Bread crumbs

TABLETS OF STONE

Larry Faraon, OP

02/08/2009

The Malacañang mouthpieces — all in the kitchen — cannot seem to come out with a brew on how to best explain or go about the persistent Obama presidential snub on Mrs. Gloria Arroyo, the latest of which was right there in Washington DC last Friday.

The occasion was the annual National Prayer Breakfast, where President Barack Obama was guest speaker. Mrs. Arroyo who “happened” to be in Washington at that upon the invitation of some US solons made a “side trip” in order to possibly get at least a lightning “hello and goodbye” from the black American icon, the new hip-hop heart throb and the most powerful man in the world. But with almost 3,000 persons in the prayer breakfast anybody could easily get lost and ignored, even the President of the Republic of the Philippines! At least this was what spokesman Mr. Cerge Remonde felt was a good excuse. But this is the first time. And I really don’t know what borders along the lines between a snub and an insult.

It was all a handshake that Mrs. Arroyo needed to boost her self-esteem in the twilight of her reign and thinking that upon deplaning at the NAIA she would beam and glow with pride as if she brought home a bacon of global economic package that would cushion the impact of the global economic crisis hitting hard at us. It was all ego-tripping on her part, especially knowing the fact that she also tried her luck with the Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton.

But let us set our frames right that a change in the American presidency would not change in whatever manner the attitude of the Americans toward the Filipinos. We are still a convenient excuse for an American hegemony and global manipulation of almost everything we stand for. Secretary Clinton has set her Asian tour, minus the Philippines — a faithful ally and friend to the Americans. Why? Diplomatically, politically and economically, we are almost insignificant to the United States.

We are still lapdogs awaiting bread crumbs that would fall from the master’s table, just like some lightning handshake and a quick photo op from Mr. Obama. Can we not wait for a formal state visit planned ahead of time lined up with activities that befit the presidential status? Are we just content with crumbs than real loaves? With this botched “handshake” from Obama, Mrs. Arroyo did not only humiliate herself in front of the world watching but has put in the same light the Filipino people. Where is our sense of self-esteem — pagpapahalaga sa sarili?

Furthermore, on hindsight, what business would Mr. Obama have anyway with a President or an administration that is obviously “on the wrong side of history” or somebody who toed and kowtowed to the Bush sponsored war in Iraq and who would piously denounce pro-choice advocacy in obeisance to the pro-life bishops! Why should Mr. Obama shake the hands of a president whose cry babies in Malacañang would dismiss the World Bank report on corruption in high places, including the First Gentleman as “rough draft” or “hearsay?”

But most obviously why should an American President, who is beginning a four-year term, oblige himself to be comfortable with an outgoing President! American diplomacy is more comfortable with difficult people, those “hard to get” one, not those easy-going gullible leaders of small nations. In all probability, Obama’s administration shall while away a year’s wait for the next President of this country, somebody they would be more comfortable with for the next six years. Mr. Obama’s administration should be willing to shake the hands, for instance of a leader who as a senator toughly threw away the American bases and even made a film about it!

America wants challenges and would wait until 2010.

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