Weird, isn't it?

By Rolo B. Cena
Arabian Diaries
Dumaguete Star Informer
31 January 2010

Weird, isn’t it?

For decades now, people from all walks of life aim to land at the elective positions of the country. Most dared to barter good names with odd ones; most traded money for government positions; a few even offered loved ones for the sake of finding cunning seats in politics.

Yes, the fundamental law of the land dictates that for as long as one “can read and write”, and then he is eligible to run. Even the stars of faintest glow run for public office. If I could only rewrite the Milky Way and mandate that stars cannot run for elective offices, then I guess we can put an end to the red-carpet elections. An elementary dropout turned sportsman runs, in the same way that an ordinary citizen does.

Do you think it’s high time to care for this? Our government is not a show, not even a circus. Merry making does happen in town fiestas only; why do it in the executive and legislative halls?

Lately, I talked to God. I asked Him for some interventions especially in the coming election. I honestly asked for good breed of heroes – both heard and unheard to vie for these titles. His response was: don’t dream, son; there are none.

In the same conversation, God asked me to apprise Him on the events happening to notable people occupying the positions and I did. I gave Him the necessary inputs and called off the talk. Out of the blue, I started wondering: What if God decide to run?

Do you think your erring barangay captain will dare running opposite God in the election? Take note, your kapitan del barrio keeps all the medicines intended for the people of the Barangay until lately, she discovered that these medicines are already expired, most were consumed by the family, and crammed what to offer to the voting populace. God, what about the accountability? Well, that’s just simple. She can always produce documents showing receipts of these medicines by the public. She’s used to it anyway!

And what about the city councilor whom the girls once said “cute”? Do you think he will vie for the office for which he is incumbent now if God will run against him? What if he knows that one constituent told God about the kickbacks he seized by intimidation from the contractors of the building he was working for the city? Ouch, if I were him, I will just gracefully exit. After all, life after death is better than life in graft and womanizing. Moral ascendancy to lead, is this it? Dear councilor, correct me if I’m wrong!

God forbids! There is a city executive, who by his own deeds became eligible to the final rounds of the search for the Rarest Breed of Animals in the country today. Imagine, he stormed the Hall for nine years as the Ultimate One, took a beauty rest for one period, and lately announced that he’s coming back, this time with vengeance for the same crown. But hey, what if the crown does not fit anymore?

Power attracts! Yes, even to the merriest of souls. Notice this guy who earned various honors in the square ring and opted to run for the legislative post. Hey, he just can’t give a south punch anytime of the day unless he is willing to be hit below the belt! Wake up! If you don’t, you will end up losing your riches and the opportunities attached to your crowns now.

Oh, I almost forgot! One ailing district representative, who’s suffering from the highest degree of Alzheimer doesn’t want to call a halt to his arguably for-the-country-service by running again despite lapses. What on earth is this? Is Philippine politics a haven of magnet where one can’t resist? Is this another Bermuda Triangle where one is lost mysteriously?

Once he said he is honest to his service. He was also quoted as saying that he is no liar, no robber. Perfect! Question: Is he telling this to the marines? This one too-good-to-be-true senator hallucinates! Politics is as dirty as the city drainage not cleaned-up. Just a piece of advice: ask God for a direct confession; don’t do it with a priest. I am afraid your confession might not gain any merit from high heavens.

Cheers! Before we finally ends, here comes the best man! He is projecting a strong but peaceful image. In his previous stints, he bested other contenders by exuding a man-of-the-masses image in the best supporting actor category. During his prime, you didn’t hear him sing or recite. I don’t know if the palace did buy the most precious flower vase from the land of the promise or contract a fragile guard from down under. Anyway, that’s his role.

Now, do you think your bet for presidency whose personally tailored platform is as bad as his closet image will make it at the polls? If I can talk to God once more, I will recommend that He run for the highest elective post of the land. After all, He has the necessary qualifications: He can read beyond words and human dynamics; write even without seeing walls; play within bounds; talk to people by heart and passion; fight the evilest of evils; serve with honest and purest of intentions; lead with words; and walk His talk. The deadline for filing of candidacy is already over but he can make miracles. Let’s just wait.

Let’s compare apple to apple this time: your bet can read but not beyond words and human dynamics - he can read what he is personally up to only; write on the walls graffiti and arithmetical computations of transactions; play beyond the bounds of the rules – most often, above the laws of men; talk to people in carefully fashioned heart-to-heart discussion in alarming passion; fight the good and favor the evils; serve with selfish and make-believe intentions; lead with horrifying and hard-to-believe words; and most often talk about his walks.

Silly, isn’t it? But do we really need to wait for silly ideas to come along before we decide to change our silly “selves” and eventually change this silly Republic? If God were one of us, do you think the 2010 election will be as peaceful as theorized by most overnight philosophers or just as bad as His trial when selfish Herod was then the governor of the area?

Think about it, man! What if God run for 2010?


Silly, isn’t it? But what if God were one of us? Don’t you think this silly idea fits for the silly Filipinos like us? Is it a silly idea to save the ailing, silly Philippines from further destruction?

Who is silly?