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Trajectory in place. Noli’s path is in place. Among all the presidentiables he has the least pressure and will get out of this incoming battle royale intact and smiling. He can chose to take President Arroyo’s challenge and carry the administration’s banner in 2010. If he choses that it means he will be prepared to defend not only his record but the regime’s as well. In which case, he shall have weighed the consequences and prepared to take the punches and dirt which will surely come. At this point, if we go by the surveys, his chances are better than the other two potential administration bets — Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro and MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando. Of course, ranged against the opposition bets who by now must be re-examining the scene with the entry of Sen. Noynoy Aquino, he is not sure of winning in 2010. But he can give it a try and who knows he may just squeeze in.

But he can also chose just to run for re-election since the Constitution allows for such a possibility. If he does, he will be the odds on favorite having proven himself in the position despite all the brickbats which have been coming his way of late. He can also have his choice as partner given the fact that he carries his own legion of supporters which he can carry over to the partnership. His buddy in the original Senate Wednesday Club and NP president Manny Villar has indicated he will be most welcome to the fold.

Of course, he can battle it out with DILG Secretary Ronnie Puno who had earlier expressed his desire to be the administration’s bet. As a learned student of history, Secretary Puno will probably be able to talk things out, as it were, with the Vice President and they can plan out a strategy to keep the number two in the administration fold come 2010. That will not be a hard thing to work out.

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Exit from the scene. Or, and this maybe the option which Vice President Noli may finally decide to follow, he may chose to simply carry out his duties the best way he can up to June 30, 2010 and then retire from politics altogether. He has reached the heights, so to speak, and has proven himself in the fields he chose to enter. He has, in the words of some of his closest friends, probably achieved more than he has dreamed of or bargained for. He has nothing more to prove one way or the other. And the good thing about it is he is not consumed by any more ambitions than what he has actually done or scaled so far. In a word, he is unlike many others in who have had their share of the limelight in both public and private worlds, who are so consumed with what worlds to conquer next or are simply insatiable to a fault. The way I size him up, Vice President Noli does not have that kind of baggage. Though a known workaholic he seems to be a person with simple joys and even simpler wants. He seems to be content with whatever things fate brings his way. In a sense, he is not a craver desperate for attention or even the material things in life. He seems to be at peace with himself and his Creator. Which is why a graceful exit from politics may just be his best option come decision time which he has indicated maybe the end of this month.

Those who expect Noli to panic with that deadline being imposed by some administration party stalwarts should not worry anymore. He will chose to do whatever he wants and will not be badgered in any way by such deadlines. He will walk his walk and take his steps on the beat of his own drums. That’s it.