The stage was set: Club Filipino, with a yellow background.

All day we have been hearing that Mar Roxas has called a press conference to make a big announcement. Some of us speculated on what he would say; others were pretty sure they already knew. Even to those of us who already suspected what Mar Roxas would announce, the actual moment was still charged with emotion. Perhaps, even something we will at present dismiss as a foolish fancy until the outcome of the 2010 elections are certain: a sense of doom, or maybe of predestination.

Senator Mar Roxas, who everyone knows has been aiming for the presidency, has announced today that he is supporting Senator Noynoy Aquino for the presidency, a move which to many brings back memories of Doy Laurel conceding the candidacy to Cory Aquino, Noynoy's mother, for the 1986 snap elections.

"This is about our people and our country. This is about our common dream," Roxas said, adding that he was about to make one of the most difficult decisions of his life. However, he said, "I do this for unity in support of change. If that means that somebody has to make a sacrifice, it must be me."

Personally, I'd say that it was the best thing Roxas has done in a long time. Srsly. All his efforts to get himself front and center with regard to the Filipino public-- from the notorious "padyakitos" and "lalaban tayo" ads, to the very public wedding announcement on Wowowee, have only brought him derision so far. Ironically, the simple act of giving up his goal has done much to raise him in the estimation of many Filipinos, more than all his PR gimmicks has done.

In my eyes, at least, there's a new respect for Mar Roxas. I hope this means that there's hope for him yet.