Viva Myanmar!

Even if the people of Myanmar may not be Christians, we believe that they had their own version of Palm Sunday yesterday when early election results there showed that the most visible symbol of the persecution they had suffered for more than 20 years, Aung San Suu Kyi, was already sure of a seat in the Parliament whose members were voted into office yesterday.

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The latest report we got yesterday was that the camp of Suu Kyi was already preparing for a victory celebration, because she had been credited with 65 percent of the votes cast so far. So the hosannas were not only for her, and for all the suffering she endured to be with her people, but also for the rest of the freedom-loving citizens of the former Burma, who quietly but determinedly remained loyal to her. And this was because they knew that she was their only hope for a chance to live as most other people in the world do – enjoying freedom and the privilege to choose their leaders.

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Strong hope has also been expressed by the Burmese people that Suu Kyi will also be elected president when their next election comes around. But, as a concerned citizen of the world, I, for one, worry a bit about her physical condition and how she can cope with the demands that such leadership will make on her. Note how physically frail she is, and how delicate she appears .The woman has gone through so much in her dogged determination to remain with her people.

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When her husband was dying in the United States years ago, the military rulers, seeing a chance to get rid of her, offered to let her go to the U.S. She refused, knowing she would never be allowed back again. Her patience has paid off, now hope for a better Myanmar – maybe it will be renamed Burma again – is stronger than it had ever been. Me, I think of Suu Kyi as the Asian version of Africa’s Nelson Mandela.

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It looks as if our solons now cannot do enough for the country’s senior citizens. Not that I am complaining, but one can’t help wondering about the intentions of those who sound as if they have other agenda involving the country’s elderly. The latest is the filing of House Bill No. 834 that would give every Filipino citizen who reaches the age of 100 a gift of P100,000. But will the centenarian himself or herself be able to enjoy it? Few of those who are still around are still aware of what happens around them, and I fear that some may even be hoodwinked by their own families or caregivers. Perhaps assurance that their medicines, hospitalization, maintenance, will be attended to by the State would be more beneficial.

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Meanwhile, we also got feedback from orphanages and homes where neglected children are cared for who said they were shocked to find out about the expensive but very unnecessary project of setting tiles on the sidewalks of Lacson Street in Bacolod City. How many orphans could the money spent for the tiles used on a street block keep clothed and fed? One asked. But the most disgusted ones were those who live in places where the roads are pockmarked, and become muddy and slippery during the frequent rains we are having. I passed by Lacson Street again yesterday and noted that some pieces were already cracked or detached.

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By the way, it was exciting to learn about the Filipina, married to a Korean who is running for public office in South Korea. I understand that she is doing well in her campaign, and may get elected to the SK parliament. Well, bully for her! She can teach the people there a thing or two about the way we hold elections here. But then they probably do not have characters like Virgilio “Garci” Garcillano, or Lintang Bedol to make things interesting there.

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A very interesting development in Cebu is the case of the senior students of the St. Theresa College whose pictures on facebook showed them, not only wearing skimpy bikinis, but also apparently smoking and drinking alcoholic liquor. Another report even said that in one picture, a male leg was seen between those of one of the girls. Shocked, the nuns forbade the girls from joining the commencement ceremonies, although they were allowed to graduate. Two of the parents went to court, but the madres stood their ground. Having studied under “madres” all my life, I am not at all surprised at their decision. Isn’t it that, upon enrollment, one signs a form stating that one will abide by the rules of the school? As for the indignant parents – no wonder.*

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