The Contenders

In the seven weeks since President Ramon Magsaysay, the Philippines' national hero, died in a plane crash (TIME. March 25), no single politico has emerged who seems a worthy successor. But with convention time only two months away and general elections scheduled for November, many a hopeful was whirling about the cities and barrios last week shaking hands, kissing babies and listening to that old siren song, the will of the people.

In most cases their faces were all too familiar. Magsaysay's vice president, Carlos Garcia, who has taken over the presidency, has been campaigning as diligently as anyone. But Manila politicians predict that at a certain point Garcia will step aside in favor of someone who will gratify his real ambition, a seat in the Supreme Court. This someone might be either Nacionalista Party Chief Senator Eulogio Rodriguez, or adroit old Yaleman (Law School '20) Jose Laurel Sr., who was puppet President during the Japanese occupation. Another eager to run is Magsaysay's old enemy Claro Recto, who was puppet Foreign Minister. It was not an impressive lineup.

But what of Magsaysay's young crusaders? Chief among them is young (41) Manuel P. Manahan, an ex-newspaper publisher who organized the Magsaysay-for-President movement. During the war he served on Bataan and Corregidor, was imprisoned by the Japs at infamous Fort Santiago. Tall and stocky, Manuel Manahan has many of the mannerisms and some physical resemblance to the late President. He ran the President's pet project, the Complaints and Action Committee.

Last week Manahan declared for the Presidency, proclaiming a new party to wage war on the old corrupt pols. The question was whether he had started way too late, and whether his enthusiastic amateurs would be much of a match for the old crowd. Said Manahan: "It will be a hard fight, and we're not promising anything; but someone's got to do it."

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