Debating ‘decorum’

Good manners and right conduct” used to be a formal part of the curriculum in public schools. But through the years, other concerns and interests pushed the subject out of the way, making room for more mundane matters like mathematics, grammar, history, and the sciences.

Perhaps that explains the behavior of many Filipino adults and adolescents today who, especially with the advent of social media, have no difficulty displaying execrable behavior: their lack of manners, use of crass language, tasteless jokes, and lack of respect for the elderly and those in public office.

Not that we’re yearning for the days when children were thought to be “better seen than heard,” and those of humbler means were expected to defer to those of a so-called higher social status. But don’t you miss the days when people behaved civilly and respected each other, regardless of status?

Perhaps there is no better indicator of how low public manners and morals have fallen than the current imbroglio involving senators who were taken to task by former Senate president Franklin Drilon for the legislators’ lack of decorum in both behavior and language both inside and outside the session hall.

Equally dismaying is the behavior, posted on TikTok for all the world to see, of Quezon City councilor Aiko Melendez and Sangguniang Kabataan chair Julian Trono along with other figures dancing to a pop tune in the premises of the Carlos Albert Hall, where the city’s legislators meet.

Melendez clarified that the performance was carried out before the city council met and no disrespect was intended. But it seems the posting of the dance video drew public ire not only because it was done in the august hall, but also because the performers seemed to be hugely enjoying themselves and going out of their way to post their dance video on social media.

It might be apropos to this debate to point out that Melendez and Trono first rose to fame as entertainers before joining politics, while in the Senate, one of the obvious targets of Drilon’s reminder is Sen. Robinhood Padilla, who was an action/rom-com star before entering the field of public service. The other senator believed to exemplify the lack of decorous behavior is Sen. Roland “Bato’’ dela Rosa, whose background is in law enforcement but once sanctioned the fielding of a look-alike mascot perhaps in a bid to soften his reputation as the enforcer of the brutal “Oplan Tokhang” where thousands of drug suspects were arrested and killed in former president Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody drug war.

Both Padilla and Dela Rosa are known for their blunt speech and theatrics during Senate hearings, with Dela Rosa once kneeling in front of police officials being questioned for their role in the selling of confiscated drugs. Padilla has been castigated for brushing his moustache at a public hearing, and also for loudly scolding those in the hall for heckling him.

While some might dismiss all the fuss being raised about decorum to so much fuddy-duddy sensibilities, Sol Iglesias, an assistant professor of political science at University of the Philippines Diliman, says decorum in the Senate and other official institutions or procedures is a “measure of civility and political interactions.” Civility, she said, means that “high office and one’s peers—including political opponents—need to be treated with respect.”

One wonders what impact these public officials’ behavior has on generations to follow, who take their cues from our so-called betters on how to behave in public and in official functions—and in their private lives as well.

We must remember that this is not the first time we have people from the performing arts joining politics, including the legislature and even ascending to the presidency, although the number of people from show business is the highest ever in this Congress. Perhaps this is because voters look for other qualities in their favored candidates. Unlike in other countries where competence, knowledge, and expertise make up voters’ preferred qualities, in the Philippines, according to a 2019 Social Weather Stations survey, more “personal’’ qualities count the most for voter preference: first, honesty (he/she will not be corrupt); compassion (he/she helps or has concern for the poor); personal qualities; trustworthiness. Coming in last on the list of qualities that voters prefer is “he/she is educated/intelligent/bright.”

No wonder candidates believe fostering a public image of honesty, compassion, and trustworthiness is more important than studying issues, relating these to national concerns, and helping improve people’s lives. Truly, we only get the government we deserve.