There are so many fractions
And cue-card reactions
It's hard to keep clear
The possibilities here
'Cause there's no force to unite them
Show me a leader who's fit to lead
Who don't sew his seed in anything
Wounded enough to breed
Because after all what fun is power
If you can't act like a rock star?
- Jewel, New Wild West
I'VE BEEN experiencing political insanity for the last few months.
Partially, that's the reason I was not able to submit my column regularly
amidst the usual pangungulit of our dear editor. I've been overdosed
by political toxic that tries to co-opt the entirety of my political
values induced since the time I've been a youth activist and somewhat
an idealist bastard engaging in governance and advocating social reforms.
I thought working within the bureaucracy is somewhat a little bit
easier than infusing reforms in the parliament of the street. But
unfortunately, it's not, because the bureaucracy is a jungle set in
a very deceptive multi-dimensional vacuum where you can never really
come into terms with the technocrats without balancing the interest
and learning the art of compromises.
I find it more likely the same with a public school teacher selling
tocino to her student who won't be able to pay back because they are
actually living within or a little bit above the 39% poverty line.
More so, it seems that being an activist in an anti-poverty structure
of the government is conniving with the State to bring in social-cum-political
reforms while relentlessly struggling to shoot down macro-economic
policies that dictates the social paradigm and even the entire direction
of governance.
But telling you my insights and experiences working in the structures
of government is not actually the point of producing the Amazing Presidential
Race '04, since that fraction of my life will be dealt with on my
next column before the year ends as I am not expecting to finish my
term in 2005 given my affiliation with the constructive and progressive
opposition.
What could be the worst is for them to spice up issues to justify
my unbecoming of a presidential appointee or whatever that may qualify
me as a persona-non-grata specially when the election fever reaches
40 degree Celcius in the third quarter of the year.
Speaking of election fever, I was happy to see one contribution published
in the Young Blood Section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer regarding
the presidential aspirants and their own respective black holes that
will makes the voters puke or more or less reconsider their options.
But at the end of the article, what is clear is the fact that the
author suggest that we should have at least a genuinely progressive,
nationalist, and pro-people president.
To this I might hear Tembarom scream in the same way he chants for
UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP: RUN TITO RUN!
Well, there's nothing wrong with Vice President Tito Guingona joining
the presidential race since he's constitutionally qualified but winning
is another thing for him. If his cheering squad will be able to deliver
and convert the necessary votes for him, we'll be seeing silver linings
at the end of the tunnel provided that his running mate agrees not
to disagree with his brand of governance.
Wallowing in to my derange and fearless forecast, we must be able
to see the sight of a "People Power Collision" if all political
players within Lakas won't be pointing their fingers in unison to
Guingona or say if Lakas members agree that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
still deserves the right to change her mind not because she's a woman,
but because no one will be able to match her competence and performance.
I don't know if it is right, but I don't see myself betting in the
current opposition for the presidency since they are all stuck in
the moment and not putting their acts together as deemed necessary.
The Godfather is still hallucinating with the idea of freedom and
presidential immunity to the extent that he's applying old dog's trick
of really convincing Fernando Poe Jr. to wear his running shoes. Of
course, we heard FPJ plugging his new show Abangan ang Susunod na
Kabanata until his birthday in August.
I even heard the Godfather tells the masang Pilipino that he won't
be able to endorse Danding Cojuangco since he's just an Ambassador
of Speculation trying to go round the provinces to have a gut feel
of his chances in the 2004 race. Hopefully, Danding will be sensitive
enough to feel that the coconut farmers are using their sentido kumon
to shut him off his ambition since he has to pay for the coco levy
issue and number of cases against him.
What makes me more politically insane is the way Senators Ping Lacson
and Gregorio Honasan being put as a decoy and a smokescreen for the
opposition's presidential wannabe because it makes me think that a
former policeman and a renegade soldier aspiring to be seated in Malacanang
is no less than seeing the Godfather joining the 2004 Election.
Hopefully the administration-opposition will provide us a very interesting
and dynamic reality-game show "The Amazing Presidential Race
04" wherein from the 10 or more wannabes, there will be only
three option: Administration, Opposition and Nuance Candidate.
Nothing in Particular
Those who are different
change the world,
those who are the same
would keep it that way
And I just simply don't care.
This is an appended section in my column. What you can see and get
is actually nothing in particular. There are actually times that we
have to repress all our ideas and thoughts on opinion piece because
of the fact that as a general rule, there should only be one topic
per writing to enable you to express your point.
However, there are instances when you are very much compelled to
say your piece even in one plain sentence as if not being able to
express the word will cause you anxiety:
One. Fido Dido is the only reason why I ask for more, now he's back
I'll definitely be back.
Two. Old McDonald has a new song ID, a popular tune among social
activist. I rant because it's not the true reflection of the chain's
reputation. Increase your worker's salary, don't hire contractual
workers and be PWD friendly, then I'll consider.
Three. Macapagal's Third State of the Nation Address will be on July
28. She's rushing in to get results for her "Strong Republic"
theme last year when she declared restoration of peace and order,
anti-narcopolitics and anti-terrorism as among her administration's
priority agenda. Hopefully the President's report card won't have
a "D" because of the Fathur Roman Al-Ghozi's astounding
escape from the heart of the most secured Philippine National Police
lair, the Camp Crame. Hmmm… this is Bruce saying that's how the
republic crumbles.
Four. My own little mole in the Congress says that one of my favorite
congressmen is considering seeking higher office after his third term
being district representative of Nueva Vizcaya. Obviously, Minority
Leader Carlos M. Padilla must be urged to run for Senate come 2004
being an ardent advocate of education reform and pro-people agenda.
It's time to have another fiscalizer in the upper chamber from the
ranks of Iskolar ng Bayan. Kailan kaya magbabalak mag-Senado sina
Akbayan Rep. Etta Rosales at Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo?
Five. Speaking of party-list people, I would like to count in my
voice among the basic sectors who hail the decision of the Supreme
Court to proclaim eight other party-list group from the marginalized
sector. I heard starting the last session of the Congress come July
28, Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) , AKO, ABA, Anak Mindanao (AMIN), Abanse
Pinay, Sanlakas and other groups whose name I forget will officially
have their long vacated seats. It's a welcome development and at the
very least we'll be assured that something can still be done in the
Party List Caucus' agenda for reform. Ika nga, huli man daw at magaling,
kakayanin pa rin.
