Monday, March 31, 2008 Seares: Gloria haters, lovers By Pachico A. Seares News Sense
FIRST, the Gloria haters: those who play in their minds again and again the scene of President Arroyo leaving or being evicted from Malacañang.
Maybe not like images of Ferdinand Marcos getting into a plane that would fly the dictator out of the country. Or of Erap Estrada, convicted plunderer, fleeing on a slow boat on Pasig river.
Haters who thought Gloria’s end was near (“any day now,” said Leah Navarro) when Rodolfo Lozada Jr. squealed on “immoderate greed” of colleagues, lecturing about honesty after a long stint of dishonesty.
The image of Glo with her letter of resignation signed and sealed and her bags packed would be fine with most Gloria haters. Some of them though would rather see “the lucky bitch” lynched on Palace grounds.
As there are Gloria haters, there are Gloria lovers. They who go on unity walks for “we’re for you” photo ops, or sign resolutions declaring “unqualified and unwavering” support.
Do they really love her? Maybe not the “I will die for you, Madam” kind but the sort that one holds for benefactor or provider: the bastard affection bred by fear of losing job, clout, and perks.
Lesson in civics
But maybe it is love. The Cebu politicians Gov. Gwen Garcia herded at CICC last Friday must genuinely believe Gloria is a hard-working president and a fine boss, though there are always skeptics who just see her as rich source of bundled P1,000 bills in gift bags.
ABS-CBN interviewed one or two local officials who said they didn’t know what they were there for, expecting only to get some lesson on civics and governance.
