Emilio’s ‘dawbi’

Cong Corrales

MY father, editor, and friend, Emilio Fernando Velez Corrales, always had an “argument trap” in his back pocket which he would whip out whenever he got into an argument with a fanatic or the discussion is going nowhere.

Many a Misamisnon has actually used it. It’s the indomitable “dawbi.” The closest English translation I could think of is “what if.”

As I have posted on my Facebook wall that I have this nagging feeling I’ve seen these before when Betamax video players were still used — like a deja vu while on an epically bad acid trip. From the campaign anchored on making the country “great again” through “revolutionary” changes in the bureaucracy.

The looming changing of the guards at the Palace and the mid-level technocrats panicking if the new administration would put them on tight short leash or just be like Emilio before — a “frozen” regional director. They, after all, were part of the losing administration — whether they liked it or not.

Emilio wasn’t around much when I was growing up. Emilio was stationed in Cotabato City for months on end for the most part of my elementary years in the early ’80s. Papa was one of then President Corazon Aquino’s “frozen delights.” They were regional directors of various ministries of ousted strongman Ferdinand Marcos’ “new society,” which were either devolved or in my father’s case, reinvented from being the Ministry of Information then into the Office of Media Affairs–forerunners of today’s Philippine Information Agency.

While the Cory Aquino government was running high. It felt like every Filipino was high on hope. However, history taught us that Cory Aquino’s administration was one of the bloodiest administrations (e.g. the coup attempts, Mendiola massacre, etc.)

Methinks Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s meteoric rise to power is no different from all the other presidents who promised change yet had Palace rent-seekers — who bankrolled their campaign war chest — clinging on their heels to remind the new president at every opportunity of their contribution to make it happen.

We were able to have a sneak-peak at how his administration would advance the economy of the country. We have also seen Palace rent-seekers gawking and rubbernecking now that the new Cabinet is open for applicants. The Cabinet which supposedly would dish out the change promised during the most uncouth, up-close and personal, not to mention most polarizing campaign in the history of the country.

At the risk of sounding cynical, I dare say: What if everything will still be the same? Dawbi og mao lang gihapon? Like what street parliamentarians chant: Waki-waki — Walay kalainan, walay kausaban. Except this time, we have a new president who has a penchant for taking shortcuts — extrajudicial killings. It will be different, yes, only bloodier.

Duterte apologists, please don’t launch an online campaign to assassinate my character or Joe-Pesci-forbid “salvage” me. I’m just offering a way out for you in case this administration turns south (no pun intended there)– Dawbi.

MY father, editor, and friend, Emilio Fernando Velez Corrales, always had an “argument trap” in his back pocket which he would whip out whenever he got into an argument with a fanatic or the discussion was going nowhere.

Many a Misamisnon has used it. It’s the indomitable “dawbi.” The closest English translation I could think of is “what if.”

As I have posted on my Facebook wall I have this nagging feeling I’ve seen these before when Betamax video players were still used — like a deja vu while on an epically bad acid trip. The campaign anchored on making the country “great again” through “revolutionary” changes in the bureaucracy.

The looming changing of the guards at the Palace and the mid-level technocrats panicking if the new administration would put them on a tight short leash or just be like Emilio before — a “frozen” regional director. They, after all, were part of the losing administration — whether they liked it or not.

Emilio wasn’t around much when I was growing up. Emilio was stationed in Cotabato City for months on end for most of my elementary years in the early ’80s. Papa was one of then-President Corazon Aquino’s “frozen delights.” They were regional directors of various ministries of ousted strongman Ferdinand Marcos’ “new society,” which were either devolved or in my father’s case, reinvented from being the Ministry of Information into the Office of Media Affairs–forerunners of today’s Philippine Information Agency.

While the Cory Aquino government was running high, it felt like every Filipino was high on hope. However, history taught us that Cory Aquino’s administration was one of the bloodiest administrations (e.g. the coup attempts, Mendiola massacre, etc…)

Methinks Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s meteoric rise to power is no different from all the other presidents who promised change yet had Palace rent-seekers — who bankrolled their campaign war chest — clinging on their heels to remind the new president at every opportunity of their contribution to make it happen.

We were able to have a sneak peek at how his administration would advance the economy of the country. We have also seen Palace rent-seekers gawking and rubbernecking now that the new Cabinet is open for applicants. The Cabinet supposedly would dish out the change promised during the most uncouth, up-close, and personal, not to mention the most polarizing campaign in the history of the country.

At the risk of sounding cynical, I dare say: What if everything will still be the same? Dawbi og mao lang gihapon? Like what street parliamentarians chant: Waki-waki — Walay kalainan, walay kausaban. Except this time, we have a new president who has a penchant for taking shortcuts — extrajudicial killings. It will be different, yes, only bloodier.

Duterte apologists, please don’t launch an online campaign to assassinate my character or Joe-Pesci-forbid “salvage” me. I’m just offering a way out for you in case this administration turns south (no pun intended there)– Dawbi.