‘When Bato cries, the whole nation laughs’

“Nobody deserves your tears, but whoever deserves them will not make you cry.”

—Gabriel Garcia Marquez

By Alex P. Vidal

THERE must be something unique in Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s personality that even if he was a known tough guy as a law enforcer before becoming a senator, some people don’t take him—or his public persona—seriously.

“No, brave men do cry” was the famous line 60-year-old Dela Rosa uncorked when asked by TV entertainment and talk show host Boy Abunda in an interview in July 2016 if he was not worried people would see him emotional.

This was after he cried while in his uniform when Abunda read aloud the then police chief’s Father’s Day letter to his “Papa Doro” in an episode of “The Bottomline.”

He told Abunda: “Kasi kung ikaw taong walang puso, hindi ka tao. Hindi ka naging matapang kung wala kang puso. Dahil walang basis ‘yung katapangan mo kung wala kang puso (Because if you’re a person without a heart, you’re not human. You can’t be brave without a heart. Because your bravery can’t have any basis if you don’t have heart).”

Many think it is fine for a woman to cry, but not men?

But Jesus cried in compassion for His friends and in grief over the city of Jerusalem.

Paul was a bold man, a former leader among persecutors of Christians, someone who withstood beatings, imprisonments, and shipwrecks. However, in several passages he shed tears as he wrote to the churches and served the Lord.

Joseph, a man of great leadership in Egypt, wept when he faced his brothers. Jeremiah is called the weeping prophet. Mordecai cried with a bitter cry for his nation.

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On November 23, 2016 while in the Senate hearing, then Police General Bato drew mixed reactions from public when he cried again while lamenting that “Ako ay hirap na hirap na (I’m really having a hard time)” seemingly in frustration that some cops continued to misbehave and break the law despite their “good” salary.

“Pinapasa-Diyos ko na lang itong sa PNP. Gustong-gusto kong mareform ang PNP. Ako’y hirap na hirap na (I’m just leaving the situation at the PNP to God. I really want to reform the PNP. I’m really having such a hard time),” said Dela Rosa, as he tried to fight back tears, while alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, who sat beside the PNP chief, gave him tissue napkins to wipe away his tears.

And again in September 2017, he literally shed tears anew in another Senate hearing where he denied the Philippine National Police (PNP) had a policy to kill those suspected of involvement in illegal drugs amid the rising complaints of human rights abuses from relatives of slain drug addicts.

When his U.S. visa was cancelled in January 2020, there was no report that Senator Bato cried, but he acknowledged it "might be related" to alleged extrajudicial killings under his watch as PNP chief from 2016 to 2018.

“Should I want daw to apply for another visa, I may apply, subject to US laws and regulations," Dela Rosa told reporters in a chance interview at the Senate as reported by CNN Philippines.

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And finally early this month when Senator Franklin Drilon bade goodbye in the Senate after serving for 24 years, Senator Bato cried while approaching and embracing the outgoing Iloilo senator, who is critic of Senator Bato’s political patron, outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Pusong Bato: Dela Rosa cries on Drilon’s last day in the Senate,” screamed Abogado, a news website.

“Senator Bato Dela Rosa can be seen crying while Big Man or Senator Frank Drilon shares his goodbyes,” added the caption in a photo uploaded in the website. “Drilon has served the Senate for 24 years and has been a key contributor to the legislative body. In his privileged speech, the former PNP Chief said he saw the opportunity of working with Drilon and how he pitied the other senators who will not be able to experience the same thing. Big Man, signing off!”

As tearjerker during the senate hearings when he was the PNP chief, some people, especially his critics, mocked him. But there were supporters who believed he was sincere and his tears meant “he wasn’t a fake person.”

But in the goodbye Drilon episode, many people—both supporters and critics have started to cast doubts whether he really was emotional by nature, or he really was a cry baby.

“When (Senator) Bato cries, the whole nation laughs,” said a Philippine Consulate official who refused to be named for fear that he will be misconstrued.

Is crying  good for us? Scientific evidence reportedly indicates that when we cry emotional tears, the body releases stress-relieving endorphins. 

“These chemicals help us feel better and stabilize our moods. Tears also release built-up toxins from emotional stress. Suppressed pain can contribute to stress-related diseases such as high blood pressure, heart problems, and peptic ulcers,” explained the Biblical Counseling Center.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

Duterte makes Bato and Go look stupid

“I have no idea why people want to watch puppets be the slightly meaner version of the weirdo holding them. It's beyond my comprehension.”

