Of Politicians Losing Their Top

Funny that I find myself going back to this blog to post something about – of all things – politics. While I pledged to myself that I’d muse about something everyday, I fail to do so partly because of work and partly because my mind is devoid of anything after 6 these days.

Thinking can be as hard as lifting weights. Everybody and every body has a cross to bear.

And bear is a great segue to the topic of the day — Teddy Bear… er Boy Locsin…

Philippine politics is quite colorful, or better yet, “eclectic”.

In fact, I read somewhere (forgot the source, sorry) that “the Philippines is a country where crooks, charlatans, film stars, sportsmen and nut jobs routinely stand for, and get voted into office.” Sheesh. The truth hurts right?

Where else can you get a heterogeneous mix of lawmakers? Yes? Onli in da Filipins!

Our star studded and star struck senators are such fine examples.

I suppose the career path is to start out as an actor or an athlete, make it big, and say you want to help your fellow Filipinos. Yay!

A lot of us complain that our country has never progressed (unlike our Asian neighbors, look at Thailand and South Korea).

Why are we wondering? If we reelect the same people into office, of course we’ll get more of the same!

But the problem isn’t just about reelecting the same people.

It’s a voter issue, in my opinion. We have a critical base of people who lack access to quality education, thus, they make not-so-good-quality decisions on their choices for President, Vice President, Senator, Congressman, etc. etc.

So as the population grows, more so those who live in the bottom rung of the economy. Thus there are more and more of the voters who opt for politicians who score high marks in populist promises. “Free education!” “Eradicate corruption!” “Taxes won’t be raised”

Blah Blah Blah. Somewhere out there is a handbook and field guide entitled “Promises to Make During Election Period”.

Of course, I say that about Philippine politics naively because I don’t know much about the local politics of other countries.

Suffice it to say, once in a while, a politician makes headlines by either making a fool of himself or in the case of Makati City Rep. Teddy Boy Locsin, curse someone an SOB.

I wouldn’t want to go into the details of what irked him so but I wonder if the cursing is needed to stress a point. Then again, getting “carried away” can always be cited as a reason. The words that come out of your mouth can never be “unsaid”, much like the saliva that’s spit out of one’s mouth.

“We never said that fraud could not be committed, but you said that we could trace it, and now you tell me, that at ten in the evening you could do it and we would never know,” Locsin said to resounding claps.

Such drama and lines worthy of a blockbuster movie! Pass the popcorn please.

Some of our solons have a way with words it just makes me cry. Then there are those who make my ears bleed.

Anger seems to be in vogue. Teddy Boy Locsin is not alone.

Recently, a US Senator also blew his top while grilling a representative of financial powerhouse Goldman Sachs.

Oh, oh, and perhaps the hot hot summer in the country is just boiling everybody’s blood veins.

Per former Comelec lawyer Melchor Magdamo’s account to reporters, Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer and Arwin Serrano of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting engaged in a shouting match, with Ferrer going to the extent of kicking chairs in an excessive show of bad temper.

Anger… in vogue! What’s the next of the 7 deadly sins that will be at the forefront of news???