Big men behaving like small boys

This pandemic crisis has exposed who are really the big men and who are the small boys. Tomorrow, we shall write about episodes of small people acting like great men. Today, let’s tackle not-so-funny spectacles of supposedly big, honorable men making fools of themselves, by acting no better than small boys.

We refer, with due respect, to former senator Jinggoy Estrada, for being arrested in San Juan, for reportedly distributing fresh bangus, like it were a normal campaign time. I also was disgusted with the demeanor of Senator Koko Pimentel, former Bar topnotcher and erstwhile Senate President for violating quarantine protocol. He was reprimanded on air by the hospital director.

Shakespeare, in his “As You Like It”, wrote of the seven stages in the life of each man: infant, school boy, lover, soldier, judge, old man, and the stage of second childishness. These great men acting like small boys should know the nation is watching them. They better behave their age. In this connection, I also mention that foreigner, allegedly a Spanish national, wrestled with a person in authority, shouted alleged invectives, and refused to obey our laws outside the domain of his home. And that scene was seen and heard by millions of Filipinos via national television. That man might think we are still Spanish colony, and he is Captan Tiago or Padre Damaso.

I think this was in the same exclusive village where the Binays, some years ago, had an altercation with the security guards who refused to give a grand entrance to the ruling family in that wealthy city. And talking of the Binays, I recall in the 2016 election campaign, when the former mayor Junjun, and a former congresswoman, Abigail, now city mayor, argued in a church, also seen by the whole nation via national TV.  These two siblings are children of a former vice president and mayor, and a mother who was a mayor too. We expect much from royal families. The noble house of Queen Elizabeth would never do those nasty things.

Big folks acting like children are a great abomination to a suffering nation, whose small “hoi polloi” are arrogantly and mindlessly arrested, mauled, and imprisoned for not wearing masks, and for going out during lockdown.

I also refer to the rich residents of an exclusive condo in Fort Bonifacio who refused to practice social distancing, by having a party around the swimming pool. They charge the police of abuse of authority, as if implying their enclaves are beyond the law’s reach. They even called the police nasty names, and defied the call of Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano. Then a retired Supreme Court justice, alleged human rights violations. But the mayor retorted correctly, that he might know the law but he didn’t know the facts. And so, he shut up. Then a few days ago General Sinas was given a mañanita party inside Camp Crame. And the PNP Chief was quick to absolve Sinas of any irregularity. What is happening to our country, general?

The cruelest cut of them all is when President Trump alleged that COVID-19 is a conspiracy between China and the Democratic Party in order to defeat him in the elections come November. I have always looked up to the US as a respectable nation led by honorable men. Men like Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, FDR, and JFK.  But Trump, my God. He isn’t just a US president, he is a world leader. We expect him to speak and act accordingly. To quote Mark Anthony “Oh, Judgment, thou art fled to brutish beast, and men have lost their reason.” What can I say but sigh.