While the scent of sizzling adobo wafts from Filipino kitchens, a different kind of smoke hangs heavy in the air – the smoke and mirrors of Charter Change (Cha-cha). This political spectacle, orchestrated by the Marcos administration, threatens to become a delicious distraction from the real hunger gnawing at the bellies of millions.
Emerenciana de Jesus, a voice seasoned with the wisdom of past struggles, sees through this culinary sleight of hand. She warns against the Cha-cha bait, a Trojan horse laden with promises of economic prosperity but likely to deliver only extended terms for politicians and a banquet of riches for corporations.
The timing, as pungent as yesterday’s garlic, is suspect. A pro-Cha-cha television commercial, suspiciously coinciding with the administration’s “study” of constitutional amendments, leaves a bitter aftertaste. Is this a carefully crafted recipe for public manipulation, a sprinkle of misinformation to flavor the pot of political ambition?
Instead of indulging in this gourmet charade, the government should turn its attention to the main course – the daily struggles of ordinary Filipinos. A living wage, not a rewritten constitution, is what fills empty plates and nourishes hope. The current menu of rising prices and stagnant incomes leaves a sour taste in the mouths of the working class.
But the Marcos administration, like a chef in love with his own fancy presentation, seems more concerned with plating the constitution than feeding the hungry. They propose constitutional amendments as the secret ingredient to economic growth, all the while ignoring the overcooked problems of joblessness, inadequate healthcare, and crumbling infrastructure.
Filipinos, however, are not simply passive diners waiting to be served. We are the kitchen staff, the farmers who till the land, the fishermen who cast their nets. We are the ones who know the true cost of every ingredient, the sweat and tears that go into every meal. And we smell the smoke of political maneuvering from a mile away.
This is not the time for fancy footwork in the kitchen of governance. We need a chef who understands the basics – how to cook up a fair wage, simmer down inflation, and season policies with justice. We need a leader who can serve a feast of opportunity, not just scraps from the table of the privileged few.
Let us raise our voices, as loud as the clanging of pots and pans, and demand a different menu. We want a government that cooks up solutions, not distractions. We want a future where everyone has a seat at the table, not just those who can afford the Cha-cha banquet. The time has come to turn off the heat on the political charade and start cooking up a better Philippines for all.
PHOTO CREDIT: PHILIPPINE STAR/ANDY ZAPATA JR.
