Big deal about Kris

THERE'S a lot of talk generated by the non-appearance of President Rodrigo R. Duterte on the much-touted comeback of Kris Aquino in the public's eyes, which turns out to be a hosting job on Go Negosyo convention in Davao City.

True, it's a big disappointment that the President did not arrive at the convention that gathered entrepreneurs who were all looking forward to see the President. But then, there were more things going on, the most obvious of which was the late arrival of the President from his state visit in Malaysia. What was expected to be around 2 a.m. actually happened at around 3:50 a.m., which after talking with the media, reporters were able to go home at 5:30 a.m. that is practically staying up all night. The reporters and photographers were all whoozy the following day and they were in their 20s and 30s. The President, as we all know, is 72 years old, and the Go Negosyo event was in the afternoon.

Kris Aquino had earlier announced that her return will be via a rare one-on-one interview with the President.

“(I spent) seven months of not hosting on TV. I promised myself, babalik ako for a once-in-alifetime, one-on-one interview,” Kris Aquino was quoted as saying.

Sorry, Ms Aquino, the world does not revolve around you, and the President is the President, we need him in tiptop health, and if it will take for him to sleep 12 hours to recover from a state visit and delayed flight, then so be it. Now, why was the President present in two other engagements later that day? Precisely because it was later that day and the event gave honor to his mother, Soledad Roa Duterte. Pilipinong May Puso Foundation is an organization created to honor the memory of Nanay Soling. Now, how can a person who through the decades he has been in public eye had always given high regard and respect for his mother, and even was witnessed to have cried hard on his mother's grave upon realizing that he won the election have the heart not to show up for such an event?

With regards his visit to the vigils of stalwart women rights and gender and development advocate Atty. Adoracion Avisado and former Department of Public Works and Highways Engineer Apolinario Gaite? Just about every Dabawenyo who knows the President knows the high regard he gives in giving his last salute and condoling with relatives of people whose lives have touched his, whether it be a poor, nameless barangay tanod or a rich, influential leader. How much more Atty. Avisado and Engr. Gaite, who in the past have helped him and stood by him a lot?

There's just too much hair-splitting going around, we should by this time question ourselves as well. Are we not pulling back the country because we find issues on each and every official action? Maybe we are, and maybe it's time we help push the country up instead by focusing on the opportunities and growth potentials, instead of the trivial.

As no less than Kris had to admit to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol: "In fairness din Secretary, kayo super fast sa action. Yong secretary ni Noy, super slow." And this applies to almost everyone in government then and now.