The Fourth Perspective

Drooling. The wolves are now girding the presidential seat. Their hearts are thumping in excitement on the smell and flavor of power; their gazes are filled with conspicuous lust on the prospect of great abundance. They tried to be calm, deliberate and restrained, but nonetheless their obsession and voracity are far from being hidden. The incumbent president has seen and felt their presence. They are not too far; even so… some are too close for comfort. He looked around and all he saw are his flock. He is a shepherd looking for a sheep dog to guard the flock he nurtured for years. There seems to be none,  not even evident is an alter-ego that genuinely shares his ways, his values and priorities. He thinks of staying on but there are rules to be followed. It was the rule of his forebears intentionally designed to cut the perpetuation of the bad shepherds, an assumption that contravenes regularity brought forth by the painful experience of the past. But it has a negative side, i...

A proposal in the Philippine senate to prohibit motorcycles drivers from riding in tandem with nonkin passengers is in the offing. Exceptions are relatives up to the first degree of consanguinity which will be allowed to back ride. But in all cases, children won't be allowed to back ride for safety reason. Aside from the latter which by the way is non-objectionable and in fact laudable, the proposal is said to be aimed at checking the rising tide of killings and criminal activities using motorcycles as a tool of escape. In Quezon City, a similar move was enacted requiring motorcycle riders to wear vest with the plate number printed on it. Of course the numbers should match. Otherwise, it will be a cause to stop the rider as a suspect for possible robbery and other criminal offenses. These proposals and enacted ordinance are manifestation of the quality of the minds that populates the Philippine government. Not exactly the kind of action we should expect from the elected and...