There is universal agreement among Filipinos in the U.S. of the need to translate our numbers into our political empowerment. Some people just talk about it, others live by their words.
At a recent fund raising concert to benefit the candidacy of Vellie Dietrich Hall for Board of Supervisor representing Mason District in Fairfax, Virginia, Filipino-American Kris Valderrama a duly elected Delegate to the Maryland Assembly and a Democrat came with her two little girls to lend her support. The fact that Vellie is running under the Republican banner is a strong statement of Kris Valderrama's belief that regardless of party, the victory of any Filipino-American candidate advances the cause of our political empowerment.
More
power to Kris and let’s get behind Vellie!
***
It’s
like fiesta time in the Philippines. It’s election time for
senators, congressmen and local officials. That means non-stop
entertainment with politicians parading celebrities to sing and dance
or just show their faces. But even without celebrities, listening to
politicians blurting silly talk is entertaining enough. “I come
her to coronation the queen. I left provincial capital good
morning, I arrive here good afternoon<D>.” Does anybody
know who said this?
Manny
Pacquiao, the boxing champion and darling of the Filipinos is running
for Congress representing a district in Cotabato. He is a high school
graduate. His opponent is a well schooled and well spoken lady
legislator from the Antonino family.
What
does Paquiao know about making laws? Is he going to make it unlawful
to hit below the belt? The thought of seemingly unqualified people
running for the exalted office of legislator is absurd to say the
least. But then, is it really?
We
have so many smart and highly educated politicians filling the halls
of Congress with sound and fury. How many can honestly claim
responsibility for any legislative action that actually benefitted
the people? How many have lesser assets in office than before they
won elective office? We had one of the smartest politicians in
Ferdinand Marcos. You know what happened. On the other side of the
intellectual spectrum was Erap Estrada. He failed not for lack of
education but for the same reason that consumed Marcos-money.
Paquiao
is a simple man. When he was feted by his people after his stunning
boxing win in Las Vegas, he sounded like a naive kid wishing that
Filipinos unite and work in harmony in the same manner that they
cheered for him. But he sounded sincere. He now says that he wants to
serve his people more in another capacity. The will to do good for
ones fellow man is not learned through formal education.
Goodluck,
Manny Paquiao. Just remember, inside the ring you dispense upper
cuts. In congress, do not ask for a cut.
***
The
senatorial lineup of the administration and opposition parties in the
Philippines remind me of the song- Changing Partners. Former
anti-Arroyo critics have ended up in the administration ticket while
former anti-Estrada politicians are joining forces with Estrada
allies to defeat the administration candidates.
Oh
well, it just shows that Filipinos are very forgiving. I fight you
today, I love you tomorrow.
They
just need enough reasons to forgive and forget, each reason worth
something we will never know.
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