Roxas: No more presidential aspirations for now

He had dreamt of becoming the country's next president, but that dream is now far from the mind of Senator Manuel Roxas II, the Liberal Party's vice presidential candidate in the May polls. Asked during dzBB's Ikaw Na Ba? The Vice Presidential Interview if he still wants to be president, the 52-year-old Roxas said he is not thinking about it at the moment.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV "Malayong masyado yung another six years, hindi natin malalaman kung ano ang mangyayari sa susunod na anim na taon. Hindi talaga natin masasabi kung ano ang takbo ng landas, anim na taon napakahaba po niyan," Roxas told dzBB's Mike Enriquez. (The next presidential election is still a long way off. We cannot tell what will happen in the next six years.) "Minsan kung masyadong malayo yung paningin ay nadadapa tayo sa batuhan, (When we set our eyes so far ahead, sometimes we stumble for failing see the bumps on our way)," he added. Right now, Roxas says he is focused on how to bring progress to the country. "Ang punto ay makatulong ka ngayon, maibangon natin ang ating bansa. Itong punto na ito sa buhay ko na may pagkakataon akong makatulong sa pagbangon ng bansa natin ay gagawin ko ang lahat," Roxas said. (The point is we can help our country now. At this point in my life, I am called to rise to any opportunity to help in efforts for the recovery of the nation.) Roxas said he wanted the people to remember him as someone who is not corrupt and has helped the country. "Kung nakatulong ako at hanggang dun na lang ang landas ko e di OK na rin yun, nakapagboundary na ako. Kung makakatulong pa ako sa darating na anim na taon e OK din lang," he said. (If my destiny is to be able to help the country in whatever little way I can, that would be okay for me – I have given my due. If I can still help in the next coming six years it’s well and good.) Roxas was being groomed as LP's standard bearer until the death of former President Corazon Aquino when the public clamor for her son, Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, to run for president started to snowball. Roxas, also the LP president, made the 'supreme sacrifice' on Sept. 1 last year, giving up his presidential ambition and passing on the torch to Aquino. At the time, it was not yet clear if Aquino would indeed be running for president. [See: Mar gives way to Noynoy as Liberal Party standard bearer] On the 40th day after the death of his mother last Aaugust 1, Aquino announced his decision to run for the country's top post. He also publicly asked Roxas to be his running mate. [See: Noynoy Aquino announces bid for presidency in 2010] Roxas then formally accepted the offer in a press conference coinciding with the anniversary of the declaration of martial law on Sept. 21 last year. [See: Dynastic duo signifies 'revival of reformism'] — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV