First of all, forgive me for not writing on my blog for such a long time. I’ve been swamped with deadlines, the current one being a series of interviews of key presidential candidates for Asian Dragon magazine. I decided to take up this challenge because it would give me a chance to see the candidates up close. And also because the editor-in-chief is Lito Gutierrez, whom I once worked with in Business Day newspaper (now dead).

Little did I know that trying to obtain interviews with every single one of them would be so damned difficult. My hubby, journalist Alan, was right. Candidates would hardly give me their time of day mainly because they would rather talk with TV and appear on TV. Not print. And I guess they would rather have their sound bites, and not be possibly bitten so early in the campaign. Not that I bite. Anyway -

Finally, last week, I was able to complete five interviews. Those of Senator Noynoy Aquino and ex-President Joseph Estrada were both ambush interviews. The rest were sit-down interviews: Sen. Chiz Escudero, Sen. Manny Villar and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

Each one was a different personality. Each one had his charm as well as political baggage.

My initial conclusion – for the first time, the Filipino voter is presented with a wide variety of candidates.

What I would like to do later in this blog is to give you glimpses of the candidates, one of whom perhaps will be president next year.

I’m not going to say who to vote for.

I can only help by giving readers an INFORMED CHOICE.

Now, a word about Sen. Villar. Last week was the first time I was able to meet him. Years ago, Asiaweek magazine assigned me to interview him but he rejected my request through an assistant saying, “Alam ba yan ni Tony?” (Does Tony know?) He meant Tony Lopez, the chief reporter for Asiaweek.

Fine, I said. I wouldn’t push it if he chooses who should interview him.

And so I was pessimistic that my interview with him would push through. But apparently, Lito Guierrez and Olivia Limpe-Aw, the Asian Dragon publisher were persistent. They collared him good.

Villar was a surprise to me. He made me wonder – what is the most important quality that a Philippine president should have? I won’t elaborate on that now. I still have like three more articles to finish.

But I thought I’d share a tidbit now about him. When he was asked, “Is it true Willie (Revillame) will be your running mate?”

He replied – “No, ikaw naman, he’s a friend. But of course I will not say he’s not qualified to be fair with him. He’s very popular because of Wowowee (a game show).”

He said Willie was going around with him and giving people joy while being acutely aware that many of his fans were poverty-stricken, homeless, penniless and out of school.

Sen. Villar is regarded as the closest rival of Estrada for the affection of the poor, according to Sen. Ernesto Maceda in a separate interview. Maceda is Estrada’s key political strategist.

Sorry, have to go now.

Do wait for my blogs on the presidential candidates.