By Farah G. Decano

 

WHILE it is true that my family still experiences inundation inside our house despite the almost three feet road elevation in our village, we are thankful nevertheless to Mayor Belen T. Fernandez, the City Government of Dagupan, and the right of way donors because we can now access the national road in times of emergency. Our community is no longer as isolated as it used to be.  Whenever we need essentials like food, medicines, or drinking water, we can reach the nearest convenience store and pharmacy at any time.

When our interior roads were perennially flooded for two years, we were lucky that my elderly mother did not need any urgent medical attention.  During those difficult times, only a small number of public transport were willing to enter our area and it was a stunt to walk through murky waters.  Night times were worse. It took courage to drive any vehicle for fear of falling into one of the uncovered canals.  It was when the elevated roads were already constructed that Mama suddenly felt an excruciating gastric pain, which I thought was appendicitis.   We were able to call a vehicle for hire and got to the hospital in no time!

Many do not share my opinion regarding the elevated roads in the city but I do remember an expert telling me that road networks should be kept navigable so that the government can always respond quickly in times of need.

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Why is it that women leaders who know how to fight back, or are palaban in their own way, are likened to mad woman?  In 1992, frontrunner presidential candidate Miriam Santiago was branded as “Brenda” (short for brain damage) by her opponents. When Senator  Leila de Lima went a bit ballistic over several accusations hurled against her in 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte described her reaction as “losing it.”   After the recent press conference of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, wherein she admitted her thoughts of decapitating President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., she was labeled by many as “unhinged.”   

If it were male politicians who uttered what these aforesaid women leaders articulated, many observers perhaps would not call them crazy.  These men would likely be called tough-talking, hard-hitting, and yes, brave.  They probably would even be granted the monicker, “strong man.”  

I wonder about this discrepancy.  Do  Filipinos really prefer their women leaders to be saintly like Cory Aquino and Leni Robredo, or feminine like Risa Hontiveros?  Do we find it hard to accept women leaders who can be very graphic, a bit masculine, and threatening in their stance?   

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Maalala ko, when the impeachment resolution of President Joseph Estrada was endorsed to the Senate by the House of Representatives, then Speaker Manny Villar did not observe parliamentary rules.  After leading the prayer, Speaker Villar immediately read the proposed measure, resolved to pass it, and ignored several points of order raised by certain congressmen. Yet, he was not called unhinged.

Contrast above proceedings with my situation back in 2004. I was branded as the “Miriam Santiago of Dagupan” sometime in 2004. As the number one city councilor, I opened and closed the Sanggunian session by my lonesome in the presence of the Sanggunian Secretary and staff because there was no quorum. I even strategically ordered the proceedings to be on record because I wanted the public to know that I was present on the scheduled regular meeting.  While my acts were in accordance with procedural rules, still, I was described as lacking in sanity.

This tag, “Miriam Santiago of Dagupan,” was actually given to me by a department head who made it popular by text blasting various media personalities.  This appointed official was not ignorant of parliamentary procedure. He probably thought that he needed to destroy my credibility by likening me to Senator Miriam.   Now that the public has a high regard for the deceased Senator, I feel honored to be once described as her counterpart in the city.  Thanks to this local official who already passed on.  Wala na akong sama ng loob sa kanya.  May his soul rest in peace.

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