On trust, loyalty, friendship, and duty

Since the "number games" scandals and the so-called Garci tapes came out, the silent majority has been a witness to televised investi-gations, inquiries, passionate expre-ssions of opinions, and various political and legal analyses. As our country faces another challenge, we are once again the epitome of a never-endingly divided people.

It becomes quite apparent, then, that the best or ideal solution is for everyone to do his assigned job well and escape the drowning effects of politics. So, you can see that this is not an article for the opinion section. What I am writing about is a matter of human interest about a past spectacle, a group’s press conference for the head of state to resign. Sheer music to the ears of the opposition, but more than the ecstasy they must have felt, it was a facet that seemed more compelling to me, which touched on trust, friendship, and loyalty. That’s where my human interest sets in.

Speaking about trust, the positions given to presidential appointees are positions of confidence. They are positions of power with corresponding obligations where we are relied upon and expected to perform and behave responsively and act with fairness.

Being appointed to these sensitive positions, we are expected to act as alter egos. Aside from being assured that we have the right skills, the appointing authority should be assured that the people she works with remain steadfast and continue to believe in the direction our boss wants to steer the ship of state. If there was a change of heart somewhere or if consciences dictated otherwise, a simple resignation would have sufficed. Period. Cut clean with decency and elegance. When we trust someone, we open ourselves to some vulnerability, confident that the person will not fail us by exploiting our openness.

Consequently, the very people the President thought were hers stabbed her in the back. I can only empathize with her. What she experienced has become an example to us all about how to choose and confide in so-called friends.

Something similar to this happened to me not long ago. During a low point in my life, the ones I thought were my friends easily realigned themselves in other unfamiliar political configurations. But if there are bad friends, there certainly are good ones.

A handful of people that have remained unwavering continue to be with me strengthening a friendship, working closely with them not necessarily day in and day out. More than friends, these people have become family to me whether in constant touch or in absence. This is why betrayal is painful and harder to take. In the President’s case, it wasn’t just friendship that existed but the solid knot "to do and die" together – to the moving and poignant tune of the song If We Hold On Together.

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Friendship is defined as "the mutual feeling of trust and affection" without the act of exclusion. Apparently, in the President’s sad experience, only one side trusted and the friendship obviously wasn’t mutual.

But to be fair and objective and equal, loyalty to a person ends where loyalty to country begins. Some no longer trusted the President to do what was right for the country and this pushed them to their collective decision to resign. But to hold a press conference to announce their resignation baring naked what they were a part of, anyway, is a different matter. As I have said earlier, if you no longer believe in someone’s policies, especially your Commander-in-Chief, just resign with dignity and not twist the blade further into a gaping wound.

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But it could also be said that loyalty to a person ends when naked ambition sets in. In other words, one’s loyalty to another may end when loyalty to one’s ego begins or looks forward to the opportunities of the next administration.

Depending on whose side you’re on, the current breakaway group can be seen as either protagonists or antagonists. Only history will be the judge of that. In the meantime, events continue to unfold. What we know for sure is that a crisis either brings out the best or worst in a person. Friendship and loyalty continue to be rare. It there’s some consolation, the wheels of life turn and turn as we contemplate emerging opportunities and actual scenarios emerging depicting hope, forgiveness or restitution.

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Politics is a complex concept everywhere in the world. But in the Philippines, it is everyone’s favorite pastime – rich and poor alike. Some say that it is dirty; others indulge in it for a living, while some try to be totally indifferent. But the problem is we cannot escape from it.

Others opine that we Filipinos do not really love politics in itself but love the spectacle of politics. We go gaga over elections the same way we enjoy gay or straight beauty contests, cockfights, and other competitive events. And even as children, we are exposed to numerous competitive spectacles – academic, sports or artistic. The best in this and the best in that, the cleanest this and the greatest that. Our institutions and entities are forever collating and showing off statistics – no matter how dubious the source – that would prove their accomplishments and terrific performance over one another.

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Every three years, we get a regular election fix to satisfy our cravings – not to mention intermittent servings of equally chaotic barangay elections.

During presidential elections, we laboriously write down almost 40 names (in longhand) on incredibly long ballots without complaining. We are slaves to this tri-annual sadomasochistic political ritual. We consider this exercise our sacred duty. And then we fight for another three years over its results – never accepting the outcome. We do not seem to trust ourselves: that’s an understatement.

Loyalty is a lonely word in Philippine society and politics. It does not only reflect the loyalty to a person that we have earlier mentioned. Quezon’s rhetorical quip about his loyalty to his party ending as his loyalty to his country begins is a non sequitur now.

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First of all, there is no real political party or party ideology to speak of. True, there are so-called political parties in our midst, but they are not actual political parties in the political science sense of the term. They do not articulate a common platform, advocacies, and other party programs that members seriously adhere to. They are merely political vehicles, which politicians join to facilitate their electoral pursuits.

If you will examine the platforms of government of most of our parties, you will be surprised that you cannot distinguish one from another. As such, members of one particular party today may jump to another party tomorrow and still be accepted the very next day. In one week, a politician could have belonged to three different parties. Turncoatism is so prevalent today that party membership is not worth a thing. So much for party loyalty.

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For me, what we need now is to go back to the basics. We do not need great political alternatives that boggle the already beleaguered mind of the Filipino. We do not need draconian and complex economic measures to change and improve society. What we need are simple do’s and don’ts that will provide a small amount of respite that will guide us through this dark tunnel towards a brighter tomorrow.

In one of the columns of former Customs Commissioner Ramon Farolan, he cited Alexander Ledesma Lacson’s "Twelve Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help His (or Her) Country." Even as I am armed with a doctorate in philosophy, I have considered these simple guideposts quite worthy for reprinting. Let me enumerate them as I work on the curriculum of the police, fire and jail personnel in my capacity as president of the Philippine Public Safety College, a privilege given to me by Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo:

1) Follow traffic rules.

2) Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an official receipt.

3) Do not buy smuggled goods. Buy local, buy Filipino.

4) When you talk to others, especially foreigners, speak positively of our race and our country.

5) Respect your traffic officer, policemen, soldier and other public servants.

6) Do not litter. Dispose of your garbage properly. Segregate, recycle, conserve.

7) Support your Church.

8) During elections, do your solemn duty.

9) Pay your employees well.

10) Pay your taxes.

11) Adopt a scholar or adopt a poor child.

12) Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and to love our country.