Babe's Eye View article

If one could remember the Mission: Impossible (MI) TV series, after taped instructions are given to the head of the MI team, a voice will say: “This tape will self-destruct in five seconds.”

In the Philippines, it’s almost an impossible mission for most politicians to start thinking of country first before personal interest. And more often than not, it’s probably their own pride that eventually causes them to self-destruct.

The administration party is facing a potential self-destruct episode within their ranks—specifically with the battle between Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando. Despite the announcement by the Lakas-Kampi National Executive Committee that they “prefer” Teodoro as their standard bearer for 2010, BF will never give up because in his mind, he has a mission to accomplish even if it turns out to be an impossible dream.

The MMDA chair maintains his fighting stance—reiterating his readiness for “the ultimate fight” and his intention to run “even without party endorsement.” Sources told me the MMDA chief is capitalizing on the reported resentment that some long-time party members are harboring over the “preference” for a newbie like Teodoro—who used to be with the Nationalist People’s Coalition. In BF’s estimation, he has better chances at uniting the party. And the way things look, the crack within the party is getting wider and could lead to its disintegration because Bayani refuses to accept that the party he has served loyally for so many years found it so easy to disregard him.

It’s no secret, too, that a faction led by former Speaker Joe de Venecia (who call themselves the Lakas originals) is questioning the validity and legality of the merger between Lakas and Kampi. Add to that a potential complication with Comelec saying Lakas may have committed a violation by officially naming their 2010 bets before the prescribed period which starts on the last week of October.

Within the opposition, the situation is not really much better with four to five presidential candidates lined up versus the solo (as of this writing, that is) administration bet. Joseph Estrada knew from day one that none of them would really be willing to give in, hence he set the almost-impossible precondition that he will not run if the opposition unites under only one candidate.

One can only second guess why the break between Ping Lacson and Joseph Estrada happened, but it really started as far back as 2004 when Erap wanted Ping to back out from the presidential race so as not to divide opposition votes and thus ensure the victory of FPJ. Then came the Dacer-Corbito double murder case, with both thinking the other is pinning the blame on him. As it is, the public trading of barbs and accusations will only result in what Miriam Santiago calls mutually assured destruction (MAD).

If one were to look closely at what’s happening in the opposition, the administration and even to Filipinos in general, it all boils down to “pride chicken” or amor propio—a very Filipino sentiment that can spur a man to make rash decisions and judgments.

It’s probably that Latino heritage that makes Filipinos so sensitive to criticisms and insults (real or imagined), all of which affect his sense of pride, his self respect and self-esteem. In this country, people are very protective of their name and honor—and will not easily forgive anyone who dares to offend or tarnish that name and honor. More so when the one who offends owes a debt of honor or “utang na loob” from the person he has offended. And no matter how much people may deny it, it all boils down to salvaging one’s ego—in other words, putting one’s self-interest first before anything else.

And as they say, in politics there are no permanent friends or enemies; only permanent interests—or self-interests at that. Joker Arroyo is right—politicians should elevate the level of political campaigning to focus on issues and platforms instead of popularity in surveys and other personality-oriented matters. Those who remember Claro M. Recto and Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo certainly miss those days when politicians were revered as statesmen. Nowadays, people perceive most politicians to be men who go into public service to protect their own interests first.

But more often than not, it’s not only politicians who are guilty of this. Most of us put our pride, our ego, our selves first before anything or anyone else. This country continues to be plagued by so many problems—one of which is divisiveness precisely because of Filipinos’ tendency to put self-interest above all else. In the same vein, greater problems, like growing poverty and endemic corruption, would require an enormous effort from everyone for these problems to be minimized at the very least. This may sound like an impossible mission—but it can be done if people start thinking of country first before self. Otherwise, we will all self-destruct.