By Philip Suzara
Pondering… as I sit here at the edge of my mythical life pond.
One can see many things happening at the edge of life’s pond, as in any pond. Decisions are made there, life changing decisions, defining moments… to get in the pond, or not. The pond is encircled by its edges in different forms and kinds: straight, jagged, rough, rocks, pebbles, sand, soil, or mud. Very much like people. No matter the differences we have, we all belong there… around the life pond, inside, outside, at the edge, but there.
The election fever has been on the rise since a few months back and we’ve been seeing strange things happening from and with the wannabes. Bureaucrats and other functionaries with their newfound monies have been flagrantly flailing their wealth and power with impunity; throwing all caution to the wind in their callous comportment with most of them circumventing election laws and guidelines. These are the same people who gun for public office, and who would be the supposed gatekeepers of our law and order. We’ve also seen them conduct themselves with the application of their double standards. Juan de la Cruz seems inured with such bizarre and deplorable governance.
Stranger still is this latest development in the name of continuity; the current president is accepting the “clamor” of his party mates to continue his leadership and run as their PDP-Laban party’s candidate for vice-president in the coming 2022 elections.
“This is a clear mockery of our Constitution and democratic process” rang the words of 1SAMBAYAN’s former Justice Antonio Carpio. Taking a swipe at this “brazen act” of a former judicial fiscal, Carpio states that this is driven by fear of accountability both from the ICC and from our own justice system. The candidacy is both “legally and morally wrong”, he adds. “We trust that the Filipino people will realize his brazen, selfish and self-serving motives.”
This declaration comes at the heels of numerous allegations of corruption and continuing EJKs, even as we mourn the death of 30,000 Filipinos due to a failed Covid response”.
Brazen is the most appropriate adjective to use in calling this act of them circumventing the Constitution… what can one expect from a man who completely, and entirely, mocks the very Constitution he is sworn to uphold?
Tinimbang ka ngunit kulang… at kulang ka naman talaga!
Government seems oblivious to the people’s current predicament, they are looking forward to bidding them goodbye at the end of their term; a new life with a much renewed hope for the future. We all hope for a better and brighter tomorrow.
We have had more than enough impunity, poor governance attended by sheer lack of transparency, allegations of corruption, and clear kakistocracy… we certainly deserve better!
The Beatles song, Nowhere Man, by Lennon and McCartney come to mind at this instance – the words just ring on point! This song, which came out in 1965 was a turning point in their career, it was a significant paradigm shift from their popular songs dictated by the public’s clamor. This time, they were going to sing and write songs from their hearts, of their thoughts and feelings – Nowhere Man was the song of their new journey.
The words of the song would otherwise be funny if our situation was not seemingly as tragic.
“He's a real nowhere man
Sitting in his nowhere land
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
Doesn't have a point of view
Knows not where he's going to
Isn't he a bit like you and me?
Nowhere man please listen
You don't know what you're missing
Nowhere man, the world is at your command
He's as blind as he can be
Just sees what he wants to see
Nowhere man, can you see me at all
Nowhere man don't worry
Take your time, don't hurry
Leave it all 'til somebody else
Lends you a hand
Ah, la, la, la, la”
I am at my wits end trying to figure out what has gone wrong, even asking whatever in the world has gone right in our government. It seems to me that the Eliases in Jose’s Noli and Fili have gone on sabbatical. There are little flickers of light in the dark night, let us all hold hands that we turn into a bright glow and light the pathways to our Promised Land.
We should smart up and avoid turning out like the Nowhere Man. We are not… and we will not!
Pondering… as I sit here at the edge of life’s pond.
Philip Suzara
Creature of God. Child of the Universe. Global Citizen. Lover of Life. Freedom Fighter. Agent of Change. Lone Wolf. Occasional Consultant for Strategic Communications.
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