Tragic lessons

Whatever the opinion columns or social media posts you have been devouring since that fateful night say about why and who is to blame, make no mistake. The ABS-CBN shutdown is still a tragedy.

I don’t just refer to the personal tragedy of the thousands of employees and their dependents who are suddenly “jobless” (perhaps not all, and perhaps not immediately, but for sure there will be casualties who cannot bounce quickly back in this time of crisis when alternative jobs will be hard to come by).

I don’t also refer to the numerous suppliers, service providers, contractors, or even freelancers who also depend on the network for their survival. Yes, I acknowledge their plight is tragic, and yes, those psychic and socio-economic costs must be measured. However, more fundamentally, the tragedy for me is the seppuku blade driven deep into our nation’s soul.

What wound has just been inflicted on us? What death rays have we beamed into the brains of our citizens? What malignant transformation have we brought about?

Melodramatic, for sure. But there’s no way that this entire phantasmagorical scene being played out in front of us could not have affected the national psyche. Imagine a hundred million Filipinos tuned in to the sight of government “leaders”, flunkies, and bit-players all pointing at each other, all washing their hands, all deflecting blame, while in front of them, the boat is sinking. Sunk. Swallowed deep by the waters.

What lessons did we impart to the next generation, as they observe this crop wielding the powers of the state? Could it be; “as you rise to power, take note of your friends, but take even deeper note of those who oppose you, so that when you are finally on top, you can crush them”?

Or perhaps, the lesson is; “when in power, you have impunity, and you can do anything you want, even if the king has no clothes, and the entire citizenry can see it?” Or maybe this; “power is not meant to benefit the people that elected you there, but yourself and your friends?”

What about: “Do whatever you can to put yourselves in the good graces of the powers-that-be, even the most blatant misuse of your authority and your office, and even if directed towards the accomplishment of evil, so that you can be given a pat on the head and rewarded with earthly pleasures?”

Whatever happened to the democratic, meritocratic principles this nation is supposed to operate with? That the reins of government are given to a trusted few, because we believe they have our best interests at heart? That we elect the best minds so that they can apply those brains and think of the best way forward for our nation?

That doesn’t seem to be visible at the moment. Merit, now, is how closely you are aligned to the interests of the powerful. Tough luck if, among the titans, there’s a clash. When the dust settles, it’s always the one who plays the most dirty who will be left with a big Cheshire cat smile.

How about; “when a crisis is occurring, and no one is watching, that’s the best time to make your move? Or not to make any move, actually? That the best defense is, you were too busy fighting the crisis and hence, you couldn’t spare a thought for other minor nuisances? (Although that may have backfired a bit.)

There are surely more lessons to come our way. The quagmire hasn’t been hurdled. The end isn’t yet in sight. But one lesson we shouldn’t forget is that of accountability. That when we get out of this man-made mess, (hopefully, that’s not an “if”), we will be teaching that lesson to those who may have forgotten that such a thing even exists. Because it does.