Good manners and social graces for the number two

For vice presidents, vice governors, and vice mayors, we are writing a book on how to behave in relation to the number one, that is the president, the governor, and the mayor. For the sake of harmony, synergy, and teamwork, in the interests of public service, it is imperative that the number one and the number two are in tandem.

In general, Vice President Leny Robredo is behaving with utmost grace and silent cooperation. Just like how the normally-subdued, self-effacing, and humble Vice Governor Junjun Davide appears to be in silent harmony with the dragon lady, the ever-passionate and dynamic Governor Gwen. I had my initial fears about my good friend, Mike Rama, who is usually active, aggressive, and loquacious, in relation to the self-restrained, cool and calm Mayor Edgar Labella. But the way I see it now, the two are doing well. Mayor Edgar knows how to play with former mayor Mike, and the latter is, thank God, trying his very best to support and cooperate with his mayor whom he calls “lantip, lig-on” ug lovable Labella. I hope that harmony lasts.

For the good of the people, the vice president should refrain from openly attacking the president. On this, I salute VP Leny, with her good breeding and innate graceful character, she has succeeded in holding her fire, even when provoked endlessly by such characters as presidential spokesman Harry Roque and other underlings and subalterns of Malacañang. Of course, at times, the vice president has to answer queries from reporters, some of whom have the penchant for pushing political leaders to hitting each other, with some leading and misleading lines of questioning. We are lucky that the vice president is not easily provoked or irritated despite some very draconian issues that tend to divide the nation, like the Anti-Terrorism Law.

I recall that vice president Jojo Binay did not belong to PNoy's party but the two did not bicker because Binay was given roles by Aquino relative to OFWs and housing. And Binay was a loyal “rambotito” in the sixties who was ready to die for PNoy's mom, Tita Cory, who was beleaguered by seven coups. The stormy relationship was that of President Erap and vice president GMA. The latter was seen as too overqualified and the president was perceived only as over-popular. Thus, the relationship ended with the number two ousting the number one. Erap, as vice president to FVR, had a more peaceful time because Ramos made Erap a crime czar to keep him busy and not stray out of bounds.

GMA had a falling out with VP Guingona when the latter accused her of many nasty things, thus he was replaced by the most obedient, and most subservient VP in all history, Noli de Castro. This guy was no threat at all to the presidency because he knew his own limitations and behaved accordingly. President Cory had problems with vice president, Doy Laurel, who knew too much and thought that Cory knew too little. Marcos never had problems with Arturo Tolentino and Fernando Lopez. FM was too brilliant and too smart to be outwitted or outmaneuvered. But Macapagal had problems with vice president Emmanuel Pelaez who also wanted to be president. And he was eminently qualified. Mindanao should have its first president as early as 1966, but Marcos was too astute as to deny him that.

Macapagal was ignored by Garcia, but Garcia was loved by Magsaysay. Quirino was also loved by Roxas and Osmeña and Quezon were perfectly in harmony. If the presidents, governors, and mayors only know how to motivate and live in harmony with their number two, it is the people who shall reap all the benefits of their synergy and teamwork. I am excited to write this book about the manners and ethics for number two.