Cat: A Political Parable
By: Alejandro B. Ibay
I read a few times: bloggers, angry critics and political pundits tell the world: “Our country has gone to the dogs.” Though I am aware that the motto of the SPCA is “Be Kind to Animals, this didactic piece—written by a human—which is more kind to humans without being unsympathetic to pet animals, hopefully invites focus to the latest news involving Ralph Recto, Serg III and Noynoy, the inevitable president, unless.
And this is about long time perceptions, some facts and truth in politics. And of course answers to: who really gained, who really lost in this recent political brouhaha. Definitely not Noynoy, or Ralph or even Serge the third.
In the Philippines there’s no loser or born loser among politicians. Some ends tragically, but while alive they are always winners. And who’s the perpetual loser? The reader’s guess is as good as mine. My guess if the reader got it right is menstruating INTEGRITY, not the country as the loser. Integrity is like gold. Adding gold nuggets enhances it, adding pyrite (fool’s gold) gives it a false shine; adding led or acid destroys its value. It debunks the crude gospel of alchemy: politics is addition. Integrity defines a country.
In the NBA or PBA, here’s the score after the first buzzer: Noynoy will win in Batangas eves without the Rectos. He doesn’t need Ralph and Vilma for a convincing win there. Noynoy’s coaching team wants a massacre, a little blood tainting Noynoy is to them “wala yun.” Noynoy as team captain wins this first half but with his right little finger broken. Serge the third= point guard, leaves the bench for home and will collect his winnings later. Ralph—with his past game stats of questionable plays—smiling from ear to his nape appears to the crowd as the biggest winner, hiring his fears on what can still happen in the last half. After the game if the crowds didn’t like his antics, he won’t know to which team he can trade himself. He could end up as greeter in one of Manila’s Vegas, but with Vilma always by his side he can’t be a loser.
In the animal farm, sa totoo lang, Noynoy as the people’s guard dog died a little, when he allowed Ralph the cat enter his territory and cuddled him. Serge the third, a proven meticulous, thorough and relentless hound dog of the senate showed his Osmena ancestral integrity by leaving the dog farm. It is notable that Ralph and Serge names had never been connected to hundred millions of corruption in pesos or in whatever. In the eyes of the veterinarian-gardener, Ralph and Serge can’t be a cat or hound dog; they are really merely butterflies, sipping nectars from flower to flower. Not political locusts who are most dangerous, ravishing, gobbling up entire vegetations.
In the political arena, the illustrious names in this ruckus, are already etched in history, in history’s right side actually. Ninoy and Cory Aquino, President Sergio Osmena—the unsung statesman and Claro M. Recto, estute, adroit, our country’s genius of a lawmaker—pinakama angal na mambabatas. It is not for me to say but the people surely know by now who of these three had already done damage to their own historic surnames and who in the future is likely to inflict it with shit in the animal farm of politics—straight to the dark hole of history.
OH Yes not forgetting, our Vilma the diamond, the fourth variable in this political triangle. She is still the unbeaten, outstanding actress, hardest working and pristine, the living Athena of dramatic arts. Provincial Governors should erect a statue in her honor. She has restored respect and integrity, and faithful service to the word GOVERNOR (not the persons) where before, was almost dirt and useless to the poor. As a creature of nature, Vilma has played biological host to many dependents, and even parasites. God always takes care of His chosen hosts—that’s Vilma’s priceless reward.
In the Philippines, politics as basketball game or animal husbandry constitute bits of its unique modern history.