After All

Another President

The Marino Mansion was bathed in the soft glow of evening light, casting long shadows across the grand living room. Karl Marino sat in his usual armchair, sipping tea as his attention flickered between the television and the view outside. On the screen, an old satirical comedy called Pulpol was playing, poking fun at the absurdities of political life. Karl smirked as the actors fumbled through exaggerated depictions of corrupt politicians, their over-the-top gestures reminding him too much of the real world he had navigated for so long.

The familiar rhythm of footsteps caught his attention, and he turned to see his daughter, Nozomi Marino, also known by her political moniker Jiena, entering the room. A formidable figure in her own right, Jiena was the senator representing Northern Mindanao, a rising political star who had earned respect for her no-nonsense approach to governance.

Karl's eyes flicked back to the screen for a moment, then returned to his daughter as she approached. He could sense there was something on her mind, something important.

"Pulpol again, Dad?" Jiena asked, her voice light but with an edge of purpose behind it.

Karl nodded, smiling slightly. "Reminds me of the real thing. Comedy does a better job of explaining politics than the news these days."

Jiena sat on the couch opposite him, her eyes steady. She crossed her legs, adjusting her jacket as if preparing herself for the weight of the conversation to come. "I need to talk to you about something. It's important."

Karl paused, setting down his cup. The last time one of his children had prefaced a conversation like that, it had changed the course of the family. He leaned forward slightly, signaling that he was listening.

"I'm thinking of running for President," Jiena said, her voice steady and filled with conviction. "It's time."

The silence that followed was heavy, the gravity of her words hanging in the air. Karl's expression didn't change immediately, but his sharp eyes darkened with understanding. He knew Jiena was ambitious—she had always been a force to be reckoned with. But seeking the presidency of the Philippines was a different level of ambition. It was dangerous, unpredictable, and it would pit her against every corrupt figure and dark shadow the country had to offer.

"Jiena," Karl began slowly, his tone cautious. "You're already making a difference in the Senate. Why make a move this big now?"

She straightened her shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. "Because everywhere you look, Dad, there's a bandit or a crook. Peace and order have become a joke." Her words were biting, and her frustration was clear. "The government's failing the people, and we both know it."

Karl's eyes narrowed as she continued, but before he could speak, Jiena's voice took on a familiar, almost playful tone as she recited lines that were unmistakably borrowed from the old Mambo Magsaysay jingle.

"That is why, that is why,
You will hear the people cry,
Our democracy will die,
Kung wala si Marino."

Karl's expression hardened, his voice cutting through her words. "Stop copying Mambo Magsaysay," he said firmly. "This isn't a game, Jiena."

But Jiena didn't back down. "No, it's not a game. And I'm not joking. The people need someone who can show them what real leadership looks like." She stood up, walking across the room, the force of her words filling the space. "In Lanao, they voted for birds. Birds, Dad! And there were stories about aswangs voting too. The elections are a farce—lutong macao."

Karl stared at her, unimpressed. He had heard this kind of talk before, especially from those eager for power, but Jiena was different. She was his daughter, and he knew her well enough to recognize when she was dead serious.