MANILA, Philippines -- Perhaps it was the manner by which the question was asked that peeved Senator Richard Gordon.

The standard bearer of Bagumbayan-Volunteers for a New Philippines and his running mate Bayani Fernando were guests at the Philippine Business Leaders Forum last week when Gordon was asked about his chances of winning.

Chito San Agustin, general manager of Biotech Philippines, Inc. believed Gordon has only been appreciated by ?people like us who are educated,? which he said excluded ?the masa? whom he described as ?80 percent? of the voting population.

?I am not going to debase the masa by thinking they cannot understand. I think they do,? Gordon answered.

?The reason why I ask that Mr. Senator (is because) the ideals of both of you (and Fernando) are really good,? San Agustin explained.

?But we?re not gonna win, right? You can say it,? shot back the senator, who has so far remained in the single-digit range in presidential surveys.

San Agustin clarified that Gordon?s ?chances of winning in the campaign are probably nil.?

He added: ?I would really want to help, okay? But it seems that the intentions that you both have are really good for people like us who are educated because we understand what you mean. But the 80 percent out there, the masa that Bayani probably removed (from) the sidewalks are now against him and this is the problem with popularity votes.?

Earlier, Gordon complained to the audience about the absence of a level-playing field being dominated by his rivals Senators Manuel Villar and Benigno Aquino III.

Gordon said that if the voters contributed the amount they could afford to their preferred candidate, the campaign could be played out on a more equal footing.

?How much money do you have?? the senator then asked San Agustin. ?How much assets do you have? Will you be willing to bet all those assets of yours??

His voice going up a few decibels: ?You allowed yourself to be co-opted! You don?t wanna think anymore! You?re so lazy! Because you think they?re number one in the surveys, you don?t wanna think anymore and you?ve allowed them to get in your head and you?re educated! Excuse me, my friend!?

San Agustin was supposed to explain further but Gordon cut him off.

?When you say you?re educated, you have the capability to analyze the situation,? the senator said.

?How sure are you that I?m not gonna win? Let me ask you. At this point in time (in 2004) when I was running for the Senate, I was No. 29 in the surveys. And I got to No. 5 in the end with limited resources, with no Iglesia Ni Cristo, with none of the other things and I won, all right? Okay? I have never lost an election,? Gordon exclaimed.

San Agustin: ?I?m not saying, Mr. Senator, that you?re not gonna make it.?

Gordon: ?But you said my chances were nil.?

?I said that (because) I wanted to (know) how you?re going to convince the 80 percent of our people.?

?Your credit is good but I need cash.?

?And the 80 percent probably doesn?t even know what?s going on.?

?Have you ever won in the Senate? I represent the people. Do you represent the people??

?No.?

?Don?t speak for 80 percent of the people when you don?t represent them. I represent them.?

The Philippine Business Leaders Forum is composed mostly of foreign companies based in Europe and Australia.

Its mission statement indicates the group is ?in the business of ?corporate intelligence?? that includes ?helping companies understand the environment in which they are operating.?

Gordon was the first presidential aspirant invited to discuss his agenda before its members.

Before San Agustin?s question, he complained of a ?weak playing field? that allowed Villar and Aquino to get high percentage points in the surveys.

Gordon wishes there would be a forum where presidential candidates are allowed to debate on issues face-to-face. Obviously, a verbal slugfest gives the eloquent senator an advantage.

?The nice thing about this election now is that there are fora. People get to listen. Taxi drivers are listening. Why the hell do you think Aquino went down so fast if he?s morally upright and had everything going for him?" asked Gordon.

?We have to change the paradigm? The media keeps on egging Villar to put up more money in advertising. That?s why I want him to come down and debate with me...He would never appear. You know why? He?s copping out!? Gordon contineud.

Gordon told the forum that an equal playing field, especially in business, would be one of the changes he would work for.

?I could easily be reelected (to the Senate) but I don?t want to. I want to do something in the executive level so we can finally change this country?that belongs to all of us.
It doesn?t belong to the rich. That?s what the mistake has always been."

?That?s why Noynoy doesn?t want to answer questions about Hacienda Luisita. That?s why he was quiet when the debate was going on about Villar because he had the same problem that Villar has with C-5,? he huffed.

?Have a little faith because that is what country is all about. You think China would be what it is today if not for that guy standing in front of the tank,? Gordon added.

The senator also appealed to forum members to contribute to his campaign so he could put up a better-financed campaign.

?The problem here is that we don?t contribute to the campaign of (our) favorite candidate. In America, a worker can put five dollars to the campaign of a political party. Here nobody gives,? he said.

Gordon however, noted a time when a member of the Philippine Jaycees came up and handed him a check for P200, 000 after hearing him speak.

There was also one instance when a hospital worker sheepishly pressed his palm and gave him a P100 bill. ?I thanked him profusely,? Gordon said.

The senator also recalled that last year, friends passed the hat one evening and collected P18 million for his presidential campaign.

?I announced it to the media (but) it didn?t come out in the papers. In one day, we raised P18 million. It can be done. Have you ever heard of any politician who raised that much in one day??