Name names

POLITICAL parties are now identified by colors. Dominant in the city are “violets” (Padayon Pilipino) and “yellows” (Liberal Party).

Sidewalks’ edges, fences, skyways, uniforms, vehicles, logos and others… they were colored violet during the time of Dongkoy Emano to send a message of who’s in control and the dominant force. But the yellow group came in at the most opportune time, and swept Dongkoy away.

Today, the yellows are not sitting well with certain disgruntled groups of voters. Those who voted them to power feel that they didn’t live up to their expectations. Those who still harbor ambitions to run again have everything against the violets, and all praises for the yellows. But the warring groups are not different from each other.

It cannot be denied that the yellows have done a lot of things despite limitations caused by the violets in the city council. But we cannot play blind to the questionable deeds of the yellows just because we didn’t get anything from the violets before.

This guy from city hall had twice attempted to talk to me, inviting me to have coffee. I heard that he was removed from his position. But his underling who claimed to be privy on it denied it. Weeks later, the guy was the subject of a discussion over Magnum Radio––he was been stripped of power to sign documents.

The guy must have earned the ire of his superior. And likely so because accordingly, he’s been refusing to sign bidding documents knowing there never was any bidding at all. In short, “lutong Macao.” This reminds me of the City School Board (?) where members are invited not to discuss but to affix their signatures to an already approved or an ongoing project.

So why are the wannabes silent on these issues? How would that make them? Some are coy in their criticisms but somehow, the slips show. They would have gained more respect for their independent views. Perhaps we can do away with colors. Name names, and just be candid and honest in our criticisms.
••
From my e-mail: “A Scent Reborn” by Trebor Cannes. “Bonjour CdeO!  “Every morning, I wake up to an idyllic skyline of shopping malls blossom in a garden of tall edifices in varied shapes and shades.

“The sun in golden rays greets the day and the birds join with their songs. The bees with their busy buzzing sounds and flora silently sprout from the earth to a new life.

“What better breathe than from carless streets when the air is cold and pure! Or, when it rains and the drizzle sedates the city to idly sleep.

“I hang my pajamas, put on my shirt, my shorts and shod in sneakers. The rush hour is yet some minutes away, oh how I love to frolic on a beautiful day.

“Like beads they roll, wet my body, saline sweats and panting heavy. The smell of earth envelops me, drains my spirit as if telling me the hour is late.

“With the street lamps offed, steel drapes upped, the world is ready for another day. The kids in tow where a bus await, ‘Hey Mom, we’re gonna be late.’

“And so I rush to cleanse, to look fresh and prim. The Filipina I am meeting, I can’t keep her waiting. A little spray of musk is a scent reborn.

“Au revoir!”