Respect and Unity in PNOY's Eyes

Whoever watched or heard the President's speech yesterday at the First National Criminal Justice Summit could either be shaking their heads in disbelief or applauding him for lambasting Chief Justice Corona "in his face". Some people have admired PNOY for being very straight-forward and brutally frank. As a President, he has the prerogative to say anything, they said.

But before we take side and let our emotions rule us, let us ask some vital questions whose answers are worth reflecting.

1> Does the President feel he has turned into a Mega Chief Justice who knows better than the collective wisdom of the Supreme Court? Let us remember the Supreme Court renders its decision on the basis of jurisprudence and the constitution - and not on the basis of political pressure.

2> Would not that kind of speech have placed an undue amount of pressure on the SC, which should always exercise independence and not dictated upon by any person - not even by the Chief Executive?

3> Can a person effectively persuade another to change his beliefs and philosophies by way of humiliation? Or would it produce exactly the opposite?

4> Is the President setting a brand new definition for the word "respect"? Is he teaching our people, including our children, to be insensitive, that a person has a right to speak his mind out no matter what the occasion is?

5> What happened to a popular saying, "Praise in public, Rebuke in private?" Would a parent humiliate his child due to some tolerable foolish behavior while a mass is on-going inside a church? Would a school principal tongue-lash at his teachers for their miscues and shortcomings in the school's founding anniversary? Or would anyone appreciate a guest speaker-foreign diplomat harshly criticizing the Philippines in an otherwise momentous occasion organized supposedly to celebrate the efforts of Philippine OFWs?

6> Did that public castigation of the highest magistrates of the land helped fostering UNITY and sobriety amongst the people? Or did it only add to the widening gap between his believers (some of them have already turned blind) and those thinking population who cannot be swayed simply by his charisma and popularity?

The late president Cory Aquino's famous battle cry is "MAGKAISA". After more than a year in office, Is PNOY truly living up to that billing and fulfilling her mother's legacy?

The answers are yours.

Warrant of Arrest Beneath the Surface

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, once dubbed as the Iron Lady of Asia during her Presidency, was served finally the much-awaited warrant of arrest (WOA) in her confinement room at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig last Nov. 18, 2011.  Anything short of it could have again be so unpopular that the Supreme Court would be have to bear the brunt once again.

There was a perceived jubilation in the social media networks, particularly Twitter, with netizens short of nailing her to a cross.  If latigo were still the prevalent tool for punishment, an anti-GMA could have taken one and with burning eyes whip the former head of state countless times until perhaps she pleads guilty.  There were even those chanting to see how this woman suffers, agonizes in pain in the face of her medical condition, calling her names, one even calling her a monster, another one - a dog (though the user did not specify what kind of breed she belongs to).

In the midst of cheers and jeers, ridicule and political paranoia, would it not be smart to pause for a while (STOP), reflect and ask ourselves (LOOK & Listen) how our personal reactions have shaped up?  Are we transforming into a gloating nation which enjoys Schadenfreude ⁱ/ˈʃɑːdənfrɔɪdə/ (German: [ˈʃaːdənˌfʁɔʏdə]) - pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others.  If a person is already suffering from his/her perceived shortcomings, should we add insult to injury?  If the accused  is already desperately saving her face from national and international humiliation, would it be so wise to even fuel negative passions and vibes? 

Are we taking pride as a nation to see a former leader, who had once earned great amount of respect from the international community for and in behalf of her country, in this bereaved situation?  Are we celebrating her current predicament, while international media and community are feasting over our political dilemmas (not De Lima's). 

Or better yet ask ourselves, after Erap's detention, have we ever realized that what is happening to this former leader is not simply an isolated case? That it casts doubt and suspicion not only on the accused but on the quality of our Filipino leaders - let alone leave an indelible mark on the credibility of the Filipino as a unique race in Asia and in the world?