There's never been a democratic contest like this one—for sheer viciousness; for brutality; for mano a mano fighting of one against one, all against one, and one against all. Everyday opened a new field of fire. I salute the candidates. I salute Miriam for sticking it out and showing of what the right stuff is made. I salute her last hurrah as the president we should have had if only civil society did not cheat her. When she lost that election civil society lost any right to be treated with civility.

I salute Jojo Binay, old friend estranged, you taught me many things; to fight like I was sure to win, and yet also to fight like I was sure to lose—but in any case to take down my opponent with me. No one was ever so vilified with evidence that cannot stand in court. And yet you plodded on, played by the democratic rules where I would have taken the law into my own hands. To Rody Duterte, how I wish my beloved Tito Chito Ayala, the maker of modern Davao, saw you now. How he loved and admired you. How he spent all his political capital with Cory to raise you up when the envious tore you down. You really are as smart as he said. You stayed below the radar until this fight to the finish was almost done—and then you weighed in with all the force you had carefully conserved: for that one single thrust to victory at the enemy’s weakest point. To Grace, who has had to mature in such terrible adversity; and yet struggled without losing an ounce of the grace that is her name. I apologize on behalf of the legal profession which disgraced itself by putting a foundling on trial for the identity and nationality of the parents she couldn’t, by the definition of a foundling, know. I am proud to call you my niece, as I have always been proud to call your mother my cousin. I wish I had met you earlier and we had talked longer.

But that distinction of a longer acquaintance belongs to Mar. No man has been so savagely misjudged for the wrongs he never committed. Mar is sorry that he cannot stop storms. No man has ever been so vilified for the negligence of others; nor been so maltreated and betrayed by allies, that surely, he will trust his enemies more if he wins. This man cares not a whit for money, and it is not because he happens to be rich because it is a family trait of the Roxases to care nothing for wealth and everything for the public service. It is a curse that has killed them early.

What a fight this has been. Yo you all I wish the best in all sincerity and in equal measure: victory. But one is always more equal than the others. However, we are not allowed to say it. Good luck and goodnight. And God bless you. God bless our country.

Disclaimer: The views in this blog are those of the blogger and do not necessarily reflect the views of ABS-CBN Corp.