Insensitive president

We value one's passing especially when that somebody has touched our lives or contributed something great to the society. This is the case of our Philippine National Police-Special Action Force, elite trained of forty-four policemen who have lost their lives and some seriously wounded in course of serving our country in a bloody morning of January 26, 2015 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. It was a noble act that left the dreams of many parents, wives, children, and relatives shattered.

And so their greatness must be recognized and valued that their last physical presence can be seen by loved ones' naked eyes. And for the whole country, their gallant contribution must be honored and remembered. As men in uniform, such recognition must be from no less than their commander in chief. However this is not the case when their caskets landed at the Villamor Air Base because their commander in chief was nowhere to be found. Yes because he was in another place, in another event.

President Aquino opted to follow his original schedule that morning - the inauguration of a Mitsubishi plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Yes our president can attend weddings like that of celebrities Marian and Dingdong. Yes our president can attend movie private screenings like that of Praybeyt Benjamin. And yes he can attend inaugurations like that of the Mitsubishi plant. And yes he can be anywhere but not in the grieving moments of the family members like that of killed transgender Jennifer Laude because he does know the family, and not that of the families who are mourning for their loved ones who fought for their country.

I'm in lost for words when I knew that Noynoy chose to attend an inauguration of a car manufacturing company over the arrival honors of our fallen police officers. This gesture shows how little he values their sacrifices. He is not worth the loyalty. He is not worth the sacrifices. He is not worth your blood. He is not worth your lives. You know who's worth it? The people, the masses. The government is not the people. I believe your oath is to serve and protect the people and going against the government does not violate this oath.

Not in the case of President Obama who cancelled his scheduled meeting just to meet the returned bodies of fallen troops. President Obama arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to honor the 22 navy seals and eight other American troops killed in Afghanistan when an insurgent shot down their helicopter. Reports from those at the scene indicate the president paid his respects to the soldiers in private.

Obama canceled a visit to Interstate Moving Services in Springfield, Va., just outside of Washington, to talk about fuel efficiency standards for work trucks, buses, and other heavy duty vehicles. Instead he met industry leaders behind closed doors at the White House.

Whatever excuses Pinoy and his aides would provide to the Filipinos, still in our minds, we have a president who is insensitive to the sentiments and feelings. If such presidential sensitivity was shown, a stronger valuing sense of greatness to what our police officers have done for the country would have been elicited among Filipinos. It only takes this simple gesture-his presence---that the family members would feel that they have a president who truly values heroic acts for the country.

Some national issues polarize us. It is just right for the head of the country to exert effort to ignite unity among us. It is this kind of spirit that despite our divergent stands, we are united with our sentiments and aspirations for peace and unity.

I pray for the eternal repose of our noble fallen heroes. Their death is not put into vain for it has rekindled the desire for Filipinos to achieve real, and hopefully lasting, peace in Mindanao. And I also hope for more wisdom for the president as he shall gain personal sensitivity for national healing and unity.