon period and see where the Noynoy Aquino Administration is and where our alliance members are . . . Yes, not until the so-called Fat Lady in the proverbial opera sings . . .

While waiting for the end of the 100-day honeymoon period, we intend also to formally organize the supporters of Manny Villar in California and elsewhere into the ORANGE Brigade. Yes, ORANGE, as in “Overseas Relief and Assistance to Non-governmental Entities.”

We intend to rename a budding initiative, the so-called “Overseas-Filipino Liberation Army for the Hacienda Luisita,” into the “YELLOW Brigade.” YELLOW, as in “Youth and Elders’ Lobby for the Liberation of Oppressed Workers” and help farmers, fishermen and laborers in the Philippines and among the Overseas-Filipino communities get justice for whatever causes or concerns that they have or espouse – within the framework of the criminal-and-civil-justice systems of the land.

We are also talking with Filipino-American friends who are engineers, architects and builders into joining our OPERA and forming what we call tentatively the “RED Brigade.” RED, as in “Retrofitting of Edifices against Disasters.” Yes, we will initiate a lobby for the inspection of buildings in the Philippines and retrofit them so that they can withstand safely the adverse effects of powerful earthquakes and other natural calamities.

F inally, we congratulate also the presidential candidate and the members of his national slates that we endorsed for delivering a concession speech within 24 hours after the end of the May 10, 2010, presidential elections.

The Filipino people have decided. It is clear that despite our efforts, we were not blessed to win in Monday’s elections. I face you now to accept this decision, to respect the voice of the Filipino people.—Manny Villar

S enator Villar said further: "I fought a good fight . . . I congratulate Senator Noynoy Aquino on his victory. The challenges he and our country face are enormous and we should all work together."

We applaud also Rep. Liza L. Maza and Rep. Satur C. Ocampo, two of Senator Villar’s senatorial candidates, who issued the following statement:

“We congratulate president-elect Noynoy Aquino for his clear victory in the May 10 elections.

“As the nation welcomes a new administration, the challenge to address the problems of extremely low wages and job insecurity, landlessness and backward agrarian conditions in the countryside, the peace process, declining government social services, the much-hated value added tax (VAT), and the massive corruption in government and society will now put in focus what the incoming President will and can do.

“A top priority for immediate action is the prosecution of the despised outgoing president or crimes against the people.

“On our part, we will continue to stand by the people in closely watching how the new administration will address the aforementioned issues.”

Heaven help the new Aquino Administration and God bless the Filipino people and their new President.

Mabuhay and peace be with all of us. # # #