FERDINAND Marcos Jr. won the Philippine presidency by a wide margin, at 61 percent. Philippine history came round in full circles.
First, there was President Diosdado Macapagal and his daughter Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Then there was Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino, who became president after the downfall of Marcos Sr., and her son.
Cory Aquino became the first president after a popular uprising. Later, Cory Aquino's son, Benigno Simeon Aquino III, became another Philippine president.
Now, we have a new president, Ferdinand Bongbong Romualdez-Marcos.
If there is one thing that history teaches us, it is this though that even the mighty fall. You would think that people who now wield power should already know this and realize that no matter the tenacity of their grip, one day it will all come to an end.
The end could come from the hands of other men and women; from the people they have lorded over. They are toppled by revolt, banished to exile. They come to the end of their terms. Perhaps illness strikes and their own mortality betrays them. No matter. But as sure as night follows day, and daybreak halts the reign of night, might and power will one day ebb and the end will surely come.
This lesson should have been learned by the people who wield power now. For the tyrant and the despot there can be no graceful exit. They will be hounded to the ends of earth. They will be meted their portion with the same measure they have meted to others and with the same harshness that they dispensed. For some there will be quick retribution; for others, the fall from power is suffering enough.
To be brought to justice and suffer the consequences of criminal acts would be the ideal but some have chosen to take their own lives rather than face justice. A few have escaped and evaded justice but only for so long. We saw the end for these men and women come without fail. A higher power is at work that inevitably dispenses perfect justice. We may not readily discern this but be assured that for all, there will be a day of reckoning.
What the mighty sow, the mighty reap. There are inevitable consequences to all actions and even the powerful cannot escape this unbending principle. The winds of change are constantly blowing across the world. We have seen long-time tyrants and rulers fall and nations changing leaders. There is a long procession of the once powerful losing power. The end to power is inevitable in the same way as our lives will end.
We have seen in our country, the long reign of a dictator come to an end, toppled by people power. A popular actor turned president was chased out of the MalacaƱang. Even the lady ex-president who took over the reins of the presidency from an actor-politician was arrested for plunder after her extended presidency came to an end. Even though both ex-presidents engineered their comebacks, still they could not wield power forever. Manila has a new mayor and the Congress recently elected a new Speaker of the House.
Our own history is replete with this lesson. Time subverts everything. It would do well for our present leader to heed this lesson. His end will too come and the power he now wields, he will have to, one day give up. It should matter to him what kind of a legacy he leaves our nation.
I pray that he would not be remembered for the many killings but rather for giving new life to our people. He still has six years to forge his legacy. He must always remember that even the mighty fall.