Ariola: Na sinsilyohan ko na!

I COULDN’T believe the reaction generated by my last week’s column entitled “Na pisosan.” It turns out that many enjoyed reading my article. Over the weekend, I’ve met a lot of friends and acquaintances who congratulated me about what I wrote. Many of them even shared their own sad experiences with “arrogant taxi drivers.” I was not alone after all. While they commended me on how I dealt with the ATD, all of them echoed the similar query – so what happened to the ATD? My answer was a snappy – “I’ve already given him back his change – na sinsilyohan ko na!” As to how I did it? Well, all I can say was that I gave him an attitude adjustment he’ll never forget.

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The impeachment tele-comedya has deteriorated into a one-on-one verbal mêlée between P-Noy and CJ Corona no thanks to the unrelenting vocal potshots by the former against the latter. Sure, it is everyone’s right to speak out what is in his mind least of all the president. But that’s just it. He is not any ordinary citizen. He is the president. As president of the republic he should act presidential. And he should publicly speak and in a manner that befits his position – not in a language that will demean him nor debase his office. Regretfully, he has shown himself to be the exact opposite in his latest public pronouncements. Apparently, every time he is in front of media the president could not resist the temptation to take a verbal jibe against the Chief Justice. And he seems to be enjoying every minute of it.

For instance, in a speaking engagement before students in Manila in connection with the 26th Anniversary Celebration of EDSA, the president true to form shifted to his favorite topic in the middle of his speech complete with a Powerpoint presentation and computer graphics. Clearly, it was not an impromptu spiel but a premeditated diatribe intended to besmirch the reputation of the Chief Justice if not prejudging and influencing the impeachment proceedings. Then, there was this dialogue at Malacañang with prospective foreign investors wherein the president once again blamed the Chief Justice for his administration’s failure to get its economic program going. What else is new?

“Corona Bashing” appears to be the favorite pastime of the president dating back from his inauguration up to the present, most notable of which was his tirade uttered at the Criminal Justice Forum against the Chief Justice with the latter in attendance. If that is not lack of presidential decorum, then what is? But then again he can get away with it. He is the president after all. Like any ordinary citizen of this republic, he enjoys the constitutional right of “freedom of speech.” Yes, he is the president.

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I was at the mall last weekend standing idly when a robust and stocky Caucasian man approached me and introduced himself as Robert Harland, a Warden of the British Embassy. Surprised, I asked him if we had met before. It turns out that he was present when I inducted into office the officers of the Negros Orchid Society some time last year. But the main reason that he approached me was to inform me that he enjoyed reading my article “Napisosan” particularly my horrifying experience at the hands of that ATD. Well, that broke the ice. As an epilogue, I told him that I’ve handed over to the ATD his change (guin sinsilyohan ko na) because he “one pesoed me” (guin pisosan niya ako).

It is not always that we get to make friends with a “Briton”. And I am glad to have made your acquaintance, Robert. Oh, and by the way, please give my regards to the Queen!