Spirituality Page

I'd been thinking about what sort of thing is Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo - a symbol or a disfigured image?

We always look for images that would symbolize a moment in history - symbols that express or at least represent our experiences and aspirations as a people. Thus we have Ninoy Aquino as a symbolic figure that articulated the Filipino resistance against the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. We cried, "Di ka nag-iisa." (You're not alone.)

Latin America has the figure of Che Guevarra that symbolized the resistance of human spirit against tyranny and abject poverty. Che's appeal, of course, transcended the limits of time and geography. The image of Che did not only symbolize his struggle in Latin America but also in other parts of the world. His image inspired young revolutionaries in Europe and in Asia in the 60's, 70's and even today.

Jesus Christ, the hero of the poor and marginalized in the region of ancient Palestine, left the world with a symbol. The thing that appalled the world during his time, he turned it into a symbol of victory over death - the cross. The cross not only symbolized salvation of the soul as many other worldly Christians would claim, but it symbolized particularly the triumph of righteousness over the forces of darkness. It symbolized humanity's struggle towards liberation from oppression and towards overturning of oppressive powers.

What about Gloria Arroyo who claimed to be the 'Ina ng bayan' (mother of the nation)? Or one may harshly add Mar Roxas's expletive during a rally in Makati, 'Putang ina ng bayan' (I leave my Filipino readers to translate it into English.) Not true to her promise, she became 'president' by a phone call that changed the election results. She promised a strong republic and strong economy but refused to talk about politics when asked why was economic progress not translated to the tables of poor Filipinos.

And now, she does almost everything to be true to her promise of a strong economy even if it means changing the constitution. Well, she has an answer to global economic recession: charter change. This is a good suggestion too to Barack Obama that he has to change the American constitution in order to solve the recession that economists like Paul Krugman feared the most.

What sort of thing is Gloria Arroyo? She symbolizes the suffering of millions of Filipinos. She symbolizes the pains of the mothers whose children forcefully disappeared from the sight of the land. She symbolizes the agony of those who were executed extrajudicially. She symbolizes horror of those who were victims of war in Mindanao because of the failed memorandum of agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. She symbolizes betrayal and distrust of the millions of Filipinos who felt betrayed and cheated.

What sort of thing is Gloria Arroyo? Then figure out by yourself - a symbol or a disfigured image?

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