Heeding the message
of Trillanes win

The Commission on Elections yesterday proclaimed Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV of the Philippines Navy as the 11th elected senator of the Philippines.

More than anything else, the fact that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is reported to be conducting a survey among the soldiers as to the reason why they voted for Trillanes, shows that the perception has sunk in that Trillanes' victory has serious overtones for the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

That may be the reason why the chief executive had announced the revamp of her Cabinet. And, she made it clear, she has not asked for the courtesy resignations of members of her official family. She asked them to resign. Period. That, I think, is a positive response to the challenge posed by Trillanes win.

For too long, the presidential cabinet has had its share of slippery eels who have made the President look like she were just their captive and unable to control members of her Cabinet. And not only that. She also had her share of those who go about their task as if they were independent of the President.

That is why there are persistent talks about the possible ouster of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio and several others, including PAGCOR chairman Ephraim Genuino, the latter reportedly earned the presidential ire by concentrating more on the campaign of his two children - one a candidate for councilor and the other for Congress in Makati City.

But if there is anything the President should heed, it is the call of local government executives for the ouster of DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno. For that matter, I had been hearing some misgivings of the LGU leaders that Puno may have actually been the Trojan Horse that brought about the capture of Metro Manila by the Genuine Opposition.

And, perhaps, although the Commission on Elections is a constitutional body, the President could presumably prevail upon Chairman Benjamin Abalos to resign, rather than face the possibility of an impeachment by Congress.

No officials has displayed a lack of management and incompetence as Abalos and company. Perhaps, that was the reason why Comelec member Rene Sarmiento proposed to investigate the alleged links of some of the poll body's officials to former Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.

For the moment, the President must be able to conduct a sweeping of the stable against corruption and other anomalies. Several of these too glaring to be recounted.

And, yes, I agree that she could ask both Speaker Jose de Venecia and GSIS chairman Winston Garcia to have the expenditures of the House and the government retirement system service audited and opened to the public as suggested by Rep. Pablo Garcia of Cebu. The latter has openly contested De Venecia's hold on the speakership of the lower chamber.

If only that could be complied with by both, the President can succeed in presenting the Philippines a formal view of the management by the House leader and the GSIS chairman of their respective finances.

That, I believe, could be a major feather in her cap that may catapult the President into the status of a heroine.

At least, for the next three years, the country can find itself presented the spectacle of transparency in the House and GSIS.

***

Tomorrow is a Father's Day. But one cannot celebrate it without paying tribute to mothers also.

Or it is a fact that man does not live alone. He, as theologicans claim, is given by God his partner in life who could bring him to heaven. And vice versa.

I looked forward to celebrating Father's Day with only my eldest daughter, Grace Engallado, Dr. Mary Irene Espina-Rife, Maté, and Jay today. On a modest scale.

But, as is God's way of comforting me and my wife for bringing up 11 children, I received yesterday a call from my daughters, Mary Anne and Nene, apologizing for their failure to attend today's reunion because they were set to leave for the United States for a series of cultural presentations. They will be with UST School of Music Director Raul Sunico. And, yes, apparently Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, executive director of the National Commission on Culture and Arts, is also going along with them.

And, I received the good news. My daughters, Malou and Inday Salvacion Varona, are coming in the first flight of Philippine Airlines to make my day.

God, in His own way, seems to give me a slap on the back for helping my late wife, Dr. Lourdes L. Espina, bring up the 11 children He had given us. And, during our lifetime, we had weathered derision from colleagues and relatives about our obsession with our children.

Somehow, that a struck me recently when I wondered how I would fare when my children may abandon me to myself alone. Then, a niece told me - "Dad, even if five of them were to desert you, you can be sure that the other six won't leave you alone."

Then I understood the truth of the claim by members of a religious organization that "heaven starts here in this life."

To all you, fathers, my warmest congratulations. And may God pour on you today and afterwards His blessings and graces especially in your senior years.*

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