‘Waste Of Time’ Or Waste Of Nation, Dear BBM?

By Reni M. Valenzuela

“Why waste time on it?” – Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

I wonder if the president just lacked sleep when he said that on last November 30, referring to the government act of impeaching the vice president, under the counsel or influence (likely) of one, two, or more “advisers,” whose political or depraved hearts are up to something else, not the welfare of Filipinos and the Philippines.

Or, maybe the president took some kind of pills with side effects that same day to alleviate himself from the debilitating stresses of running the country. Hope by this time, you are well, your excellency. Hence, let me be the one to ask instead: Which is worse, “waste of time” or waste of leadership and people’s money, and the Filipino nation?

Forget about the “whisperers” and political opposition, much less the officially vilified Makabayan bloc in Congress who is among the proponents of the Sara impeachment move. “Hearest no one thou mayest, but wisdom and cries fail thou not hearest.” Sanity is what the nation needs at this juncture, not any foolish mindset and political animals, and not the fawning of quacks (of course) for your part as our Chief Executive.

I am a non-political, apolitical journalist and person, but I know where to stand whoever will I make happy or sad, gladden or hurt, in the course of my heeding God and conscience each time I write an opinion piece in a little over an hour, unsolicited and unpaid from day one.

Normally I tell publishers and news sites owners in the country and abroad who want me exclusive for them as an opinion writer: I have not received and will never ever receive any payment or remuneration in whatever form for my writings (and preachings). I write Letter to the Editor only as the Holy Spirit prompts and leads. Each piece (sermon) is sacred to me. I do writing (and preaching) not for money, but for Christ and country alone, and the world.

That’s why when I scribble, “let us fight corruption” or “let us defend our maritime territory against the bully nation till death or till rapture,” the message is not just coming from me.

He who wastes time squanders opportunities, but whoever wastes government money (on “budget” and corruption) squanders a nation and commits genocide against his own people.

Filipinos are dying of hunger, sickness, poverty, joblessness, illiteracy, injustice, official idiocies and sanctioned crookedness and ruthlessness like the confidential, intelligence and pork barrel funds, and extrajudicial killilngs. Yet you, our dearest president, are seeing and calling what will solve (among others) the aforementioned national ills and social malaise — “a waste of time.” Gangrenous. Cancerous. Political.

Aside from the soon to be famed question of yours on Bonifacio Day, “Why waste time on it?,” I am sorry, Mr. Marcos Jr., for finding your whole speech to be hollow, meaningless, hero-less, and Bonifacio-less. What’s the point then of you urging us, Filipinos, to liberate ourselves “from the shackles of hunger, corruption, criminality and other ills of society”? What’s the sense of our hero, Andres Bonifacio, in light of your surrender or “backtracking” in the current, brewing “storm” between the motherland and Disneyland?

Bonifacio is not Andres de saya. He is Andres, the hero. He had the strength and courage of a warrior. He was man enough to fight for what is right, for his native land and all its “indios.”

Having mentioned the weak Andres de saya, though, let me state one solid fact: Wives have instincts that husbands don’t have. And a wife’s instinct can at times be a great, saving guide and guardian for the husband.

“The two shall be one flesh…” – Mark 10:8

Email: renivalenzuelaletters@yahoo.com