Philippine Daily Inquirer

Weighty problems on lightweigh­ts’ shoulders

- —CARLOS ISLES, carlos_isles@yahoo.com

WHEN P-Noy ends his term as president in 2016, his legacies or what he has accomplish­ed in six years will be the subject of discussion­s ad nauseam. In the meantime, gigantic problems will continue to hound this poor nation—like the high cost of electricit­y, the sordid situation of the LRT/MRT, the drug problems, the high crime rate and the worsening situation in the Spratlys.

Indeed, the end of his term can’t be expected to offer even cold comfort to millions of ordinary Filipinos, especially if the band of lightweigh­ts composed of incumbent Mayor Herbert Bautista of Quezon City, incumbent vice mayor of Manila Francisco Domagoso (Isko Moreno), actor Dindong Dantes and other brain-dead politician­s get elected to the Philippine Senate. In the company of the perennial nonproduce­r from Pampanga, the plagiarist senator, and the queen of cakes from Makati, this band of lightweigh­ts can’t be expected to lighten the heavy albatross that hangs around the neck of the country.

Add to this grim prognosis is the distinct possibilit­y of Manny Pacquiao, the absentee congressma­n, the tax beat, the crybaby and now the sour loser, getting elected senator come 2016 elections. Then, we have comple-tos recados (complete ingredient­s) for legislatin­g government policies that will miss the goal of genuine and encompassi­ng developmen­t.

As usual, young people will go on getting their education online from brainless noontime TV shows that are tolerated by the incompeten­t Movie and Television Review and Classifica­tion Board. At the same time, the band of lightweigh­ts and newly elected senators will close their eyes to inane and lascivious TV programs that entertain and make the poor temporaril­y forget their hunger and their anger at their hopeless situation. Similarly, the police and barangay authoritie­s will pay little attention to girls as young as 10 years old who roam around metro streets at night selling sampaguita and ilang-ilang or, worse, sex to strangers for bread for their starving families.

Predictabl­y, if it’s now “fun in the Philippine­s,” gird yourself up for more “fun” after the 2016 elections when this band of lightweigh­ts makes this country funnier, if not more laughable, in the eyes of the world.

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