OPINION: CHIZ WHIZ
MANILA, OCTOBER 31, 2009 (STAR) MY FOUR CENTAVOS By Dean Andy Bautista - On the surface, Senator Chiz Escudero looks politically lost insofar as the 2010 elections are concerned. Sagging survey ratings, political party-less and perhaps most importantly, several centavos less, one wonders whether he has any realistic options left except to pass on 2010 and start planning for 2013 and 2016. Deserted by his original campaign advisers, I am not sure that even the veteran political strategist, Lito Banayo, can pull anything out of his political bag of tricks at this stage of the electoral game.And yet, when you really think about it, his leaving a traditional party and becoming an independent is really more in line with his style as a political maverick. His political brand calls not for “business as usual” but for “business unusual” strategies. In fact you may legitimately speculate why he did not make this move earlier.
But it is still too early to count out the Whiz. Remember that more than 60% of the electorate is less than 40 years old. And among all the candidates, he remains the most naturally situated and gifted to appeal to that constituency.
So what should the Whiz do in 2010? My unsolicited four centavos is that at this point he really is left with two options. First, he does not run in 2010 and just focus on his work in the Senate. He will then support the candidate who is closest to his pro-reform advocacies. The second option is to run for the Presidency (no more, no less) as an independent and use an unorthodox, populist style of bringing his message of “bagong pagbabago” directly to the people.
Ironically, time is not on the youngest candidate’s side. Neither is the momentum. The question now is whether his late game gamble can still lead to the desired result of a political orphan being directly adopted by the people.
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About time: One centavo goes to the House committee on the revision of laws chaired by Isabela Representative Giorgidi Aggabao for recommending the passage of a bill that would equalize the crimes of adultery and concubinage.
Under the Revised Penal Code, adultery is committed by “a married woman who shall have sexual intercourse with a man not her husband.” On the other hand, concubinage is committed by “any husband who shall keep a mistress in the conjugal dwelling, or shall have sexual intercourse with a woman who is not his wife or shall cohabit with her in any other place.” It is apparent from the definitions provided that concubinage is so much more qualified and harder to prove. Under the proposed bill, adultery and concubinage will be combined into the gender neutral crime of marital infidelity which will be committed by any married person who has sexual intercourse with anyone other than his or her spouse. The partner of such married person will also be held liable.
An interesting feature of the bill is that it will also hold Muslims and indigenous people liable for the crime regardless of their faith and traditions. I can already foresee a law suit attacking the constitutionality of the law on the ground of free exercise of religion. Fortunately, my good Muslim friend, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila president, Atty. Adel Tamano, voluntarily gave up his birthright of having more than one wife when he wed the charming Atty. Weena Kapunan.
Levity aside, Article II, Section 14 of the Constitution commands the State to ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men. Given the glaring inequality, I thought this would be one of the first laws to be amended. Well, the change may finally happen after 22 years. As the saying goes, “better late than never”.
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Speaking of Criminal Law: One centavo goes to Madame Justice Carolina Griño Aquino for finishing her three volume, 2200+ page treatise on the Revised Penal Code. Originally authored by her late husband, former Chief Justice Ramon Aquino, this “labor of love” should now be the authoritative textbook on Criminal Law, having been written by two bar topnotchers who eventually became Supreme Court magistrates.
Justice Carol is truly an inspiration as aside from serving as full time chairperson of the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education office of the Supreme Court, she found the time to update and revise a book which was first penned in 1961. And to think that all of this is being accomplished 16 years after her retirement from the high court.
One centavo goes as well to Anvil publication (sister company of National Book Store) led by its managing director, Karina Bolasco, for supporting the publication of quality law books.
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From a proud brother: Let me write on a matter of personal privilege and give one centavo to my eldest sister, Susan Bautista Afan, who celebrates her 50th birthday today. Her story is typical of many middle class Filipinos. She moved to the US in the early ’80s when she married Albert Afan, a La Salle Philadelphia graduate. She then found a job with Robert Half, a S&P 500 company, and rose steadily thru the ranks and now oversees their offices in Southern California. For her efforts, she was hailed as one of the 100 most influential Filipino Americans in 2007. She accomplished all of these while raising two wonderful children, managing a household and moving house more than eight times. From a dainty flower, she has evolved into a sturdy bamboo whose positive, go-go attitude continues to inspire me and the rest of the family.
“All that is not given is Lost.” —Rabindranath Tagore
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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