Differences

A good, good friend sent me something in the mail lately. It took me down memory lane. Back to the days when we devoured the writings of Conrado de Quiros, Hilarion Henares, Ambeth Ocampo, Juan Flavier. Newspapers were not online then. If we liked an article feature we have to literally cut them (with a real scissors) and paste them on bond paper. Then we had those pasted clippings book bound.

Anyways, this is what my friend sent me. The topic might be outdated and the article long – but it still made my day.

There's The Rub
Differences
By Conrado de Quiros
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:35:00 07/21/2009

The more you look at it, particularly in light of recent events, the more you see the awesome differences between Corazon Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. At first blush, they have similarities too, which are that they are both women and the product of People Power. But at second blush, even those similarities are differences.

The “product of People Power” part needs no great elaboration. Cory was the leader of People Power, Gloria was the beneficiary of People Power. Cory was the heart and soul of People Power, Gloria was the mite and mote of People Power. Cory was there at the beginning of things, enduring the loss of a husband, risking life and limb to end an oppression. Gloria was there at the end of things, enduring the derision of the nation, risking only a bad hairdo to gain a succession.

As to their gender, let’s just say that Cory does not believe in the saying, “God made the world, everything else was made in China.” Or its local variation, “God made woman, everything else was made by Dr. Belo.”

The rest is pure differences. Cory was “just the wife” of Ninoy Aquino, the man everyone was predicting to be the next president of the Philippines and do wonders for the country. He never did. It was Cory, the housewife, who became so and did so. She not only lived up to the promise of her husband, she surpassed them. Ninoy has been cast in stone, Cory has been etched in the hearts of her people. Ninoy is known for having said, “The Filipino is worth dying for.” Cory is known for having believed, “The Filipino is worth living for.”

Gloria was the daughter of Diosdado Macapagal, “the poor boy from Lubao” who rose to become president of his country. Though beaten by Ferdinand Marcos in 1965, Dadong won the hearts of his people by displays of grace, not least in leaving without fuss. It was left to his daughter to soil his memory, chief of them by naming a boulevard after him that he himself would never have built at that cost. Dadong turned the stone in the corner (land reform) into the cornerstone of his administration. His daughter turned the cornerstone of People Power (democracy) into dust. Cong Dadong was Gloria’s biological father, Da Apo was her political one.

Cory was always reluctant about power. When the chance to run against Marcos in the snap election was offered to her, she declined, saying she had no political experience, the honor more befitted the people around her. She ended up as their choice anyway. When her term drew near, her hangers-on tried to convince her to stay on. She left anyway.

Indeed, the story is told that when Fidel Ramos’ inauguration came, she refused the car Malacañang had sent to fetch her. She said that car was only for presidents. She was no longer President Cory, she was Citizen Cory. She rode in her own car.

Gloria was always atat-na-atat (to borrow Susan Roces’ scientific term) about power. Those who led Edsa 2 counted groups that demanded, “Resign all!” not least because though Gloria could claim the position legally, she could not do so morally. She did so anyway, negotiating with Erap while the crowd swelled at Edsa. When her term drew near, she vowed to leave without fuss, like her father. Specifically, she vowed not to run. The world breathed a sigh of relief. She ran anyway.

Today, she says: “Let me say in no uncertain terms: There will be elections in 2010.” The world cringes in fear. It is the clearest sign there won’t be elections in 2010. Unless she’s stopped.

Cory is the ultimate anti-hero. She constantly refused to be credited with having saved the country from tyranny, saying that was the handiwork of the people. She walked the talk, leaving quietly after her term to stress that democracy rested on institutions, not on saviors. For being a resolute anti-hero, she is celebrated as a real, authentic, bona fide hero.

Gloria is the ultimate self-styled hero. Everything good that happens in this country is her handiwork, including Pacquiao’s victories. Everything bad is the handiwork of Ed Panlilio. She talks the walk, advertising her self-styled accomplishments in Sona as an argument for staying on. For being a resolute self-styled hero, she is called things that would make a sailor blush.When Cory says, “The people brought me here,” her people are awed and say, “Truly, the voice of the people is the voice of God!” When Gloria says, “God put me here,” half of the population turn atheist. The other half make the sign of the Cross and say, “Truly the Fellow Below has many names and guises.”

Cory was hospitalized for an unwanted growth in her colon. Gloria was “quarantined” for a wanted growth elsewhere. Since being released, Cory has put up a brave front amid the pain and grief. Since being relieved, Gloria has put up a false front amid the country’s pain and anger. When Cory got sick, the people wept and gnashed their teeth, wondering why heaven could be so unfair. When Gloria got well, the people wept and gnashed their teeth, wondering why heaven could be so unfair.

When Cory got sick, the people felt it might as well have been democracy that had gotten sick. When Gloria got well, the people felt democracy might as well have died.While Cory lingers on earth, the world begs her fight on, cling on, stay on. While Gloria lingers in Malacañang, the world begs her go down, step down, fall down.

One day, and one can only hope a long time from now, when Cory faces her Maker, she will give a good accounting of herself. One day, and one can only hope that is soon, when Gloria faces her People, she will have to account for her sins.

One day, when Cory departs from this world, heaven will open for her. One day, when Gloria departs from Malacañang, heaven help her.