MY BOSS once compared a traditional politician to a jellyfish — able to worm its way in and out of tight spots without breaking a bone because, in the first place, it has no bones to break.
This description came to mind when I read Senator-elect Erwin Tulfo’s recent statement that he will resign if the anti-dynasty bill is passed. This remark reeks of hypocrisy, clearly spun for publicity rather than grounded in principle. It’s akin to saying, “I will stop stealing if my colleagues do the same.”
This spineless stance reflects a lack of independent judgment — hardly surprising from someone who had previously faced scrutiny and offered dubious excuses about his citizenship.
The pretense is disheartening. If this mindset represents the current generation of legislators, it seems we may be stuck with political dynasties for a long time.
Political power will continue to be handed down by patriarchs whose privileged offsprings, chauffeured in flashy cars to exclusive schools, view the dynastic culture not as a problem but as a birthright.
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Hope springs eternal
The morning after Election Day, I got up to contemplate the aftermath of an ugly political landscape, ravaged by a dirty and bruising political war.
I felt dismayed, but amid the rubbles, I found the glitter of two precious gems – Vico Sotto and Heidi Mendoza. One was an exultant yet gracious victor; the other, a somber but proud loser. In their own ways, both warmed my heart with a shared virtue — integrity — expressed differently.
The winner was gracious, while the defeated candidate, though saddened, held her head high. They were the bright spots that rekindled my waning confidence in the maturity of the Filipino electorate.
Though the smoke of battle still lingers, Vico and Heidi have stoked the embers that continue to burn beneath the ashes. It is now up to the rest of us to fan these flames until they grow into a raging fire.
May God bless us and our beloved Philippines. – JOSE MAROMA JR., Iloilo City
