UNITEAM word war is politically ugly, must end ASAP

What’s in a name?” playwright William Shakespeare asked in “Romeo and Juliet,” suggesting that while names distinguish things or people, by themselves they have no meaning.

Vice President Sara Duterte channeled the immortal play when she refused to mention the “middle initial” of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., an obvious dig against House Speaker Martin Romualdez, nephew of the PBBM’s mother Imelda. By refusing to acknowledge the Speaker’s lineage, Martin’s allies believe VP Sara all but insulted the former First Lady, who remains the matriarch of the Romualdez family.

Shakespeare’s idea that names, beyond distinguishing things or people, are irrelevant most certainly won’t stand with many Filipinos, because we are famously clannish for all the right reasons. Many would even go to extremes just to protect their names.

Why? Because our names are integral to our identity—where we came from, where we’re headed, who we are and what our place in the world is. We want to prove true to our potential, to the dreams our parents have for us, to the dreams we have for our children. Our names also provide a clue on our ancestry, familial ties, and origin.

Studies proved that names affect how we are perceived by others and how we see ourselves. A child of Paeng Nepomuceno is envisioned to be good at bowling, just as the children of Gary Valenciano are seen to be musically gifted. And surely, names are historically intertwined, for better or worse.

In November 2013, when Super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) smashed Leyte, then Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas III, engaged Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez in a heated discussion on the legalities of the national government taking over relief and recovery operations. The argument, which was recorded, reminded the public of the political rift between the mayor’s family and the family of the then chief executive: “Remember, you are a Romualdez. The president is an Aquino,” Roxas quipped.

To be fair, Roxas was just looking at the optics of the Aquino government taking over operations in a city presided by a Romualdez. But the manner the message was delivered left a bad taste in the mouth, uttered as it was during the worst calamity in the nation’s history. Shades of the myriad mixed messages between the Montague and Capulet families in Shakespeare’s tragedy.
Inevitably, Roxas paid dearly for the mistake. In the 2016 Presidential elections, Leyte voted for Rodrigo Duterte instead of him. (Roxas also lost in the 2019 Senatorial elections finishing 16th with 9.8M votes and 20.81 percent)

Clearly, there’s a lesson to be learned here if one is willing to pay attention to history and not deem the past as forgettable just because it’s no longer convenient or useful to prevailing interests. The country is just a year removed from the 2022 national elections, and yet some quarters are already keen on chucking its promise of unity while belittling debts of gratitude owed to those who helped in the campaign.

President Marcos Jr., whom VP Sara calls “Apo” whom she respects and loves, cared deeply about family legacy in the campaign. By winning back Malacañang and then living up to his promises, PBBM does not only redeem the pride of the Marcos name, but the Romualdez name as well.

Meanwhile, Speaker Romualdez took the denigrating remarks in stride. He’s taking the high road, keeping silent on personal attacks, and publicly committing to the work of shepherding President Marcos’ priority bills through Congress. But his refusal to engage in a word war with the VP has notably galvanized his supporters into coming to his defense.

Nevertheless, this political bickering cannot fester, as it will undoubtedly imperil the legislative agenda intended to spur economic activity, job creation, and investments. And here is where the Speaker is clearly in the right. He was elected to do a job and is bent on doing it. In contrast, VP Sara is perceived at focusing on 2028, ironically forgetting the way her father took advantage of Roxas’ mistake and repeating it.

With the welfare of 114 million at stake, leaders should pursue needed reforms, not power.

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Let’s continue to promote our best Pinoy Ofws worldwide.

I am in favor of this administration’s efforts to promote heroic deeds of our overseas countrymen, their “malasakit” (solicitude), selflessness, saving lives without thinking of their own safety. I am referring to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications (OPACC), and their new country branding campaign ‘We Give the World Our Best – The Philippines,”

Look at Filipina-British nurse May Parsons, the first care worker to initiate Covid vaccine in the UK, unmindful of the risk in facing patients infected with the dreaded global virus.
Another hero is Loreto Mijares who rescued a Chinese couple trapped in floodwaters in Macau in 2017 during a big storm, that went viral in social media. Mijares, who is not a swimmer, felt the urge to save the couple, waded the flood and rescued them. Alvin Pancito worked at a hypermart in Dubai and saved four people from drowning at Jumeirah Open Beach. While on a midnight picnic with friends, Pancito heard screams for help. Sensing nobody was willing to help, Pancito, despite having thalassophobia or the fear of the ocean, had to go and helped the four.

Other Pinoy Ofws overseas are making names in their respective fields. One is a barista in New York, Noel Quintana, who became known for his perpetual smile and positive attitude. Recently, another Filipino American animator, Bobby Pontillas, created the latest character in the famous children TV show Sesame Street, TJ, the first Filipino muppet of the show.

All these overseas stories exhibit excellent Pinoy skills. No matter what field of work they may be, Filipinos are known worldwide as excellent team members and a valued asset to any working community. Kudos to all of them.
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