Cutting Edge

It happened in a split second. Before I knew it, my dog and I were inches away from a Toyota Previa which madly veered towards our direction in the event of avoiding a fatal mishap with a truck. Then, like a scene from an action packed flick, it screeched to a halt. Casting a deep sigh, I walked away with legs akin to rubber for escaping death unscathed. There I was, with my adrenaline surged, rushed a mental note, the top three of a want-to-do list after a near death experience, which I posed to ten people I know . Surprisingly, answers were poured down to 2 categories: focused towards self and towards loved ones. One Brit, Cheddar Caveman, wrote to propose a smile to all the people he meets (imagine my sardonic grin. No but yeah, he’s kinda cute) . Hindsight, this is the social equivalent of being simply nice (er, then my hard work of sneering will go down to nothing!).

Then one wicked idea toyed in my complex whiny nutshell . It’s about asking the exact same question to politicians who are desperate for votes . As a moot question, I am pretty certain, most Filipinos will agree to the matter . This will be the political equivalent of analyzing what goes in their heads (at least), where their priorities lie ( if it's people oriented or to a rather largely selfish goals) and what economic strategies they come up with if they will eventually win a seat in the government. As incurable optimists Filipinos as can be, it is just right that voters heed their possible answers. Due to learned brainlessness on the part of the electorate, many keep on believing the pathetic lies exemplified by politicians, thus many stay, winning the same seat in a tight grip.

Of course, these buggers may have probably experienced a near kiss of death, perhaps at a rather frightening course. “Had these steely politicians ever purported a change in their governance style after being dealt with a near peep at pearly gates, something which could bring the Philippines to a cutting edge whereby people see change ?” one thinks. Astoundingly, the kinds of political figures we have today are just too happy to impetrate for help from rich countries rather than creating an atmosphere to raise the standard of living of the mundane and to equally share the growth expected . This should largely create a roadblock to extremism and to slow down the mad flow of brain drain, thus hauling the country from the brink. The Rwandan President significantly took the courage to build such change despite him taken to center stage as ruthless, authoritarian and undemocratic. So why can’t we?

Am I too dreamy? The sense of defeatism may prove pervasive but definitely it is not terminal. We need people to govern but let them be the ones who look after the interest of the poor to a larger degree because the poor make up the bigger constituent, the bigger number of the society, whether we like it or not.

As for the haughty question popped up to my mind, Keith asked the same to me. My answer will send the female Filipino population cringing. I’d get a bf with a sexy man rug and shag twice a day . He chuckled relentlessly before agreeing. And yes, I got invites. Bettina Arndt will be too happy to include me as her diarist. Of course I will never make any list. Spontaneity is still genuine and fun. Take life as it comes and make a difference. Viva Cheddar Caveman!!!

Author: Marife Tandoc