By Alex P. Vidal
“The three kinds of people I dislike most are Gossips, Liars, and Hypocrites.”—Carole Radziwill
IF we have a quality Senate today, the changing of the guard, so to speak, or the resignation of one senate president and installation of his successor would be a normal process.
Senator A is out, Senator B is in. A formal oath taking ceremony for the newly installed senate president takes place.
As simple as that. And it happens every now and then.
No beating around the bush; no hubbub; no theatricals. As the popular brand trumpets, “just do it.”
But because the Philippine Senate today is no longer the kind of institution that best represents our ideals, wisdom and pride, the most recent simple shifting from one leader to another became a below-par melodrama and, to some extent, telenovela.
Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri himself sounded like a bitter person, a crybaby and sore loser who couldn’t accept a rejection. The more he opened his mouth, the more he looked conquered and defeated. In politics, he should know how to fight his battle and when to shut his mouth if it can’t save his ass.
When Zubiri bade farewell as senate president, tears overflowed on the Senate floor as if he was on his way to seek asylum in faraway Jupiter and never to be back again.
-o0o-
The scene of a Senator Bato whimpering and yammering like a toddler was no longer news; it didn’t shock us anymore. We’ve seen him perform his award-winning act when he was PNP chief several times.
What was so astounding and perplexing was the scene where Zubiri and a coterie of snivelers and fussers chipping in their own film academy talents and joining the weeping binge “live” on national television.
Shocking as their temerity to heap each other with insults, name-calling and backstabbing is, kaplastikan and kadramahan are hardly new among these senators.
In drenching the Senate with tears over a simple issue involving the resignation of one fellow senator from the top leadership, they must have mistaken the august halls of the Upper Chamber for an audition in the film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
One day if the aliens or “living creatures” from other planets and constellations invade us, we will have to parade Bato, et al to deal with the visitors.
Lasers will have no match versus the senatorial tears or tears of the hypocrites.
-o0o-
I received an email from Damayan, a grassroots organization that serves and empowers low-wage Filipino migrant workers living and working in New York City and New Jersey, especially domestic workers and labor trafficking survivors, to inform that it is hiring an LCM for a full-time job.
“Dear Alex, I’m excited to share that Damayan Migrant Workers Association is hiring a Lead Case Manager! The full job description is here and at the bottom of this email,” wrote Riya Ortiz, Damayan Migrant Workers Association executive director.
“If you think you are a good fit, then I encourage you to apply. Please also share with your network and to those who you think would be a great fit.
“We would love to answer any ideas or questions you have at hiring@damayanmigrants.org. Thank you so much for your support as Damayan continues to grow!”
Damayan was established in 2002 by a group of Filipina domestic workers experiencing employer abuses, like illegally refusing to pay minimum wage, termination without cause or notice, and working overtime without compensation.
LCM is a key member of the team that oversees all areas of case management (immigration, labor and health), direct services and service referrals, and trainings. Reporting to the Executive Director, the LCM will supervise a Services and Training Associate (once position is filled), and work alongside our organizing team as well as operations, communications, and development.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)
