“Verily! The worst of living creatures in the sight of Allah are those who do not use reason.” - Qur’an (Al-Anfal) 8:22"
**
PHILIPPINE politics can be a bad example of good logic and reasoning, even in Cagayan de Oro setting. Such example can be seen and felt in a local august body that at times it was unbearable to imagine what its members were doing.
It took this writer some ample time to balance things out after issues in the City Council exploded stinking realities fouler than what exploded at NAIA Terminal 1 in Manila recently. And in between those debacles and rule twisting there were points that remain constant: First, loyalty and allegiance is the first rule. This is what the majority in the council is sending us. Unfortunately, this loyalty and allegiance are not for the benefit of the people, it is in the name of one political color of which behind it was a political icon who lorded the lands for more than a decade that eventually met his unexpected downfall.
Second, every politician is always right. Or at least that’s what they want to believe, that each of their own is just and they believe that their own version of truth should be the path every people should believe.
Third, there are always irregularities, there are always controversies on both sides. This can be fairly true, either in the opposition or the administration’s side. It is a matter of finding loopholes and faults which can be good because it exposes what needs to be done and corrected. However, it may only leads to nothing, and there might be no actions taken to seriously iron out such mess.
Lastly, Cagayan de Oro politics is not just plain politics; it has become a sort of religion. With adequate numbers of “followers,” the charismatic influence of politicians, whatever sides they are from create an intimate and divine connection to its supporters that in return would even defend them and fight for them. Any unbeliever might be subject to persecution.
So, is there hope that the City Council will work together for the common interest of the people? Not just for the benefit of their followers and sponsors, but to all in general that badly need attention and improvement?
If the current situation does not change, the answer would be a “No.”
We will be hearing more exchanges of trash talks than concrete works and achievements until 2016. Then they will be at it again seeking for reelection, throwing more stink bombs against their opponents instead of actually materializing what they have promised.
***
Some people may not understand those people who write for newspapers and other media platforms on why, most of the time, they have progressive views and their tones are always “against” or “anti-government,” as if they were leftists and see nothing but the negative views on politicians and government agencies, from one administration to another.
It is because the media, more specifically, in a democratic society, should stand as the Fourth Estate that participates the process of checks and balances. Like everyone else, we DO CARE about our government and that is why we encourage them to shape up their actions for the greater good. If they are not criticized, chances that they will become complacent and worse, our system will fall to corrupt practices and passiveness (this already happens before our eyes now).
At least, that was the essence and role of the media in our society, but of course, with the money these politicians and government officials have, they can always hire people who can work in the media with complete disregard to media ethics.
[Email: nefluczon@gmail.com]