MY RECENT visit to Sir Pedrito was nostalgic. His opening statement was unexpected. “I thought you have forgotten me. It’s good to see you alive.” He was a street parliamentarian during the days of Marcos, my “maestro” and personal coach in the art of argumentation and debate. He is now 84 years old (almost).
When I arrived in his locus, he was inside his cool “bahay-kubo” fondling his two kids (baby goats). The mother goat could not be far away, I thought… Sylvia. This 55-year-old lady is Pedrito’s love accomplice. (Their love story is top secret and has nothing to do with goat breeding.) He offered me goat’s milk and a glass of delicious water from the stream.
Lunch was casual. Sylvia served grilled “pantat” and “pako-pako” salad from their four-hectare diversified farm. Mountain brewed coffee that followed was good and it went well with his favorite topic… politics, politics, and politics. It was more of a lecture than a conversation. I was a captive listener.
Pedrito is a libertarian. He advocates free thought and action. He favors liberalism, a political belief system characterized by openness to change and progress and the granting of government aid to those deemed underprivileged or in need. “I voted for Duterte because of his views on socialism. Both of us fought for that and we almost died.”
He believed that sooner than expected a Revolutionary Government will happen in our country. “The NPAs are already terrorists. They are gradually getting inside the trap of the government. To prove that they (NPAs) are strong, they are blowing to bits government installations, attacking military detachments, burning the factories of the “compradores” and imposing revolutionary taxation to mining companies.”
“Since they are terrorists, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CCP) could no longer receive assistance from other countries sympathizing with their crusade for social justice and equality. The political wing, The National Democratic Front, could be in danger. Their officials who are in government could be apprehended for helping the terrorists.”
“The minority political party could be dragged in a controversy as ally of the terrorists. They will have hold departure order. This could be the repeat performance comparable to the fate of Ninoy Aquino. Some priests, ministers, and preachers supporting human rights could be mistaken as supporters of the terrorists. Hard-hitting media men who berated government officials could be suspected as pro-terrorists.”
“Businessmen who are sponsors of social action programs could be mistaken as diverting funds to the NGOs who are supporting the terrorists. I saw the same scenario before Marcos declared martial law on September 21, 1972. You were a victim of Philippine Constabulary and your untold story is better kept secret.” Sylvia served my second cup of coffee.
“This could be another martial law covered with a leather jacket that many want to call it as Revolutionary Government. If that day comes, we will be into autocracy. We will be ruled by one powerful person, as a dictator. This could be far from communism that we have been afraid of since then for lack of understanding.”
The old man still prefers constitutional government in a democracy. “We do not want to live in a despotism (a government in which one person has absolute power). Our culture and education favors egalitarianism, a philosophy or system of equal rights for everyone. I voted for Duterte because I believe he can bring our country to the doorsteps of federalism without first passing a police state.”
“We still enjoy living in a republic. My goats and Sylvia still appreciate open range. This is the beauty of a welfare state. Thank God, we are not a Banana Republic. We are delighted in our kind of diplomacy especially with Apec and Asean. Our foreign policy is in the pink of health. We take pleasure in our free trade. Our president does not need saber rattling to threaten us.”
I see in his eyes the faith in President Duterte to maintain his being a reformist and not as a dictator. “I’m an old man now. I only belong to Sylvia and the goats. My diabetes mellitus is choking me. I don’t enjoy drinking goat’s milk anymore because of dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing). Kiss your wife and children for me!” He turned his back with tears in his eyes.
