Yesterday marked another peaceful transfer of power in the Philippines. None of the “people power” which have ousted two legitimately elected President’s. It was out of the ordinary because the President-elect was Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte did not endorse Marcos formally. In fact, there was no administration candidate insofar as the President was concerned. The administration political party, PDP-Laban, only endorsed Marcos in March when it became clear that he and running mate Sara Duterte, would win the election hands down, based on the surveys.
Some were apprehensive about the kind of show that the Marcos’ would put up for his oath-taking and inaugural. The rehearsals indicated a parade would take place. There has not been any parades since the time of Marcos’ father. About the only time there is a semblance of a parade is when the President presides over the turnover among AFP Chiefs of Staff.
The oath-taking and inaugural were simple rites. The parade wasn’t too long and was just enough to showcase the new hardware of the AFP. There is “force” in our air force and our navy now has actual modern patrol vessels and warships. It showcased what Rodrigo Duterte was able to achieve in six years of his AFP modernization under Secretary of Defense Delfin Lorenzana.
Marcos’ speech was well-received. It addressed all the key points and was about the future, not the past. Whoever wrote the speech did an excellent job of it. There were some who said it was good he delivered the greater part of it in English. Some were of the opinion that he should’ve delivered the majority in Pilipino. I tend to be inclined to the latter since the greater majority of Filipinos wouldn’t have understood what Marcos said in English.
The usual nitpickers in the opposition had a field day again. Marcos’ vehicle of choice was a Mercedes-Benz S Class. I’m sure that this is his personal vehicle. This is a departure from what has become the practice of using SUVs, particularly the Toyota Land Cruiser.
Then there was the issue over the watch. I noticed it while Marcos was taking his oath of office and I was certain it would become an issue later on in the day. True enough, it turned out to be a Patek Philippe with a hefty price tag.
The problem with the opposition is they are quick to spot these when it comes to their targets but lets their own off the hook. Leni Robredo only makes it appear that she’s a simpleton when that is not actually the case. Ditto for the the leftist-militants who project the same but actually have a lot of explaining to do when it comes to their lifestyles as well.
But this is exactly why we fail as a nation. The social structure is all about status symbols. The best example is Manny Pacquiao. Not all the money in the world would get him accepted in Manila’s alta sociedad. Not a Forbes Park address. Not a supercar. Not all the designer bags that Jinkee could buy. Not anything.
Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was the same. His family wasn’t de buena familia either. Imelda has Romualdez provenance but her father had limited intellectual capabilities so he wasn’t as successful as his brothers. This was why they had to sell the ancestral house on Gen. Solano in San Miguel, Manila and move back to Tacloban.
What was said about rich Filipinos wanting to become Spaniards and poor Filipinos wanting to become Americans is true. We want to be anything but Filipino which explains the diaspora. You can find Filipinos in any progressive country for that very same reason.
So if Apo Lakay came into Yamashita’s gold, or committed acts of graft and corruption, is he more guilty than any of the other politicians in the 50’s and 60’s who were engaged in the same practice? It was Balzac who said “behind every great fortune is a crime.” Are the de buena familias of Manila’s alta sociedad any less guilty of exploiting the Filipino and the natural resources of the country in building up their wealth?
Some are smarter than others rings true. So does some are more well-connected than other also does. Then there is “it’s not what you know but whom you know” and “fake it until you make it.” Not all of us can make it to the point that we cross over to the other side of the social divide from being a “have not” to “have.” But our leaders should know better and give the average Filipino the bare minimum to have an opportunity at a better life.
This is where the opposition fails because EDSA has shown how rapacious they can be when they are in power. It is not only “under the table,” “over the table,” payoffs but also “including the table.”
I don’t put too much hope anymore at reform because it is not only social dysfunction we are suffering from but also psychological. The youth and millennials of today aren’t geared towards excellence. Mediocrity is fine with them and this is in the private sector which means that those in government are worst.
Marcos mentioned in his speech yesterday that he thinks six years is enough for him to achieve his goals. If only I could pick his brain to find out exactly what he thought of his father’s rule. I’m more inclined to an authoritarian democracy which is what Singapore actually has for a government, that is based on meritocracy.
But who knows what the future has in store for us? The pandemic is still on. There is war in Europe. NATO will be accepting Finland and Sweden as members. The US and probably the rest of the developed countries are about go into an economic recession. Eastern Europe has the distinction of where world wars begin. Add to this the social unrest due to the current economic situation and you have a volatile mix that could ignite anytime.
But since I’m a stoic these days, I will take it one day at a time.
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