We are not that bad

It is sad that President Benigno Aquino keeps on harping on the alleged shortcomings of his predecessor, former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in his speeches in foreign venues. Still fresh in the mind was his acid remarks on the latter's ailment and wheel-chair condition when he was in New Zealand few weeks ago. Recently, in Laos he commented, albeit in a light vein, the alleged fixation of Arroyo's calculator on addition mode, explaining that an infra project previously estimated to cost more than P600 million was completed under his watch at an outlay of only more than P400 million.

What's President PNoy trying to do, convict the former president through publicity? Everybody knows that she is facing two plunder charges at the Sandigang Bayan. Is the president trying to condition the people's mind to a possible conviction on both charges? This is grossly unfair. Trial by publicity is a no-no in a democracy.

Besides, washing one's dirty linen in foreign forums is indicative of poor taste and callousness. No doubt, we Filipinos have a lot of weaknesses and failings to speak of. Talking about these among ourselves here in this country may not be charitable, but it is tolerable, because it is like an intra-family affair. But denigrating a former leader in a foreign territory is a serious disparage on the character of one of us, with a damaging implication that such is typical of a Filipino.

If the intention of the President is to accentuate his "Daang Matuwid" to invite foreign investors, the effect could be double edged. Yes, under his term a clean governance may be underway (although viewed closely, corruption is still a way of life among many bureaucrats). But a foreign capitalist could ask. How long will this last? If a leader with a devilish flair for irregularities once sat in the Pasig office, won't there be another after PNoy?

If the intention of the President is to underscore his Mr. Clean image, embarking on a comparison with his predecessor is an inhuman approach. It is like stepping on the prostate body of an adversary to raise one's victorious head for the audience to see. Done in a Christian society, it is a grossly unchristian gesture.

Love your enemy - even an atheist knows this biblical injunction. How much more for a president whose mother (bless her soul) was decidedly the most saintly chief executive we ever had? His father (bless his soul, too) was praying the Rosary minutes before that tarmac tragedy. Both were devout Christians, and even after the sufferings they underwent under a dictatorial government, spite and scorn never came out of their mouths against those who caused their calvary. How easily could have that saintly president whipped up a vengeful mood against the dictator's family and those who played fiddle with him! But she let them be. Reconciliation and unity was her thrust. Love and forgiveness was the theme of her governance.

In a foreign shore, we expect our Number One Citizen to speak kindly of his people, including those who are outside his KKK cordon. Already the Filipino's reputation is in tatters in other countries. Perhaps, because of our free willing mass media the slimy side of the Filipino is what gets generous exposure while his good side remains largely unseen. Yet we are not that bad. If we are, this country would have gone to the dogs a long time ago.

We are not that bad when it comes to intra and inter family relationship. We love and respect each other even to the point of trying to protect the bad eggs among us. We may disagree and quarrel among us, but when an outside force comes to dominate us, we are one in our resolve to die for the cause.

We may be reputedly corrupt, but for every despicable deviant in public offices there are ten or more who are hardworking and honest. And some of us may be Sunday Christians, but in reality a dominant number are good and kind and merciful and strong believers in the Lord.