WHAT IF: Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala for President?
Just this afternoon, when I was doing research for my articles, I found this interesting topic in Pinoy Exchange dot com. The discussion is about a what-if scenario: JAZA (better known as Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala) for president? It sounded a juicy topic for me and it really picked my brain. What if nga di ba?
So who is JAZA?
Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala belongs to the one of the wealthiest and powerful business families in the Philippines – the Ayalas. He is the current CEO of the Ayala conglomerate of companies. Some of the companies included in the conglomerate are the oldest bank in the Philippines, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Integrated Microelectronics Inc (IMI), Globe Telecom and Ayala Land. His brother, Fernando Zobel de Ayala is the current COO of the company. The Ayala family is of Spanish in origin and have been residing here in the Philippines for almost 400 years.
More of his biography from Aling Wikipedia:
In addition to his position in the Ayala Corporation, Mr. Zobel is chairman of the Board of Directors of Globe Telecom, Bank of the Philippine Islands, and Integrated Microelectronics Inc. (IMI); vice chairman of the Board of Directors and member of the Executive Committee of Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI); vice chairman of Manila Water Co.; and co-vice chairman and trustee of Ayala Foundation, Inc.
He is also a member of various international and local business and socio-civic organizations including the J.P. Morgan International Council, Mitsubishi Corporation International Advisory Committee, Toshiba International Advisory Group, Harvard University Asia Center Advisory Committee, Board of Trustees of the Asian Institute of Management, National Council member of the World Wildlife Fund (US), and Chairman of World Wildlife Fund (Philippines).
Honors include World Economic Forum Global Leader for Tomorrow in 1995; Emerging Markets CEO of the year in 1998 (sponsored by ING); Philippine TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men) Award in 1999 and Management Association of the Philippines Management Man of the Year Award in 2006. Most recently, Mr. Zobel was awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit on March 11, 2009 by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for “enhancing the prestige and honor of the Republic of the Philippines both at home and abroad.”
Zobel holds a B.A. degree in economics (cum laude) from Harvard College (1981), and an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration (1987). He is married to Elizabeth (Lizzie) Eder Zobel, a descendant of Santiago Eder. The couple have four children.
JAZA sounds too good to be true as a presidential candidate. As in bongga ever to max kapag nangyare yun. Baka mamya ang mga Barrio Sietes all over in the Philippines might become Barrio Forbes Park, Barrio Dasmarinas or even Barrio Bel-Air. Kalokah. Baka mamya e may Ayala / Glorietta Mall na sa Babuyan Islands! 
Kidding aside, reading more on the thread from Pinoy Exchange dot com, there were commentators who thought that having a candidate of Spanish descent might return us to the old Spanish rule. They thought that Philippine government should be run by Filipinos only as stated in that famous quotation of Manuel Luis Quezon:
“I prefer a country run like hell by Filipinos to a country run like heaven by foreigners. Because, however bad a Filipino government might be, we can always change it.”
However, if we are talking about the Filipino race, I can say that most of us are mestizos already. 90 percent of the Filipinos today claim their descent from the Spanish, Chinese, Indians, as well as Arabians. The remaining 10 percent is what we call the indigenous Filipinos – these are the Mangyans, Illongots, Maranaos, Badjaos etc. In Harry Potter terms, halos lahat sa atin e mga mudbloods na.
This is evidenced by the waves of migration that occurred during the prehistoric past of our country and given the old interactions of our country with others, I can say that definitely, we are not purely Filipino in terms of blood. And the commentators forgot that most of our politicians have Spanish, Chinese and other foreign descent din. Our country is a melting pot of races and culture so expect that most of us are multi-cultural individuals.
According to the Article IV of our Philippine Constitution:
Section 1. The following are citizens of the Philippines:
[1] Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of this Constitution;
[2] Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines;
[3] Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority; and
[4] Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.
Section 2. Natural-born citizens are those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship. Those who elect Philippine citizenship in accordance with paragraph (3), Section 1 hereof shall be deemed natural-born citizens.
Section 3. Philippine citizenship may be lost or reacquired in the manner provided by law.Section 4. Citizens of the Philippines who marry aliens shall retain their citizenship, unless by their act or omission, they are deemed, under the law, to have renounced it.
Section 5. Dual allegiance of citizens is inimical to the national interest and shall be dealt with by law.
I find the term Filipino does not determine who we are genetically. I take the word Filipino as being a citizen of the Philippines, irregardless of your genealogy.
Hindi nga lang maiwasan na may mga wannabe elitista among us or yung mga feeling Slytherin pure wizarding families pero di naman pala. Parang si Lord Voldemort na mudblood din. Anyway, that’s them. Hindi talaga maiiwasan ang mga feelingers dyan sa tabi-tabi. Yah know, yung mga gustong magpasikat at magpaka-controversial like some bloggers and facebookers calling some of our ka-barrios as bitch writers.
When all Paolo did was bitch himself considering that he did not read, ergo one ignorant flaming reyna with an entry full of hate. Or one Janette na pa-smile smile pa despite the hate entry. Haayyy! Anyway…
Here’s my take on this what if scenario:
JAZA is a qualified candidate. Just look into his accomplishments – both personal and in Ayala Corp. However, what I am worried about is the dirty politics here in our country. Politics might ruin his reputation in the process. Alam nyo naman ang pulitika sa atin, it is festered with The Tangas, The Bobos and mga Lacostes. And haller, itatabi pa natin si JAZA sa kanila? Hindi na noh?! HALLERRR!!!!
Yes, I find JAZA as a suitable candidate, however, I dont want him to enter Philippine politics because I dont want him to get stained from the dirty game. I’d rather not vote for him na din because I dont want him to enter politics. Kasi naman, kahit wala sa politics, pwede ka naman makatulong sa bansa mo through other means right? Just take a look into his charity projects and you’ll get to know that he and his family have done a lot for this country.
Kaya when Manny Pacquiao, somewhat stated that he wanted to run for public office just because he wanted to help the country, I laughed my head off. Seriously, there are many ways to help our country aside from making sawsaw of yourself into dirty politics here noh!
So I hope that in this what-if scenario, tumanggi sana si JAZA for the presidential offers out there. He deserves a quite life in his Tower One office rather than in Malacanang.
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silver is the blogger behind Dare to Speak Out, a personal and commentary blog.She graduated with a degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. She posts blogs that ranges in different topics – from trivial to the political. She currently works as a freelance writer.
Sounds good to me. At least mayaman na yan at hindi makikialam ng kaban ng bayan!
Nyahahaha….
Yes, he’s so uber qualified. Problema lang, ayaw ko siyang marungisan ng maduming politika sa pinas. hahahhaha.
yep. besides, CEO’s have more experience in running an enterprise than most politicians.
agree ako sayo teacher silver. pero kung mapilit sya kunwari e di iboto natin. malay natin na baka siya na ang makakapagpabago sa ating bayan.
Dencios,
Para ma-convince ako ni JAZA (if ever he wants to run na talaga), then he should present his platforms for the country. Yah know, yung tunay na platforms, yung quantifiable at hindi pangako lang.
Hahahahha.
I will vote for him he is very handsome!
Ngak! Hahahhahahha….
Baka pag nakita mo si Fernando, yung brother nya e baka magbago ang isip mo. ROFL!!!
bakit ano face nya
Ay eto ang litraks nya
ang sobrang yummy
sa isang punto, mayaman na sya. so di sya mangungurakot ng pera ng bayan. as snow said above.
malay natin, maybe he will run malacanang and the country like a business. so baka ok nga. mawawala yung mga gumagawa ng hanky-panky. bawal kay JAZA yung mga natutulog sa desk nila. dapat lahat at walang patay na oras. eh magaling na businessman yan so i-a=apply nya yan lahat in running the government. so maraming matatanggal sa govertment positions na mga un-qualified at mga in-efficient! lalo na ang maga redundancies sa positions, tanggal mga yan! at saka ano, pag may project money o pork barrel na ibigay yan sa mga senators ang congressmen? aba dapat they deliver to the last centavo di puede walang audit at walang report! eh si JAZA susulitin ka talaga ultimo last centavo na pina-suweldo o pina-bonus sayo. eh businessman eh!
on the other hand, dahil malaki matitipid nya sa budget ng government…eh di makakabayad na din ang pinas ng mga utang nito kung saan-saan. at saka excuse me! bakit si JAZA bibili ng jet as the Philippine PResident. eh dami kayang jet nyan ano!
hahahah!! at kung ano ano pa na unnecessary expenses ng govt, pahihiramin ni JAZA ng mga meron sya sa tower nya.
ok di ba???
kaso…lalong puputi ang buhok nya! nakuuuuuu…at dadami ang wrinkles ano!!! kung wala syang migraine, magkakaron sya pag naging president sya! at kung ano-ano pang sakit. heheheh. huwag naman po.
most importantly, tama yang sinabi mo silver na puedeng-puede namang tumulong sa iba ang gustong tumulong ng galing sa puso, kahit wala ka sa politics. tignan nyo si oprah, never yan papasok ng public office. she helps people thru her medium. at marami pang iba!
pero ha…..bihira ako makakita ng picture ni JAZA. ang pogi nya! lalaong pumogi na puti ang buhok!
hehehehe.
sorry ang HABA ng comment ko!
hahahha!!!
Glo,
When I was working, madami akong litraks nyan. Hahahha. Pati nung kapatid nyang si Fernando. Hahahhaha.
