I had a dream...

Six o'clock in the morning. From a light slumber that commenced around 2 am, I jolted out of bed, with a sudden rush that I never felt before. Taking a quick warm shower, I darted out of Bahay Pangarap and went straight into my private office in the Palace. People around were surprised, with some of my aides scampering and trying to look busy as I weave through my desk in a jiffy. Grabbing hold of the handset of my intercom, a female raspy voice crackled on the other end. "Good morning Mr. President, how may I help you?"  

"Uhm can you please connect me via conference call to Rene Almendras and Jojo Ochoa?"  

"Right away Sir!" 

In an instant, the two were on the line.

"Jojo, Rene, don't talk. Listen. These last few days, I have had trouble sleeping, and all those reports about the people's take on my presidency are really upsetting me. There are so many criticisms out there that it can no longer be ignored. Even if some of them are toxic or unfounded, the fact that these are mounting can only mean that people are not happy.  We have to do something. And I mean not just act as expected, but we need to do something drastic, something out of the ordinary ... something so powerful, so profound, so sublime that there is no other way around it. This is it! I think I may have had an epiphany! Please call all the cabinet secretaries and all the staff under the OP and let's meet by 9 AM sharp!  No excuses!"

At the appointed hour, all the cabinet secretaries were at their assigned places in the meeting room, all with astonished and puzzled faces. The room fell eerily silent when I walked in.

I began. "As you know, our country is now in the depths of despair. All the gains we have managed to muster, all this talk about how we improved the economy and became the darling of the world for our growth... all of these are now gone.  Instead, we face a seemingly insurmountable challenge to bring our country back on its feet after successive devastating calamities. There is also that massive scandal of the PDAF and DAF and we really have to admit to ourselves that people are angry, confused, bitter, and most importantly, looking for answers."

'I guess the first thing that came to my mind, and this is perhaps the first thing that we all should embrace, is that we in the government are a disappointment! We should all accept that this administration has failed to live up to expectations when I first came into office. So let's all recognize it! Let's all admit it! ... and having done that, let's now move forward and do something about it!"

"It's not yet too late. I still have 30 months left in my term, and so do you. From this moment on, let's try to accomplish the impossible, do the unthinkable, and preside over the most incredible turnaround of a country in this 21st century!"

"We have admitted our shortcoming. Now, let's work on bringing back the trust of the people. We have to have a rallying point, a cry, a slogan, a vision that everybody can relate to! We need to have everyone on board! We need to send a message of leadership, of unity and most of all, of hope."

"What we need now is to act under a framework of basic values of commitment and care. Let's shun politics, let's ignore partisan agenda, let's erase EPAL and TRAPO in our vocabulary and mindset. Let's be public servants in the truest sense of the word."

"This coming Sunday, December 8, marks exactly one month after Yolanda/Haiyan struck. I want this date to be a significant one in our country's history. I want this day to be an unforgettable one for all us, whether here or around the world.  I want this day be the occasion where Tagalogs, Bicolanos, Visayans, Ilocanos, Chabacanos, Ivatans, Kapampangans, Moros, Panggalatoks, Sambals, Subanons, Igorots, Lumads, Mangyans, Ilongots and Negritos all embrace each other, and call themselves FILIPINOS. I want this day to be a day of remembrance, of renewal, of reckoning, of revival, of recovery, and renaissance."

"This December 8 will be the National day of Rebirth of the Philippines! This is the day we launch and invite all the people to join us in our new movement -- BANGON BAYAN, BAGONG PILIPINAS!"

"On this day, I will announce my grand plan under the BANGON BAYAN, BAGONG PILIPINAS movement. It will be a simple 3 point plan, namely:

PAG BANGON
PAG ASENSO
PAG BABAGO

"Under PAGBANGON will be the overall relief, recovery and rebuilding program of those areas devastated by the recent calamities. This will encompass all that is necessary for a complete rehabilitation of the said affected regions. It should also come up with a reliable and ready disaster or emergency preparedness program. I want this to be headed by Richard Gordon and Joey Salceda."

"Under PAG ASENSO will be the overall economic reform direction. This will tackle jobs, monetary policies, agrarian reform, land ownership, OFW remittances, education reforms, fiscal policies, population control, mining and natural resources policy, tourism, and infrastructure development - airport, roads, bridges, farms, markets, school buildings, etc.  I want this to be headed by Gibo Teodoro and Winnie Monsod."

"Under PAGBABAGO will be social justice, ethics and disciplinary reforms within society. This will handle all corruption and plunder issues, and will wage all out war against smuggling, drug trafficking, tax evasion, human trafficking, terrorism, criminal syndicates.  This group will also have to come up with a plan to reform society in general in terms of discipline and respect for the rule of law. It needs to have an effective campaign for people to obey traffic rules, whether pedestrian or motorist, and on squatting, sanitation and environment protection and conservation. It should also address issues on information, cyberspace, social network, media and civil liberties. For this group, it should be co-headed by Rodrigo Duterte and Prof. Randy David."

"I want these three groups to be the one to harness all the powers and capabilities of the entire government machinery, under my command and watch, and in consultation and coordination with the Legislature and Judiciary.  I will give complete access and authority to these 3 groups to all the executive departments, and I expect full cooperation from all of you my department secretaries."

"I want the people to know all this on December 8.  I want their anger to subside, their spirits to soar, and their pride to come forth.  Let this be a special day. Let's invite all the people in Quirino Grandstand. We will have a very solemn, meaningful and majestic ceremony."

