Unworthy Elected Officials

By Reni M. Valenzuela

Elections are over, but not electioneering.

The usual tendency of politicians is to inject political color (or toxicant) to almost every cell and situation or condition of our body fitness and dynamism as a country, and then view / approach the affairs of the nation and the crises we all face in light of darkness — always in terms of politics as if politics is a god and the answer to our miseries as a people.

This is one major problem (among others) we have with our elected officials, one administration after another, my dear countrymen.

With just a little over a week after the midterm elections, many of them who won have already transfigured themselves from being meek, demure candidates to being carnivorous, wild creatures.

They got engrossed so quickly in positioning, acting, recruiting, lobbying, majority buildup, partisanship, self-serving and clowning as they ever enjoy riding the political high tide (or circus) as much as they can, let alone realities or the state and plight of the motherland, and the  sufferings of Juan dela Cruz, the poor and marginalized especially.

Hanggang kailan po ba mangungulila ang ating bayan sa mga tunay na lingkod bayan? Sobrang kakarampot lamang nilang mga totoo, at hayag naman na wala silang lakas at kakayahan na tapatan o labanan ang mga Goliath na gamu-gamo sa dami at pagbugso sa tuwing bago mag tag-ulan. 

To our newly elected officials:  Don’t let the Filipino electorates regret having voted for you or someday realize they were just tripped and duped.

But shucks and woe, Tito Sotto is proving himself to be unworthy at this early stage of the “race” (or personal ambition) to salvage what is left of us as a democratic republic.

His first big public pronouncement as a Senator-elect sounds very much like he is campaigning to become the next Senate President to replace (forthwith) Senator Chiz Escudero.

Who in his right, discerning mind won’t think of such a possibility or certainty of mind-play and play of words by an “astute” politician, after the said politician Sotto himself came out openly very, very soon to “defend,” rationalize and support a national bane that is political dynasty?

He mentioned in particular the names of the two Villars, the two Cayetanos, the two Tulfos, and the two Estradas/Ejercitos that would largely comprise the roughed up new Senate.

But why not? Why not when Tito Sen can be quickly, easily favored and safely be assured of eight votes to beat Escudero (and everyone) by doing so?  However, that may happen only if the mentioned eight senators will prove to be equally unworthy (and dynastic) as elected officials / public servants.

By the way, what has Sotto accomplished or what has he made himself known for the good/great things he has done for the Filipino people during his stint as previously a senate president? You (not Sotto) can only answer that right, dear nation-loving compatriots.

One other returning senator in the person of Panfilo Lacson is showing signs that he is no different. He has seconded his buddy or co-conspirator, “Majority in Senate eye leadership shift,” Lacson, the former PNP chief, cautioned.

Oh, beloved, what new and better things can we expect from the “new” senate? Nothing. Despicably, sadly nothing. Worse, things may even worsen.

Another senator-elect, Pia Cayetano, defended Sotto in fending and standing up for the much abhorred and much despised “political dynasty” by saying that candidates should be elected based on “capacity.”

But what exactly do you mean by the word “capacity,” madam Senator? Financial capacity? Connection capacity? Party capacity? Name-recall capacity? Dynastic capacity? Pork barrel capacity? Ayuda capacity? Gimmick capacity? Government resources / machinery capacity? Position capacity? Media mileage capacity? Popularity capacity? Celebrity image capacity?

Ah, name it and you have it, my dear.

With all those “capacities” real, tangible and present, what then is next? Of course, they shall be employed and applied (at once) prior to and during campaign periods every election — for victory parade, ultimately. Oh, “capacity,” how great thou art. Mission accomplished. Elected!

Do families of political conjurors really believe that they are the only ones who have the “capacity” to govern, rule and lead the motherland? Ah, Philippines, poor country indeed.

We all try so hard to do away with traditional politics (“trapo”), but if and when “trapo” is what Sotto, Lacson and company intend to bring back to or perpetrate in the Senate, I highly recommend / suggest that they return to private life except for Sotto who can better serve our noontime lunch by going back to “Eat Bulaga” as a full-time host.

Entertaining.

God does miracles for candidates and He recently did some for the chosen, good ones. But for the other undeserving and misfits who surprisingly and needlessly got elected, I don’t know who (or what church) did and performed the “miracle” for them.

President Bongbong Marcos was right in saying lately that he welcomes political opposition, the genuine opposition — not the kind whose members are plain / sheer obstructionists.

But BBM must realize that he has an antagonist in Congress “bigger” than the real opposition because he has a sister senator who has been acting like the biblical “prodigal son”; a blood-related legislator to his honor — one who has artfully proven herself to be an “obstructionist” more complex, more “intentional” and more subtle than gal Ayesha in Marvel movies.

“Family Protectionism” and preservation.

The most enigmatic, vexatious person to deal with in the matter of good governance and nation building, dear politicians, is the person that stares back at you in front of a mirror.

Boo and wirra, the biggest problem of Filipinos in the aspect of politics is this: Every single one of our politicians seems to have the chic and craze, I mean ambition to someday be the president of the Republic of the Philippines. Alas!

The utter destructiveness of ambition lies in the never-ending, obsessive, excessive, insane, maniacal pursuit of it. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3

What about this recent news headline, dear fellow sane Filipinos:  “Tito Sotto, Imee Marcos umugong vs Chiz Escudero sa Senate presidency.”

Tu autem domine miserere nobis. 

Mercy!

Email: renivalenzuelaletters@yahoo.com