It takes more than the courage of a hero to forgo an ambition — achievable as it was when the opportunities were clear — and tell the world about it like it is an admission of defeat, even before the real fight is on.
Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero just proved that, further peeling himself off the traditional set of politicians now banging each other off their heads — and pockets, and showing maturity that would be helpful if and when he decides to take a real shot at the presidency in 2016, when conditions are ripe and the voters hopefully mature enough to understand the issues Chiz had tried to raise when his eyes were still moist looking at the Palace seat and behind, where he left long-time friends and allies whom he felt would only work to keep the order and not institute the changes he has in mind.
Chiz took the populist stands erstwhile heard only from the militant set of society, like saying no to forced contractualization of workers, which is not popular with big business. And yet, he was silently hailed a hero of the poor and the oppressed, until he announced yesterday his decision to no longer seek higher office.
And with it went their hopes, which they will now cling to just any candidate who will get their fancy, and worse, believe in just any hype thrown in a certain candidate’s way that would make the 2010 polls more like classroom elections where the prettiest and most popular get to hold positions which look great on bold colors posted on the classroom wall.
If Chiz were true to his word, he would have made a great president. But that his supporters can only wait for now, until yet another term is over for yet another president, would mean another long wait before real changes could be introduced and achieved, if no one among the present bidders would take a bolder stance against debt servicing, health and education, the environment, graft and corruption, and the like.
Or we’ll be back to our present wall, one that is so big, we can see slums and pushcarts serving as classrooms without leaders, while somebody, like Efren Peñaflorida, newly-named CNN Hero, try to make them as our future leaders, through free education our government can’t really afford to give ALL its people.
Efren huffed more air than any hero did before he embarked on his kariton journey to Kodak Theatre, whose tuxedoed guests, were really never aware of the hardships which are actually the daily grind for the families of Efren’s students, except for the appeal it gives in honoring such heroes, which Efren is one, a shining one amid the litter and garbage and waste of the more affluent.
And then there was Manny Pacquiao, who, despite his excesses, still inspires the nation with his victories, the shining one who rose from the ashes of poverty and unforced hunger, or was it forced by circumstances, until the opportunity to box came?
And then there are our movies, which make it to Cannes and other venues that recognize great works. And yes, some of these movies win, giving our actors and filmmakers the recognition they deserve, yet their subjects mirror the true image of the nation, which, despite the promises of its present and past leaders, is still mired in poverty and seem never would rise, like Pacquiao, from its ashes, unless somebody takes a bold, heroic step to really LEAD the people into taking more drastic steps in shaking the status quo to effect change.
For how can we really treat our overseas Filipino w orkers like heroes when their only purpose is to serve as government’s perennial cash cows, whose rainfall of dollars would never stop unless the rich countries wake up without a need for bellboys and helpers?
But are we really a nation of heroes?
How long will Efren Peñaflorida hog the limelight being given to him, now that he has a chance to build his own learning center using the millions of pesos he won from the CNN tilt?
How long will Manny Pacquiao’s star rise, when soon after his victory over Cotto, his last punch gave way to more intrigues that was aimed solely for his next movie and the millions more he would earn from it?
How long will we wait before another filmmaker shows another ugly side of the Filipino yet remain truthful to his storyline, which the affluent film critics would hail, the more gross the better?
How long will we wait before any of our leaders would take a bolder stance than Chiz did and mean it?
About Me
- Aldrin Cardona
- Aldrin Cardona is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Journalism at the Lyceum of the Philippines in 1992. He began his career in journalism as a sports correspondent on Dec. 1, 1989 with Headline, an afternoon tabloid. His first assignment was botched by the bloodiest coup de etat launched against the late President Cory Aquino by the RAM-YOU. In February 1990, he joined Philippine Sports Daily, a sister publication of the Manila Standard, until it folded up six months later and was absorbed by the Standard until he left as its assistant sports editor in 1999. He then joined the team of former Manila Standard Editor-in-Chief Cip Roxas for the short-lived Philippine Post as its sports editor. After Roxas left the Post, Cardona joined the team formed by Ninez Cacho-Olivarez for her own The Daily Tribune, where he is still the sports editor at present. In February 2004, Mrs. Olivares made him half of the "He Says, She Says" column with Dina Ventura. He served as president of the Philippine Sportswriters Association from 2007 to 2009. He was also an active member of the POC-PSC Media Group until his appointment as sports editor in 1999.
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