-- 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.
