Quo vadis, Filipinas?

An 80-year-old reader of our column wrote and asked that in the twilight of his life, he wanted to contribute some thoughts but earnestly requested that his name be withheld because he has some relatives who are politicians.

He asked, "Is Msgr. Vicente Navarra committed to lead? If he is, we must, as you suggested, support him."

Then, he asked again, "Quo vadis, Filipinas?" Where are you going, Philippines?

From here on, he started his diatribe, but I have to compress his three-page typewritten letter.

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What's happening to us? he asked. Even boxing idol Manny Pacquiao will run for Congress. What will he do there? It's good if he will use his fists to deliver an uppercut blow to those lazy, sticky-fingered lawmakers. But, he might develop sticky fingers too.

He said, he has many relatives in General Santos and he will write them not to vote for Pacquiao.

Then he questioned Allan Peter Cayetano running for Senator. According to reports, according to him, Cayetano has not authored nor co-authored a bill since 2004. If this is true, then he must be a lazy dog, good only in talking.

"I am not pro-administration," he said. Although he likes Mike Zubiri for having authored many bills, especially ethanol and Mike Defensor. He is also for Francis Escudero of the Opposition.

And he was very upbeat with re-electionists Joker Arroyo and Ping Lacson.

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Then, he started his fireworks. Where is this country going if Virgilio Garcillano wins as Congressman in Bukidnon? he asked. I know, he added, Garcillano has plenty of money and with the support of the President, not counting the election magic he may make, he has plenty of chances to win.

If I were still young, he said, he would have migrated to another country. I'd like to tell this friend, don't run away. Stay and fight.

He does not like what he called the "Dancing Queen," former Sen. Tessie Aquino-Oreta. He said, he cannot forget the jig that Sen. Oreta did during the impeachment of then President Joseph Estrada in support of Estrada.

Look, where is she now with her comebacking Sen. Tito Sotto who fits well only as a comedian? he wrote.

Oreta and Sotto are running in the administration ticket.

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Now actor Richard Gomez is running for the Senate, he said. What will he do there in the Senate? He should have stuck to acting, he said, unless he is now losing popularity.

He said, we already have two actors Bong Revilla and Lito Lapid in the Senate. And what have they done after spending hundreds of millions of pesos of their pork barrel which are not audited by the Commission on Audit?

Knowing law-making is not for him, he said, Lapid will now run for mayor of Makati, he said. Do you think the people of Makati will vote for him when he even did not want to debate with Mayor Jejomar Binay, saying he will be no match because while Binay is a lawyer, he is only a high school graduate.

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The writer did not agree with me for "your soft heart for Governors." No, I said, Governors make better Presidents. I did not say good material for the Senate which is a talking club.

Our reader did not like Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson who is also dubbed as "the poorest among the Senatorial candidates with just a million peso in assets," according to reports. Singson, he said, admitted having given to Estrada hundreds of millions of pesos of jueteng money. It is unbelievable he did not keep some for himself, he said.

He said, he is afraid that with Singson in the Senate, this might promote more illegal gambling.

Leyte Governor Jericho Petilla is even planning to withdraw from the race, he said. He praised Petilla for being realistic because for sure, he added, he cannot win.

He said, he likes Bacolod politics because of exposes. In other places, he said, politicians agree not to expose each other because they are all guilty, he said.

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Our letter writer does not have to be in despair. We will overcome. What is that saying, "Evil flourishes only when good men do nothing." His attacks on the incompetents is one way to correct the ills of our society.

Now, the leaders are listening. And we shout, "More! More! More."

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I acknowledge a message from K. Ayitel Eng Granada of Mississippi who said he/she is an avid reader.

Negrenses there read DAILY STAR.*

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