Anger grows on canvass delay

Speaker Jose de Venecia’s apology to the nation for the delay in canvassing the votes for president and vice president in the last elections is well taken. At the same time, he also reached out to smooth strained relations among lawmakers who figured in the verbal brawl Wednesday evening. It highlights yet again his patience and skills so necessary in managing a contentious assembly. I hope he will do whatever needs to be done to get on with the canvass. The citizenry is fast losing its patience, particularly against members of the opposition, who seem to be determined to stop the canvas and do not care if the consequence is to imperil the nation.

What cannot be overemphasized is that the COCs now in Congress awaiting canvassing are the same COCs used to proclaim the 11 senators which included five KNP candidates. By the opposition’s logic we should un-proclaim them as well. Present in the COMELEC canvassing were lawyers and representatives of the opposition who did not dispute the COCs then. These were the second copies of the COCs which go to the Comelec. The first copies go to Congress. Those who are delaying the opening of the boxes know the score and that all that grand rhetoric from Dilangalen, Pimentel, et al. is to frustrate the will of the people handed down in the May 10 elections. The public’s disgust with the proceedings was well expressed by Suzette Pido’s shut-up note to Dilangalen.Her note spoke for us. This funny guy now claims freedom of speech. He thinks we do not know black from white.

Who said FPJ movies are the only form of entertainment these days? We have had a treat watching the daily proceedings in Congress. It is better than telenovela and funnier than Dolphy’s comedy. How lawmakers can call a man shouting ‘shut up’, ‘shut up, ‘shut up’ ten times like a brat, as a distinguished gentleman, is beyond me. But there is a more serious side to the televised proceedings. Like the impeachment proceedings, what is happening in Congress now is an immediate shared experience between the legislators and the citizenry watching them on television. Just by watching the proceedings, the people have become part of it and consequently are able to judge for themselves just what is in their interest instead of being misled by political propaganda. To be specific, text was spread to support Dilangalen as the man of the hour. Good gad. I am watching television and they tell me this is a man to support. Are they kidding? I can see exactly what he is about and so do millions of other Filipinos and they call him the man of the hour. Please naman.

The opposition having committed a grave error in fielding FPJ as its standardbearer is trapped in its own mire. That first error is compounded by the tactical mistake to allow the short-tempered congressman from Maguindanao to speak for their cause. The likes of Dilangalen make people angry with the entire opposition. Unfortunately, his antics and unbearable behavior also cancel out any good points that the more intelligent Senator Pimentel might have made on the rules for the canvass. He is no different from Dilangalen, only he is a notch finer than the uncouth gentleman. They are up to the same thing and this cannot escape public censure.

With apologies to Senator Francis Pangilinan and all those so eager to give the reins of government to younger ones, he was ill-prepared and a disappointment. On the other hand, old hand Rep. Antonio Eduardo Nachura was superb and on top of the facts and expertise on law, whether constitutional or electoral. Moreover, he never lost his equanimity. It was a relief when Nachura took the cudgels for the hapless senator. Pangilinan will have to hone his debating skills and be at home with every repercussion, every implication and every nuance of the majority position especially with a loose cannon for an adversary. The days are still long and it will be fought more viciously. I hope Senator Pangilinan will be up to it.

Fifteen members of the Opposition allegedly left the hall deliberately to ensure there would be no quorum and disable a vote on the rules for canvas. These were led by the unrepentant Imee Marcos, followed by JV Bautista, Ruy Lopez, Francis Escudero, Jing Paras, Wimpee Fuentebella, among others.Remember their names. Please pass. Ask yourselves whether they are worthy to be voted as lawmakers of the land.Why do these lawmakers, highly paid by taxpayers of a bankrupt republic, have the temerity to abscond from an important constitutional duty as canvassers. What are they there for? This duty is spelled out in Article VI Section 4 of the Constitution. Even if they are against President GMA, the act of canvassing is and should not be used as a political football. The canvass of COCs is a crucial act before proclaiming the new president and vice president. The job of lawmakers is ministerial on behalf of the people who voted in the elections. What do we need lawmakers for if they are out to frustrate the will of the people?

RP’s best community papers. On a happier note, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Philippine Press Institute cited outstanding work in community journalism. Winners were Mabuhay (San Fernando City) for best edited paper, Sunday Punch (Dagupan City) for the Gerry Gil Foundation best editorial page and best in business and economic reporting, Bandillo ng Palawan (Puerto Princesa City) for best in environmental reporting, and Southern Leyte Times (Maasin City) for best in photojournalism for weekly publications. In the daily category, winners are Cebu Daily News (Cebu City) for best edited paper and best in photojournalism, Sun.Star Davao (Davao City) for the Gerry Gil Foundation best editorial page, Negros Daily Bulletin (Bacolod City) for best in environmental reporting, and The Visayan Daily Star (Bacolod City) for best in business and economic reporting. Werner von Busch, regional representative of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and Amado P. Macasaet, chairman of the PPI, presented special trophies and P15,000 cash prize to the winners. The role of community newspapers will increasingly grow in the years to come. It would parallel the clamor for federalism. The battle for truth on that level will increase even as many acts of violence have been committed against heroic journalists in community journalism.

Patricia’s speech. Patricia Evangelista’s speech Blonde and Blue Eyes drew applause and plaudits from Filipinos, especially those abroad who were touched by the speech. She won in the English Speaking Union Competition in London against contestants from 37 countries. Hundreds wrote this column that the speech spoke for them, how they feel and how they want to be regarded by the nation. As Patricia said, Filipinos abroad in a globalized world are not abandoning their country as some would denigrate them. It is, she said, the expansion of identity. One day, each in their own time, Filipino migrants will return to their homeland, richer in every way.

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