Gods and gamblers

I just came back from a two-day caravan to Baguio to petition the Supreme Court to overturn its ruling favoring Romulo Neri’s petition to remain silent on three questions that may prove damning to gloria.  There were more than a hundred of us cramped in eight vehicles.

            We began the trip while Manila was rainy—a much needed break from the wilting summer heat.  We spent the night at Dagupan City, hosted by the outspoken Archbishop Cruz.  Tuesday morning, we pushed on to Baguio which was pleasantly cool.  I only wish I was as happy with its state of traffic, which was hopelessly gridlocked with hordes of vacationers from the lowlands.

            We held two short rallies, the first before the Supreme Court compound where the magistrates were in session, the second at the People’s Park where the vacationers are having their own session of sorts.

            The caravan was successful as the High Court did not perfunctorily and peremptorily dismiss the Senate Motion for Reconsideration.  You see, the SC is known to throw MRs straight to the trash bin, ever unlikely to overturn itself. 

            But surprises abound when we have crusading Chief Justices like Puno and Tehankee long before him.

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After a few misses, we’ve finally nailed some video shoots of Jun Lozada.  We got wind that he is holding a press conference before his scheduled forum at the St Louis University.

            Contrary to what people in government hope, J. Lo is still popular.  People came in droves to hear him speak.

            I was a bit disappointed with him, though.  Hearing him speak, it seems everything is a metaphor with him.  In the press conference, he talked about betting in the lottery and how the gods may be able to help gamblers.  He said that if only half-percent of all Filipinos would rise up against the corruption in government, then the gods may smile on us and oust gloria.

            First, the metaphor is inappropriate.  Lozada and his family are being given sanctuary by nuns—more consistent enemies of all forms of gambling than their male brethren in the Catholic Church.  Second, speaking up (moreso against gloria) is not a gamble, it is a duty.

            By saying that he is gambling his and his family’s life by speaking out, it seems he is not a hundred percent sure about the wisdom of his recent actions.  Sure, their lives are being put in jeopardy.  But what he is doing, coming out clean about the corruption in government, should never be a choice but a sacred duty.

            Then again, I am not in his shoes.  I shouldn’t be too judgmental on him.  He has sacrificed so much, after all.

            But, and this is a big but, what has he got to lose?  His life in government is already ruined.  The earlier he speaks clearly, the sooner he extols for an uprising against the evil family, the sooner we rid of them.  Then he can start rebuilding his life.