Ducky Paredes

 by Ducky Paredes

 What now, Frank?

Former Senate President Jovito Salonga, chairman emeritus of the Liberal Party (LP), has come on board what the majority in the LP want and what even those you consider as outsiders like Lito Atienza who inducted you into the LP have been suggesting: that what is best for the party is to undergo a process to choose   between Senators Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III the LP presidential bet in next year’s elections.

Clearly, the worst thing for the LP is to seem as if it is composed of a clique of elitists with minds as closed as those of the judges during the Spanish Inquisition. Yet, this is how the LP sounded the first time that it was suggested (by sitting LP incumbents) that the party undergo a process to choose between the two sons of former friendly rivals for the party’s nomination.

Salonga is correct that a fair selection process for the 2010 standard-bearer will make the LP united and stronger. 

Another issue that the LP must decide is what to do with long-time LPs who are with the administration.  The Drilon way is to expel even those who have been lifelong party members just because they continue to stay with the administration even as Drilon has broken away from Gloria Arroyo. But, wasn’t the Liberal Party in the coalition that installed Gloria as President?

In fact, Lito Atienza invited Drilon to join the Liberal Party and installed him as Chairman. Lito has now asked the SC (again!) to void the June 18 Commission on Elections resolution recognizing Roxas as the LP president. Those who joined Atienza in the SC suit are incumbent Reps. Matias Defensor of Quezon City, Rodolfo Valencia of Oriental Mindoro, Danilo Suarez of Quezon, Solomon Chuanglao of Ifugao, former congressmen Harlin Cast-Abayon of Northern Samar, Melvin Macusi of La Union and environment undersecretary Eleazar Quinto, director general of LP Atienza wing.

How many more Liberals do the party risk losing by not being democratic in the way that it handles its internal disputes and the selection of candidates?

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Reader Analyn Narrido points out that the LP began as the Liberal Wing of the Nacionalista Party as a vehicle for Manuel Roxas, Mar’s grandfather, to go against Vice President Sergio Osmeña who won the nomination of the Nacionalsta Party in the election that chose the last Commonwealth President who would become the fist President of an independent Republic of the Philippines

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What is eating Senator Jinggoy Estrada? He wants to crucify MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando for accepting grants given the MMDA by the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) over several years.

Says Bayani:  “Wala akong nakikitang kalabisan doon. Unang una tinatanggap ko naman… as they have said, it is for our cultural program as what everyone, every chief local executive is receiving for their cultural and other projects.”

Jinggoy contradicts this and says that this is the first time that a local executive would accept gifts from annual film fests: “It’s not only unethical, it’s anomalous. These are public funds.”

Public funds? Jinggoy’s opinion goes against a Department of Justice opinion that the gifts came from private funds.

MMFF officials say that the “cash gifts” actually came from private sponsorship, like the P2 million given by the NBN network which is a government-owned entity.

 Even Esperidion Laxa, from the film industry sector says: “It was not taken from the MMFF revenues. It came from the beneficiaries.” Laxa explained to Jinggoy that this was a reward in recognition of the MMDA chief’s chairmanship of the MMFF, which resulted in the increased income of the annual film festival.

MMDA, the gross receipts or income of the MMFF doubled from P147,731,000 in 2001 to P315,299,000 in 2002 during BF’s stewardship.

“I know for a fact that MMFF is giving monies to all mayors of Metro Manila to (augment) their (funds for) cultural projects. And in recognition of benevolent gift of LGUs to MMFF (in form of amusement taxes),” Fernando adds.

Still, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada has filed Senate Bill 2041 transferring the management of MMFF to Mowelfund, which practically ran the MMFF to the ground, which eventually caused the government to step in and help out.

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“We resolve to issue a status quo order for the maintenance of the situation prevailing at the time of the filing of the petition in the instant case,” ruled the supreme Court on the petition of the community of artists to stop the awards to those they consider to be undeserving of the title “National Artist.”

The fact that none of the objected to nominees (hand-picked by Gloria Arroyo mot for any artistic achievement but more for their personal service to her as a person) have declined the award in the face of so much opposition from their peers only proves that they are undeserving of the award.

If one is so good as to deserve the honor of being called a “National Artist,” what does it matter if one is given that honor officially by a President who apparently is not really known for her taste in literature, painting music or any other art form? Thus, in the face of so much controversy, why not give up the silly award and get on with one’s life?

Remember that story in the Bible where two women claimed the same child? How did the wise king resolve it? By ruling that the child should be cut in two. Immediately, the true mother gave up the child rather than having it killed? In the present case, none really cares if the National Artist Awards continue. Perhaps, the government ought to stop giving them out – as long as non-artists are allowed give the same award for a life of excellence to pay their political or personal debts.

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hvp 08.27.09)