Graffiti

Politicians and the Art of Lying

The school where I teach declared a suspension of classes for ten days due to the AH1N1 cases among our students. Although the idea of suspending classes seemed to excite everyone, this has also caused us to worry about the conditions of our students who were infected by the disease. On a personal note, I got so excited because I had no summer vacation; I was either teaching or attending trainings during summer so I thought of taking this opportunity to go back home.

My hometown is a forty-five minute travel from CDO and is part of Libona in Bukidnon. When I arrived at the place I considered my home, I first noticed that people were busy decorating the stage, hauling chairs, cleaning the plaza, and putting on tarps of different sizes and colors. On my way, I also noticed that some parts of the rough road that ever since people learned to endure are now concrete. Then I learned later on that our governor and his party were coming to distribute PhilHealth Cards and other projects for our place and our people.

You see, our place is remote. Only very few people have been fortunate enough to study in college and earn a degree. I belong to the fortunate few whose parents realized the value of education. To date, there are now a few young teachers, nurses, doctors, and other professionals in our place. However, change, progress and even growth are still far from happening. Our place remains conservative and traditional in many ways since most of its populace belongs to a number of uneducated, and uninformed individuals.

Sometimes, I could not help but laugh at my own people maybe because I now live and work in the city. But I just couldn’t understand why people still cling to old beliefs and stories, why they still listen to politicians who always make promises that are always not kept. No. They are not totally ignorant for when you listen to their discussions (or gossips), they would say that they are already tired of the trapos (traditional politicians). And yet, when politicians come and give them something, they seem to forget everything after receiving two kilos of rice, a PhilHealth card, and tons of promises for barangay projects. Then the people would be so indebted they are willing to kiss the politician’s feet!

When the governor and his party arrived, only very few people were present. The announcer pleaded to the people to come to the plaza because according to him, “Mas maayo pa na kita ang maghulat kaysa ang governador ang maghulat.” (It is better that we’re the ones waiting, not the governor.) I heard this very clearly because our house is situated a short distance from the plaza. And finally they said that they will be distributing Philhealth cards, but, of course, people are still asked to pay one hundred pesos. They were also told that they cannot use it in private hospitals but only in public hospitals in Bukidnon. While listening, I couldn’t help but laugh. Maybe they forgot that our place is closer to CdeO than the municipal office. How much more the public hospital in Maramag? I mean, if any stupid family would bring their patients there, which is like a trip to oblivion, they’d surely find their patient literally dead cold once they arrive there. It simply is far!

Politicians seem to have forgotten that people are already used to their promises. That we are already tired of their shameless announcement of helping people when in fact, it is their job and they shouldn’t be doing it only when elections near. We elected them to serve us. That it is their duty and we, the people who put them in their position, ought not to be indebted to them. Yes. But then again, maybe I just have had enough of their crap!

To the True Queen

I cried
seeing you laid to rest
thinking how truly we are blessed
to have had you

I know you had to go
to meet your God
and dear love
We will miss you (oh God!)

But to you I say
Thank you
hoping we could find
someone like you!