—Daniel Tosh

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IF you are annoyed by the recent acrobatics and screenplays of Senators Bong Go and Bato Dela Rosa in the presidential race, it’s because their political patron, President Rodrigo Duterte, appears to be the one making them look like stupid.

We can’t blame them if apparently they’re making a fool of themselves by presenting as presidential candidates today, and withdrawing thereafter.

Their acts don’t only mock the electoral system, they also degrade the standard of leadership in the country. 

In chess, Mr. Duterte is using a two-pawn attack. They exist and are utilized only to be fed to the lions, not to be thrust into the pedestal as what many of their fanatics falsely think.

It’s their bad luck that they’ve been chosen from among Mr. Duterte’s coterie of clowns to dance naked in public with no regard to their dignities as members of the national legislature.

As we’ve been repeatedly saying here, they can’t say no to the emperor.

They just don’t have the guts, will, freedom, power, and self respect to disobey the angry man who thinks he can badmouth any living thing in this planet who disagrees with him and still earn pogi points from his 16 million fans.

 

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Mr. Duterte has been using these sitting ducks to launch a kamikaze attack against the opposition in a costly, virulent but unnecessary dogfight.  

Because the president has succeeded in bringing them to the national office from virtual obscurity in Mindanao, the president thinks he holds their balls, thus they’re now known to be his “toy soldiers” ready to do his bidding and political comedy in any sitcom.

The quality of electoral process has suffered an alarming and disquieting degradation ever since these Davao City politicians entered the country’s political scene and controlled the orchestra.

First, Senator Bato was caught with his pajama down when he was forced to terminate his presidential candidacy after proclaiming to the world he was “serious” about it when asked by reporters why he filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for president in the eleventh hour.

And now it’s Go’s turn to be thrown under the bus.

Caught in the middle of a potentially catastrophic cold war between father and daughter, Go had obliged to dance like Salome thinking he would be officially considered to be a vice presidential bet if Sara Duteret-Carpio opted for the presidency on Mr. Duterte’s behest and intercession.

When the transaction nosedived and the daughter filed her COC for vice president under Bongbong Marcos, Go had to be dispatched as a “presidential candidate” to “shake and rattle” the Marcos-Sara tandem.

When everything else failed and Sara decided to stick with Marcos, Go now suddenly found himself in the pigsty.

 

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MY decision to have a COVID-19 booster shot two weeks ago and a flu shot on November 12, or two weeks later, was timely.

At that time Omicron variant wasn’t yet an international scandal. 

As soon as I emerged from the Walgreens after a flu shot on Monday morning, New York City health officials issued a new mask advisory, strongly recommending all residents—regardless of vaccination status—to wear masks in all public indoor settings ahead of expected cases of the new omicron variant of COVID-19.

"Today, I am also issuing a Commissioners' advisory strongly recommending that all New Yorkers wear a mask at all times, when indoors and in a public setting, like at the grocery, in building lobbies, offices and retail stores," Health Commissioner Dr. David Chokshi said. "This includes those who are vaccinated and those who have had COVID-19. Higher quality masks can offer additional protection, and masks are still required for everyone in public transit, health care settings, schools and congregate settings."

Mayor Bill de Blasio, Mayor-elect Eric Adams, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul addressed concerns over the new variant, first discovered in southern Africa. 

City officials said scientists have yet to confirm any cases of omicron in New York City, but they anticipate cases of the newest variant to begin popping up.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

Substitution poster boy

“Attachment is the great fabricator of illusions; reality can be attained only by someone who is detached.”

—Simone Weil

 

By Alex P Vidal

 

EACH time the uproar on election substitution was brought up in any discussion, the name of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa would always immediately surface.

It’s so unfortunate for Dela Rosa that his reputation has been attached and associated with the election substitution controversy even before it happens. 

Is this the price for being “beholden” to an angry emperor?

Assuming that Dela Rosa really wanted to shoot for the presidency of the Philippines, everything he does or says now is lacking credibility; people always think he is only playing a footsie.

In other words, Dela Rosa is not being taken seriously, at least by those who are keen political observers. 

Since his candidacy for president did not pass through the fair and traditional PDP-Laban party convention, we doubt if other party members—the originals and serious ones—are comfortable with Dela Rosa as their standard bearer.  

These originals and serious party members aren’t stupid lock, stock, and barrel to believe that Dela Rosa is the party’s only most qualified or best bet for the presidency.   

 

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Aside from the issue of winnability, the party members’ primordial concern must be credibility.

If a candidate isn’t winnable, party members will have a low morale; there will be a reduction in productivity and mass support.

