Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

Incumbent Vice President visiting the former Vice President? That’s something bizarre, especially that they had been polar opponents throughout most of their political careers. Did then Vice president Binay visit former Vice President Guingona in their town fiesta? Did then Vice President Erap visit former Vice President Doy Laurel in their fiesta? Now that I think of it, did they even associate with each other. Maybe they did at some point. I could not remember.

Of course, it’s fiesta. Everyone’s invited to come. I suppose the same would be the case with Kadayawan Festival. Even if a visit is not for religious devotion, guests are always welcome for tourism. I heard all hotels were fully booked and the traffic had been crazy. At least, it has been good for the economy.

Okay, you may call me judgmental. But the reason for the visit may be religion or recreation, I just wonder why it took the incumbent Vice President until now to visit the fiesta. A devoted pilgrim or an enthusiastic tourist would have come earlier at a younger age, before settling in family life, or becoming too busy with career. At least, this senator has been visiting and joining the buyadores with then Mayor jess Robredo. Although that doesn’t confirm or deny authenticity of intention, the consistency somehow elicits some respect.

I heard the visit lasted for around an hour. What could they have talked about? Maybe, the present VP asked the past VP whether it was true that she did not request for confidential funds. Maybe, she asked how she managed not having confidential funds. Maybe, she asked how she got through the scrutiny of Congress. Maybe, she asked why the former VP did not avail of the chopper benefits when going home. Maybe, she complimented the former VP’s reception office and inquired where her family mansion is. Did she ask for pointers in running for the presidency? Maybe not, the incumbent VP could have easily asked her father.

Don’t get too upset. It’s fiesta. You’re supposed to welcome anyone who visits your home for some snacks. It wouldn’t be good to close your doors to a business competitor or a work rival. You should be welcoming whoever comes knocking on your door, hoping to get some of your buco salad. However, usually or almost all the time, guests who come during the fiesta are family and friends whom you have invited and are expected.

Incumbent VP even braved the crowd, joining in the masses, queuing that long line to pay respect to the image of the lady of Penafrancia. That is some display of devotion for a newbie devotee. That could be a faithful expression of devotion or a strategic preparation for election. Your mileage may vary. But, you have to agree that that is an impressive resolution towards sacrifice. She opted to stand and walk with a long line of people, with crowds on both sides, with the heat and the unpredictable rains that could make you sick, with the traffic most probably moving heavily slow on the way to and from the Cathedral. But she would not go to the Congress where there probably would be a comfortable seat for her, with good air conditioning, to talk about millions of funds. Do they serve snacks there? Most probably, she would have reserved parking for her whole entourage. Oh, no, she was better off with the mass of pilgrims and devotees. Now, that is some devotion. That is some show of sacrifice. She should have been in Congress, yet she chose to be in the fiesta.

The VP has plans; and I don’t mean distributing the “Isang Kaibigan” book to school children which would cost P 10 billion. (If I were her, I would have taken Erap’s route of releasing a joke book, Eraption. I liked that book. That was honestly enjoyable.) After she resigned as DepEd Secretary a month before the opening of classes, along with vice-chairmanship in some anti-communist task force, declaring that she has severed ties with the Bongbong Marcos administration, she presented herself as frontliner of the opposition. Congressman Edcel Lagman was quick to discount its plausibility, since she doesn’t share ideals with the opposition. That would be complicated. Senators dela Rosa, Go and Padilla are clearly on her side. Do they become opposition now, alongside Senators Hontiveros and Pimentel? Those are colors that strikingly do not match. This visit to former Vice President Leni robredo (which could be casual or intentional, could be an attempt to ally herself with the true opposition, to consolidate support and machinery for her plans

It’s either that or she just wants to get away and spend some vacation.

“All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.” Proverbs 16:2