The worst spanking I had from my late mother happened when I was in Grade One. I was at the table for an early breakfast prior to leaving for school. My yaya Elisa (who died at 92 years just last December) served sinangag and tortang giniling.
I refused to touch the food, insisting to be served fresh pineapples with my sinangag. She coaxed me into eating the breakfast, but I answered back, “A, basta!” and pushed the plate to the table’s edge.
My mom, who was yet on the way to the table, saw this and scolded me. I stubbornly refused to budge. Whereupon, she got hold of a belt and whipped me in the buttocks. I stubbornly looked at her, and yelled, “A, basta! ‘Yun ang gusto ko,” and ran away. She chased me and kept whipping me with the sinturon no end.
I recalled this incident upon reading the latest in Secretary-designate Regina Lopez’ petulant remarks complaining at all the perceived “obstacles” to her environmental do-gooding, from “greedy” miners to their “protectors” in government, be they DENR officials whom she did not like, or members of Congress, or the Finance department, and now, the executive secretary.
She accused ES Salvador Medialdea of “counter-acting” her order requiring suspended mining companies to give two million pesos for every hectare of land affected by their mining activities, ostensibly to uplift the plight of the farmers and fishermen affected by what she considers an undesirable economic activity.
“Medialdea is going against the very spirit of the Duterte administration which is to help the poor,” the secretary-designate generalized.
Walang tama kundi siya.
Basta ’ya, the elitist bent wrapped in crusading clothes always and instinctively exclaims when fellow members of the human race dare to question the legality, propriety or economic repercussions of her rash decisions and pronouncements.
One should admire her crusading spirit, but wonders if all that’s needed for her to perform effectively as a member of the cabinet is spirit.
Medialdea for his part, calmly but immediately reacted by saying that he was just following the proper procedure. “Rules under appeal remain until the President has decided to take action already”.
“Appeals to the [Office of the President] go to the executive secretary and not directly to the President. Our office applies the rules on appeal uniformly. The decision or order appealed from is temporarily stayed, unless the case falls under any of the exceptions,” Medialdea stated.
“The stay order does not contradict the President’s policy against destructive mining operations. It is provisional in character and may be set aside or modified at any time during the pendency of the appeal.
“It’s not a ruling on the merits; it merely seeks to preserve the status quo ante until it is lifted for justifiable reasons or until a decision is arrived at on the merits,” the executive secretary elucidated.
Lopez, however, accused the primus inter pares in the rarefied circle to which she has been designated, as hampering “social justice”.
“All I’m asking, and I gave the order, that you can remove the stockpile. You can, because it’s an environmental standard—just give P2 million for every hectare of farmland that you have disadvantaged out of the [rehabilitation] zone,” she said.
“What’s happened is Bingbong MediaIdea has given a directive to all the mining companies counteracting my order. [It’s like] he’s going against the very spirit of the Duterte administration, which is to help the poor. So I’m not really happy about this at all,” she added.
Basta ya, Bingbong! How dare esto Bingbong counteract her order!
She speaks “ex cathedra” on all matters pertaining to the environment, never mind due process, never mind whatever laws there are.
Unfortunately, Atty. Bingbong cannot get his cinturon and beat her to proper senses. Only El Digong and/or the Commission on Appointments can do so.
Vamos a ver.
* * *
My lola always admonished us, “huwag magtatanim ng poot”.
The late chief Justice and later Senate president Marcelo “Tito Celing” Fernan once remarked about then President Joseph Estrada, who defeated him in 1992 for the vice presidency, as “dili mag-dumot” (Bisaya for what my lola admonished).
After Erap became president in 1998, his first choice for Senate president was Fernan, who unfortunately succumbed to the big C not long after.
In his 80th birthday celebration at the Manila Hotel last Wednesday night, he gallantly escorted the lady who wrested the presidency from him in 2001, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, from entrance to the presidential table where sat personalities both colorful and controversial.
Even Chavit Singson was there, among many others who had “dumped” him in the lowest point of his life.
No wonder now Manila Mayor Estrada at 80 remains cool and composed, not a withering old man consumed by “poot” or saddled by regrets over what might have been.
He takes life as it comes, one chapter at a time, one victory followed by misfortune, whether political or personal, and moves on. Rather, bounces back.
“Kay dili mag-dumot.”
* * *
Good news from Taiwan keep coming in.
First, their Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the lifting of visas for Filipinos and other Asean nationals who wish to visit this uber-green island on a 30-day stay as tourists.
Then last Tuesday, their Ministry of Labor announced that migrant workers (our 135,000 OFW’s included) can now avail of paid personal, bereavement and marriage leaves, similar to Taiwan nationals, for as long as they have been continuously employed for at least a year.
Last Thursday, the Cabinet of President Tsai certified a bill for approval by the Legislative Yuan (Parliament) which would seek to attract more foreign professionals to come and work in Taiwan. The incentives proposed are quite liberal, but let’s wait until their legislature passes it in final form.