Far From Neutral Notions - Philippine politics, culture and stuff

Long live the king

Color me curious, but why the hypocrisy all of a sudden? Yes, including my own. Because, frankly, I’m rather sad that he’s dead.

After all, that makes him the second icon in as many weeks to pass away. Who’s next? Michael Jackson?

It wasn’t too long ago (Feb, I think) that we wrote something similar to Megadeth’s “Kill the King”. While Dave Mustaine sang about “…a deceiver In the highest seat in the land, His idle hands the Devil’s workshop…”, we sang of a powerful and dangerous puppet on the verge of taking over. Which Ronnie “Fernando” Poe Jr., FPJ, idol of millions and now, forever, the one true Panday, very nearly did. Heck, I’m not convinced he lost either, despite the relief i felt when the electoral results showed him behind GMA. Not that I’m a GMA supporter, mind you. I just feel the country’s had enough of actors as presidents.

Like many, I only saw the actor side of him. You know, the one who stared down insurmountable odds and laughed. Ever the classic Pinoy hero, the FPJ I knew would always find a way to win, numbers be damned. But of course I had preconceived notions; using Erap as a template, as well as other actors-turned-politicians like Revilla, Sotto and their ilk, I didn’t have high hopes for the country had he won. After all, the reason why he was such a convincing actor was that he played himself, or what he’d like to be, in most of his movies.

But that’s the extent of my insight into the man’s character. And he is just a man, and not the saintly hero others would like him to be; the embarassing incidents that happened during the course of this year’s elections proved that. Used to being treated royally by fans and even the often-ruthless entertainment media, his temper flared up again and again at the personal attacks that were made when he declared his candidacy. Although I’m surprised (and disappointed) that he didn’t wallop then Roxas City Councillor Alan Celino for groping his wife during the campaign. I’m from Capiz (please, don’t call it Roxas City), and I know Celino deserved it

I choose to remember him, not as the woefully outmatched and unfit Presidential candidate that he was, though; the last chapter of his life, like in his movies, should be a happy one. Not marred by the political puppeteering of Sotto, Angara and their ilk, whose actions did more to cause his stress-related stroke than anything else.

He will always be Panday. And the legend must live on.

Popularity: 2% [?]