‘How much is that doggy?’

By ButchBagabuyo

 “How patient of history to keep repeating itself when practically nobody listens. History is ‘The crimes, follies and misfortunes of mankind.’” – Edward Gibbon

REP. Rufus Rodriguez, dictated, perhaps, by his most legitimate ambition to be one of our Senators, used everything he knew how, but, perhaps, unwittingly put all the Lumads and the Christians in Mindanao at risk of losing lives, limbs and territorial integrity in favor of the arrogant MILF-BIFF conjoined twins. Only last week, the Ad Hoc Committee on the BBL, with smiles like a newly fed crocs, overwhelmingly favored the fatally flawed BBL, and Speaker Sonny Belmonte had the gull and the audacity to challenge: “Let the BBL critics run to SC.”

How callously arrogant!

With that most irresponsible statement coming from no less than the Speaker of the House, coupled with pre-emptive statements from our prima donnas––our senators––we should now pin our hopes only on God, the Almighty, and ourselves, the teeming hungry poor Pinoys.

Unless, a miracle happens between now and the voting in the Senate, we, the sovereign Filipino people, can expect a repeat of the impeachment trial and conviction of the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the passage of the misnomer reproductive health bill into a law as though our government has power over creation.

Heroically, our two Mindanaoan senators have filed a joint resolution calling for a constitutional convention but since then, they have done nothing spectacular about it. In fact, the two of them are still used if not, bullied into conducting a clear persecution against VP Jejomar Binay when they have a lot more urgent matters to do for dear Mindanao––Sulu, Palawan, Tawi-Tawi.

But what can they really do? They have not even opened their mouths yet on the urgency of having a Constitutional Convention, it being the only way to pursue true and genuine “lasting peace” and posterity in the paradise-like islands of Mindanao, and already the ambitious PNoy clone if not, a tentacle-like Secretary of Justice, has already dragged and willfully tarnished the good name of Sen. Koko Pimentel in the Napoles plunder teleserye if not, fantasy.

Please take note and be reminded that the multibillion-peso Napoles plunder case actually started with LP presidential wannabe Secretary “Yes, Ma’am/Sir” Mar Roxas arranging a meeting with PNoy and the alleged queen of the biggest plunder case ever since the making of plunder as a crime in the country, and, ending up with PNoy, obligingly and smilingly escorting Napoles herself to Camp Crame for finger printing. (But our consuelo de bobo is that PNoy did not drive his high-end personal car). If that is not teleserye or fantasy, then I don’t know what plunder is all about.

Further, please take note that all our loud-mouthed and 15-second fame senators are talking of “not rushing” the passage of the fatally flawed BBL. But none and no one is talking about “trashing” the fatally flawed proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. What’s in it?

Please read that Bangsamoro Constitution, for “Constitution” is the other word for “basic law.” Is it not, honorable members of Congress?

“How much is that doggy in the window,” goes an archaic song.

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“To be ignorant of what happened before you were born is to remain a child forever.”–Cicero

Mindanao’s past is replete with conversions from no-gods to Islam and from Islam to Christianity but there never was a war because of religion. Of course, there were sporadic battles far and between against the sultanates of Sulu and the Maguindanao but not because of religion but rather on turf. (Sulu is the turf of Nur Misuari and his MNLF; Maguindanao belongs to the late Hashim Salamat and the MILF; and the late Umbra Kato’s Maranao and his BIFF.) In short, Mindanao’s isolated pocket rebellions were more on greed rather than faith.

But miracles still happen even today. Supertyphoon Yolanda proved that only God has the power over life and death, and not the reproductive health law. And the ascendancy of PNoy to the presidency was definitely a miracle, taking into account that he was a non-performing legislator with no known political machinery while former Senate President Manny Villar was not only moneyed with widely supported political machinery of his own although named: Nacionalista for convenience.

Sobra ka na, Imperial Manila, sa Mindanao na ta! Mindanao plus Visayas equals landslide victory for all poor Pinoys!

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“In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can to do me.” –Psalms LVI. 11

Thank you, Lord, for everything. And Lord God, kindly teach our leaders to practice honesty and humility so they shall accept the truth that they are our servants and not our masters, and those who have less in life are their true rulers––the sovereign and very source of power and wealth. Finally, Lord, please make our leaders see the glaring light that greed is a flawed and fatal economic principle. Truly, there is more profit in giving than in taking. For it is in giving that we receive. Truly, love begets love. Amen!

(Call or text 09188030197, email to bagabuyos@yahoo.com, and check out iluvmindanao.net)