PNoy, Corona, and Midnight Appointments

As news stories on the revocation of Aling Gloria’s midnight appointments hug front page spaces and primetime slots, the issue of Aling Gloria’s appointment of Mr. Renato Corona as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court had, again, been brought to the surface.  President Noynoy Aquino had, after all, expressed his recognition of Mr. Corona as Chief Justice.  However, there are still some quarters who view PNoy’s recognition of the Chief Justice as a deviation from his stand on the issue during the campaign period.

There is a need to extricate Noynoy, the candidate, from Noynoy, the President.

There is absolutely nothing wrong when a candidate expresses his opinion without the baggage of having to consider all possible angles to an issue. His opinion is his, and being an ordinary citizen, he is entitled to that.

Noynoy is now PNoy,  speaking as the President of all Filipinos. His freedom to express a personal opinion is no longer as absolute as it used to be, for he speaks not only to the Filipinos. More importantly, he had been given the responsibility to speak for the Filipinos.

I would not discount the very big possibility that his personal opinion with regards to the appointment of Mr. Renato Corona as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may have remained up to now.

However, as the nation’s leader who had, so far, shown a brand of leadership by way of examples, I would not take it against Noynoy, the President, to, again, abide by the Supreme Court’s ruling on 20 April 2010 granting Aling Gloria the authority to appoint the successor of then Chief Justice Reynato Puno. As president, he is duty bound to ensure that crises of any form be prevented. His refusal to acknowledge Mr. Corona as Chief Justice will not only be allowing a constitutional crisis to happen; it would spark one to happen.

Had PNoy stood pat in his refusal to recognize Mr. Corona as Chief Justice, what, I wonder, would Noynoy bashers be complaining about?

From the Outside, Looking In

The essence of democratic space is a healthy exchange of ideas and an acceptance of viewpoints which may be poles apart from one’s own.

Some of us choose to look only at the good side of everything the current government does, while some others opt to see only the evils.  Some of us choose to look at PNoy’s moves as solutions.  Still, others regard them as problems. I choose to understand both sides.  I choose to see them both as solutions and problems.

Pointing out problems, unforeseen and/or anticipated, is a very big part of the solution. Knowing the real problems would bring them halfway to getting solved.

As most everybody else, I would like to see this government succeed where those before it failed. Having said that, our expectations, however, must remain anchored on what realities on the ground can offer.

This early, I can see that this government is generally on the right track, so far. I have been told by friends back in the Philippines that many are already reacting mindfully by following simple rules, be them on the streets or elsewhere- not because law enforcers are around, but more because of a sense of shame. Ang presidente nga, sumusunod sa batas, nakakahiya namang lumabag tayo.

I was in the Philippine Embassy just a week ago to get an OEC (Overseas Employment Certificate). Asked if my OWWA membership is still valid, I instinctively said, I think I need to pay for my OWWA membership already. I suddenly realized how willing I’d be to pay, just because I know deep in my heart that my hard-earned Dinar, would go where it should. (My OWWA membership turned out to be valid until January 2011. I ended up paying just 750fils for the OEC)

Overall, I feel that this government deserves my trust. I am giving it my trust not because it was asked for… but, because, this government’s leader had demonstrated and continues to demonstrate that power does not always corrupt. Those around him must be reminded, though. Our trust will never be the blind kind.

Sa Dakong Hindi Ko Pa Nalalakbay

Pagsasatagalog ng tulang Somewhere I Have Never Travelled ni E. E. Cummings

sa dakong hindi ko pa nalalakbay, may galak, sa kabila
ng anumang karanasan, may angking katahimikan ang iyong mga mata:
sa iyong pinakabahagyang paramdam, naroon ang mga bagay na kumukupkop sa akin,
o hindi ko masaling dahil napakalapit nila.

ang pahapyaw mong sulyap ay madaling magpapalaya sa akin
kahit pa ipinid ko ang sariling gaya ng mga daliri,
lalagi mo akong pinamumukadkad ng talulot sa talulot, gaya ng pamumukadkad ng Tagsibol
(sa pagdamping maparaan, mahiwaga) sa una niyang rosas.

o kung ang hiling mo’y ipinid ako, ako at
ang buhay ko ay magpipinid ng buong kagandahan, daglian,
tulad sa panginginita ng puso ng bulaklak na ito sa niyebeng
maingat na nananaog sa lahat ng dako.

walang masasaksihan sa mundong ito ang papantay
sa kapangyarihan ng sukdol mong kahinaan: ang kakinisan mong
nag-uudyok sa akin ng makulay niyang mga parang,
naglalarawan ng kamatayan at kawalang-hanggan sa bawat paghinga.

(hindi ko batid kung alin sa iyo ang nagpipinid
at nagbubukas; taglay ko lamang ang saloobing nakauunawa,
ang tinig ng iyong mga mata ay higit pang malagom sa lahat ng rosas)
walang sinuman, kahit pa ang ulan, ang may ‘sing munting mga kamay.

