The Inquirer editorial (“Aquino’s mistake,”) and Philippine Star’s Amy Pamintuan’s column, both published last Nov. 10, asserted that President Aquino should have made an arguably “trapo”-ish visit to Tacloban. I much regret to have to beg to differ. There is so much we agree on such that I am mildly surprised when an occasional difference in opinion arises.
What “mistake”?
For past tragedies, no one blamed and heckled US President Barack Obama (9/11, Twin Towers, 13th anniversary of the attack) or German Chancellor Angela Merkel (25th anniversary of Berlin Wall’s fall). The solemn, unifying commemorations were devoid of partisan heckling that could make the secret service antsy. But in our scofflaw society, everything seems sadly politicized. And “Yolanda” was just last year, and feelings may remain high.
I commend President Aquino for taking into account prudential considerations, to avoid more negativities our country doesn’t need—if I read him right (we have no contact). But we continue to be a crabby, circular-firing-squad society.
From the start, the Tacloban leadership, let alone the extreme Left, seems to have milked Yolanda to heckle P-Noy. When did Imelda, Imee and Bongbong first appear in Tacloban anyway? No prominent reportage I can recall. Of their billions, how much did they donate to their very own? These questions may not be less than fair. No answers I have come across are, either.
The people of Guiuan are no less than the people of Tacloban.
Romualdez-said-Lacson-said on Yolanda aid should not make us forget that here in Palanan, Makati, where I live, not far from Tripa de Gallina, an estero, many continue to live in their tiny, tiny places in the sun. Like in many parts of Metro Manila, I see people living in sidewalk shanties. They have had to live with their recurring “mini-Yolandas” for years. They too need help and attention in the allocation of our all too scarce temporal and material resources.
P-Noy should not make media killings seem more important than nonmedia killings. Massaging the press with brownie points makes him trapo-ish. I am glad he is not so as to Tacloban, which he can visit presently, before Christmas. But not to forget those who live in pushcarts and sidewalks in Metro Manila, scratching for a living, and staging wakes on streets. Mga anak din po sila ng Diyos (They too are God’s children).
We should hear more about how many in Tacloban have Manila and generous aliens helped, not only those complaining.
—RENE A.V. SAGUISAG,
ravslaw@gmail.com