Matuwid na Daan is farcical
Like everyone else of the expected 50 million electors, I have but one vote to cast in May 2016. Yet, after making initial exploration among the declared aspirants, few months ago and unmindful of the publicized results of continuing poll surveys, I thought of voting in favor of the Liberal Party presidential candidate named Manuel "Mar" Roxas III.
Since one vote would not be enough to help him climb the steep edge his opponents have over him, I planned to go to the sitios where I could still count on some friends and campaign for him without letting his campaign headquarters know so that I would not be misunderstood.
I really thought that there were some points in the display of his brand of leadership that were worth presenting to the electorate. Despite the negative view of his perceived elitist culture, I appreciated the way he handled the administrative departments that were left to his charge. If there were shortfalls in our high expectations of his way of handling events and programs, they were of the inevitable character that we did not have to dwell on.
There was something more that added weight to the feather of his performance in government office. It was the endorsement of His Excellency, President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III which the president did in the hallowed halls of the historic Club Filipino. Well, to be sure, let me clarify that I am no Aquino fan.
Anyway, when the president mentioned in his endorsement speech that candidate Roxas was going to pursue "matuwid na daan" I took it as a commitment to the Filipino people that the presidency was going to be contested in the most fair manner. My naiveté told me that like jousting knights in the medieval ages, all candidates for the presidency of our land were to engage in a combat where fair rules were to be applied and used. Was it not that lancers among feuding knights would raise the visors of their helmets to let the foe know who they were fighting against?
As soon as the candidates were known, all the personal attacks would cease. That was what I imagined "matuwid na daan" meant. When the contestants for the Malacañang seat were identified, chicanery would stop. That was what I thought of "matuwid na daan." The moment all the names of the presidential aspirants were revealed, the issues that were to be presented to the people were above par. That was what I took "matuwid na daan" for.
Along that innocent line, I thought that the assault on the public image of Vice President Jejomar Binay and his family would end. We all know that it has not slackened a bit despite the fact that his previously high ratings had already tremendously slipped courtesy of the unceasing investigations. Yes, the assault goes on.
I imagined that all the questions raised against the citizenship and residency of Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares would terminate as a feature of "matuwid na daan." Indeed, I waited for legitimate issues on her performance and program of government rather on her being a foundling. Why not allow the people to decide in the election if she would get our votes?
At present, I discern a surging tide of attacks on the foul language of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. The signs I see point to this Davao mayor as the next object of vile propaganda.
What is horrifying is that the persecution is not limited to the presidential candidates opposing Mar Roxas. It appears to me that the men and women who are arrayed against Liberal Party presidential bet have been subjected to all forms of harassment. For instance, I took the liberty of asking the people who have not yet formed an opinion on Mayor Michael Rama and they think that this is no "matuwid na daan." This "matuwid na daan" is farcical. And it is enough reason for me to desist from my original plan. Rather that cast my vote for Liberal Party's Roxas, I will work tremendously hard to explain to whoever cares to listen that our best candidates are those who do not hide behind this pretentious slogan. End.
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