Wisdome thoughts

Netnet Camomot .

ALAM Lim’s transfer from the violet party to the team of Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno was probably instrumental in the former’s re-election as the president of the Liga ng mga Barangay. I guess it’s now safe to say, “Alam na,” with regards to next year’s election results which could make Lim as District 2 congressman, thanks to Moreno’s hint on that possibility.

Now you know why a barangay chairperson wishes to become the Liga prez. Imagine morphing from that to congressman in less than a year. Yay!

The violets may be strong in Misamis Oriental but their political color seems to be fading in the city. Still, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s morphing into House Speaker could be considered as an inspirational comeback for politicians who feel they have lost their luster in the local arena. They must keep the faith if that’s the remaining thin line between moving forward and quitting. But how can a politician know when to quit? When his heart is no longer true to his promise to serve the madlang pehpohl. But with that as the gauge, most politicians in Pinas now have a reason to quit. And the madlang pehpohl will be left with no leaders to guide them.

Guide them daw, o. Hehe. But we can dream, can’t we? Of leaders who truly serve their constituents in lieu of fattening their own pockets.

US President Donald Trump could be exempt from the urge to fatten his pocket since he had already amassed much wealth even before becoming president. He’s so rich, he’s not even familiar with how most people buy groceries: “You know, if you go out and you want to buy groceries, you need a picture on a card. You need ID.” Perhaps he was referring to credit cards and rewards cards?

The rich walk around with bodyguards and assistants, one of whom is in charge of carrying around the rich’s bag, another to hold his phone, and the rest of the entourage also have their respective duties and responsibilities. This is also true for politicians and celebrities. Trump is rich and he’s both a politician and a celebrity, he is all three of the world’s beneficiaries of exclusive perks.

On the other hand, the madlang pehpohl have to carry their own bag, phone and, yes, the identification (ID) card per Trump’s fairy tale on grocery-shopping. But even credit card companies in the US have stopped requiring shoppers to sign credit card receipts since April 2018.

In Pinas, though, President Rody Duterte has signed the national ID system into law, which can be beneficial to the confused Pinoy when it comes to presenting a valid ID. The wise Pinoy has learned to present his Philippine passport, driver’s license, Philippine Regulation Commission professional ID card or other government ID cards. But once there’s a national ID, is that all you’ll need? Except for out-of-country travel which of course requires a passport. That’s the passport that may bring you to your most favorite place in the world which for me is the Grand Canyon in the US. Or should that be Cadlao Lagoon in El Nido, Palawan.

Once you have a passport, the next important thing is to learn how to travel light. And it’s good to be the wise and slim traveler—small-sized clothes mean less baggage weight and hopefully no excess baggage. And if that slim traveler has learned to downsize his lifestyle, he’ll stick to shopping for souvenirs—T-shirt, magnet, keychain—instead of buying everything that’s on sale. Travel is already a sufficient experience by itself, with its memories enough to keep him afloat till the next journey.

Travel helps the Pinoy realize there’s a whole world out there since challenges in Pinas begin to have a new perspective when viewed from afar. He may even find a solution to the traffic and floods which the wise Pinoy would rather stay away from.

This may also happen to the politician who hops from one party to the next as he sees more clearly the party he left behind now that he’s the outsider looking in. Will he then thank his current political team for making his wishes come true? Hmmm. Abangan.