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 is here and the admin gang are all at it again, like hooligans and hydras setting out and plotting another chaos, another mayhem; these new hybrid of politicos are once again playing their dark games, pulling off gambits and schemes that will work to their cabal’s advantage.
It used to be that the elections was something that we all looked forward to experiencing – the campaign rallies, intelligent debates, a showcase of platforms that were for the greater good of everyone, and having the country’s interest to heart -- the electorate had an easy and relaxed time to discuss and deliberate on the candidates who present themselves as the better choice for the positions at stake. The politicians of then had integrity, most of them, anyway, and the others perceived to be corrupt or even just of questionable character, were just not given the light of day by the electorate. The electorate knew the power and value of their votes. It is somewhat different now with these political characters machinating would be voters, and even the undiscerning media. Some voters now really know the value of their votes, or so they think. Those who sell their votes believe they are up in the game after the elections, of having a little more money than the others, of being in the politician’s favourable side, etc. This may, perhaps, be true, and I hazard to say, but only for a little while – a very short while.
Let’s get back to my main point here, I have digressed a bit. What I really want to point out is that this coming elections will really be a different ball game altogether. If we think that the new administration hoodwinked many voters into electing them to power, this coming elections will really be one rough ride – it will be “bloodier”, figuratively speaking. Before the last elections, preparations went way ahead of the usual schedule; deriding the then administration, undermining efforts and policies thereof, establishing massive troll farms, creative fund raisings, utilizing fake news and disinformation/misinformation, and outrightly making preposterous campaign promises to the people. And then, finally exonerating them saying “it was just a campaign promise and you believed us – it was a joke – mahirap pala, eh – kaya ba natin manggera? – mahirap kalaban ang droga, but may gahd, I heyt drugs, etc., etc., ad infinitum!
Suffice to say that we’ve had been, because, since he was elected, even if by principle of plurality, those who did not vote for him thought of giving him that chance to prove his worth. I now say that he failed to prove that he was the leader that he presented himself to be, a total dismal failure.
We’ve seen in the months leading to the filing of COCs in COMELEC, the infighting, and manoeuvrings in institutions affecting the elections, contracts for communications support for the elections, highly questionable government contracts, movements in political parties, the viciousness and sophistication of the new troll farms, and finally, the travesty and mockery of our election laws. We have candidates who insist and rest on the letter of the law rather than on its intent and spirit. How can you even trust these people to lead a nation?
Tuliro is what our people will end up being if we don’t unite and move as one people fighting for ourselves, for God, for our nation, for our future and our children’s future.
We have to fight these “windmills and dragons” that are once again rearing their ugly heads!
Tuliro of Celeste Legaspi, written by husband Nonoy Gallardo comes to mind. While written in a different context, the words reverberate in my mind with our current predicament, not a love song this time but a treatise on our “love affair” with our current (non)-leadership and state-of- affairs … oh well.
Try wrapping your head on these words.
Tuliro
“May biglang kumislap sa mata ko
At nagsumayaw ang mga anghel sa aking likuran
Nang sinulyapan miminsan naman
Ewan ko nga ba bakit nag-iba
Puso'y kumaba nang nginitian
Kay bilis naman mabaliw
Kay bilis namang mabulagan ang ganda ng buwan
Kay bilis namang matabunan ng ulap ang daan
Tuliro, tuliro, tuliro
May biglang sumiklop sa dibdib ko
At nagsumigaw bawat himaymay ng aking laman
Nang madampian sa saglit naman
Ewan ko nga ba kahit tapos na
Labi'y naro'n pa nang hinalikan
Kay bilis namang mabaliw
Kay bilis namang mabulagan ang ganda ng buwan
Kay bilis namang matabunan ng ulap ang daan
Tuliro, tuliro, tuliro
May biglang sumiklop sa dibdib ko
At nagsumigaw bawat himaymay ng aking laman
Nang madampian sa saglit naman
Ewan ko nga ba kahit tapos na
Labi'y naro'n pa nang hinalikan
Kay bilis namang mabaliw
Kay bilis namang mabaliw”
And I say, “Huwag na po tayong maging tuliro”.
Don’t lose sight of the horizon and continue fighting on.
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.
Comments