The Sandro: Ang Pambansang Naroroon

I don't know about you, but I'm beginning to experience a gnawing discomfort at the seeming ubiquity of Sandro Marcos in the official activities of his father. If President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is grooming his eldest son for the political bigtime, it is the wisdom of elders to start small. While the presidency may offer an official family member some unique first-hand perspective, it is still best to be well-grounded.

Now please don't get me wrong. There is nothing wrong or illegal in Sandro always being a silent presence in many, if not most, of his father's official big-boy business. If it were just socials, fine, no problem. Sandro may even bring some friends along. But official business of state? This is not even about Sandro, even if he is already 28 and can think for himself. This is more about the father.

I saw on TV Wednesday evening some report about former British prime minister Tony Blair visiting Malacañang and having a sit-down meeting with the president and some other important-looking people from either side of the discussions. Then there was this boy seated among them on the table, silent, trying to make himself invisible. He really didn't have to be there, poor lad.

Of course, Sandro was educated in the UK, earning two degrees from two of the best schools in London. But that is too flimsy a reason for him to meet Blair if that was why he was there. It would have been more appropriate, and more productive, if Sandro was made to come for the tea later. For not even Sandro being a part of government, as 1st District representative of Ilocos Norte, would have justified his presence there.

The only plausible logic to have Sandro there was that he is the president's son, in which case I have to ask aloud what on earth was the president thinking plunking his heir apparent into a situation that can only reduce instead of magnify him. I am pretty sure those around the table were compelled into taking cognizance of his presence, to feel obliged to send polite but uneasy and perfunctory remarks in his direction.

I know that the president is in a hurry to consolidate power. Time flies and six years do not spell forever. He cannot allow a repeat of what his family had gone through. He believes in the urgency of making his boy grow faster than boys normally do. To be sure he has a sister already occupying a seat of power, but Senator Imee can rub people the wrong way. It is Sandro who can be sculpted more finely to statesmanship.

But I do not think Marcos Jr. is doing it correctly. He has to let his boy learn the ropes normally. If he is not careful, he will burn out Sandro needlessly and prematurely. He had to let the boy be his own man. In fact, Sandro might even be more politically savvy than Marcos Jr. gives him credit for. He is very popular. Girls swoon over him. The dad must let the son be.

Marcos Jr. doting on his son leads me to the conclusion that he has lost some sense of what his own 31-million mandate actually means in the life of this nation. He seemed to get it at first but now appears to be losing it, a victim perhaps of the power and headiness of it in the exercise of the presidency. As a reminder, the mandate is not a testament of love but a signal of a willingness to move on.

Marcos Jr. should disabuse his mind and his heart of the terrible Marcos experience. There is no going back. The only way is forward. If there was no national willingness to move on, he would never have won. So just do your job, Mr. President, and let Sandro do his in Ilocos. What the fates ordain for tomorrow, or your son, is out of your hands. Don't make him the Pambansang Naroroon (pardon Cebuano me if I got that wrong).