Pawid: His death & politics

THE Christian world mourned His crucifixion and rejoiced over His resurrection on Easter Sunday. In the face of the coronavirus hovering over the atmosphere, religious devotees breathe in cheerfulness and joviality of His resurrection.

Although He preached of His death and told of rebuilding the church on the third day, the catechism lessons implanted on my young brain then impulsively drew my hatred for Pontius Pilate. He was the governor of Judea who “presided over the trial of Jesus” and gave in to the popular demand of the people to HIS crucifixion.

By “washing his hands” of whatever happens to HIM, Pilate became the first recorded politician who bowed to the unmitigated greed for popularity and power by making a wrong and wicked decision. This became the general stigma of politicians for the past 2,000 years or so that would, perhaps, be the rationale of HIS promise for a second coming.

Present-day politicians and of old, like Pilate, are colorful in their ways to woe netizens to their side. Mainstream media of print, radio, and television would show how they are scrambling for the best seats in the headlines.

The wannabes are frantically competing for popular ranking even if the national and local elections are some 14 months away; and the country in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The absurdity of the situation is the emergence of Mindanao politicians being pushed via Machiavellian moves to remain seated in Malacanang. Oddly enough, the presidential mayor daughter of Davao City is seen in billboards all over the countryside. She is asked to run for president in 2022.

Not far behind is Bong Go, a long-time Duterte factotum who was elected senator but seen in media spending more time serving a master in the palace. Go is mentioned as a presidential candidate with Duterte as his vice-presidential running mate. My oh my, this looks more like the classic comic books of the king parading the streets in transparent clothing!

Another Mindanao aspirant for president is eight-division boxing medallion belt holder Manny Pacquiao. Sadly, the present-day opposition is questioning his “competence” to hold an executive position in government much more so the presidency.

But more sadly enough is the truism that the yellowtards or isambayan, even how much they try, cannot muster a 12-man senatorial slate; and miserably a presidential candidate!

In his innocent appeal, Pacquiao has asked his PDP-LABAN party-mates to suspend political activities and concentrate on alleviating the coronavirus situation. This was taken with a grain of salt and ironically, as a result, could hardly get an appointment to see President Duterte.

Our local readers in Benguet need not go far to observe the deliberating national scene as they themselves are nauseating how in the world did they have a chinaman from Mindanao to represent them in Congress (after the death of Rep. Nestor Fongwan).

Benguet was placed in the negative limelight when President Duterte named the caretaker congressman among other alleged corrupt members of Congress! Duterte himself said no concrete evidence was submitted to him yet he blatantly named this chinaman among five others.

Possibly, the president was telling Benguet people to be wary and mistrustful of that young man. It was advice for Benguet to be vigilant in watching the under-the-table hands of their caretaker in Congress. Several Facebook pages circulating in the province reveal suspected and alleged dramatic shenanigan performances.

Benguet is walking the rough road to her Calvary. Her people are law-abiding, innocent, peaceful and respectful. She deserves better. And the hands of provincial, municipal and barangay officials like Pontius Pilate will play a vital role in whether or not Benguet will face a fearful crucifixion of a meek and shy tribe.

“This is Benguet, my own” is a line in the provincial hymn etched in the hearts of every Benguet native and resident. Let it be so.

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