Beautiful ‘flowers’

Perhaps the most arresting quality of the impeachment debates in Congress was how young congressmen/women were pitted against their more senior colleagues. The subliminal message was this was a struggle between ‘idealistic’ youth’ and their jaded ‘elders. What could be more alluring? Poor Edcel Lagman. The distinguished but white-haired congressman, no matter how reasonable, was no match to the youthful, curly-haired and smooth skinned Alan Peter Cayetano. I was intent on listening to what they had to say but white hair vs. curly hair kept getting in the way. Wasn’t youth better than age? It depends. This was television where youth and beauty are preferred. I had to wrestle with such prejudices to get at the issue on hand or as the young congressmen/women would say – for the sake of truth. Could I get at the truth, listening to these young congressmen/women? Were there no young congressmen/women on the other side? Where were they?

It gave the eerie feeling that this was all contrived. It was not for the first time that I would encounter this strategy of youth being used to project a political agenda. It was a weapon employed by the Opposition or whoever was coaching the drama. How could anyone quarrel with that? Whether you agree with them or not, they were the future and the elders, well, were of the past. I could have easily succumbed to that way of thinking but something held me back. Something was amiss with all these claims of youthful idealism and courage. There were enough reasons to take a closer look. Who were these young congressmen/women claiming the truth? It is not such a mystery to know these are children of personalities from an unlamented regime. Is that how that regime will be resurrected? Perhaps this is unfair. They should be judged for themselves. OK. So what have they done as lawmakers? Are these outstanding lawmakers, or more importantly, outstanding individuals?

Away from television, I realized what my problem was. It was like artificial flowers. On first sight these can be very beautiful, even better than the original – the colors are more vivid, the stems firmer, the shapes perfect. How many times did I fall for that feigned look of freshness until I go near and touch it. Totoo ba ito? I ask the salesgirl. I come near to touch it. Ay, hindi pala and I immediately walk out in embarrassment for having been fooled.

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In this, I have greater respect for Imee Marcos, who should be primus inter pares in this ill-fated youthful assertion. She does not have to apologize for being absent during the vote. As she said, my vote would not have altered the result. She knew, as the rest did, that they did not have the votes. But I suspect there was more to her predicament than she is prepared to say. After all, she figured prominently in the walkout and appeared with the rest of the bunch outside Congress in an impromptu press conference. The mike was passed on from hand to hand until all had a say, except Imee Marcos. She was left out. Surely she had as much right to speak as the rest. That was the catch. Being a Marcos, it would not help their ‘idealist’ cause to let her speak.

More likely, Imee Marcos decided then and there to pack her bags. Why should her vote matter if her opinions did not? Or worse, if she is seen as a liability to the ‘youthful idealism’ cause, why bother? She is not only right, she was being more real than the rest of the pack. The less seen and heard, the better she will be regarded.

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Mr. Clean and Upright. It is disturbing to hear that Renato de Villa was chosen to lead the movement to oust President GMA. Like artificial flowers, that too looks as being contrived. I suppose it is his image as Mr. Clean and Mr. Upright. He fits the bill for the leadership of a ‘crusade for truth". Moreover, he is a former military man and that can be called upon when the going gets tough. I don’t think many realize just where this extra-constitutional movement is leading to – if we do not get our civilian democracy in order then the military will have no choice but to take over. Former presidential candidate Renato de Villa cuts a perfect fit being midway from revolutionary civilian to military government.

If I remember right he used to be President GMA’s executive secretary. What happened? According to one story, de Villa saw himself as indispensable to stabilize the country during the early days after Erap’s ouster. He was not just the ‘little president’ but to his intent and purpose, the president. If this critique is true then this is a cautionary warning for the Opposition. What we see is not what there is.

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Gridlock. Here it goes again, the ugly face of gridlock in the present system that we seem to so treasure. I don’t know why the Opposition should complain about being outvoted in the impeachment proceedings. Didn’t they know? Under the present system, it is the Lower House and the Lower House alone that can initiate an impeachment. It is yet another example of gridlock encouraged by the Cory Constitution. It says that the House of Representatives shall have the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment but it is the Senate which shall have the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment. If that is not a recipe for gridlock, what is? It was no different during Erap’s impeachment when the House successfully elevated the case to the Senate. Today, the shoe is with the other foot but it is still gridlock. This time, the pro-GMA House understandably would be reluctant to send up the impeachment case to an anti-GMA Senate. It is hypocritical to talk about truth or fairness in such a cock-eyed set-up.

This is the reason why constitutional advocates want to shift to a unicameral parliament. It may be true as Hon. Klaus Juergen Hedrich, member of the German Parliament on ‘Federalism and Parliamentarism told the audience in a recent forum that in other federated countries, a bicameral legislature is necessary to represent the states. But in the context of the Philippine political scene, gridlock in Congress is an overwhelming problem that has immobilized the country. If we are to reform, this would be a first stop or we cannot move forward.

LETTER: Rather than ask what Cory really wants we may be more correct to ask just what Cory does not really want . From Samuel B, Bueser, mayor, Alaminos, Laguna.

We cannot go on being misguided by the 1987 Constitution due to its outmoded provisions. The Cory Constitution may have a transitional value of five years but its amendments are long overdue. Former President Cory Aquino should be stateswoman enough to spearhead charter change to respond to the people’s needs but apparently she would rather foist on us the Cory Constitution as a lasting souvenir. What a national tragedy. We, the municipal mayors are behind you in this effort of charter change but we must put pressure on some senators to abandon their anachronistic views of the constitutional amendments for the sake of our country.

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My e-mail is [email protected]