New book reveals 2010 campaign inside stories

How did then presidential candidate Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III handle the alleged betrayal by his supporters of running mate, Manuel “Mar" Roxas II? What sealed Jejomar “Jojo" Binay’s decision to seek the vice presidency despite his discouraging survey ratings? Did Manuel “Manny" Villar pull out all the stops to win? What was Joseph “Erap" Estrada’s game plan in seeking a postponement of the 2010 elections? Why did Gilberto “Gibo" Teodoro Jr. stick it out with Lakas despite the baggage it carried—Gloria Macapagal Arroyo?

A new book written by veteran journalists Chay F. Hofileña and Miriam Grace A. Go answers these questions and tells other inside stories from last year’s major presidential and vice-presidential campaigns. Ambition, Destiny, Victory: Stories From A Presidential Election takes a look at the strategies, crucial decisions made, and lessons learned by key players involved in the country’s first nationwide automated elections. The book paints the candidates not only as politicians, but as human beings too capable of doubt, apprehension, pain, and anger. But more importantly, it spells out challenges that should be expected and addressed in future elections. Published by Cacho Publishing House, the book is the first attempt to chronicle and analyze one of the historic presidential elections in the country. Authors Hofileña and Go interviewed more than 60 campaign insiders, strategists, pollsters, and media and communications experts, and went over hundreds of news articles, election and poll reports, and experts’ analyses to reconstruct events, make sense of the campaigns, and decipher trends and patterns evident in all of them. “This book leads us out…of the pointless convenience of demonization and the easy boxes of political expediency and shows how our leaders invested not only time or money or their effort but their very humanity in our people’s favorite form of bothgovernment and entertainment," publisher Ramon Sunico wrote in his note. Ambition, Destiny, Victory will be launched on July 6, Wednesday, at 4:30 p.m., at the Leong Hall Auditorium, Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City. In partnership with the Ateneo School of Government, departments of political science and communication, and Newsbreak, a panel discussion featuring campaign experts and the authors will be held afterwards. The book will be sold for P400 during the launch, and for P495.50 in bookstores after the launch.