"We will start our program with the first set of the theological virtues - FAITH. Let's have the child visionary Fatima Soriano lead in the invocation. At her back I want to see Archbishop Luis Tagle, Ka Erdie Manalo, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Bro. Mike Velarde, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Dr. Peter Tanchi, Bro. Bo Sanchez, Bro. Eliseo Soriano, all praying for the Philippines silently with Fatima, while their choirs are gathered at the foot of the stadium, singing  "the Prayer" (to be re-arranged by Gerard Salonga or Ito Rapadas) as the background music."

"Then we proceed with HOPE. We call on Joey Ayala, Jessica Sanchez, and Charice Pempengco to sing the Philippine National Anthem, together with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, with the maestro Ryan Cayabyab as conductor"

"Then we call on Freddie Aguilar and Noel Cabangon to sing "Bayan Ko" with a group of singers from ABS CBN, GMA and TV5. Then Carlos Celdran goes on stage to recite the Panatang Makabayan accompanied by Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, The Gilas Pilipinas Basketball Team, the Azkals Football Team, The Dragonboat Rowing team, Efren Reyes, Paeng Nepomuceno and Lydia de Vega.  They will lead in a candle lighting spread which will start from the stage, and will trickle down to all the audience until it reaches the very end of the crowd, upon which white doves will be released from designated cages around the stadium. At this same time, giant video screens scattered across and placed prominently will play images from Yolanda and Bohol Quake to remind us of our frailty and resiliency."

"I want to give time to perhaps two survivors of the earthquake and typhoon to tell their stories and provide us with the message hope.  This will be way more powerful than a speech made by a politician."

"Finally, the program will conclude with CHARITY. This event should be broadcast around the country and the world. Let's ask the networks to join forces, and set up a similar stage and program sequence in Cebu, Bohol, Tacloban, Davao, Zamboanga, Baguio. There should also be viewing parties and pledging sessions organized by OFWs and pinoy expats to be staged in Los Angeles, New York, London, Rome, Paris, Dubai, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Johannesburg, Hongkong, Singapore, Tokyo and Beijing."

"The CHARITY SEQUENCE is where I will announce the BANGON BAYAN, BAGONG PILIPINAS movement and the 3P plan.  As I speak, I want behind me former presidents Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada and Gloria Arroyo. I also want VP jejomar Binay, Senate President Franklin Drilon, House Speaker Sonny Belmonte and SC Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno with them.  I will be the only one to speak."

"I also expect the 10 richest filipinos to be on stage as well - Henry Sy, Andrew Tan, Enrique Razon Jr., John Gokongwei, Lucio Tan, David Consunji, Roberto Ongpin, Jaime Zobel de Ayala, George Ty and Eduardo Cojuangco, and expect their pledges and full cooperation. Will it be asking too much if I also ask the leaders of protest movements such as Bayan, Gabriela, Piston, Anakpawis, LFS, and even the MILF and MNLF and Bangsamoro groups to join."

"As part of the CHARITY portion, we shall acknowledge the support of the World to us. We want to give thanks to the UN, CNN, UNICEF, UEFA, NBA, NFL, Hollywood stars, Apple, the people of Norway, Japan, Israel, the US, Russia, Germany, and all the other countries that gave aid, relief and pledges.

"The program will end with Jim Paredes and all-star cast of performers and global celebrities with pinoy lineage such as Bruno Mars, Apl de App, Nicole Scherzinger and homegrown artists Gary V, Martin Nievera, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, Sharon Cuneta, Zsa Zsa Padailla and other well known celebrities singing "Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo" which Jim will re-arrange to be attuned to the current situation.  These artists will be scattered all over the country and abroad but will be interconnected via live stream."

"I envision this to be an event that will uplift and awaken all of us. It will not be spectacular because of celebrities and star power, it will be because it found a commonality in every citizen of this country.  It will be dazzling not for the drama that it has, but for the determination we will have to renew and to change."

At this point, I can sense agitation within the cabinet. Most of them are whispering to their seatmates, but I can tell the apprehension.

"Mr. President, surely we cannot do this, with all the different personalities involved. There are egos, ideologies, and what-have-you... It's impossible!"

I calmly looked at the person who made that comment, and replied, "Of course I never said it was easy. As Ronald Reagan once paraphrased, it's simple, but it's not easy."

"It's really simple. The aspiration is BANGON BAYAN, BAGONG PILIPINAS.  It cannot be more simple than that. Revive. Renew. That's it. But as to how, now there lies the challenge!"

"Again my friends, we narrow it down. First of all, we already admitted our deficiency and failings. That's a huge first step. Next, we envision. What is it that the people really want?"

"I have given you the answer. More importantly, I think I understand what people are looking for. Along the way, there will be dissent, disaffection and disunity. There will be trolls, pessimists, critics and loonies. I know that. I anticipate that. But above all of that that, I must recognize the true will of the people. It is not garbled, distorted or ambiguous. It is clear, concise and straight to the point. I can see it, hear it and feel it."

"The Filipino people want change. And as the president, I am ready to provide the necessary leadership and direction to attain that change!" ....

... All of sudden, the world around me spun quickly and swirled in a vortex-like animation.

My eyes opened, and right there, a reality check ...

I am not President Noynoy Aquino.  I am Mark Lopez, having a sordid nightmare, in my bed of my squalid room, in my run down apartment in Kalookan.

Who really wants to be president?