Nights are getting longer these days, daylights shorter. The message is unmistakable: the longest season in the world has just begun, unofficially or otherwise, except perhaps the spirit, not withstanding that a Jose Mari Chan’s popular tune is increasingly hummed.
People would prefer that darker days, metaphorically, gets shorter or far and few between, given the givens. We have had more than our share of natural and man-made tragedies, better metaphors are now or should be in great demand, or the horizon looks bleak. Metaphors, according to a poet, are tenacious, after all.
It’s should be given that most people, if not all, hope that our nation’s priorities are taken care off. Of course, by the highest official , leader, if you like, of the land. Never mind the second highest official; she has something else more important in mind. The Constitution is clear on this: both the highest and the second are supposed to give justice to everyone and serve the nation. There is no doubt what either is doing right now, given the givens.
Good news for the Malacanang tenant and the nation: the most famous veep in this neck of the woods: sara Duterte says that it’s pointless to ask the man on top to resign.
In fairness, with so much on the President’s plate, probably unprecedented in Philippine history, it would be difficult to sort out from the myriad national concerns in their order of priorities, along with the frequent trips abroad of the spare tire.
First things first. But what would that be for Marcos the Younger?
American author Steven Covey of “Seven Habits of Effective People” noted that leaders must be able to differentiate between urgent and important in addressing needs. Too often, , however, that is the pitfall of leaders trying to be effective as possible. Politicians are compromised by definition. Meaning: it’s almost impossible for them to determine which is which at a given time or circumstance.
Times iike this , pundits and philosophers can come in handy. India’siconic leader Mahatma Gandhi said actions express priorities. The German philosopher Johann Wolfgang Goethe has a clearer paradigm: the most important thing must not be at the mercy of the least important. Covey says most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and spend less time on what is important.
Between now and 2028, ad the new mindset of the vice president, how much time does the President has to wrap things up nearly and nicely?
A better question: is President Bongbong Marcos spending more time on the problems of the victims of earthquakes, typhoons and flood problems and less time on other things which many consider needing his priority attention? Like keeping hi untilmself politically alive 2028. Anything beyond is ambitious, given the stark realities.
For instance, it’s now harvest season for many rice farmers in the country. The golden grains promise gold for farmers and their families. But the farmers see more losses than profits from the hard=earned, back-breaking livelihood. Palay prices are low and farmers want the government to improve it to the level of P20 per kilo for them to be happy about the season. Right now, traders are buying at 10 per kilo. Farmers cry shameless.
In the meantime, rice consumers, especially in calamity areas, housewives want the government to keep the price to P20 per kilo. And the government is doing it at a loss. In other words, the government is helpless to make both consumers and farmers happy. Many agricultural workers are losing their means of livelihood due to mechanization, low income from rice farming and rising land prices that tend to drive farmers away from their livelihood. Never has planting palay been more unhappy and lonely nowadays.
Obviously, PBBM needs all the help that it can get to meet the great crises that beleaguer his office. For one, he needs to answer the overwhelming call for justice in the land which was triggered by the huge and widespread in government uncovered in legislative and public work anomalies. He needs to convince the public that he is serious about bringing an end to this deep-seated malaise that is becoming a global shame.
PBBM has to seriously consider a new anthem that will make people more sensitive to his call for shame, at home and abroad. We have a lot of catching to do to make for our lack of shame. Jailing the guilty isn’t enough. Try something else is not only urgent, it’s important.
There are other issues that he must contend with that are threatening him politically., notwitnstanding Sara’s change of heart. The International Criminal. Court (ICC) has denied the interim release of his predecessor , former President Duterte . the world knows his shame and ours. Meaning, he will have to continue to face up to the strong opposition of the DDS tribe and many incumbent senators, including a senator sister, who want Duterte freed.
The public also demands accountability of the vice president via the impeachment that has yet to proceed, pending the issuance of a final ruling by the Supreme Court which has yet to address its alleged factual error in its first ruling.
The new Ombudsman has also reopened the cold case against Pharmally which implicated no less than former Pesident Duterte in a Senate Blue Ribbon committee investigation headed by former Senator Dick Gordon. Gordon accused the Chinese firm of defrauding the Philippine gov ernment of billions of pesos in dubious medicines and supplies.
Some top legislators, the House Speaker and the Senate President, have quit. The public wants more purge from their ranks. PBBM can’t just stay being a minimalist. Household names have to go, it’s the least they can do to serve. The President can consider it a priority
Too many things to do and too little time to do it before some thing more important or urgent takes over. The President should know the difference. He idolizes Macniavelli. Let’s see what remains in his repertoire.
