What’s in a word? A single word makes all the difference

First word

IHAVE been lately mesmerized by the awesome power of words, even just a single word to alter the perception of reality, or trigger outrage.

: When our overseas workers were simply called overseas contract workers (OCWs), our problems concerning them were small-scale and manageable. This was the way it was when the overseas employment program began in 1975, under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos during the time of Martial Law

Under Marcos, four agencies were created by the Department of Labor to carry out the overseas employment program: the Overseas Employment Development Board (OEDB), the National Seamen’s Board (NSB), the and the foreign exchange remittance committee (FERC).

Things were simple and straightfor

From OCWs to OFWs

a wide spectrum of occupations and could go abroad without contracts.

You can say in defense of the shift to OFW, that the OFW remittances began to soar, culminating in the $30 billion last year. But you must also confront the reality that the shift has brought forth the nightmare of raped and murdered OFWs, hundreds in detention awaiting execution, and countless undocument

When the word “contract” was dropped from the required docu their world changed.

Now, the nation faces a nightmare – hundreds of thousands of our lands undocumented and unsung.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), as of the year 2016, the at anytime during the period April to September 2016 was estimated at 2.2 million. OCWs, or those with existing during the period April to September overseas without contracts.

Boracay as ‘cesspond’

Consider Boracay next: President Duterte fumbled and then hilariously called Boracay a “cesspond.” He simply could not recall the precise English word, “cesspool” (“cesspit” is also used by the English), to express his exasperation over Boracay’s environmental emergency.

moment. Who is so lucid all the time - times at a loss for words?

Cesspond or whatever, Boracay is today is a national calamity. An island paradise that once was a destination for millions, and was a stupendous foreign exchange earner, has been re island has to be closed down during the summer season for at least 60 to massive runaway problems.

To DU30’s relief, “cesspond” is benign compared to “shithole,“which President Trump used to describe Caribbean and African countries, streams of immigrants to America.

Trump compounded his offense by suggesting that the US should bring more immigrants from Norway, not ‘shithole countries.’

Trump and ‘shithole’ countries

US diplomats around the world were summoned for formal reproach, amid could ever be made in a semi-public meeting by the president of America.

In a strongly worded statement, the UN said it was impossible to other than racist, while the Vatican decried Trump’s words as “particularly harsh and offensive.”

The uses of euphemism

Trump’s was a situation wherein a euphemism could have saved the day.

A is a generally innoc- uous word or expression used in place is classic evasion and deception. of one that may be found offensive or What really happened was this: suggest something unpleasant. During the Supreme Court en

Reasons for using euphemisms banc session on Tuesday, Sereno vary by context and intent, and can was pressed to resign by a majority include avoiding discomfort in dayof the justices, because they saw to-day social interactions. the court as being destroyed by the The euphemism many pieces of evidence that have

denotes a preference for mibeen unearthed by the House justice norities or the historically disadcommittee during its hearings on vantaged, usually in employment the impeachment case against her. or academic admissions. Sereno refused to resign and some

Perhaps the most controversial justices instead suggested that Serenew euphemism is “enhanced inter rogation” to disguise torture. Only the word is new. The thought and leave. But the justices prevailed on the practice is American tradition. During the Philippine-American they threatened to call for Sereno’s military used the euphemism “wa terboarding” to extract information the two most senior justices of the court, Carpio and Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco.

After the three met, it was an

- tale that Sereno had scheduled a “wellness leave” for mid-March but had decided to advance this by a

Wellness leave

of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno could give the Trump White House a lesson or two in the art of euphemism.

In the face of the latest tsunami en magically came up with a euphemism to save his boss from drowning.

To counter the headline news that Sereno was being forced to resign by the majority of her fellow justices, and was only allowed the of absence, Lacanilao invented an elaborate story and euphemism that leave,” starting today March1, not an

- ness leave? Isn’t it because he or she is unwell or feeling poorly? Why did

Private sector employers are now on edge that they may have to called “wellness leave” if Sereno’s euphemism is allowed to stand. As things are now, they already provide their employees with vacation leave,

Classic evasion and deception

The story of Sereno’s wellness leave

Resignation is the last word

During her wellness leave, CJ Sereno can productively spend the time to contemplate one final word about her case and her ordeal:

She should avoid her lawyers and - tion. Their interest in their professional fees, and the free media exposure during the impeachment trial will impel them to counsel that will ignore the cost to her health and her emotional state by the barrage of hostile publicity and public disdain that will rain on her.

Dobel’s thoughtful paper on” the ethics of resigning” can be most illuminating or liberating.