P.S.
Nameet ko na ang kapatid nyang si Fernando sa personal. He’s a very humble guy. I admire these two brothers. Hahahha.
i regards mo naman ako fwend..
Is there such thing as contentment?
hahahahhah…..MsPinkBiik, para wala ata. LOL.
dyosko wag na mag-pantasya ang iba ano! wala nang pure na pinoy noh!
besides, tignan mo si voldemort eh mudblood naman feeling uber-powerful. naku…madaming madumi ang dugo sa paligid. tabi tabi po. 
Glo,
They forgot na we are a multi-cultural race, therefore we may have different roots. And most of them are foreign.
Katulad ko, kalahi ko si BATMAN. Hahahhaha.
@Silver,
on the issue of JAZA as Candidate to the Philippine Presidency, eto: I have a lot of admiration for the guy. I will convince you to come with me, join the bandwagon, vote for him dahil ang convincing powers ko is equivalent sa pag block sayo HAHAHAHAAHA convince ka na ba? HAHAHA!
On the Paoloxide hateful and inciting entry, yes. Wait lang. Nakasalang na sya. I will respond to his entry.
Leche!! Iblock ba ako?!? HAHAHAHHAHAH…..
I admire the guy too. He’s really good.
Reyna, macoconvince mo ako to join and vote for this guy IF YOU SUCCESSFULLY SOCIAL CLIMB WITH HIM. AS IN UBER.HAHAHHAHAH….
At may plus pa yun: Lilinisin ko na ang korona mo palagi. HAHAHAHHAH…..
Oo Silver,
Ikaw ang uunahin kong i-convince wid my opinion. wait ka lang. next bibigyan ko si Jeri nang isang kabang bigas to come with me too. HAHAHAHA! i a few minutes! GOING LIVE! HAHAHA!
Hahahhaha….
Langhya…hahahhahha….convincing tapos may threat na iblock…hahahhahahah…..LOL!!!!
I-social climb mo muna si JAZA… Dali!!! hahahahha…
Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala for President?
Negosyante yan eh.. baka i negosyo lang niya ang Pilipinas.
At saka wala siyang karanasan sa pulitika, ni hindi man lang naging mayor,Governor or Congressman.. so how he can manage the highest position? baka lalo lang magka windang-windang ang inang bayan.
Opinyon ko lang naman.
Jeri,
You are entitled to your own opinion. Pero eto ang nasense ko sa grapevine and made me wonder.
The system is already corrupted here. Kahit saan sulok ng bansa natin, may corruption. Hindi lang sa government.
Why not we take as JAZA as an example rather than looking for leaders and put them into a decrepit system na makakasira din sa kanila? E kung sa sarili natin maguumpisa ang pagbabago, then we can make MORE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES in our country. Yung pagdisiplina sa sarili e malaking bagay na yun para sa atin at sa bansa natin.;)
Self-leadership is what we also need nowadays.
Silver,
Sabi mo “nasense mo sa grapevine and made you wonder.”
So walang iniwan sa “AKALA” sabihin na nating ganun…. You have to must think na madalas napapahapak ang ating Bansa sa maling akala..
Si Erap, akala ng mas nakakaraming Pinoy siya ang maging susi ng pag-unlad bayad…. Pero ano ang nangyari?
Si PGMA,akala natin siya ang maging kasagutan ng mga problema ng Lipunan.. Pero mas malalala pa pala ang pangyayari.
Kay JAZA kaya???…. hindi kaya mas kakila-kilabot na AKALA ang mangyayari..
Opinyon ko pa rin…at ganun ang akala ko..lol!
Jeri,
Kahit magkaiba tayo ng opinion (slightly), labs pa rin kita. Hahahha.
Anyway, let’s see kung sakali man di ba. Basta ako , hanging on a thread ang chance na iboto ko si JAZA. Hahahhaa.
Silver I agree with what you said. Ultimong barangay tanod or junior barangay would not function without lagay. Pati nga courier may lagay pa eh. Tulad na lang nga kaso ng kapatid ko sa BULACAN. Palibhasa anak ng PNP treasurer ang nakalaban ng kapatid ko hindi na force ang Judge ruling for him to have access to see his daughter. Instead, they have another hearing to go to. My brother is the biological DAD who love his daughter so dearly and has not been able to see her for a year. Is there justice to that? So even in small court may bayaran yong pang sa malacanyang… OH isa pa… diba pag na huli ka ng pulis pag inabot mo licensya mo may 20pesos nakakasingit (wait ganun pa din ba going rate 14 years na kong wala dyan eh) Anyway, I think he would be a better candidate. he would even do a better job than the idiotic Joseph Estrada.
MsPinkBiik,
Napapansin ko nga yan. Kahit saan talaga. I respect your opinion about JAZA for president. Let’s wait and see kasi si Reynz e naglaunch na ng movement for him. Sali ka na! Hahhaah….
I think this is the first time Reynz and I see eye to eye in Political view ha ha ha ha ha…
so ano ang point mo dito? If we assume or consider that JAZA is the representation of good pinoys, that politics (game) will stain or dirty the JAZA then, what’s left for us Pinoys to select from and vote? we will always be in the same nakakasukang lesser-evil, evil at super-evil na candidates.
I understand that you are only referring to JAZA and that this is your opinion but have you considered the famous triumph-of-evil quote of Edmund Burke.
Please take this comment as it is. I am just wondering what will happen to our country if all good and qualified Filipinos are voted out for the reason you stated above.
salamat po.
@myepinoy,
hehehe! watch our for my next entry na lang. hehehe! cool ka lang. ano ba! mga opinion lang to.
SO WHAT’S MY POINT?
As I have referred in my opinion above, I dont want JAZA get into the useless fray of politics. Although he is qualified, I still think that he can serve the country without even entering our national politics.
The politics here have become DECREPIT and hopeless. That lead me to the belief that politics is not the only way of serving our country. There are a lot of ways. We can contribute something for our country without even entering politics. Maybe even bigger and more significant than those in the politics. Yung simpleng pagsunod sa batas e malaking contribution na sa ating bansa. KAHIT HINDI KA PULITIKO.
Maybe that’s just me.
Take my comment as it is.
OKAY.
At least I learned something today.
Maraming salamat.
No problem myepinoy.
But i still do not agree with your opinion.
Leaving politics to the crooks (because they deserve to play in there) and keeping the good ones away (because they will be stained and they can serve the people in other ways)is a bad idea for me.
Like Ressie said, “Kung ang rason sa hindi pag boto sa kanya ay ang masisira ang reputasyon niya..parang ang liit naman ng rason na iyan.”
Agree ako dito, “Maybe that’s just me.” Relax lang.
Peace….
Its okay to say that you dont agree with my opinion anyway.
I am not in the habit of forcing my own opinion down to someone else’s throat.
uy! Silver wag ka ng magalit.. tumataas na naman ang hayblad mo..lols!
YUng kilay mo, ibaba mo ng konti.. sumasagad na sa noo mo eh.. he he he.
Kapatid, relaksssss ka lang..
Jeri,
Hindi ako nagagalit. Nagcocomment lang ako. Anubey. Hahahah.
Hindi ko iboboto si JAZA. Hindi rin siya tatakbo for sure dahil sa dami ng pagmamay-ari nilang negosyo ay hindi maiiwasang magkaroon ng issue ng conflict of interest. I’m sure he will consider this first before thinking of entering politics.
Mel,
Sa lawak nga naman ng negosyo nila eh anoh? Parang ang tanong e ano na lang ang hindi nila pagmamay-ari dito sa pinas?
so meaning, kung tatakbo sya, join kayo sa movement ko? hahahah!
count me in reynz! gusto ko sya! definitely not a trapo…
Kung tatakbo siya, and he will lay out his platforms na para sa ikabubuti ng bansa, iboboto ko siya. if he will apply yung accountability sa lahat ng areas ng gobyerno, e lalo ko siyang iboboto. sadly kasi, wala ng accountability-accountability sa gobyerno natin, puro na lang pakapalan ng fez!
@dinah,
i fully believe na firm sya sa Ethics nya dahil his company will not be like what it is right now kung wala yon. and am sure yong success nung business nya could be transferred in managing the country. on a grand level lang nga sya. pero para saken, sya lang ang nakikita ko so far na sana – sanaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa kumandidatooooooo! nakuuuuu! kung kaya lang mag dasal ki Cory!!!
Gusto ko siyang tumakbo kasi ang maka benefits ay ang nakakarami..tayong mga Filipino. Kung ang rason sa hindi pag boto sa kanya ay ang masisira ang reputasyon niya..parang ang liit naman ng rason na iyan. I would rather vote for him than those trapos out there.
Hindi na kasi ako bumoboto fwend. Hindi na ako bilib sa sistema pulitikal sa bansa natin. Hehehhe.
for all I care he can own the country if he wants too as long as the citizens would prosper along the line. A huge change is needed not just for the governing officials but the citizens itself. stop jaywalking, drive along the lines, stop nepotism, stop the ideology that woman can’t do work because they get pregnant… Give people equal rights the world will be a better place.. for you and for me and the entire human race …. (michael jackson)
yeah, i believe a good candidate for presidency must be filthy rich. Yung mayamang-mayaman na noon pa, para di na ma-tempt mangorakot. Having said that, then JAZA is a perfect candidate.
pa-daan lang po