Living with mythical idioms

Some lies do not yell—they whisper in habits we never question. They hide in old stories, like the myth of “Achilles’ heel”—where even the strongest fall from one blind spot. Ours? Memory. We remember who gave ayuda, not who made us beg for it. We clap for tarps and ribbon-cuttings but forget the broken promises underneath. In 2022 (and I dare say, also in 2025), Pulse Asia found only 3 in 10 voters read platforms. The rest? They voted from the heel.

“Pandora’s box” is not just legend—it is a pattern. Every election opens it: another dynasty returns, ghost projects rise, and promises quietly disappear. What spills out is not change, but recycled excuses. Yet we cling to hope as if it were enough. Hope, however, without discernment is dangerous. An SWS survey showed that most Filipinos still vote by name recall. That is how myths stay alive—through catchy surnames and not-so-catchy records.

Talk to a public school teacher walking to school on muddy paths, or a midwife carrying medicine through flash floods, and you will see the modern “Atlas”. They hold up the system—not with headlines, but with quiet resilience. Still, they are rarely thanked. Meanwhile, those who caused the health system collapse parade around as if survival was their achievement. As Aristotle put it, the worst inequality is to treat unequals equally. So why do we expect those with so little to carry so much?

We also celebrate the “Midas touch”—leaders who promise prosperity, sparkle in press photos, and leave others to sweep the mess. But Midas turned even his food and family into gold. What some call success—demolitions, silenced media, budget cuts—is really just tragedy with glitter. Economist Cielito Habito nailed it: growth without fairness is not progress. Some riches come with too many strings.

Sometimes, officials boast about “Herculean tasks”—building roads, clearing creeks, fighting crime, improving agri-fisheries sector. But whose hands are really doing the labor? In many cases, the work is cherry-picked, subcontracted, unfinished, or even undone. It is heroism for the headline, not the household. Action for Economic Reforms noted that government utilization of social budgets often stays below 80%. That is not heroism. That is neglect with a new coat of paint.

There are also those “Sisyphean” jobs—the ones that go in circles. Barangay tanods handling the same fights every week. Auditors writing reports that no one reads. These are not just inefficiencies. They are symptoms of a system that protects itself. The Commission on Audit keeps pointing to the same problems, but the stone rolls back every time. The failure here is not just structural—it is human.

We have seen our share of “Trojan horses” too—policies or personalities that enter dressed in charm but leave with wallets, rights, or trust. A campaign that looks grassroots but is bankrolled by hidden donors. A youth rep who’s really just someone’s nephew. A senator showing fealty to his idol over the Constitution. Congress keeps getting tied to online networks backed by old clans. What looks friendly is sometimes a setup—the poison’s just dressed pretty.

Politics here often feels like choosing between “Scylla and Charybdis.” One wrong move, and you are sinking. Some choose to stay silent, thinking it is safer. But myths teach us that waiting too long does not save you either. Real change comes when more people build better boats—volunteers, journalists, teachers, and quiet watchdogs like LENTE and Vote Pilipinas who try to steer through the storm, even when no one is watching.

Sometimes, the “floodgates” open. A leaked memo, a viral video, a whistleblower brave enough to speak. It feels sudden, but the buildup was there all along. The Blue Ribbon Committee keeps showing how small ignored things grow into national scandals. And yet, we often wait for the dam to break before we care. Vigilance is not loud. It is patient. It watches for leaks before the river rises.

And “Narcissus.” We know him well. The leader so enamored with himself that he forgets everyone else. He sees only his reflection—never the people beyond it. The 2023 Global Democracy Index gave the Philippines a lower score, citing press freedom issues. When leaders equate criticism with betrayal, everyone loses. Public service should not be a mirror. It should be a window.

These mythological idioms are not just clever turns of phrase. They are quiet warnings. They remind us that we are not the first to fall for illusions, and we will not be the last—unless we learn. The challenge is not to slay monsters or break curses. It is to stop repeating the story. To look more closely. To vote more wisely. To stay awake.

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Doc H fondly describes himself as a ”student of and for life” who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and why-driven world grounded in social justice and the pursuit of happiness. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he is employed or connected with.