40 years would be too long

Scanning the news from Manila via Internet, I can’t help but feel a sense of hopelessness about the leaders in power in the Philippines.

Reading about the numerous issues and scenes that have taken place inside the Philippine Senate, about intra-party conflicts within the largest political party, and political appointments of people who have no formal qualifications for their position, certainly makes me think of parallels befitting Philippine political leaders.

When I read all the available reports about events and hearings of the Philippine Senate, I certainly equate this once honorable institution to a “Three ring circus” which should be named the “Ding-Aling Circus of the Philippines”. In tent number 1 you find Ping Lacson as the Ring Master orchestrating the Inquisition versus Senator Manny Villar.

While Manny Villar may draw sympathy, one cannot argue that his current misfortune is simply the unavoidable consequence of reaping what you sow. Villar may have mended fences with former President Joseph Estrada, but Divine Law is set as such, that Villar now experiences “betrayal” and being victim of a lynch mob or being railroaded. What he learns and how he responds to this attack will ultimately determine whether he becomes a serious candidate as President.

In Ring number 2 we have the unlikely tandem of Bong Revilla and Jamby Madrigal working every drop of publicity and titillation out of the Hayden Kho/ Katrina Halili X-rated movie. Trying hard to score some points as assistant performer is none other than Migs Zubiri who has suddenly become a card carrying conservative.

I’m sorry but even here in far away Holland, I still hear Filipinos in Manila bemoaning how the Senate Entertainers have milked the Hayden Kho-Katrina Halili performance “short of asking about length and thickness!”

Filipinos of course won’t be fooled by the second generation Trapos in the Senate. As far as feedback goes, Pinoys know that the bottom line in all of these so-called hearings is that the Senate NPAs or Non-Performing Artists are now trying their damned best to impress us with their paternal concern or how their womanhood has been assaulted by the behavior of one Dr. Hayden Kho.

All these of course is to improve their otherwise dismal performance, to cover up or overwhelm personal or political scandals or simply to boost their ratings in upcoming popularity surveys where high scores can be translated to nominations to political tickets, which can then be converted into large sums of cash in the form of pre-campaign support or investment.

Isn’t it strange that those who hold themselves up as righteous and concerned would probably not pass lie detector tests concerning the correctness of their sexual preference, gender inclinations or marital indiscretions? Lest they forget, WE are ALL sinners. But those who would stand in judgment of others are also held by a higher standard!

 The fact is that those in the front act of “The Hayden Kho Inquisition” are the senators with the least contribution in terms of real legislative competence, actual personal efforts in crafting legislation and totally clueless about what a legislative agenda is, or what their committees are suppose to be doing.

I seriously wonder how the “NPA” Senators would fare, or how long they would survive on the Senate floor without their legal assistants, alalays and amuyongs?

In a country where media companies are once again controlled by a few and are actually guilty of Anti-trust, where media companies herald profits yet marginalize and exploit people by making them “Talents” with no protection or benefits, you have to wonder what relevance the “sexcapade” of Kho and Halili has to the greater good for the greater number of Filipinos particularly those slaving away in media companies?

Just for the sake of splitting hairs, how can we expect independence from senators who have professional and commercial relationships within the industry or sector they are supposed to overlook? There is either compromise or conflict of interest!

After the experience of Jun Lozada and Hayden Kho, it is clear that only an idiot would testify in the Philippine Senate and believe that the Senate can protect or respect the rights of a witness, a respondent or a resource person. At the very least, the Senate Security should be whipped for failure to keep Hayden Kho dry!

It’s normal for Senators to use the “Senate” for personal glory, but when the Senate becomes an instrument for publicity stunts by washed up politicians or ex-celebrities, one has to wonder who is in control of the Senate? Of all the stunts ever pulled inside the Senate, “attacking” a witness is both contempt of the Senate and a breach of security.

As an institution, the Senate is now generally composed of people who have no respect for each other. Their politics are selfish, self-centered and self-serving. But the worst judgment we can make about our Senators is that many of them don’t even have any self-respect.

That I suppose is the reason we have Ring number 3 where the small band of opposition senators stand around mute and impotent but glaring a testimony that the Philippine Senate is no longer the institution deserving of honor or respect. 

As someone who has seen truly “Honorable” members of the Senate, it is tragic that the current crop with the exception of a few, are mostly incapable and unwilling to keep themselves from muckraking, cantankerous behavior, scandal and trading influence for favors or position. Rather than speak with eloquence, proper conduct and impersonal discourse, these failed leaders have become models of all the wrong behavior and values. Sadly they have become Gods unto themselves.

Realizing this, I wonder if God will soon get fed up with this generation of leaders who have done nothing but complain, criticize, make demands and worship their vanity and their power, or will we have to wait another 40 years for God to purge us of our failed leaders before he makes our nation into his Promised Land? Without a doubt, 40 years would be too long!!!