Selective reconciliation

The President has set a deadline for her technocrats to win the war against hunger, or else. But you don't need such a long time for that, Ma'am, two months are all you need for now. Within that time, campaign money will be pouring out and, for sure, the poor will get their share. What we all have to work on, I believe, are the months after.

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I thought it was too good to be true when I saw a report saying that Bongbong Marcos was going to back the candidacy of Noynoy Aquino. I was about to praise them for letting bygones be bygones, after all, their fathers are both gone to their, er, just rewards, or just desserts already. Yesterday, however, I saw Bongbong on TV saying that the killing of Ninoy Aquino has never been solved because his family would not accept the results of investigations on it since they were not what they wanted to know.

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It was a different case with the sister, I mean, Tessie Aquino Oreta, Noynoy's aunt. She reportedly bearded the Marcoses in their own territory and, surprise! She was welcomed by the family, and I, hear, even endorsed by the inimitable Imelda. So Tita Tessie may get a lot of votes, even win in the Ilocos provinces since she is also friends with the other kingpin there, Chavit Singson. Noynoy (Benigno Jr.) will have to scrounge for votes elsewhere.

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Meanwhile, he obviously could not stand the heat, and so he decided to get out of the kitchen, the political kitchen, that is. A few days ago, former general and National Irrigation Administration head Arturo Lomibao had announced that he was gunning for the congressional seat in the Fourth District of Pangasinan. Well, anybody can run anywhere and for any position so long as he has the wherewithal, but Lomibao probably did not realize what he would have to contend with in that area, long the turf of Speaker Jose de Venecia, who is to Pangalatok Country what the Marcoses and the Singsons are to be so-called Solid North. I hope he is not regretting letting go of the relatively peaceful and calmer atmosphere at the NIA. Yesterday, there was an announcement that Lomibao had surrendered already. What the consolation prize will be, we do not know yet. Perhaps another sinecure in another harmless department, which should be his cup of tea, after his stressful days in the military.

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Former President Fidel Ramos has repeatedly scored the dynasty system in the country which seems to be worsening lately. To his credit, Steady Eddie has not fielded any relative for any elective office that we know. Yes, he may be a relative of the departed Ferdinand Marcos, and maybe even of the tenacious Chavit Singson, but they are, at best, distant relations. But Malacañang, sounding already like the neophyte Koko Pimentel, glibly pointed out that there is no law yet prohibiting dynasties in this country. While the Constitution says something against it, nobody has yet filed a bill and passed a law specifically banning it, and prescribing sanctions for violators. So take advantage of this now, though I doubt any solon will remember to sponsor such a law in the near future. We shouldn't have listened to the Spaniards or the Americans, and stuck to our old system with rulers like Princess Urduja, Humabon and Limasawa.

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An inane item in the entertainment page of a national paper recalled some funny incidents I noted when I used to stay in Manila and trying to learn how to speak Tagalog like a native. The item was about the irritant between two young actresses, Heart Evangelista and Judy Ann Santos. Seems Heart kept saying "Po" when she addressed Judy Ann who felt the respectful term meant she was considered an old lady already. So she called the attention of Heart, who must have felt hurt since she meant well, maybe.

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In my first months in Manila, I got into a lot of boners, but my friends were very tolerant. A family friend from Bacolod who had married a businessman from a very conservative family in Quezon Province had a hard time because her parents-in-law kept complaining to her husband that she was not respectful enough, and never said "Po" or "Ho" to them. She tried her best to remember, but often forgot, so sometimes, she would say (in Tagalog) "We're leaving already, goodbye" and run out to the car, and then run back to call out to the old folks, "Po".*

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