Reactionaries and rebels: A Cabinet team of rivals
As a whole, the new Cabinet can be characterized by the following highlights: First, this team shows that the best and the brightest minds are not just from Luzon, not even from Manila. There are a lot of "Cabinetables" from Mindanao, especially from Davao, the new "de facto" capital of the Philippines, and perhaps, the emerging center of the universe.
Second, this new Cabinet team shows the best lawyers are not just from UP and Ateneo. This is the era of San Beda.
And, third, a Cabinet can be composed of people from diametrically opposed ideologies and political spectrum, both rightists, centrists, leftists, reactionaries, and rebels.
The greatest challenge to the president is how to preside over a political family composed of rivals and even enemies. How would the president forge a "modus vivendi" to make these very diverse people work as a real team? How would the administration formulate a set of strategic plan and programs, when the alter egos of the president have completely divergent principles, policies and persuasions? How would the president make sure that his instructions are implemented in the manner that he wants if there are rebels in his own inner sanctum?
I thought I heard the newly-appointed secretary of DSWD, Judy Taguiwalo, being interviewed on TV, where she declared that she is vehemently against the plan of the president to bury the late President Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani. If Mayor Digong hears that, he would most probably summon Professor Judy to Davao and tell her not to publicly oppose the decision of her inchoate boss. I also heard incoming NEDA Chief Pernia saying that, contrary to the president's pronouncement, he believes that Vice President Leni should be given a Cabinet post. I could predict, by the look of things, cabinet meetings will be like turbulent flights in stormy weather.
The leadership style of Mayor Digong is that of autocratic, rather than consultative. He is used to dictating things and no one should dare question his decisions. He is like that mayor who is fond of saying: "It is either your way or my way. Or you go to the highway." He is not like PNoy or Mar Roxas who are always consulting and analyzing, which was called by VP Binay "analysis paralysis."
Digong is an action man. He wants results, not plans. He is not a NATO (No Action, Talk Only). And so, cabinet members who are used to too many committees too many meetings, too many plans, should better shape up, or at this early, ship out.
And one more thing, Cebuano-Visayan language is now the official language of the Cabinet. Bisaya is the new lingua franca in Malacañang, just like the brief time of President Sergio Osmeña Sr., the era of Carlos P. Garcia from Talibon, Bohol. And so, Tagalogs, Ilocanos, Kapampangans, and Bicolanons, please move aside. This is the time of "puyde pero depende" just as how the late Senator Boy Herrera would say. "Weather, weather lang yan" and this is the season of the Shri Visayan empire.
The Cabinet members from other regions should buy themselves a Cebuano dictionary. The earlier they do it, the better for their political career. As of the next six years, to speak Bisaya is what matters most.
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