If he isn’t credible, party members will think they are only being taken for a ride as the decision to field the “quack” didn’t come from among their ranks, but probably from one influential and powerful person who doesn’t give a hoot if the PDP-Laban will end up in tatters because of his dictatorial interference on this serious matter.

On the other hand, if nobody would be willing to substitute for Dela Rosa “according to plans” on or before November 15 as permitted by the Commission on Election (Comelec), he will be obligated to sustain the joy ride until the final reckoning.

In order to please and serve a beloved and feared emperor, the likes of Dela Rosa are willing to put their reputations at risk even if in the long run they will be thrown under the bus.

 

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We don’t blame the media propagandists of certain politicians if they create a stir and fabricate stories against the rivals of their masters (read: those who bankroll their “blocktime” programs or sponsor their payola during the election season).

They are only doing their job.

They have no hidden motives other than “fulfilling an obligation” for the hatchet job.

We are so familiar with the system. Some underpaid or underemployed media workers will have the opportunity to hit a paydirt if their talents or “professional services” are tapped for the dirty task during the poll season.

For instance, it’s “part” of their job to collude with “eyewitnesses” who will claim they were paid to attend a certain political rally or caravan.

Any success and whatever positive media milage generated by the rally or (the recent pink) caravan may now be tainted by the false “testimony” of these false witnesses abetted, of course, by the propagandists.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo—Ed)

 

 

   

They mock the electoral process

 “Isn't it the sweetest mockery to mock our enemies?”

—Sophocles

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

PRESIDENT Duterte is using his political sidekicks, Senators Bong Go and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, as chess pawns in the 2022 Philippine presidential election.

If it is an actual gun battle, they will be considered as sacrificial lambs or collateral casualties if they can’t come home alive.

They are being marshaled and degraded like Aztec puppets without any regard to their present position in the national legislature.

Because they cannot say no to the emperor, these sidekicks end up as jokers; in fact, one of them, Bato dela Rosa, thinks the presidential race is just a big Punch and Judy show.

It’s so obvious the former police general, notorious as alleged chief architect of the Duterte administration’s bloody war against illegal drugs, didn’t have any iota of sincerity when he beat the deadline for the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) on October 8.

 

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The neophyte senator showed up smiling and “clowning” in the Comelec-designated area in the eleventh hour and filed his COC for president under the PDP-Laban (Cusi wing).

When asked by alert reporters if he was just being used to fill up temporarily the candidacy reserved for Mayor Sara Carpio, who is expected to file her candidacy as Senator Bato’s substitute on or before November 15, Senator Bato couldn’t even recite the correct script when he responded with a smirk, “eh di mabuti” (it is much better).

In other words, he was never serious when he accidentally gave himself away. 

He wasted the taxpayers’ money and resources, including the time of Comelec personnel who facilitated the filing of his COC.

Senator Bato and his fellow chess pawns in the Duterte administration think the presidential race is a children’s party, thus they openly mock the country’s electoral system by filing their COCs even if deep inside their hearts they are aware they are only apparently being controlled and manipulated to say “amen.”

They are also probably fully aware that in every scenario that they are—and will be— involved during the election period, it will all be a comedy show.

 

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We know only the marines will believe that Senator Bato is serious about his presidential quest. 

If he is not master Digong’s protégé, some people might think he will run for president to confirm the satire and polemic that PDP-Laban, which used to be an illustrious party before the Davao boys’ grand invasion, is now sinking into the deep blue sea.

But we can’t blame the political clowns as they are only doing master Digong’s bidding. 

Without master Digong, Senator Bato knew he wouldn’t be in the senate. Sidekick forever?

Ditto with Senator Bong Go, Bato’s running mate, who thinks everything that master Digong touches turns into gold, thus he must remain a sycophant for his own political survival and otherwise.

Mayor Carpio or Inday Sara is also dancing in the same tune like Salome.

Didn’t we write here only recently that they are “like father, like daughter”?

That they will first deny they are interested to run for president, and deny once more like members of Milosevic’s execution squad during the war crimes trial, and “change our minds because it’s the will and insistent demand of the people that we run (for president).” 

If they are hellbent to service the public, they don’t need to hide their plans until the last day of the filing of COC.

Only fools don’t change their minds? 

But fools don’t become presidents unless the electorate is fooled once more.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bato’s ‘good life’

“The quality, not the longevity, of one's life is what is important.”
—Martin Luther King, Jr.

