PEN POWER "Common sense for the common good"
COLUMN OF BOY DELEVERIOMindanao Monitor
The controversy on whether or not to change the present charter of the republic has open the mind of the public to the sad spectacle that many of our legislators, particularly senators, have limited intelligence and are obviously near-sighted. They revealed or exposed these poor traits themselves by their behaviors and pronouncements.
Objecting, opposing or showing mere disagreement to the proposal to effect charter change demonstrates either lack of understanding and comprehension of the ills plaguing the country or that they are pro-elite, pro-establishment, pro-oligarch and pro-status quo, which means they do not care about the millions living below the poverty line who are increasing from year to year. They are the ones whose benefit and well-being charter change should visualize and realize. The senators would not mind that.
These public officials and national leaders opposing charter change have only seen President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. They don’t recognize the fact that better changes in the fundamental law of the land will certainly outlive PGMA. They wittingly or unwittingly revealed their presidential ambitions, which would lose the opportunity, if the electoral and political system is revised and fitted to Philippine setting, thinking and realities.
The church leaders are not exceptions. All of them, catholics, protestants and other religious groups deriving income and earning their living through the practice of priestcraft would not like charter change, for fear that the new constitution might remove tax privileges provided in the present constitution and granted to religious organizations.
No wonder the Republic of the Philippines continues to go down the drain and even going to the dogs, because we have these kind of political and religious leaders who have limited intelligence, near-sighted and selfish.
- o0o -
Very recently, and in full public view, Senator Mar Roxas (the second or the third? never mind) has exposed himself as one lacking in decency, without refinement and devoid of moderate temperance required of the presidency. He was seen and heard mouthing unsavory remarks common only among ordinary men of the street (“nagmumura” as the newspapers reported), during the protest rally against charter change in Makati City. With that kind of character, what will happen to the Office of the President if, by chance, he becomes the chief executive of the land?
On the other hand, we have in our locality a public official who has long demonstrated uncommon vigor and strength in performing his functions as city mayor. Look at Mayor Sammy Co work, and tell me, where does he derive his energy, when he stays in the office until the wee hours of the night towards dawn, attending to callers he cannot afford to serve during the day, because he normally goes to the barangays while the sun is up, after getting up in the morning as if he did not go to bed late. Vitamins? Maybe, it can help, especially Chinese herbs. But that, I think, as everyone would admit, is not enough. If we have to venture into the secret of his seemingly limitless energy, I believe and I’m sure, we will end-up finding the real source thereof, and that is commitment.
In the case of Senator Mar Roxas, his weakness comes from the fact that he wants to get media mileage for his presidential aspirations, but he committed a serious blunder. In the case of Mayor Co, he derives strength from the fact that he is committed to serve