Can’t They Wait?

Isn’t it annoying when another person would want to take your table while you’re still eating at some diner? Even if my kinalas is a few scoops and sips from being eaten up, it’s still a discomfort to have someone to have stand around nearby and ask me if I’m about to finish. I wouldn’t want to be rude. But can’t they just wait? Anyway, they could be sure that I wouldn’t stay on the table for the night. Eventually, I would have to leave. It dampens the joy of dining, just a little better than having begging kids around while you’re sipping soup. (Don’t get me wrong. I don’t hate the poor street kids. It’s just that there’s a better thing for them than approaching restaurant clients and asking for money, like going to school and staying home and doing house chores.) I know some places have waiting areas for patrons waiting for their turn. Wait for me to vacate my table.

But it seems that some of the elected officials have been doing that for the past weeks and the nation has not really noticed it or just took it in stride. The way I understand it, the municipal councilor is still a seating municipal councilor in authority until June 30 of this year; and a private citizen who won in the recent election as vice mayor is still a private citizen an would not be a government official until June 30. I just think that that’s something that has to be respected like your place in line in a counter or your number after ordering burger in McDonald’s. I suppose when an applicant gets hired and the employer tells him to start two weeks after that day, the new employee wouldn’t come to the office immediately tomorrow. He couldn’t be staying around the office and trying on the chairs and the coffee mugs, or approaching would-be-colleagues to schedule for meetings and consider plans and policies while the employee to be replaced is still in office. I guess that’s what would be considered as inappropriate. Maybe he could come for some orientation. But in that situation, the new hire who is technically not yet an employee merely quietly observes, and asks questions at a designated time.

But could a mayoral candidate pose himself as mayor elect even before all votes have been counted? Would not that be a little presumptuous? Could a provincial governor announce his picks for assignment on the capitol’s offices even before proclamation? I guess there’s no law against it, but hey, there are people still seating on those positions. Could provincial board members elect be assigned with committees even before assumption of office? Would not those be technically unofficial and informal? There are some more curious issues that nag me before I go to sleep. Could a neophyte congressman be assigned to head a sensitive committee, say a committee like a committee on Appropriations? Yes, sure, they would have some sort of orientation seminar just like college freshmen, but I suppose, in most if not all establishments, delicate functions are reserved to those with experience, or at least three years immersion on the job. There should be a reason why newly hired teachers are required to submit detailed lesson plans, or police or military personnel would only be promoted to higher ranks after some accomplishments. One more, could punong barangay who has become vice governor elect request a meeting from the incumbent vice governor for transition of office? Should not the one with higher position have the authority to call the punong barangay for any sort of conference? Because after all, the vice governor is still vice governor, and the punong barangay despite being vice governor elect is still punong barangay before assumption of office.

But this sort seems to be the sweeping trend. A certain group seems to be all too giddy and excited to take a ride on a new Harley. They Seem to be acting like they’re already running the reins when the law, decorum and propriety would say that they do not do so until an appointed time. I remember a time in history when Cabinet positions were assigned after assumption of office, a senate president is named after an election among senators, a speaker of the house is named after an election among representatives, and an incoming official observes protocol before the incumbent. There was a time when transitions were handled with nobility and grace. But apparently, it doesn’t matter anymore because most of us seems to be okay with it.

“wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” Psalm 37:7