The new politics, as manifested by Senate President Manny Villar, stresses the need for consensus and compromise, asking not what must be done, but what can be done. And he did it in the context of the present political configuration in that august chamber.

His action made a lot of sense. It was the most practical thing to do in forming a majority with the alliance of members from different political parties that led to his re-election as Senate President.

What has happened in the Senate may be confusing to some people who used to be familiar with the two-party system before the Marcos martial law era, when only the Nacionalista Party and the Liberal Party existed. Now, they are confused by the existence of a multi-party system in a legislature under the presidential form of government. The plurality of political parties may be perfect for a parliamentary system, but not for the presidential type that we have today.

And this brings us to the revival of the Nacionalista Party and the Liberal Party which, when successfully accomplished, will lead to the de facto return of the more orderly two-party system.

Let us recall, briefly, our nation’s political history. From 1946 until the imposition of Martial Law rule in 1972, our country had lived with the rhythm of the two-party system. There was a distinguishing line that separated the Liberal Party founded by Manuel Roxas and Elpidio Quirino, who were elected president and vice president, respectively, of the Third Republic, from the Nacionalista Party of Manuel Quezon, Sergio Osmeña, Sr., Jose P. Laurel, Claro M. Recto, and Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez, and other political stalwarts.

The defining issue at that time was the Parity Rights Amendment in the Philippine Constitution. The Liberals were for allowing the Americans to enjoy equal economic rights and privileges belonging to Filipinos by birth. The Nacionalistas were vehemently against the whole idea. But the people’s sense of gratitude to the Americans, following their liberation from Japanese imperial rule, won the day for the Liberals. Nationalism was the battle cry of the Nacionalista Party which, in fact, was responsible for our independence in 1946.

Later, succeeding the beloved President Ramon Magsaysay, President Carlos P. Garcia, a Nacionalista, adopted and implemented the "Filipino First Policy." For its part, the Liberal Party under President Diosdado Macapagal initiated the agrarian reform program. Ferdinand E. Marcos, as the standard-bearer of the Nacionalista, became the president, after defeating Macapagal who sought reelection in 1965. But when he gained full control with the imposition of Martial Law, Marcos allowed only one political party – the KBL.

Then the EDSA military revolt was staged in 1986. It was not the handiwork of any political organization, but it completely changed the national political picture. On the crest of its wave, various political groups emerged, such as the UNIDO, LABAN, PDP-LABAN.

The l987 Constitution, under the aegis of Cory Aquino as an accidental president, made the political arena open to all political players, of all sorts of colors, beliefs and leanings.

Fidel V. Ramos, the general who joined now Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan in staging the military revolt against Marcos decided to run for the presidency himself, at the end of Cory Aquino’s six-year term in 1992. To have an organizational base for his presidential bid, after losing the LDP nomination, he formed his own party– Lakas. He won, defeating candidates from other parties, with less than 50 percent of the votes.

Then, Joseph "Erap" Estrada, the charismatic actor who was first elected as senator and then vice president, created the Partido ng Pilipino to sustain his candidacy for the presidency in 1998. He won, overwhelming candidates from other parties, with the highest number of votes ever cast for president.

And when Gloria Arroyo, also a former senator and Vice President, usurped the presidency of Estrada in 2001, and cheated Fernando Poe, Jr., another charismatic actor, in the presidential polls of 2004, she, too, formed her own political party, Kampi, to hold on to political power to this day. She continues to rule with the question of illegitimacy hanging over her head like a sword of Damocles.

Indeed, the multiple parties system, as adopted by the 1987 Constitution, gives us a confusing political scenario. And given such a situation, what happens to party identity when it is difficult to distinguish one political group from another? Which is the legitimate majority party? And which is the legitimate opposition? So, why not revert to the two-party system?

And, isn’t it time now to leave behind the old politics of convenience and confrontation, and adopt the new politics of issues and consensus?

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"Ramon Magsaysay Centennial Trees" …. From August 31 to March 17, 2008, 100,000 trees will be planted all over the country in commemoration of the 100th birth anniversary of President Ramon Magsaysay.

One hundred men named "Ramon", led by Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr., will lead in the planting of the tress which will be called the "Ramon Magsaysay Centennial Trees." They are meeting on Monday noon at No. 43 Hillside Loop, Blue Ridge A, Quezon City.

Friends and relatives may help the 100 Ramons in the planting activity, anywhere in the country, including Mt. Pinatubo (the name of the presidential plane that crashed in Cebu on March 17, 1957) and Mt. Manunggal (where RM died along with 26 other passengers, except one survivor, journalist Nestor Mata), and other places where RM is remembered with love and gratitude.