Arrogance of power

It was absolutely wrong for Mike Defensor to attack Jamby Madrigal’s family without checking the facts. It is quite obvious as the records would show that the Madrigals are wealthy with a proud heritage. For decades a good number of their clan served the country with distinction. Judge Jose Abad Santos, who was a World War II martyr, comes to mind. And of course there is Doña Chito Madrigal Collantes, who many may not know has been one of the greatest philantrophists of this country today and has given so much of her wealth to a number of charitable projects.

It was absolutely arrogant of Mike Defensor and he continues to be arrogant for not apologizing in making a wrong accusation. People in positions of power, especially public officials, who serve at the pleasure of the people should be more circumspect in their words and deeds toward representatives of the people like the good senator. Of course, people in Media are given a little more latitude. Jinggoy Estrada made a mistake in publicly castigating PNP chief Egay Aglipay in a condescending manner. It is a good thing Sen. Fred Lim, who knows the fine balance of firmness with respect, calmed Jinggoy – who seemed hysterical.

People, most especially public officials, should never forget the lessons of history. History has taught us so many instances about the arrogance of power and its inevitable fall. Rome fell because its arrogance was aggravated by its decadence. Napoleon overstretched himself because of his arrogance and his belief that he was invincible. Saddam Hussein thought he was all-powerful and that he could do whatever he wanted. Like Hitler, his invasion of Kuwait and the war with Iran did him in. The wrath of the world and ultimately, the United States toppled him with a rude awakening.

He was literally captured in a hole like a rat.

In this country, we too have our own history to learn starting with EDSA 1.

And of course, there is our friend Erap Estrada who did not realize his mistake until it was too late. He refused to heed his advisers’ warning on presidential indiscretions. He told his advisers, "Mag-presidente muna kayo!", which sounded arrogant. Shortly thereafter, he woke up one morning out of power. These are the lessons that people in power must always remember – power is never permanent. In fact, just the other day, the driver of Press Sec. Toting Bunye was berated by this so-called general’s son, who didn’t realize that his adversary was the driver of a Cabinet Member. This is another example of arrogance of the so-called "people in power" looking down on the helpless. It resulted in his detention. If not for Toting Bunye, this punk would have gotten away with it.

When we were young, my parents always taught us to always treat maids with respect. These are the lessons I have never forgotten because no matter how menial their jobs are they are just as human as we are. Dismissing them as "mere maids or drivers" is the biggest hypocrisy that one can be guilty of.

Today, maids, drivers, waiters, and seamen are the saviors of this country.

They are the OFWs who have sacrificed so much, keeping the economy afloat.

Those who have wealth or power should never flaunt it. Because as a professor of mine once said, "When one is powerful or wealthy, it simply radiates." A truly powerful person doesn’t repel people because he knows how to deal with people from all walks of life. There are some people who think that they have the right to lord it over people and run roughshod over the "commoners" just because they were born with an illustrious name or to wealth. You may inherit a good name but power, respect, and trust are earned not imposed.

Which reminds me of a story related by a retired Philippine Air Lines cabin crewmember a number of years ago when PAL was still under government control. In a Manila-San Francisco flight, an arrogant government official traveling on a non-revenue-must ride (NR-MR) ticket swaggered into the First Class cabin intimidating the crew with the classic "Don’t you know who I am?" spiel. Throughout the flight he was making all sorts of unreasonable demands and being a real pain. Because of his arrogance, the crew got back at him serving him coffee laced with spit and urine. He never knew what hit him. In a rare display of gratitude during the flight he complimented the crew on the excellence of the brew. Similarly, a well-known matron who was "bitchy" toward waiters at one of the five-star hotels was served soup laced with the same "seasoning." If you really think about it, no matter how powerful one thinks he is – you’re really at the mercy of those who serve you.

I remember a refrain from Raul Manglapus’ Land of Bondage, Land of the Free at an elocution contest I joined during my schooldays at the Ateneo. In the 1930s, Manglapus had written a piece with reference to the encomenderos during the Spanish times. Today, it can very well be addressed to people in power who so blatantly abuse it and run roughshod over "small people" with total disregard for their state in life. I remember that last ominous refrain so well: "Build a wall around your home. Build it high! Build it strong! Place a guard on every corner of your house. For I, the Filipino who has been silent for three hundred years will come to you in the night while you are feasting, with my cry and my bolo at your door. And may God have mercy on your soul!"

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