a flood of ironies

won't the country ever run out of amusing and not quite amusing ironies? i am not talking about the fact that after the pope's visit in the country and enjoyed four days of peace, order, and spiritual revival, a lot of anomalies were uncovered related to his visit -- the biggest of which were the allowances for the policemen who made sure that the pope was safe during his stay in manila that were allegedly pocketed by senior officers, one of them was dismissed from service.

consider the following:

- the pope visited the country to be one with the poor people and what did the government do? whisk some of them away in some expensive resort so that the pope and his delegations won't see them.

then the rich and the powerful had a chance to be with the pope, talk to him face-to-face in the palace, while millions of the poor and underprivileged (well there were some who came from the rich and middle-class too) had to line up on the streets, or gather in luneta park, wake up as early as four in the morning, get soaked in the rain, just to have a glimpse of him for a few seconds as he passed by riding the open pope mobile, or hear him talk and deliver a sermon on stage, from afar.

- the government, in perennial budget deficit mind you, would rather spend the money to treat the few poor people to a few days of relaxation, therefore emphasizing what it was that they were missing in life, than funding projects that will give them jobs, sources of living, cheap homes that will enable them to live with dignity as human beings, and stop relying on dole outs and pseudo generosity.

- a scion of a very powerful political family, whose parents are accused of overstating the cost of government-funded projects and supplies, is heading the investigation of the alleged misuse of funds by a government agency in connection with the weekend excursion of the few poor people in a resort during the pope's visit.

- another scion of another powerful political family, who were forced to leave the country during the peak of the people power revolution in nineteen eighty six, was not happy about the government's efforts to clean up the streets of poor people during the pope's visit. when in fact during his father's reign, his mother, then the first lady, was known for "hiding" the poor and their humble dwellings by putting up high walls on their communities when dignitaries visited the country.

- the country has some of the best fashion designers in the world and yet its delegate to the ms. universe beauty pageant has to wear a dress (or dresses?) designed by a foreigner.


that's all fairies, witches, and bitches. have a great week.