Commemoration of Philippine Independence Day

TOMORROW, June 12th, we are celebrating the 120th anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence. At last year’s commemoration, President Rodrigo Duterte was taken under the weather while attending to the recovery of Marawi; and he yielded pride of place at the ceremony at Luneta to Vice President Leni Robredo and his Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter Cayetano.

There are no more surprises this time, and the President can take his rightful place for the pomp and circumstance at our Independence Day celebration tomorrow.

*** Because what you see is what you get, somebody has to advise the President on the national dress. Ramon Magsaysay, “The Guy,” was as regular as the man in the street as can get for your Chief of State; yet he was the President who made the Barong Tagalog de rigeur in Malacañang. Carlos P. Garcia wore it, Diosdado Macapagal had the full embroidery on his barong. But it was Ferdinand E. Marcos (thanks to Imelda) who wore it with panache. Fidel V. Ramos, our “Working President,” had and both cuffs partly turned up. Erap promoted his “Akyson Agad” noumena with his barong; and Noynoy Aquino had his own cachet. Our Lady Presidents, Cory Aquino and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, wore their own Filipiniana.

PROTOCOL, ALCOHOL, & CHOLESTEROL. At the 2016 elections, Filipinos voted for a Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte to be our President. He had done the impossible, winning the highest office of the land against all odds.

In a way, it is a refreshing and inspiring choice. PDu30 reached an office that was perhaps beyond his dreams; but having reached it, he obviously has taken to it. He knows that the office is like that fabled timepiece – you do not own it; you take care of it for the succeeding bearer. The Office of the President is something larger than any undertaking because of what it reposes. PDu30 can put his mark on the presidency. Expect modes, of behavior, mores and comportment because he represents not himself, but the highest exemplar.

The President may take the country to new paths or open new frontiers. But he does not recreate the presidency into his own image, or turn it to be different form. It is the highest office of the land and worthy of the respect and esteem of the nation. The presidency is a privilege and a duty. The bearer espouses the noblest ideal of the Filipino.

The President will put his imprimatur on his office. At tomorrow’s gathering, we hope to hear PDu30 tell what our forbearers have wrought, and where he will take us from there. That is why he has to dress the part. To begin with, he can set the example by wearing the barong as a worthy First Citizen of the Republic.

*** PDu30’s highly successful official visit to the Republic of Korea was overshadowed by unscheduled segment which had multiple hits on TV and websites. It was the President’s obliging kiss with a number of Filipino lasses at the congregation with OFWs.

There was one obvious little hiccup, however. That was when PDu30 obviously got cold feet and chicken out on exchanging a buss with a burly Filipina in the audience.

***

Kissing babies is a time-honored practice for winning votes for candidates running for office.

I remember one politician famous for his haranguing campaign speech was always accompanied by his faithful wife. In the middle of his long-winded oratory, she would faithfully flag a sign, “KISS!”

The voters were deeply affected by the unabashed public affection exhibited by a faithful wife to her campaigning husband.

It was only after the elections that someone broke the code for the message – Keep It Short, Stupid! FEEDBACK: