Display of ingratitude   

It was an exciting day when the presidential candidates gave their best foot forward during the kickoff of the national campaigns. Each and every one of them chose a venue that was close to their hearts, where they poured out what they have in store for the next six years of the country. Just like that, we see a new era in history where a new batch of hopefuls will vie for the most coveted elected position for the Philippines. They will either create their own signature if chosen, or continue the status quo according to their liking.

But one particular occurrence during this day did not sit well with a lot of citizens. It was Ms. Toni Gonzaga Soriano's hosting stint for the "UniTeam" of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. It was on that Philippine Arena stage where she gleefully introduced Congressman Rodante Marcoleta, one of the men who was adamant in denying the franchise for network giant ABS-CBN. Soriano faced Marcoleta with no remorse, as if she had forgotten the pain of the shutdown of the network she considered home for almost two decades.

Who was she before then? Nobody but a commercial model and a noontime starlet. Her talents were explored and opportunities were given to her. It was in the Lopez' house where she was groomed to be the multimedia personality that she is today. With no prior disclosure to the company and its existing programs with her affiliation, she went on to be a colorful personality on the political stage. For her supporters, it was her personal choice to do so, but for her former colleagues in the company, it was a huge stab in the back.

At that moment the flashbacks started, back to the days of anguish and pain, back to the lawmakers who refused to see through evidence and proper reasoning. It personally took me back to dark days where I couldn't pick myself up after such a tragic blow. We all thought she was rallying behind us in the fight for genuine press freedom and justice but we all thought wrong with what we saw this week.

My college classmate Wynonah Buot easily blurted out her name when asked in a pageant back in 2015 who she looked up to. Fast forward to years later, our morals and views change so as those who sit on a pedestal. I'd like to think it is the money that motivated Soriano so I might give her the benefit of the doubt. However, I just found it highly unethical and downright ungrateful.

As for me, I wouldn't bite the hands that fed me. For many years, I was raised to be full of gratitude and to look back to where I came from. I'm forever indebted to the home that built my name and career. Our national hero Jose Rizal was right when he said, "He who does not know how to look at where he came from will never get to his destination."