Epiphany and Malacanang

By Rolo B. Cena
The Gulf Files
Dumaguete Star Informer
02 January 2011

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – There is more to life than what the Yuletide Season and the New Year bring: life changing phenomenon!

Literally and figuratively, we Filipinos have experienced a lot of this: Out of suffocation we gathered at EDSA and without a drop of blood overthrew the dictator that ruled the country for more than twenty years; thereafter, EDSA 2 ousted the high-profile gambler out of the Palace; then third edition EDSA attempted to abort the presidency of the petite Lady.

In May 2010, another epiphany flashed in broad daylight of the arid Philippine sky: the second generation Aquino was mandated by majority of the Filipinos to rule the republic under the suit of true democracy.

The epiphanies of EDSA all happened because we wanted change; the epiphanies of the May 10 Elections cyclically happen because we want change. The question now is: Did change ever happen at one point? Or, are we good at EDSA Saga only?

Change is the hardest of activities a self-serving politician can do; yet, the easiest dictum he can always promise.

After EDSA 1, Cory Aquino introduced change. She carefully restored the democratic government back to the table that became once again our staple. She called for the constitutional assembly that led to the amendment of the Charter in 1986. Consequently thereafter, the democratic houses resurrected: the Senate and the Representatives. She carved a remarkable icon of democratic reforms the entire world watched and observed in awe.

One significant yet cunning change she made was creating a new foodstuff out of domestic animal called pork in a barrel disguised as country-wide development fund. This kind of pork takes precedence over other red meats that control economic, social, and political assemblies. Incidentally and arguably, this change did not improve the status quo of the time; it worsened the situation. This icon strengthened the pre-procreation vice of Adam and Eve called greed.

Perhaps it stands to reason why a different version of change was called for: coup de tat staged by now senator Gringo Honasan and his cohorts. This phenomenon gave birth to other coup attempts, military uprisings and adventurisms only the likes of Lim and Trillanes perfectly comprehended.

A notable change would have toppled down a system had the program been instituted sincerely by its agent. Erap aborted bureaucracy with his popular and controversial rhyme “walang kai-kaibigan, walang kamag-anak; wag n’yo akong subukan.” He installed statesmen and politicians sans consanguinity and affinity. However, he was short of making it acceptable to both houses. Shortly, his power was curtailed by EDSA 2 that was triggered by the deal-or-no-deal opening of the controversial bank envelope that produced a dancing queen in the Senate. This catapulted the then Vice Pres GMA to the highest position of the Land.

“Let us build the edifice of unity and topple down the walls that divide” was the popular change dictum the petite but feisty Lady of the Imperial Manila proudly and sternly pronounced. During her term, she manufactured her own change catalog: changing jueteng to small town lotteries, re-branding protectors to benefactors, re-naming austerity measures to cost-saving approaches, installing justices and ombudsman in a passion called political terms – and all these produced the totally re-scripted and changed political classics like the Hello Garci Drama, ZTE-NBN soap dish, the Ampatuans saga, the most talked-about Cha-Cha she and her lower house speaker strutted in a barn soiree, etc. This etcetera enumerates beyond infinity.

For about a decade, one hundred million Filipinos objected to this kind of change but never have successfully aborted the Imeldific game plan until one evening, a new star was spotted north of Malacanang by political shepherds that was believed to bring about the epiphany of the century, hopefully.

This star promised to bring the country to “tuwid na landas,” a popular campaign teaser that catapulted him to power. And shortly after he seized control of the Palace, several attempts to change have been introduced. Most of his change drivers were not fairly acceptable, others became controversial, and nonetheless, he managed to navigate the fields where customizations have to be made: Truth commission. It did not become a change driver; it will never be.

In his sincere and noble attempt to employ the same change vehicle his iconic mother used, failures stalled his Palace: August 2010 hostage drama, plagiarism over tourism brand, lousily prepared K+2, resurgence of Jueteng passions, morally-debated RH Bill, disabled and incapable cabinets, etc. – all these mimicked an unstable administration incapable of bringing about change, planned or imagined; all these portrayed a governance incapacitated to handle sensitive economic, social, and political issues laid down on the table.

Yes, too many epiphanies; phenomena that stirred and traumatized the noble nation. This is now the call of the New Year, new generation: No more EDSA, no more epiphanies. Institute real-time change!

But will Aquino be as effective as the Wise Men in aborting the political Herod called greed that is killing the political savior called good governance of the human race called Philippines?