[UPDATED] For a moment, imagine this: Noynoy Aquino announces he is giving up his one-percent share he has said he still holds in Hacienda Luisita and his family joins him, and in a presidential act invites Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza to be part of his senatorial slate.

Now that is the wet dream of many. But that is now impossible. It is a matter of public record that Noynoy Aquino shut the door on Ocampo and Maza, despite the Makabayan coalition’s earnest overtures. His one-percent share in Hacienda Luisita is perhaps more important than a historic chance to contest the presidency as a former landlord and ally of the Left. Or maybe he is just closer or beholden to Akbayan and Black and White.

Another wet dream for yet another set of people is this: Ocampo and Maza remain independent candidates and spring yet another surprise on the Establishment to win in 2010. That is no longer possible because something better has happened: A national traditional political party adopted its progressive platform and invited them to be part of its senatorial slate.

Now that is a surprise for the self-proclaimed “forces of good”. For them, it cannot be true that the Nacionalista Party and Makabayan have agreed on a patriotic, progressive, pro-change platform. Only the Liberal Party can boldly claim to be the pure, moral choice. For them, whatever agreement between Ocampo and Maza, and Manny Villar and Loren Legarda, can only be about money! They are all trapos! The leftists have turned into trapos!

The weakest and flimsiest criticism so far is the charge of Ocampo and Maza sleeping in bed with Bongbong Marcos.

But actions speak louder than words: When Villar signed an NP-KBL coalition agreement with Marcos, Ocampo and Maza walked out of Makabayan-NP talks. Things changed when the NP-KBL collapsed, the NP and Makabayan mutually adopted their platforms, and Makabayan declared it will never endorse Marcos. Why Ocampo and Maza are being pilloried for Marcos being able to stay in the NP senatorial slate, I do not know. Can Ocampo and Maza make him disappear from the NP, that’s doubtful and everybody knows that.

[Whether Bongbong has a fighting chance to win in 2010 is everyone’s guess. But remember that no Marcos has successfully contested and won a national post since 1986. Bongbong Marcos himself ran and lost in 1995. Even his most popular and more politically-astute sister Imee decided against running for senator in 2004 and 2007. Their mother, the truly unapologetic Imelda ran and lost in the 1992 presidential race. The family can only win in Ilocos and Leyte. One thing is clear: Ocampo and Maza will not campaign for him.]

All the bluster and gossip ranged against Ocampo and Maza only bolster their Senate candidacy.

It affirms the rising political stock of the Left. Makabayan coalition’s electoral record is for everyone to see: Bayan Muna topped the 2001 and 2004 elections, and despite the political assassinations of 2006, still managed to win big in 2007. From three seats in 2001, the Makabayan coalition of partylist groups now hold eight seats in Congress. In 2010, it aims to elect two senators, more than a dozen partylist representatives and scores of local executives. In an eight-way race, Makabayan’s command vote and electoral record is an asset for all who consider the Left a friend. For some, Noynoy Aquino missed a date with history by shutting the door on Makabayan.

Now the more important thing that critics forget is the historic “mutual adoption” of platforms between Makabayan and NP. You may specialize in rumor-mongering against the Left, but you have to hand it to Makabayan for having a comprehensive political, economic, social and diplomatic platform that, if adopted and implemented, would bring the most profound reforms and changed sought and needed by the Philippines. That Makabayan was able to obtain Villar to support the most salient and even most controversial points of its platform is already a victory for the farmers, workers, urban poor, professionals, students and entrepreneurs who are the coalition’s body and brawn and inspiration.

Finally, the funny thing is that Ocampo and Maza have been called trapos for joining the NP. Lest we forget, they have been Members of Congress since 2001 and their interaction with the Marcoses, Arroyos and Aquinos has only highlighted the need for more activism and activists in the House. The Senate should be next.

[Thanks to Benj Espina for the correction on the Marcoses' post-1986 electoral record.]