The Eastern Samar Community Blog

Let me call it “D-Day” – November 05 2008 for this day will never be forgotten. The reason is simple it is because it was the day wherein an African-American was elected as the “world’s most powerful man” or simply put as THE President of the United States of America. This victory of a person classified as belonging to a minority race started the “Obama-fever”. His triumph sounded around the globe; allies and enemies of America greeted this young Senator from Illinois.

Strictly speaking the “Obama-fever” started way before the election proper. It started I think when Barrack was elected as the official Presidential candidate for the Democratic Party. His rose to success was a like a net that caught everyone. And when he became “THE PRESIDENT” everyone thought that they know him – a bit or pretty well.

Why the attention? Barrack Obama based on a bit of research came from the working class. He toiled hard to receive an education – well a very good one! As written by Ms. Melanie Lim (Sunstar November 09, 2008) “the man who in his life seemed to have made all the right decisions”. To make it sound Filipino, he came from the “working Masa” (sounds familiar) and rose up to the ladders of success. A typical rags to riches runt. Now, as America faces the threat of diving deeper into economic crisis this man is seen as the silver lining on the horizon. A man that might turn their (American) stale bread of joblessness to something that is sweet as before. Hence, with this governing ambiance the young Senator from Illinois has toppled the “experienced Republican” – John McCain.

This “hyper-fever” reminds me of some events here in the country. That time was when the impeachment for Mr. Estrada has driven the country wild. Everyone searched for the silver lining. And the appetite for a new leader was felt within the corners of the Government’s key players. The stacking up of desires to change the existing Government bloated and exploded during the dramatic vote not to open the second envelope. Pushed by disgust the people marched to EDSA to make another historic move to protest and manifest the voice of the many that hated the current leader of the land. Backed up thousands of activists, the church, the politicians and finally the military – the then Vice-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo became the 14^th President of the Republic. She was the hope for a better nation. She manifested the salvation of the ailing Juan dela Cruz. Years later, some of the people that helped her to be in power became the force that keeps on asking her to step down. With her Presidency plotted by enormous attempts of impeachment, with the dwindling down of the economy, with the “Hello Garci”, with the ZTE, and now the return of “Joc-Joc” Bolante would or might add another garbage to her reputation; these are some reasons that causes her survey to plummet. Her Presidency, is attached with so many controversies that serve like a mantra for her own destruction. And henceforth, the People looks for another silver lining or for some they have grown tired of staring at the horizon that offers nothing but temporary euphoria.

Being in the local setting another event dawned on me. The 2007 election was an event similar to that of the recently concluded election in the United States. It was the battle between a new face on the Provincial race and the wife of the former Congressman. “A fight of David and Goliath” as my mentor wrote in Inquirer. Mr. Doloy was considered the underdog. He never held any seat of power long enough for he was removed from being a Mayor due to a citizenship issue in Oras Eastern Samar. But on the other side stood Mrs. Libanan backed by her husband political machinery. She also did not hold any office in the government but shadowed her husband in his political spoils. She shadowed her husband until she herself became like him and when the time was right she replaced him to continue what his imminent husband (Ex-Cong Nonoy Libanan) started. Given the present circumstance I can compare Mr. Doloy to Barrack Obama for the people of Eastern Samar at that time saw him as the power to alleviate them from the pit. The Estehanons I think were tired of the incumbent leader and feared that his wife might follow through. Although Mrs. Libanan was a force to be reckoned but the “hyper-fever” of the people of Eastern Samar to change gave in for the victory of Mr. Doloy. A year later of being in power Mr. Doloy’s re-election is in doubt as mentioned by one the old men in our barangay in one of their afternoon sessions. I think this is too early to even have a thought of that? I hope it is not because of in competency. I for my part don’t know. What I know is that I am so disgusted with the Province’s expanding thousand lakes and that for me is an enough.

What is my intention in writing this? Simple, I just would like to chisel out a fact that politicians can never be trusted. The events that I mentioned came into my consciousness as the world is in the “Obama-fever” seeing him as the man that would solve Global warming, Iraq war, Terrorism. et.al. The solution to one’s problem is not contained within the perpetual image of our
”kuracha dancing politicians”. Our problems can be resolved as long as we make the right decision of who to put into power. It’s too early to discuss about 2010 and too early to assume that the Senator from Illinois is one of them. I just wish that the “Obama-fever” unlike my examples would not die down and that the world would indeed see him as a leader. I sure do but hope no more…