(Editors’ note: The Midland Courier is reprinting the columns of the late Atty. Benedicto T. Carantes as a tribute to one of its long-time columnists. This piece was published on Aug. 9, 2009.)
How truly wonderful of the Marcos children – eldest daughter Imee, and her brother Bongbong, together with his wife Liza Araneta – to go to the Manila Cathedral to pay their respects to, in Bongbong’s own words, “former president Cory Aquino,” and how even more wonderful for the Aquino children – eldest daughter Ballsy and sister Pinky – to meet and thank the Marcos children for their gesture.
In a way, there are similarities between the Marcos and Aquino siblings.
Imee and Kris have had problems of the heart (Imelda was furious, Cory prayerful) and Bongbong and Noynoy, both middle-born sons, are namesakes of their respective fathers.
But more than anything, if civil society lacks understanding and manners, it can be said that Imee, Bongbong, Ballsy, and Pinky exhibited, for all to see, the meaning of civility.
Given the past history of the Marcoses and the Aquinos, there was, amazingly, no display of hatred or any kind of hostility, just children of political families brought up right by their folks, truly offspring of good breeding.
Up to now, I still can’t get over what was perhaps the most touching scene I have seen on TV in many, many years.
All men and women are born flirts, but the difference is in the art. Men generally flirt with their mouths, but the women do it with their eyes.
Even with the music in the background playing soft and slow, the tongues of the men sway and rock to it, oftentimes reeking of licorice, but the women need only let their eyes dance sweetly, seductively.
Guess who flirts better.
I once had a sexy landlady who loved to flirt with the other boarders, teasing and stringing them along, only to leave them high and dry, ending up empty-handed.
The funny thing was she and her boyfriend would have a good laugh about it later.
“Just leave Benny alone,” her boyfriend gently warned. “His heart is too fragile to be broken in several places.”
However, did he know I had the hots for his girl?
And so, she did. But I was 17 years old and there is more than one way to skin a cat.
Now, if you have read this far, I would imagine you know what I mean.
No, I never got to lay a hand on her.
But I look at the men and women today, and none of them do flirting anymore. They simply seduce. The men of course, still with their mouths, but more often with their pockets.
And the women cut to the chase with gusto, staring greedily at the bulge in the men’s back pocket, while fondling the front buttons.
The men rise to the bait all the time, alas.
Going back to the Aquino wake and funeral, given her family’s and people’s love for her, all the crying and the huge crowds were expected.
It wouldn’t be Cory if things had been otherwise.
But only Cory was able to bring the Marcoses to pay their respects, and even acknowledge her as a former president of the Philippines.
To think it was Cory who ousted Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. from power.
Listen to Joseph “Erap” Estrada talking about the presidency being stolen from him, and you would know what I meant about breeding.
Reconciliation and unity may not even be in the equation, and as some people are trying to inject or discourage.
How do they say it in Filipino? Magandang asal. The Aquino and Marcos children have an abundance of it.
The Marcoses, despite Imelda. The Aquinos, because of Cory.
Certain presidential children should learn from them.
Only 138 days till Christmas!
