Yes, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan will run for vice president as an independent candidate in 2010.

Asked by Funfare in Wednesday’s issue how the race would look like if Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos would also run for the same position, Kiko’s wife Sharon Cuneta said, “I am a Vilmanian but I would root for my husband. If (Vilma’s husband) Ralph (Recto, NEDA director-general) would for example run against Kiko, siempre she would rally behind Ralph.”

That “possibility” may not happen, so Sharonians and Vilmanians can sit back and relax.

According to Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre (of The Filipino Reporter), the actress-turned-politician admitted in an interview on the set of Star Cinema’s In My Life (which was largely filmed in the tri-state of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) that she’s “not prepared” for a national position....”not yet,” anyway.

As she has been saying in interviews, Vilma’s mindset is very much in Batangas, a southern Luzon province of 2.3 million people and known for its richness in cultural and natural tourism landmarks especially its pristine beaches and diving spots like Anilao, Matabungkay, Punta Fuego and Calatagan.

Vilma also admitted to Edmund that she’s being wooed to run for VP by several leaders in her political party Lakas, who are banking on her winnability nationwide.

“I’m very thankful and very flattered that many are asking me to run since not many people can be entrusted with the fate of a whole nation,” she said. “But I won’t run just because I am popular or because I am being pressured,” adding, “I’ve been governor of Batangas for only two years and I have not done much for the province to say that I am ready to help run an entire country. If I run for a national seat, I will run because of my track record and because I am qualified and because I am ready. I will not run just because I am Vilma Santos and that people know me well all over the country because of what I accomplished as an actress.”

Like most Filipinos, Vilma believes that the Philippines is in a critical stage...”But not entirely hopeless,” if only the country can manage to find an “inspiring” leader like US Pres. Barack Obama. Yes, Vilma is a fan of America’s first black chief executive.

“The Philippines needs a leader who has a vision and charm, and one who is very, very positive in all aspects,” Edmund quoted Vilma as saying, “a leader who, like Obama, will inspire his or her people. If you inspire people, they will listen and they will follow, and any kind of challenge can be properly addressed with teamwork. The government cannot do it alone, the community can’t do it by itself. What we need is teamwork.”

Finger-pointing will not do the trick, she stressed.

“Now that I’m a public servant, I can see the problem clearly. Hindi puwedeng laging finger-pointing. ‘Eh, kasi hindi mo ginawa ‘yon o ito. Eh, ikaw ba, nakapagbigay ka ba ng kontribusyon mo para sa bayan o sa community mo?’ It should be two-way and teamwork. I became successful because of teamwork, there’s always proper consultation, you inspire your people, they know your programs and goals, there’s vision. Importanteng may vision para hindi ka kalat. ‘Yung vision na ‘yon ‘yun lang ang ta-target-in mo to achieve your goals for development and to improve the quality of life of the people.”

Asked by Edmund to name at least three leaders who fit her description of the kind of president Filipinos need, Vilma played it safe.

“I’d rather not mention any name because the election is already next year and I don’t want to offend anyone because a lot of them are my friends,” she said with a laugh.

Nonetheless, she stressed that only the people can change the course of the country’s direction by installing the right and deserving leaders.

“Problema lang kasi may mga taong kumakapit sa patalim,” she argued. “If that’s the mentality, and voters can be bought, then we’re only electing the wrong leaders. In the end, it’s the people and the whole country who will suffer at ang effect eh hanggang sa next generation. As I’ve said in my campaign, ‘tanggapin ang pera, iboto ang kursunada.’ Accept the money, but think of your children’s future. Be educated and be aware as to whom you would entrust your future and your children’s future. Tutal hindi naman malalaman ng mga pulitiko kung sino’ng ibinoto ninyo. Eh, di tanggapin mo ang pera pero iboto mo ang alam mong makaka-deliver para sa progress at pag-angat ng bayan.

“But then it’s really hard to tell who is good and who is deserving. Sometimes akala mo magaling or honest pero pag upo iba na. But I am very sure not all of them are bad apples. There are still those who have noble intentions and genuine desire to help and make a difference. Often, it’s the people around them who become the problem.”

Does she belong to the good crop of public servants?

“I cannot say I am a saint, but definitely I am not a devil.”

Well said.