Philippine politics has historically been based on personalities. Celebrity, name-recall and wealth—not issues—have dictated the outcomes of political contests.

This has got to stop. We have to reform our politics, do away with personality politics that only serves the interests of the rich and the powerful.

One way is to reform campaign spending. The government should bear the costs of the campaign of the two presidential candidates of the two major political parties.

I want to see a return to the two-party system from the current coalition-building “anarchy” that encourages any number of disparate political blocs to compete in national polls and politician, to fly like butterflies from one bloc to the other.

Public financing of the two major presidential candidates will strengthen the two-party system and compel the parties to campaign on issues through distinct political platforms.

These reforms will encourage smaller parties to coalesce with the major political organizations. For the first time in years, Filipinos could have a majority president.

Candidate Fidel V. Ramos won the presidency with just 25 percent of the popular vote in 1992. Candidates Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo were the plurality presidents in the 1998 and 2004 elections.

A two-party system whose campaigns are funded by public money will moderate poll spending and minimize vote buying and other forms of electoral fraud.

A campaign based on issues and on distinct political and economic philosophies will offer voters a genuine choice on election day.

A responsible campaign financing law will penalize and prohibit unconscionable campaign contributions and influence buying by big political patrons. This practice corrupts the electoral process by making politicians beholden to vested interests.

Furthermore, no reform is complete if we allow politicians to make a mockery of the electoral system. Election protests pending before the Electoral Tribunals sleep the sleep of the dead. Cases are decided years after the elections are over. The wheels of justice grind exceedingly slow. The will of the people is frustrated. If blessed in 2010, I will look into how we can abbreviate the electoral protests so that the will of the people can prevail. Only then can we serve justice and observe the true meaning of democracy.

On a personal note. Yesterday, Mr. Zubiri came out guns blazing and called me a “dictator and a traitor.”

I have an advice for him. I suggest he attends to his personal problems. He is the subject of a protest pending before the Senate Electoral Tribunal. Maybe he should make sure he wins it. Before then, he should shut up. “Wala siyang “K.”

On his threat he will campaign against me, I am relieved. I need not ask him not to campaign for me. I’ll seek the presidency on a moral high ground. His presence in my campaign might pollute and infect the morality of my campaign. To Mr. Zubiri, thanks but no thanks.