THREE weeks ago, I got wind of the Martin Scorsese movie “Casino.” It starred Academy Award winners Robert de Niro and Joe Pesci, along with femme fatale Sharon Stone.
This movie was on Netflix for a couple of weeks — this opened up my appreciation of Scorsese’s vision on the crime genre.
“Casino” tells the story of “Ace” Rothstein, a casino entrepreneur affiliated with the Chicago Outfit, a Mafia. The gambling entities he operated were under the crime group’s watch; as such, he had to make sure authorities within the Las Vegas area won’t flinch into his activities.
He was partnered with Nicky Santoro, his childhood friend who happened to establish his deep affinity with the entire group. They were hand-in-hand in managing the establishments Chicago had built across the Sin City.
They were in tandem…for all the wrong pretensions.
Nicky, feeling his own heat to use his hands, was always in the mood to kill.
It was exposed early on that he could not keep things low and subtle, opting to pierce his knife through anyone who could spar him in his face. Though short, he was powerful by no means. His influence affected Ace’s tactics of doing things subtly, which fully compromised the casinos they had operated.
Nicky represents an ally who can do nothing but to start a brawl. He did every muscle in his system to round up his enemies and beat them. They would punch, kick, and pound them until blood could flow out from their spleen. Up to the death, they were relentless. Merciless, even.
But his ill-tempered approach that compromised the Mafia had seen his days numbered. He was taken to an unnamed corn field where he was exacted upon by his old pals. He died at their hands with his bloodied body being hit by the bat countless times and was buried immediately while he was still barely breathing.
The mafia is a system of goons, yes, but Nicky Santoro was someone else.
And Santoro represents every single Duterte Diehard Supporter scrambling around for some new allies.
As disgraced Rep. Zaldy Co exploded some accusations of Marcos and Romualdez’s involvement in the flood control scandal, some of Duterte’s allies have hailed his testimony.
People in the comments section have already mellowed their stance, saying that he should be believed as he has exposed the truth they wanted to believe.
But they might have forgotten that his testimony was not backed with substantial evidence. His words were placed on an empty plastic bag. The DDS have made him an ally.
Or worse, a sacrificial lamb. They’ll be so ready to believe in anything that would only implicate the president with no substantial basis at all regardless of the weight.
And some from their camp have even accused the “pinklawans” for “benifiting” (sic) from the current administration.
Bato might’ve ignored his autocorrect function in correcting the word “benefit,” but he also shunned any proof that Kiko, Bam, Risa and their company are showing their resistance towards the administration.
Or maybe because he had been used to seeing tatay Digong beating them up day by day.
Bato, who is also facing his troubles with the ICC, is the image of the entire Davao faction. “We’ll believe anything you’d say as long as it would bring tatay Digong home.” All talk, all brawls, no brains.
Speaking of which, the Iglesia ni Cristo is currently holding its protests at the moment.
Is Central Avenue trying to toe the line between giving in to another “EDSA Tres” or keeping their shoes neutral?
For an organization that prides itself on endorsing winning presidents, they can only do so little now to make the public believe that their fight is for the common good.
A “better democracy” must allow all Filipinos to THINK. Not to be dictated upon on WHAT to think. Churches, therefore, must preach this free will.
(Editor’s Note: The Catholic and Protestant churches are not officially participating in the current Iglesia Ni Cristo rally at Luneta and the EDSA Shrine. The Catholic Church, in particular, has explicitly distanced itself from the event and issued statements to avoid misleading claims of involvement.)
(The writer is a 20-something year-old who floats around between writing and keeping himself company inside his room. For comments, you may send them at ngrolando2003@yahoo.com.)