Gratitude

If I am to weave the thread
spooled around the songs of your heartbeat,
the resulting cloth shall be enough
to unfurl the emotions you are secretly mending.

If I am to sew the melody onto every lyric,
the cloth shall take the shape of dreampatches
that went through a common suppressive needlehole.

With the gentle movements of your sad fingers,
even the breadth of wasted moments
was afforded the right measure-
enough to put life back
to my lonely, meaningless nights-
enough to clothe the nudity
of my grieving soul, yet again.

Our shared moments may just be fibers
for we wasted ropes of time.
On the heaps of lint-like uncertainty,
my rhymes still, surprisingly, match your rhythm.

Thank you for patiently, lovingly
waiting for my return.

B’yaheng Baclaran

Sa plasa ng Indang, tapat ng himpilan
ng mga pulis na nangaghuhuntahan
ay sumakay ako sa isang sasakyang
iilan ang lulan, lahat nakaabang-
Kailan ang patak ng alas-punuan?
May sasakay pa bang papuntang Baclaran?

May mamang sumakay sa gawing likuran.
May magkasintahang diretsong harapan.
Ang kunduktor naman, sa tsuper bumulong-
“Tatlong sakay na lang, p’wede nang lumusong.”
Sa loob loob ko ay mabuti naman,
aandar na kami papuntang Baclaran

May aleng pagsakay, agad inihain
ang alok na tamis sa lakong kakanin.
May bata rin namang panay ang kalabit,
balita ang alok sa d’yaryo n’yang bitbit.
Ako naman itong nagtulug-tulugan-
ayaw maabala bago mag-Baclaran.

Kaya’t sa pag-idlip, dito ko inasang
ang bagot, ang pagod ay maging ginhawang
makakasuno ko hanggang sa pumara
sa tabi, sa gitna, sa dulong kalsada,
malayo, malapit, tapat ng simbahan-
Basta ba’t pihadong sakop ng Baclaran.

Ano ba’t sa babaw ng pagkakaidlip,
may ale na namang sadyang nagpipilit
na gisinging lahat ng nagsisiidlip-
Dapat daw pakinggan ang bawat niyang sambit.
Sa loob loob ko’y h’wag panghimasukan
Ang bilis ng andar papuntang Baclaran.

Aba’y namudmod pa ang aleng masungit
ng sobre’t kalatas na nagpaparunggit-
Sa lupa ang buhay ay sasaglit lang daw
at lahat ng tao’y sadya ring papanaw.
Kahit konting kwarta, amin daw lakipan
ang sobre’t aayos ang b’yaheng Baclaran.

May aleng ang alok ay busog at tamis.
May bata din namang balita’y kalakal.
Ang aleng ‘to naman na nagmamalinis
ibig pa yata n’yang gawin kaming banal?
Ihahatid n’ya raw hanggang kalangitan
kaming gusto lang ay magpuntang Baclaran.

Dahil kay PNoy, nabuhay muli ang Balagtasan!

I got up earlier than usual to watch the Aquino Inaugural on TV, switching back and forth from ANC to TFC.

When the ceremonies at the Quirino Grandstand were over, I decided, it was time for me to head to the office planning, among other things, to write my reactions down and post them here.  It would be a needed break from the usual Tagalog poems I normally post- or so, I thought.

I was beginning to put my thoughts into words when I suddenly felt the itch to peep into other people’s thoughts through the net.

Manolo Quezon’s account made me feel unworthy to react through a blogpost of my own.  He’s so good at describing the day’s events and providing the needed explanations- plus the fact that he may have just been half a kilometer from the action, and I am half-  well, half a world away.

Next stop was Ms. Ellen Tordesillas’ liveblogging which started the night before.  As usual, I went into reading the comments that followed the liveblog entry… and there, I found a couple of posts that tickled me into Tagalog poetry mode again.

Here’s MPRivera’s comment:

MPRivera – June 30, 2010 1:58 pm

Pagbati sa ating bagong hangal, este halal na pangulo
Na buong tiwalang pinili’t hinalal ng tao
Sana ay huwag siyang bumitiw sa pangako
Sumpa ng pagkakaisa’t tunay na pagbabago
Sa diwa ng lahing inaping kaytagal

Sana din ay ibangon ang lugmok na bayan
Na malaong inapi ng pamunuang hangal
Walang isinaisip kundi limasin ang kaban
Nagpasasa sila’ng buong kasiyahan.

Bagong mamamahalang pangako ay pag-ahon
Mula sa kinasadlakang malalim na kumunoy
Bunga ng kasibaan ng mga ganid at ulol
Magsamasama tayong ang bansa ay ibangon.

