In a cave far, far away

Netnet Camomot .

THERE are Fridays that feel like a Saturday, and once it’s Saturday, it feels like Sunday. So, you stay home, wear pajamas the whole day, and that can be the best vacation ever. If only you can stop eating while at it. But there you are, constantly opening the bedroom fridge for peanuts, hot choco sachets, and the pasalubong from Jordan—Zalatimo Sweets. Operative word: sweets. With the bottom of the package saying, “Assorted Traditional Baklava.”

That’s Jordan the country, not Michael Jordan the basketball player. And the pasalubong is not from President Rody Duterte and his entourage that went to Jordan last month.

“If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, then you are richer than 75 percent of this world,” says a meme which focuses on the positive side of life. It doesn’t say, If you have no food in the refrigerator, no clothes on your back, no roof over your head and no place to sleep…

But there are people who do focus on what they don’t have. At the end of the day, they count the blessings of their best friend, their neighbor, their colleagues, but never their own. So, they begin to destroy the life of their best friend, neighbor and colleagues, perhaps with the hope those blessings will transfer to them. Well, it doesn’t work that way. First of all, they need a good heart so they can finally see what they have.

Everyone in this world is unique. To each his own. What makes you happy may not make others happy. And you can never become the other person. You are you, and that’s enough as long as you can truly savor life as it happens.

Be grateful with the gifts that have been showered upon you. If only each person realizes that, then this world will be a better place.

Well, that’s the ideal world.

And in an ideal world, all political parties can work together for a common goal. Obviously, Pinas is far from ideal. But at least we’re aware of Duterte’s goal: war on drugs. How successful has it been? If a drug addict now hides in a cave far, far away each time he’s using drugs, then, the war is working. But if he has regressed to manufacturing shabu right there in his neighborhood where everyone knows his “monkey business,” then, the war on drugs has been lost in translation.

Duterteelated issues are what Senator Sonny Trillanes has been fighting against. His fans, of course, look forward to his next press briefing while the non-fan would rather watch paint dry. Ho-hum. Trillanes should wear a bright yellow T-shirt to boost his telegenic appeal—yup, wear his heart on his sleeve.

The Pinoy who’s rolling his eyes each time Trillanes is on TV and Facebook won’t be surprised if ever the senator will run for president in 2022, with Senator Leila de Lima as his vice presidentiable.

The gullible Pinoy should be careful, though, on who he listens to starting this month when the wannabes will be filing their certificates of candidacy. Wait, is there a connection between that and “Red October”? Hmmm.

Duterte has been president for two years. That’s not 20 years. So, why the clamor to oust him? But if he wishes to be replaced before the end of his term, he can then retire and wear pajamas the whole day. Yay.

If ever Vice President Leni Robredo will replace Duterte, Pinas will have a deja vu as it returns to the Tita Cory era. The soft voice. The maternal instinct. The saintly and holy image. “Sugar and spice and everything nice.” Definitely no p*t*ng in* blurting out of nowhere. The making-tusok-tusok-the-bola-bola crowd will be happy again as they flaunt their yellow colors, ribbons and pins.

Let’s see what businesses will prosper once the yellows are back. Esep-esep! No wonder Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos could easily convince the Pinoy that the Marcos-versus-Aquino issue is merely a family “feud.”

But in a viral video that shows Rep. John Bertiz seemingly refusing to go through the usual airport security protocol, it’s Gov. Imee who willingly removed her shoes and went through inspection without a fuss. That’s Imee, the daughter of the late dictator. So, what does that say now of Bertiz? That he’s worse than the Marcoses? If given the chance to be the country’s president, that is.

The Marcoses have probably learned their lessons well. In this age of closed-circuit television, camera phones and Facebook Live, good behavior in public places has become the norm. Being the eldest daughter of former President Ferdinand Marcos, whose name appears in the Guinness World Records’ “greatest robbery of a government,” it’s wise to improve what’s left of the family’s public image if they still have plans to occupy Malacanang again.

Meanwhile, it’s TGIF! Thank God it’s Ferdinand? Well, that’s true for Marcos loyalists. But for the madlang pehpohl, it’s a deep sigh of relief for now: thank God it’s Friday.