I dropped by a friend's house one evening and I saw them watching TFC. The show at that time was a news item on the forthcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) by President Noynoy Aquino. Or should I say the imminent fashion show during the SONA, thanks to some of its attendees. Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz aired his dismay at the insensitivity of these people who would flaunt in their costly attires and jewelry amidst the poverty in the country.
Appeals such as those of Msgr. Cruz's should be commended. However, such appeals would fall on deaf ears for as long as people celebrate such inappropriate behavior of our government officials and their families.
Take for example ABS-CBN News' SONA 2014 Fashion People's Choice wherein people are invited to vote for who is the best dressed during the occasion (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152268795930168.1073741988.27254475167&type=1). As confirmed in the news item I saw on TV, there will be a 2015 edition of this. Such activities just feed in to the politicians' proclivity to show off. If people boycott such a page and the like, the less approval the politicians would get.
Why do some slimy, rubbish, rejected politicians experience a redux? It's because people continue to idolize them. They are invited to public gatherings, act as hermano/a mayor in town fiestas, featured in TV shows or magazines, etc.
Why do some good, sensible leaders have little or no success in their platform of action? It's because there are people who obstruct them. It's because there are people who (mis)influence them. When Fr Nestor Gungon became Parish Priest of Gagalangin in 2002, we at Tanghalang Anluwage Inc had high hopes on him. Unfortunately, he has been won over by the (power-hungry) officers of the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC). This triggered us to pull out of the parish - both Tanghalan and Pahayagan. Now, he's gone and replaced by a new pastor. I just hope and pray that Gagalangin's new pastor would be able to whip the parish into shape. If I were an officer of the PPC, I would offer my courtesy resignation to give the cura a freehand in effecting change.
I have come to realize, whether it be in politics or religion, that those who wield power are not the politicians, bishops, or parish priests. It's the people! And by people I just don't mean the common tao, but more so the underlings, the minions, the taga-loob. Unless people are properly educated, unless there is a change of heart, any sound reforms introduced by our leaders would be useless.
