in transit

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s an new week. And like what I always said each time I miss writing my column – so sorry to miss the deadline (for the nth time) last week. Anyway, what’s with today’s title? It’s the first thing that came to mind after hearing about Senator Lacson being out of the country just in time for the issuance of a warrant of arrest. The same thing when I watched Jojo Binay over Cheche Lazaro’s TV program; and yes, upon reading an article quoted by a fellow blogger.

First things first. The surveys war. You may like it or you may hate it, but that’s the way things are and will be. Many quarters are up (not necessarily in arms) voicing their concerns about how surveys can take its toll on what we call a healthy democracy (whatever that means). You know, we tend to forget that surveys also read as people, the grandstanding, the bandwagon effect, etc. and let’s not even start discussing about the mechanisms by which these surveys and its results came to be. BUT, that’s just the way it is, it was and it will be. In her book on Imelda Marcos, I understand Carmen Pedrosa mentioned about the surveys during the first term of Mr. Marcos. That survey showed that more than half the Filipinos did not like him. The people did not take the survey figures seriously. But not Marcos (in all his wisdom), and the rest as we say is (or is it was?) history. Oh well, politics - trapo or no-trapo, old and new politics (again whatever that means), isama mo na ang boto mo patrol mo, ako mismo and other election (change) advocacies of various groups – will be about numbers, specifically addition and subtraction. (I suppose there’s no need to elaborate on what terms addition and subtraction mean).

Back to the transit area. Depending on which side of the political fence you are into, it’s either you hate or love SWS, the same thing with Pulse Asia. Oh yes, news had it that Manny Villar has already spent roughly 500 million pesos on ADs (and that’s before the official campaign period yet). Let me see, should he make it as President, can he can recoup the amount during his term? I think he can if you don’t deduct the necessary deduction made on a government servant’s salary. The same question goes for the rest of the candidates. Talking about candidates and their ADs. Some people certainly have all the luck. Notice what each TV AD says at the end: this is paid for by the friends of (name of candidate). Lucky they are indeed. Why can’t we all have generous friends like they do? Anyway, the survey figures are just among the entertainment we get to enjoy, along with the drama of mobile phone jammers and the comic relief from court jesters who made it as candidates, in transit to the real event which is the election. Forget about the political exercise in the urban areas, the media (read: the big networks) are always there. It’s the harsh reality of elections in the country’s interior barangays, complete with the bad roads, security concerns, power supply, and as reported on TV, the absence of phone signal. Now, that’s the real adventure, the real highlight before the anti-climactic ending scene (or in case of the traveler – the destination) which is the inauguration of the newly-elected officials.

In transit. So Senator Lacson is out of the country. His last reported destination is Hongkong. Well, wherever he is, he is certainly in transit, before his final destination – something which will be determined by maneuvering and / or out-maneuvering of lawyers now that a warrant is out.

In transit. I was able to watch Jojo Binay on Profiles, Cheche Lazaro’s TV program. I am a fan of Mr. Binay, though I don’t like his Ganito Kami sa Makati campaign. Of course they can afford to do whatever it is that they are doing as shown by their various TV ADs. You are talking billions of pesos in revenue. Try giving the same amount to all the cities and municipalities and we can all kiss Imperial Manila (read: the national government) goodbye. Anyway, this paragraph is not about going against Jojo. I love his life story, all the more because he was an ardent supporter of Cory Aquino. There was something he said which initially made me laugh, and then it stuck after reality sat-in. It’s how Mayor Binay explained his love (or at least care) for the senior citizens of his city. That they are at the pre-departure area kumbaga. And that they deserve the best or at least something good. Nice point over there. Yup, making the most while in transit to well, should I call it the next life? We are in transit, pre-departure area or wherever. Aren’t we all are? So, what are we working for in this life, for the next?

And this brings me to the paragraph I’d like to leave you with today. It’s something I got from a fellow blogger who goes by the name “Kid at heart”.

Frances Jakelyn Abad is 15 and is a 4th year student at General Santos High School under the Special Program in the Arts major in Creative Writing. In Youngblood, the PDI column for contributors twentysomething and below, writes about Utopia and seeing things from two perspectives - having it all (luxury car, mansion with pool, several maids and guards, great business, being King of the World) and having contentment.

"I guess seeing things in a positive way is the best way to be happy. Nowadays a lot of us think only of how to make money. Yes, money can make us happy - for a while. But does money buy us salvation when we die? Does money change the way God will judge us?...My teacher in Trigonometry and Statistics once said as she was writing the equation for the Growth Law (N=Noekt) - (that) you may have hundreds of money that multiply like a bacteria, but can you make it indestructible so that you can bring it when you die?..."

. . . Our life on earth is actually a terminal to our final destination, wherever it will lead us. At whatever age or stage in life, from birth to our growing years to our relationships and to our death bed, our stopovers are actually temporary homes.

I remember my youth, my hardships, my dad, my friends, those who have come my way...and have gone to a better place...

Our temporary home... sooner or later we will all be finally home.

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This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!