...Did we forget that
whoever is placed in that position is still human? He doesn’t have superpowers
and mind-reading abilities to maneuver over things. Probably it’s time to
rethink things for a little while and realize that our lives are not
manipulated by that one person seated in that highest position...We control the
directions of our lives and who can satisfy ourselves better than ourselves?
There are fifteen prominent names we Filipinos know; fifteen
renowned people that one way or another made a mark in our country. Some may
have been forgotten, some we loathed, there are some that we adored, and there
are some that we think are completely useless. These are the fifteen people who
were and are blessed (if I may say) with the chance of a lifetime to sit in the
throne and be called ‘president’.
Who doesn’t want to be president? Isn’t it that it was one answer
jotted down on our lists of the infamous question we were often asked as a kid?
“Who do you want to be when you grow up?”
We always had that vivid image in the back of our heads being in
dominion over others and standing out in the crowd, how time froze in your
presence and people worshipping your name, how you are draped in golds and
people catching up to you just to touch your hand and say how grateful they are
for you. That has always been an enchanting illustrations of what we think a life of a president would be.
But that has not always been the case. Behind the glitz and
glamour is a life nobody wants to have. How could anyone possibly wants to have
a life where people gazes at you 24/7 with their magnifying eyes, examining
your every move and ready to criticize every word you say. A life were crucial
decisions are placed before you, pressured even more by each ticking of the
clock. A life burden by the responsibilities over the actions of your
constituents of which you are accountable for.
Over the years, fifteen people had been in that position and
served us, perhaps for some, abused us, had taken advantage of us but amidst
that, there are those that served us well.
Nevertheless, we will never be satisfied of whoever is placed in
that position. Whoever he/she may be, He or she will never be good enough for
us. Our needs and wants will never be fulfilled. Sad but true, we will never be
pleased of the services catered before us. But then again, who really are we
yearning for to take over that very cruel position? Who are we longing for to
sweep us on our feet, take our burdens on our shoulders in a snap of a finger?
It’s like a fancy image of someone combing our hairs and feeding us grapes.
Does that being even exist? Even if Jesus Christ himself would come down and
take that place, he still will never be good enough for us. We would still find
something that we can throw on his face and say “not good enough!” Reality
check.
Did we forget that whoever is placed in that position is still
human? He doesn’t have superpowers and mind-reading abilities to maneuver over
things. Probably it’s time to rethink things for a little while and realize
that our lives are not manipulated by that one person seated in that highest
position. We all could stop blaming and start acting on ourselves. I am not
saying that we all should just shut our mouths and be apathetic over the things
that we think we should put immediate actions to. Did we forget that this is a
democracy? It is ruled “by the people”? This is not a one-man country. That one
person representing us could only do so much to serve us. We control the
directions of our lives and who can satisfy ourselves better than ourselves?
