Two seasons are now upon us— election time period and the Christmas season.
It is alleged that the Christmas season in the Philippines is the longest celebration of the event in the whole world. Starting with the “ber” months, September to December, and even up to January, Filipinos have all sorts of activities marking the Christmas celebration.
Christmas songs are now frequently played in various multimedia and Christmas decor have started to be put up both in public and private residences. Commercial establishments have likewise started preparing and displaying their Christmas goods offerings.
The 2013 local elections are scheduled for early next year. Like always, the politicians and political activity have began to impose themselves, explicitly and implicitly upon our consciousness and patience.
There are all those ridiculous tarpaulins congratulating anybody who passes something, from the licensing of welders to dogcatchers, and all sorts of events, from birthdays, christenings and bar mitzvahs.
These are all courtesy of the candidates, whose faces and names suddenly appear in all forms of media for whatever reason.
It is a long period from the filing of candidacies to the conduct of the campaign strategies and the actual voting and proclamation of winners. And in the Philippines, we have this every three years.
“Send in the clowns” goes the lyrics of a popular Frank Sinatra song which mourns with resigned humor the fate of an old star and a lost love. “Just when I stopped opening doors…. Losing my timing this late in my career…
Where are the clowns? Send in the clowns.” For me, this seems to be a most appropriate song for the two seasons and the manner in which these have turned out to be celebrated.
The Roman emperors had an approach to keep the masses pacified and keep them from revolting against their abusive and incompetent reign. This was to provide them “bread and circus.” They made sure that the masses were wined and dined, even at a very basic level.
More than this, they provided “circus” or entertainment. This was in the form of the games and specifically the gladiator fights. This keep the Roman masses diverted and peaceful with the present political order.
In the finasl analysis, the masses continued to be powerless and outside the real political control.
Seems familiar?
Let me be among the first to greet everyone: Merry Christmas and Happy Elections!! Send in the clowns!
