We have said it in no uncertain terms that President Noynoy Aquino could have been drunk with power. We have surmised that the popular vote he got in the last elections was some kind of an intoxicant—an intoxicant so sweet and powerful it could have had a habit-forming effect on his sensibilities as a State official.
Even the simplest man can be a great philosopher. Datu Mansumuy-at did not graduate with high honors, he did not earn a degree, nor did he study law. In fact, he has not gone to school at all. Yet he knows a lot about governance. This goes to show that even those who are voiceless have a mind.
Again, President Noynoy manifests his awesome power in disregard of the legitimate guidelines and processes involved in the selection of a National Artist. In a very arbitrary act that smacks of disdain and injustice he snubbed the proclamation of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA} and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) for Nora Aunor as National Artist for Movie.
What a heartening experience that despite the constant drum of raindrops on the roofs and the ceaseless pounding of habagat seawaves in our corner of the world, come this host of friends from the neighborhood to enliven my drab evening with interesting discussion on the jailing of Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada.
June 26. I can still remember the feeling of seeing a ‘picket’ for the first time—amazed yet curious. When we passed by them, I heard one shouted, “Hustisya para kay Karen at Sherlyn, at sa lahat ng biktima ng pagdukot!” Another cried, “Surface all desaparecidos!” I got interested, so I peeked on their placards and saw photos of two women smiling with their names below—KAREN EMPEÑO and SHERLYN CADAPAN.