MIRIAM AND JOHNNY used to be friends.
In fact, Johnny was one of the godfathers at Miriam’s wedding. Whether this was because Miriam liked and respected Johnny or it was just for status and billing as Johnny now alleges is no longer the point.
Johnny was already a person of importance and power even then. Today, they are at each other’s throats. In this fight, it seems that nothing is sacred. Families, friends, employees, political activities, commercial and business endeavors, lovelife and sexual engagements of the past and present are all subjects of accusations,
mudslinging and bad jokes.
Both Miriam and Johnny have reputations of being extremely brilliant persons, even lawyers and politicians.
They have different styles and strategic approaches. Even for these very differences, they are both admired by their fans as well as both hated by their detractors. Of course, there are those who find both to be obnoxious and pity this state of political leadership that the country must suffer under.
I am not clearly aware of anyone who admires both except probably Senator Jinggoy Estrada. But that is not surprising. This recent word war between the two right in the sessions of the Senate and through the media have again brought into the front burner of our consciousness the insanity of it all. Media is lapping it up.
The other senators and congressmen look like they are in a daze tiptoeing on eggshells. And they greet the
protagonists with hearty handshakes and besobeso kisses. All of these is happening in the midst of trying to recover from the major disasters, the needed reconstruction work, the increasing price of gasoline and power and inefficient delivery of goverment mandates.
Sometimes, I want to imitate Erap in his younger days and urinate on all these people. However, I have mellowed and have to maintain my decorum as a senior citizen and a member of the academe. How then do we view and react to the Miriam and Johnny love affair?
The Japanese cult film Rashomon directed by that brilliant director Akira Korosawa presents different stories and views of the same event. All perspectives are clearly different but reasonably believable as presented. This may be how the Miriam and Johnny event may be analyzed and reacted to.
First, one may take the side of and believe in the propositions of either Miriam or Johnny. Like in a debate, the arguments and conclusions will seriously adhere to the side of the proposition one takes.
Second, the whole event may be viewed as one big farce. It is just entertainment which is supposed to give us a few laughs. The two clowns will give us shortlived respite from the daily travails of our lives. It is reality TV imitating the soap operas.
Third, one may simply not take cognizance of the Miriam and Johnny show and focus on more relevant events and issues. I hope that the young and junior senators will learn from the fi ght regarding the NOT in behavior and move forward to work on their critical responsibilities.
Finally, I have a nagging fear. What if Senator Jinggoy is able to get Erap to patch things up between Miriam and Johnny? Then they will become friends and allies. Heaven help us! Have mercy on us all!
