King Charles' coronation and the suffering world

Does the suffering world today need to join in the celebration of a monarch's coronation while wars are raging in Sudan and Ukraine, millions are dying of hunger and disease in Africa and the world is on the brink of a world famine, exacerbated by worsening effects of climate change, not to mention the resurgence of another global health crisis? Can our logic and philosophy ever reconcile reckless profligacy of kings and queens and the food crisis confronting millions on the other side of the world?

Do presidents and prime ministers have to leave their suffering people behind and to spend much-needed funds just to attend a largely-ceremonial extravagance, to indulge in an ostentatious display of royal wealth while the rest of humanity is either mired in war and extreme destitution? That includes the heads of states of third-world countries like the Philippines. Their own people are suffering from the perennial threats of impending food crisis, water crisis, runaway inflation, and starvation wages. Millions are homeless and live in shanties infested with rats and pests. They have no access to clean water and when they get sick, they cannot afford basic healthcare. How can the suffering world justify an anachronistic royalty at these very critical times in human history?

King Charles III ascended to the throne of the United Kingdom last September 8 upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. His ceremonial coronation today at Westminster Abbey is attended by the creme dela creme, the who's who in the royal world, including Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Sweden's King Carl Gustav XVI and his daughter Crown Princess Victoria, Netherlands’ King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima, Belgium's King Phillippe and Queen Mathilde, Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary, Norway's Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, Prince Albert and Princess of Arlene of the wealthy principality of Monaco, Luxembourg's Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Theresa, Thailand's King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida, and hundreds of other royal monarchs of poor nations like Bhutan, Tonga, and Ghana.

Of course, all the members of the UK royalty are going to attend, including Crown Prince William and Princess Kate with their three children; Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Only Prince Harry is attending as Princess Meghan is making a very eloquent political statement by snubbing this event. She is telling the whole world that she is standing with the suffering humanity by shying away from those extravagant displays of wealth and profligacy. Prince Harry is also there alone and perhaps ostracized by the royal household. The heads of states of major NATO allies and EU member nations are also attending, like France, Germany, Italy, Portugal. The US will be represented by the first lady. No US president ever attended such a ceremony ever in the past.

The Philippines, a struggling country of 111 million people is, of course, attending with the president and the first lady, favored son and crown prince Sandro, congressman of the principality of Ilocos Norte, as well as senior deputy majority leader of the House of Commons. The delegation from the far-away kingdom of the Philippines will be hobnobbing with the kings, queens, prime ministers, chancellors, dukes, duchesses, barons, and baronesses. They are, as usual, accompanied by hundreds of assistants to take care of their wardrobe, personal looks, and grooming. At the periphery are the many favored relatives, friends, associates, underlings, subalterns, and supporters. The people will never know how much public funds are being spent to finance this royal journey. It is important to the Palace that small and poor as we are, we shall be seen by the whole of humanity as important enough to be invited to such a historic event.

In the meantime, there is El Niño, and a water crisis is in the offing. There is massive smuggling of rice, sugar, and onions. There is an impending food crisis. Electricity is problematic. Millions are homeless, jobless, and hopeless. China is poised to attack our country and every day accidents and disasters. Crimes, corruption, and drug problems are on the rise. Inflation rate is surging and the prices of foods and other prime commodities are skyrocketing. Long live the king of England. And let the poor take care of themselves. Our leaders are busy with affairs of the state. They cannot be bothered.