If PGMA Went to Congress

The community of speculative Filipinos roar at President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, picturing her in Congress making every effort to swing the vote to hold a Constitutional Convention in order to change the form of government from Presidential to one that is Parliamentary. Presently, coming down from being President to seeking to become a Congresswoman in her home province in Pampanga is taken with a “What is that?” attitude. People think that to slowly make hey way up till she becomes Prime Minister is sustaining power in bad taste. Worst, public opinion now holds that the President is doing all these to seek immunity from the corruption charges that are sure to be hurled at her once she ends her term as President.

The Filipinos are a singular critique and a “plural action” people. After this phase of united emotion, we break down into different involvement or non-involvement. One might be in a political position and goes on with a “small time” bribery and justifies: “Don’t worry, it’s just small change compared to what the big names get for favours.” Another might go back to honest work and patiently allots his salary to just the very basic needs of his family. Still another might sit down from morning till night and drink his disappointments away with alcohol till he drops dead.

Yet we cannot erase what PGMA has done in the past and how she symbolized for us women empowerment, economic progress, political reform, and national renewal. For every president that we elect, we put on her/his shoulders all our hopes and dreams for a better life in our own land. She/he has no other good choice than to deliver. However, after disappointments over unmet expectations over time and the corruption allegations, we STOP at supporting and helping to make things turn in the right direction. Our handy alternative is for her/him to STEP DOWN.

Have we made the right choices as a people with these responses to our recurring problems? If yes, why do we still long for the right leaders, why do we keep this form of democracy knowing it doesn’t satisfy our needs? Why can’t we afford to think of the idea of change?

Who knows, things might turn out well if PGMA went to Congress. Or do we really care to be better off?