Are you carbs?

ONE day, isang araw, I couldn’t find my column on the Gold Star Daily website.

To prove to Editor-in-Chief Cong Corrales that I did email the column, I went to my sent box to take a screenshot as proof, and send it to him. That’s how I discovered that I emailed the column to…me. And that’s the reason he couldn’t find it and thus wasn’t able to post it on the website.

Whenever I make boo-boos nowadays, I always blame them on carbs. So, I’d ask myself, Are you carbs? Instead of, Are you drugs? Which is more appropriate for those two political dynasties that were accusing each other of using…

Drugs was the presidential topic in Pinas when Davao was still occupying Malacanang, and it’s now being resurrected again as a topic by Davao, with the current Malacanang occupant as their target. For it to be discussed again in the presidential level proves that it’s still a problem along with the Scarborough Shoal, and cha-cha—charter change, not the dance.

The accusations have convinced the Pinoy that Davao is interested again in running for president in 2028. No more pa-cute as the vice-presidential candidate. This time, it’s the presidency. To continue the Philippine tradition of a parent passing on his/her presidential wisdom to one of his/her children. Diosdado Macapagal and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Cory Aquino and Noynoy Aquino. Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

If I’ve failed to include some other parent-child presidents, my most sincere apologies for sleeping during my history subjects.

So, the plan is to aim accusations at the current president, hoping that will make even the Ilocanos to have a transfer of affection (TOA)?

But that TOA will never happen. That’s how loyal Ilocanos are.

It’s former Vice President Leni Robredo who must be eating popcorn now, enjoying the show. I remember the 2022 ballot with her name there, and that of Ferdinand Jr.

Those who were around during the 1986 People Power probably stared at Ferdinand Jr’s name for a long time, because the only difference between his name and that of his dad was that one letter—J instead of S. Despite everything that had happened since 1986, with the yellows losing their spark, and VP Leni switching to pink, voting for the Junior was equivalent to saying an absolute goodbye to everything that the 1986 People Power stood for.

My parents talked about World War II. I tend to talk about the 1986 People Power when I’m asked to speak at Namfrel events. Who knew I’d become fond of history?

There’s this meme that goes, “When somebody says ’10 years ago’ I think about the ‘90s instead of 2014.” That’s how 1986 is to me, as if it happened only 10 years ago.

But it’s time to move forward. Enough of having another People Power, and another coup d’etat which did happen when Tita Cory was president.

Those who guarded Edsa and Channel 4 in that peaceful revolution are now old. They have realized that politics is a show. Like a movie. A Netflix series. A teleserye. More popcorn, please! Yeah, carbs. Tsk tsk.