If I were Bongbong Marcos

Shortly after he filed his certificate of candidacy for president, Bongbong Marcos was interviewed separately by Pinky Webb and Karen Davila on their respective programs. Both asked Bongbong, among other questions, if he would be saying sorry to martial law victims now that legislation has been passed mandating that they be compensated, the inference being that they have been officially and legally recognized.

Either Bongbong did not notice or chose to ignore the fact that the question of saying sorry was not only phrased in almost exactly the same words but also anchored on exactly the same premise involving the existence of compelling legislation. And this by two different hosts who are not supposed to know what each might ask Bongbong. The other questions were also disturbingly similar, giving the impression, at least to me, that they were fed.

But that is another matter altogether. Let us go back to the saying sorry part. I forgot how Bongbong addressed the question. I think he did it the way Bill Clinton would when confronted with a question he does not want to answer --take the interviewer on a long trip down non-sequitor way. Always under tight schedule, the interviewer will not have time to dwell on one subject and will be forced to move on to the next question.

But seriously now, if I were Bongbong Marcos and I am asked live on TV about saying sorry to martial law victims, I will first put the TV host on the spot and ask her or him point blank if, after saying sorry, she or he will believe me. Because there is no point in saying sorry if the host will not believe me and start badgering me about sincerity.

Sincerity is not a matter for TV hosts to determine. It is between me and my God and it would be presumptuous for anyone to think they know how God thinks. The truth of the matter is, every question asked of Bongbong, especially as the country heads toward elections, will always be a trap, will always hide a snake in the grass.

If I were Bongbong, I will instigate the questioning according to what and where the electoral discussion should go. I will not deny the past for there will always be lessons to learn there. But I will insist that since I am running for president, and since presidents are supposed to lead, I would want the discussion to be about the future, what my plans are, how I will deal with looming situations and what Filipinos may expect in my six-year term.

No one can lead effectively from knees bent in anguish, hate, vengeance, or remorse. A successful leader has to stand up and take strides toward the future because that is where the better life awaits. The future is opportunity. It is a clean slate on which so many good things can be written. If only the mind is freed from the burdens of the past.

And since I believe no one can build with a destructive mind, I would if I were Bongbong ask the help of media to steer the discussion and campaign toward the positive areas of qualifications, credentials, plans, platforms, and policies. To run for the highest office on energy derived from nothing more than shaming and blaming the Marcos family reduces this country and every citizen to become seeming vultures feeding on nothing else but carrion.

Despite everything, this country is still a beautiful country. We are still a beautiful people. We can still move on to a beautiful future that we and the succeeding generations so richly deserve. From a martial law that haunts us to a pandemic that crippled us, we have seen it all. Yet through the grace of God we are still here, warts and all. God must still love us, has not lost hope in us. That can only mean the future beckons, not the past.