Or, that which my computer dictionary also defines as “an exciting, emotional or unexpected series of events or set of circumstances,” such as what we have in the ongoing impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona at the Senate. And, such as what I get in
my e-mail, where people inject color where there is none, prescribe emotions in true telenovela fashion and cast intrigue by making mountains out of molehills.
“verling40@yahoo.com” is perhaps the most mellow, with “keep on writing, ma’am armida, about CJ Corona and his buddy little girl to counter your editor writer. I’m always looking (forward) to reading your column.”
To clarify, I’m on good terms with my editor. She lets me write what I want to write, does not tell me to drop a paragraph here or change a couple of lines there, she just never censors me, period. She gets ticked with late submissions, as any other editor would, for she’s the one in the office physically putting the paper to bed, and that’s it. I respect her, she respects me, so I’m sorry to disappoint those who expect a catfight, for it ain’t coming.
On another matter, “Wyl” congratulates me for my “complete rebuttal” of reader Romeo Ybañez. I must again clarify that reader Ybañez’s questions were politely raised, so it wasn’t as if we were fighting in our exchange.
“Wyl” also acknowledged my “secretly acquired great legal opinions,” noting “I don’t know where you get it, either from your beloved late husband or beloved Kuya JPE, but congratulations anyway…” so I have to remind him I mostly quoted from “A Primer on Chief Justice Renato Corona’s impeachment case,” available on the Internet, at http://www. http://spacelab.2720.tv/infographics/Corona/.
Back to the case on hand, the presence of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago on the floor makes for great drama, with her labas-litid pronouncements, rolling of eyes, buntong-hininga, and other “Miriam-isms,” like “Only I can scream here and my fellow judges!”
Her first day in court, and she did not disappoint. In full character reminding everyone involved of the need to for a speedy trial, she glowered, “It behooves us to start with this principle. Justice delayed is justice denied. ‘Wag na tayo magpa-epal dito. Nawawalan nang gana yung nanonood.”
That was vintage Miriam-ism; I mean, who else is capable of using “behooves” and “magpa-epal,” in the same breath? And when she scolded House lead prosecutor Niel Tupas Jr., for his lack of preparation — “Don’t shake your head at me. You come to court prepared. You do not waste the time of this court.” — I thought she wasn’t antipatica, merely stating what others were already beginning to think of.
A spade is a spade is a spade in her book, and when asked if she was excited to take part in the hearings after a week-long absence due to hypertension, she snapped, “I would really rather go scuba-diving in the Bermuda Triangle and possibly get lost there. Believe you me, it will really raise my blood pressure but … this is my duty as a senator. I have no choice.”
Once upon an impeachment, she promised that if she were proven wrong, she’d take her life. That impeachment didn’t go her way; soon enough her detractors reminded her of the promise. “But I lied,” she shot back, without batting an eyelash, without fear of being laughed at.
The other day reminding private prosecutor Arthur Lim that the presiding officer had already agreed to the marking of documents, she went ballistic, “Sige ka pa nang sige, e may trabaho ang babaeng ito (referring to Bureau of Internal Revenue Chief Kim Henares, on the witness stand), pauwiin mo na, huwag mo nang patagalin pa rito, you are almost in danger of contempt!”
Miriam, Miriam, Miriam. Call her funny, call her bitchy, call her whatever, you can’t deny the woman knows the law. I have no idea how she will vote, to impeach or not to impeach remains a mystery as far as she is concerned. It’s hard for me to dislike her; she really just cracks me up.
Still, a growing number aren’t as amused. Yesterday’s comments against her went from “ang yabang ni Miriam,” to “sobrang yabang,” to “she really loves to hear herself,” to “ayoko na siyang pakinggan, hindi na nakakatulong ang sinasabi niya,” and “hindi ba niya alam na sa bawat binabastos niya sa floor, ang dating ay binabastos na rin niya ang batas?” Or, “Hindi na rule of law ito, kundi rule of kabastusan!”
Last Tuesday’s abrupt adjournment brought a deluge of text messages and phone calls to family and friends of the Senate President, a good number exaggerated, like “Tita Midz, bakit daw humagulgol si JPE?” and “Magre-resign daw si JPE, mangiyak-ngiyak daw no’ng nag-adjourn?”
The exaggerated texts came from those who hadn’t even seen the particular coverage, nagpatawid-tawid na lang ang balita, and well, you know how it is in this part of the world, may pakpak ang balita, may tainga ang lupa, at ang sabi-sabi ay inaakala nang totoo.
Yes, Juan Ponce-Enrile is emotional. We all are, in the family. What’s often times perceived, as anger, is merely emotion. We’re quick to explode, to cry, to laugh. Yung inaakala ninyong taray namin, hindi pagtataray iyon, we’re just being us.
But no, JPE did not break down into sobs, last Tuesday, nor was he “mangiyak-ngiyak.” As you saw on television, he was very much in control when he issued a challenge for others to take over his job as presiding officer. The guy doesn’t do drama, and it’s just as well. It looks like the impeachment won’t be done for some time, and there’ll be more of Miriam.
Aawitan Kita sa Makati goes on stage today at 5:30 p.m., at the 6th floor auditorium of the University of Makati, with it’s first offering of the year, entitled “Sayang,” the story of a young man’s ascent into addiction and how his early on indifferent family regroups to rehabilitate him.
Featured singers are Bimbo Cerrudo, Bangge Mabanta, Irra Cenina, Milay Guinid, Raul Montesa and Bayang Barrios. Admission is free, courtesy of the Office of the Mayor of Makati’s program for senior citizens, and the Manila Memorial Park. Go, and watch.
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