Performance and truth

By the time you read this, the verdict about the winner of the American Idol will have been out. Will Jessica Sanchez be the first Pinoy-Mexican American Idol or not? Her supporters all throughout the world are resorting to prayers and votes. Will these be enough to make her win?

Weekly, Jessica Sanchez has done her best, sharing with everyone her talent as a singer, as a performer. Whatever the outcome, win or lose, she has made the world notice her and listen to her voice. Young as she is, she succeeded in making the world recognize her dream, see her determination, and appreciate how she tried to give her best each week. For sure, from now on, she will be on her own road to further success as a singer, as a performer. Mabuhay, Jessica Sanchez!!!

Our people saw an unexpected performance at the Senate last Tuesday. There was high expectation that Corona would come to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. Well, he came, yes, but not as a regular trial witness but as a performer (pang best actor award, according to some viewers).

He clarified he only had 4 bank accounts, but he did not specify details which would have dispelled the lantern of lies that he said he wanted to expose during his appearance.

He was unusually granted 3 long hours for his “performance,” which he ended, in a dramatic fashion, by not waiting for the Senate Presiding Officer to excuse him but by what others termed as a walk-out.

Before that, he also signed a conditional waiver to have his bank accounts opened ONLY IF all others in the Senate and those who charged him with impeachment would also allow their bank accounts to be scrutinized. “Bitin” is too soft a word to describe the unfinished performance of Corona last Tuesday.

Had Corona been the presiding officer of an impeachment trial and had a defense witness like himself act and perform like he did, would he have allowed the witness such leniency, such privilege? Would he have also allowed the witness to act like he did, leave the witness stand and walk out without the permission of the presiding officer, and without being cross-examined?

After 3 long hours of monologue and after the dramatic waiver and walk-out, the viewers next saw a very weak Corona, then one in a wheelchair – the same witness who withstood 3 long hours of self-defense could not stand up any longer for cross-examination! He was reported to have gone into a state of hypoglycemia or worse, recent reports are saying he had a heart attack, was rushed to the ICU unit, and is now advised by his doctors to go through a period of close medical observation.

In short, Corona, after his 3-hour performance, was too weak and remains too weak to appear for cross-examination at the Senate.

Will he make himself available for cross-examination? If yes, when? These are questions that only Corona can answer, or like the case of GMA, his patron, can be answered only by his doctors.

The wheelchair scene, the hospital admission, the wait and see situation being advised by medical doctors – all these GMA, his patron, had resorted to before. Is he following the same script or are his weakness and medical condition real and genuine?

Corona and the truth remain elusive.

Many Filipinos want to move on and have truth pave the way for closure and for a genuine, united beginning. These recent developments, with Corona as lead performer, seem to be pulling this country back to the era of Corona’s patron, GMA, who herself has to explain so much about stolen votes, public funds, among others.

Is he and his family the victim of a spoiled brat and father-in-law? Is he a victim of persecution by the executive and the left-leaning individuals or groups? How many see a victim in Corona as he wants to portray himself and his family?

How many see Corona and his family instead as the victimizers, rather than the victims?

How many instead see the Filipino people as the ultimate victims of unexplained wealth, abuse of power and authority, and lack of transparency of public officials?

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