(Un)common Sense by James Veloso
(Un)Common Sense

'No more colors'

Jul 1, 2022, 12:22 AM
James Veloso

James Veloso

Writer/Columnist

Okay, we’ve all accepted it: Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. will be our next President, and he will take over this week – on June 30, to be exact.

But you know who’s still bitter and angry? Some die-hard Marcos supporters who still gripe at the fact that there are various sectors in the country who have opposed the numerous first choices he made.

Among these “decisions” Marcos, Jr. had made in the run-up to his presidency is his volunteering to take over the Department of Agriculture (DA) on a temporary basis, a decision that raised an outcry among farmers and consumers alike.

Their contention is that the incoming President is trying to “play the hero” amid the sharp rise in the prices of basic commodities, as farmers complain that their produce gets sidelined due to the Duterte administration’s penchant for mass-scale importation.

-o0o-

Based on my reading of social media, many of Marcos, Jr.'s hardcore supporters still want all sectors to just accept his administration and "never complain" about the decisions he makes.

Fat chance, people.

In a thriving democracy, a level of opposition is still important in ensuring that the leadership does not do something that will lead to a country’s ruin.

As I’ve always said in this column space, when no one calls out wrongdoings, that’s when our country goes to hell in a handbasket.

Also, whatever happened to calls to “forget” political colors and unite for the sake of the country?

Marcos, Jr.’s supporters should be the one to offer the laurel branch and invite those opposing him to help him out in solving the country’s problems.

Instead, what they’re doing is driving away his opponents and insisting that they believe in the “Marcos myth” in order for them to be accepted in their fold.

-o0o-

That kind of attitude, unfortunately, apparently still lingers among some staff of some newly-elected officials here in Laguna.

A few days ago, one of our reporters had had a chance to meet a high-ranking official of a progressive city in the province.

Apparently, this is what he said when he learned what local newspaper she was attached with: "E di ba connected kayo with-" And he mentioned the outgoing leadership of this city, whom the incoming executive beat in the last May elections.

It took all her willpower not to fight back and say something derogatory to the guy, our reporter told us later.

As a guy who was trained in both journalism and public relations, that statement, for me, smacks not only of insensitivity but also of dirty traditional politics as well.

That’s not how you treat media personnel whom you will rely on to disseminate information to the public – which, especially in the context of local media, is vital if you want your administration to succeed.


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