Short list

The voluntary withdrawal of former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte from the list of presidential aspirants is well appreciated as this helps simplify the hard choices we have to make in the incoming elections. He has started to short list our presidential choices. It does take humility and courage to disappoint a lot of supporters who believed he was the right choice for becoming the next President of our Republic. With his decision not to run for the Presidency, the related next decision we await from him is who he is going to support among the remaining aspirants.

Meanwhile it is so refreshing to be informed that the known presidential aspirants were gathered by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) for a prayer meeting and were encouraged to conduct their respective political campaigns with dignity and integrity. The participating political leaders where reminded of the Christian example of servant leadership. We are grateful to the PPCRV for organizing such a prayer meeting and look forward to the “walking the talk” of the participants in their respective political campaigns. This expectation is heightened after the recent “talk” of the presidential aspirants in relation to the mass action staged at EDSA, as well as, with our nation's experience of the Marcos era.

This brings us to the matter of the experiment being done in bringing in the PNP to control of EDSA which is a vital national road network. Naturally there is a difference in opinions as to the initial effect of having the police man this highway. In my opinion, this experiment is an opportunity for everyone concerned to raise the bar of road discipline. From law enforcers, to commuters and vehicle drivers can take the time now to modify behavior that improves the standards of courtesy, consideration for others, and safety.

Let us end with the following anecdote to help us remember that short listing is part of simplifying and the importance of road courtesy and safety.

In a crowded city at a busy bus stop, a beautiful young woman who was waiting for a bus was wearing a tight mini skirt. As the bus stopped and it was her turn to get on, she became aware that her skirt was too tight to allow her leg to come up to the height of the first step of the bus. Slightly embarrassed and with a quick smile to the bus driver, she reached behind her to unzip her skirt a little, thinking that this would give her enough slack to raise her leg. Again, she tried to make the step only to discover she still couldn't. So, a little more embarrassed, she once again reached behind her to unzip her skirt a little more, and for the second time attempted the step, and, once again, much to her dismay, she could not raise her leg. With a little smile to the driver, she again reached behind a third time to unzip a little more and again was unable to make the step. About this time, a Filipino who was standing behind her picked her up easily by the waist and placed her gently on the step of the bus. She went ballistic and turned to the would be Samaritan and yelled, "How dare you touch my body! I don't even know who you are!" The Filipino smiled and drawled, "Well, ma'am, normally I would agree with you, but after you unzipped my fly three times, I kinda figured we were friends.”*