Diminishing and diminished icons
By Antonio Montalvan II
Inquirer

Advertisement

TO JOIN OR NOT TO JOIN. THE ANTI-GMA RALLIES, that is. Judging from what Manila media feed the rest of the country, that dilemma seems to reflect the polarization of a nation in crisis. If one is not with the street ralliers, then he or she is pro-GMA. But in between the two opposing sides supposedly lie the "silent majority" and the "fence-sitters."

Indeed, the question must be asked why, until now, no bandwagon capable of moving heaven and earth is building up to unseat Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA). We may, however, be getting nearer and nearer to the answer.

Amid all the din calling for the President's resignation, there is one central principle in our body politic-and this now appears to be the decisive factor-that is being overlooked: not everything that takes place in Manila is equally shared by the rest of the country. No rallies with the magnitude of those erupting in Manila are taking place in most of our cities, notwithstanding the voices of dissent that can also be heard there. What explains the seeming "fence-sitting"?

I think that the Filipino's political maturity is coming of age. I think the so-called silent majority is not pro-GMA; neither is it fence-sitting. I think the silent majority is in fact making a statement.

With all the muckraking in the past eight months, I think many are convinced that GMA is not necessarily the "best president" for us at this time; but they also see that neither could be those who are calling for her resignation.

And I do not think people will march in protest only when the "right leader" comes. Theirs, I think, is not silence. Even now, I think they are already making a loud statement-they are, in fact, rejecting the present field of alternative personalities.

It has been said that the Filipino knows exactly what he or she does not like. If only because of that, I think that GMA has much to thank all her detractors. They are only proving to be her best promoters. One only has to see, as the Inquirer editorial said it aptly the week just passed, Imee Marcos or Cory Aquino effectively defang a potential People Power by rushing to an explosive situation, thus triggering a retreat of warm bodies from their dreamed-up popular uprising.

I have never seen a more inane scene: Cory Aquino in the same cause with Imee Marcos, dashing to the aid of Col. Ariel Querubin, one of those who had plotted against her while she was still President of the Republic; and mumbling along the way (as I heard her say it) that she was going to Fort Bonifacio "to pray." What did she pray for? Before she could make up an alibi, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales rebuffed her by saying that there are many places, outside Fort Bonifacio, where she can pray. Aray!

Sadly, the icon of People Power seems to have lost her appeal, the Nobel Peace Prize nominee is now a pathetic, diminishing icon -- seemingly adept at dishonesty which is a mark of traditional and transactional politicians. And the people see this.

Hyatt 10's constant trailing of her is another of her banes. How can people believe in a group named after a posh hotel only the elite can afford? The Black and White Movement never caught fire. In truth, society does not operate along the outmoded bipolarity model, for there are many more colors (read: voices) in between the black and the white, aside from the gray. This is a world of plurality. And people know that.

If GMA appears to be the quintessential purveyor of transactional politics, people have not forgotten that the Hyatt 10 initially tried to rescue themselves from ignominy by negotiating with Vice President Noli de Castro for positions in his "future" Cabinet, even before they announced their breakaway from GMA. And the people saw that. Dinky Soliman did not need to shed copious tears. Neither will there be sympathies for the "aging but fighting" Tito Guingona. Ask the people of northern Mindanao, where the Guingonas are currently running a family dynasty in a place they have long abandoned for glitzy Manila. If there is talk that GMA cheated her way to the presidency, there is as much talk of the Guingonas having bought their way to their current elective positions. Even before son TG set his sights on the second congressional district of Bukidnon (where he had never lived in his entire life), there was talk in that province that he was sponsoring projects and making donations using the resources of a national office.

I do not say the rumors are true. I am saying that suspected cheaters cannot themselves lead a movement organized to oust a sitting President, because the latter is suspected of cheating.

* * *

Now it can be told. The Estradas had P8 million in cold cash to give to "charity." That is transactional politics for you, in a political economy of diminished icons.

We just blew the opportunity for another People Power. GMA is now laughing her way to 2010.

Comments to monta@cu-cdo.edu.ph

Copyright 2006 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.