Monday, July 21, 2008 Mercado: The Dialogue, a moro-moro too By Ram Mercado First Person
I Juan at Pedro mipate la kasi parehu lang malasing. King sigla ra dekap dalang tanod at dela ro barangay hall. Piyarap dala king Kapitan.
Kap: Nanung gulu ini, obat mipapate kayo?
Juan: Paglokwan nakung Pedro, Kap, sinabi na menakit yang bulig kasindagul yang Sarao. Katwa kung ini pamaglokwan naku pa!
Kap: Obat sinabi mu naman ita Pedro?
Pedro: Kasi, Kap, sinabi nang Juan kaku menakit ya kanung kandila makasindi ya lalam danum, Eya bolang kanita?
(Misagana no naman ding adua at pikawani rala ding tanod).
Kap: (mimisip ya't migpasya). Continued at the end part.
***
Nothing truly spectacular but some exciting exchanges and veiled insults, these are the expected attractions of today's scheduled confrontation, sugarcoated as "dialogue" between the Governor and the Vice Governor et al.
I do not have the exact rules of engagement which CLTV host John Susi, rather than broadcast icon Perry Pangan, will moderate. The early guidelines which I read did not have a rebuttal portion. This is basic in a formal argument, and an imperative part in a dialogue-debate.
What is a debate except an open regulated argument between two sides who advocate each own cause, defend its position, and argue or prove the falsity, lack of merit, or stupidity of the other side. A plain dialogue will not ferret out the truth or discover falsities.
This is made possible only with a rebuttal, a summary of the points in favor or against; conclusions of proofs presented, or material evidence submitted to win approval or disbelief.
Today's televised dialogue will be a battle of assertion. Governor Ed will mostly be on the defensive, while Vice Gov. Yeng will lead the offense.
Both sides will bring their designated "hit men", with some municipal mayors expected to join the scramble to embarrass the Gov. The mayors with their own problems in their backyard would rather try to solve problems outside their municipalities.
I expect my favorite lady lawyer, Ate Vi, to charm the opponents with her legal expertise. She has been cited as the root cause of the governor's alleged misgovernance. But my friend Antonio C. dela Rosa, a dark knight wishing to succor a lady in distress, believes otherwise, convinced that Ate Vi is the crown jewel in the gems of Among Ed's achievements, the quarry collection record, foremost.
Not privy to the actual records and official documents related to the issues under litigation, the TV viewers may not really appreciate the toxic claims and counter claims between the warring parties. They may be exposed to endosulfan without knowing it.
The protagonists with their supporting cast, respectively, will come to the confrontation fully armed, including but not exclusive of official receipts, recycled receipts, statements of accounts, lists of done projects, complaints, and imaginary gripes.
Our viewers and the public in attendance should neither expect an atmosphere of amity nor a climate of comity inside the hall. Definitely the air is plagued with hostility, the event coming as it does from demand by the Coach for the governor to resign, and the Padre riposting, "Go, resign yourself if you want." People who dialogue with clenched fists cannot make a handshake.
Mr. Antonio dela Rosa, the quarry man, wanted two substantial items argued and approved by the two panels:
1. A proposed Resolution by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan condemning and asking the dismantling of illegal gambling, principally jueteng in Pampanga. This is believed the principal source of the political conflict in the province.
2. A proposed Administrative Order by Governor Panlilio requesting the resignation of his provincial administrator, perceived to be the principal cause of Panlilio's trouble and failure to govern.
The two measures, which may not prosper at all are token symbols of favorable and positive results of the vaunted dialogue, Mr. dela Rosa said. All other items and demands by the foes of the former priest will land in a stalemate..
The same kibitizer wanted the Sanggunian to pass upon, and approve, the supplementary budget for the salary hike of Grade I personnel to prevent theft of government funds by alleged quarry personnel due to their low salary.
Unless the SP approves this soonest, he said, "BALAS may retrogress to being known as Biyayang Luluguran at Sisikwatan."
Coach Guiao has a string of particulars against the Padre who has his own beef against him and recall cohorts for flagrant fouls;, actual or perceived. With built-in animosities among the opposite parties, unproved allegations, impossible demands, encroaching on defined turfs, incursion to executive functions and a stubborn devil may care attitude of the Padre, not too many positive and optimistic results will come out of this dialogue. But somebody will be embarrassed, Candaba mayor Jerry Pelayo, who could be a likely candidate in the event of a recall election, will see to that.
At best this political exercise is a moro-moro serving as public spectacle. Now what has the barangay captain decided on the other moro-moro between Pedro and Juan in our story?
Kapitan: (ngeni ya pa mirasnan kasung anti karing pipate ding adwa) Para ala nang pisasabyan, makanini ing gawan. Pedro, itang bulig mung sindagul Sarao, ilati me. (Turns to the other guy) Ika Juan, ita namang kandila mung makasindi lalam danum patdan mune pa. Case dismissed.
Guess who between Among Ed and Coach Yeng is peddling the tale about the lighted candle. That I leave to our TV audience and John Susi to decide.
