Big things, little things

Dover Air Force Base in Delaware is home to the US Defense Department’s Center for Mortuary Affairs. It is at this airport where casualties of American wars arrive in their flag draped caskets.

Society’s reaction to these gut wrenching scenes is treated as an informal gauge of their support for government military action. It has come to be known as the Dover Test.

The same grim scenario has been played out in recent days at our very own Villamor air base where President Rodrigo Roa Duterte himself would lead the arrival honors of fallen combatants. Editor-in-Chief Ana Marie Pamintuan articulated yesterday how we have clearly passed our own Dover Test: “You can sense this public support in the way the Marines and police commandos slain in Marawi have been widely hailed as heroes. There is no heroism when government forces are seen by the public to be fighting an unjust war.”

The Countermajoritarian Court. It would be interesting to see how this clear drift of the public mood would impact on the pending petitions questioning PRRD’s martial law and Congress’ refusal to convene in joint session. The Supreme Court is composed of unelected Justices, precisely to temper any sensitivity to public opinion. Its raison d’etre is to safeguard minorities from the possible abuses of democratic majorities.

The other consideration is that, notwithstanding the petitioners’ bona fides, the underlying impulse behind these judicial challenges is still politics. Justice Art Brion, in his column, aptly observes: “Despite the situation of turmoil and threat to national unity, the politicians are still at play and the court cannot even be seen as a combatant in this fray.”

Father’s Day. We last spoke to our Dad, Ernesto Madarang Maceda on Father’s Day, June 19, 2016. The next day, he was gone.

At the Senate necrological services, colleagues and friends acclaimed our father’s immense contributions to shaping the nation. We sat enraptured by the moving tributes. But even as pride momentarily vanquished sorrow, we realized that we were but distant spectators in this body of work “Manong Ernie” built up.

Passages from my brother Edward Maceda’s response would supply an understanding: “ … kung pwede lamang mag-session araw-araw mula alas otso ng umaga hanggang alas otso ng umaga, beinte cuatro oras, masayang masaya ang aking ama … My dad made sure that not a single moment of his time as a public servant would be laid to waste.”

Service before self. Our father served his country for 57 years. As our country has only been in existence for 70 years, his life, in so many ways, and through different administrations is part of the fabric of this nation’s modern history.

We were mostly on the other side of that journey. But through every interval and hiatus, we were grateful for the chances to share his downtime. Our family returns to these behind the scenes experiences to steady us, as needed.

Compared to his public persona, his private life would probably fall into the category of “the little things.” But, looking back at life’s end, who is to say that these weren’t the bigger things after all?

Random thoughts. Manong Ernie’s final public service career was as columnist in this space. He always appreciated the press and respected their role – hence, his column title, one which I also adopted. He loved writing his column. While not being in the game, it at least gave him a front row seat. And he did write it, literally! My father was a yellow pad and pen guy till the end.

If our sons and daughters are digital natives and we belong to the digital immigrant generation, our fathers are mostly members of the digital resistance. I still bring with me my father’s cellphone to this day – a trusty, crusty Nokia 108.

Old school but eccentric. People would remark that he looked good in a suit. So he had lots of suits. He even had special suits for special occasions: Senate veterans could smell an expose’ coming when my father would show up in an all white double breasted number.

In his post Senate years, he would sacrifice his sartorial brand for comfort, discarding the usual Bally leathers in favor of Nike Prestos. And he had them in all their multi color neon hues. But, as old habits die hard, he would use Prestos with his suits, even to formal occasions.

The survivor. As a candidate, Manong Ernie won 4 elections and lost 5. His win loss record in major medical operations was 2-1. A quadruple heart bypass and, later, painful cervical spine surgery. He endured both in his desire to live longer. He survived them but not the last one, laparoscopic cholecystectomy to remove his gall bladder.

Sports is also life. Speaking of statistics, my father was an avid sports fan – his great love was baseball which appealed to his analytic mind. Also, golf,  horse-racing and, of course, the NBA. And he was a topnotch poker player. His panache in the many high stakes negotiations on the political stage were surely a by-product of his poker matriculation.

My brother Manny shares this insight: In the big picture you might ask why do sports matter?  The world has so many more important problems to focus on. But being a sports fan appeals to many elements of the human condition – competing, teaming, talent, strategy, winning and losing. Most importantly it creates a vehicle for communication. Parents and sons might have awkward times trying to make basic conversation. But sports is an easy topic to build bridges and make connections – across great distances and across generations. During championship season, a phone call or a text from our Dad would likely start with an analysis or complaint about Steph Curry’s shooting performance.

For many, his illustrious career may have been his finest hour. But it has been the little things that have meant more to us in the end.

Passages. Ramon H. Felipe Jr., 97. Naga City Mayor, Congressman 1st district of Camarines Sur, Comelec Commissioner. Ateneo lawyer. Our deepest condolences to his family.