It is all really just tradition and sentimentality that fuels “debate” surrounding the controversial inauguration ceremony of soon-to-be President Rodrigo Duterte. But of course the President and the Vice President should be inaugurated in the same ceremony held at the same place. It is of paramount imperative that the out-going president walk up to the pulpit with the in-coming president. It’s tradition after all that serves a symbolic show of unity and continuity.
The last thing Filipinos need are symbols and tradition. Symbols and tradition have been the currency of political discourse over the last 30 years. Have these served Philippine society well? That depends on your definition of success.
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The colour Yellow and that yellow ribbon were symbols that dominated the last six years, for example. Did these symbols contribute real value to the nation? Hardly. They have degenerated from being symbols of hope to symbols of exclusion. Rather than represent the nation, symbols of Yellowism have represented vested interests and narrow agendas.
Out-going president Benigno Simeon ‘BS’ Aquino III himself, selectively upheld all the traditions of his inauguration. He issued the highest form of insult to the Philippines’ judiciary by snubbing the late Renato Corona who was, at the time, the sitting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He rode together with then out-going President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the ceremony then strode up onto the inauguration stage with her in the spirit of that unity this tradition was supposed to symbolise. Then shortly after taking his seat in Malacanang, Aquino then summarily threw Arroyo in prison and kept her there for the next six years.
In the context of Aquino’s less-than-magnanimous conduct during his ascent to power six years ago, Duterte’s minor changes to the programme look like mere tinkering to those traditions in comparison.
By dispensing with all of these nice but, ultimately, meaningless traditions and symbols of “unity”, Duterte can pretty much get on with the job of doing what a President does unencumbered by pretensions. To be more specific, Duterte does not need to smile for the cameras when he throws Aquino in prison, and he does not need to wear a mask of civility in what are likely to be those extremely rare times he’d stop for a chat over lugaw with “vice president” Leni Robredo.
The roads to true unity, after all, do not lead up to the offices of the Vice President or the porky halls of the Senate and House of Representatives. Those roads lead to the Filipino people. As such, Durterte should not be wasting time schmoozing with an out-going incumbent nor with a turncoat whose claim to the vice presidency remains largely debatable.
Look no further for evidence of Duterte’s ability to schmooze directly with his people than his wildly-successful miting de avance at the Luneta in early May of this year. That there is the unity he commands sealed in an awesome display of power on a single day.
There is no “lost opportunity” in the coming inauguration done the Duterte way. There is only an opening of doors of opportunity to an administration bereft of any pretension as it sets out to lead Filipinos to their future. This time, for real.
benign0 is the Webmaster of GetRealPhilippines.com.
And what exactly was Arroyo convicted of again? Cry yourself to sleep tonight, idiot. Because tomorrow the yellow cult you worship (of course you’ll deny that) will be no more. Nganga na lang kayong mga yellowtards. 😉
Describes everything, and what we need especially after what has transpired in the last six years
….indeed, a breath of fresh air.
Be successful, Digong, Your Excellency. May the Force be with you.
the yellow dynasty is terrified now. not because of duterte but because of a citizens people power who choose duterte as their general to lead a real change. tatad’s headliner is right, it’s pnoy now vs. the people. it’s a one on one now. why choose duterte if the people won’t back him up? only a people’s revolt on the streets to win a real change. this mess up by the yellows is 58 years now.
Hanap po ako ka textmate.
Tex moko Krissss
With past inaugurations, the symbolisms were mostly empty and done by the undeserving.
This time with Sir Digong, it’s a different act and form of symbolism. One that matches his intentions for the country.
We have seen pompous Presidential inaugurations, in the past. After the event, politicians go back to their corrupt ways; filling their pockets with our tax money, as fast as they can. We have seen incompetence; lack of leadership; dishonesty; etc…
It is what a President can do for his people that matter…not these pompous inaugurations, that means nothing, but a useless show !
With the way things are done right from the first step, the inauguration, I can really feel the change coming in. Hoping for the best six years for Pres. Digong!
Creative destruction as applied to politics.
It’s an insult to the rich and corrupt politicians,may they will realize that karma is coming their way. Politicians who are power hungry,it’s time to think now that the people has the power over you…weder weder lang and it’s going to be too hot for u corrupt politicians…
Tradition: one of those words by so-called conservative Failipino people in the Failippines use as a shortcut to thinking.
Now that’s genuinely RADICAL. Who says Islamic Terrorists have a monopoly of the word?
Worthless extravagant traditions need to go away or toned down if they contribute nothing to nation building and the economy.
I say we should just skip the VP inauguration (as it’s just an apparently useless appendix to the current admin anyway) – and spare taxpayers some extra cash burn.
What we need now are sleek, fast, efficient men/women of action. Lead on Mr. President. You never fail to surprise us all.
The Duterte presidency is showing good modeling to the Filipino people! I say go on Mr President! The Country needs you! We have waited for so long! And hope the yellow will becone just history!
What about his huge party in cebu a few days before the inauguration.
That did not look cheap.