Can't wait for 2010

by Manuel Poks Divina

It is probably very frustrating for President Arroyo to wait 'till 2010 to prove her miserable opponents wrong, at least in their claim that she intends to stay in office beyond June 30, 2010 through dirty political device.

Her opponents, in their undying quest to put the President in constant bad light had made a trivial issue, a big deal. I must laud their creativeness in turning a trivial stuff to something monumental.

Recently, poor Secretary Dureza made what is now an unforgivable crime, of seeking God's grace for President Arroyo’s continuous perseverance serve her country until 2010 and even beyond. His intention was freely interpreted by non-Malacanang fans.

The infamous Dureza prayer is now a national issue that equals the issue on global economic crisis. It is being replayed again and again. Different interpretations are out for everyone to believe.

If Secretary Dereza is the Spokesperson of the President of Slovakia, his innocent prayer will surely not be noticed and even talked about. Unfortunately, he is in the Philippines where the media and the politicians on the other side are patiently waiting for the President and her staff to stumble.

Opposition members are unapologetic in giving media-sought comments on the matter saying that such is a prelude to what is coming—that is the revision of the Constitution to allow President Arroyo to stay in office beyond 2010. Self proclaimed political pundits even connects the assumption of wise-guy Sen Johnny Enrile as Senate President to the issue of term extension for President Arroyo.

One time Malacanang ally, the “If we hold on Queen” Dinky Soliman rushed in giving her interpretation on the reaction of President. She claimed that the President is clearly interested in the idea brought by Dureza’s prayer as evident in the President’s reaction. Dinky’s credibility is something that is very much debatable. If she believes what she commented, she’s fooling herself. We saw President’s embarrassment because of the prayer. She even asked the media present then to consider the prayer off the record. She probably has predicted how her critics would take advantage of such off-guarded prayer.

President Arroyo is unequivocal in her declaration that she would step down in 2010. Others may question her sincerity because of past experiences, but basing it on logic, it is clear that the President intends to step down after the end of her term.

The President has already experienced several painful and unjust allegations in the course of her service as President. I know that the President has decency, though others fail to see this. The President will never destroy her legacy completely. It is very unfair that some have already judged her as corrupt and unscrupulous leader though allegations against her are yet to be proven. She hasn’t yet been convicted of anything but sensational media reporting coupled by unverified statements from children-of-God whistle blowers had sealed her reputation—at least for others.

The Dureza prayer is non-issue if one would look at it in a fair way. Such is a trivial slip that we could let it pass silently, without further buzz and fuss. However, as we are in the Philippines where everything is sensationalized and where “some” politicians lack the temperament to be true leaders; such is now the basis of yet another mistrust in the government. The innocent prayer is now a battle cry for power hungry and bitter politicians to rip the administration.

Our country, our nation should be mature enough to let this pass. Or maybe it is not. If this is an issue that we cannot let pass or a mistake that we will dwell on for a long time, then we deserve not to prosper. Probably their something wrong about our—or at least the media and some politicians’—value system which is causing our misery.