P-Noy, Poe and Ping….

People are once again talking and thinking about who they want to vote, whom to make President, or who should run for the Senate. Then someone asked me: Why do we have such lousy leaders and bad politicians?

The answer dear Pedro is our sin: the idolatry of politicians.

We have made politicians the “all in one solution,” the super hero with feet of clay, the person who can make our wishes come true, or at the very least someone we like better than the current person in office. Think hard about the term “Idolatry of Politicians” dear Pedro because there was a nation as young and simple as we are now, called Israel. Fortunate to be loved by God, protected and blessed, until they made a very serious mistake; taking the first step to Idolatry of Politicians.

That nation had the unique favor and title as God’s chosen people. They traveled in his presence, lived under his protection, they sat back as God wiped out their enemies and they were constantly within hearing and feeling distance of God. They had it made! They were even provided with human go-betweens who gave them regular updates from God whether it was reassurance or rebuke for being pain in the butts. Moses came first and he was even given super powers, then Joshua the wall breaker, the Judges featuring Samson the brat who brought more enemies to the grave with him than he ever killed in his life time.

Then one day when Samuel the go-between got old and no replacement prophet seemed to be in sight, the elders of the Israelites did something really dumb, they decide to copy their enemies and ask to have a King to rule over them. “ We want a King over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles”.  Just switch the word King with President and we’re in business! This really hurt the Prophet Samuel but I figure it pissed off God even more. Speaking to Samuel, God said: “It is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.”

We’ve done the same.

We used to be the only “Christian country in Asia” since Magellan. We were Number 2 to Japan in economic and political maturity. Our great grandparents were deeply religious and blessed. But now we have become like the Old Testament Israelites; OFWs scattered into the four corners of the earth, mocked, attacked, enslaved. We look at the leaders of our neighbors and dream of finding our own versions of Lee Kuan Yew, Mahathir, etc. Every counterpoint to current and disappointing politicians, are quickly propped up as the alternative choice. In all of it we choose to be blind to the truth that no one person can solve our collective problems, not even an entire Senate of Angels could do the job, because in the end each of us has a job and a responsibility to perform if this nation will ever be transformed.

First we need to admit and confess that we are guilty of Idolatry of Politicians. They are flesh and bone mortals not divine beings although some pretend to be. If we want the blessing back, then we need to seriously be sorry for replacing God with people who at the end of the day are just like us! I also told someone recently that instead of looking for leaders, we need to lead; lead in our homes and be the good example, lead in our offices with competence and compassion, lead in our communities with a true spirit of service and not the services rendered by a TRAPO or Traditional Politician. 

Until we do so, God will curse us with the kind of leaders and false Kings that he warned the Israelites would end up ruling over them (Samuel 8:11-18). In the last verse God says something that many people will sense applies to their current sentiment and our present political situation or dissatisfaction: “When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the King you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

Yes we have to vote; yes we have to choose our leaders with wisdom so we don’t end up voting for “wisely” or “Anonymous”. But stop giving the credit and the authority to man when it belongs to God.

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Critics and experts alike will assume that Malacañang is orchestrating a multi-prong counter offensive to dilute the effects of the Senate Report and the PNP report on the Mamasapano Massacre in order to save P-Noy’s butt from being burned any further. Senator Trillanes’ counter claims against members of the SAF has the same effects as a catfish kicking up mud to make an escape, the CHR report, if it is worth the paper it’s written on also discredits the SAF and PNP, and from what I’ve read in the news, the DOJ report is reportedly slanted to the President’s defense.

Truth be told, they are all doing their job, defending their leader and should be expected from them. But the President and his people in Malacañang can do better than to follow the lead of a PR or legal tactician whose work has simply prolonged the President’s agony and kept him in the spotlight!

Rather than stir up confusion, poking your critics and your enemies, why not simply focus on the job, pump up the projects, get your people especially at the DA, DepEd, MMDA and DOTC to double time on their performance and MOVE ON MR. PRESIDENT. If you’re critics and enemies don’t matter then stop talking about them, mentioning their handiwork or showing your annoyance. Because when you do, it means they’re getting to you. If you can’t stop yourself, then please name your enemies and don’t generalize because “Pahapyaws” or generic pot shots simply breed more Gremlins for your nightmare!

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