The more preferable protocols for ex-presidents

Former presidents whose tenures have already expired have the option to continue being exposed to the risks and hazards of traditional politics or stop engaging in partisan political activities and just enjoy life smelling the flowers. Former presidents GMA and Duterte are taking the first option. Erap opts to smell his many flowers while FVR is already resting in eternal peace.

Former presidents GMA and Duterte are choosing the path of pressure and tension where their good names and honor are being subjected to the continued “slings and arrows of outrageous fortunes”. They choose to be subject to public scrutiny and to the unabated “man's inhumanity to man”. GMA, with all her wealth, prestige, and past accomplishments could have chosen the role of an elder stateswoman whose wisdom and erudition could be used by both the administration and the opposition, in foreign affairs, international diplomacy, economic development, the administration of justice, or in social services and development. But GMA has opted to expose herself to the dirty games of traditional and partisan political activities.

President Duterte could have opted to dedicate whatever remains of his years to rebuilding the environmentally-devastated Mindanao. Or, he could have started to lay the framework of a united Mindanao where local leaders should set aside partisanship and work together and push forward the development of the Land of Promise. He could have set aside any temptations to partisan politics.

He should leave his daughter alone in her ambitions to follow in his footsteps. Inday Sara is always dreaming to copy the career path of her idol, GMA, who became president like her late father Diosdado P. Macapagal. She should earn the right to such a lofty position on her own merits and should spare her father from further stress and tension brought on by traditional politics.

And GMA, after becoming president not for six years only as constitutionally provided, but about 10 years as she pushed aside President Erap and took over the presidency even when the latter did not die or became incapacitated, much less abandon or resign from the presidency. GMA's presidency was marred by so many controversies including the most controversial alleged election anomaly called the "Hello Garci" brouhaha.

After she left the presidency, she should have retired to write the memoirs of her turbulent life and career. But still not contented with having occupied the highest position of the land, still insisted to become a representative and then speaker, by grabbing power from Bebot Alvarez in much the same style that she took away the presidency from Erap.

The double demotions of GMA, one after the other, by the grace of Speaker Martin Romualdez's strategic defensive moves, has brought so much embarrassment to GMA. Being a senior deputy speaker was a mere honorific title with no real powers but only a little additional perks and privileges. When she was demoted to the post of a mere deputy speaker equal to dozens of other Romualdez loyalists, it was already embarrassing enough. But to be further stripped of the deputy speaker rank, it was a double slap to the face. Instead of a sympathy from her hitherto bandwagon riders, she was ignored, abandoned, and left alone to lick her own wounded ego.

All these could have been avoided had former presidents GMA and Duterte followed the chosen path of Erap; to stay away from politics and travel the world with close loved ones, to smell the flowers, and leave politics alone to the Gen X, Gen Y, and the millennials. Seniors should spare the country from their traditional politics of patronage and influence peddling. They should leave their children to work for their own destiny. The presidency is not hereditary, Sons and daughters who want to become president like their parents should earn the right to be elected to such lofty positions on their own merits. Ex-presidents should stop acting like stage moms or stage dads.

This country is not the United Kingdom or the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or Brunei Darussalam. This is the Philippines. They might have lulled themselves into dreaming that we are already a monarchy and they could behave like King Charles, King Salman, or Sultan Bolkiah.