Fraction

By Rolo B. Cena
Hushed Poppies
Dumaguete Star Informer
15 January 2012

There are no written rules that squatters must learn for a safe habitation in the accident-prone multi-billion dollar gold-encrypted Compostela Valley. As Mines and Geosciences Bureau and other scientists once warned, the Valley is landslide prone and that no mining activities must be undertaken.

In the same token, there are no written rules that informal settlers must learn for safe habitation in the areas of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan City, or Negros Oriental where tropical storm “Sendong” recently unleashed its might in complete havoc.

Unlike mathematics though, there’s no school where the greatest common factor that should divide both numerator and denominator to arrive at the least expression be any different from the disparity of distribution of wealth and privileges from the overwhelmingly miffed and gaffed poor Filipino people are taught.

As a result, a bizarre masterpiece of madness and chaos hit the fragile habitation of Compostela Valley, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan City, and Negros Oriental that paralyzed the normal lives of the under-privileged; the same underprivileged who incessantly tried to outwit poverty by any or all chaotic and impecunious ways and means of survival. It is the same gigantic canvass of despair and utter poverty that rocked the demi-gods of the lip-service adorned halls of men of the explicit few numerators.

Indeed, the mathematical expression of fraction that obviously defines the disparity between the numerator-ical rich and the denominator-ical poor is as pandemic as the unfair distribution of land in the crisis-torn Philippines. It is the same fraction that apparently divides the domestic animal to produce the greed-labeled pork in a barrel; the same pork that disintegrates assemblies of commoners, lords, queens and kings. Relentlessly, it is the same “pork” that becomes the staple of political marauders to lure these squatters and informal settlers to stay in the danger zone such as Compostela Valley, Cagayan de Oro, et al in exchange of a bite size of it.

On the one hand, there are no written rules that Gloria Arroyo and her cohorts must consider to learn remorse before her fate is completely blown out of proportion: Abalos, et al are jailed; Corona is impeached; Gutierrez, Garcia and Reyes are out; Lagman falls out. All her hushed puppies, puppets and stooges are slowly, if not one after the other, exiting from her camp.

Unlike religion though, there’s no school where the scalpel edge of right and wrong, lies and truth are taught. More so, there’s no school where the hellish consequential wrath of plunder, electoral sabotage, extra-judicial killings, vicious graft, sadistic corruption, political adultery and concubinage are taught.

As a result, grotesque sculptures of hushed puppies like Angelo safeguards the loot; tamed puppets like Renato and associates secure the crown and revering stooges like Mercedita protects the political will. Of course, numerating these numerators would not be complete unless we romp them with another breed of political concubines and adulterers like Benjamin, Romulo, Mike, Vicky, et al who facilitated scandals and scams, fraud and sabotage, and the classic graft and corruption.

Indeed, the classic political virus called “greed” that consummates leaders across creed, race and culture continues to unleash its magical whims unconsciously rotting the souls of looters like Gloria, Ferdinand, Hosni, Moamar, Adolf, Fidel, et al.

Finally, there are no written rules that the entire Filipino community must learn in selecting leaders that should represent their voices in various fractional assemblies and halls.

Unlike political science though, there’s no school that teaches the pro-rata use of pork in a barrel in exchange of political paper called ballots. More so, there’s no school that teaches the gravity of these ballots when casted with the power of the pork, or a fraction of it, to produce the array of mentally-dehydrated political stars.

As a consequence, the classic science of election produces corrupt and corruptible politicians and insatiable leaders whose personal and vested interests, and not the mandate of the general Filipino electorate, illuminate their pathways. Obviously, the likes of Arroyo and their cohorts top the list.

Indeed, if the philosophy continues to dominate the minds of both numerator-ical rich leaders and denominator-ical poor voters, cases like Compostela Valley, Cagayan de Oro et al, Gloria and her cohorts, etc. shall forever befall on the doormat of Philippine politics and subdue all the hushed puppies, puppets and stooges to serve a fraction of one-hundred-million Filipinos.

Occasionally, a fraction is not good.