Escudero: Obama model for young leaders
By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:56:00 11/06/2008
Filed Under: US elections, Politics
MANILA, Philippines -- Inspired by Democrat Barack Obama’s victory in the United States presidential election, neophyte Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said Obama should serve as an example that someone young like him could also lead the country.
“Nag-iisa lang ang Obama at hindi pwedeng sabihin na maaaring may gumaya sa kanya [There is only one Obama and we cannot say that no one can emulate him],” said Escudero over the phone on Thursday.
“Pero pwedeng maging modelo ito na pwede palang maging presidente ang bata sa pinakamayamang bansa so pwede ring maging presidente ang bata sa pinakamahirap na bansa [But he can be a model for those aspiring to be president not only in a rich country but also in a poor one],” he said.
Asked if he could be the country’s version of Obama, the senator said, “Masyado pang maaga para sabihin [It’s too early to tell].”
Escudero’s name has been included in various presidential surveys but has remained silent about his plans in 2010.
Besides, Escudero said, his only similarity with the new US President-elect was that they were both young.
“Yung pagiging bata lang [It’s just that both of us are young],” he said, pointing out that Obama is not only the first black US President but is also the first American President that was not born in the mainland because he was born in Hawaii and did not come from the royal bloodline.
“Ipinapakita lang nito na saan ka man galing, kahit sino ka man basta may kakayahan ka pwede ka ring maging president ng isang bansa [What this has shown is that wherever you came from, whoever you are, for as long as you have the ability, you can also be president of a country],” Escudero said.
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