THE Philippines had two women presidents – Corazon Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA). The country has another woman in Ombudsman. The country ousted a woman chief Justice due to “quo warranto.” We have a former sexy star, helping build the image of the country by giving information to the public. The country has lots of women representatives holding key positions in the House of Congress.
In the Senate, the country had women senators who rubbed shoulders with the male senators and has passed more sensible laws than their male counterparts. The list of women in Philippine politics is overwhelming. The country has shed off its gender issues and we are the first in the Asia Pacific region to have a lot of women running the affairs of the state. These women had steered the country and have given us more insights about what to come in the near future.
Just before the State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Duterte, Congress made a landmark in history by electing the first woman speaker of the House. It was short-lived though for, during the Sona, Speaker Alvarez still sat on his chair as Speaker of the House. Legalities were hurled against that alleged “coup” against Speaker Alvarez. Arroyo is the Speaker of the House after the “lifeless” Sona was delivered. She got the votes of the majority in the second election. She got higher votes than the first one. Now, we have a legitimate woman Speaker of the House. Congratulations to the Philippines for the exercise of the equality of gender.
However, there is now a sector of women who see that the climb and cling of GMA to power is an unwelcome move and a slap on the faces of women in this country. They recounted that GMA did not perform well as a leader after Erap. She even surpassed the other allegedly corrupt officials of the country.
In Ethics, an act becomes more evil when one knows the evilness of the act. GMA, being an economist, a senator, a vice president, and a statesperson, becomes more liable in all immoral and illegal transactions of her administration. She was imprisoned for the alleged illegal transactions of her administration. She evaded the imprisonment by making the country believe that she is having problems with her neck (actually, cervical spine). (If this were in the times of Henry VIII, she could have been beheaded because of the problems in the neck). After the acquittal, she immediately bounced back like a spring without any ailment and even tackled the hazards and hardships of the 2016 elections.
Now, she is back and she is holding to the most crucial and powerful position in the land. With the numbers in her hands, she could even propose an impeachment for the President.
So, looking at her record, we have helped a creature rise back to power after a great fall. We now have to be very vigilant for the second coming is often painful. The creature comes back with all the revenge and fire in its eyes.
Welcome back Madame and welcome back leeches and lampreys.