In Search of Decorum

I was watching the proclamation of the ten senators on TFC. The COMELEC Commisioners looked regal in their gowns. Senator-elect Loren Legarda was elegant in her red-orange dress with a matching necklace. Senators Edgardo Angara, Panfilo Lacson, and Gregorio Honasan wore the traditional Barong Tagalog while Francis Pangilinan and Manuel Villar donned the 'Americana'.

What made my eye sore was how the neophyte senators were dressed up in their proclamation. Noynoy Aquino looked as if he was still campaigning in his yellow shirt. Chiz Escudero seemed to be a model for a particular pair of denims. Allan Cayetano seemed to be doing a dance number with Loren given that his shirt's color matches that of Loren's. (In all fairness, Allan dressed best among the three.)

Where has all the proper decorum gone?

Speaking of proper decorum, I can never ever forget how this was lost in the Mass. It happened during one of the Simbang Gabis in Gagalangin last year. The priest was giving a homily on patience. To drive his point, this man of the cloth used the word "dinonselya" in his preaching. Still unhappy with his "salitang kalye", he explained it by using another vulgar word, i.e. "dini-virginize". (My apologies to our readers if they find these words offending. ) Who was this priest? No other than Fr Nestor Gungon, Pastor of St Joseph Parish. I couldn't believe what I heard from a man ordained to preside in such a solemn event which I was so delighted to participate in while in the Philippines.

If this is how our leaders would conduct themselves on important occasions, how much more would we expect of ourselves, mere followers?

Perhaps it's time to ask St Anthony of Padua, patron of the lost, to help us re-discover our decorum.

A piece of advice, by the way. If you are invited to a gathering like a wedding and the invite tells you to wear a formal attire (Barong Tagalog, coat and tie, evening gown, etc), please do so!