A Guess At What Some Prominent Filipinos Want for Christmas

A Guess at What Some Prominent Filipinos Want for Christmas

(Babble On, for the Sunstar Davao, Friday Dec. 21, 2007)

It’s that time of the year when people are accustomed to getting Christmas presents from their loved ones.

The thing is though, we always think of what we want for Christmas, or perhaps what our family and close friends want to get on Christmas day. Yet we seem to forget about what politicians and prominent Filipinos could possibly want as Christmas presents. It probably never even enters our minds.

But it’s something to ponder. What do you think personalities like Trillanes, Pres. Arroyo, Erap Estrada, Jose de Venecia and others want as gifts, all wrapped up and ready for them under the Christmas tree?

Here are a couple of wild guesses.

Senator Trillanes – this one’s easy to figure out. He’ll want a pardon for Christmas. Or at the very least, a get out of jail free card. Anything, so he can finally fulfill his mandate as Senator. Unfortunately, since the Senator has been somewhat naughty this year (remember the Peninsula?) it’s unlikely Santa Claus will give him that pardon.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo – higher approval ratings would be one thing she wants stuffed in her Christmas stockings. No more impeachment proceedings would be another. Oh and Senator Trillanes out of her hair would be a good present as well. May as well throw in less Senate hearings on various touchy subjects like the ZTE and this year’s elections. Madame President did receive a strong economic standing for the country and an incredibly surging Philippine peso. These were probably high-up on her Christmas wish list, and it looks like she got them.

Speaker Jose de Venecia – Stability. That’s what the Speaker probably wants for Christmas. After his leadership of the House was threatened twice this year -once by Representative Pablo Garcia of the Kampi party, and then again by the accusations of his own son against the President’s husband - he probably thinks he is lucky to still be Speaker of the House. He can remain Speaker for the next few years, if Santa gives him the stability he is asking for this Christmas.

Cory Aquino – After all these years, I believe what she would want for Christmas would be the identity of the mastermind of the Ninoy Assassination. A news report has stated that she won’t block the pardon of the soldiers who killed Ninoy, since she has long forgiven them. But she does want the soldiers to reveal the mastermind. Perhaps this could be the soldiers’ Christmas gift to not only Cory, but to the world.

Erap Estrada- I think he got what he wanted for Christmas, a presidential pardon! The next thing on his list would probably be a return to political prominence, like a Cabinet post perhaps? Or perhaps a member of the Opposition becoming President in 2010?

Romy Jalosjos – What he most likely wants for Christmas is to finally get out of jail once and for all. After having his sentence commuted by the President, and then practically freed from prison because of supposed good behavior, he was sent back to jail for unclear reasons. Perhaps someone higher up in the Department of Justice figured that it would be negative publicity for the justice system if Mr. Jalosjos were to waltz out of jail so soon. Who knows?

As a quick look at Filipinos who are not quite as prominent, but are nevertheless an important part of the country, let’s guess what Policemen probably want for Christmas – I bet they want their Christmas bonuses.

According to news reports, cops will not receive their full bonuses because of the lack of funds of the PNP. The PNP Director-General has promised that policemen will receive P7,000 pesos performance from the Department of Budget and Management. This is good. The problem though is that President Arroyo signed Administrative Order 213 which gives all government workers a one-time grant of a maximum of P10,000 pesos as performance bonus. Which means policemen should actually be entitled to P3,000 pesos more.

Yep, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, especially if you get everything that you want as presents. Only time will tell however if these personalities and the policemen will get the presents they want for Christmas.