Wednesday, March 25, 2009

"Arroyo" and "Delicadeza"

Arroyo and Delicadeza
-- The Language of Political Maneuvering

“Arroyo son leads Charter change move” wrote the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Gil C. Cabacungan Jr. (first posted 23:01:00 11/20/2008). He warns that:

Charter change is gathering steam in the House of Representatives with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's eldest son, Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel "Mikey'' Arroyo personally leading a signature drive to amend the Constitution through a constituent assembly (Con-Ass).
Iloilo Representative Raul Gonzalez Jr. said in an interview that the number of signatories to a resolution seeking to organize Congress into a constituent assembly to amend the Constitution, with both chambers voting jointly and not separately, ranged between 120 and 150 signatures. He said the President's party Kampi formed the core group behind the signature drive.

Softness, fineness, gentleness, tact, delicate nature or delicacy. These are just some of the possible translations of the Spanish-Filipino term delicadeza. Hence, one can say that the Arroyo family has no delicadeza. Look at all the scandals and now this Chacha charge of the bulls in Congress.

Why is this son of a prexy prolonging his pernicious posturings on the Charter Change given that there are less politically sensitive yet more urgent and important issues to attend to in the House of Representatives? We cannot suppose that he is simply doing a social experiment, an action research, or merely testing his skills at political maneuverings. He certainly is no social scientist. Only one motive comes to mind. The possibility of term extension.

In the tradition of political science in the Philippines, someone once argued that a good metaphor for Philippine local politics would be the classic folk dance “pandanggo sa ilaw.”* In this perspective, our politicians are dancers, the public are mere spectators clapping or booing as the case may be. The metaphor suggests the fineness of politicians in maneuvering their interests through the halls of power. In the case of the Arroyos, there is nothing gentle and fine in their movements. Walang delicadeza. Walang hiya. They are dancing naked to the scandalous music that is elitist political interests. They are like the emperor parading naked through the streets believing that he is wearing the finest of garments in all the land.

Well, Madam Prexy, please have some delicadeza and act as a mother should! Heed the youth as they tell you, you are naked! Put some clothes on. Mahiya ka naman. Discipline your wild child. Tell him to shut up so we can believe you when you say that there will be no term extensions.

But then again, how can we ever believe you again?

By the way, in Spanish, Arroyo can mean Gutter or Ravine. Kaya naman pala.

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*Agpalao, Remigio E. Pandanggo Sa Ilaw: The Politics of Occidental Mindoro,
Quezon City: University Of The Philippines, 1965.

5 comments:

  1. The Philippine legislative body is now boiling with the CON-ASS(wang), as senator Mar Roxas states it , already moving. I remember someone say on television a month ago that if these CHA-CHA supporters really want to get it started, they should start by creating a constituent assembly then just two weeks later, voila! - the CON-ASS was approved. Wow!!! I didn’t know that these people could be this efficient when it comes to something in favor of the current administration!!! The people behind all these are surely good in manipulating the Law making body.
    Now that the administration supporters had already taken the first step towards the Charter Change, it wouldn’t surprise us anymore if one day we will wake up with GMA as the Prime Minister of the Philippines.

    Jo, Hyun Min, Lee(AnYeong)
    POLISCI_C33
    ID:10192756

    ReplyDelete
  2. We can't deny Mikey love his mother.

    He also loves power. I'm just worried to those politicians why they love power Baka mamatay na lang sila bigla dahil sa sobrang pagkakoryente.

    Gahaman kasi sila sa kapangyarihan in order to keep their gold they need power it makes sense. Panahon pa ni Jose Protacio Rizal andyan na yan. Power means money, so much love of money is evil.

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  3. yes, indeed they are walking naked through the streets! this is for the obvious plan that GMA is running for congresswoman for she would like to change the constitute and then run for prime minister and boom! extend her term! in shot, extend her pangungurakot, madaming mga projects siyang pinapatupad and these projects give her a chance to take some of our money by allotting a large amount of budget and xempre may budget din for her kasi ang hirap nga namang magapprove ng projects na ikakaganda ng country natin. sinong niloloko niya?

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  4. Sir, i have no negations to this certain blog entry..

    The cards are very well laid and it only shows that..
    KUNG ANO ANG PUNO , YUN DIN ANG BUNGA

    Aine Therese Ong Tambalque
    MMG
    C37

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  5. Of course,GMA's son would support his mom because he knows that his mother could lead our country to a better one but it doesn't mean that what he sees in his mother is what the public sees also. With all the things that Gloria made to make our government miserable,the people will never believe him, even if she says "I AM SORRY..." again. Mikey may be blinded by his love for his mother, but he should see the results of GMA being our president. I'm not saying that he should stop supporting his mother but he must support what is just.
    Jan Bernard F. Lejano CBE MMG POLISCI C37

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