Because I think change needs to begin from the top. Because the agenda of cleaning-up politics is a national one. Because the Senate is a deliberative body that should keep an eye on the President and this requires individuals with integrity who possess a philosophy resulting from long years of study of economics, history, culture and the sciences. Because the longer you stay in Philippine politics, the surer the chance that you become as corrupt as everyone else (it would be the height of hubris to proclaim immunity from temptation).

We were "launched" as candidates by the party yesterday. The historic ballroom of the Club Filipino was jampacked and banners bearing our names and visages adorned the large hall. There was a press conference that followed and the most frequent question concerned our being "unwinnables". I re-framed the question in this manner: if after heavy discernment and you are convinced that you have something to offer your country but you are intimidated by the 200 million peso traditional politics "entry fee"; afraid that your votes will not be counted; certain that the people will go for the popular celebrities and then decide to remain on the sidelines, then you will have proven yourself "unwinnable" without even trying.

"Unwinnable" is a product of mediagenesis that is harmful to a nation's politics. It is harmful to a nation's politics because it discourages many potential philosopher-thinker-leaders from entering into the fray of "franchise politics" and it is also harmful because the ruling administration will play it safe most of the time by promoting celebrity-lightweights over serious nationalists.

Personally I will try my very best to get one vote at a time for as long as it is legally permitted. I long ago refused to allow these same political actors from speaking for me. Collectively, they have done enough damage. To sit-out of this terrible mess and instead focus on steadily reducing my golf handicap is no longer an option. From an electoral viewpoint, I may be "unwinnable" but I would not want to lose on infinitely more important principles.

I did the math. If I saw 100 new patients every single day (and this is not a realistic number) I would see 720,000 patients in 20 years of non-stop practice. In 20 years, the Philippine population would be about 120 million people so I would have seen .16%.

I saw Hillary Clinton in New York in 1993. It was the most impressive sight I had seen. Here was a politician's wife who had the potential to influence healthcare delivery in the US more than the combined forces of the American Medical Association. This validated my belief that when it came to doing good for the most number of people there was no other proven way than through political action.

I am frequently asked if I have some secret economic formula that will propel our country to First World status. I tell them that many people in the past have thought about ways to improve upon our human condition (from Aristotle, Buddha, Jesus, Adam Smith, Marx, Gandhi and so on), the formula is out there; what is required is implementation.

Implementation however will require credible leadership. I have no doubt in my mind that GMA and most other leaders today have our country's interests at heart. I do not question their love for our country. The problem is they have committed some serious missteps in their long years in power that have rendered them ineffective. We urgently need credible leadership that will inspire and unite us to work together for our country.

I have been traveling about the country for almost a year already and I know this campaign period will only get me to even more places. I'd like to think that I've been around. I've seen many things. But try meeting Filipinos and you immediately feel genuine human warmth that in all my years abroad I only occasionally experienced. Part of this may be because I am in my own country but for this cause alone, to help unite everybody to pause and take stock and finally to work towards redeeming this very beautiful country of ours, I am willing to stake all my material possessions and devote my youthful energy.

Having cared for many terminally ill patients in the most developed nation in our planet made me understand that when our short time on earth is over, what will matter is not the amount of material goods we accumulated but rather how we were able to serve other people.