Beyond Friendship
Politics and the May 10 presidential elections in the eyes of an ophthalmologist
(Editor's Note: This an abridged version-edited for reason of space- of an open letter originally written on February 14 by Dr. Padilla to her Assumption High School batch mates, Class 1977. Sen. Loren Legarda was her schoolmate. The letter has since been circulating through e-mails. Dr. Padilla, an ophthalmologist, is the daughter of the late Supreme Court Justice Teodoro Padilla.)
I have tried to refrain from commenting in the e-groups about Loren and her decision to be FPJ's running mate, but my conscience has been prodding, rather nagging, me to do so.
So even if it is true that "the best way to make enemies is to discuss politics and religion," I would like to share just a few thoughts on the issue. It is my deep sense of patriotism that compels me to write. No rancor or malice is in my heart. But given the very sensitive topic at hand, I must apologize for any sensibilities or feelings I may hurt.
Many of the people behind FPJ's candidacy I consider friends who have helped me immensely in my work, and advocacy for the Eye Bank.
Foremost among them is Sen. Ed Angara. During his term as Senate President, he not only authored the bill that made possible my dream of setting up an eye banking system in the country, he also worked to have it passed by Congress.
I will never forget the night he called the house while we were having dinner just to tell me that the bicameral committee approved the bill. It was as if he was just as excited as I was about the impact the law would have on thousands of blind people. He was also the only senator who ever donated part of his countrywide development fund (CDF) to the Eye Bank. And for these I will always be grateful.
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, whose friendship with my late father blossomed when daddy was the head of the Senate Electoral Tribunal that proved he was a victim of Juan Ponce Enrile's
dagdag bawas scam, is someone I have also held in high regard. A fatherly kiss would always be there to welcome me whenever I would visit his office during the many times I have had to lobby for or against a piece of legislation.
Loren is a high-school batch mate. This counts for something.
But certain things transcend friendship and camaraderie. And neither can make me blind to what I believe is the immense disservice these people have committed to the Filipino people by choosing to inflict Fernando Poe Jr. on us as a presidential candidate, particularly at this point in our history when we are fighting a desperate battle for political maturity and international respect. The friendship only makes this realization more painful. The friendship only adds a sense of betrayal to the sadness.
I have nothing against movie stars running for public office per se. Just for the record, I happen to think Vilma Santos is one of the best mayors Lipa City has ever had. But the presidency is not the mayoralty. And FPJ is not Vilma Santos.
FPJ is known for drunken stupors that last for days, not just hours, making him even more "legendary" than Erap. He has not held even the lowest government position, nor has he given an intelligent opinion on any of the major problems plaguing the country and world today; he reduces every issue to one-liners and empty slogans.
And this is the man Angara and company, and the political dinosaurs behind him, are trying to shove down our throats as the best presidential candidate for our times because he is popular with the
masa and is "sincere."
The
masa are ignorant. They are not stupid. There is a world of difference between the two. It behooves those in power to try to enlighten and educate the ignorant and misinformed, not take advantage of their ignorance just so that they can propagate
themselves in power.
It may be the hope of those supporting FPJ that should he win they will be the de facto rulers of the country while he serves as the opium of the masses. I have heard this said many times.
History tells us that this simply does not happen. We need not even look far to see how futile this plan is since this was what Angara and company thought they could do with Erap. And look where this brought them. Look where this brought us.
Even this early, there are already indications of how chaotic an FPJ presidency will be. His so-called financial advisers, many of whom have even denied that they are his advisers, are all of conflicting views and ideologies. At the end of the day, no matter how good one's advisers are, it is the president who makes the decision.
Whose advise will FPJ follow if he does not have any inkling as to the intricacies or implications of the issues at hand? What guiding policy will he follow? Even opium loses its power as soon as reality steps in. And few things can be worse than a hungry and desperate people suddenly realizing that they have been victims of a well orchestrated and dastardly deception.
What then?
"He who does not learn from past mistakes is bound to repeat them." A clicheŽ if there ever was one, but one so apt to the tragedy playing out before us. Politics, it is said, is the art of compromise. There are no absolutes. However, history sometimes presents unique opportunities for those in power to rise above politics and to embrace statesmanship and patriotism. These opportunities also have a way of presenting themselves during critical periods in a country's life.
Doy Laurel embraced this opportunity when he agreed to forgo his presidential ambition and give way to Cory Aquino to topple the Marcos dictatorship. This act of sacrifice was sufficient to overshadow whatever mistakes he might have committed in his political life. And history has judged him well.
Another such critical period is upon us today, and it pains me to say that in my heart, I truly believe those in power who have chosen the path of supporting the FPJ candicacy have squandered an opportunity for true heroism.
If Ed Angara or Nene Pimentel had chosen to run for president in spite of their perceived lack of charisma instead of choosing to prop up a puppet, and if those now running with FPJ chose to support them instead, then they would have done this country a great favor.
This, to me, would have been the true sacrifice untainted by ambition and opportunism. This would probably have meant defeat and momentary loss of power, but it would have been a defeat ablaze in glory. The losers would still be winners, holding their heads high because their courage helped insure that the election centered and was decided based on issues and platform, not personalities-something that we needed so badly.
This heroic act would have sent a strong message to our people that leaders should be elected on the basis of credentials not perceived popularity or false illusions. That single act would have hoisted our political life to heights of maturity, not to the depths of ludicrousness we now find ourselves in. As a famous columnist so aptly put it, the present campaign is now being fought on the "burlesque stage." Sadly, I know whom to hold accountable.
This is but one aspect of the complex political situation we are faced with and this is my personal take on it. I am aware that I cannot possibly be privy to all things that those in the thick of this political circus know, and so my opinion remains my opinion. I do not wish to argue but to simply share some thoughts and perhaps stimulate some people to think outside the box. Finally, I am not here to judge or be judged. History will do that for me.
In the meantime, I continue to pray and do my share to try to educate the ignorant among our countrymen so that they may not be totally deprived of their right to be enlightened on the true issues at hand.
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