Marahil naman ngayon ay bibigyan na ng pansin
Pagpapakasakit ng diasporang mga katulad namin
Sa paghahangad ng ginhawa’y lumayo sa piling
Ng mga minamahal na buong timyas na ginigiliw.

Hayo na, mga kasama, tayo’y magkapit bisig
Hawak kamay nating isigaw sa buong daigdig
Asam na pagbabago sa ating baya’y makakamit
Luwalhati ng pag-asa sa ating muling pagbabalik.

… and here’s Balweg’s:

balweg – June 30, 2010 6:09 pm

MPRivera – June 30, 2010 1:58 pm

RE: Pagbati sa ating bagong hangal, este halal na pangulo

Aming Katotong MPR…marubdob na pagpupugay,
Itong sakbibi ng inis-talong hibol.
Sadyang mapaglaro, Not Once…but Twice,
Kapalarang sikil ng pighati’t dusa.

Di ko malirip,
Lohikang Noypi estayl politikz.
Nasabing may bagong halal na Pangulo ng bansa,
E wala pang singkweta porsyento,
Ang nakamtang boto.

Buong angkan ng HEPA B wannabees,
Alalaong bagay nagbubunyi todo-todo.
Natupad kanilang hikbi,
Mapasakamay ang enchanted kingdom.

Anong hilatsa ng tunay na kalakaran ng pagbabago,
Kung ang mga nasipa at sinipa ng rehimeng dorobo.
Ang sila ngayo’y magaaryenda,
Sa timon ng nakahandusay na Inang Bayan.

Saan ko man puntiryahing silip-silpin,
Apat na sulok ng gobyerno de bobo ng rehimeng P-Noy.
Dating hudas a sinungaling,
Sila ang magpapatakbo ng mga winindang na institusyon.

Isang araw bago ang pagsisimula ng bukang-liwayway,
Heto ngayo’y mabulaklak na pangako.
Nagtilamsikan sa kalawakan,
Upang uliniging pakinggan ng mga buryong na kukote.

Resaykel na mga NOTA…e wala namang TONO,
Nakakakulili ng tengay…hay naku ang sakit pakinggan.
Wag na siyang maghambog,
Bistado na natin ang kanyang kaliskis at hasang.

Tatlong termino sa Tongreso,
E ano ba ang kanyang maipagmamalaking nagawa.
Humirit muli ng tatlong sa Senatong,
Kahit isang batas e walang na ipasa sa plenaryo.

Malapit nang mapanot ang tuktok ng simboryo,
Heto’t ngayon lang naniningalang pugad.
Di pa swak na swak,
Kung makakahigop tayo ng mainit na sabaw.

Now, a hopelessly incurable, self-proclaimed makatang Pinoy like me (could, should, must, would, did) not resist the temptation to answer back- of course, sa paraang nakaugalian na:

Ka Enchong – June 30, 2010 7:55 pm

Ang pasya ko sana sa araw na ito’y
namnamin ang laya mula sa kumunoy.
Sariling pangako ng pananahimik-
ilalaan sana sa pananangkilik.

Dahil nakiliti ang aking panulat
kay Kumpareng Magnong kanina’y nag-ulat
ng kanyang loobin sa mga naganap
sa bayang ngumiti nang ito’y hinarap
ng bagong pinunong kanilang hinirang-
sasabat din ako’t magbibigay-galang.

Dahil sa pagtula ni katotong Balweg,
ninais ko na ring usapa’y lumawig.
Heto ako ngayong hindi matahimik
sa opisina ko kung hindi iimik.

Pag-asang bumulwak sa bayang gumising
ang nasaksihan ko sa aking paggising.

Napaaga pala ang naging pagdating
ng panunumpaing Pangulong magaling.
Sa aking pananaw, ito’y naghuhudyat-
ang Pilipino time, iwaksi na dapat.
Alam ko rin namang sa mga nagulat,
sasabihin nilang si Noynoy ay atat.

Sa mga salitang nasa talumpati
tingin ko’y tapos na ang ugaling dati
na ang lingkod-bayan ay paglilingkuran
at ang mamamayan- bakang gagatasan.

Tapos na rin, wari, ang kapalaluan
ng uring nasabik sa kapangyarihan.
Sumunod ang pulis at unang hinakbang
ang ipamalitang bawal na ang wangwang.
Ang Pangulo naman, sa kanyang pag-upo,
ang pananagumpay, hindi n’ya inako.

Sa mga kasamang may ingat na muhi
sa piniling puno ng mga kalahi-
mamali, matama, ang galaw ng pili-
mali’t mali pa rin, at mali palagi.

Sa aking masaya sa mga naganap-
tuloy ang antabay, tuloy ang pangarap.

There may have been millions of observations, interpretations and reactions to today’s historic events- none of them, unique. I also have my own set, and I know, none of the elements may be considered unique.

Until I realized this:

Dahil kay PNoy, nabuhay muli ang Balagtasan!