By Alex P. Vidal

“SARAP ng buhay, sarap ng buhay, ganto na lang tayo palagi ha?” (Life is good, life is good, I hope we’re like this all the time.) thus was the controversial statement recently made by Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa after the Senate shifted to “hybrid” sessions and plenary meetings while we observed the social distancing owing to coronavirus’ murderous binge.
If Bato wants to desire a “good life” it’s none of our business.
Who wants to have a “bad life” in the first place?
Only hypocrites will deny they wouldn’t fight tooth and nail to have a good life, or to enjoy a satisfying and stress-free life.
Only the charlatans will admit they would choose a miserable life if asked to make a choice.
There’s nothing earthshaking actually about his words even if we view them from the perspective of politics.
They can’t be associated either with the dreary “political correctness” or a term used to describe language, policies, or measures that are intended to avoid offense or disadvantage to members of particular groups in society.

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Expressing ecstasy in that “hybrid” senate session, Bato desired only happiness in life, not hedonism.
When applied to a person, the word “hedonist” has slightly negative connotations as it suggests that they are devoted to what some have called the “lower” pleasures such as sex, food, drink, and sensual indulgence in general.
The question whether we want a good or a bad life actually isn’t as simple as it sounds. 
We don’t specialize in unpacking hidden complexities in sentences, but most of us will probably agree that the concept of the good life is one of those that needs quite a bit of unpacking.
The good life we all desire is different from pleasure, bluntly declared by Epicurus thousands of years ago as what makes “life worth living.” “Pleasure is enjoyable, it’s fun, it’s...well...pleasant! The view that pleasure is the good, or, to put I another way, that pleasure is what makes life worth living, is known as hedonism,” according to Dr. Emrys Westacott of University of Texas at Austin.

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The problem with most people is their tendency to be sanctimonious when passing a judgment to what they hear and see in the political jungle.
Bato may not be our ideal senator (critics even call him as “clown”), but he deserves “to be happy” or to express what he wants and what to desire for his own life; the neophyte senator is entitled to his right to freedom of expression just like any other ordinary citizens, and his critics are also entitled to rib him; anyway they were the ones who placed him there.
I never voted for Bato but I won’t belittle him. I didn’t believe he should be in the senate, in the first place. But the people have spoken and he is now a duly elected senator; he deserves our support.
In fairness, this was what the former PNP chief-turn-solon texted to reporters to justify his “happiness”: “Kaya nasabi kong ang sarap nang buhay kasi mas mabilis ang talakayan ng bills kapag naka-(WebEx) kami at mas maaga matapos ang session.” (The reason I said that was because our discussions on the bills were faster as we used WebEx and the session was suspended early).

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Speaking of desiring a good life, here are the 10 golden rules on living the good life, according to Forbes’ Panos Mourdoukoutas:
1. Examine life, engage life with vengeance; always search for new pleasures and new destines to reach with your mind.
2. Worry only about the things that are in your control, the things that can be influenced and changed by your actions, not about the things that are beyond your capacity to direct or alter.
3. Treasure Friendship, the reciprocal attachment that fills the need for affiliation. Friendship cannot be acquired in the market place, but must be nurtured and treasured in relations imbued with trust and amity.
4. Experience True Pleasure. Avoid shallow and transient pleasures. Keep your life simple. Seek calming pleasures that contribute to peace of mind. True pleasure is disciplined and restrained.
5. Master Yourself. Resist any external force that might delimit thought and action; stop deceiving yourself, believing only what is personally useful and convenient; complete liberty necessitates a struggle within, a battle to subdue negative psychological and spiritual forces that preclude a healthy existence; self mastery requires ruthless cador.
6. Avoid Excess. Live life in harmony and balance. Avoid excesses. Even good things, pursued or attained without moderation, can become a source of misery and suffering.
7. Be a Responsible Human Being. Approach yourself with honesty and thoroughness; maintain a kind of spiritual hygiene; stop the blame-shifting for your errors and shortcomings.
8. Don’t Be a Prosperous Fool. Prosperity by itself, is not a cure-all against an ill-led life, and may be a source of dangerous foolishness. Money is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for the good life, for happiness and wisdom.
9. Don’t Do Evil to Others. Evildoing is a dangerous habit, a kind of reflex too quickly resorted to and too easily justified that has a lasting and damaging effect upon the quest for the good life. Harming others claims two victims—the receiver of the harm, and the victimizer, the one who does harm.
10. Kindness towards others tends to be rewarded. Kindness to others is a good habit that supports and reinforces the quest for the good life. Helping others bestows a sense of satisfaction that has two beneficiaries—the beneficiary, the receiver of the help, and the benefactor, the one who provides the help. (The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)