Tattered

By Rolo B. Cena

Hushed Poppies

Dumaguete Star Informer

August 12, 2012

Cebu City, Philippines – The recent monsoon rains that once again drenched Metro Manila and most parts of Luzon generated one and only one note:  Politics exist!  It created one and only one for-a-day game:  Politicians play under the rains! 

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte urged the immediate implementation of relocation plan for those living along riverbanks and creeks to save their lives and prevent clogging of water ways that worsens flooding.  This call was made after the heavy downpours devastated the metropolis.  Sounds great! 

Local government officials undertook their own too-good-to-be-true fundraising and donation-to-the-victims programs, too.  Wow!

First off, the pronouncement of Speaker Belmonte is by far the latest call to address the decades-old concern of the Metropolis, not to mention other parts of Luzon.  To call (and say that) for the “immediate implementation to save lives and prevent clogging of waterways that worsens flooding” is an understatement of the year.  The waterways and drainages of the metropolis have been clogged decades ago.   And several years ago, lives have been claimed because of poor drainage system.

Second off, to make an urgent call this time of crisis doesn’t change the equation.  Decades ago, the same call was made; decades ago, the same call was unheard.  Surprisingly, the same call is repeated time and again.  This gives us one and only one meaning:  Politicians are better off with curtain calls!

The sterling question would be:  Why now?  Is the house triggered by the south monsoon phenomenon and not by the alarming rate of poverty?  Is the House triggered by the disturbing tropical storms hitting the country these days and not by the alarming rate of informal settlers?  Wake up, Speaker!  Are you drained or just simply mentally dehydrated?  These people have been landless in their own land for decades now, precisely the reason why they choose to settle along riverbanks and creeks.  This square foot of property does not require Transfer Certificates of Title (TCTs), to begin with.  

These people that you are trying to save “now” are in fact the same people with whom the domestic animal that produce the pork out of the barrel from the greed-controlled Palace by the commercially polluted River are the disguised, if not used, beneficiaries of your colleagues.  They are the same people whose names were written, the same names that are written, and the same names that will be written in the spotlight-dominated ballots and election returns. 

And where are they in relation to that call? – Nowhere!

True to its form and essence, the poverty rate of the country is alarming despite claims that our gross national product (GNP) has increased.  Conversely, the rate of informal settlers taking control of the riverbanks and creeks is taking the same toll despite claims that a national housing project has been in place.  What a disconnect with the realities we Filipinos have seen, felt, and tasted!

When election fever rises, everybody feels the intense heat:  grandstanding, spotlight chasing, markers and marks, branding and taglines.  Whew!  What a waste of money!  This is precisely the reason why the Arabs hate pork on the table.  It can bloat the anatomic structure of the person in direct proportion with the anatomy of corruption.

And the Speaker would have known. 

In Singapore, when their government relocates its middle-class, they make sure they just don’t build houses; they build communities.  In the Philippines, when the government relocates these people, they build raw houses and make sure they expunge communities.

What a way to go, indeed!  Tattered jeans are fashionably acceptable; tattered minds are not.  They are extinct and should be retired.

Did you just say tattered politics?