The nation shouted in jubilation when an abusive leader was driven out from
seat of power. There was a breath of promising expectation in the country that
was previously battered from pilferage. A savior came and with innocence and
compassion pledged to secure honesty and fairness. This was not long ago. That
crispy little voice still rings in our thoughts today. But no one listen
anymore. No one believes.
Yes, it was another betrayal. There was eagerness for decency and some degree
in efficacy as she assumed the remaining term of the ousted president. But
things started to go sour when cravings for fresh mandate came up. She was
dragged into old time politics of cheat and tricks. A string of corruption
issues badly shrouded her administration today. Her wings are clipped. An angel
she isn't anymore. What a waste...sayang.
Like her predecessor's sins that put her to power, impeachment also echoes
louder. She still has years to go on her term and she fears another EDSA. She
has to anchor her administration firmly or be blown away from existence like
Marcos and Estrada.
It was known lately that the palace doled out cash to some members of congress
in paper bags. This can only be construed as cooking favors if and when the
inevitable comes to play in the legislature. This was already stooping too low.
However, it was not as appalling as freeing a recently convicted criminal for
plunder.
Estrada can still deliver punches even without his wallet or freedom,
Incarcerated for life with bleak glimmer from judicial mercy, he became a
commodity forced to bargain. Relinquished from his ill-gotten wealth, he
finally bent on his knees and accepted his fate by saying "my president" to the
only authority that could grant him clemency.
The president's move to pardon a criminal the likes of Estrada was a normal
reaction of a drowning person to desperately grab even the edge of a sword to
remain afloat. With this new-found alliance, she could not only immune from
disenfranchisement, but also to stay buoyant the rest of her non-renewable
tenure. It was a disreputable maneuver by someone whose political conscience
was also believed humbled by unethical ploy from last election.
Last September, I wrote this line, " ..The structure itself is effective when
applied correctly. We already kicked out a tyrant and jailed for life an
abusive president." I woke up one morning lately and realized that I ate crow.
Gone were years of nation's enduring hurt from pillage of wealth and trust
Commendable efforts of so many were wasted in bringing to justice a boisterous
crook. Examples were shattered to pieces in parading an offender of wickedness
as homecoming hero in San Juan recently.
All that was in the eyes of the populace to placate confidence in government
was merely a clever pretense and a very expensive charade. It was a circus
where ingenious trick was to deceive. We may as well revere in adoration a
despot that is eternally on wake in Batac, where people with unusual sense of
faithfulness are rendering homage for years.
We are indeed a unique breed of baffling contradiction. We are the only
Christian country in Asia where piety and virtue fills the air so abundantly.
It is a place where parents inculcate into the minds of their children loyal
adherence to rectitude and values of our faith. Yet, hallowed words find hardly
an ear and the side of wrong is favored choice in the contest between good and
evil.
The visit of the president to the hinterland of Mindanao was praiseworthy.
However, bringing a bag full of seeds to Espiranza did cause to raise many
local eyebrows. Maybe, it was just symbolic but telling natives how to live in
the mountains is like teaching dolphins how to swim. The president should know
better about cultural sensitivity.
It was known that the president's trip on land from Butuan to Davao some time
ago prompted the quick repair of the badly battered highway between Sibagat and
San Francisco. We were on that road once and it led us to recite series of
Hail Marys while navigating the so called Friendship Highway. It was the most
unfriendly and hostile road condition that I ever got into. It was not potholes
that worried us most, but the myriads of pits and craters deep and big enough
to swallow cars. It was kind of a ruin from ancient civilization.
The president should also travel the Butuan-Cagayan de Oro highway. This road
has many outstanding features to cater excitement. There is no Disneyland in
Mindanao but taking a bus ride along this highway makes the famous Magic
Mountain a sleigh ride.
The road is paved and narrow. There is no speed limit. It traverses many shanty
villages where tricycle traffic is frequently on the roadway. In some cases,
the highway also serves as playground to children. The moment of excitement
comes when the bus in full speed blows its horn. Tricycles quickly escape to
the side and children playing on the road scuttle to safety. This is
breathtaking that tourists in the bus usually faint.
But the thrill is not over. The death defying scene is yet to come. It's a game
of chicken where dying and living are just inches apart from vehicles going the
opposite way. There are puke bags hanging on the bus ceiling for passengers
with weak stomach. It was a thrill ride beyond compare with any amusement park
anywhere.
I wish our president will try it sometime.
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