17 going on 70

Netnet Camomot .

PRESIDENT President Rody Duterte is 73 years old and he’s not alone in his age-defying moments as other politicians are also way up there in their respective family trees: former President and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) is 71, former President and now Manila Mayor Erap Estrada is 81, US President Donald Trump is 72. And we’re now convinced that life begins at 70, not 40.

Senate President Tito Sotto, however, is 69, which may mean life is about to start for him.

Apparently, politics has no retirement age but elective positions do have a required minimum age which should inspire the voter to heave a deep sigh of relief unless he’s willing to vote for a 13-year-old senator-wannabe.

But since age doesn’t matter, that 13-year-old can be a better senator than the seemingly qualified candidate who’s armed with a PhD.

Wisdom and empathy do not necessarily come with age. There are bullies who are 70 and above, prompting us to wonder if it’s senility that always comes with age.

Still, there’s hope for the senior. If Duterte can function as the country’s president at his age, anything is now possible, thus, assuring the Pinoy he can start all over again at 70. Which can be good news to politicians who are detained for plunder, graft and corruption, and other crimes whose punishment they failed to evade. If ever they have to serve time in jail, they can look forward to their 70th year when they’ll be hopefully given a restart so their life can finally begin.

For those who “learned the truth at seventeen,” relearning the truth at 70 may produce a been-there-done-that attitude that will result to a wisdom gone wrong, its lessons going pfft amidst the fake news and careless whispers.

The secret to real wisdom is to open your mind and heart to the possibilities, and to let go of the toxicity that will try to stop you from being you. This advice may not be the right one, though, for politicians charged with plunder and other crimes which are hints of a self that focuses on wallets and pockets, their negative possibilities not exactly the result of profound thoughts and spiritual retreats. They’re the ones who are toxic, so, for them to let go of toxicity will mean leaving their own self? Hmmm.

A person reaches a certain age when he will learn to accept people as they are but without necessarily befriending them again and welcoming them back to his life. He realizes that some people are beyond repair and the only way to keep his peace is to stay as far away from them as possible. For this choice, he’s left with one or two friends but at least he’s assured of their loyalty. Better that than having a friend whose loyalty is suspect and whose presence further darkens an already climate-changed world.

A friend is supposed to be someone you can trust, someone you can lean on, someone who brightens your day. If he’s none of the above, then, it’s time to find the real meaning of friendship.

I don’t know if politicians have friends. I’ve never been a politician, so, how would I know? But I’m guessing they have political party mates, colleagues, cabinet members, department heads, employees, staffs, constituents, minions, etc. But friends? Nah. Once they lose in an election, at least they’ll still have their family by their side. Or should that be, they’ll be lucky if they’ll still have their family by their side.

I once asked someone if he has true friends and he said he has none. That was the saddest reply I had ever heard. Because he’s not even a politician.

The fickle world of politics alerts the seasoned politician to focus on his goals and not to be distracted by intrigues. Which can also be the unsolicited advice for the non-politician who’s trying to survive in this oh so cruel world. That’s the non-politician who, when asked about what he thinks of GMA as House Speaker, will say, GMA who? He has no idea, and it’s great to be blissfully unaware for a change.

To be fully aware of Philippine politics will only result to unnecessary paranoia. The Pinoy is better off watching “Mission: Impossible-Fallout” and “BuyBust.”